By [ad_1]
Welcome back to “Creator Spotlight” and our Kickstarter series on All Ages of Geek. Get ready for a wild ride as we dive into the world of Z Class: Trix A, the thrilling sequel to Z Class: The Beginning. Join us as we chat with the talented Kevvo, the creator behind this amazing graphic novel, and explore how All Ages of Geek is proudly supporting their Kickstarter campaign. We’ll discuss the inspiration behind the story, the diverse cast of characters, and the exciting new adventures awaiting the Z Class team. So buckle up, superhero fans – this is an interview you won’t want to miss!
What inspired you to create Z Class: Trix A as a sequel to Z Class: The Beginning?
Z Class was always intended to be an ongoing story and there were intentional loose threads left open at the end of Z Class: The Beginning. What’s more, there are long-term storylines that have already been written for some of the characters to be told in future books to come.
How does Z Class: Trix A continue the themes of diversity, superpowers, and teamwork from the first book?
The team that was formed in the first book represents a variety of race, gender, age, body type, etc so diversity is baked into the foundation of the series… and there are new characters who will be introduced in Z Class: Trix who represent other populations. It’s important to me that kids who read these books are able to both see themselves as well as get a look at the experiences of people who are not like them… it’s a mirror and a window.
The abilities of the characters are also important to identity and storytelling and inform development of both. In the first book, some of the kids discovered their abilities for the first time… with mixed results. In the new book, they will continue to develop their understanding of what they can do and it will affect relationships and what will happen in the future.
Can you share more about the new challenges and mysteries that the characters will face in Z Class: Trix A?
Z Class: Trix opens with the discovery that there are unhoused kids who are living together for protection and survival… and after they’ve been taken into custody, Z Class learns there’s something more nefarious going on. In the first book, readers were introduced to the idea of Z Chromes and a team of characters who wanted to do good in the world; in the new book, the line is going to become more blurry about who’s “good” and who’s “bad”… and everyone on the team isn’t going to come to the same conclusions.
How will the town of Hamilton Falls evolve in the sequel, and what new locations or elements will be introduced?
The locations used in the first book are more closely connected to the lives of average kids (schools, parks, football games)… in the new book, readers will see new locations connected to the lives of superheroes – though they’re still in school so the familiar places will also be around, too.
Will there be new characters joining the Z Class team in the sequel, and if so, can you share some details about them?
Short answer: yes. In the first book, Z Class lost a teammate (and that’s a story that will run through the new book) but now that more Z Chrome kids are starting to emerge, some of the team – especially Anjali – want to give them a chance to join and fight for good… but it doesn’t always go according to plan.
Z Class: Trix is the first of a two part story and by the end of the second part, the team will look different than it did at the beginning.
How do you plan to keep the sequel fresh and engaging while building upon the foundations of Z Class: The Beginning?
My goal is to keep the story and characters engaging… I want to help make sense of some of the clues that were given in the first book while adding new mysteries to uncover.
In what ways will the relationships and dynamics among the Z Class team members develop in the sequel?
Being a YA book, it’s a coming-of-age story for many of the characters. In the first book, some of them first discovered they have abilities and that changed their perceptions of themselves and the world around them… within the team, they are figuring out how to work together – with a lot of outside pressure and challenges coming against them. This will challenge how they work together and who they trust.
How do you approach incorporating diversity and representation into your storytelling and character development?
When I started the process of determining the main cast, I decided at the outset that they would be racially diverse. I knew Anjali would be Indian and I knew I wanted an Asian character (that would become Justin). Francisco is loosely based on a Brazilian boy I know and Eleanor is based on a white girl I know… to this point, I haven’t dug deep into their experiences as an ethnic minority and I hope to find co-writers to help with that if/when the story moves in that direction.
Conversely, I also knew I wanted queer characters but I didn’t want it to be necessarily obvious at the outset; as in real life, it’s not always something that you can tell by looking and it’s something I want readers to recognize as they get to know them better. The new book will continue to expand the diversity of representation among the characters even as I meet kids when I do book talks who challenge me to reflect their experiences, too.
Can you discuss your creative process in designing the artwork and visuals for Z Class: Trix A?
The hardest part of the visual process for me is character design; I had the experience with the first book that by the time I’d finished drawing the second chapter, Anjali looked nothing like she did when I started… and I had to redraw the first two chapters to make her more consistent. I have ideas for how characters should look and I need to draw them so many times that I don’t have to think about it anymore when it comes time to putting them in the book.
As for the pages themselves: I block the panels based on the script, I pencil, ink, and then color… most of that is intuitive, even as I’m always looking for ways to improve and make things more visually dynamic.
What do you hope readers will take away from Z Class: Trix A, and how do you want them to feel after reading it?
I want readers to find it to be a fun action story with interesting characters. I want the diversity of representation to be intrinsic and something that they will only realize after the fact (or when they see someone who looks like them)… I want to create a world in Z Class that readers can look at as an ideal they can work toward in the real world.
Are there any plans for additional sequels or spin-offs based on the Z Class universe?
Z Class is planned to be an ongoing series. There are prequel chapters I hope to eventually dig into and there are a couple of long-term stories I have conclusions planned for… but I’m not sure how long it will take to reach those conclusions.
Can you share more details about the stretch goals for the Z Class: Trix A campaign and how they will enhance the final product?
Z Class is a YA book so some of the stretch goals were designed with younger readers in mind; specifically, some of the stretch goals include an activity book, stickers, and postcards – all things that will appeal to younger readers. Of course, those goals will also be interesting for older (adult) readers as even the activity book will have a story to it.
How do you plan to involve backers in the creation process and keep them updated on the project’s progress?
I have a Patreon page and social media where I regularly post updates about what I’m working on in the moment, and through Kickstarter I keep backers up to speed on timelines and successes when we reach milestones. With this project, I’m already much further along than I was the first time I had a Kickstarter campaign and I look forward to a shorter timeline to completing the project.
What challenges do you foresee in completing Z Class: Trix A by the end of the calendar year, and how do you plan to overcome them?
The book is already written and the art is about halfway complete… at this point, short of something catastrophic, I don’t foresee any challenges in meeting the end of year deadline. The campaign will run during the first half of the year and I will be continuing to work on the book at the same time, so when the campaign concludes I’ll be even further along… and then I’ll have time to devote myself fully to the book again!
How has your experience with Z Class: The Beginning informed your approach to creating Z Class: Trix A?
With the first campaign I learned that I want to be further along in the process before crowdfunding. I also learned that 250+ pages is too much to expect every time and I decided this book would be shorter. As mentioned previously, I spent more time with new characters before incorporating them into the book so I feel more comfortable drawing them and I won’t have to do a lot of redraws.
Can you discuss your decision to offer various backer rewards, such as prints, Twitter selfies, and original art?
As someone who has backed other creative campaigns, I appreciate things like original art and I recognize the time it takes to create it – so that was always a no-brainer that I’d include that. I had seen another campaign that used Twitter selfies as a reward so I tried it and I found it wasn’t as sought after by my own backers, so I don’t plan to do that again with this campaign. Prints (and now stickers) are a fun and easy reward that people seem to like so I’m doubling down on those ones.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of creating the Z Class series for you as an author and artist?
Z Class allows me to tell stories that I think are important and it gives me an opportunity to model for young creators that making a book is an attainable goal. I think there are so many important stories to be told by people with perspectives different from mine, and if I can help motivate and inspire them to take the risk to tell those stories, I will have done my part.
How do you balance your creative vision with the expectations and feedback of your readers and backers?
What matters to me is that readers are able to understand the story being told and that it’s engaging enough that they want to stick with it. I’m okay if they don’t like every character or they wish different choices had been made… I just want to make something that will keep them sticking around to see how it all ends up.
What advice do you have for other creators looking to launch a crowdfunding campaign for their own graphic novel?
Do the legwork beforehand. Make sure you’ve got a network of people invested in you and your work who will come behind you when it’s time to raise money and set realistic expectations of what you can afford to do… and don’t be discouraged if you have to do it again because it didn’t work the first time. Be prepared to spend *a lot* of time promoting the campaign when it’s live and reach out to EVERYONE – don’t say “no” for them… there are people who might surprise you!
What are your long-term goals for the Z Class series, and how do you envision its future development?
At this point, my goal is to continue making Z Class books… I’m hopeful that I will be able to produce at the rate of one book a year and I have plans for some really great stories for as long as there are people who want to read them. I also hope to collaborate more in the future and I can’t wait to be in a place where I’m sharing creative credits.
Z Class is a tema of kid superheroes from the fictional town of Hamilton Falls, and the kids range in age from sixth to tenth grade. The first book was about learning how to use their abilities and work together as a team, and the new book picks up just weeks later as they deal with the ramifications of their first big adventure.
Our core group – Anjali, Justin, Eleanor, Francisco, and Heather – are back again… but as they get ready for Halloween, our heroes find themselves caught in a mystery as kids around town are going missing even as more Z Chrome kids are showing up. Are these things related? Have they found new allies? Who can they trust and who’s working against them?
As with the first book, Z Class: Trix tells a story about teamwork while celebrating the things that make each person unique… Representation is important and Trix continues to build a world where those values are foundational. This is what it looks like when heroes come in all different packages.
Kevvo is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in comics, though their desire to pursue illustration began much earlier when their kindergarten teacher told their parents they had a knack. Following many years of living in various places around the US, they returned to their home state of Michigan and they’ve most recently taken up residence in Grand Rapids, where they divide time between illustration, social justice, sustainable living, and riding their bicycle as much as they can.
Website: kevvo.com | Twitter: @zclasscomics | Instagram: @zclasscomics | Patreon | Kickstarter
And that’s a wrap on our incredible journey into the world of Z Class: Trix A! A huge thank you to Kevvo for sharing their insights, creative process, and passion for storytelling. We can’t wait to see where this dynamic team of young superheroes is headed next. Be sure to check out their Kickstarter campaign and follow them on social media for all the latest updates. Until next time, keep the superhero spirit alive and remember – heroes come in all different packages!
About Stec Studio, All Ages of Geek and “I Married a Monster on a Hill”
Stec Studio is a New Jersey-based company founded and run by by the Stec Sisters. We specialize in producing interactive comics and novels based on All Ages of Geek media, as well as creating a fully open world Boys Love Universe called BLU Media. This universe is being built from various media forms, including readable media, games, and animations.
Our main series, I Married a Monster on a Hill, is a WEBTOON comic, visual novel and online universe. The series is a whimsical dating-focused visual novel that explores the intricate dynamics of Boys Love, GIrls Love and several married couples. With a heartfelt emphasis on friendship, love, and drama, this engaging experience delves into the multifaceted nature of relationships. Witness a delightful blend of various romantic pairings, perfect for fans of all things love and passion. As the inaugural title in a promising series, this charming tale paves the way for countless more heartwarming adventures to come. Don’t miss the chance to be swept away by the warmth and enchantment.
At Stec Studio, our goal is to create content that gives people hope and light, and we hope our stories can provide joy and entertainment to all who experience them.
[ad_2]
