So we got to talk to a pair of indie comic book creators about their new project currently on Kickstarter, HAMMER, ACT 1: John Henry vs The Robot Apocalypse. A modern retelling of the folktale where Machines & A.I. rule over humans while the legendary John Henry is reborn by Mother Earth Asase to save mankind from their suffering. It a real cool concept and you should check it out at
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/isnanashowtime/hammer-act-1-john-henry-vs-the-robot-apocalypse
Q) Your latest project Hammer is on Kickstarter right now, what made you decide to revisit the story of John Henry in a post-apocalyptic setting?
GREG ANDERSON ELYSEE: I think this answer really comes down to me wanting to use traditional characters and figures from Black lore into a modern forefront to showcase the well of stories, characters, and figures we can draw from, who can be just as cool as Greek myths and religions and European fairytales and white legends. With John Henry, the original story of him facing the steam drill to prove that humans are still powerful against machines attempting to take over their work… that story of human might and preserving… its one that still resonates with many of us today. When I thought of creating this story, the idea of “modernizing” John Henry, continuing the theme of him vs machine… it only made sense to set it up in a robot apocalypse… expanding that theme. That rage against the machine where the machine is now artificial intelligence. At its core, the theme remains, and we look to the one who sacrificed himself to prove that in the end, the heart and power comes from us: mankind.
David: Greg hit me up and offered to do a weekly Patreon webcomic that’d we’d eventually collect, print and distribute through Kickstarter. I jumped at the chance to work on a legendary piece of black folklore from a unique perspective. I loved the story, characters and setting so I was excited to flesh out the story with my style.
Q) your last project was Is’nana The Were-Spider, what draws you to retelling these classic stories?
GREG: Heh. Is’nana the Were-Spider will be my on-going series to my end. But yes, I am a huge fan of mythology. I grew up on Greek myths, educated myself on it. But as I got older, I started to noticed that I and my fellow Black peers weren’t as knowledgable about our own mythologies (our own being African, African American, and Caribbean) but we can name 5-10 European gods and fairytale characters, because we were required to be educated on it. So I decided I wanted to change that narrative, gives us some fresh stories using many of our traditional deities, heroes, and villains in hope that it would entertain readers enough to do their own research and discover more about these figures from our cultures. I’m still learning about them myself and I want to take others on that journey with me.
David: We have actually worked on several smaller projects and anthology stories together in-between The Ballads of Rawhead and John Henry, most recently Young Men in Love 2: A queer romance anthology. I love to include black history, mythos and folklore in most of my comics. I also love to draw diverse casts of characters and Is’nana (as well as all the collaborations I do with Greg) allows me to explore that visual space.
Q) Do you feel we are at another turning point in the automation versus human works saga?
GREG: Aw man, yes. Definitely. What’s funny is that this AI thing – which is quite terrifying and heartbreaking to see happen – has been a thing blowing up the past few years, right? I actually wrote this story almost 10 years ago, but it’s just now coming out. But there’s been little talks and discussions about this for quite some time. Hell, The Matrix and Terminator were cautionary tales, no? But still we persist towards it. Now people are using AI to create their own works and stories, and now we’re losing the plot. I hate that its become a go to to many people as others lose jobs because of it. But the ones who are benefiting from it truly don’t seem to care. So here we are in that saga. I know where I stand.
David: In capitalist regimes–absolutely. There have been many technological and industrial revolutions in modern North American history. Typically these advances in technology replace and remove humans for the sake of lining the pockets of the people who own the machines. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with how fast we are developing –theres lots of medical and societal developments that are improved by automation. However I think that the speed and ease of A.I. And other automated robots and their integration into the modern workforce are portents of a future devoid of humanity.
Q) I saw you have a musical piece that goes with the comic in the form of the ballad john henry by Ishmael Levi, how did you connect with him?
GREG: Isn’t it an awesome piece?! Yeah, Ishmael Levi is actually a bestie of mine, a childhood friend from high school. I was a fine arts major, he was a music major. We were part of the school poetry club, bonded from there, and we’ve stayed boys since then. He actually also composed the music to my college thesis. I wanted to do a remix, a more modern rock type version of the John Henry ballad and I reached out to him. He blew me away with his rendition. And hearing the process was so much fun.
On the campaign itself, there’s a link to purchase the full track. It’s really worth listening to. I’ve listened to it so many times [laughs]. Ishmael is such an amazing musician, extremely talented. I would love for others to check it out.
Q) With the current environment in the comics industry do you find it harder to get independent visions to publication?
GREG: I can say for me, it definitely is difficult. Distribution is always a battle as well as having the funds to create to begin with. We all have our individual hustles. We have rent, mortgages, families, self to take care of. Then try to make money on the side to pay for comic creation. We do conventions to help, try to sell online, try to beat social media algorithm in an attempt to reach more potential readers… its tough. We don’t have the money and capacity of Marvel, DC, and some of us are completely creator owned and to ourselves not working with small press companies as well. So it’s an uphill battle with so many things to learn. I’m still learning, I’m still making strives while making mistakes. It’s tough as hell.
David: Yes, but I don’t think print media is dead or dying or anything but I do think there is a lot of algorithm hunting that is happening. Unique voices are hard to come by, not because they don’t exist, but because there’s just so much more media nowadays and it’s harder for the “take a risk on this weirdo” type of media to bubble to the surface. Whether its suppressed social media representation, or publishers seeking ideas or concepts that already work and just pumping out copies, or businesses disregarding unique voices altogether in favor of business to business transactions or even constantly rebooting the same tired ideas independent creators have to work very hard just to even be noticed, much less be a success. So if the comic idea and execution for indies actually does make a cultural impact then you absolutely know i’s a banger.
Q) Who are the comic creators that inspire you in terms of storytelling and technique?
GREG: It’s a long long list that I’m sure I’ll be forgetting a bunch. But off the top of my head at the moment: David Hine, John Jennings, David F. Walker, Dwayne McDuffie, David Brame, Grant Morrison, Peter David, Peter Milligan, Ann Nocenti, Dave McKean, (what’s good with the Daves?), Rodney Barnes, Christopher Priest, Mike Carey, Don McGregor, Joe Kelly…. Sad to say that I cringe now saying this awful name due to the terrible revelation – but a LOT of my style was influenced by him – Neil Gaiman.
David: Bill Watterson was the first artist I was ever inspired by. His Sunday strips and his collections specifically were like an artistic tome of knowledge to me. Paul Pope, specifically his work on THB, Heavy Liquid and 100% are quintessential to me. Jae Lee’s entire comicography. Lastly mangakas Otomo on Akira, Kojima on Lone Wolf and Cub, and Inoue on Vagabond were absolutely necessary books for my style and development.
Q) if you could work on an existing comic book property, what would you pick?
GREG: Oh, we talking mainstream Big 2 type stuff? Brother/Doctor Voodoo without question.
DAVID: I’d love to do a standalone for Battling Boy created by Paul Pope. It was such a great book and such an interesting story and world I wish I could add to that super interesting universe. Also Battle Chasers. This comic was lightning in a bottle for a lot of 90’s comics kids and Joe Mad changed comics with this book. Unfortunately it was plagued by delays and inactivity from the artist. The story did eventually get completed via a turn based JRPG. I would love to work with those characters in that universe and build something stunning.
Q) what is your next project you are working on, are there plans for more installments of Hammer?
GREG: I’m aiming to releasing Is’nana the Were-Spider, Vol 3 next year! It will collect the one shots from the past few years: The Ballads of Rawhead & John Henry, Showtime, Birthday Day, and Drums of Ogoun. There are a few releases from TrueFiktion coming out soon that I’m excited for. Monkey King saga I’m working on for Caleb Palmquist’s Modern Mythology franchise. There are a few projects I still need to sit down and work on before I can announce. Oh! Issue 4 of OneNation: Stronghold. The book is one of the most emotional books I’ve ever written but so damn good. Be on the look out for those.
DAVID: I’m currently working on a few small projects for anthologies, but most recently I just spent the last year working on a few graphic novels with creator John Jennings. We completed the sequel to BLUE HAND MOJO which is about a 1930’s detective who does detective work for the devil. We also finished a Lovecraftian Cosmic Horror book called RESTORATION about haunted artwork. Hammer has 3 acts so we are planning on 2 more installments of this story.
Q) If people want more information about you or your kickstarter, where should they go?
GREG:
IG: Gregdae
Twitter: gregandElysee
FB: Greg A. Elysee
For my webstore: www.webwaycomics.ecwid.com
Kickstarter is : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/isnanashowtime/hammer-act-1-john-henry-vs-the-robot-apocalypse
DAVID: Sadly—although maybe not so sad for my mental health, have left most of social media. You can find me on blue sky @amazingdavidbrame.bsky.social, Google me, or look for my books at any fine book retailers as David Brame. You can also find the Kickstarter for HAMMER here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/isnanashowtime/hammer-act-1-john-henry-vs-the-robot-apocalypse
Final four questions –we ask everybody.
Q) When the zombies take over the world where will you be?
GREG: Either in bed sleeping through it or at the gym trying to get more gains while creating barriers with the weights and bars and equipment. If I get bitten… I’m sorry for my victims. I’m bout to be a strong ass zombie running after y’all asses.
DAVID: I just moved back to Mexico to a very historic city called Taxco. If you’ve ever seen photos of the adobe houses that are all stacked up on the side of a mountain that’s basically where I’ll be. Narrow streets, lots of alcoves and hiding spots, very crowded, few entrances and exits to the city. Basically I’m screwed. However if I can get out of Taxco there’s basically endless sub-tropical wilderness in every direction. My goal would be to try to make it there and just chill out eat fruit and stay in the mountains.
Q ) What is your favorite Fandom (could be sports, pop culture, favorite director or author)
GREG: Fandom? Hmmm… I love being a part of the Black indie comic scene, with my fellow peers as well as supporters. Oh! And horror geeks and fellow muscle heads
DAVID: Seinen Anime and Manga are my fave fandoms. Berserk, Lone Wolf and Cub, Vagabond, Monster, Kingdom. There’s just something about the way those artists deal with beauty and brutality that gets me going.
Q) What piece of art, be it in the form of music, a book, a film or picture, do you think people must experience before they die?
GREG: Damn, that’s a real tough one for sure… Anything by Wong Kar-wai or Toni Morrison. Strange Embrace by David Hine. After that, Is’nana the Were-Spider and HAMMER.
DAVID: Everyone needs to go on the roller coaster ride that is INCAL by Alejandro Jodorowski and Moebius. One of my absolute favorite comic books ever.
Q) Give one fact that most people would not believe about you?
GREG: … I’m that film geek and major, degree in it and all… who still hasn’t seen the Godfather.
DAVID: I have talked a crew of 5 people who were trying to rob me at gunpoint in Cincinnati, OH out of taking my laptop (which had my MFA thesis on it). I was being so annoying and difficult that they eventually gave up and left. It also left me with just enough time to finish up and submit my thesis.
Paper Phoenix ink 