Woman Baltimore and the Daughters of Medusa is the most recent chapter within the Outerverse, the continued saga by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden of myths and monsters. The collection, as soon as once more drawn by Bridgit Connell, chronicles the adventures of Sofia Valk as she fights the magical forces of evil throughout World Warfare II. The 2 earlier Woman Baltimore entries (The Witches Queens and The Dream of Ikelos) allowed Connell to show her abilities at bringing pulpy, interval horror journey to life. Connell is shortly establishing herself as a expertise to look at thanks to those collection, particularly when it comes to how she’s taken the possibility to construct upon the feel and appear of the Outerverse in her work. The Beat corresponded with Connell to get a peak into her inventive course of and perhaps some hints at the way forward for Woman Baltimore.
D. MORRIS: It’s been awhile for the reason that earlier Woman Baltimore collection, “The Witch Queens,” and final yr’s one shot “The Dream of Ikelos.” How does it really feel coming again to each the character and the world launched in these first collection?
BRIDGIT CONNELL: I’m such a fan of Sofia Baltimore and her story, and much more, I’m such a fan of working with this group. I truthfully really feel like I’ve gotten away with one thing. Attending to mess around with characters, monsters, settings, and lore within the Outerverse with a group this in sync… are you kidding me? I managed to sneak myself into among the finest comedian gigs ever – don’t snitch on me!
MORRIS: Are you able to discuss what the method of collaborating with Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola is like? CONNELL: Me and Chris all the time do a pre-emptive meetup earlier than the scriptwriting, simply to satisfy up, shoot the shit, and get on the identical web page concerning the mission. He bounces concepts off me and I normally simply nerd out like I’m getting the key scoop on a few of my favourite characters. For this specific double shot he requested what I wished to attract, and after I stated “gorgons”, he wrote this totally lovely script for us to do, virtually immediately. He’s insane. This two-issue arc is truthfully my favourite mission I’ve ever carried out. (I don’t say that calmly, I promise.) I can’t say something concerning the story threads, I don’t wish to spoil them. So I’ll go away y’all with that.
One in every of my favourite experiences with this collection is studying somewhat bit about how Mike’s thoughts works in relation to the look of his world and the monsters inside it. As a fan of Mike’s for a very long time, any small quantity of his course of that I can peek into is such a deal with. Whereas Mike, with the artwork of Ben Stenbeck and Peter Bergting, has established the overarching environment of this world, I’d say deep-diving into the emotional connections of the characters, what drives them, what enrages them… Chris is so good at writing in-depth character connection. Performing is my favourite factor to attract, and I feel that’s why I join with Chris’ scripts so nicely. I need that heartbeat from web page to web page.
MORRIS: Some of the placing issues about this collection are your pencils and the colours from Michelle Madsen. Are you able to discuss the way you have been each introduced collectively and the way carefully you’re employed arising with the collection’ visuals? CONNELL: Thanks! It’s such an honor to work with Michelle on these books. The one actual notes I gave her for this two-parter have been associated to among the new character and monsters designs, and she or he nonetheless shocked me by glorifying the monsters we’ve got on this story with some good colours. She additionally nails room lighting and spacial drama so nicely. After I bought the colours again I stared at a number of of our landscapes that we did – she does a lot work on bringing these kinds of issues to life. And anytime one in every of our books has magic in it she actually goes loopy. Getting the colours again and seeing how her thoughts works is all the time thrilling.
MORRIS: You’ve gotten to attract Joe Golem and Cojacaru in earlier tales, however are there every other characters within the Outerverse you’re itching to attract?
CONNELL: I’d love to attract Cojacaru once more, for actual, she is such a badass. That armor kills me it’s so good. My favourite comedian arc options Ben Stenbeck’s artwork, within the authentic Baltimore, and it includes the character Choose Duvic. (Proper over my desk I’ve a web page from the “Wolf and the Apostle.”) Duvic was such an abhorrent villain, and truthfully I feel the abuse of energy could be an attention-grabbing aspect to convey to right this moment’s local weather. (Not {that a} comedian about WW2 and killing Nazis is political or something.) However to Choose Duvic, he’s at present, so useless. I’m assuming. So I don’t assume that might occur. However man, from Man to Cursed Man to Determined-and-Doomed Man to Monster, he was such a nicely carried out villain.
Additionally, talking of these comics, Ben Stenbeck has this unhinged manner of drawing Baltimore in battle that I fell in love with studying the comedian, and it’s one thing I’ve tried to hold into this guide. When Baltimore is in battle, he all the time drew him on this unhinged, uncooked manner, which usually in comics I really feel is reserved for villains – the whites of his eyes and his eyes bugging out, with clenched enamel, slicing his sword by means of the air. But it surely actually is an unglorified take a look at survival, of preventing for one thing with the whole lot you could have, and I wished to additionally give that to Sofia. (I feel generally, particularly with feminine heroes, there may be this concern to make them look enticing whereas they battle, or put them in fairly poses whereas they battle, which I refuse to do.) Not solely did she be taught from Baltimore and journey with him, however she has a lot ardour and life to her character. The place Baltimore’s depth got here with grief and revenge, I wished to provide Sofia that very same depth… however her coronary heart will not be a tin one, it’s flesh and blood and pounding.
MORRIS: It’s been delivered to my consideration that you could be be a fan of werewolves. How arduous are you petitioning werewolves for use in a future story? CONNELL: Dude, I’m telling you, JUDGE DUVIC. Would freaking love to attract him. I don’t assume it’s within the playing cards. He’s useless. I attempted mentioning like a Canine Troopers kind factor with Chris. He was so well mannered about it however I don’t assume it’s occurring. Actual speak, I feel it will take away from the earlier story – how solitary the curse was and it will sort of diffuse the circumstance of how he bought it, I feel, and I don’t wish to do something to minimize earlier tales within the Outerverse – solely strengthen them. However you may’t hate a lady for attempting to herald some wolfmen.
MORRIS: Are you able to trace at future plans for future Woman Baltimore tales?
CONNELL: I’ll say, there could also be one or two extra tales already deliberate after “Daughters of Medusa.” What can I say relating to what they’re? Not a lot, aside from I feel that there’s an equal quantity of reward for people who find themselves each a fan of the unique Baltimore in addition to these newcomers who find yourself loving her and her new crew.
Woman Baltimore and the Daughters of Medusa Situation #1 sees launch on Could seventh at comics outlets from Darkish Horse Comics.
