Maia and Luna Cooper are the creative team behind the comic book, Champions of Erendil. These twin sisters were only 13 years old when they started creating their comic book series. They are now 14 and putting together a Trade Paperback of Champions of Erendil. We are lucky enough to have an interview with both young ladies. We elected to do an email interview with both of them. Some of their responses are very similar but very enjoyable.
I really enjoyed all aspects of this interview. These young ladies are intelligent and well spoken. They are not shy about sharing their opinions. It is everything an interviewer wants from an interview.
(GK= Geeky KOOL for this interview)
GK: What inspired you to create a comic book at 13 years of age?Luna: All kinds of things; our parents, movies, TV, books, our friends. But what actually got us to say “Hey, we can do this” and buckle down to do the work was encouragement, critiques and advice from Jared George and Ryan Wheaton, two awesome local artists.
Maia: I had personally never been extremely into comics until a couple years ago. I remember vividly the first time I actually considered drawing comic books. I was reading a really cool book about writing for comics, and my mind began to wander. I started to think about what it might be like to draw comics professionally. At that point, I didn’t really understand the challenges of the job, but I thought that it sounded incredible. What could be better than getting paid for what you love? I talked about it a bit with Luna, and she suggested a collaboration. Naturally, I thought that sounded awesome and, after a few hindrances, Champions of Erendil was born.
GK: Tell our readers a bit about the story of the Champions of Erendil?
Luna: Champions is a fantasy tale detailing the lives of 5 would-be heroes who are forced to undertake a dangerous mission in an attempt to combat the coming darkness.
Maia: Champions is a fantasy about good versus evil that details the lives of five would-be heroes and the cursed man who brings them together. The story takes place in the fantasy world of Galedon. The people of Galedon are lost in the ignorance planted in them by their ruler, the Red Warlock. The only one who knows the truth is Gabriel, a wizard who had been cursed and imprisoned. Finally free, Gabriel gathers his champions. Evangeline, a tough-talking swordswoman; Ryan, a former knight turned depressed undertaker; Sirin, a young man with low-level magic abilities; Yuriko, a curious creature who often takes the form of a human girl; and Warren, the spectral embodiment of of a young man’s consciousness. These extraordinary people must leave their former lives behind and work together to fight off the evil that resides in Galdeon.
GK: Champions of Erendil is a group fantasy comic. It reminds me a lot of the role playing game, Dungeons and Dragons, and the novels of The Lord of the Rings. What has inspired you personally and creatively from the realms of fantasy?
Luna: Well, Lord of the Rings was a big one. Also just the simple fact that we both love dragons. Some non-fantasy things that inspired me as far as character and storyline were TV shows like Firefly, Doctor Who and Lost. I guess mostly LOTR and Lost for plot and character, as well as dialogue.
Maia: First and foremost, I would say that I’m strongly influenced by author Brandon Mull, specifically his Beyonders series. Other major influences would have to be J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter, Christopher Paolini’s Eragon, and many different mythologies. Also, maybe the Artemis Fowl series by Eoin Colfer and the ABC television series “Lost”.
GK: You created a Kickstarter campaign for 30 days to raise $1,000.00 to publish a Trade Paperback of the first six issues of Champions of Erendil. After 2 days, you exceeded your goal. Assuming the donations continue to come in, what is your plan for the extra capital from the Kickstarter Campaign?Luna: We’ve got some stretch goals we’re going to try and reach, like possibly putting the book in color, so the rewards from those will be one thing to spend the extra on. But if I get some spending money for anything that would help me take this further, I’ve been wanting a good laptop, and another, newer Wacom tablet for digital artwork would be pretty cool too.
Maia: We are working on a list of stretch goals for our backers. Extra rewards like t-shirts, character prints, buttons, and variant covers. We’re not done yet, Kickstarter!
GK: Comic Conventions are a big activity for comic creators especially creators of independent comics. What are your plans for attending conventions locally and nationally for 2014?
Luna: We’re going to focus on Kickstarter for the rest of the year, but we’ll definitely be going to Planet Comicon and Wizard World St Louis in 2015 and of course our local Springfield conventions, Rublecon and G.A.M.E.. Maybe not next year, but some time soon we’d love to make it to C2E2 in Chicago.
Maia: I think that we’re pretty much done finished with conventions for this year. We will, however, be attending several conventions next year, with Planet Comicon and Wizard world St. Louis at the top of the list.
I had heard that some of the local comic book creators and comic stores where encouraging on your journey. Tell us a little bit about who encouraged you ladies in this process.Luna: Well, the two big ones are Ryan Wheaton and Jared George. Ryan is the artist for the comic Stronghold, as well as freelance illustrator and a really cool guy. Check out more of his stuff at Facebook.com/RyanWheatonIllustration. Jared is the creator of The Adventures of Zee and Larp. He’s also a really great artist and person, and did the awesome cover for our annual.
There is also the amazingly talented Kyle Strahm, the artist for Spread by Image comics and many others; Cullen Bunn, the writer of The Sixth Gun, Venom, The Empty Man, and so many others. I really don’t know how he does it.
Others who helped and encouraged us were Matt Mitchell from Dark Circle Comics, Chris Yarbrough and Brett Jones from Radiation Day, Tyler Caviness from Vintage Stock, all the awesome Guys from Equinox Comics and Jill Phillips of Geek Girl Accessories.
Maia: Jared George, the creator of the comic book “Zee”; Ryan Wheaton, a very talented freelance illustrator; Josh Roberts, owner of the Comic Cave; Michelle Liljedahl, the owner of Collectomaniacs; Tyler Caviness from Vintage Stock; Jill Phillips of Geek Girl Accessories; Kyle Strahm, artist for “Spread”; Cullen Bunn, writer for the Sixth Gun, Venom, the Empty Man and lots of others; and Jai Nitz, writer for Dream Thief and Green Hornet. I know this doesn’t cover it, but these awesome people have all helped us with getting our name out there.
In the past, comic books were considered to be a male specific hobby. Over the last 20 years, females have made considerable in roads into comics as readers, fans, and creators. But there is a movement by a vocal minority that wants to keep comics as a boys club. The “Fake Geek Girl” movement has accused ladies of devious reasons for pretending to like comics, sci fi, fantasy, and other geeky interests. Have either one of you been accused of being a fake?
Luna: I’ve never been accused of that, and I didn’t even know it was happening. But I think that in order for comics to grow as an art form, it’s going to need to women to bring in new ideas. New ideas means new readership, and new readership means comics can continue. Also for those who think that since comics were originally written for boys, they should remain that way, remember, comics were also originally written for six-year-olds, and they sure haven’t remained that way.
Maia: Not at all. I’ve been very well received by my local comics community. I honestly don’t know why anybody who’s interested in seeing comics grow as a medium would want to keep the audience small and strictly male. It seems to me that the larger and more diverse the audience, the stronger and more original comics will become. You can’t please everyone because each person has different interests, but writing and drawing comics to suit more of those interests seems that the only way for comic books to really make it in the long run. Whether dudes like it or not, ladies are going to have new ideas that will strengthen comic books that men might never think of. I think it’s important that comic fandom be acceptable for both genders.
GK: Firstly, let me say that I am very happy this hasn’t happened to you. Secondly, I could not agree with you ladies more. It was very well stated by both of you.
In a similar vein, being a geek and liking comics and fantasy stories used to result in being bullied. I have personal experience of being bullied for my geeky interests. Being into comics and fantasy is more acceptable than it used to be. Have either one of you been bullied for liking geeky stuff?
Luna: No, I haven’t ever been bullied, and, frankly, I think bullying someone because they like something is dumb.
I know that doesn’t stop them from doing it, but seriously, these people have too much time on their hands.
Maia: Um…no.
You are sisters that work together on creating a comic book. Siblings often fight about a lot of things. Have there been fights over creative differences for Champions of Erendil?
Luna: Well, we’ve had our share of arguments, but they usually last about 5 minutes, and are usually either me getting stressed and angry because I have a heavier work load, or her being frustrated because my script is confusing.
Maia: Well you know, there are always creative differences, and we do argue from time to time just like everybody else, especially when deadlines are looming. That being said, I do think that we get along really well and agree on most things. Maybe that’s just because, being twins, we share a brain. :))
GK: Finally, as teenage girls, what are some of the non-comic book activities are you involved in?
Luna: My two favorite things in the world are drawing and writing, which I guess is why I’m a comic creator.
I also like to roller skate, climb trees, hang out with my sisters, and watch TV (mostly Lost). I’m on a TBQ (Teen Bible Quiz) team with a couple of my friends, and I really like doing musical theater, and other acting, but honestly, I don’t get out much.
Maia: Oh, uh…I like to take walks and climb trees if that counts as an activity. I also love imaginative fiction, creative writing, acting, and singing when there’s nobody around to hear me. Sometimes I’ll write partial songs in my mind. I also really enjoy experimenting with digital painting and colored pencils. My favorite colored pencil technique is definitely white or blue pencil on black paper. I like to do research if it’s about something I’m interested in, and watching Lost is always fun 😀
GK: Thank you both for your time.
What a fantastic interview! Remember to check out the their Kickstarter campaign. You can get a lot of KOOL stuff for pledging even a few dollars. They have a Facebook page here-Champion Comics.
Stay Geeky My Friends!
