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Fanbase Press Interviews Chris Callahan on ‘The Misplaced’ from Source Point Press

The following is an interview with Chris Callahan regarding the release of his comic book series, The Misplaced, from publisher Source Point Press.  In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Callahan about the inspiration behind the series, his creative process in balancing the writing and illustrative duties, his unique approach to mixed media storytelling, and more!


Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the release of your comic book series, The Misplaced, from Source Point Press!  For those who may be unfamiliar, how would you describe the series’ premise, and what inspired you to tell this story?

Chris Callahan: Thank you! The Misplaced, in short, is a dark, supernatural, 4-issue miniseries that answers the question, “What if the afterlife wasn’t as it seemed?” It follows James as he fights his way through multiple planes of existence to find the lost soul of his wife and solve the mystery of her disappearance before it’s too late.

And, actually, my inspiration for this particular story started with the art. I had designed a few pieces and shared them online. The most common response I received was, “These look cool. What book are they for?”  Since they all had a thematic through-line of death and the afterlife, it seemed like a great starting point for a comic.  

BD: What can you share with us about your creative process in both writing and illustrating the series, especially given your unique approach to mixed media artwork, and what have been some of your creative influences?  

CC: Well, as I said, my process for this one was a little backwards: I made some art and then turned it into a story. So, I wasn’t even thinking of this as a comic. My main background is in TV design. When creating a title sequence for a show, there are no rules. Is it fully graphical? 3D animation? A montage of footage treated in some way? Whatever it takes to create something new and interesting is on the table. In a weird way, I feel like I lucked into the book, simply by not treating it as a book to start, and just playing with all the tools in my “day job” toolbox.

As far as influences, I’ve always loved mixed media art. Dave McKean’s Sandman covers stand out. But David Mack and Bill Sienkiewicz do some incredible work, as well. I mean, Mack melted toy solders and used a picture of that to create a camouflage texture for the Fight Club #7 cover.  I find that fascinating.

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BD: What do you hope that readers will take away from your work?

CC: My goal was to present a story that was thought provoking if you wanted it to be, and visually impactful if you took the chance and picked it up. Basically, I want it to be worth your time and money. I think the best compliment I got was from a buddy of mine: “Finished your book today. Pretty interesting, man. Have me and you ever talked about what’s next?” And then, we proceeded to talk about it for an hour.

BD: What makes Source Point Press the perfect home for the series?

CC: As a fellow Michigan native, I was immediately drawn to Source Point Press and their general vibe. Plus, seeing their growth in the industry the last couple years seems like one of the more under-reported stories in comics. Their eclectic catalog of horror, sci-fi, and supernatural was also a natural fit for Misplaced. I honestly thought they were crazy to take a chance on such an abstract, mixed-media, atypical comic from an unknown and unproven creator. But they did, and for that, I will always be grateful.

BD: If given the opportunity to expand your series into other entertainment mediums, in what format do you hope to see it adapted?

CC: This story could work so well in multiple formats, and I would love to see it in any. There’s so much I want to do with the universe that I think it would be great in episodic form. Particularly, if it had multiple seasons with different casts, but thematically linked. True Detective and American Horror Story come to mind. Or to maintain the distinctive look of the story, I think it could play very well as an animated project.  Having interest in a screenplay I wrote was the final straw that finally moved me to Los Angeles, so it would be a dream to adapt the characters and the world of The Misplaced into any medium for the screen.

BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?

CC: I am working on something currently, but there’s nothing I can share yet. I’d be happy to come back and tell you all about it in a few months!

BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about The Misplaced?

CC: The quickest place for the most information is TheMisplacedComic.com, where you’ll find release dates, preview pages, and even a short video trailer I cut together for the series. Or you can also follow me on Twitter (@rgb_alpha) for updates, and, of course, Source Point Press at https://sourcepoint.press.

Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief

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