The following is an interview with writers D.J. Kirkbride and Adam P. Knave regarding the upcoming Kickstarter campaign for the adventure comic book one-shot, Laser Joan and the Rayguns. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Kirkbride and Knave about their shared creative process in bringing the story and characters to life on the page, the backer rewards that will be available through the campaign, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming launch of your Kickstarter campaign for Laser Joan and the Rayguns! What can you share with us about the story’s premise?
D.J. Kirkbride: Thanks so much! The story is about an all-female rock band who, in their heyday, were also secret agents, fighting crime on the behalf of freedom– a mix of GI JOE and JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS with a healthy dose of James Bond, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and a side of comic book shenanigans. Running parallel with vignettes of secret agent rock ‘n roller adventures, we tell the tale of an older Joan, after the band’s broken up under mysterious and dramatic circumstances, being asked to get The Rayguns back together to save the day once again.
Adam P. Knave: It ends up as a combination of fun almost-nostalgia along with a reality check of rose-colored glasses on the past. We also dig a bit into why working with friends can be glorious and dangerous. Not that we would know. Or that we’re actually spies…Nope.
BD: This story was initially collected in three issues of Dark Horse Presents: Volume 3. In looking back at the development of the story, how would you describe your shared creative process in working with artist Robert Wilson IV to bring the story and characters to life on the page?
APK: We worked with Robert to design the band and the feel of the world, really working to bring to life both the cartoon-inspired nature of the past, and the more grounded present, in the story.
DJK: Robert was really into the rock ’n roll band aspect, giving each character specific-looking instruments and their cartoon style. He also excelled with the post-fame Joan, a more subdued character whose approach to both the spy action and music has changed quite a bit.
BD: Why do you feel that crowdfunding has been such a valuable resource to ensuring the success of today’s comic book creators and publishers?
APK: Publishing is a rough trade. We original planned for Laser Joan to be a 6-issue mini. Then, the reality of publishing hit and we decided to launch it as a 3-parter in DHP, with the idea we could expand it after. And we almost did! Except publishing took its turn and rolled really well to stop things in their tracks, sadly. Just out of everyone’s control. Crowdfunding lets creators push forward if fans back an idea, not a publisher who may or may not grasp a vision, or allocate resources in a way conductive to certain projects.
BD: In light of the crowdfunding campaign, are there any particular backer rewards that you would like to highlight for our readers?
APK: Because this story is a 10th anniversary event, we can’t offer things like drawing folks into panels and all, but we do have a mini-poster which is superb and will only ever be offered during the campaign. It might be used as the back cover to the book, as well, but as a unique item you can easily hang on a wall (and you’ll want to!); this is the only way.
DJK: As this is our first crowdfunding campaign, we wanted to keep it simple, just to see what we can learn as we move forward with other possible projects. The main thing, though, is the comic itself. We have a lot of affection for this story and the work we did with Robert, colorist Jordan Boyd, and letterer/designer Frank Cvetkovic, and we wanted it back in print. Our hope is that folks will be into the story told and also have fun with the “what might’ve been” of it all. There’s a wistfulness with the action that makes this plan feel appropriate.
BD: Are there any other projects – past or current – that you would like to share with our readers?
DJK: If readers are interested in Laser Joan and the Rayguns, they’d also probably like our modern update of Arthurian legend, The Once and Future Queen, as well as our fantasy adventure series, Amelia Cole, both drawn by the great Nick Brokenshire and available in nice collected editions. If all goes well with this Laser Joan and the Rayguns campaign, we have some new original comics in various stages of planning, too. Fingers crossed!
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to learn more about the Laser Joan and the Rayguns Kickstarter campaign and your other work?
DJK: Like most comic creators, we’re doing this for the love of the work and the joy we find creating in the wonderful medium of comics. It’s not a full-time job or a lucrative moneymaking venture, rather, we love comics, and we love making them. If folks love reading them, then they’ll have fun checking out Laser Joan and the Rayguns, as well as our previous work—and, hopefully, we’ll have new work for them to enjoy, too!
APK: We’re also both super easy to find across social media and will endlessly discuss stuff with anyone, so there’s always a way to find out more. But the best way? Read the books. That’s how we know what people want more of!
