We talk to David Pepose about his new comic book, The O.Z. This episode is also available on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, iHeart Radio and Spotify. The Hall H Show is hosted by Aaron Nabus and Alex Benedicto and is the “Voice of Independent Creators.”
Show Notes:
Hey there Hall H Show listeners!
Aaron Nabus here and thank you so much for listening to the Hall H Show podcast where we proudly showcase indie pop culture and comic book creators that deserve more attention.
For episode 89, we’re joined by David Pepose, the mind behind comic books Spencer and Locke and Going to the Chapel.
We last had him on the podcast back on episode 65.
And of course, who can forget the first time we met him on episode 22 which was recorded at San Diego Comic-Con 2017.
But on this episode, we welcome David back to talk about his newest creation, The O.Z. – which was fully funded on its first day on Kickstarter in only two hours! We also discuss how the Corona lockdown is a good time for creatives to increase their productivity so that they are ready to take advantage of the new normal once restrictions ease; the importance of patience, empathy, and building relationships; and how David purposefully creates books that are accessible and relatable.
For example, his new book, even though it’s a twist on a classic fantasy tale, is grounded in reality – especially with the main character, Dorothy Gale, a disillusioned Iraq War Veteran, struggling with her own inner war while trying to survive the war-torn land of Oz.
Kickstarter Campaign Trailer:
Check out the Kickstarter for The O.Z. (ends Wednesday, September 16, 2020)
About The O.Z.:
Creative Team:
Writer and Creator: David Pepose
Artist: Ruben Rojas
Colorist: Whitney Cogar
Letterer: DC Hopkins
Synopsis (from the Kickstarter campaign):
The O.Z. is a fantasy classic reimagined for comics. Haunted by her past, a Disillusioned Iraq War veteran must survive the war-torn land of Oz.
What if The Hurt Locker took place in The Wizard of Oz? Find out in The O.Z., a thrilling new comic series from Ringo Award-nominated writer David Pepose (Spencer & Locke, Going to the Chapel) and red-hot new artist Ruben Rojas that transforms a childhood classic into a war story for the ages. Debuting on Kickstarter with a 44-page first chapter, this campaign is dedicated to bringing this action-packed twist on L. Frank Baum’s iconic Oz novels to life. Fans of Mad Max, The Old Guard, and Fables will not want to miss out on The O.Z.
FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
Decades ago, when a young girl defeated the Wicked Witch of the West, she said farewell to the magical land of Oz… but unwittingly plunged the country in a vicious power vacuum leading to years of brutal civil war. But a generation later, the name of Dorothy Gale lives on in her granddaughter, an Iraq war veteran grappling with disillusionment and PTSD — yet when a tornado strikes Dorothy’s quiet Kansas town, this former soldier finds herself in the war-torn battlefield known only as The O.Z. Forced to navigate warring factions led by the Tin Soldier, the Scarecrow, and the Courageous Lion, Dorothy must come to terms with her legacy and her past if she ever hopes to bring peace to the Occupied Zone.
(source: The O.Z. Kickstarter)
Artwork Samples:
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The comics industry, for every bit of smooth sailing up above, there’s a graveyard of broken dreams underneath the surface. And I do feel bad for that and in that regard, if I got called up to the big two tomorrow, I would obviously accept.
David Pepose
There is part of me that is not in a rush for that. I want to make sure I can walk before I can run and I also like the level of control I have over my projects. I know that when I work with my collaborators that I know we’ll leave it out on the field because I won’t release it if it’s not good enough and when you’re in that apparatus of the big two, especially if you’re double shipping a book, you don’t get that time to reflect, you don’t get that time to rework and rethink things.
The train is on the tracks and if you’re not on that train you’re going to get run over. It’s a different sport. I have all the respect for the people that do it. That’s why watching people’s careers get ended or even tarnished because of some of the corporate backroom intrigue – that bums me out a bit. It makes me redouble my efforts in the independent scene.
Thunder Round Questions:
- What are your three favorite video games of all time? Why did you pick those?
- What statement would you have Bart, from the Simpsons, write on the chalkboard?
- It’s 10pm and you’re starving after a full day of writing. What kind of pizza do you order?
- King Kong or Godzilla?
- If Jack Kirby was still alive, what would you ask him?
- You’re usually a guest on panels at comic conventions. If you could create and moderate your own panel, what would it be about and who would be your guests?
- Spending more time at home during this pandemic has given me the opportunity to watch all sorts of things – like Star Wars Clone Wars, Donnie Yen movies, and skateboarding videos. Anything interesting that you’ve come across lately?
- What does Captain Planet look like in the David Pepose universe?
Follow David:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Subscribe to Pep Talk
Follow The O.Z.:
Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Kickstarter
Thank YOU:
Wow! Hope you enjoyed this conversation with David Pepose!
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Peace, cheers and please be safe out there! ~Aaron
The post Ep. 89 – David Pepose (The O.Z.) appeared first on Hall H | Hall H Show.
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