The following is an interview with Maytal Gilboa, founder of the comic book publishing company, Emet Comics. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Gilboa about the genesis behind the foundation of the company, what makes an Emet Comics book unique, the currently running Kickstarter campaign for Ida Neverdahl’s Jelly Vampire, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: For our readers who may be unfamiliar with Emet Comics, what initiated and inspired the publishing company, and what defines an Emet Comics book?
Maytal Gilboa: I was working in Hollywood for 8 years, and I saw the lack of stories being told from a female point of view across all media, and I wanted to be part of the movement to change that. So, I contacted all the talented women I know, and we launched the company in 2015. Unlike most other content companies, we don’t have a creative or genre mandate. Our only mandate is to create a platform for talented women who are excelling in their craft. As a result, our books encompass a wide variety of genres, styles, and subjects. We’ve found that diversity extends beyond a creator’s nationality or gender into the content of the work that is being created. Just see for yourself!
BD: What can you share with us about the creators with whom you have worked and Emet’s previous publications?
MG: We’ve published half a dozen books with female creators at the helm. We’ve worked with a lot of first-time comics artists and writers to help bring their ideas and creations to light. Finding Molly: An Adventure in Catsitting, which follows the misadventures of recent art school grad Molly Sanchez-Talebi, was written by screenwriter Justine Prado and was artist Jenn St-Onge’s first comic book. We also worked with playwright Melissa Jane Osborne and artist Veronica Fish, who’s gone on to work on Archie and Spider-Woman on The Wendy Project. Our graphic novel, Verona, an action-packed Shakespearean mashup set in a futuristic Verona, was written by filmmaker Emily Dell, whose short film just premiered at a Korean horror film festival. The creators we work with come from all walks of life. When Emily Dell is out on a set directing a commercial or short film, Justine Prado is up in Northern California directing an opera. Meanwhile, Ida Neverdahl is just about to wrap up her first animated music video. That’s part of the excitement of living a creative life, with each creator being so different and talented in their own ways.
BD: What do you hope that readers will take away from your projects?
MG: Anything is possible. Creativity should not be limited to the Marvel or DC genres, or any other genre. Every creator’s voice matters. We hope to see creators and publishers encouraging people to develop their own unique voice. And, of course, we want to inspire and empower readers by telling more stories featuring female protagonists.
BD: Emet Comics recently launched the Jelly Vampire Kickstarter campaign which will publish a comedic collection of comics by Norwegian creator, Ida Neverdahl! What inspired this collaboration with Neverdahl, and why makes Emet the perfect home for this book?
MG: Ida is so special, and we’re certainly not the only ones who think so. A lot of industry people have noticed and praised her work. She’s featured on Vice, her work is often referenced in Scott McCloud’s lectures, she has published three books in Europe, and she’s only 24! But, she’s still largely unrecognized by the American audience, and we wanted to change that! We want to give her a platform to do new and exciting things and to grow her audience. Jelly Vampire is an outrageously vibrant, silly, odd, and charming comic universe. At Emet, we can let that energy and work shine through unfiltered and unchanged.
“Ida Neverdahl made one of the coolest webcomics of the decade, and I can’t wait to see what she does next!” – Scott McCloud (Understanding Comics)
“Anyone who discovers Ida’s work instantly gets hooked!” – Agnes Garbowska (My Little Pony)
“Ida Neverdahl’s work is wonderfully strange and strangely wonderful!” – Amanda Meadows (Devastator Press)
“Jelly Vampire is a complete masterclass in fun, exciting, and beautiful cartooning, with every page showcasing Neverdahl’s talent and spirit.” – The Nerdist
BD: Emet is also currently in its pre-order period through Diamond Distribution for Fresh Romance and Finding Molly. For readers unfamiliar with the pre-order process, how can they go about ordering copies of the series?
MG: If you’re interested in picking up a copy, reach out to your local comic book store to request that they order copies for you. They’ll contact Diamond to place an order.
BD: Are there any other projects on which you are currently working that you are able to share with our readers?
MG: We are currently running an exciting time-traveling action adventure webcomic called Spoilerland on TUMBLR. The comic follows Maddie Blue, a young scientist who travels along with a mercenary team from the environmentally devastated Earth of 2065 to present-day California to collect medical resources. When the mission takes a violent turn, Maddie rebels, determined to change the fate of the planet. Written by director and story doctor, D.G. Brock (MisAdventures of the Dunderheads), Spoilerland asks its audience how will we save the planet from ourselves? I’m really excited about this one, so check it out!!
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about Emet Comics?
MG: Subscribe to our newsletter! And check out some of the amazing indie comic creators that are working to diversify the comic industry! If you’re interested in sending us work, check out our submission policy. We are always looking for new writers and artists to collaborate with.
