Q&A: “THE SHINING Meets TRUE GRIT” – Chris Condon Discusses Teaming Up with Shawn Kuruneru and Oni Press for New Graphic Novella THE GODDAMN TRAGEDY

"The Shining meets True Grit" when a family's wagon trip toward a better life in the West in 1846 takes a terrifying turn in The Goddamn Tragedy, the new graphic novella from writer Chris Condon (Night People), artist Shawn Kuruneru (Cave Grave), and letterer Shawn Lee (The Moon is Following Us). We caught up with Chris in a new Q&A feature to discuss the Western horrors and family-centric frights that await readers when this one-shot comes out on May 28th from Oni Press!

Thank you for taking the time to answer questions for us, Chris, and congratulations on The Goddamn Tragedy! When did you initially come up with the idea for this graphic novella?

Chris Condon: Of course, thank you for having me. I came up with the idea around the time that I was finishing up work on adapting Barry Gifford’s Night People for Oni Press. I really enjoyed that experience and Hunter Gorinson, Oni Press’ president and publisher, wanted to know what was next for me. I didn’t know with one hundred percent certainty what I was going to do, but I told Hunter that I’d like to do a one-shot, probably a thriller or horror story. What came first to my mind was the title—The Goddamn Tragedy. From there, the story just fell into place.

From the first draft to the final version, approximately how long did it take you to write The Goddamn Tragedy?

Chris Condon: The first draft was in a pretty good place, if I recall. I had a month to work on that, but I probably sat down at the keyboard to physically write it over the course of a week. There were a few revisions here and there, but I’d say that’s about how long it took. I wrote some additional stuff later on, once Shawn was finished drawing it, only because I felt like it needed a little bit more heft to it.

The white-knuckled tension of The Goddamn Tragedy unfolds over the course of a 48-page graphic novella. What was it about this particular story that made it ideal to tell as a graphic novella as opposed to a multi-issue series?

Chris Condon: I love a good one-shot. I think that we certainly could have spread this story out across multiple issues if we wanted to, but I think that playing it out in a single viewing—a film versus a television show, if you will—allows you to have a whole experience that I think is ultimately just as, if not more, satisfying than a longer-form story.

I love how your prose pairs with the excellent artwork by Shawn Kuruneru (Fishflies, Cave Grave), who really brings a unique visual style to your Western story. What was it about Shawn’s artwork that made him the perfect fit for The Goddamn Tragedy?

Chris Condon: Shawn Kuruneru is an excellent storyteller. I first noticed his work in his own self-published Westerns, Cave Grave and Poor Moon. When I came up with the idea for The Goddamn Tragedy, Shawn’s was the only name on my list. I reached out to Oni about who they might like as an artist and, luckily for me, they asked me if I had any thoughts. I did: Shawn. What Shawn brought to the book was an evocative use of landscape to tell a dramatic story—even before we delve deeper into the human core of the story. That was necessary to have this be a successful story.

The Goddamn Tragedy also features amazing lettering by Shawn Lee and eye-catching variant covers by Tula Lotay, Jacob Phillips, Jenna Cha, and Oliver Dominguez, respectively. What was it like to work with such a talented artistic team across the board on this project?

Chris Condon: Half of the reason I do comics is that I get to work with so many amazing people. It’s awesome, in a word. There’s nothing better than checking your inbox and finding it filled with stellar artwork.

The relentless snow and deteriorating family dynamics bring The Shining to mind, and the tenacity of Ellen Janson is reminiscent of Mattie Ross in True Grit. Were you influenced or inspired by any other movies, TV series, comics, or books while writing The Goddamn Tragedy?

Chris Condon: The Shining meets True Grit is certainly a way to think of The Goddamn Tragedy, and that was intentional. I’m very glad that you picked up on that. I had recently done a lot of Western research to write The Enfield Gang Massacre, the Image Comics miniseries I did with Jacob Phillips in 2023 and 2024, so a lot of that was still on my mind, specifically something like Unforgiven or the work of Sergio Toppi. There’s also a great book about the Donner Party that was quite influential called “The Indifferent Stars Above.”

You’ve previously collaborated with Oni Press for Night People and their EC Comics anthology series Cruel Kingdom. What was it like to reteam with Oni to bring The Goddamn Tragedy to life?

Chris Condon: Yeah, I love working with Oni. It wasn’t just Oni who I reteamed with, though. I was also fortunate enough to be able to collaborate once more with my Night People editor, Megan Brown, who is just fantastic. It’s been great and I hope to continue this partnership for many years (and books) to come.

Ultimately, what do you hope readers take away from The Goddamn Tragedy?

Chris Condon: I want readers to have experienced something thrilling that feels honest and true.

Do you have any plans to revisit the brutal world of The Goddamn Tragedy in future stories?

Chris Condon: No, not specifically. But if I get to do more work with Oni, it very likely will take place in the same "universe" as The Goddamn Tragedy.

What advice would you give to comic book writers who are just getting started?

Chris Condon: Don’t stop writing and do not be afraid to show people your work.

In addition to The Goddamn Tragedy coming to comic shops on May 28th, do you have any other upcoming projects that you can tease?

Chris Condon: Yes, I have a new book coming out from Image Comics called News from the Fallout with artist Jeffrey Alan Love, letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, designer Michael Tivey, and a whole host of exceptional variant cover artists. I refer to it as “Apocalyptic Americana.” It’s out on June 25th—I hope folks check it out!

Thank you for your time, Chris!

Chris Condon: Thank YOU!

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From the Press Release: DON’T LEAVE THE TRAIL! Oni Press – the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997— is proud to unveil another look inside THE GODDAMN TRAGEDY #1, a gripping and entirely self-contained 48-page, one-shot graphic novella from veteran Western-writer Chris Condon (Ultimate Wolverine, That Texas Blood) alongside the devastating painted artwork of fast-rising star Shawn Kuruneru (Fishflies, Cave Grave). Don’t miss out on the grisly account of one of the Old West’s most infamous incidents when THE GODDAMN TRAGEDY #1 descends from the mountains on May 28th!

Ellen Janson is here to set the record straight about the highly publicized, oft-sensationalized journey her family undertook in 1846. Ellen sets out with her mother, Irena, and her father, Leo, on the treacherous road west in search of a better life. But when her father chooses to split off from the party, taking an untested shortcut through the mountains, can their small family survive the elements, the wildlife—and each other? Or will their journey become nothing more than another goddamn tragedy?

Featuring covers from interior artist Shawn Kuruneru, as well as illustrators Tula Lotay (Somna), Jacob Phillips (That Texas Blood), Jenna Cha (The Sickness) and Oliver Dominguez (Out of Alcatraz), THE GODDAMN TRAGEDY #1 tells a doomed and disorienting vision of one family’s twisted descent into madness – In stores May 28th!

THE GODDAMN TRAGEDY #1
WRITTEN BY CHRIS CONDON
ART & COVER BY SHAWN KURUNERU
COVER A BY SHAWN KURUNERU
COVER B BY TULA LOTAY
COVER C BY JACOB PHILLIPS
COVER D BY JENNA CHA
COVER E BY OLIVER DOMINGUEZ
B&W VARIANT (1:10) BY JENNA CHA

ON SALE MAY 28th 2025 | $6.99 | 48 PGS | FC | ONE-SHOT