Interview with...
KELLY BENDER
"STARBURN"
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Blasting onto I-pads and computer screens today is an epic space opera featuring pirates and aliens in a game-changing space craft! Prolific writer Kelly Bender's latest offering combines intense action with complicated characters in one all-out issue that grabs your from page one. Kelly recently spent time with CBI publisher John Michael Helmer discussing "Starburn" and its dynamic story arc.
JMH: What is Starburn?
KB: “Starburn” is the name of the fastest ship in all the galaxies!! It's a "star burning" engine the only of it's kind. That's where the name came from. Imagine the "Millennium Falcon" and "The Black Pearl" mixed together, that's "Starburn". It's a ship that’s so coveted the only way to get it is to steal it from the current crew, or win it in a gambling bet. (like the current owner did J)
JMH: Can you describe the world/universe it’s from?
KB: The story takes place in our world/universe but in the future and ALL galaxies are accessible. In the current crew of the ship only 1 of them is a “Human/Earthling” but he was born on a space station. The rest come from all over the many galaxies, with one goal in mind… making money from smuggling.
JMH: Does Starburn have supporting characters and if so can you tell CBI about them?
KB: “Starburn” has had many previous owners right now we’re focusing on the current owners and their current smuggling job. There are a variety of characters, creatures, aliens and obstacles in their way.
JMH: Was Starburn inspired by anything from your past or real life experiences?
KB: “Starburn” was inspired by my love of “Star Wars”, “Flash Gordon” and “The Last Starfighter”. No real experiences here but everything I’ve been through and exposed to have gone into this comic.
JMH: Do your stories carry a message to the readers?
KB: My messages are: have fun, enjoy yourself, and get lost in the reading experience. I create fantasy worlds and fantasy stories, I want to give the readers an escape and hopefully entertain them while their reading it.
JMH: Talk about the creative team involved with Starburn…
KB: The amazing illustrations were drawn by BRIAN BALONDO from the Philippines. We met a couple years ago and I knew I had to write a sci-fi story for him. He’ll be working for the “big two” in a couple years, mark my words. TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BrianBalondo DeviantArt Page: http://loadedatama.deviantart.com/
The inks were done by the steady-hand of CRISTIAN DOCOLOMANSKY from Chile. He is an amazing inker and really enhances the pencils. He and I became instant friends. TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DOCINKS DeviantArt Page: http://docolomansky.deviantart.com/
The stand-out colors are beautifully rendered by LAURA LEE. Laura is from Canada and she is amazing and truly an artist. She just makes those pages pop. Her Deviant Art Page: http://spacerocketbunny.deviantart.com/
The Letters are by NIC J SHAW who was one of my first comic book friends and he truly is a master of his craft! Nic is from the land down under Australia and you can check out his website here: www.shawlettering.com
The Creative team is truly as diverse as the crew of “STARBURN” as we’re from all over the world and came together to create a comic book. (I’m originally from Canada but now residing in Singapore).
JMH: Will Starburn be released in digital format, web comic, or print?
KB: The book is being released in digital form first. Then collected as a TPB and printed and sold at cons and select comic shops. The collected edition will also be available as a digital book.
JMH: Where can fans get a hold of Starburn?
KB: Glad you asked J “STARBURN” issue 1 is available right now through COMIXOLOGY: https://www.comixology.com/Starburn/digital-comic/197235?ref=c2VhcmNoL2luZGV4L2Rlc2t0b3Avc2xpZGVyTGlzdC9pdGVtU2xpZGVy
It’s also available on the publisher’s website: http://www.markosia.com
JMH: Finally, is there anything coming up in further Starburn stories, or other projects you want people to know about?
KB: There are other “Starburn” stories and possibly a cross-over involving the ship or some of the crew. But right now I have “SNARL” a 40 page crime graphic novel coming out Spring 2015 from publisher ALTERNA COMICS at http://alternacomics.com/ , a “The Leaf” stand alone comic coming out Spring 2015 from publisher “RED LEAF COMICS. You can check out a preview page at www.redleafcomics.com and I am also pitching many other comic books to publishers.
JMH: What advice do you have for aspiring creators?
KB: Keep at it! It’s a process. Steps are taken to take more steps. Keep at it! Keep writing, drawing, inking, coloring and lettering whatever you do, keep doing it and you will keep getting better and things will happen for you!
JMH: Kelly, CBI appreciates your time. ALL the best!
KELLY: Thanks so much, John. I really appreciate the opportunity. For updates on my many comic projects follow me on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KellyBender17 and be sure to check out my blog here: http://myimaginationshome.blogspot.sg/
JMH: What is Starburn?
KB: “Starburn” is the name of the fastest ship in all the galaxies!! It's a "star burning" engine the only of it's kind. That's where the name came from. Imagine the "Millennium Falcon" and "The Black Pearl" mixed together, that's "Starburn". It's a ship that’s so coveted the only way to get it is to steal it from the current crew, or win it in a gambling bet. (like the current owner did J)
JMH: Can you describe the world/universe it’s from?
KB: The story takes place in our world/universe but in the future and ALL galaxies are accessible. In the current crew of the ship only 1 of them is a “Human/Earthling” but he was born on a space station. The rest come from all over the many galaxies, with one goal in mind… making money from smuggling.
JMH: Does Starburn have supporting characters and if so can you tell CBI about them?
KB: “Starburn” has had many previous owners right now we’re focusing on the current owners and their current smuggling job. There are a variety of characters, creatures, aliens and obstacles in their way.
JMH: Was Starburn inspired by anything from your past or real life experiences?
KB: “Starburn” was inspired by my love of “Star Wars”, “Flash Gordon” and “The Last Starfighter”. No real experiences here but everything I’ve been through and exposed to have gone into this comic.
JMH: Do your stories carry a message to the readers?
KB: My messages are: have fun, enjoy yourself, and get lost in the reading experience. I create fantasy worlds and fantasy stories, I want to give the readers an escape and hopefully entertain them while their reading it.
JMH: Talk about the creative team involved with Starburn…
KB: The amazing illustrations were drawn by BRIAN BALONDO from the Philippines. We met a couple years ago and I knew I had to write a sci-fi story for him. He’ll be working for the “big two” in a couple years, mark my words. TWITTER: https://twitter.com/BrianBalondo DeviantArt Page: http://loadedatama.deviantart.com/
The inks were done by the steady-hand of CRISTIAN DOCOLOMANSKY from Chile. He is an amazing inker and really enhances the pencils. He and I became instant friends. TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DOCINKS DeviantArt Page: http://docolomansky.deviantart.com/
The stand-out colors are beautifully rendered by LAURA LEE. Laura is from Canada and she is amazing and truly an artist. She just makes those pages pop. Her Deviant Art Page: http://spacerocketbunny.deviantart.com/
The Letters are by NIC J SHAW who was one of my first comic book friends and he truly is a master of his craft! Nic is from the land down under Australia and you can check out his website here: www.shawlettering.com
The Creative team is truly as diverse as the crew of “STARBURN” as we’re from all over the world and came together to create a comic book. (I’m originally from Canada but now residing in Singapore).
JMH: Will Starburn be released in digital format, web comic, or print?
KB: The book is being released in digital form first. Then collected as a TPB and printed and sold at cons and select comic shops. The collected edition will also be available as a digital book.
JMH: Where can fans get a hold of Starburn?
KB: Glad you asked J “STARBURN” issue 1 is available right now through COMIXOLOGY: https://www.comixology.com/Starburn/digital-comic/197235?ref=c2VhcmNoL2luZGV4L2Rlc2t0b3Avc2xpZGVyTGlzdC9pdGVtU2xpZGVy
It’s also available on the publisher’s website: http://www.markosia.com
JMH: Finally, is there anything coming up in further Starburn stories, or other projects you want people to know about?
KB: There are other “Starburn” stories and possibly a cross-over involving the ship or some of the crew. But right now I have “SNARL” a 40 page crime graphic novel coming out Spring 2015 from publisher ALTERNA COMICS at http://alternacomics.com/ , a “The Leaf” stand alone comic coming out Spring 2015 from publisher “RED LEAF COMICS. You can check out a preview page at www.redleafcomics.com and I am also pitching many other comic books to publishers.
JMH: What advice do you have for aspiring creators?
KB: Keep at it! It’s a process. Steps are taken to take more steps. Keep at it! Keep writing, drawing, inking, coloring and lettering whatever you do, keep doing it and you will keep getting better and things will happen for you!
JMH: Kelly, CBI appreciates your time. ALL the best!
KELLY: Thanks so much, John. I really appreciate the opportunity. For updates on my many comic projects follow me on TWITTER: https://twitter.com/KellyBender17 and be sure to check out my blog here: http://myimaginationshome.blogspot.sg/
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