O'HARE & NAPTON ON FLAK RIOT

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Michael O’Hare and Robert Place Napton, the creative team behind Deity: Requiem, have teamed up again, this time for Flak Riot, a new four-issue mini-series from Image Comics in June.

Flak Riot tells the story of one Zoe Nixxon, a cute, bored, lonely file clerk who longs for a new line only to find her true calling: hunting for bounties in the lawless dimension known as the O.D.

Sometimes, one decision can indeed change everything.

We caught up with O’Hare and Napton for a chat.

Newsarama: From Deity: Requiem to Flak Riot. How did this come about?

Robert Place Napton: Michael created Flak Riot, it's his baby and while we were working together finishing up a previously aborted project Deity: Requiem, he showed me the work he had done so far and I was blown away, not only by the quality of the art but by the love and care he had put into the story and characters. We talked about his plans for it and he asked me if I'd be interested in writing it and I jumped at the chance. Basically, he had worked out the story arc and I came in and we collaborated on the details and fleshing out the characters, but it was a really organic process and tremendous fun, the most fun I've had writing series in years. I love these characters and I believe others will as well.

Michael O'Hare: I used to stalk Bob in the supermarket dressed as BloodStrike. Once the restraining order was lifted, Bob and I started working together.

NRAMA: Is this related to Deity?

RPN: No, it's Michael's original creation, not to be confused with the universe of Deity.

NRAMA: What was the inspiration for Flak Riot?

MOH: To me as a kid nothing was cooler than trains, dinosaurs, ninjas, gunslingers robots, diabolical evil geniuses and file clerks (not necessarily in that order) so naturally when I started thinking of creating my own comic, I tapped into that childlike zeal and tossed it all into the mix.

NRAMA: According to the solicitation copy, the protagonist is a female character, Zoe Nixxon…

RPN: Right, Zoe Nixxon is the main character. She's not your typical female protagonist. She's a real person, with real problems, and there's so much empathy with her and her story. It wasn't difficult to get into and find her voice, the character and facial expressions Michael came up with are so subtle and thought out; it was really effortless bringing her to life.

MOH: Zoe is a bummed out file clerk. Life has been grinding her down a bit. The monotony of her day to day is in contrast with her heart, which desperately wants an exciting adventurous life. She decides to shake things up a bit and become a bounty hunter in a dimension next door to our own that’s full of trains, dinosaurs, ninjas, gunslingers robots, and diabolical evil geniuses. Lots of adventure and hi-jinks abound.

NRAMA: Other than the both of you, who else is part of the creative team?

RPN: The colorist Michael Garcia is an integral part of the team. His work is absolutely beautiful. Every time I see a new page, I'm just astonished by how much he's putting into the project.

MOH: Yeah, wait until you see the colors for this book. He really takes everything to another level.

Jason Levine is handling the lettering. Sometimes I think lettering gets overlooked in the process of making comics but it really adds a polish when it’s done well and Jason is doing a great job.

NRAMA: How did Image Comics come into the picture?

RPN: [Executive Director] Eric Stephenson saw the work and brought it to Image. He's been an enthusiastic supporter of the project from the very beginning and we're happy to be working at Image. For me, it's people I know and have worked with before, so it makes it really easy and cool.

MOH: We looked at a few publishers and I was even in talks with one of those but in the end, Image was the best choice it has a cool set up. Eric Stephenson is a great guy and if you look at what’s coming out of Image right now like Ascend, Mora, PigTale, The Ride and the list goes on, you can’t help but get excited for where it’s going.

NRAMA: Anything else that you’d like to add?

RPN: Since Michael created Flak Riot, I can be a bit more shameless about talking it up, and I have to say, this is one of the best looking projects I've ever worked on, if not, the best. The quality and care, Michael, Mike, and Jason are putting into really shows. It's really gotten me excited about comics again and I hope everyone checks it out and gives the book a try, because if you do, I think you'll agree with me.

MOH: As kind of a promo deal thing, the first five letters/emails [that] we get for issue #1, good or bad (hopefully good) will get a snazzy free detailed sketch of one of the characters sent to them. Send all emails to Flakriot@yahoo.com

RPN: The first series is four issues, but we want to continue, there's so much more to tell with these characters. So please buy a copy.

[Vyper]

Looks and sounds very interesting - added to my pull list

[Bakema NL]

Hmmm, looks interesting. Image really is a place where you can find lots of things right now. I was a bit surprised to see what had become of Image over the years. Looked disappointing at first. But it's really the other way around, their offerings are quite diverse. I'm not picking up everything, but my list is growing.
I picked up Ascend yesterday. I was wondering why I didn't see it, but that's not so strange when you are looking for a monthly instead of the tpb it is. Image has set itself apart from the superhero label only, now more than ever.

[CoffinDancer]

The art looks incredible in my opinion. I just emailed off a letter, I'd love to get one of those sketches.

[momoboo]

The art looks awesome! Story sounds interesting too, will definitely check it out...Funny I just picked up a copy of Deity Requiem the other day. I have to say this is by far the best of the Deity series. It had a sophitication the previous books lack. Naptons' writing seems to have really matured. Art looks great too.

[Solamon]

I think this and Strange Girl are my two most anticipated Image titles right now. No... they are two of my most anticipated comics in general right now. Getting to see the preview pages at high res is real nice because those teeny-tiny quarter page spreads used in Previews just doesn't do this artwork justice. Good luck, I eagerly await the first issue.

[hamsterdance]

That artwork and coloring is nice. Think I'm going to check this one out when it ships.

Image is starting to publish some monthlies that have caught my eye. I hope a lot of the series they've been publishing recently become trades. If they do Image will start to compete with DC Vertigo, IDW, Slave Labor, Tokyopop and Viz for shelf space on my bookcase.

[Switch]

It is out and it is to my liking.