The Righteous Return of Bill & Ted

by Vince Brusio

Brian Lynch was given a dream gig. The movies he adored back in the Eighties seemed like a good idea for a comic book. People at BOOM! Studios thought it was a good idea. It was a green light for Bill & Ted’s Most Triumphant Return #1 (JAN151113), which kicked off a six-issue series that picked up from the events of the last Bill & Ted movie. Brian took a few moments to talk with us about the new book, and how he thinks it should be racked right up there with Batman and Saga. Totally, dude.

Bill & Ted’s Most Triumphant Return #1 (JAN151113) is in comic shops March 11.

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PREVIEWSworld: What can you tell us about the storyline for Bill & Ted? And spare no details, man. We brought chips and soda. Rant.

Brian Lynch: The story begins 10 seconds after Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey ends. They've won the Battle of the Bands and beaten Chuck De Nomolos. Bill & Ted can finally play, they are married, have kids, Wyld Stallyns have performed that first song for the entire world...and the entire world loves it. Their destiny as the saviors of the world has begun!

And now, EVERYONE in the world immediately wants to know what's next.

It's a lot of pressure, so when it's time to sit down and figure out their next move, Bill & Ted are kinda intimidated. So they borrow a booth and go into the future, where they've already MADE that first move, they've already written that second song, so they can learn what to do next. Every move they made was a matter of historical importance, so they can consult history books to find out about everything they're supposed to do. 

They get to see the future THEY create and it is wonderful, EVERYONE is having a great time, save for one sad, lonely teenager named Chuck De Nomolos. Their archenemy is, at that point, just a miserable little teenager. Bill & Ted know who he'll grow up to become, but when they see how terrible his life is, great guys that they are, they bring him along for the ride.

That was probably a mistake, yeah.

This sets off a series of events that changes the course of their history. They travel through various timelines trying to make things right. As the storyline progresses, it snowballs into this bigger and stranger adventure. We see what happens if Ted DID have to go to that Alaskan Military Academy. We meet The Grim Reaper in a reality where he NEVER met Bill & Ted. All sorts of possibilities that Bill & Ted have to confront head on that could be become harsh reality if they don't make things right. 

PREVIEWSworld: In terms of giving true voices to the characters, how did you draw inspiration from the previous Bill & Ted films?

Brian Lynch: I have seen the movies dozens and dozens of times; they are among my favorite movies. I know them by heart, especially, oddly, the second one. They are perfect comedies; hugely original with two of the greatest leads at the center. Once I came about the comic series, I watched them a few more times. I also watched all the episodes of the animated show I could get my hands on, and re-read Evan Dorkin's fantastic Bill & Ted comic run. What a fantastic world Bill & Ted live in. It's such an honor to be able to write a story with these guys.

PREVIEWSworld: What do you think it is about your Bill & Ted comic that will not only attract fans of the films, but new kids on the scene?

Brian Lynch: It's my theory that if you buy Bill & Ted you have no need for any other comic. Do you like Saga? We're just like Saga, but instead of an alien couple on the run with a forbidden baby, it's two buddies on the run with a time-traveling phone booth. We're also exactly like Batman, except instead of a superhero who fights crime because his parents were murdered, it's two guys who play music because why not. It's kind of like The Walking Dead, only there are no zombies but there IS a genius Martian named Station, so Bill & Ted win, hands down. Also, it's a time travel story so it constantly reboots itself, which fans of comic books seem to enjoy. We "New 52" ourselves every couple of pages.

But beyond that, if we do our job right, it's the most fun comic you will read each and every month. It's fun, funny, exciting, has insane art by Jerry Gaylord, and a killer back-up story by some of the greatest minds in comics. This comic literally has EVERYTHING. Plus Rufus. The coolest character in movies is now the coolest character in comics.

PREVIEWSworld: Without spoiling anything, what scene(s) would you be most excited to text/blog about in full geek mode?

Brian Lynch: I gotta say, I am writing two of my favorite characters in ANY media, so I'm geeking out every day. But I love tackling any moment where they talk to Rufus. It's daunting to put words into a character originated by George Carlin — daunting AND an honor. I also love writing any moment with young De Nomolos, especially when he takes Bill & Ted to meet his family. It was fun to think about what kind of family could possibly spawn such an evil creature. Also, we never got to really see the future world created by Bill & Ted in the movies, save for a quick visit in both movies. In this movie, we get to hang out there, and that is a blast to write.

Also Station. Always amazing to write Station.

PREVIEWSworld: If people want to learn more about Bill & Ted's Most Triumphant Return, what social sites are available?

Brian Lynch: They can follow me on Twitter at @brianlynch. Our brilliant artist Jerry Gaylord is @theFranchize. And, of course, there's @boomstudios.

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