Rob speaks to Frankie B. Washington about his career and upcoming comic - Kaijus And Cowboys...
Kaijus and Cowboys is an upcoming comic book series that has been co-developed by Matthew Blair and Frankie B. Washington. Set on an alien planet, a lone cowboy robot known only as "The Hunter" confronts a herd of kaiju monsters that threaten his fellow robots.
For the launch of their comic, Blair and Washington utalised crowdfunding website Kickstarter to bring the project to life. At the end of the campaign the pair had secured funding for the comic and had amassed $3,912 from 157 backers.
Aside from helping to create Kaijus and Cowboys, Frankie Washington also lends his artistic talents to drawing the 20-page issue. With over 30 years experience as a freelance artist, Washington had had quite a varied career. Not only working on two Miramax movies, he has also worked with an animation studio, advertising agencies, print & comic book publishers, and sketch & trading card companies - and he's also co-creating the graphic novel 'Robot God Akamatsu'
Taking time out of his schedule, Frankie Washington has spoken to us about his varied career and all things "Kaijus and Cowboys"...
Hi Frankie, thank you for taking the time out to answer some of my questions.
FW - Sure, not a problem. I’d like to Thank You for considering me for this interview.
Those of us who follow you on social media would have seen that you recently attended the Plastic City Comic Con. How was the convention?
FW - I’ve tabled at Plastic City Comic Con since its first show in 2016 at the Leominster Veterans Memorial Center. I’d done work with Keith Gleason (The Promoter) on his comic series The Mighty Mascots. He asked if I’d attend and I accepted to show my support for his endeavor. I was blown away by the response of that first show and the nostalgia it generated of the bare bone comic shows of the past that I enjoyed attending.
Are there any plans to come to a UK con?
FW - Unfortunately I can’t see that far in the future. I take pride in being a realist when it comes to my financial approach of attending shows, here in the states & possibly abroad. As a commercial illustrator and/or freelance artist. The assignments/projects that I’m commissioned on are the fuel that ensures the lights/heat stay on in our lives. Travel/Lodge/Table/Prints/Supplies/Food add up as business expenditures that IF not recovered, might lead to a financial deficiency. In short, it can cost a LOT of money to attend show(s) and truthfully they can impact my freelance time schedules, which I can not have. I am focussing more on my freelance work & online auctions. Which ensures that I make gains financially to keep the Art Flowing.
Just by looking down your Instagram, it's clear to see that you've drawn a wide range of characters. What's been your favourite?
FW - My faves have been THE INHUMANOIDS & LEGENDARY GODZILLA series of art that I was doing prior before Kaijus & Cowboys and other comic related gigs started picking up. I had these wild ideas of doing “WHAT IF?!” scenarios featuring legacy IP characters that I enjoyed as a young teen in the late 70’s thru the 80’s. They would be a homage with a flair of my own creativity sprinkled on it. For now, They’re set aside waiting in the to-do art slot.
Moving into the present, we're soon to see the release of 'Kaijus and Cowboys', a comic that's been created by yourself and writer Matthew Blair. What can you tell us about the story?
FW - The funny thing is that I’m learning about the story when Matthew sends me the script for a particular issue. When we first started in 2020, we had a concept for a blending of the Western/Sci Fi/Kaiju genre. Once I started illustrating character designs then it began its metamorphosis. Matthew has an outline that he sent me with the overall look of where the story was going YET I knew that an outline isn’t the final note. If you want to make music, the journey is what will REALLY bring the sound together. When I receive my script, it’s always a brand new experience for me. It feels almost as I’d imagine the creator relationship that Jack Kirby & Stan Lee had. Minus the drama LOL
Without going too much into spoilers, what's been the real stand-out moment in illustrating Matthew's script?
FW - Our relationship began in 2015 on a web comic series called THE SECRET LIVES OF SUPER VILLAINS : it was the start of artistic collaboration that has endured for over seven years. I would say that Issue #4, which is completed on my side and will need lettering, was the most impactful issue for me. It touched some emotional chords with me and I in turn, told Matthew what I felt. Nothing negative per say but definitely a powerful issue for me to illustrate. I hope the readers can experience something when they get to peruse this issue.
And how does 'Kaijus and Cowboys' differ from other comic books that you have worked on?
FW - The obvious difference is that I’m finally doing a homage to the artificial sentient being. I’m a huge fan of Osamu Tezuka’s Astroboy, Jack Kirby’s Machine Man as well as ToHo Jet Jaguar. Sprinkle in my childhood joy of the Wild West, Spaghetti Westerns, preferably Clint Eastwood (Man With No Name)… And we have the start of an interesting mixture. The Kaijus are not strangers to me but in the context of the story. Their role is a vital ingredient that challenges me to ensure that each one doesn’t come off as a “Throw Away Character”.
And finally, what can we expect to see from you in the future?
FW - I will be returning on the RRParks Ultraman Card Set 3 (Release Date TBD), I just did the 20th Anniversary Cover for Alterna Comics “ It Came Out On A Wednesday”. I will have another Jon Freeman’s Frankongor story under my belt as well as comic art for Peter Simeti’s King Cryptid Comic. I’ll also be heading back into Kaijus & Cowboys for Issue 5 (We have a twelve Issue plan for this series) and finally - More, More, More Commissions for those who appreciate the art I do.
You can also check out the links below for more of Frankie's work...
Images courtesy of the Kaijus and Cowboys Kickstarter page
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