Harris & Hutchison Deliver A Bohemian Rhapsody With Launch Of “Rockstars”

It’s Led Zeppelin meets The X-Files as writer Joe Harris and artist Megan Hutchison talk about their forthcoming Image Comics series “Rockstars”. Strap in for a Rock ‘n’ Roll mystery tour like no other!
GG: Congratulations on what looks like an awesome new series! Joe, tell us a bit about “Rockstars”. What is the series about?
JH: It’s a rock ‘n’ roll supernatural thriller; a love letter to the music I adore, and an exploration into what’s hidden behind the music. It follows two young investigators named Jackie and Dorothy (along with Skydog, Jackie’s cat) as they try to get to the bottom of unsolved, even previously unknown, mysteries related to rock history both known and secreted away.
GG: How did you come up with the idea of Rockstars? Is this Led Zep meets X-Files?
JH: That’s sounds about right! I’ve been saying “Almost Famous meets Supernatural,” but I think I like yours better! The genesis of this idea is really the outgrowth of what feels like ten lifetimes spent being absolutely captivated by rock history, in particular, the glamour of the 1970s arena rock heyday. I’ve always loved getting to the bottom of things like the clues the Beatles would weave into their recordings to f@ck the audience over the “Paul is Dead” rumors, and the debauchery I’d read about in books like Stephen Davis’ Hammer of the Gods and Jerry Hopkins’ Doors book, No One Here Gets Out Alive. Further, my last two creator-owned series at Image were kinda heavy and dark environmental disaster sci-fi titles, and I wanted to do something fun. Of course this is looking pretty gloriously dark too, so who knows what I’m really up to here.
GG: How much of your own musical influences can we see in this series? Is this a personal tribute to the kind of music you love or grew up with?
JH: Yeah, absolutely. Rockstars will have one foot thoroughly planted in the 1970s, which is where the bulk of my love of music resides, but we will be branching out to explore mysteries tied to other eras and genres within the great, broad rock ‘n’ roll family tree. I love it all. We’ll get to 80s metal. I’d love to figure out how to pull off a 90s rap story at some point too. But I postulate that I could write a “Rockstars” story set in 18th century Vienna that explores the celebrity and debauchery that revolved around Mozart and Beethoven, the rockstars of their ages.
MH: I think people who love story and character and silliness and horror will enjoy this book. You don’t have to be super into rock, but people who do love it will be thrilled for sure. I’m also hoping that this will be an eye-opener for people who don’t know classic rock or the major influences in rock history.

MH: Joe and I get along really well so I knew from our first discussion that this would be a ton of fun to work on together. The fates aligned that we should meet and work on this book.
MH: I’m pushing for glamrock into 80’s goth just because I want to draw that. However, as the series progresses you can bet there will be a lot more hair and sparkles.

