Kids Comics Month: Get To Know Jeremy Whitley

Whether you’re young or old, regardless of your tastes and interests, there’s no denying the appeal of a well-written, well-drawn comic book or graphic novel. “All-Ages” doesn’t have to strictly mean “For Kids Only”… especially when there’s so much wonderful content being created today that’s perfectly suited for anyone to pick up and enjoy.

This month PREVIEWS celebrates Kid Comics throughout the issue with plenty of new and backlist titles available. And in anticipation of this month’s theme, we reached out to some of All Ages Comics’ most talented creators for these mini-interviews! You may know the titles, but do you know their creators? Hopefully you’ll get a better insight into these talented creators with this month’s special feature!

Jeremy Whitley
Writer Known for: Princeless

PREVIEWSworld: How would you describe your comic to a young reader to get them excited about it?

Jeremy Whitley: Princeless (Vol. 1—JAN140827) is all about a princess who’s her own hero; she’s not going to wait around for some knight or prince to save her. Adrienne picks up a sword and not only saves herself, but teams up with her dragon to go save her sisters!

PREVIEWSworld: What got you excited about your comic? Is there any part in particular you can share about the upcoming story?

Jeremy Whitley: I’m excited about the new chapter because there are lots of monsters! Adrienne’s bravery is really going to be tested and some of her sisters and friends are going to have to step up too.

PREVIEWSworld: What do you think is the most essential building block in crafting a story geared toward young readers? And how have you employed it in one of your more recent projects?

Jeremy Whitley: I think the essential thing is that you don’t talk down to young readers. Kids are smart and appreciate being given credit. When I was in elementary school I was reading Jurassic Park and Lord of the Rings. I hated when I read stories and I felt like I wasn’t getting the “real thing”.

PREVIEWSworld: What was your favorite comic as a kid? And how does it continue to influence you today?

Jeremy Whitley: When I was a kid, I loved the X-Men. I feel like things I learned from the X-Men still affect the way I create stories today. I like to work with diverse casts and I always have strong intelligent women taking the lead.

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Please recommend three current comics for kids that you enjoy, and provide a few sentences about why you think these comics are top picks!

1. Nutmeg Vol. 0 TP (APR150961)

WHY? It’s a crime story about high school girls. It somehow manages to be about girls, about baking, and about crime. It’s a ton of fun!

2. Lumberjanes Vol. 1 TP (APR151266)

WHY? This is my daughter’s favorite comic. Lumberjanes has it all: It’s full of action and adventure, and has some of the best and most fun characters in any comic I’m reading now. I can’t say enough about it!

3. The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Vol. 1: Squirrel Power TP (MAY150824)

WHY? This comic is so amazingly fun and optimistic — something that’s unfortunately rare in superhero comics these days. Squirrel Girl is as good of a role model as girls who want to be superheroes could ask for right now!