POPGUN VOL4: Interview with the mixtape DJ!

The fourth volume of Image Comics POPGUN anthology hits comic and book stores on February 24^th. POPGUN bills itself as a “comic book mixtape,” so to find out what that means and learn a little more about the book, I sat down with my buddy, DJ Kirkbride-- who just happens to be POPGUN's editor, but as it turns out, not an actual DJ. 

TIM: So what exactly is POPGUN? What is a Comic Book Mixtape?

DJ: POPGUN co-creators Joe Keatinge and Mark Smith came up with that description for volume 1, and we've stuck with it. Before all the hi tech shenanigans of iTunes and the internet and whatnot, people in the days of yore made mixtapes -- on actual cassette tapes (ask your grandparents, kids). I used to do them all the time, and they were great fun. That's how we're approaching POPGUN, but instead of with songs on a tape, they're comics in a book.

Part of the fun of a mixtape, too, is finding a good song order, seeing how each song leads into the next, and we've been concentrating more on that with POPGUN, as well. Volume 4 has a flow to it, more in regard to the emotions of each story, so we have funny sections that slowly get more dramatic, then back up to fun and action-packed.

TIM: To stick with the “mixtape” analogy, who are your “bands” on this tape?

DJ: We have over eighty contributors. There are some established folks like Erik Larsen (who has awesomely been in all four books), Jock did a cool "intermission" spread for us, and Jeffrey Brown wrote and drew an awesome Dungeon & Dragons style comic called “The Dark Master’s Reign.” Other contributors include Frank Stockton, Mark Andrew Smith, Jess Fink... oh, there are so many. The book is packed!

TIM: So, who is Popgun aimed at? Who do you think would enjoy reading it?

DJ: It's for anyone who enjoys or has ever enjoyed comics. I know that's vague, but, really, we have such variety in each book. All the stories stand on their own, and it's just a great sampling of different styles and genres -- from cartoony comedy to superhero action to horror to drama -- this book's got it all, true believers! (Ahem, sorry. Got carried away.)

TIM: Dammit, Kirkbride, that IS too vague!! If only there were some sort of website which might give people the opportunity to sample a few of the stories...

DJ: Well, then, demanding sir, let me direct you and your readers to http://www.popguncomics.com -- five full stories from volume 4!

TIM: Hmm, you know, this internet thing just might have a future in comics...So although this is technically Vol.4, one doesn't need to have read vol's 1-3...

DJ: Yeah, each POPGUN volume stands on its own. There are some continuing characters -- Chris Moreno's Sanz Pantz has been in every volume, Brian Winkeler and Dave Curd have been traveling the “Bastard Road” since vol. 2, and Adam P. Knave, Matteo Scalera, and yours truly have a story featuring our characters from 3, The Agents of the WTF -- but you don't need to read previous stories to know what's going on.

TIM: Ah, Chris Moreno is great! Nicest guy as well.

DJ: He’s terrific, and it’s so fun to get new goodies from him. His Sanz Pantz story in 4 features a hilarious Guitar Hero-style showdown.

From: Sanz Pantz

TIM: So you mentioned established talent working on the book, but where POPGUN really shines (in my opinion) is the breaking of new talent-- who are some of the folks you're introducing us to in this volume?

DJ: There are so many, but I'll just randomly name a few who pop into my head ... all of them are great, though!

Writer Elliot Blake and artist Alexis Zerritt have a cool, punk rock looking post apocalyptic story called "Mekano Turbo." A little Mad Max, but with giant robots and perhaps hallucinated chicken gods... Elizabeth Genco and John Bivens, previously seen in COMIC BOOK TATTO, have a great story called "Queen of Cups" -- it has a nice, kind of romantic feel to it. Writer/artist Darren Rawlings did a cool story called "Agent Orange," about a robot P.I. Oh... so many. I wish I could mention them all! Lots of goods in this book, though.

TIM: And you have your own story in there too, right? Can you tell me a bit about that? Your artist is completely insane, by the way. And I mean that in the best possible way...

DJ: With my fellow editor, Adam P. Knave, I co-wrote 2 stories for this volume -- which, I figure, equals one each for us. The one you're referring to, which is on the website, is called "The Black Decahedron," with artist Jason Ibarra. Jason illustrated a story for POPGUN 3 with writer Jim Zubkavich, and we just loved his style, so Adam contacted him to see if he'd be interested in collaborating. He told us he wanted to draw fine looking women and geometric shapes... somehow that resulted in Adam saying, "Math pirates!" From there, it was figuring out what that meant, haha. It's a pirate story, but in the world of math, where this all-female crew "steals" math from boys in our reality. It makes its own kind of sense, and the visuals are amazing.

From: The Black Decahedron

TIM: So, with your story, he was just "trying something out"? That does seem to be the case with POPGUN, even with the established pros-- It seems as if in the short form, "name" guys are trying out techniques they aren't usually known for-- can you talk a bit about that?

DJ: One of the ideas behind POPGUN is, in addition to showing off new talent, to feature established creators doing the kinds of stories they're not known for. This has resulted in some great stuff, from the Jeffrey Brown D&D-style story I mentioned before, to the work Erik Larsen's done for each volume. Larsen's a funny guy, and he cuts loose with his POPGUN stuff. In this volume, he has six pages scattered throughout the book featuring "Reggie The Veggie," a character he created with his dad. It's, uh, well, it's hilarious and wrong. We love that, just giving creators the freedom to do what the want, and it always results in fun stuff.
Do you know Jeremy Tinder's work?

TIM: I do not...

DJ: He did some great books from Top Shelf, "Cry Yourself to Sleep" and "Black Ghost Apple Factory.” Both look like kid's books, very fun style. For this POPGUN, he did a crazy weird PI story called "The Eye." I don't want to spoil it, but, well, regular sized people with baby-sized heads. It's trippy.

From: The Eye

TIM: Wow, that is friggin' cool. So, with no running theme or topic for this anthology, how do you as an editor know what makes a POPGUN story?

DJ: There’s no specific criteria for a POPGUN story other than something all the editors (myself, Anthony Wu, and Adam P. Knave along with Joe and Mark overseeing the proceedings) all agree would be cool for the book. We love diversity and interesting stories with awesome art. POPGUN is the type of book that can really have any kind of story, which is what makes it fun. Aside from a high level of quality, well, you just never know what you're going to get from one page to the next.

TIM: The last three volumes have had jaw dropping covers and Vol 4 is no exception-- how'd you guys land Mr. Ben Templesmith?

DJ: We had a few folks on our shortlist, and Templesmith was one of them. I'm a huge fan of his art and had suggested him early in the process. At SDCC, Joe Keatinge and I were talking about it, and I mentioned him again. Later that night, we were at a CBLDF party, and Joe told me Ben was there. I said, "Hey, why don't we ask him to do the Popgun cover?" I'd never met him and was a little nervous, but he was so gracious and really into the idea. He agreed right there, which was a highlight of SDCC for me. We discussed concepts later via email, and he went with his artistic instincts and just NAILED it. I love this cover so much.

POPGUN VOL.4 Cover

TIM: So, wrapping up: when and where can we find Popgun in stores?

DJ: Popgun 4 hits shelves Feb 24th! It should be at finer comic shops and booksellers everywhere!

TIM: And you guys are doing release parties as well?

DJ: Oh yeah! In LA, we're having a release party at the famous Meltdown Comics on Sunset. (info here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=289169050209&ref=ts) For NY folks, there is going to be a signing at the glorious Hanley's (info here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=263824076609&ref=ts). There might be some other ones cropping up, and we'll get the word out when they do!