March 27, 2006

Rick Olney on Freedom 3 and Monster Squad
by Rik Offenberger

Rick Olney and TightLip Entertainment have taken the traditional theme of Golden Age comics and brought it to the forefront of modern comics. Throughout the Golden Age the enemies of America were the enemies of the the super heroes. In Freedom 3 Rik Olney brings this idea back, and in something that seems to be becoming more and more popular with heroes, sends them after Osama bin Laden.

Newsarama: Let's get right into your team of heroes - who are the members?

Rick Olney: Freedom 3 is actually comprised of the 3 main characters Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. They have a support team and a place where Congress and the present President and his White House administration has assigned them to live. 

NRAMA: What are their powers?

RO: Globe, powered by terra firma, Eagle, a winged telepath, and Anchor, a fiery fem with a touch too much heat, makes up the trio of freedom fighters. In issues #1-#3 ... the members of Freedom 3 get handed an assignment no Marine would refuse; to hunt down and capture Osama bin Laden!

NRAMA: In Freedom 3, they are both super heroes and Marines?

RO: Rather than tag them as having "super" powers... I identify them as Marines with special needs. First and foremost, they're American military serving their country under the United States Constitution. 

NRAMA: Are they more heroes or Super Soldiers?

RO: Freedom 3 is government sanctioned, under the military edicts of the Unites States Marine Corp. I rather think if they're anything, they're both.  

NRAMA: So these characters show any of your own experiences as a Marine in these stories?

RO: They don't. Other than carrying that 'espirit de corps' that all Marines carry within them, my actual military experiences differ from those Marines serving today in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other unfriendly places around our world.

NRAMA: In the world of Freedom 3, they go after Osama bin Laden. Does this bring up a lot of difficulties in connecting the Freedom 3 world and the real world?

RO: The TightLip Entertainment's mantra goes: "In a world where mankind has placed self greed and material worth over morality and justice -- The entertainment values of TightLip exist to point and guide your imagination to reality."

We believe that there is realistic value to creating positive imaginary role models. In the universe of TightLip, nobody goes unnoticed. Course, in the real world, people, as a societal whole, seldom and rarely stop or even slow down long enough to be satisfied with their various entertainment forms.

NRAMA: So - are they successful?

RO: Ahh...  that would be revealing the entire three issue story arc, which by the way is entitled, "What Price Freedom?"

NRAMA: After the first arc, what's is next for Freedom 3?

RO: It is a huge world full of turmoil. Safely, Freedom 3 will attempt to make it a safer planet. In the real sense, I am pleased that we are hearing from families of military personnel expressing interest and support of their loved ones. We've decided to see about providing this propaganda story arc to active duty members of the U.S.M.C., and welcome any further support or communication from family and friends with a loved or special person in the war.

NRAMA: After Freedom 3, you've got Monster Squad coming up, right?

RO: No, actually, we're publishing and releasing Monster Squad on the very heels of Freedom 3. They may launch with a few days of each other. We're on a sliding scale of time between May-July 1st, but the books will release and hope that retailers and fans alike will see and like them. 

NRAMA: In it, you've got a team of monsters working together as a team. Is this similar to what Alan Moore did in League of Extraordinary Gentlemen?

RO: No. Who could follow in Alan Moore's footsteps? Monster Squad is a group of unique individuals that appear to be monsters at first glance, but who actually are more human than many of us in the way they think and feel.
 
NRAMA: How do you get the various Monsters to cooperate on a single goal?

RO: They each came to the Chandler Hollow compound via the help of a gentleman by the name of Magnus Grimoire. Magnus actually makes and helps, via guidance, each member of the Monster Squad. To him, they're displaced children.    

NRAMA: What do the Monsters hope to accomplish?

RO: Well, first, don't let Magnus hear you referring to his charges as "monsters" as he's particular about their safety and wellness.

For Kid Mummy, an accomplishment could be not being afraid of the dark. For Merlin, the 7 foot tall teenaged Bigfoot, it could be finding some of his own kind. And certainly for GarGirl is could be grasping desperately onto her humanity. There are 7 members of Monster Squad, including Magnus Grimoire. 

NRAMA: And where do things go from there?

RO: I'm publishing comics because there exists a certain reader friendly niche here and there needing to be filled. We have another three titles in the wings for 2007. One of at least which, will be written and owned by someone not Rick Olney and co-creators. I'm excited!