RANDY QUEEN ON STARFALL

[MattBrady]

Announced at Top Cow’s New York Comic Con panel, Randy Queen’s Starfall will be the first major work from the creator since his Darkchylde in the ‘90s. Only teaser art was shown, with Top Cow President Matt Hawkins noting that the publisher will not be soliciting the new project until all the issues are done, in order to guarantee that readers are able to follow the story on a monthly basis.

We were able to catch up with Queen to talk about the new project.

Newsarama: First off Randy, in broad strokes, what is Starfall about?

Randy Queen: The High Concept is this: pirates crash land on an uncharted Jungle Planet, and unknowingly unleash a degenerative nanobot technology that turns the local dinosaur and cannibal populace into raging zombies.

NRAMA: Mmmm. Pulpy. Who are the main characters?

RQ: The story's protagonist is Sierra Starfall, a female Flash Gordon/Tarzan type character who's hotwired with Dragon DNA and over 100 years old, despite not looking a day over 25! Sierra is legendary and considered by many to be the Galaxy's Greatest Warrior. She is commander of a fiercely loyal rogue's gallery of Alien Mercs, who have survived and vanquished many perils. This time they won't.

I want to keep a lid on the other guys for now, we'll be rolling them out a little later. But the first storyline chronicles what becomes the last mission of these characters. In the tradition of Kirk and Star Trek, they're thinking they'll make that last minute escape, but they don't. We all have a last story, and this will be a study on how the dynamics of a team book become the dynamics of a solo book as the pirates meet their collective fates on this savage planet. And they do not go quietly into that good night!

NRAMA: So what was the genesis of the idea here?

RQ: If an artist is creating something for themselves to work on, the hope is it will be successful enough to be on it for a few years. So then it becomes "What interests you enough to make that commitment?" Where's the passion? I want to draw a female Tarzan/Flash Gordon type character. Something of the flavor of King Kong crashing into Star Wars. So Starfall dovetails my love for jungle adventure, space fantasty, and horror films. Bad Ass Space Pirates vs. Zombie Dinosaurs on a lost planet? Are you kidding? I can rock that.

NRAMA: Was there a long-germinating seed, or was this something that came to you in a flash?

RQ: It was years. Coming up with an angle to hang your story on is one thing, but creating compelling characters with unique voices, and constructing a world for them is quite another. I don't think it's something you'd necessarily want to rush. Typically the longer it congeals, the better it gets. But you know, that could go on forever. At some point, serve the dish.

I've tried to do other styles, but fans and retailers keep asking for something closer to what put me on the map, so here it is finally.

NRAMA: As with Darkchylde, you're opting to write and draw. Why both?

RQ: The easy answer is I have stories to tell. I see what's out there, and I see what isn't, and it's what isn't that's interesting. I can't reinvent the Space Fantasy or the Jungle Adventure, but I can offer a unique fusion of those genres with my own perspective and ideas so that it becomes its own animal.

NRAMA: You're at a new home with this project, that is, Top Cow. Did you seek them out with the project, or did they come looking?

RQ: I appreciate guys like Steve Niles who have projects with just about everyone. So yes, Top Cow is a new home but it's also an old home. I got my start penciling there because Marc Silversti thought I could, and it was a tremendous benchmark. It was essentially my college experience and I'm still inspired by that flicker of time.

NRAMA: As you mentioned, there are plenty of places to publish these days. History aside, what's the attraction for you for Top Cow of all the publishers you could go with?

RQ: Matt Hawkins was kind enough to ask if I had anything, and we were fortunate they said yes when presented the property. So we didn't shop it anywhere else. I understand Top Cow's sensibilities and marketing, and Starfall is a solid fit. And Sarah and I are a good fit for them. Having a united front to build something brand new in tandem with people we respect is exciting.

When Darkchylde, Witchblade, and The Darkness launched and were rocking comic shops and conventions across the land it was such a feeling of joy. These were new characters that had broken through in a time dominated by the Big Two. You had Coke and Pespi and all of sudden there were these Red Bulls. I'm getting that same feeling creating Starfall. Time will tell how fans receive it of course, but the love is on the page and that's the hardest component. You can't fake it, or the fans will vibe it. They know when you're in a zone and when you're not.

NRAMA: How far are you along on the series, and how much of it are you looking to have done prior to shipping?

RQ: Elvis has already left the building, and I can't think of any reason to solicit the books until they are all in the can.

NRAMA: Any last minute words to sell folks on it?

RQ: I'm a fan same as them. I love this stuff and I love finding something special that inspires. These things are often created in hours of isolation, often late at night and watching the sun come up in quiet solitude. Artists live for that moment of connection with someone's heart and mind through their craft, and the hope of enriching them in some small way, even if it only offers a happy diversion from life's problems for a ten minute read. Because we're all affected by life's struggle and sorrows. There's an awful lot of useless negativity on message boards, and I just don't want to forget that feeling of a being a little kid picking up a stack of comics at 7-11 and getting a Slurpee and being transported to a place of pure and honest joy for a little while. That's what this is about, Joy and inspiration. Finding it and sharing it. I'm confident if you give Sierra Starfall a chance, you'll find a new friend in her adventure. It's the Last Mission of the Galaxy's Greatest Warrior!

[Topher4801]

Sounds different and interesting. I like the first run of Darkchyde exactly for those reasons, it was different than just another superhero in tights book. Plus I really liked the artwork. I really like this preview art too.

Good Luck!

[Starbird]

Wow...really digging the art of the first image. The logo is creative and clever too. I just hope it (the content) proves to be as good as the promotional images.

[Spacedog2k5]

Sounds like fun.. AND, it doesn't require me to bogged down with a gazillion other crossover issues leading to CRISIS after CRISIS after CRISIS. In short, count me along for the ride. Rock on..!!

[Stormbreaker]

Interesting! I liked the first Darkchylde story (I have the trade), and this concept sounds fun. I mean, zombie dinos and cannibals! What's NOT fun about that? So count me in!

[Tizjiz]

I was always a fan of Darkchylde. I picked it up because it was something different at the time and the story caught my eye. I hope Starfall is just as good.

[finn5fel]

It sounds interesting, and I'll definitely give it a try.

By the way, whatever happened to the Darkchylde movie that was mentioned here a few months ago?

[l.21]

Lost me at "raging zombies"

[Mike Bullock]

Looking good, Randy.

[Arvandor]

I loved Darkchylde, and I've long hoped for more stuff from Randy Queen.

Plus, Zombie Dinosaurs! Sold!

[Blackbeard]

Looks fantastic! Count me in.

[ShinAkuma666]

Dinosaurs, oh yeah !I am in ! Great artist wich I wish I had seen more work out by him.

Great thing that it wont be solicited untill all issues are done.

[Eldar]

Sounds like a Mary Sue

[mhawkins]

Randy is an insanely talented guy, we're very excited about this one!

matt

[TheToileteer]

With great breasts like the Twin Moons of Barsoom, there must also come great...oh, never mind.

[stlfan79]

Looks interesting but last time I heard Top Cow saw they were going to wait on something until it was finished was the Darkness vs. Pitt crossover from years ago. I appreciate the willingness to hold on to the issues so the fans aren't waiting but sometimes I feel creators end up taking too long as a result.

[SouthernHero]

Looks cool; count me in.

[steve2275]

its randy queen
i have to get this

[I.M.C.]

Glad to see Randy Queen is back in comics after all this time. Although I was hoping that when he would indeed come back he'd be bringing Darkchylde with him. I will be still checking this out nonetheless.

But I can't help but wonder Matt, why didn't you ask him about the progress of the Darkchylde film. We got one blurb last year, and a pic of the actress playing the cursed Ariel with a transformed hand. Since last July, nothing, nada, zip. zilch, finito, and xso on so on and so on. I figure it wouldn't hurt to ask him sir .

[Rob Levin]

Originally Posted by stlfan79

Looks interesting but last time I heard Top Cow saw they were going to wait on something until it was finished was the Darkness vs. Pitt crossover from years ago. I appreciate the willingness to hold on to the issues so the fans aren't waiting but sometimes I feel creators end up taking too long as a result.

I'm in complete agreement that often times waiting until something is solicited does take an awfully long time. Sometimes the wait seems interminable. But we'd rather do that then give you a story, have you clamoring for it, and then not be able to deliver the rest of it in a timely manner. Trust me, for us the waiting isn't any easier. We'd like to be able to put everything on a schedule and have it just happen. But life, art, and many other things get in the way.

When we wait, know that you're getting that story every four weeks like clockwork. That's what's going to happen with Starfall, and that's what's happening with The Darkness/Pitt. There's a lot of passion behind both of these projects, and everyone involved is giving it more than their all so that when they finally land in your hands, it'll be worth the wait. And it'll be four weeks between each issue, like clockwork.

[Ravengregory]

Big fan of Randy's work. Darykchylde was one of the few comics that my non-comic reading wife got hooked on so I'll definitely be checking this one out.

Randy also did the kick ass cover for the Return to Wonderland hardcover which was a real honor.

[Demogoblin]

Originally Posted by Eldar

Sounds like a Mary Sue

From what I've read on other boards, a Mary Sue isn't simply a favored character of the author of a popular work, but a stand-in for an author of fan-fic. So a Joe Schmo who writes a Next Gen Trek tale where a thinly-veiled version of himself saves the Enterprise, counsels Picard, and marries Troi would be criticized for creating a Mary Sue. Conversely, I don't really Starfall falling into this trap, especially since it's a new property.

[Alextron]

Looks neat.

[boomboom]

Originally Posted by Ravengregory

Big fan of Randy's work. Darykchylde was one of the few comics that my non-comic reading wife got hooked on so I'll definitely be checking this one out.

Randy also did the kick ass cover for the Return to Wonderland hardcover which was a real honor.

wowsers!! You rule Raven!! Great that you brought people like Ebas, Tucci, Randy Queen and Romano Molenaar to the covers of RTW!!!!

[lanzajr26]

Originally Posted by I.M.C.

But I can't help but wonder Matt, why didn't you ask him about the progress of the Darkchylde film. We got one blurb last year, and a pic of the actress playing the cursed Ariel with a transformed hand. Since last July, nothing, nada, zip. zilch, finito, and xso on so on and so on. I figure it wouldn't hurt to ask him sir .

Wow, I had forgotten all about this as well. I'd love to know if this is happening or not, or if there will be more images released.