FRED PERRY: GOLD DIGGERS AND MORE

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

Meet the Diggers.

Gina Diggers is an incredibly cute, incredibly intelligent daughter of a very powerful mage from another world.

Her adopted sister, Britanny, is a were-cheetah.

Brianna, the third Digger sister, is a weapon extraordinaire and a cloned fusion of the two sisters.

Together, they embark on non-stop Indiana Jones-types of adventures from Eden to Shangri-La to Atlantis.

And it’s been almost 15 years since their debut.

Just how is Fred Perry’s Gold Digger doing after all these years? We chatted with Perry for an update as well as his opinion on the current manga boom.

Newsarama: Before we start talking about Gold Digger, the market has changed drastically in regards to manga since you debuted the title nearly 15 years ago. What do you think of the tsunami effect that the manga phenomenon has created in North America and the world at large?

Fred Perry: I think it means that once the tsunami is over, we'll all have great big pools of manga we can dive into all the time. It's so much better to have access to some of my favorite books without the frustration of not being able to find much like in the old days. (I sound so old) Oh well… Back to reading Yotsuba!

NRAMA: That said, and being one of the pioneers of it, Do you think there's a bright future for original American manga or Amerimanga/Original English Language (OEL) manga?

FP: It seems there has been a back and forth reflection of inspiration between the US, Japan and all over. Mickey Mouse inspired Tesuka to make Astro Boy. Tesuka inspired Disney to make Lion King... Heh... But inspirational pings and pongs have been going back and forth for a really long time. American comics, TV shows and movies inspired manga artists. And now we read manga and are tremendously inspired.

It's my hope that the current manga readers will begin to see what we're reflecting back from that inspiration.

NRAMA: Speaking as a fan, what're some of your all-time favorite manga/comics?

FP: Streetfighter Zero by Masahiko Nakahira, Iron Wok Jan by Shinji Saijyo, supervised by Keiko Oyama, We3 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.

NRAMA: In terms of influences, who from each side of the Pacific do you look up to as a creator?

FP: The US: Ben Dunn; Japan: Masahiko Nakahira

NRAMA: What're some of your current favorite manga/comics?

FP: Hmmm… I'd have to say, my current is Azumangadaio by Kiyohiko Azuma.

NRAMA: Did the thought of doing superheroes ever crossed your mind, especially the icons at Marvel and DC? After all, Ben Dunn did have a run on some of the Marvel characters in his short-lived Marvel Mangaverse series. So, if given the opportunity, who would you like to work on, and why?

FP: Well, I've always wanted to try Teen Titans or X-Men. Simply because of the way they made me feel when I saw them back when I was in Junior High School. I'd try to bring that feeling with me.

NRAMA: Okay, moving on to something nearer and dearer to you, how has the Gold Digger series evolved over the years?

FP: It's grown as the characters have. The characters in GD are really dynamic and they age, learn and grow. What has remained constant is Gina's research into the past. She's been on to some mysterious "big picture" since the beginning. And pieces fall into place with each issue.

NRAMA: Who're some of the main (or supporting) characters in the series other than the Digger sisters now?

FP: Seance and Genn: Two magic users who are part of Gina's research team. They help Gina understand elements outside her expertise. They've been close friends with her since the earliest parts of her career. And they really don't know just how important they are to Gina as she reaches her goal.

Ayane Anno, Gar Silvear and Luan Geas: Martial arts experts... actually they're still really just students. Very soon their true role in the story will be realized as Gina discovers the history of their perspective martial arts style's origin, and how they can set things right.

Mesha, Tark and Grod: Mesha and Tark: Once royal members of their noble families... Once slaves of the terrible dragon-lord, Dreadwing, are Eldrich Grod, Master Sage and keeper of Jade-Realm's "Magic Observatory", is Trolvic. During their initial meeting they mistrusted each other and climactically wound up fighting. However, they were able to overcome their initial prejudices and developed an understanding friendship. Currently, Mesha and Tark have been kidnapped by the Eldrich noble family Mesha abandoned eons ago. Grod is their only hope, but during the rescue attempt, he learns a little more than he's ever wanted to know about the Eldrich and Trolvic legacy. He and his rescue party will have to face impossible odds to rescue his friends. Fortunately, (or perhaps unfortunately) Gina, Brianna, Seance and Genn drop by the observatory for a visit just before the rescue mission is launched.

NRAMA: For those coming in…well, 15 years after things have started, what're some of the major highlights/storylines in the history of the GD comics?

FP: “The Lich King”: The grandfather of the Diggers sisters, Jonathan Leon Diggers was an archmage who suffered from a terrible accident. An accident while crafting a powerful new spell designed to convert dark hearts and minds a little closer to the light. The spell was lost and Jonathan was transformed into an undead monstrosity. "The Lich King!" As much as Jonathan loved his family, The Lich King hated. But as an undead creature, his magic was finite. The two story arcs of the Lich King center around both extensive campaigns launched against the Diggers family in order to procure the one component the Lich King needed to secure his power forever. A living aura... a soul... that is linked to his own through the love Jonathan once had.

”The history of Dragons”: Gina's research has led her across the globe and into Jade-Realm, a world apart from Earth-Realm. During her travels she has unlocked clues to the existence of a great event that took place far in the past. The history of Dragons begins with this event and Gina is determined to unlock this once thought legendary chronical. In the coming issues Gina's research will take her across the realms of Earth Jade and U'deun, the realm of the undead. As she moves closer to the answer. He insatiable curiosity compels her onward... as well as a mysterious force deep at the core of her being she has yet to truly understand.

NRAMA: How many of the earlier stories have been collected in digest-sized trade paperbacks/pocketmanga collections?

FP: The entire B&W series of GD: 50 issues, plus the original 4 issue mini-series, plus the original pilot series that ran in Mangazine will be available in pocketmanga volumes. New volume additions will be released quarterly until the entire B&W series is complete.

NRAMA: Other than Gold Digger, you’d also completed a three-issue run on Ninja High School prior to Ben Dunn’s return to the long-running series…

FP: Right - my story [#127-#129] focuses on the rich and obnoxious but slightly inept Tetsuo Rivalsan and his quest to get the better of his older, expert ninja of a sister, Yumei, once and for all! His ultimate goal is to bring her everlasting shame and humiliation by forcing her to marry one of his artificially intelligent droids! Tetsuo's success rate for his combat-oriented campaigns against his high school rival, Ricky Feeple, Yumei, and his list of enemies in general has been, to use the words of his older brother Lendo, "a sham." And so, if he fails this time... if he cannot get his sister to say "I do" to her mechanical suitor... he can kiss his wealth, status and Rivalsan family name goodbye!

NHS is manga inspired adventures filled with laughs and mayhem from the hilarious, cute, and dangerous characters and high school students of Quagmire USA.

Each new semester brings a new cast of characters and situations. Again, mostly manga inspired, but unique in their own way.

NRAMA: How did you come to work on NHS?

FP: Simple - one day the editor of NHS asked me if I'd like to work on a short three issue story to: a) return the book to an "on time" status, so Ben has some good footing to start his re-launch and b) have some fun with the story, and there we were.

Gold Digger #65, in full color, is currently available in comic shops. For more on Antarctic Press, click here

Related article:
20 ANTARCTIC YEARS LATER: BEN DUNN ON NINJA HIGH SCHOOL

[Bedlam66]

I loved Gold digger as a kid it's great to see it back.

[Altercator]

Wasn't there an animated feature that was supposed to be released?

[jasinmartin]

I love Fred Perry's art!
I particularly liked his first run on Legacy!!

[Pikachu007]

Originally posted by Altercator
Wasn't there an animated feature that was supposed to be released?

Fred has done two Time Raft OVA's available from Antarctic Press..... The 3rd one is on the way....

[idkidd]

I've enjoyed these articles on the Antarctic creators Ben Dunn and Fred Perry and I've never purchased an AP book. I wish Newsarama would do more of these stories on the smaller publishers that maybe aren't the hottest thing going but month in and month out faithfully publish new works. When publishers come on the scene and flame out within 2 years, it's a spectacular achievement for a company to still be in the business 20 years after they began -- especially so prolificly. Let's show some love!

Also, to make this piece better, I think it would have been really cool if during the part where Fred was describing the characters there were (next to the descriptions) a picture of each character's face which when you clicked on them opened up a page showing a "Marvel Handbook" style character description along with a full body shot.

Also, AP would be smart to offer a link that allows people to read maybe three of the best issues in a row for free over the net. Give people that have never heard of Gold Digger a free taste to get them hooked.

Just some thoughts.

[PKilpatrick]

Funny you should mention that!

We are currently in the process of completely redesigning our site and the new website will include long previews of a number of our books.

But hopefully this will tide you over for the time being:
http://www.antarctic-press.com/html/...s/previews.htm

Tons of previews of a wide selection of our books! Check them out!

Its Gotta Be AP!
Paul Kilpatrick
Managing Editor
Antarctic Press

[Erikonil]

All right! Great to see Fred getting some air time here! He's such a nice (and hiddiously talented) guy at conventions and always has time to just sit back and talk to fans when we come around. You can always tell when he's in the artist alley at a con because of the huge croud around his table.

The fact that all these stories that we have been reading for the past few years are finally coming together is a huge payoff! Characters and storylines we thought were long done with have been amazingly woven back into the story.

In a market of hard core heros and violent anti-heros Gold Digger keeps a wonderful mix of humor and action while still being about to tell a serious story.

It's also worht mentioning that his other book Legacy is also worth checking out. It's darker and more serious, but still has the wonderful characterisation that we've come to know from Fred.

[Idiosylph]

Woot! Fred Perry! By far my favorite artist/creator from Antartic Press. I love Gold Digger. It has a great story and Fred really is weaving in elements into the story now that he brought up waaaay back in the original mini-series.

Gold Digger is the second-longest ongoing series from Antartic, second only to Ninja High School, but unlike NHS, GD has kept the original creative team all these issues. The only change to the creative team was the addition of a colorist.

Fred Perry is not only a great artist/writer, but he's also a great guy. Every time I've met him at a convention he's been friendly, is willing to talk to fans, and actively seeks the opinions of his readers on what he can do to make the book better.

[Sean-Z]

I'm very glad to see Fred getting more exposure here, in Newsarama...he is a very prolific and creative force in this industry. Typically, overlooked all to often...for those of you unfamiliar with his work, do yourselves a favor and pick up his series and/or trades of Gold Digger and Legacy...it is really some of the most original, fun and hilarious stuff out there...

[rogue_tomato]

Great article, big fan here Fred Perry & Ben Dunn are the MEN!

[Reliant]

I jumped aboard Gold Digger with issue #10 of the color series and, knock on wood, I haven't missed a single issue since. It's been a consistently fun read and Fred Perry is absolute tops in my book. I collect many titles, but if I had to get rid of all but one, I'd keep Gold Digger, and I mean that.

[MisterClock]

cool

[Tivome]

great water-color techniques... kinda similar to the great HK wuxia comics. That's kinda rare in Japense manga so it's a good mix.

As for Fred's chara.. well it's his style and looks fun, but just feels too amaturish to me. I don't know, maybe I'm too harsh, but I judge his art by the thousands of similar quality in Japan, and I feel Ben's art is closer to the great doujinshi masters than Fred's. Right now, I feel no American manga-ka can publish professionally in Japan. At best we can sell a few copies at Comiket. I judge everyone's art at this level and I feel that based on merit of Fred's art alone won't get him much sales (the fact that he's gaijin would sell a LOT more though). My standards maybe high, but without high standards there's no way we can really compete with the Japanese. I know a few salaryman friends who draw better than 90% of the "published" manga-ka or rising stars out there. We gotta do better.