YOUR CELEBRITY CAMEO LINEUP IS UNPARALLELED IN THE WORLD OF HORROR WORLD INCLUDING JAMIE LEE CURTIS, GWAR, R.L. STINE, JEFFREY REDDICK, MATTHEW KIICHI HEAFY, DEVON SAWA, AND DEATHGASM. YOUR HEADS MUST BE EXPLODING! TELL US MORE ABOUT THEIR INVOLVEMENT. SGJ: That was Josh’s magic, reeling all these people in. But then, once we could include them, the trick quickly became how to do it respectfully, and for the most fun? They’re their own people, I mean, who say and do their own things. Incorporating that into a fast-moving story, without making their parts feel like we’re pumping the brakes, slowing down to look at the celebrities, that was definitely a challenge. JV: Yeah, it’s surreal for me. I keep pinching myself. It’s one thing to create a parody of a celebrity, but our aim was to involve the real individuals themselves, making it authentic. We didn’t want to just parody them; we wanted it to genuinely feel like them. Fortunately, everyone who has appeared has been incredibly generous and supportive of the project. We feel very fortunate in that regard. HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT DEVELOPING THEIR CHARACTERS? WAS ANYONE PERSONALLY INVOLVED? OR DID YOU HAVE FULL CREATIVE FREEDOM? SGJ: They had and have approval at all levels, but the story was us. JV: After pitching our concepts to everyone involved and receiving their initial okay, we proceeded to put it all on paper. Their final approval was crucial, and although there were a few minor adjustments needed along the way, everyone was incredibly accommodating and supportive throughout the process. Many of them were thrilled just to be featured in a comic. No. 124 JAIME LEE CURTIS IS BEST KNOWN FOR CHEATING DEATH BY PSYCHOPATH MICHAEL MYERS (HALLOWEEN) AND ALSO HER REALLIFE CHARITABLE SPIRIT. WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT HER PARTNERSHIP WITH TRUE BELIEVERS? SGJ: She’s, by far, the most iconic final girl of them all. So, in a story that’s a slasher, getting to include her gives things both a different weight and, at the same time, some unexpected levity. JV: What isn’t special about a partnership with Jamie Lee Curtis? Haha. I mean, we get to collaborate with a legend! But on a serious note, we’re honored to work alongside her charity, My Hand In Yours. For those who purchase the limited edition Jamie Lee variant cover of TRUE BELIEVERS Issue 1 (as seen on the Back Cover of this issue of Birdy), 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards benefiting critically ill children at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. CAN YOU GIVE US A TASTE OF MATT HEAFY’S LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE SCORE HE CREATED FOR THE NEW ISSUE? JV: Matt’s score is truly remarkable! Trivium’s heavy metal sound is well-known, but with the TRUE BELIEVERS score, Matt is venturing into new territory. While there are still evident metal influences, he’s skillfully incorporated synth and movie score elements, resulting in a captivating and unexpected sound. It’s quite a departure from what you might anticipate from Matt, and it’s incredibly impressive. Personally, I’m getting strong John Carpenter vibes, which feels fitting considering the connection to Jamie Lee Curtis. WHAT OTHER CAMPAIGN REWARDS ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT? AND ANYTHING OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE TO SPOTLIGHT FOR
31 Publizr Home