Many superheroes have some sort of exotic fatal flaw, something they must overcome as it brings them inches from death (i.e.: Superman and kryptonite), but what if that flaw weren’t so exotic? What if it were something many struggle with silently and invisibly? That’s what author Jordan Hart asks in his comic series Ripple Effects, which follows the adventures of a superhero whose invincibility is offset by an acute case of type 1 diabetes and a defective pancreas that must be monitored and treated daily. Now, on the comic’s 15th anniversary, Fanbase Press is releasing the entire series as a hardcover graphic novel, Ripple Effects: The Deluxe Edition. Of course, nothing in this world is free, but instead of hitting up some mogul or investor, Fanbase Press is launching a Kickstarter campaign to help bring this collection to bookstores.
This isn’t just a one-person project, though. Ripple Effects was created, written, and colored by Jordan Hart (The Cabinet, Terminarch, Doppelgänger), illustrated by Bruno Chiroleu (El Borde, Mara and Samu), flatted by Shane Kadlecik, lettered by Oceano Ransford (Eisner Award-nominated Rikki, The Sequels, Haphaven), and features cover art by Justin C. Harder (CLAUS Studios) and a foreword by Matthew Noe (librarian, Harvard Medical School).
Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting cover artist Justin Harder, whose credits also include the end titles for Thor: The Dark World, the opening montage for SNL‘s Weekend Update, and my favorite, the end titles for the first Deadpool movie. In other words, “Li’l DP” is his brainchild.
I got to pick Harder’s brain a little and asked him to provide some insights on Ripple Effects, the Kickstarter campaign, and what his summer con plans are.
How did you become aware of Ripple Effects?
I became aware of Ripple Effects because my best bud, [author Jordan Hart]. He had written it and told me about it. I read them all in one sitting… and I just remember texting him after… I started crying. I cried. I cried multiple times during the book. It’s full of heart. It’s full of emotion, and knowing that it’s so close to my buddy… It all made it that much more sweet, and it’s fantastically illustrated.
What made you want to get involved with the project?
Easy, Jordan. That was it. He asked me. I said sure. Whatever it was, I didn’t care what it was. I’ll do. Whatever you want.
Ripple Effects is transitioning from comic book to graphic novel. Do you think this will change how the public thinks about Ripple Effects?
Sure, yes, because some folks don’t go and pick up the individual comics. Me and [Jordan Hart] talk about that all the time. Sometimes they do wait for the graphic novel to come out and graphic novels become so popular with the kiddos that they don’t go and buy single issues anymore. It’s all about that, that graphic novel to be able to digest it and consume it in one sitting. And so I think it’s going to reach a lot more folks this way for sure. And it’s already been reaching so many thanks to the Eisner nomination and all the other awards that it won. It’s a special story, done by a special man.
What in particular about the story inspired you to create the cover art for the comic and graphic novel the way that you did?
Jordan had very specific ideas for it… and he liked the way I drew a certain Marvel commercial… He let me know. OK, this is kind of the world, and then he let me do my thing. I’m a lot better when I have bumpers on my bowling alley lane than if you just give me no bumpers, and I start throwing the ball all over the place. The guy’s always a fountain of positivity and inspiration.
What can you tell us about the graphic novel’s Kickstarter campaign?
They (Fanbase Press) kind of saw some stuff that Kirkman had done with the Kickstarter, and I think it kind of spurred them to go, hey, people, you know, this is big… Hoping the fans come out in droves to support it and get the hardcover done. I did a brand new illustration for the front and back for one spread (on the hardcover), which we hadn’t done for the front and back before any other ones. I was really proud of the way it turned out.
Will you be at SDCC to help promote the novel’s Kickstarter? If so, can you share any of your plans?
I really hope to be right now. We’re going through a lot of stuff at home… personal issues. But I hope to be there for two days. I hope to at least be there for one day on Saturday. If I do anything… I’d probably do my pop-up by the poolside and sell some prints. It’s kind of hectic, which I hate to say because I love to go so much, but yeah, OK. I hope to be there.
Apart from family members, who has been your favorite “booth babe” during conventions?
Dude, I did not see that one coming, brother! Andy “Wacky Wags”. Dude. You’re the best, bud. And I loved seeing you (at) WonderCon too, man. You know? So great. It was so great to be there all together.
Look for Fanbase Press at SDCC this year at Small Press Table #O-03.
Click here if you’d like to support their Kickstarter campaign.
