By: Nicole D’Andria
Today
we’re showcasing The Golden Guard, an
annual comic book magazine and tabletop RPG about legacy heroes. The story
takes place during WWII and present day, exploring both the golden and modern ages.
Learn more about the project with an in-depth interview featuring creators Vito
Delsante (Stray), Charlie McElvy (WatchGuard) and Carlos Cabaliero (Thrillbent, Cloudwrangler).
The Golden Guard is about a team of
heroes led by Americana, who are fighting against the Axis powers and a cult
known as The Gorgos during WWII. However, in 1943, more than half of the team
vanished, reappearing in our present.
There
will be two books with a combined total of four chapters (two per book) and 96
pages (48 per book). The RPG will include character profiles and campaigns
designed specifically for tabletop role playing. There will also be a free
weekly comic available for backers, the History of
the Golden Guard.
 |
| Legacy Print (Spotlighting Americana) |
Vito
Delsante is a comic book writer who has written stories for Scooby Doo, Batman
and Wolverine. He has also written several titles for Action Lab
Entertainment, including Action Lab: Dog
of Wonder and Stray. Charlie
McElvy is a comic book writer and RPG expert who wrote the tabletop and comic book WatchGuard for Xion Studios.
Carlos
Cabaleiro is a freelance illustrator who has worked on numerous licensed
properties for companies such as Disney (Marvel), Lucasfilm (Star Wars), Warner Bros. (DC Comics, Big Bang Theory and The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings),
Sony (Ghostbusters, Spider-Man), AMC (Breaking Bad and The Walking
Dead) and Major League Baseball.
Other
contributors to the project include Sean Izaakse (Stray, Pathfinder), David
Bednarski (Actionverse featuring Molly
Danger), Javier Sanchez Aranda (Star Trek:
The Next Generation: Ghosts, Marksmen)
and Gregory Giordano.
The goal
of the project is to reach $12,500 by April 1, 2017 at 8:00 AM EDT. Rewards for
backers include The Golden Guard Book
One and 16 pages of the RPG ($10), different character prints ($20), a free
weekly History of the Golden Guard
comic ($25) and more. If you’re interested in pledging the project, check out the official Kickstarter.
Check out
my interview with the three of the project:
 |
| Vito Delsante |
Me: What inspired the creation of The
Golden Guard?
Vito Delsante: Part of it was, initially, to just keep working
with my friends (specifically, Ray-Anthony Height, with whom I started working
on the story with before it became... this) and part of it was realizing my
career isn't where I want it to be. What I mean is, I'm going to be 44 this
year, and I'm not in a position to really get the chances I'd like to work on
the bigger name projects at the bigger publishing houses. I'm dubious of my
chances of writing the JSA.
That said, one of my best friends, Eric Wight, once told me, "Make your own." So, seeing that I had some semblance of success with Stray and doing "my version of Nightwing," so to speak, I set out to make a story that would be a... not a JSA story, because after writing the story we have, I don't think I could do this story at DC with their characters. Almost like how Watchmen was supposed to be the Charlton Comics characters? You can't switch out any JSA character for any of ours, and even though this started out being an homage, it's something else entirely now.
That said, one of my best friends, Eric Wight, once told me, "Make your own." So, seeing that I had some semblance of success with Stray and doing "my version of Nightwing," so to speak, I set out to make a story that would be a... not a JSA story, because after writing the story we have, I don't think I could do this story at DC with their characters. Almost like how Watchmen was supposed to be the Charlton Comics characters? You can't switch out any JSA character for any of ours, and even though this started out being an homage, it's something else entirely now.
 |
| Cadmus |
Me: Was it a comic book first and foremost
or an RPG, and why did you decide to do both?
Delsante: Definitely a comic first. Again, I wanted to
continue to work with Ray Height, and expand the worlds and history of Stray
and Midnight Tiger. I got to do about three pages in Actionverse #0 that expanded the history of those characters, but
my desire was to dig deeper.
The decision to do both
was that I have this wonderful collaborator who is a great writer in his own
right, but he more or less gave me the reigns on the comic. And I don't want to
ever waste someone's potential, especially when it may appear to benefit me in
the long run. So, I asked Charlie, who has created a roleplaying game with his WatchGuard universe, to do the same
here. It's something I know I can't do, but Charlie is so smart, so clever... I
didn't want to not take advantage of his gifts.
 |
| Eidolon design |
Me: Your works,
including Stray and The Golden Guard, feature legacy
characters. What interests you about these characters and makes you want to
write them?
Delsante: My dad was killed in a car accident when I was
15. Upon arriving at the funeral home, my aunt, Camille, said, "You're the
man of the family now." That's a hard burden to bear at 15, but in that
moment, you realize, somewhat, what legacy is. Part of it is the expectations
people put on you and part of it is the expectation you put on yourself. That's
what Stray is all about; figuring out
who you want to be. The Golden Guard,
however, is different; it's about finding out what your legacy is, years after
the fact, and having the chance to change history, and by extension, the
future. For example, one of our characters disappears in Vietnam. But here he
is today, at 15 years old, and he meets his daughter, who took on his mantle
(more legacy!) and his grandson, who is four years older than he is. He gets to
be an influence on his grandson in some ways, and vice versa. That's why we
say, "Your legacy is more than a mask." It's the choices you make.
It's the person inside.
Me: Who are some of your favorite legacy
characters?
Delsante: First and foremost, Jack Knight. James
Robinson's Starman run is what made
me want to write comics. And, of course, the legacy of Robin. Grayson, Todd,
Drake... everyone. It's so under the radar because the mentor never changes,
but the sidekick has a legacy. That's incredible to me.
 |
| El-Capitan 1940s by Andy Smith |
Me: Can you tell us more about how this
title relates to Stray?
Delsante: It's not an Action Lab book, so there are loose
ties at best. As these are creator owned books, I always want to give my readers
a sense of interconnectivity, but independence. You can read one without the
other, but all of my stories connect, somehow. I don't want to give away too
much, but one of Stray's grandparents is in the book (it's not who you think!).
Me: If you had to describe the main
characters of The Golden Guard with one sentence each, what
would you say?
Delsante: Oooh... challenge accepted!
Americana, more than
anything else, wants the country to succeed, but it feels like, to her, that
the country doesn't want to.
Cadmus thought that his
fight was righteous and true, but comes to realize that his fight has just
begun and it's not a foe that you can take down easily.
Kid Viper just wanted to
be a teenager, but he has to grow up really fast.
Honorata is an enigma,
and no one knows too much about her, so when the chips are down, who will she
let in?
Silent Shield is going
to break your heart.
King Jaguar is hiding a
secret that the team already knows about, but he can't accept it and it's
tearing him apart.
Theo, or Captain Scarab,
has nothing left to prove, but he's not done fighting yet.
 |
| Captain Scarab (front) |
Delsante: I fluctuate between King Jaguar and Captain
Scarab. Mostly because I like what they offer individually to me, as a creator.
One is a daredevil that has to get serious about his identity issues and the
other is a genius that somehow grew a sense of humor. And they're best friends,
a little like Booster Gold and Blue Beetle, so they have this rapport and this
way of relating to each other that makes them easy to write.
Me: What is the number one reason people should back The
Golden Guard?
Delsante: Carlos' art.
But after that, a
reason... I think the best reason is the most important one. This is not your
typical superhero story. This isn't something you can read at the bigger
publishers. This is a huge risk, storytelling wise, and to tell this story now,
in the political climate we now find ourselves in... that's an ever bigger
risk. But it's an important story and one that should be told.
Me: What inspirational words do you have for aspiring comic book
writers?
Delsante: Look for art that moves you. Watch films that
make you cry. Nothing makes you cry? Find something that makes you scared.
Terrifies you to your core. Being a decent human being is its own reward, but
for the writer, being alive and in the moment is the most important thing
you'll need in your toolbox.
Also, don't look for
inspirational words from writers. Words are our weapons, and we make stuff
up all the time. ;)
 |
| Charlie McElvy |
Me: As one of the creators of The Golden Guard,
how do your tasks on the project differ from your fellow co-creators Vito and
Carlos?
Charlie McElvy: My primary role is “game
master” as I work to develop the characters in a way that allows role-playing
gamers the ability to take these characters and drop them into new or existing
campaigns (or, use the ones we’ll provide in the book). This is a great way for
readers/fans of TGG to take the lives of our heroes, and villains, even
further. Or, change up the story in the comic book so as to provide a different
outcome, or pit TGG against new villains, or… whatever! The sky isn’t
even the limit! There are (near literally) an infinite number of options and
variables that our gamers can introduce into TGG adventures.
So, my key role is to set
the stage with stats, scenarios/adventures, and setting information. It’s the
same thing I did with my WatchGuard Sourcebook (and some of my same
collaborators), which turned out pretty fun. Personally, I’m stoked to see what
gamers do with these characters in their adventures!! RPGs are the ultimate
“Choose Your Own Adventure” books!
 |
| History of the Golden Guard Page 1 |
Me: What can you tell us about the weekly History of the Golden Guard comic?
McElvy: From my perspective, the HoTGG
lays out the groundwork for the RPG adventures. Origins on display, clues of
upcoming events, personalities revealed – all of it gives both comics’ readers
and potential gamers the necessary background to enjoy the book beyond what we
produce here.
Me: How does this project related to your other
title, WatchGuard?
McElvy: Well…I’m not sure we’re
revealing a whole lot there, just yet. To say there’s a connection, or two or
three, is a safe bet. Astute fans of WG will notice some things by now,
or will soon. Yes, I’m being coy. But, the concept of legacy is found through
and throughout TGG, so this shouldn’t be too much of a surprise.
 |
| Liberty Gal design by Sean Izaakse |
McElvy: Because the characters we
have here are so much more than homages or mere tributes to comics’ golden age.
The art Carlos is producing is some of the most gorgeous stuff out there, and
the story Vito has crafted is insanely personal, timely, relevant, and
enjoyable.
So, if there’s “one thing,”
I’d say characters.
This is their story.
Me: What inspirational words do you have for
aspiring comic book writers?
McElvy: Read. A lot. Read more
than you write. Then go write better.
Listen. A lot. Listen
more than you write or speak. Then, go write better.
Learn. A lot. Develop
skills outside of writing, hobbies, or sports, or what-have-you, and let that
flow through you, giving you experiences that you can talk about first-hand.
Then, go write better.
And if you use this
wisdom to better yourself, please consider donating to my professional advice
fund. 😊
 |
| Carlos Cabaleiro |
Me: How did you get involved with this project? Is
it your first long form comic book and creator-owned project?
Carlos Cabaleiro: It’s an interesting story. First it starts with my love of superhero
comics since I could read. I’ve always wanted to work in comics, but it seems
that the industry and I keep doing a lot of the "will they won’t they”
dance, going back to my art school days in the early 90’s. I’ve done a
handful of small press comics, a short piece for Thrillbent that never saw the light of day, been attached to
several projects that have been mishandled, poorly run, never paid, companies
that go belly up or licensors/rights holders that change their mind. It was
more than a little frustrating. As a matter of fact, up until Vito approached
me, I had gotten to the point in my career that I had been turning down any
comics related type project and focusing on my work as a commercial
illustrator.
Now Vito and I have a history. I met Vito in 2006 at
SDCC.I was hanging out with an artist that I met at the DC Talent search. We
hit it off and while discussing hoping to land some penciling gigs at the
convention, he mentioned a small press publisher and this great writer he knew
that was the type of person I should meet. That was Vito. I showed
him my portfolio, he seemed to like it, and we exchanged information. At the
time, that trip had blown whatever money I had saved and getting back
home, I had to get back at trying to keep ends met. Vito emailed a few weeks
later about a project, but the timing just wasn’t right for me and I meant to
email him back but I just never got around to it (pretty shitty of me to do, in
hindsight).
Flash forward eight to nine years later and we
reconnected on FB. I was a genuine fan of his work (he had handed me
several issues he had written when we met) and he was at the time developing Stray. That was the first
KS campaign I ever backed and it’s still one of my favorite superhero
series from the past decade. He didn’t remember me from our encounter at
SDCC (which I guess is a good thing). Over the last two years I’ve been very
busy with gigs and really didn’t have time to draw for just fun. I had found
myself with about a week or two free so I decided to do a piece just for
kicks. That piece was of the Golden Age JSA and it caught Vito’s attention.
This was the time he and Charlie were looking for an artist. Vito contacted me
and asked for my sequential portfolio, he liked it and then introduced me to
Charlie and they pitched the series to me.
Much like Vito, I’m not a kid anymore and the opportunities
to ever work on a Big Two property seemed more and more like less of a reality;
The Golden Guard felt like my way of
doing that epic superhero story that I felt like I had in me. It’s a major
commitment (96 pages, covers, character designs, and illustrations for the
RPG), but in Vito I trust. His success with Stray
for two separate KS campaigns really helped me decide to say yes. Charlie
is also a big part of my decision. He’s smart, knowledgeable, one heck of
a motivator and business man, and he himself has had success in publishing his
own creation, WatchGuard.
So basically it’s kismet, it’s a shared passion for
the medium of comics, and it’s my best chance to finally do that great comic
I’ve always wanted to create.
 |
| History of the Golden Guard Page 4 |
Me: What was your favorite moment to draw and why?
Cabaleiro: Most of the
work so far has been primarily on the History
Book, a 48 page B&W comic, that will be free to all backers in weekly
installments leading up to the release of Book 1. You know, I really don’t have
a favorite moment. My favorite thing so far is that I’m getting to flex a lot
of creative muscles. So far, I’ve gotten to hit almost every major genre in the
History Book—from medieval fantasy,
war, western, romance, pulp/noir, superhero to sci-fi. That part has been
insanely fun and its inspired ideas for what our weekly comic will be for Book
2.
Other than that, designing the variations of the
legacy costumes is a blast. Americana, in particular, has been a treat. While
she hasn’t passed the mantle down, her costume needs to reflect the different
eras of American history (Revolutionary War, Spanish American War, WWI, WWII),
and those are so much fun to research period accurate clothing/military
uniforms, modify them for a woman and deck her out in them.
Me: What is the number one reason people should
back The Golden Guard?
Cabaleiro: It’s a great
superhero comic that offers a compelling and exciting take on the universal
human truths about mortality, of what your actions mean in the grand scheme of
things, and your place in history. It’s a story that takes a look at where we
are today in society (in particular, the United States) from where we were
70 years ago, through the eyes and experiences of the unique concept of
four color superheroes born during that same point in history.
Not only that (I’m cheating on the answer a bit),
but you have the confidence of past successes my co-creators have had in delivering
on their past crowd funding campaigns, and the best deal in comics—48
pages of free comics, 48 pages of the main story, and a full tabletop RPG
campaign all for as little as $10 ($15 with delivery).
 |
| History of the Golden Guard Page 7 |
Me: You’ve done a lot of work with licensed
properties as well. How did you get involved with that and what would you say
are a couple of your favorite experiences working in that field?
Cabaleiro: As an
artist working today, the quickest way to get any attention via social
media is fan art. So it started there. I did a few pieces to get a
good following going, practiced, got better with each one, built a nice
representation of my capabilities, looked up contact information for
individuals responsible for hiring/submissions at companies that I wanted to
work for and reached out to the with my body of work. After that, it’s about
being professional, treating others around you with respect, hitting your
deadlines, delivering better and better work with each completed
project, being honest with art directors/editors about expectations, and
staying humble.
I’ve gotten to work on a lot of projects that
involve things I loved as a kid and am still a fan of today. I’ve built a
nice fanbase for some of the work I’ve done for Topps and Lucasfilm for the
Star Wars franchise, but my favorite gig has been working on some DC
licensed projects (t-shirt designs and trading cards). Ten year old Carlos felt
a sense of pride in working on Batman in some official capacity (I’m still a
HUGE Batman fan).
Me: What inspirational words do you have for
aspiring comic book artists?
Cabaleiro: Jack Kirby
said a career in comics will “break your heart” and he’s not wrong about
that. Good luck paying your bills working solely on comics. So with that said,
my advice is make yourself as hirable an artist as possible by
adapting the old Dungeons and Dragons
description of the Bard character class—“A jack of all trades but a master of
none.” Get good at everything till you find that thing that makes you
marketable and earns you money, and then make yourself the best at that.
Me: Thank you all for taking the time to be
interviewed. If you’re interested in checking out The Golden Guard, check it out here.
Do you
have a Kickstarter? Want to be interviewed about it and have the project
featured on "Kickstart the Week?" Let me know in the comments below
or message me on my website.
Other
“Kickstart the Week” features:
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