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Cyberpunk Space Sisters Are Dark Horse's Bounty

by Vince Brusio

Big explosions. Bold colors. You might even think of The Fifth Element for a moment, because things get loud and crazy pretty fast in the Bounty TP (OCT160055), Kurtis Wiebe’s new sci-fi thriller for Dark Horse Comics. Now, add in a sisterhood clause, and you’ve got something we wanted to talk about personally with Kurtis himself … and we did. Read what the writer had to say about this new series that’s coming to a comic shop near you this July!

Bounty TP (OCT160055) is in comic shops March 15.

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Article Image 75e0PREVIEWSworld: Bounty is being pitched to comics fans as a femme fatale sci-fi caper. Would you like to add anything to that elevator pitch? Think you can add a dash of salt and spice to give us a more rounded picture of this maxi-series?

Kurtis Wiebe: To me it feels like a bright and colorful cyberpunk adventure series. Bounty exists in a universe where bounty hunters are the galaxy’s celebrities, like intergalactic WWE stars, with big costumes and huge followings. Like with my other comics, the real story is between the characters and the relationships they keep. The two leads are sisters who’ve survived a lot together.

PREVIEWSworld: So did the concept of bandits ditching their careers to become bounty hunters stem from things like the government recruiting the best hackers to become impenetrable? A “send a thief to catch a thief” mentality?

Kurtis Wiebe: In a sense, yes. Before they lost everything, Nina and Georgie were known as the Gadflies, infamous galactic criminals. When they were finally caught, they managed a lucky escape but were forced to abandon everything, dropping them right back on square one. With every bounty hunter on their trail, they knew it was the best place to hide. They had the skills to do the job, and in the Bounty universe, the identities of bounty hunters are required by law to remain masked. They are not only law enforcement, but also entertainment for the masses.

PREVIEWSworld: Did the concept evolve as you began production? Did characters or plot devices change? Or is your creative style more set in stone, and you like to stick to the original template?

Kurtis Wiebe: The first five issues and world building were done mostly in advance. I had the basic structure of the story, I knew how the world worked. The main concept was that bounty hunters were quasi-celebrities and they often live streamed their hunts, which blend modern social media and celebrity.

Because I’d only developed the first arc for the pitch, when it came to the second, I was able to build on what Mindy and I had accomplished with the first arc, and craft something bigger out of even small concepts.

PREVIEWSworld: Mindy’s art style looks very kinetic just by looking at the preview page that’s supplied with the book’s solicitation. How does her art style work wonders for Bounty?

Kurtis Wiebe: Bounty wouldn’t exist without her. Everything you see on the page is a product of her imagination and design. I had an overall concept for how the world might look, and there are directions in the script, but what Mindy puts together is far beyond what I could’ve conceptualized. Everything from character design to locations, that’s all Mindy.

The characters are all Mindy as well. I let her know what I was thinking for inspiration, but it was very minor instruction. So, everything you see, costumes, character looks, ship design, Mindy took the smallest of description and made it her own. With someone of her level of talent and eye for design, you have to step back and let them create.

PREVIEWSworld: What were some of the most challenging scenes to write for this series? What concept(s) pushed your button?

Kurtis Wiebe:  I always find action sequences challenging, simply because I want to find the perfect balance between directing how it unfolds but leaving it wide enough for the artist to really make it their own. I used to be much more descriptive and took control of action scenes, but the longer I’ve worked in comics the more I realize it’s my job to inspire with the script rather than micromanage scenes.

That balance has paid off in Bounty. Mindy can stitch together one hell of an action sequence. 

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Vince Brusio writes about comics, and writes comics. He is the long-serving Editor of PREVIEWSworld.com, the creator of PUSSYCATS, and encourages everyone to keep the faith...and keep reading comics.

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