INTERVIEW: Welcome to 2094 and the ‘Tramps of the Apocalypse’
Image courtesy of Dark Horse / Provided with permission.
The year is 2094, a future that feels far enough away to be fantasy-based, but not too far off, which means it’s inextricably tied to 2025. The world is run by men, eternally on the hunt for power and resources, and the landscape is dusty, barren and violent.
There are groups of men marauding around desolate cities and former towns. One of them is Quest Ragnor, the so-called King of Males. He’s a horrible creature, subjecting women to slavery, according to press notes. From these dire circumstances emerges three women who are determined to right these wrongs, and they are described as “apex predators.” They are Baby, Belladonna and Babette, and they are the protagonists of the new Dark Horse miniseries Tramps of the Apocalypse, with issue #1 hitting stands Tuesday, June 25.
The creative force of the comic is Alice Darrow, writer and artist for the book. This is her first foray into the comic world (her day job is as an animator), and Hollywood Soapbox recently exchanged emails with her to learn more about this not-too-distant future, which is a commentary on current times. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
Where did the idea for Tramps of the Apocalypse come from?
I don’t really remember. It feels like I’ve always had this idea or like I’ve been working on it forever. It’s been a life raft for me throughout the political “turmoil” (doesn’t seem like a strong enough word). Ideas kind of come and go. It’s hard to point out a single trigger. WAP by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion, the collective works of John Waters, or Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! certainly had a massive impact on me and have informed my work on this book.
Although set in the future, the comic book series is meant to be a satire of these current times, right?
It is absolutely meant to be a satire of what we are all currently watching unfold: the dismantling of our democracy by the alt-right.
How would you describe the characters Baby, Belladonna and Babette?
They’re somewhere between nightmare and fantasy. Ultimately, they’re meant to represent three female archetypes we often find in comics and film: the smart one, the bimbo, the evil one. The book is meant to be a study/satire on how we represent women and their bodies in pop culture.
Three issues is a short run. Are you hoping for more stories in the future?
If I get the chance, I would love to continue Tramps of the Apocalypse! If that isn’t in the cards for me, there are many other stories I’ll hopefully have the opportunity to tell.
How was your experience creating your first comic?
It was such a great experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better publishing company. Since this is my first book, I had so many doubts, and Dark Horse really held my hand throughout the process. I work in animation full time, so it was quite challenging to balance both (especially for my right drawing hand!), but it was so rewarding and so worth it.
Did it take a long time to settle on the artistic style for the comic book?
I think color design was the hardest. I knew I wanted black and white with a splash of color, so my colorist (and husband!) helped me figure it out. That took some time. I’ve always been partial to this kind of line work, so that part wasn’t so challenging or time-consuming!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Tramps of the Apocalypse, written and illustrated by Alice Darrow, is a new three-part miniseries from Dark Horse. Issue #1 releases Tuesday, June 25. Click here for more information.
