Winds of Change Mean Time For Adventure

by Vince Brusio

All things change. But some may stay the same, even though they change. It’s tricky, but it can be done. Especially if the change is also an adventure. This explains why BOOM! Studios has moved forward on a comic series that’s based on a long-popular cartoon show on TV that's no longer in production. In this PREVIEWSworld Exclusive interview, BOOM! Studios Editor Whitney Leopard tells us that Adventure Time: Marcy & Simon #1 (NOV181315). is just one of the many tall castles that they plan to build in a new toy-filled sandbox.

Adventure Time: Marcy & Simon #1 is in comic shops January 16.

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Vince Brusio: You’ve been publishing Adventure Time comics for years, but with the TV show now gone from Cartoon Network many will wonder why BOOM! Studios is still publishing the comics. What would you say to that?

Whitney Leopard: Adventure Time may have just ended its award-winning run on television, but has expanded into many other mediums, and continues to be explored for fans in different ways moving forward — including with all-new stories in comic book form at BOOM! Studios. We fell in love with these characters and wanted to continue the journey of Finn, Jake, and the rest of the crew in comic form and have been grateful to Cartoon Network for letting us continue to play in this sandbox.

Vince Brusio: How has Adventure Time fared against more long-term established kids’ properties like Garfield and Peanuts?

Whitney Leopard: We don't think of these comic book series as competitors in the comic shop or bookstore markets — KaBOOM!'s goal is to deliver more content for middle-grade readers, and each of these properties have very different, passionate fan bases. Adventure Time has created a new generation of fans hungry for the next chapter in the story of their favorite characters, so what we're doing in comics is able to deliver that in real time to continue this incredible narrative.

Vince Brusio: With the comic series being published without the TV series in production, does that allow the creators more freedom? Are new developments now possible that weren’t possible before?

Whitney Leopard: Thankfully we get to work directly with Cartoon Network on this series, so they make sure that we keep the comics in line with their vision of the characters while also giving us the leeway to take the characters and world in unexplored directions. Our goal has always been to develop new stories in this world that worked in concert with the TV series and that remains constant. But now we're the only place you can see Adventure Time continue with all new adventures, so that in and of itself means we're breaking new ground.

Vince Brusio: Tell us about the people on point to write and illustrate Adventure Time: Marcy & Simon #1. What’s been the nature of your discussions with Olivia Olson and Slimm Fabert? Where do they need guidance? When do you cut the apron strings?

Whitney Leopard: Olivia, as the voice for Marceline and someone who has written books as Marceline, does not need any guidance on the Vampire Queen. She knows it all! In fact, most of the guidance comes from anything that we’ve established in the comic series that never showed up in the show, so it’s been fun getting to talk to her about the stories we’ve been able to do, and see how she brings them to life from her own perspective. Slimm is an incredibly talented artist and we’re thrilled to have him drawing this series. We give feedback on every stage of the line art, but most of it is just letting him know how much we love specific panels that he’s done.

This really is a dream team for this series both for us at BOOM! Studios and for any fans of these characters.

Vince Brusio: In what way is Adventure Time: Marcy & Simon #1 going to be a blast for fans of the Vampire Queen and former Ice King? How do you see it moving the needle?

Whitney Leopard: Marcy & Simon/Ice King have always been fan-favorites, and when the show ended, there were a lot of possibilities left on the table for these two. We’re excited to get a chance to tell a story of these two characters, not set in the past, but in who they are now, and what that means for their relationship that has such a deep history. There are going to be a lot of twists and turns along the way, and this is definitely something no fan of the show, or comics, will want to miss.

That’s really what makes the Adventure Time comics so special now — this is the place where the characters are taking their next steps, and there’s no off-season for comics, Adventure Time Season 11 and Adventure Time: Marcy & Simon are just the beginning of the plans we have for this franchise.

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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.