In this episode, Frank Lourence sits down with Simon Roy, the creative mind behind the beautifully illustrated comic, "Grizz Grobus." They discuss the inspiration behind the dual-layered narrative, Simon's journey from Kickstarter to Image Comics, and how personal growth has influenced the story's evolution. Simon also shares insights into the unique characters and the world-building process, blending humor and serious themes seamlessly.

• 00:00 - Introduction and Guest Welcome
• 00:14 - Overview of Grizz Grobus
• 01:20 - Origin of Grizz Grobus and Initial Concept
• 03:26 - Transition from Kickstarter to Image Comics
• 05:36 - Miyazaki's Influence on the Story
• 07:22 - Capturing a Lived-In World
• 10:09 - Balancing Humor and Seriousness
• 12:01 - Challenges of Dual Storytelling
• 13:09 - Collaboration with Colorist Sergei Nazarov
• 15:20 - Character Breakdown: Mayor, Prime Scribe, Constable
• 17:55 - Personal Reflections in Character Development
• 19:27 - Development of the Religious Fantasy Storyline
• 22:42 - Inspirations from 80s Hong Kong Horror Comedies
• 25:40 - Future Projects and Expanding the Universe
• 30:32 - Building a Self-Contained, Interconnected Universe
• 32:05 - Where to Follow Simon Roy

• Grizz Grobus intertwines two grand stories: a sci-fi narrative and a popular fantasy novel within the story.
• Simon Roy transitioned Grizz Grobus from a Kickstarter project to Image Comics, expanding its reach.
• Miyazaki's influence is evident in the character motivations and the lived-in feel of the world.
• The collaboration with colorist Sergei Nazarov significantly enhanced the visual storytelling.
• The comic draws inspiration from various sources, including 80s Hong Kong horror comedies.
• Future projects include expanding the Grizz Grobus universe with more stories set in different corners of a collapsed galactic empire.

• "Grizz Grobus is a story set in a small village on a far-off colony planet, where an ancient priest bot comes back to life and culture clash ensues."
• "In this book, we wanted to harness the approachable, cute, homey feel that Miyazaki puts into all of his worlds."
• "Crowdfunding is good and bad because you're the master of your own fate, but Image Comics helps the book meet a much wider range of people."

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Geek Freaks on your favorite podcast platform, leave us a review, and share this episode on social media using the hashtag #GeekFreaksPodcast. Your support helps us bring more exciting content!

• Grizz Grobus on Image Comics
• Simon Roy's Instagram

• Facebook: Geek Freaks Podcast
• Threads: @geekfreakspodcast
• Patreon: Geek Freaks Podcast
• Twitter: @geekfreakspod
• Instagram: Geek Freaks Podcast

Got questions or topics you'd like us to cover in future episodes? Send them our way, and we might feature them on the show!

Grizz Grobus, Simon Roy, Geek Freaks Podcast, Frank Lourence, Image Comics, Kickstarter, Miyazaki, Sci-Fi Comics, Fantasy Comics, Comic Book Interviews, Graphic Novels, Indie Comics, Crowdfunding Comics, Character Development, World-Building, Visual Storytelling, Sergei Nazarov