Since 2018, C.J. Hudson has been making comics either thru his own Publisher or thru others. All starting with Interstellar Dust, a tale of a group looking to be free instead of locked up. And with the Kickstarter for the ID Omnibus now happening, now was the time to ask C.J. a few questions! So come on down and see what he had to say!
1. Hello there! And welcome to the Mind Meld here at IndieComiX! For those who may not be aware of you and what it is you do, could you tell us about yourself?
Its C.J.!
I’m C.J. Hudson, I write comic books. I typically publish any crowdfunded comics under my own Warn Everyone! Comics publishing arm (or my EXO imprint) with such titles as Interstellar Dust or Hunters of the Outer Realm. I’ll also sometimes publish with Devin Arscott’s Epic Fantasy line, particularly if it’s superhero related, ie, Granite. In the direct market I’ve worked with Antarctic Press and Band of Bards, both are wonderful and easy to partner with.
2. You’ve published quite a few titles thru several Publishers over the years starting with Interstellar Dust (more on that in just a bit) back in 2018, what inspired you to get into comics creating?
Honestly I’ve been a comic book fan since I was a wee lad. Went to the shop every Wednesday, wrote fan fic, all that good stuff. As I got older I thought “why not write my own comics?” So I started and never really stopped. For anyone with a passion for storytelling it really comes down to this unrelenting desire to create. You think of a story, and you just have to push it out into the world.
3. Interstellar Dust, now launched on Kickstarter to fund an Omnibus for the title. For those unfamiliar, what is it about?
Chaos In Interstellar Dust!
ID is about a group of characters who find themselves in a particularly violent prison riot and their subsequent journey to a work camp to serve out their sentences. This culminates with their decision to escape a life behind bars and try to go on the run. Vol 1 is basically the movie ‘Con Air’ but in space, and vol 2 is sort of like ‘Prison Break’ or any movie that deals with incarceration and yearning for freedom. Only mine has aliens haha.
4. Is there more coming? Or is the Omnibus the end game?
Vol 3 is in the works but with series artist Moy Marco busy at DC Comics we are on hiatus for the time being. I’ve got a series of prequel one shots planned to the full void though.
5. Is there a Plan B if the Kickstarter doesn’t succeed?
Likely I would just relaunch again at a later date. I wouldn’t say it would be the end or anything like that, as sometimes we make mistakes with our launches so making some adjustments for a relaunch can make all the difference.
6. What’ll be next for you once the Kickstarter over with? Perhaps more Lycan?
My next launch will be Hunters issue 2, as I really do want to get that story wrapped up since it’s only a 3 issue mini. I would love to get more Lycan out into the world, it’s under contract with Band of Bards though and they have had to go on hiatus for a bit, but I’m confident they’ll be back in action very soon. The next issue of Lycan is scripted and ready to go anytime, my plan is to get the next issue of the Cauldron scripted this year too, so I’ll be ready to go with both series.
7. Thoughts on AI and Diamond’s problems?
AI is a fascinating tool that could solve for a number of the world’s problems (cancer research for one), but for use in comic books, to take the renderings of someone else’s work and use them without permission to develop some soulless looking trash that the original artist is uncompensated for…well… I’m opposed to that. I like to joke that the biggest insult of all is that the art doesn’t look good, but I am worried that will change in time, and that’s troubling. You won’t find any use of AI in my comics, I only work with flesh and bone humans.
The Diamond Bankruptcy issue is honestly heartbreaking from an Indie Comics perspective, that was where a number of smaller publishers had distribution deals, and that’s where indie creators were able to put their comics into the direct market. When that goes away, smaller creators have no options outside of crowdfunding. Now, the Massive Indies arrangement with Lunar might be a lifeline, but time will tell.
8. For new readers to ID like myself, would the Omnibus be the perfect jump on point?
The ID omnibus is a great jumping on point. It contains all the issues published thus far. My hope is to attract a whole new crop of readers with this collected edition.
9. What inspired ID? And did you think you’d still be writing the title by 2025?
There really wasn’t any mature Sci-Fi content in the direct market at the time. Nothing ultra violent, nothing sexy, it was all pretty much meant for all ages aside from a few series that maybe dabbled in semi mature content. I really wanted to go for the hard ‘R’ rating, as I felt like the market needed a book like ID. The fact that it was about incarceration was also something I felt like dabbling in, as there really haven’t been a ton of comics that take place behind bars.
ID is my baby, I hope to get to 50 issues, but it’s hard to say if I’ll get there. It’s just a different time in comics. I just tell each arc as a fresh mini series and keep my fingers crossed that I can get to the finish line.
10. You mentioned being a fanfic writer (great way to work on your creative skills too), do you still write/read and where can one read those works if they wanted?
I still work on fan fic. I just wrote a Batgirl fan fic that has a limited print run. Fan fic is tricky because you can’t really do a massive print run, and technically you can’t sell them unless it’s in addition to something else or as a free giveaway with purchase. My published fan fic is available on my crowdfunding campaigns.
11. You mentioned a hiatus for BoB, is all good there?
Oh yeah, no issues with BoB. Things happen in publishing that are beyond your control, and they’ve had some stuff pop up that is beyond their control. They will be back soon enough and I’ll be ready to work with them again. Part of working in comics is just getting used to delays. I have a few things that are delayed, so I just focus on other things. I’ve had another series in development for 9 years, so I’m very patient.
12. As someone who not only has their own publisher but also publish’s thru several others, has this made it easier for you in regards to steady work?
Absolutely. My preferred way of publishing is just going through Kickstarter and then doing a Direct Market Edition through another publisher. I’m not opposed to just doing one or the other, but for me to only publish something in the direct market it has to be frantically viable.
13. Do you have a process for your writing?
Tiny Island!
I typically come up with a story, plot it out, do more refined page layouts and then script it. I always make adjustments as I’m writing though, as the best ideas come about while you’re in process I find.
14. I really enjoyed the first issue of Hunters and with it being a 3 issue miniseries, what made you decide on a short run?
I really wanted to tell something with a faster pace and something that I wouldn’t get bogged down with. I feel like people want shorter content sometimes to mix up the long form stuff we consume. Tiny Island was just a one shot for instance. Some stories should be shorter I feel.
15. Is there a Publisher outside of the Big 2 you haven’t worked with yet but would like to?
A leading lady of Hunters!
I would love to work with Mad Cave, Image or Dark Horse. That would be a dream for me.
16. With sites like DriveThru, GlobalComix, WebTOONS, and IndyPlanet, do you think they help take a little of the weight off the shoulders of publishers and solo creators? Especially now with the whole Diamond situation?
You have to have a digital strategy. I haven’t leaned into digital as much as I should outside of selling digital during my campaigns, but it’s something I need to pursue more.
17. For you and your work, where do you hope to be with both in the next 5 to 10 years?
Just making comics! I’m a realist, I have no grand plans outside of having fun and creating. If something more happens…awesome! If not…that’s all good too. My goal is to create as long as I’m able to.
18. For you personally, what’s been a favorite moment to have done in ID or any other title?
I think in ID I really just go for whatever I think is the most bizarre or outlandish thing I can think of at the time, but also ensure it fits with the story. l think the torture scene in the second volume was really brutal, but it was executed flawlessly due to the wonderful work Moy and Spell put into those pages, topped off with Corey Breen’s excellent lettering.
19. When Lycan was brought in to the world, it somewhat felt like it was already a well established title and not just starting out. What made you go that route?
I wansted to tell a story that was already in the middle of some conflict that we could go back to via flashback to flesh out more. Instead of starting at the beginning, we are in the middle of it, but we will see the beginning as the title goes on. Issue 2 expands the mythos quite a bit.
20. And as for my last question, what advice would you give to those looking to get into the Industry?
Want to make comics? Just make comics, it’s really that easy. Team up with other creators for anthologies, or advance payment for 10 pages of an issue with some dope covers and crowdfund it, then publish a new version of your comic in the direct market with a new cover to expand your readership. That’s it, that’s what you need to do. The only rule I ever have regardless of genre or rating is you can make whatever you want, just make it well. Put everything into it, don’t half ass it.
Editor’s Note: Huge thanks to C.J. for taking part in this interview! Be sure to get your pledge in to help make the Interstellar Dust Omnibus a reality! And on day 1, the project has reached 3,798 dollars of its 2500 dollar goal with 28 days left to go!
Interview by: Rob Wrecks
