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Die Kitty Die: Hollywood or Bust interview with Dan Parent and Fernando Ruiz

hollywoodorbustTony White writes,

With the first volume of Die Kitty Die currently running monthly from Chapterhouse Comics (go and request it at your local comic shop), it might be a spoiler-y, yet immensely satisfying surprise to some of those fans to know that there is a Kickstarter running which focuses on the creation of her second volume, "Hollywood or bust". Dan Parent and Fernando Ruiz happily sat down and answered some questions for us.

Tony White: "They tried to kill her before, and she only became more popular! She survived the comic book world, but can she survive Hollywood?" is the opening line of your Kickstarter. That sounds like our bird-brained publisher failed the first time around. Will he and his cronies play as large a part in the second story arc?

Fernando: Yes! The feather-brained greedy Skip Stone, publisher of Kitty Comics, will be back in Die Kitty Die: Hollywood Or Bust trying his hardest to get a Kitty movie made. We'll quickly see he's as good of a movie-maker as he is a publisher of comics. He and his crew will certainly have a large role in the story but are they the ones out to kill Kitty this time? We'll find out in Die Kitty Die: Hollywood Or Bust!

TW: Well, if he's attempting to capitalize on her resurgence in popularity, who is trying to kill her this time around?

F: That's a good question and one of the key differences between this Die Kitty Die adventure and the first one. Last time around, we knew exactly from the beginning that it was Kitty's own publisher that wanted her dead. Now as Kitty heads off to Hollywood to get her movie made, she's going to find that someone is out to kill her again, but who it is this time will be a mystery! Even the reader won't know who's behind the attempts on Kitty's life!

TW: Will we see some of the supporting characters, like Dippy the dead kid, Maxi Millions and Little Satan return from the first volume and based on what Dippy tried in volume 1, should we be wary about them still?

F: Little Satan, Maxi Millions, and our breakout star, Dippy The Dead Kid will all be back in Die Kitty Die Hollywood Or Bust. We'll also see new characters join in the fun. Given the way alliances shifted in the first Die Kitty Die, we should always be wary of everybody! You never know where any of these characters stand!

TW: I read that you're bringing back "The Carneys" which were published previously under the Archie Comics label. I'm sure some will be surprised to know this was your concept, Dan, and that you own the rights to the characters. Will they feature prominently in this volume of Die Kitty Die or is it just an introduction to potentially set up more stories for them down the road?

D: Both! In Die Kitty Die: Hollywood Or Bust, we're going to find out that Kitty has been a longtime friend of the Carneys two-headed daughter, Linda-Louise. This is going to be the connection that brings the fan-favorite freak family into the story. They'll play a major part and this will hopefully lead to more stories and possibilities for the Carneys!

TW: I'm somewhat familiar with The Carneys, but for those who may never have had the pleasure, what can you tell them about the group?

D: The Carneys are your everyday normal American family, they just happen to be a family of circus folk. Sort of like the Munsters, they don't feel abnormal, and they embrace their peculiarities.  The family is facing its struggles as they've retired from the circus, and are trying to integrate themselves into normal, everyday life.

TW: The first volume of Die Kitty Die was a phenomenal journey with plenty of digs at the industry and certain comic book tropes. It's garnered many great reviews and many 5 out of 5 ratings with reviewers both of the collected hardcover and of the 1st issue that was just released through Chapterhouse Comics. Two part question: Did you think when you started the first process of making Die Kitty Die a reality, that you would have two successful Kickstarter campaigns, be working on a second volume and have a publishing contract for the series? Was the first volume initial planned to be the sum total of Kitty's story, but the response was so overwhelmingly positive that, creatively, more stories just flooded in?

F: We really just hoped for the best when we first started all this. Die Kitty Die came about as a way for us to finally work together. We were reasonably confident we could get the first book funded but we were stunned at the incredible outpouring of support that we received from our very loyal and generous fans and friends. They really made it happen and made it happen as well as it did. We really couldn't have done it without them. They absolutely made the first book possible and consequently the Chapterhouse series and now this sequel series we're looking to kickstart.

TW: Your current Kickstarter, again, reached its initial goal in about a week this time and you are focusing on some really great stretch goals. Can you tell us what people can expect, if they pledge right now with only about a week left and what stretch goal is next once you meet the current goal which is the Summer Special one-shot?

F: We have a week left at this point. We were very fortunate to be able to fund another hardcover with dust jacket as well as a bonus story by the talented Gisele Lagace. Now we're on track to reach our next stretch goal, a Die Kitty Die Summer Special, an entire separate issue filled with original Summer-themed Kitty material. If we're able to reach this goal, our next stretch goal will be a Die Kitty Die Christmas Special. We're really hoping to get to this one. What better way to celebrate the Holidays than by watching Evil Forces plot ho-ho-horrible schemes against our favorite redheaded witch? Let's make it happen, Everybody!

 

You can also find Die Kitty Die in comic shops from Chapterhouse Comics. #

thecarneys


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Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
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