We chat with creator Faith Erin Hicks about Inbetweens, which is told through the perspective of twins who normally have a best-friend dynamic but now are faced with tension when they start to find themselves on different paths regarding their passion for art.
Hi, Faith! Welcome back! How have you been since we last spoke for Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy?
Since we last talked I wrote and drew a brand new version of the Universal Monsters classic horror movie The Mummy, which was a huge departure for me. I’ve never before written and drawn a horror comic. It was really fun, and allowed me to stretch my art skills in new and exciting ways. I kinda want to do more horror comics, even though I’m a bit of a scaredy pants.
Your latest graphic novel, Inbetweens, is out March 31st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Art school trauma & also joy
What can readers expect?
Inbetweens is set in 1999, so expect lots of fun late 90s fashion. I raided all the Delias’ catalogs for my characters’ fits. You can also expect a peek into what the animation scene was like at that time. Disney was king! Anime was niche! Things have changed so much in 25 years.
Where did the inspiration for Inbetweens come from?
From my own experiences at a high pressure animation college. I was a big Disney animation kid in the 90s, fell in love with animation and wanted to pursue a career in it. I got into a very well known classical animation program and discovered that the reality of learning to animate was not what I thought it would be. I struggled through school and worked in the industry for a few years, before transitioning into making comics, which I am much better suited for.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed creating?
Inbetweens has two leads, Ash and Sloane, who are sisters. Ash is loud and outgoing and goes into every new situation with her whole heart, which I find pretty amusing. She’s authentically herself at every moment. I love writing (and drawing) her barrelling confidently into every new scene; she’s very different from my shy, anxious self.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing or illustrating? How did you overcome them?
Drawing a graphic novel is like running a marathon. You get there by putting one foot in front of the other, and not thinking about how far there is to go (because if you think about it, you will get very discouraged). I always feel kinda low when I’m in the middle of a graphic novel, because it can be hard to see the end result. But I’ve learned to trust the process, just keep drawing, and in about a year I’ll have a finished graphic novel.
What do you hope readers take away from Inbetweens?
That learning a creative skill (drawing, animation, pottery, whatever you are interested in) is worth it. Learning to draw is challenging, but you will discover so much on your journey. You’ll make friends, find community, discover new and exciting ways to communicate and tell the stories you have in your heart.
What’s next for you?
I am writing more Avatar: The Last Airbender comics, drawn by my collaborator Peter Wartman. I’m also drawing a graphic novel that’s written by someone else, but that is not yet announced. It’s going to be fun!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
Martha Wells has a new Murderbot book out this year, Platform Decay, so I’m excited to dive back into my favourite scifi series!
