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Dinosaucers #1
Andrew Pepoy is known for his creator-owned project, The Adventures of Simone and Ajax, his inking on Fables, his numerous works at Archie Comics, and more. His newest project is Dinosaucers, a revival and updating of the ‘80s cartoon written by developer Michael Uslan, from Lion Forge’s Roar imprint. Pepoy stops by to tell us much more about this fun, new series.
Westfield: how did you become involved with the project?
Andrew Pepoy: I’d met editor-in-chief Andrea Colvin a couple times previously, and we’d talked about me pitching something to her. When I did pitch a series, with another writer, Andrea liked it (so maybe it’ll still happen!), but she said that best then she was searching for an artist for Dinosaucers. I was unfamiliar with it, but when she told me it was by Michael Uslan, I had to opt for it. I’ve known Michael for about 10 years or so, having met when we were both doing work at Archie Comics.
Dinosaucers #1 preview page 1
Westfield: What can you say about your collaboration with writer Michael Uslan?
Pepoy: Well, when Andrea teamed us up she didn’t know we already knew each other, but Michael and I have talked about working on something together for years, so it’s been great! It’s good to be working as a team who knows and appreciates each other’s work. Michael’s full of ideas and suggestions, and he’s been very involved in helping shape the look and redesign of the series, though he’s also given me the freedom to take things in my own direction, too. He’s one of the busiest men in Hollywood, but this comic is just as essential to him as any blockbuster film he’s working on.
Westfield: Dinosaucers was originally an animated series in 1987. how closely does this series follow the animated series?
Pepoy: As I said, I hadn’t seen the original before I started on this, but I’ve made sure to check out some of it. It’s still many of the same core characters, but their personalities and relationships may have changed, as this series has a very different feel from the original. It still has some of the same messages about the abuse of nature and of conservation, but this new version has a much more advanced feel, much more like a Transformers film than the afternoon animated show. It could still be delighted in by a kid, but it’s certainly something adult readers can get into, as well.
Dinosaucers #1 preview page 2
Westfield: An apparent difference between the two is the look of the comic vs. the look of the cartoon. how much input did you have in the redesign?
Pepoy: As I said, Michael’s been very involved in the redesign. He discusses the scope and style he’s looking for, but with numerous things he’s left the specifics up to me. I’d design the characters and ships, and he might have a comment or two if I’m pretty close. There are a few characters he had certain ideas about, but he would mention some other comic character or film actor to be inspired by, which made my job easier. So it’s been a collaboration, but, yeah, I’ve also been allowed a lot of leeway to create.
Westfield: What can readers look forward to in the story and who are some of the characters they’ll meet?
Pepoy: much like the original series, we’ll meet Rex, ruler of Reptilon, and his cohorts who see earth as a resource for raw materials… and raw meat! Reptilon is stripped of its resources and is environmentally dying, so Earth, its mirror planet on the other side of the sun, looks ripe for the pickings. Besides numerous of the classic Dinosaucers characters, now updated, on both sides, we’ll also see Sarah, David, and Paul again, now a bit much more grown-up, along with new friends in the secret Scouts, all trying to safeguard the Earth.
Dinosaucers #1 preview page 3
Westfield: Is it as fun drawing dinosaurs in space as it sounds like it would be?
Pepoy: It can be, but it also certainly keeps one on their toes. There were numerous kinds of dinosaurs, and you have to think what they’d look like if they developed into a much more humanoid creature… with feathers! Michael wants to keep up with modern dinosaur research, and now we know many had feathers and were maybe much more bird-like. and the ships have to hearken back to the various kinds of dinosaurs, as well as the tech needing to be something outside the standard alien tech we might see on TV or in a movie, so every page you’re creating something new. It’s challenging in a good way!
Westfield: any closing comments?
Pepoy: As I keep moving along on this series I’m starting to feel like I’m getting into the swing of it and having much more fun with it. Artistically, I’m better known for my inking on Fables, The Simpsons, and all sorts of comics, such as The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine graphic novel coming out from Titan this summer. and the art people know me for tends to be much more cartoony, such as on my own The Adventures of Simone & Ajax, my run on the little Orphan Annie newspaper strip, Katy Keene (which I also wrote) and covers for Afterlife With Archie and much more at Archie. While I have done much more reasonable or action art before, such as on Fables a couple times, this gives me a chance to explore and play with another look and style, a look I’m delighted I get a chance to show to the comics world. I hope the readers like it and Dinosaucers!