Word Balloons: Yukon writer's story debuts in comic book

By Matthew Price

Published: August 15, 2008

Two odd characters seek action and adventure at a post-apocalyptic roller derby in an Oklahoma writer's debut comic-book story.

Brian Winkeler, 37, of Yukon is the writer of "Bastard Road,” a story in "PopGun” Vol. 2 from Image Comics. The story's artist, Dave Curd, 30, also has Oklahoma ties. He now lives in Madison, Wis., but lived from age 17 to 29 in Oklahoma City, Moore and Edmond.

"Bastard Road” aims for dark, violent humor, Winkeler said. The story is aimed at adult readers with an "Adult Swim” sensibility.

"Our protagonists are Bastard, a larger-than-life, brick-red amnesiac and his traveling companion Farel, who just wants some peace, but never gets it so long as Bastard's around,” Winkeler said. "Trouble finds them in the form of a beautiful mutant rollercatgirl, her luchador boyfriend and his deadly friends. It's sort of like ‘Futurama' meets ‘The Road Warrior' with a bloody ‘The Itchy & Scratchy Show' sensibility.”

Curd said he and Winkeler share similar tastes, which helped with working together on the "PopGun” story.

"Brian and I both share a love of early '80s American adventure hourlongs — ‘The A-Team,' ‘Knight Rider,' ‘The Incredible Hulk' — and Cold-War fueled apocalypse films,” Curd said. "I supplied the look, and some of the base personality of the characters, and Brian gave them life, made them work.”

Curd was sought out by "PopGun” creator Mark Andrew Smith, who had seen Curd's work via Smith's online forum. Smith invited Curd to participate in "PopGun” Vol. 2. Curd then reached out to Winkeler, with whom he'd been discussing "Bastard Road” as a possible animation project.

"I thought (PopGun) would be a great opportunity to introduce ‘Bastard Road,' and immediately reached out to Brian for us to collaborate on a 12-page comic story,” Curd said.

Winkeler, who works in advertising as his day job, has long wanted to write his own comic books.

"I've dreamed of creating my own comics since my Mom first bought them for me as a 3-for-99-cents pack at the checkout of the Humpty's in Bethany back in 1976,” Winkeler said.

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