HOME FREE - A REVOLUTIONARY NOIR

Have you ever yearned for a new life that's better and more fruitful than the one you're currently living? Well, if so, then you might like to check out the following interview I did with the author, John Kratky, who's written a five-part comic book adventure that explores this very subject. Please enjoy.





1) Name three words that best describe who you are?   How about, old, old, and old? Nah, as that's too self-deprecating, so I think I should go with, committed, dreamer, and Cat-Dad.

2) What inspired you to create, 'Home Free'?   I've been working with the artist, Michelle Lodge, since 2013, and recently we've decided to jump into the world of Kickstarter with something a bit shorter than the graphic novel we just completed, entitled, 'The Black Wall'. So, inspired to create a sequel that should be read first, we devised a story that takes place ten years after the previous one finished. That way, when the reader completes this series and then jumps on to 'The Black Wall' next, they may have their ideas turned upside down due to their altered perception.

3) In your own words, how would you describe this story?   'Home Free' is a road trip through the hell of revolution, which starts off very small, with a lady called Sara befriending a young, abused sex worker called Emmy, before evolving into a grand journey that takes them both from America to Mexico so they can escape from their past as well as a country on the verge of falling apart (due to political unrest). Structurally, this adventure will be five issues long, and eventually, it will be released through Kickstarter.

4) What song would you say best represents this comic and why?   I like to listen to a lot of instrumental music while I'm writing, so I think synthwave music would be a good choice for this adventure because I believe stories created in a noir style should have a dreamlike feel to them, even though they're generally grim and gritty.

5) If you could get a celebrity – either living or dead – to promote your wares, who would you choose, and why would you want to choose this particular person?   I'd like to select the late, great, Robert Mitchum, because the main character in 'The Black Wall' was named after him, and he did star in a lot of film noirs that have influenced my storytelling.

6) What have you learned about yourself through this endeavor?   I've been creating comic books for a very long time, but I've been too insular about it and stuck in a world of websites and digital releases. So, once we get 'Home Free' printed, I plan to invest some cash in my other work and go to conventions with some comics to sell.

And on that note, I would like to thank John for telling us about his five-part comic book adventure, 'Home Free', before encouraging you to check out his official Website, Instagram, and Twitter pages. Or better yet, why not back his current Kickstarter campaign and grab a copy of the first issue!