SDCC 2016: The Goon’s Eric Powell Takes Another Bite of Chimichanga!

Dark Horse and Eric Powell will launch a new installment of Chinichanga this year.

The legendary creative duo of Eric Powell (The Goon) and Stephanie Buscema (Red Sonja) will bring fans more Lula and Chimichanga adventures! Readers will be delighted to find that Wrinkle’s Traveling Circus is back with a new act.

The first issue of The Sorrow of the World’s Worst Face goes on sale October 12, 2016, with the three subsequent issues published monthly.

Powell joined ComicBook.com to talk about the project, what’s next, and why he added Buscema to the mix.

Questions for this story came from Michael and TJ Brown, big fans of Powell’s who contribute to the site.

One of the things that made the original Chimichanga story so excellent was that it straddled the line between children and adults. There’s content that can be enjoyed by both demographics as they’ll each get something different out of it. In addition, while it’s clearly child-friendly, Chimichanga never seemed to talk down to kids in a way that a lot of children’s or “all-ages” media today is guilty of. Can we expect to see that same balance in the new series?

YES! There’s a great Maurice Sendak documentary called Tell Them Anything You Want. The title referring to what you should and shouldn’t tell children. You tell them the story you yourself want to read. I love picture books and children’s literature. However, I also hate it when it’s clearly someone writing down to the try to make it kid consumable. I HATE it.

Not doing that is exactly why Maurice Sendak, Roald Dahl, and J.K. Rowling are so popular. Nothing is worse that current kid’s TV. It’s bubble gum colored brain dead vomit with all the superficiality of Paris Hilton’s vajazzled junk. Yes, kids, dumb, air headed people are gluing glitter to their privates! TELL THEM ANYTHING! (Parental note: there is no discussion of glitter privates in the Chimichanga: Sorrow of the World’s Worst Face).

In addition to developing a new Chimichanga story, the characters’ world has been given a new look as the art is being done by Stephanie Buscema. What prompted the collaboration and what was it like working with Buscema on this project?

One, I was just juggling too many plates to draw the book. Two, Stephanie is freakin’ AWESOME! Her style suits this world so well.

She was a fan of the first series and I was lucky enough that she was interested in stepping in. I really, REALLY can’t wait for people to see what she’s doing.

In the first series, we saw more adult themes and topics woven into the narrative including big business and the shady dealings of corporations, political bribery, as well as elements of modern consumerism, but they’re handled in a way that’s still fun, easily understandable, and can be enjoyed by kids. Can we expect to see other adult themes covered in a fun and kid-friendly way?

In the first series, I wanted to do a kids story that would promote critical thinking. Kids are so force fed consumerism these days that I wanted to do something that might get a kid to go, “Huh, maybe the people trying to sell me something might not have my best interest at heart.”

The theme of the second book is more internal. It’s about self acceptance. Dealing with anger and the fact that there are people in this world that will just try to make you feel bad. How to overcome that. If there is anything a kid can relate to, I think it’s ridicule and self doubt… unless you’re a jerk kid. Then I hope someone kicks you.

Can we expect to see the return of characters like Heratio, the boy faced fish, the Amazing Randy, man with the strength of a slightly larger man, and Gene, the indifferent clown?

Yep, they’re all there. We’ve got some surprising new characters introduced in the series, as well. I’m really curious to see what the reaction will be from some of my readers to the second issue. There is some…linking content. And Stephanie Buscema’s art is bringing a spectacular added dimension to this thing. She is such a perfect fit. I really can’t wait for people to see what she’s doing. I think the readers are gonna flip out.

Did you have any goals or creative aspirations that you wanted to reach/accomplish either narratively or in terms of character progression when putting together the return of Lula and Chimichanga?

I think people in comics these days try too hard to have some big character upheaval. Having them shift their whole being or reveal some big changing moment. I prefer having a strong character that you drop into a scenario and see how they react. Lula is a spunky little spitfire who is an eternal optimist, and that’s how I want her to stay. And if you’ve read any of my other nihilistic work, I REALLY need an optimist in my stories to balance it out. If you asked Lula the question, she’d sing, “Don’t go changing to try to please me!”

However, the center of the story is a kid known as The World’s Worst Face. And it does focus on Lula trying to get that character to see the world in a different light.

Will this be tied at all to the first series and what happened with Dinderly Parmeceuticals Inc. and Dagmar the witch, or will this be a completely new story that stands on its own?

This story stands on it’s own. If you’ve never read the first one, you’ll have no trouble reading this series.

Most importantly, will there be more farting witches?

You have to ask that question? Do you even know me?!?!