By Zack Quaintance — Today’s Kickstarter Interview is with writer Kat Calamia, who like myself is a comics journalist (and also vlogger), who writes her own books. Kat’s most recent project is now live on Kickstarter, and it’s Like Father Like Daughter #7. Kat and I found some time to talk about the book, the series, and how covering comics influences creating comics. You can check out our conversation below before heading over to the Like Father Like Daughter campaign page to back the book.

Enjoy!

Kat Calamia Interview

ZACK QUAINTANCE: One thing I'm always curious about when it comes to Kickstarters like this one, is how has campaigning/promoting changed with subsequent issues? I suspect promoting #7 is a bit different than promoting #1...

KAT CALAMIA: I always try to make the campaign as new reader friendly as possible with opportunities for new backers to catch up on the series.

I’d say the biggest difference is not just trying to sell the concept of the series to new readers, but also selling the new installment to old readers. It’s an interesting balancing act!

ZACK: I think it’s safe to say that father-daughter stories are under-explored in superhero comics. But I love the way this book is changing that. How has the reaction been from readers?

KAT: It’s actually interesting. When I first published this comic over five years ago, I thought that teen girls would be the main demographic, but I’ve actually seen that it’s dads who really connect to the book. They see themselves in the story, and as an avenue to share what they love with their kids.

ZACK: Forgive me if you get asked this question a lot, but there’s a father-daughter relationship at the heart of this story, and I’m curious if you’ve based any of it off of your own life…

KAT: I’m happy to say my dad didn’t leave me to become a full time superhero [laughs], but in all seriousness I have a great relationship with my dad. He’s actually the person who got me into comics in the first place. So, I can’t say I’ve based the story from personal experience, but just like any writer I’m sure there are things from each character that has subconsciously derived from my life.

ZACK: I’m consistently impressed with how much you contribute to comics, both in your coverage of Big 2 stories for major comics news outlets as well as your promotion of other Kickstarters...how does this influence your work as a creator as well?

KAT: Well, first of all thank you, that means a lot, especially coming from someone who does much of the same! I think if you want to create comics you really have to be engrained with the “mainstream” market, indie market, and even the more experimental platforms. But personally I just love supporting great stories - stories that are being delivered on all sides of the marketplace.

I grew up reading the mainstream books (like I’m sure many readers have) and just love seeing different creators takes on characters that have been around for 80+ years.

Then as for the more mainstream indie market, it’s cool to see those very creators form their own story that may have nothing to do with superheroes.

As for Kickstarter, I just love the community of people and the freedom of being able to tell whatever story you want. An Cthulhu anthology can be right next to a superhero comic, and I just feel like that’s an amazing concept.

But then there’s a whole other beast of Webtoons and Tapas that I love reading recreationally that I see as a perfect avenue to really get a whole new and bigger audience for comics if embraced by the direct market or larger creators.

So to answer your initial question - how does this particularly affect me as a creator? I just want to be as supportive as I can to other creators spanning from the mainstream to the underground indie scene. As for the other platforms I would love to experiment using these in the future - dipping my toes into the direct market and webcomics.

ZACK: Finally, what’s the ultimate scope for LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER? Do you see it expanding to include even more story arcs?

KAT: Like Father, Like Daughter is that one story I just don’t want to stop telling. So, yes, this is an ongoing book that has no foreseeable end as of right now.

Like Father Like Daughter Kickstarter

Like Father Like Daughter #7
Writer: Kat Calamia
Artist: Wayne Brown
Colorist: Lisa Moore
Letterer: Brant Fowler
A father with superpowers, leaves his wife and daughter to become “Invulnerable” - the world’s only superhero. Ten years later his daughter discovers that she has inherited the very superpowers that made her father leave their family. In our newest installment, Invulnerable has been kidnapped by the KGB - led by none other than Casey’s mother, Jessica Ryder. Casey never wanted to be like her father, but will Invulnerable’s kidnapping cause Casey to embrace her super heroic roots? It’s the penultimate issue of our first arc, and we promise nothing will be the same following our finale!
Back It Now: Like Father Like Daughter #7