The following is an interview with Eisner Award nominee Joey Weiser (Mermin, Ghost Hog, Dragon Racer) regarding the upcoming release of the graphic novel, The Littlest Fighter, with Oni Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Weiser about his creative process in bringing the larger-than-life story and characters to life on the page, the themes that he hopes will shine through for readers, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of The Littlest Fighter! For our readers who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the story’s premise?
Joey Weiser: Thank you! I’m really excited to have people read it! The Littlest Fighter is about Ash, a kaiju-like creature that’s about the size of a human child who has been battling giant-sized monsters across the land. There’s a whole battling system where those who participate are called Fighters and those who win are called Champions, and Ash has his eyes set on “The Legendary Champion,” an undefeated Fighter who disappeared many years ago; however, he encounters someone else his size named Dot who wants Ash to see that his actions have consequences.
BD: In balancing the writing and illustrative duties, what can you tell us about your creative process in not only bringing these incredibly fun characters to life on the page, but in crafting a world that is both action packed and relatable for readers of all ages?
JW: I do a lot of outlining at first to work out the story mechanics, but the real character writing happens when I’m sketching out rough versions of the pages called “thumbnails.” This is when the characters really come to life and I not only learn more about them as individuals, but stuff like jokes and dramatic moments really come forward in the process. I really do hold the standard of the “all ages” idea in my head, and although the primary audience is technically middle grade, I want readers both young and old to enjoy the books.
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 Ash’s story may connect with and impact readers?
JW: As I was writing the story, themes of selflessness and community started to surface, and I leaned into that. I hope that readers will think about what they can do to improve the lives of those around them. But I also want them to laugh and cheer and enjoy some monster battles along the way!
BD: Oni Press has served as a publisher for many of your past titles. What makes Oni a great publishing partner, and why are they the perfect home for this story?
JW: I find that Oni is in a very nice position in the publishing world. They are on the large side of small press, so they have a good reach in distribution and promotion, but they also allow for a lot of creative freedom for their creators. My editors have been so great over the years, and really helped shape my stories in wonderful ways, but, at the end of the day, the book remains my work, and I get the final call on any areas where we might disagree. I really value that.
BD: Are there any projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
JW: If readers enjoy The Littlest Fighter, I really think they should check out my previous two graphic novels, Ghost Hog and Dragon Racer. They are both self-contained books, so you don’t have to read one to read the other, but they share some characters. So, if you do read one, you’ll enjoy seeing them pop up again in the other. And they exist in a very similar world to The Littlest Fighter. One could even imagine that they take part in different parts of the same world.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about The Littlest Fighter and your other work?
JW: As far as social media goes, I think Instagram and BlueSky are the best places to look me up at the moment. BlueSky is a bit more all over the place — talking about my day-to-day life, comics and movies I enjoy, that kind of thing — and Instagram is more solidly art-focused. I have a website at http://tragic-planet.com which has samples of all my books, including links for more information, as well as lots of other art and comics. Other than that, ask your local comic shop / bookseller or library about getting my books!
