Described as “Doctor Who turned up to Ocean’s 11,” The Omega Eleven #1 takes readers on an adventure to Camelot for a seemingly impossible heist in Merlin's realm, and with the first issue of the five-issue series now on Kickstarter, Daily Dead had the pleasure of catching up with writer James Aquilone and artist Zac Atkinson in a new Q&A feature to discuss their unique new take on a timeless literary character (and other familiar faces from public domain).
Thank you for taking the time to answer questions for us, James and Zac, and congratulations on the Kickstarter campaign for The Omega Eleven! How long has this comic book series been in the works, and were you both longtime fans of Doctor Omega (who some consider to be the inspiration for Doctor Who) prior to working on this series?
James Aquilone: We started working on this project about a year and a half ago. I wasn’t familiar with Doctor Omega before Zac pitched me the idea for the series. His pitch of a time-traveling Doctor Omega enlisting a team of public domain characters for a heist sounded great—and then he showed me his illustrations, and they were amazing. I knew I had to do the series, so we got to work on plotting out the first story and here we are.
Zac Atkinson: I know I wanted to work with a group of public domain characters and found Omega during my research. It became obvious James would be the means to bring other characters together.
The Omega Eleven has been described as “Doctor Who turned up to Ocean’s 11.” What type of adventures can readers expect to find within the pages of this series?
James Aquilone: Lots of theft and heists. Travels to strange fictional world like Camelot. Plenty of action and chaos.
The Omega Eleven features some familiar faces that readers will recognize. How fun was it for each of you to bring your own unique styles to these iconic characters?
James Aquilone: It’s been a blast working on this comic and throwing around ideas for characters.
Zac Atkinson: I’m having a great time. I love designing characters and creating a new spin on existing ones.
The Omega Eleven is enjoying a successful campaign on Kickstarter. What types of perks and stretch goals can supporters of the Kickstarter campaign look forward to?
James Aquilone: We have five covers. Zac did three, including homage covers of Rick & Morty and Calvin and Hobbes. Dave Acosta and J.K. Woodward did the variants. We also have a trading card set, which we just expanding to six cards, including a hand-drawn sketch card. We’re also Kickstarting the second issue of Monstrous, a digest-size horror comic magazine. This issue has a time travel theme and a Morlock cover by Russ Braun.
Do you each have any favorite pulp sci-fi stories or films that influenced or inspired you while working on The Omega Eleven?
James Aquilone: Indiana Jones was a big influence. Every heist movie and team-up movie like The Dirty Dozen, Seven Samurai, and Inglourious Basterds.
Zac Atkinson: Warren Ellis’ Planetary was a big inspiration for me, as well as Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.
Ultimately, what do you hope readers take away from The Omega Eleven?
James Aquilone: I just want them to have fun.
Zac Atkinson: I hope it captures their interest and makes them want more.
The Omega Eleven is initially planned as a five-issue series, but do you have plans to expand this series beyond that if given the opportunity?
James Aquilone: We’re already added a prose short story that I’m writing exclusively for Kickstarter backers. The story will take place before the events of the comics and should give readers more insight into Omega and his sidekick, The Artful Dodger. And if the comic series is successful, we’ll definitely be doing more.
James, congratulations on all of the success Monstrous Books has enjoyed lately, including the Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary graphic novel. What has it been like to see such a positive reception to Monstrous Books in recent years?
James Aquilone: It’s been unbelievable. I never thought I’d be able to sell one copy of my books. This is my sixth Kickstarter and I’ve had thousands of backers, shipped out a ton of books, and just last week, I was nominated for my second Bram Stoker Award. Life has been pretty crazy over the last few years.
What advice would you each give to aspiring comic book writers and artists who are just getting started?
James Aquilone: Keep plugging away and getting better. Network. Get to know other writers and artists. Do a Kickstarter.
Zac Atkinson: Do your own book, even if your goal is to work for others having the experience and the body of work will lead to opportunities.
Following the Kickstarter campaign, when can readers look forward to picking up The Omega Eleven, and do you each have any other projects coming up that you can tease?
James Aquilone: We hope to deliver the issue to backers by the end of the year. After that, we’ll work on getting the book into comic shops. I can’t talk about upcoming projects, but there will be a big announcement in April.
Zac Atkinson: I’m about finished illustrating a book called Daughters of Django and coloring various others. I talk about everything I work on at zacsart.com
Thank you both for your time!
James Aquilone: Thanks for the interview!
Zac Atkinson: Thanks a bunch!
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Below, we have the official press release with additional details, and to learn more and support The Omega Eleven #1, visit:
Press Release: Monstrous Books announced today the Kickstarter campaign for THE OMEGA ELEVEN #1, the first in an epic five-issue comic book series from Bram Stoker winner James Aquilone (Kolchak: The Night Stalker – 50th Anniversary) and acclaimed artist Zac Atkinson (Young Justice, Transformers).
The five-issue series will follow time traveler Doctor Omega as he gathers history’s greatest thieves to pull off an impossible heist and save the Omniverse.
THE OMEGA ELEVEN #1 - THE MERLIN JOB follows Doctor Omega, the character who inspired Doctor Who, and his companion, 14-year-old Jack Dawkins, aka The Artful Dodger, as they travel to Camelot to steal the Philosopher's Stone from Merlin.
The first issue of THE OMEGA ELEVEN will be available through Kickstarter, along with the second issue of the horror comic magazine MONSTROUS.
OMEGA ELEVEN co-creator Zac Atkinson has worked on such comics as Young Justice, Teen Titans, and Transformers. “THE OMEGA ELEVEN is a project I've been dreaming about forever!” Atkinson says. “James and I are manifesting the craziest adaptations of history's most classic pulp heroes and thieves. It’s Doctor Who turned up to Ocean's 11.”
Co-creator James Aquilone recently won a Bram Stoker Award, a Rondo Hatton Award, a Scribe Award, and an Imadjinn Award for his graphic novel KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER – 50TH ANNIVERSARY. “THE OMEGA ELEVEN is packed with amazing characters from just about every corner of pulpdom and beyond,” says Aquilone. “Zac’s artwork for the project has blown me away. You can see the love and care in every stroke of his pen. It’s been a blast creating this world. Readers of THE OMEGA ELEVEN are in for one wild ride through space and time.”
THE OMEGA ELEVEN features covers by Zac Atkinson (Young Justice, Transformers), J.K. Woodward (Doctor Who, Star Trek) and Dave Acosta (Terrorwar, Elvira).
The campaign also features the second issue of the horror comic magazine MONSTROUS.
To support the project, visit Kickstarter.
ABOUT MONSTROUS BOOKS
Monstrous is an independent publisher focused on dark fiction and action-packed stories. Owned and operated by Bram Stoker Award-winning editor and writer James Aquilone, Monstrous Books is dedicated to creating high-quality print and digital comics, graphic novels, and prose books that aim to entertain with its stories and delight with its aesthetics. Their titles include Monstrous magazine, Dead Detectives Society and Shakespeare Unleashed.
For updates, follow Monstrous Books on X/Twitter, Facebook and MonstrousBooks.com.
ABOUT ZAC ATKINSON
Based out of a small town in central Illinois, Zac Atkinson is a comic book artist and cartoonist. He has worked as a comic book colorist on many mainstream titles such as DC’s Magic of Shazam, Teen Titans, Young Justice, IDW’s Transformers and GI Joe.
ABOUT JAMES AQUILONE
James Aquilone is the owner of Monstrous Books, writer of the Dead Jack, Zombie Detective series, and editor of the anthologies Classic Monsters Unleashed, Shakespeare Unleashed, the 50th anniversary Kolchak: The Night Stalker graphic novel, and Dead Detectives Society. He has won the Bram Stoker Award for Best Graphic Novel, two Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards, and a Scribe Award from the International Association of Media Tie-In Writers.
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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