We have all struggled with what expectations we have set for ourselves and how they can conflict with the expectations others have for us. The unknowable, uncertain gnawing question of who we want to be can keep us up many a night. That’s one reason we’re drawn to fiction, as it can act as proxy for us to suss out those feelings.
Writers Erika Lewis and Jessica Chobot and artist Claudia Aguirre grapple with those questions and more in their Legendary Comics webtoon series Firebrand. In Firebrand, we meet Natali Presano, a witch and monster hunter of extraordinary aptitude, whose life is taxed with protecting the human race from supernatural serial killers who threaten Seattle and the world at large. Much of what makes Firebrand such a successful narrative is that the creators wrestle with the same aforementioned existential questions.
It doesn’t hurt that Firebrand is filled with forbidden romance, angry gods, and found family, either. Sign. Us. Up. That’s comic catnip, my friends, and the best kind!
Lewis, Chobot, and Aguirre recently partnered with Legendary Comics and Rocketship Entertainment for a Kickstarter for preordering Firebrand: The Complete Series and other campaign-exclusive backer rewards. I spoke with Erika Lewis and Jessica Chobot recently about the idea behind Firebrand, the cast of characters populating the series, the Kickstarter itself, and the influences behind the comic.
Firebrand is a ton of fun and definitely will appeal to anyone who loves magic and horror, but also to readers who have ever felt like a square peg in a round world. Reality can be a frightening, often-disheartening experience and it’s comics like Firebrand that remind us of the power we have in our uniqueness and the strength that imbues us with.
FreakSugar: Before we get into the comic, what is the genesis of Firebrand?
Erika Lewis: A combination of my real family life as a kid and my and Jessica’s obsession with magic and mythologies. When we started, it was a story about a girl feeling like an outsider and about a father more obsessed with being what his new wife wanted than being a good father. It grew and grew and grew into a combination of Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, the hilarious horror movies we love that showcased creepers unleashed on small communities, and something uniquely Firebrand.
FS: For folks unfamiliar with the comic, what is the conceit of Firebrand?
EL: Part Charmed, part Stranger Things, and part detective thriller, Firebrand follows Natali Presano, a gifted witch and monster hunter, who is tasked with tracking down supernatural serial killers before they turn Seattle into a feeding ground. Only thing is, Natali isn’t initially thrilled about saving the people she’s sworn to protect, the human race.
There are ancient gods who should be long since dead, soul-stealing creatures that make every party fun, secret magical societies that give Natali hives, forbidden romance, and more forbidden romance, and a found family of misfits who are responsible for saving a city of humans who refuse to stay safe.
FS: What can you tell us about the cast we meet in the comic?
EL: THE SUPPOSED GOOD GUYS:
- NATALI PRESANO PRESSLEY
- Returning to Seattle, Washington, Natali, a misfit with burgeoning powers, constantly finds herself caught between two demanding worlds: the human one she can’t avoid and the magical one trying to kill her. But she finds out what she’s made of when she has to fight for the lives of those she cares for the most.
- LUKEN VARGAS
- Luken, an everyday average human, is a typical human guy with an atypical job. Harboring feelings for Natali since they were little, he’s thrilled to have her back in his life. But along with Natali comes the greatest danger he’s ever faced, and it’s not the wrath of his current girlfriend.
- PREN GOMEZ
- Fashionista and the brains of the operation, Pren is a hacker extraordinaire who tells it like it is and has the skills to back it up.
THE BAD GUYS? OR ARE THEY SIMPLY MISUNDERSTOOD?
- TXIKI
- A god with a god complex, Txiki has been sent to Seattle on a mission by a super-secret evil-overlord and is instead phoning it in to party with sexy soul-sucking vampires. Needless to say, his boss gets pissed.
- LURO SISTERS
- Fiendishly hungry soul sucking vampires…need we say more?
FS: The comic is beautifully written and rendered. Can you point to any of your favorite stories that impacted this book or your love of the medium in general?
EL: Thank you! Claudia Aguirre is a genius artists and visionary. We owe the look entirely to her!
For me, I have loved comics since I discovered they existed when I was 7. Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Daredevil, but also Josie and the Pussycats, and the cartoon Scooby Doo! Also, the eighties movies like The Lost Boys, Goonies, Poltergeist and E.T. still rattle around in my brain as utter perfection and perfect escapism.
Jessica Chobot: For me, I was part of the comic collecting boom that happened in the ’90s. A large part of my social activities involved comics and comic book stores in some way, whether it was snagging copies of the latest heavy hitters, à la Wonder Woman (possibly a controversial take, but the Deodato Jr. & Messner-Loebs Diana vs. Artemis era had me in a grip), or more obscure titles like the vampire series Vamps by Elaine Lee and William Simpson, released by DC/Vertigo. The one common thread throughout all of the issues I would collect was a powerful female protagonist (and if there was also a powerful female antagonist, then even better!). And that is something that I felt very passionately about for Firebrand: showcasing intelligent, self-sufficient, and strong female leads along with a rich history, world-building, and some magic powers tossed in for good measure.
FS: I know how popular the comic is. What is the reception from fans like?
EL: It’s amazing. We have so much fun when we’re altogether at comic con events like this one:
Erika Lewis, Claudia Aguirre, and Jessica Chobot at SDCC. Photo credit: Erika Lewis.
FS: On the Kickstarter itself, what can you tell us about the campaign?
EL: It’s going AMAZING! We’re so excited about everything packed into the campaign! There’s Firebrand: The Complete Edition in softcover, plus the gorgeous Firebrand: The Eder Edition hardcover housed in a deluxe slipcase for collectors. There’s also a stunning triptych print series featuring Claudia’s artwork, a set of chibi-style enamel pins of your favorite Firebrand characters, and even a Firebrand wallpaper for your digital devices. And the best part? Even more unlockable stretch goals waiting in the wings, so as the campaign grows, Rocketship will reveal even more surprises for backers.
FS: Rocketship has been partnering with Legendary and with many creators of late on Kickstarters and publishing initiatives. What has working with them been like?
EL: We love working with both Rocketship and Legendary. We worked with Tom Akel at Rocketship when he was at Webtoon when Firebrand launched. He is a big part of the reason it was on Webtoon and found such a huge audience, and was with us every step of the way, stressing through every deadline. And Robert Napton at Legendary championed this project for every season. If memory serves, Nikita Kannekanti first stepped into Natali’s world as an intern at Legendary.
Everyone at both companies understands the heart of Firebrand and has always been true to it. That’s really the best of all worlds in publishing.
FS: What are you reading right now?
EL: I am currently reading: on Webtoon, NEVERMORE! So good! Jennifer Egan’s A Visit from the Goon Squad. I just started but am already in for the ride.
JC: I am currently reading: Henry Miller’s Tropic of Cancer, A Place Both Wonderful and Strange: The Extraordinary Untold History of Twin Peaks by Scott Maslow and a smattering of random Time Life Book Mysteries of the Unknown.
Jessica Chobot and Erika Lewis at Legendary. Photo credit: Legendary.
FS: What’s next for Firebrand? Do you have more stories in mind?
EL: We have loads of stories in mind. Don’t want to spoil things but Season 2 left off at the perfect JUMPING OFF spot, and we’re hoping Legendary and Rocketship might be up for us diving back in!
FS: If you had a final pitch for Firebrand, what would it be?
EL: Firebrand is what happens when mythology, mystery, horror, and family drama all get trapped in an elevator together. Part urban fantasy. Part detective thriller. Part coming-of-age story. And loaded with mayhem.
It’s the story of a witch trying to stop supernatural killers while wrestling with an inheritance she never asked for, a family she can’t escape, and a power that may destroy her before it saves anyone else.
At its heart, Firebrand is about choosing who you become when the world (and supernatural world) has already decided who you should be.
If you love sharp-witted heroes, ancient gods, dark magic, found family, and stories with both teeth and heart, Firebrand is for you.
And yes.
There are a lot of monsters.
As of press time, the Kickstarter for Firebrand: The Complete Series has already hit its funding goal, with 23 days left to go in the campaign. Any fan of magical narratives, characters sparking with depth, and immersive storytelling should give this campaign a look!