By: Nicole D’Andria
This week
we’re talking with Zombie Tramp and DollFace creator Dan Mendoza about his
amazingly successful Kickstarter campaign for his newest series, Sad Girl Psycho Baby. This comic book
stars Sad Girl, whose abilities include making the people around her become
suicidal.
This is
the first project from Dan Mendoza’s own imprint, Still Ill Princess. According
to the Kickstarter, his new imprint will be all about “grindhouse storytelling
full of high octane action, beautiful women, and over the top violence
representative of the horror and exploitation genres Dan loves.”
The
Kickstarter ended up reaching its $8,000 funding goal in one hour and is
currently still going strong at over $40,000. It will be over on November 27,
2017 at 11:59 PM EST. Rewards includes a physical copy of the book signed by
Dan with several different covers available ($20), a limited edition
Bill McKay (Zombie Tramp) cover or
risqué cover signed and numbed by Dan ($25), plus T-shirts ($30) and even more.
If you’re interested, you can back the project here.
Enjoy my
conversation with Dan Mendoza about his plans for Sad Girl, his new imprint and
his success on Kickstarter:
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| Dan Mendoza |
Me: You describe Sad Girl’s powers on your
Kickstarter, but what is her personality like and what will make an audience
want to root for her?
Mendoza: Sad Girl is a very stubborn character. Very
likable in her toughness but a soft side that she keeps guarded. She is the
essence of sadness. And with that being said, even she gets to herself from
time to time. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to her in that
sense and root for her when she says or does things that we all wish we could
do in the world but stay bottled up inside instead.
Me: Who is Sad Girl’s companion Sugar Pop and what
can you tell us about the antagonists they will be facing?
Mendoza: Sugar pop is as bubbly as her name. It
takes a lot to piss her off. A positive character to contrast the negativity of
Sad Girl. Sugar Pop believes in love.
The
Antagonist in the book is a girl named Relik, who will remain a secret for now.
Me: What is the post-apocalyptic world of Sad
Girl Psycho Baby like and how does it differ from others?
Mendoza: It's a world set in perpetual sunset. The
atmosphere has changed the people and formed new races. Almost every city Sad
Girl comes across will be different than the previous. Different races,
different genres. One city could look like a barbarian world and another could
be high tech and futuristic.
Me: How many issues will the Kickstarter cover of Sad
Girl Psycho Baby and how long are you planning on making the overall
series?
Mendoza: With the amount of money the KS is
making, I should be able to fund the first story arc, which would be 3 to 4
issues. I plan to have each issue run about 32 pages, which is considered
double-sized. The average comic is about 22 pages. I plan for the series to be
ongoing.
Me: This is the premier title of your Still Ill
Princess imprint. Why did you decide to create this and what are your future
plans for it?
Mendoza: I wanted to make a brand that's my own.
I miss doing things without deadlines and third party perspectives. I just want
a label that represents me, with products that I don't share with anyone but my
fans.
Me: You mention that your imprint will be
"representative of the horror and exploitation genres" you love. What
is it about these genres that you love so much? And if you had to pick your top
three favorite things to watch/read in these genres, what would they be and why
are they your favorites?
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| Cover Dos |
Mendoza: The reason I love the genres so much is
that they are unapologetic. They are the genres that are nontraditional in
story. Often they are a "root for the bad guy" or "anti-hero"
story. They make you cringe. They make you laugh. They are free to go that
extra mile of shock and unsuspected visuals.
I'm more
of a movie guy than a book guy. It's hard to put my favorites into only 3, but
my top 3 movies that speak to me would have to be:
1. Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!. I love the
dialog. I think it flows poetically and you can see that it's strongly
reminiscent of the dialog Tarantino is influenced by.
2. Robocop. Yes, it was a
Hollywood big-budget movie, but the grit of grindhouse is there. I
remember seeing it in the theater as a kid and thought it was the perfect
film. it had a comic book feel but the over the top violence made me want more
and inspired me to keep drawing and making my own twisted stories.
3. Machine Girl. The company Tokyo Shock
has made some amazing films. This was one of the first ones I had seen from
that studio. The battles are ridiculously over the top with buckets and
fountains of blood that either make people laugh or cringe. The plots are
simple but try things that people are afraid to tackle like kitchen fights
involving tempura frying a woman's arm. Or high school wrist cutting club
competitions.
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| Cover Tres |
Me: Your project ended up being successfully funded
after only an hour and currently has raised over $38,000. To what do you
attribute such an amazing response to your Kickstarter?
Mendoza: I give it all up to the fans. They are
super loyal to me as I am to them. The success of everything is always because
of fans, and if you don't treat them well, they will just come and go. I think
that me and the fans have a great relationship.
Me: If Sad Girl had an all-out brawl with Zombie
Tramp, who would win and why?
Mendoza: lol tough question. I know Zombie Tramp
way better than I'm getting to know Sad Girl. Every Character I develop is a
slow process. I get to know them better as the stories progress. I think Sad
Girl will have some surprises up her sleeve that would put her in the ranks of
being on par with our beloved "street walking dead".
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| Sad Girl Psycho Baby Preview Page |
Me: What is the number one reason you think people
should back Sad Girl Psycho Baby?
Mendoza: Simple. If you’re getting tired of the
same old drab P.C. stuff coming out of the comic industry and just want to have
fun again reading comics. This will be a great adventure for you. It's fun,
it's hardcore, and it takes readers into another world full of action and
chaos.
Me: What inspirational words do you have for
aspiring comic book writers and artists?
Mendoza: Work hard. There's always someone out
there working harder than you with the same dreams as you. If you don't
continue to push yourself to make yourself known, that other person will. Stop
criticizing what everyone else is doing with their careers and focus on your
own. Focus is the key to success.
Me: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me Dan
and congrats on your success! If you’re reading this and are interested in the
project, you can check out Dan’s official Kickstarter project here.
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| Limited Edition 11X17 Prints |
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.
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