FCBD18 Interview: Chapterhouse Creative Team Discusses Invasion

Of all the things people wonder about – Bigfoot, ghosts, the Lochness Monster – aliens are probably the topic that spawn the most follow-up concerns: are they going to come in peace, or ask us to take them to our leader?

In Chapterhouse’s Free Comic Book Day title, Invasion, the alien race, the Borealis, is anything but peaceful. In fact, they’ve descended upon Earth to bring about its ultimate demise, and it’s up to Captain Canuck and his band of heroes to save the planet!

Read our interview below with Van Jensen, Leonard Kirk, and Jay Baruchel to learn more about what to expect in the pages of Invasion, and what these creators are looking forward to on Free Comic Book Day! Then, click here to look through a PREVIEWS Prevue of the comic!

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Free Comic Book Day (FCBD): For those who might be new to your comic book, give us a quick rundown of the story!  

Van Jensen: For years, the Chapterverse has seen signs that the alien Borealis race has been watching us, and waiting. It is through the Borealis that Tom and Michael Evans gained their powers, and that Tom became Captain Canuck. Now, the day is here. The Borealis have arrived on Earth. And their mission, simply, is destruction. For the Borealis world to survive, Earth must die. Of course, that doesn't go over so well with our heroes.

Leonard Kirk: The back story of the entire Captain Canuck series has been the arrival of aliens and their giving Tom Evans and, to a degree, his brother Michael, special abilities. Technology from those same aliens was utilized by Canuck's nemesis, Mr. Gold to build weapons to support his plot for world domination. Now, those aliens are back and their true agenda is revealed to the people of Earth. And the people of Earth aren't going to like it.

FCBD: What genre is your title?

Kirk: Superhero hero, obviously, with lots of science fiction, adventure, intrigue and suspense thrown in.

FCBD: What has been your favorite part of the book or main character(s) to tackle? 

Jensen: This is a huge, epic, crazy sci-fi doomsday story, but ultimately, it's a story about the Evans brothers, each of whom is a hero in his own way. I've really enjoyed getting to craft that human relationship, with the brothers struggling with each other over the best way to save humanity.

FCBD: What other titles would you compare to yours? “If a comic reader likes _______ , they should pick up my title?”

Jensen: The book we referenced the most was the first couple of arcs of The Ultimates by Millar and Hitch, though this is a much more fun, less cynical book.

Kirk: If you like superhero comics, check out Captain Canuck. If you like aliens, check out Captain Canuck. If you like the idea of a comic set, primarily, in Canada, produced by a Canadian publisher, check out Captain Canuck. I'm not big on the idea of comparing the series to other titles but, I guess, you can see similarities to Green Lantern, because of the aliens giving Canuck his powers. You can also see Canuck sharing a sense of great power requiring great responsibility, like Spider-Man.

FCBD: Looking to the future, is there anything you can tease about what's upcoming for the title and its characters?

Jensen: This is the start of everything changing. Heroes will fall. Heroes will rise. The Earth will come to the brink of annihilation. Nothing can ever return to normal after that.

FCBD: What initially got you interested in comics? (or What is your favorite thing about working in comics?)

Jensen: I've been reading comics since I was 4, and drawing my own comics since about the same. I love the rhythm of the storytelling, and the gracefulness of the blend of image and text.

Kirk: I have loved comics since I was a kid and I pretty much decided by the time I was twelve that this was what I wanted to do with my life. My favorite thing about working in comics is that I get to do what I love and make a decent living while doing it. Life doesn't always work

out that way so I consider myself darn lucky.

Jay Baruchel: I’ve been interested in comics for as long as I can remember, ever since my dad introduced me to Superman when I was 5 years old. There hasn’t been a time in my life where comics weren’t intrinsically connected to me in some way. I have a house full of DVDs and comic books and now it gives me great pride that I have been able to have a career that allows me to work in both of those mediums.

FCBD: Many newcomers will pick up comics for the first time on FCBD—what was the first comic you remember reading?

Jensen: It was either a Neal Adams issue of Batman or one of Larry Hama's on G.I. Joe. Both great.

Kirk: Another tough one. I can't remember how old I was but the book was Adventure Comics #435, starring the Spectre. I know I read plenty of other comics before but this is the first issue that really stands out in my memory. I can still recall the Spectre's punishment of the villain. He turned him into a block of wood and sliced him up with a saw.

Baruchel: It was either Superman, TinTin or Lucky Luke, all of which came from my dad. Yeah, I read a lot of Lucky Luke.

FCBD: Tell us why everyone should read comic books!

Jensen: Comics are fun! And there's a book or five out there for everyone. Why wouldn't you want to read comics?

Kirk: I think an easier question to answer is why everyone SHOULDN'T read comic books. And there is no answer to that because there is NO reason why everyone shouldn't read comic books. People should read comics because they can be fun, insightful, entertaining, gripping,

etc. Just about everything you can get from any other visual medium for entertainment, you can get from comics. And, unless you're reading them digitally, you don't need a charger cord.

Baruchel: Because comics are still the home for the purist ideas, large or small. Comics are the closest to unadulterated imagination as one can find at any bookstore in the 21st century.

FCBD: What is your favorite part about Free Comic Book Day? What do you think is the best part of Free Comic Book Day?

Jensen: I always do a signing at a comic shop, and it's just so much fun getting to spend time with readers in an atmosphere that's full of energy and love for the medium.

Kirk: What I like most about Free Comic Book Day is watching people, especially kids, who may have little or no connection to comics, and giving them a book.

Baruchel: It’s pretty special and cool that kids of all ages get to experience something for free. There's this one day of the year, no matter what neighborhood you come from, anyone can go to their local bookstore or library and participate and have their imagination captured for free.

FCBD: Where do you plan to spend Free Comic Book Day?

Kirk: I'm not sure. Usually, on FCBD, I appear at a comic shop, sign books, offer to do some free sketches, answer questions, etc. However, I don't yet know which shop I will be going to this year.

Baruchel: In a store connecting with fans, and spreading the good word!

 

 

Find a local comic shop near you to celebrate Free Comic Book Day 2018!