TALKING TO BART THOMPSON ABOUT LETHAL INSTINCT

[MattBrady]

by Chris Arrant

In the aftermath of the Alias Enterprises' refocusing their efforts onto the Christian bookstore market, titles like Lethal Instinct were left up in the air. In this title's case, publishers were quick to pick up on the opportunity and Arcana Studios has signed up to produce a collected edition of the first Lethal Instinct series and initiate work on the second volume, a four issue miniseries entitled Lethal Instinct: Starchild.

Created by Rômulo Soares, the Lethal Instinct books center around a homicide cop with a dark secret: lycanthropy.

That means he's a werewolf.

Frank Aaron shares his secret only with his partner and a friend who's a doctor. Aaron is keeping the secret for all the normal reasons, but also to ensure his promotion into "The Special" Division", which deals with paranormal cases affecting those like himself.

Joining Soares for the series is writer Bart. A Thompson and artist Rivaldo Gama. Newsarama spoke with series writer Bart A. Thompson about the new miniseries.

Newsarama: For those who haven't read volume 1 of Lethal Instinct, can you encapsulate that for us?

Bart A. Thompson: Volume 1 was subtitled Full Moon Over Blackstone, where we were introduced to Detective Frank Aaron of Blackstone City’s “Homicide Prime” unit who also happens to be a werewolf. Two hundred years ago an onyx colored meteorite landed in the area giving the city not only its name, but causing mutations with the residents over the years. About 35% of Blackstone’s population has special abilities, though most of them are very low class powers. A crime boss secures a piece of the meteorite and uses it to use it to enhance his own special abilities. Murders, kidnappings, secret cults, and werewolf action are all contained within!

NRAMA: So what's Frank Aaron up to in volume 2, Lethal Instinct: Starchild?

BAT: After losing his partner and best friend but gaining control of his Lycanthropy, Frank is struggling with inner demons about himself, his past, his work, and more. There is talk that he may be facing a promotion that he’s been working his whole career for. He’s struggling with the feelings he is starting to develop for his new partner, Ingrid Jensen, who was supposed to be temporary but after the events of volume one she’s become permanent.

NRAMA: What exactly is the "Homicide Prime" unit, and what does Frank do there?

BAT: Blackstone Police Department’s Homicide division is separated into eight units with about ten detectives each. Blackstone City is separated into seven zones and each unit is given a number and a zone to cover. While Homicide units 2 through 8 are assigned zones, Homicide 1 covers Blackstone as a whole depending on the case or other possible factors. Over the years Homicide 1 has been dubbed Homicide Prime and they’re sort of the superstars of the division.

NRAMA: Can you tell us about the case and murderer Frank's after?

BAT: Secretly being a werewolf, Frank has been able to breeze through his cases with heightened senses and raw strength. This latest murderer has become frustrating as the killer leaves biological trace samples, but the laboratories can’t seem to get a genetic match on who or what he is. The cases themselves are odd because usually a serial killer will have a particular type for their victims, but this one seems to span all genders, races, ages, and walks of life. When Frank finally encounters this murderer, he’s stronger, faster, and more primal, yet very educated, proper, and civilized.

NRAMA: Can you tell us about the other characters in the mix for this story?

BAT: Captain Joe Pierce and the aforementioned Detective Ingrid Jensen return for this arch. The new addition for this volume is CSI/Corner Stephanie Clark who is also a work-a-holic like Frank and is vying for the position of love interest. We’re trying to elaborate more on the main characters this arch, but we’ll increase the roster more in volume three.

NRAMA: Who's doing the artwork on volume 2?

BAT: That would be the talented Rivaldo Gama and the Lynx Studio staff!

NRAMA: Can you talk a little about your impressions on Rivaldo Gama's/Lynx Studo’s work on the series?

BAT: I’ve been very pleased with Rivaldo’s work on Lethal Instinct Volume 1 had a lot of growing pains in every category, but we all really stepped our game up for Volume 2. Now the art and the story are a lot more solid and concise, and they compliment each other well. There was a small issue with certain panels with lots of dialogue being drawn too small within the first issue, but our letterer took care of that problem.

[Brujah]

Lethal injection is what I wanted while reading this craptacular series!!!
This series just sucked. I had to special order the last issue because no one in my area even ordered it. (I waited until I had all 6 issues before I started reading - big mistake). Hopefully the second volume will be better, but I won't be gettting it so I won't know!

My first first post!!!

[Sharcque]

I think it's great that this book found a home. I, for one, really enjoyed the 1st series!

[innocentboy]

big up!
respect

[AlexLothos]

Originally Posted by Brujah

Lethal injection is what I wanted while reading this craptacular series!!!
This series just sucked. I had to special order the last issue because no one in my area even ordered it. (I waited until I had all 6 issues before I started reading - big mistake). Hopefully the second volume will be better, but I won't be gettting it so I won't know!

My first first post!!!

The second series will be a whole lot better! There were a lot of hands in the first arch and an attempt to do too much ended up going nowhere. A lot of us were doing different or new roles for the first time (myself included... I've never done dialogue before over a story and art I didn't write before), so there were a lot of growing pains with the first arch.

The second arch will be a lot more straight forward. Everyone knows their position, everyone is on top of their game, and we have a lot more support than before. I hope you change you mind and at least give the first issue a chance before dropping the series completely!!!

[AlexLothos]

Originally Posted by Sharcque

I think it's great that this book found a home. I, for one, really enjoyed the 1st series!

Thank you for the support! If you liked the first series you'll be blown away by the second one!

Originally Posted by innocentboy

big up!
respect

Thank you, man!

[skeletorjr]

Originally Posted by Brujah

Lethal injection is what I wanted while reading this craptacular series!!!
This series just sucked. I had to special order the last issue because no one in my area even ordered it. (I waited until I had all 6 issues before I started reading - big mistake). Hopefully the second volume will be better, but I won't be gettting it so I won't know!

My first first post!!!

Very classy. Look up the word 'tact'

[rasmane]

Originally Posted by AlexLothos

The second arch will be a lot more straight forward. Everyone knows their position, everyone is on top of their game, and we have a lot more support than before.

At first I was only interested in those issues you scripted, but the series grew on me. It did seem a little overwritten at times, but I'm glad you all are taking another swing at this.

This time, control the blah-blah, and let the pictures tell a little more of the story!

[AlexLothos]

Originally Posted by skeletorjr

Very classy. Look up the word 'tact'

Thanks for the support, but I'm glad Brujah took a moment to share comments and thoughts on the series. Bring on the opinions, good, bad, or ugly. That way we'll know what to keep doing and what we need to fix and work on to make better.

Originally Posted by rasmane

At first I was only interested in those issues you scripted, but the series grew on me. It did seem a little overwritten at times, but I'm glad you all are taking another swing at this.

This time, control the blah-blah, and let the pictures tell a little more of the story!

Hey Ras! Nice to see you on here!

I'm VERY interested to see what you'll think about the Starchild and New Whitechapel archs.