The following is an interview with Mark London regarding the upcoming release of the comic book series, Hunt. Kill. Repeat., through Mad Cave Studios. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with London about his shared creative process in bringing the story to life, what he hopes that readers will take away from the story, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Hunt. Kill. Repeat.! What inspired you to bring this action/fantasy story to life?
Mark London: I’d wanted to write a revenge story for the longest time but needed the perfect backdrop to make it happen. What better way to do it than with the gods of Olympus in a post-modern setting? But it couldn’t be just any revenge story, it had to be about losing something so valuable to you that you would kill those responsible–even your own family. So, almost a year ago, I was tinkering with the idea of an assassin story that I really wanted to write. It was full of action, but also it had a lot of heart. So, I pitched it to Mad Cave’s Publisher, Chris Fernandez. We started talking about different possibilities or scenarios, and I guess that my passion for Greek mythology took over. I kinda merged the two ideas and came up with Hunt. Kill. Repeat.
BD: As the creator and writer of this series – and also the CEO/CCO of Mad Cave Studios – I can only imagine that you have quite a few plates spinning at any given time! How would you describe your shared creative balance both in bringing this story to life, but doing so while providing leadership to the organization as a whole?
ML: For the record, I’m only able to write because of the fantastic team at Mad Cave. Everyone helps each other out, and I believe we have one of the most qualified teams in the comics/publishing industry. I also don’t micromanage. For me that’s not a leadership style that I find effective. It all comes down to the professional, and a person’s attitude towards the work. This is a partnership in a way. We know where we are at and where we are headed. And if the results are not seen, then they stick out like a sore thumb.
BD: The creative team behind the series brings with it both newcomers and seasoned veterans of the comic book industry, including artist Francesco Archidiacono, inker Marc Deering (Green Lantern, Justice League), colorist Lee Loughridge (The Good Asian, Deadly Class), and letterer Rus Wooton (Deadly Class, A Legacy of Violence). What can you tell us about how the team came together?
ML: Chris Fernandez (Mad Cave’s Publisher) has an impeccable eye for talent, and when he showed me Francesco’s work, I fell in love with it. There was clearly no other person for the job. And the cool thing is that if you think that first issue is impressive, wait till you get a hold of the next one and the next one. Francesco is the next big thing in comics, and I couldn’t be happier that Chris brought him on board. Lee was also Chris’ suggestion. He wanted the color to be perfect on every page, and Lee was the right person for the job. As far as Marc Deering goes, that was a tag team effort between Mark Irwin and Chris Fernandez. Chris wanted Francesco’s pencils to be inked by one of the best in the industry, Since Mark Irwin was a prolific inker before his time at Mad Cave, he immediately reached out to long-time inker Marc Deering and brought him on board. Let me just say that their pairing is an explosive one. I couldn’t be happier.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that Artemis’ story will connect with and impact readers?
ML: The beauty of it all is when you dive into Greek mythology, or even Norse mythology, it is filled with drama! A tragedy that resembles what we experience in our daily lives. The gods may be all-powerful and mighty, but they are flawed, just like us. So, this story, although it’s bombastic and full of action, at its core, has a very personal and emotional element attached to it. A dysfunctional family is brought to the forefront of a revenge tale of epic proportions.
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you (or Mad Cave Studios as a whole) are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
ML: All I can say is that you can expect more amazing titles from a diverse group of creators, both well-known and emerging. Mad Cave as a brand will continue to expand its types of books whether licensed, creator-owned, or Mad Cave original. Expect a stable of finely crafted books that will amaze and entertain from Mad Cave, Maverick, and Papercutz.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Hunt. Kill. Repeat. and your other work?
ML: The best place to know everything about HKR is on our website, madcavestudios.com, or you can find me on twitter (@marklondonMCS).
