With their final tour announced, iconic rock band KISS is planning a big farewell to fans young and old. To celebrate the end of an era, Dynamite and Amy Chu (Red Sonja, Poison Ivy) have teamed up again to deliver a companion miniseries this April featuring the The Starchild, The Demon, The Spaceman, and The Catman. With art by Edu Menna (Twilight Zone, ZNation) and letters by Troy Peteri (Amazing Spider-Man, Witchblade), the story is a mix of rock ‘n’ roll, the supernatural, and a soul searching mission for the young man who encounters the band’s otherworldly counterparts.
Chu has been at the helm of the KISS comics for some time, and it only made sense for the writer to be the one to give them a proper send-off. The Beat chatted with her about the series and what we can expect from this installation.
Deanna Destito: You have been a huge part of KISS in comics. What does the band mean to you?
Amy Chu: Thank you! KISS is part of America’s cultural DNA. Whether or not you are a fan, you have to acknowledge that. I grew up with KISS, as did just about every kid on the block. So to be asked back to write the comics for their final tour, let’s just say I feel a very strong sense of personal accomplishment!
Destito: Besides being an iconic rock band, they are also known for their fantastic makeup and costuming. Has this unique reputation made it easier to come up with plotlines or is it harder because they are so legendary? Your last series featured such fantastical elements as a dystopian future, mecha robots, and interstellar conflict.
Chu: Writing KISS comics is probably the hardest challenge I’ve had in comics. It’s not the makeup so much as the history. KISS has been around in comics for a long time. If I’m not mistaken, they were the first to start doing comics crossovers with their cameo in Howard the Duck back in the ’70s. So the trick is to do something new for the fans but also keep the KISS vibe.
Destito: What about this book will draw in both old and new fans? Can we expect any connections to your previous KISS series?
Chu: I realize KISS fans are truly global and span multiple generations so I try to make all their comics accessible to all audiences. But this is going to be very different from my last series, which was really more science fiction oriented. This is a whole new adventure, and Edu Menna is doing some very cool world building. And absolutely expect some Easter eggs!
Destito: Do you think it is really The End? (For the band and for the comics)
Chu: If you read the previous series I wrote, there is a theme of immortality. As long as people will read KISS comics, I am sure there will continue to be KISS comics. As for the first part of the question, I will be sure to ask Gene when I see him!
KISS: The End #1 will launch in April 2019. Look for it in your favorite comic shop or find it digitally at Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, and ComicsPlus. Also available for fans and collectors is a KISS Deluxe-Premium art trading card set featuring signed cards by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.
Comments are closed.