For years, Adventure Time has been a beloved cornerstone of animation and comics, blending surreal humor, deep emotion, and wild storytelling in ways that continue to resonate with fans. Now, Oni Press is taking the series to new heights with Adventure Time: Best of Buds, a fresh ongoing comic helmed by the incredibly talented Nick Winn, who is both writing and illustrating the main story.
With Best of Buds (out in comic shops on April 9), Winn aims to capture the chaotic, heartfelt magic that made Adventure Time such an iconic series while carving out new, unexpected adventures for Finn, Jake, and the entire Land of Ooo. Whether diving deep into the unbreakable bond (or is it…?) between Finn and Jake, introducing familiar faces like Lumpy Space Princess and Joshua, or delivering the absolute best in mathematical storytelling, this series promises something for longtime fans and newcomers alike.
I sat down with Winn recently to discuss his approach to balancing absurdity with emotional depth, what it’s like wearing both the writer and artist hats, and what surprises Adventure Time fans can expect in this new era. Plus, he shares insights on his artistic inspirations, the joys (and challenges) of drawing Jake’s stretchy limbs, and why this new comic is truly Absolute Adventure Time!
AIPT: Adventure Time has such a rich legacy in animation and comics. What was your approach to capturing the tone and spirit of the series while bringing something fresh to this new ongoing run?
Nick Winn: When starting this new Adventure Time series, I wanted to make sure it felt new and exciting like the early episodes I watched in middle school. I wanted it to feel just as wacky and fun with a firm foundation of the lore and characters, so I went back and watched the early seasons to get more of a feel for how characters interacted with each other.
Courtesy of Oni Press.
AIPT: You’re both writing and illustrating the main story—how does wearing both hats influence your storytelling? Do you find yourself leaning more into the art or the writing when developing an issue?
NW: Amazing cartoonists like Brenda Hickey, Asia Simone, and so many others have been brought on and have made some incredible work in the later issues. I kick my feet like a little kid whenever I get to see the new issues come in. When it’s other artists drawing it, I write a bit more just to make sure the point gets across but also leaving room for the artist to have fun. When it’s me, I tend to write less and find the story through my drawings.
AIPT: Hunter Gorinson recently told me this is like “Absolute Adventure Time.” Would you care to unpack what he means?
NW: Uhhh lemme look up Absolute. Ok. Absolute: “Not qualified or diminished in any way; total.”
Aw, man, such a sweet compliment! I agree! With the help of my editor, Megan Brown, and her assistant, Jung Lee, and an amazing second story by Derek Ballard, Adventure Time: Best of Buds is absolute, 100% pure mathematical fun that fits right into the Adventure Time universe. Everything you want in Adventure Time is in this comic and more!
Courtesy of Oni Press.
AIPT: The Land of Ooo is filled with colorful characters—can you tease which familiar faces will play major roles in this first arc? Any deep-cut surprises for longtime fans?
NW: Without spoiling much, Lumpy Space Princess and Joshua will play key roles in the story. There might also be a never-ending pie-throwing robot that appears. Maybe some heat between Finn and a certain princess?
AIPT: The backup stories will feature Derek Ballard. How does his work complement your main stories, and what can readers expect from these additional tales?
NW: Derek’s storytelling is extremely honest and sweet. Perfect for Adventure Time. He brings out so many of the characters in such a short time and long time and new readers will love revisiting the characters he explores in his story!
Courtesy of Oni Press.
AIPT: Adventure Time thrives on blending absurdity with deep emotional storytelling. Can we expect that mix in your run? Are there particular themes (or gags) you’re excited to explore?
NW: When brainstorming about what to write about, I thought about Finn and Jake’s friendship. They’re best buds, but would anything split them up? I wanted to explore over eight issues and see how Finn and Jake’s friendship would weather interpersonal and external trials. Finding their friendship in hardships has given this comic such wacky and stupid funny stories that have an emotional layer underneath that tugs at the heartstrings.
AIPT: You have a unique art style that still feels very at home in the Adventure Time universe. How do you balance making it your own while staying true to the look fans love?
NW: I’m very thankful to have worked with artists at Cartoon Network who have worked on Adventure Time and gotten the pleasure to do some work for some of the spinoff projects. I wanted to make sure my style matched with the show as closely as it could, while still translating certain things to comics language to enhance the reading quality.
Courtesy of Oni Press.
AIPT: With such a dynamic world and cast, what’s been the most fun or challenging part of drawing Adventure Time? Are there any characters or settings that are particularly tricky to illustrate?
NW: The most fun part of drawing Adventure Time was Jake. Drawing his loopy limbs is the most fun for me. The trickiest character would have to be…The Lich.
AIPT: This series has some incredible cover artists attached, including Tillie Walden, Erica Henderson, and David Nakayama. How does it feel to see such a diverse range of talent interpreting Adventure Time alongside your work?
NW: I’m so blessed. I’d never have thought I’d be able to see such amazing cartoonists that I’ve loved reading and drawing characters that I’d grown up watching. It’s Algebraic!
AIPT: If Finn and Jake started a band, what kind of music would they play, and what would their band name be?
NW: Well, Jake would play his violin, and Finn would sing with the computer in his stomach. BMO would wanna join in, too. The music would probably sound like Björk’s song “5 Years,” but it’d be about the sandwich they ate earlier. The band would probably be called Jake’s farts.
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