From time to time, a comic comes a long that you know will be truly great long before word one.
Junk Punch is just such a book.
Admittedly, my love for this new Mad Cave Studios title initially centered on the title alone (which I attest to be the best in at least a decade if not much longer). Then, my admiration only grew when I realized it was another book by Paul Tobin and Carlos Javier Olivares, who made the generally affective String. But once I actually got into Junk Punch (where the duo are joined by colorist Francesca Vivaldi and letterer Taylor Esposito), it too socked me right where it most hurts — squarely in my head and heart.
In Junk Punch, we meet Clara Castanelle, who lives in a world where “new compulsions have arisen to afflict individuals in bizarre ways.” As the title suggests, Clara’s compulsion means she can’t stop KO-ing folks’ nether regions, which she then uses to “solve a bizarre series of thefts, such as kisses stolen from willing and waiting lips.”
And, again, if all you wanted to take away from Junk Punch was the insanity and absurdity, there’s volumes of that to go around. But beyond the neon-colored, near-future hijinks lies something of real depth. A title with this intensely charming lead; oddly resonant themes about being yourself; and attitude and joy to spare. It is, as Mad Cave put it, “entertainment with IMPACT!”
Junk Punch #1 is due out this week (June 3). Ahead of this first blow, we caught up with Olivares earlier this week via email. There, we discussed his collaborations with Tobin, the book’s identity and influences, why Clara works as such a compelling protagonist, balancing the many threads and ideas in this story, and even a possible “Junk Punch-verse,” among other topics and tidbits.
Main cover by Carlos Olivares and Francesca Vivaldi. Courtesy of Mad Cave Studios.
AIPT: You two previously worked together on String. How did that inform your collaborative process, and did it prepare you at all for the madness of Junk Punch?
Carlos Javier Olivares: Paul is a wonderful creative, one of the best professionals I’ve ever worked with — his insights carry a lot of weight, yet he’s also fun and a bit crazy. What came out of that dynamic? The answer is Junk Punch.
AIPT: Where did the simple but powerful idea for Junk Punch come from? And is Clara’s compulsion around a certain kind of junk, like how Dexter Morgan only kills other killers?
CJO: That question is more for Paul. When I read the script and discovered Clara, I was amazed, and I asked myself the same thing: How did he come up with this?! I knew I had to devote a lot of care to the project because of how special it was from that very first moment.
AIPT: There was talk of this book being a balancing act/stew of “editorial cartoons, English comics, [and] Italian ero-fumetti.” What does that medley do to inform the look and feel of the book, and how do you balance such hugely distinct inspirations?
CJO: Well, yes, Paul always shares his vision of the ideas with me and gives me the creative freedom to contribute my own — that’s where that special workflow happens. I know his tastes perfectly well, his admiration for certain aspects and influences, which aren’t unfamiliar to me. It’s been very easy to detach ourselves from what’s around us in the publishing market and seek out different paths to bring the final idea to the project.
Courtesy of Mad Cave Studios.
AIPT: Is there some deeper themes or message to Junk Punch? I keep thinking we live in a world where if I could, say, just punch some junks, maybe that would make a difference to the rising tide of feckless cretins.
CJO: I know I shouldn’t say this, but I think Clara would actually solve more problems in real life than she would create herself. HA HA HA Joking aside, our Clara solves problems — that’s her true power: problem-solving.
AIPT: Each issue also contains a different back-up story from a different artist. (Written by Tobin and with art from Colleen Coover.) What do those add to the larger story, and what can we expect from some of these side quests/tales?
CJO: They bring what Junk Punch brings: variety — visual and cultural variety. That’s what I was referring to earlier: being different from start to finish, with different visual artists to give the project another perspective.
AIPT: Back to String: I feel like that book was about, among other things, seeing the world in ways you wouldn’t otherwise. Is there some of that with Junk Punch — embracing these compulsions is a way to better embrace life and its innate absurdity?
CJO: Yes, that’s a very good question. In my opinion, both String and Junk Punch have a different kind of imagination. On the surface, it seems like a basic or simple imagination — whatever you want to call it — but it delves deeper into us than we realize. These ways of seeing the world through such disparate universes also help us cope with reality; we need thoughts like that.
Courtesy of Mad Cave Studios.
AIPT: How would you classify Clara as a protagonist for Junk Punch? Is she someone to be feared, loved, somewhere in between? And why is she a compelling entry into this world?
CJO: Clara is incredible! I assure you she’s a character with supernatural talent; she’ll win you over little by little, but you won’t be able to let her out of your heart. And no, she’s not easily categorized — she’s capable of both the best and the worst, but she always lands on her feet in the end.
AIPT: What’s the key to making something that’s weird and humorous like this, but that also feels emotionally significant or thematically “important”?
CJO: The most important thing is the diversity in the series; creative freedom isn’t just mine and Paul’s — Mad Cave plays a fundamental role in this. They’ve given us a hand to walk this special path; being able to tackle such varied themes and contexts is a wonderful experience. Mike, James, our editors — they’re a fundamental part of the results, and Mad Cave, of course.
AIPT: Do you have a favorite moment or scene from the story? Maybe something that speaks volumes to the larger narrative?
CJO: Yes, and I don’t doubt it for a moment. I’m devoted to one character and every single one of her scenes — Clara’s cat… her pet. I can’t say more; you have to discover it for yourselves. She’s my favorite, without a doubt.
Courtesy of Mad Cave Studios.
AIPT: If you somehow had to suddenly manage your own “compulsion” a la Clara (and you could choose), what would you pick and why?
CJO: I have to say that for now I think I’m balanced in that sense, but if I had any obsession, I’d really love to be like Clara — to have that fun schizophrenia she possesses.
AIPT: It’s early, sure, but it feels like you’re setting this book up for a longer future. Could we get a whole saga from the “Junk Punch-verse”?
CJO: It’s clear that if that idea ever comes to pass, I’ll be there.
AIPT: Is there anything else we should know about Junk Punch, comics, punching, fist-based justice, etc.?
CJO: I’d rather let you all enjoy Clara, her friends, her enemies, and her reflections —it’s not to be missed. Enjoy it — that’s my best wish for you — and what better way than to discover it for yourselves.
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