What happens to BFFs after they part ways? Can their friendship ever be repaired? How does unrequited love get in the way? These questions and more are put under the microscope in the WEBTOON series Match Made in Hell from comic creator Keitalia. In Match Made in Hell, Kylie and Tristan, no longer close friends, find their relationship even more tumultuous when past love reenters the picture. Will their relationship see even more hiccups or can they move past the past?
Ketialia recently launched a Kickstarter in partnership with Rocketship Entertainment to bring volume 1 of the series to print. I spoke with Keitalia about the idea behind Match Made in Hell, some of the characters we meet in the series, the Kickstarter itself, and the positive feedback she’s gotten from fans of the series.
FreakSugar: What is the conceit of Match Made in Hell?
Keitalia: First off, thank you so much for having me in this interview! I appreciate this opportunity to share a bit about my work.
Well, Match Made in Hell is a webcomic based on the book I wrote in college. It revolves around two ex-BFFs, Kylie and Tristan. Their strained relationship becomes more complicated when her former crush returns to their lives, and a school dance makes them confront their complex feelings and shared history. The story explores friendship, sisterhood, vulnerability, and the thin line between love and hate.
FS: Who are some of the characters that we meet in the series?
K: The comic has a big cast of characters, but I’ll focus on the main two:
We have our spunky and feisty female protagonist, Kylie. She’s quick-witted, isn’t afraid to be blunt, and doesn’t care what people think of her. But behind that wall of ice is someone who doesn’t want to get hurt again. She’s complicated and imperfect, which makes her one of the characters I love writing about.
Next, we have Tristan, the deuteragonist of the series. He’s a shameless flirt and can be an absolute pain in the neck with his childish antics. You might hate him initially, but you’ll grow to love him as he matures. I had a blast writing his one-liners and banters with Kylie in the early episodes.
FS: The comic seems to have a little something for everyone. What are your inspirations for the series?
K: I’ve always been a sucker for enemies-to-lovers stories, and I thought it would be funny to write a parody of Cinderella in which the princess hated the prince instead. That’s how the concept for the original story was born. It was also inspired by classic rom-com movies such as 10 Things I Hate About You and It’s a Boy Girl Thing.
FS: You describe the comic as YA, but it’s so much fun and seems to resonate with people of all ages. What kind of reactions do you get from your readers?
K: They laugh, they rant, they swoon… They discuss the characters and plot, and they always look forward to new episodes every week during its run on WEBTOON. It’s great to receive all kinds of reactions, good and bad, as it lets me know that people are invested in reading my work.
FS: Following up on that, why do you think the comic has resonated with your fans so much?
K: I remember reading comments saying that it reminds them of their high school days. I think that’s what made the comic resonate with my readers. Doing embarrassing and silly things with your friend group, getting into the wrong relationships, making friends with the wrong crowd, struggling with school, falling in love, and learning from your mistakes… all that coming-of-age stuff is something I’m pretty sure we all can relate to.
FS: What can you tell us about the Kickstarter itself?
K: I’m excited to run my first Kickstarter campaign, and Rocketship did a great job setting it up. We’ll have softcover and hardcover versions of the book, and the vertical webtoon paneling will be turned into traditional comic pages—which is amazing for me as someone who grew up reading comics and manga.
Aside from the physical comic, backers will also get cool rewards and add-ons such as prints, pins, patches, a commission from me, and Kylie’s iconic eww feelings T-shirt.
FS: Beyond the Kickstarter, what is the future of the series?
K: I’m not sure yet. All I know is that I want to see copies of my comic on my bookshelf. My readers said they could see MMIH as a TV show, so if anyone wants to make that happen, hit me up! Haha!
FS: Rocketship has been launching many crowdfunding campaigns to bring webcomics to print. Why did you choose to partner with Rockership?
K: Rocketship publishes some of my favorite reads, such as Let’s Play and Cinnamonroll—both are romantic comedies that appeal to young adults like mine—and I believed it would be a perfect home for my comic.
FS: What are you reading right now?
K: On WEBTOON: The Ki Sisters, Midnight Rain, Wanna Be Friends? and Love Cycle, just to mention a few.
Books: The Phantom of the Opera.
FS: Your enthusiasm and love of the comic radiates in all of your social media posts. What’s your favorite part of working on the comic?
K: My favorite part is seeing my ideas come to life. I daydream about my characters and their lives a lot, and drawing them on a canvas feels cathartic. Another thing I love as a comic creator is seeing people read my work and tell me how much they enjoyed it. I’m eternally thankful for them.
FS: If you had one final pitch for Match Made in Hell?
K: If you love stories where the female lead is unapologetically herself, the male lead pines, the female characters are a “girl’s girl,” a dynamic cast of characters affects the narrative, and humor and (slow burn) romance collide… make sure to pick up a copy of the graphic novel! Sending virtual hugs to anyone who does so.
As of press time, Match Made in Hell Volume 1 has nearly hit its funding goal, with 15 days left in the campaign. Give this gorgeously-written and rendered rom-com series a look and check out the Kickstarter!