The Pacific Rim franchise from Legendary instantly became a fan-favorite from the kickoff of the first movie, the comic adaptations and continuing tales, and the second movie from a few years back. And it’s little wonder why: not only does the franchise tap into our love of rock’em-sock’em, larger-than-life kaiju and mech pummeling one another, but it’s filled with characters with heart that you actively want to root for.

Just under a month ago, Legendary’s comic book arm Legendary Comics, in partnership with Rocketship Entertainment, launched a Kickstarter for fans to preorder Pacific Rim: Final Breach, the latest graphic novel installment in the saga, written by Joshua Hale Fialkov with art by EJ Su, taking place immediately after the film Pacific Rim: Uprising. Backers also have the opportunity to purchase Kickstarter-exclusive items associated with Final Breach.

I recently spoke with Mr. Fialkov, writer of Pacific Rim: Final Breach, about how he became involved with the project, where we find the Pacific Rim story at the beginning of Final Breach, the creative muscles this project allows him to flex, and how his love of Godzilla impacted his writing.

 

 

FreakSugar: Before we get into Final Breach, what has been your experience with the world of Pacific Rim?

Joshua Hale Fialkov: I worked on the comics that Legendary did in between the two movies. That’s actually one of my favorite stories of how I ever got a job. I got invited to meet with the publishing team at Legendary and when I walked in the first words out of my mouth were, “Listen, I don’t know why I’m here, but just know, when you want to do Pacific Rim comics, I’d write them for free.” Everybody in the room smiled broadly and told me to maybe rethink my offer. After that there was another project that I worked on that never came to fruition, but I’ve always been in and around the franchise as a gigantic fanboy.

FS: How did you become involved with the Final Breach project?

JHF: It was such a pleasure working on the comics, and Robert Napton and I have always stayed in touch, so, when the opportunity came up, I just jumped at it. I love the franchise so much the idea of getting to continue the story and reveal some of the amazing ideas that they’ve had for the franchise from the beginning is really an honor.

 

 

FS: Where do we find our characters at the beginning of the story?

JHF: It’s a direct pick up from the second movie. I wanted to immediately answer the question that the movie posed – humanity has been the victim in the relationship with the Precursors, and they’re announcing the official end of that relationship. It just feels like we HAVE to see what happens next. And, I don’t think it’s what anybody expects.

FS: What kind of creative muscles does working in the Pacific Rim universe let you stretch?

JHF: That’s a great question. First off – writing HUGE fight scenes is the most fun you can have, but to get to do that while wrapping it in some real sophisticated sci-fi – which I’m aspiring to do, is just an absolute treat, and a HUGE challenge to accomplish.  I really want to capture what I love about the franchise – which is the detail of the universe balanced with the run and gun fun that’s inherent in kaiju stories.

FS: Have there been surprises you’ve encountered when working on the story, places you didn’t think the story would take you?

JHF: Oh, that would be telling. But seriously, this story is bigger and stranger than I think anyone would expect. I’m a huge fan of the 70’s period of Godzilla movies – specifically Godzilla vs. Hedorah, so, while it’s not THAT trippy, I definitely want to play mind bender. Or is that mind blender?

 

 

FS: If you had one final pitch for Final Breach, what would it be?

JHF: My goal – and the goal of everyone at Legendary is to deliver the next PacRim installment that the fans have been itching for. The degree of perfectionism and care that’s being put into making this book live up to what’s come before – which is no small feat – is staggering, and, I promise to do everything in my ability to live up to the work that my predecessors have done on the franchise. And I don’t just say that as the guy writing it. I say it as one of the biggest fans of the franchise on earth.

The Kickstarter for Pacific Rim: Final Breach from Legendary Comics and Rocketship Entertainment is in its final week, having hit its initial funding goal and beyond as of press time. You still have time to preorder this action-packed book and get in on the bevy of backer rewards.