Victor Gischler is already a veteran of the comic industry, having worked with Marvel Comics for a number of years. His new project, Sally of the Wasteland has brought him to Titan Comics to tell the story of a normal girl with a normal girl problems, who just so happens to be stuck in a post-apocalyptic world with a lot of problems of its own.  It is a mixture of action and humor which is befitting of someone that used to write Deadpool.

Victor opened up some time in his busy schedule to talk with us about the series and a little more about his interests in the post-apocalyptic worlds and the people that live in them.

Graphic Policy: Your new series, Sally of the Wasteland is an interesting mix of post-apocalypse and humour.  How did you come up with the concept for the story?

Victor Gischler: This mix comes natural to me, I think.  I wrote a novel called Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse which is very violent and graphic but also irreverent and humorous.  I wanted to do something in the same vein but with new characters and lots of cool visuals since it was for comics.

GP: The post-apocalyptic genre is not a very developed genre in terms of a long tradition, and the recognizable characters in this genre are thus are fewer in number but also probably more immediately recognizable and iconic.  What would you say that you have done to distinguish your characters from others?

VG: I don’t mind playing with archetypes. It’s fun.  At the same time, I think Sally has her own voice and identity.  Part of this is that she is a half-step removed from the reality around her which aids in the humor and the way we view the apocalyptic landscape.

GP: Do you have a favourite in the Post-Apocalyptic genre?

VG: Man … so many.  Novels like Lucifer’s Hammer and Alas Babylon come to mind.  Also the Mad Max films.  Also old role playing games like Gamma World.

GP: What would be your vehicle of choice if you were trapped in a Post-Apocalyptic world?  Souped up car?  Ultra-light helicopter?  Cobbled-together trimaran?

VG: Big truck with spikes and armor.  I’d like to be able to run over stuff.

GP: How did you draw on your previous experience with other comic characters to craft this story?

VG: I used to write a little Deadpool for Marvel, and there is maybe like 10% Deadpool in Sally.  She has her own warped way of seeing the world around her.

GP: One of my laugh out loud moments so far from reading the series was the introduction of the ‘Bamazons.  Is there a bit of state rivalry creeping in there?

VG: Yes, a little.  At the time of answering this question, Ole Miss has just beaten ‘Bama in a huge upset.  I’m a child of the SEC and I guess that fact has bubbled up in my work.  Ha ha.

GP: How did you get to Titan Comics?

VG: Writer Rob Williams was doing the book Ordinary with them and made some introductions. After a lengthy false start with another publisher, I just wanted to find the book a home so I could get it out to readers.  Titan has been marvelous and supportive, so I feel it all worked out for the best.

GP: How do you feel that it compares to work at one of the big companies versus the independents?

VG: Hmmm.  I’m not sure how to answer that. I mean I would try to write the best story I could regardless of the size of the publisher. I suppose a big publisher might have the power to push the book out there, but that’s not about the quality of the work.  I feel that readers with a similar sense of humor to mine will really enjoy Sally.

GP: Will Sally ever get Tommy to notice her?

VG: Stay tuned, fearless readers!