The following is an interview with Dan Bennett regarding the recent release of the comic book, Caroto: Fallout #1. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Bennett about the creative process of bringing the story and characters to life on the page, the themes that may resonate with readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the recent release of Caroto: Fallout #1! For those who may be new to the series, what can you tell us about the genesis behind the project, and how would you describe its overall premise?
Dan Bennett: Thanks! Caroto is about a bloke with a carrot for a head who ends up caught in increasingly strange and dangerous situations. It mixes dark humour, horror, and action, with a fairly Australian attitude running through it.
The funny thing is, he wasn’t originally supposed to survive the first few pages. I was going to kill him off after he got hit by a car, but a friend convinced me to keep him around. That small decision eventually grew into a 104-page graphic novel, The Big Break, and then Fallout.
Fallout continues that world with Caroto, Baron, and Meltman. The characters look ridiculous, and plenty of ridiculous things happen, but the danger and the consequences still matter. I like keeping readers unsure about what might happen next.
BD: How would you describe your creative process in bringing this story and its characters to life on the page?
DB: I write and illustrate the comic myself, so the storytelling and drawing feed into each other. Sometimes, a facial expression or a character’s reaction can do more than another speech balloon. I enjoy working out where to let a moment breathe and where to turn the page into complete chaos.
The artwork is black and white and hand-inked. I like visible marks, grit, and a bit of roughness. I’ve worked in design and illustration for over 20 years, but with Caroto I get to put my own humour and interests directly onto the page.
A lot of my influences come from films like Evil Dead, Shaun of the Dead, and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. I love the mix of horror, ridiculous humour, and characters you end up caring about. That feeling that anything could happen to anyone is a big part of what I enjoy. I want readers to laugh, then turn the page and think, “Hang on, did that just happen?”
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Fallout’s story may impact readers, and what, if any, conversations do you hope that it might inspire?
DB: First, I hope people enjoy it. If someone has had a rough day and reading about this strange carrot-headed bloke makes them laugh or gives them a bit of an escape, that means something to me.
Underneath the weirdness, there’s room to recognise things like fear, frustration, friendship, and wanting to stand up for yourself. Caroto can be pushed around and frightened, and fighting back doesn’t automatically mean he makes the right choices. That interests me more than a character who always knows what to do.
I’d also love it if someone read it and felt encouraged to make their own comic. This started with an odd character and a story I wanted to tell. You don’t need to wait for someone to give you permission to begin.
BD: How many issues can readers anticipate within the first Fallout story arc? Likewise, do you foresee revisiting the world and characters for future story arcs?
DB: The first Fallout arc is planned for eight issues.
I’d like to keep exploring these characters beyond it. I also really enjoy making short Caroto comics that revolve around a single joke. There’s something satisfying about telling a complete story in a few panels, and I like having room for both those little moments and the longer adventures.
I want to keep enjoying the process and let that guide what comes next.
BD: Are there any other projects—past or current—that you would like to highlight for our readers?
DB: Caroto: The Big Break is the original 104-page graphic novel, so that’s worth checking out if you’d like to see where the character’s longer adventures began.
There’s also Hero Squad, another comic I’ve made, along with my short Caroto webcomics. Those shorter strips show a different side of what I enjoy doing: getting straight to a joke and seeing how people react.
Outside comics, my work includes illustration, apparel graphics, skateboard artwork, murals and design. Characters and humour tend to find their way into a lot of it.
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell readers who want to learn more about Caroto: Fallout and your other work?
DB: You can find Caroto at www.carotocomic.com, and Caroto: Fallout #1 is free to read on GlobalComix. My broader illustration and design work is at www.danielbennett.art.
I’m an independent creator writing, drawing and self-publishing these comics, so every person who takes the time to read one matters to me. If it makes you laugh, surprises you, or leaves you wanting to see what happens next, I’d love to hear about it.
Thanks for giving a strange Australian comic a go!
