InterPop Comics Q&A: Chantelle Aimée Osman Accepts the Rejects
If you don’t know about Chantelle Aimée Osman before now, you will after The Rejects #1 hits InterPop Comics on July 6. Known as a stellar, award-winning book editor before now, Osman’s first foray into comics writing, co-writing alongside the legendary Alex Segura, is a good one, bringing that old-school strange team of powerful misfits flavor to the Emergents Universe. Find out more about this rising star!
InterPop: Tell me about your approach co-writing each of the members of the Rejects and the team as a whole.
Chantelle: Outside of the overall issue planning, Alex and I often discuss finding places in the story where each team member can shine, or alternately, where the plot lends to highlighting a trait or dynamic that can really add dimension to a character that we haven’t had the chance to explore before. That’s part of why writing the Rejects is so cool, we get to explore the backstories of this team and figure out how they got here and what they’re bringing with them (good and bad) to the group. I also think Google Docs has to get a little credit here! Alex and I both have extremely busy schedules, so to be able to go through in real time what the other one is thinking/planning and give feedback is really key to staying on the same page.
InterPop: Is there a specific character you gravitate toward and why?
Chantelle: Oh, this is a tough one! I think there’s something I — and all of us — can relate to about each one of the Rejects. It’s certainly a lot of fun writing the snarky sarcasm of [SPOILER], but I also am enjoying the connection between Mechanique and Addison, I think they understand each other in a way the others don’t, and that’s going to be a lot of fun to dive into.
InterPop: No spoilers, but what can readers expect will happen to this team and to Culverton around them throughout the course of this story and how will the Rejects in #ZoeMG differ from the Rejects in their own series?
Chantelle: Like most readers, Alex and I have always loved a great team dynamic, and there’s going to be a lot of that, of course. But, unlike most of the teams you’ve seen before, The Rejects focuses on individuals who don’t fit elsewhere and choose to come together — emphasizing that family can be made, even in the direst of circumstances. Seeing that from the inside, rather than the outside in #ZoeMG is going to be a fun perspective. There’s also a lot of laughs, cool powers, and a bunch of twists you won’t see coming!
InterPop: What are your thoughts on the fans choosing the leader of the Rejects through our voting process?
Chantelle: I love that InterPop is involving the readers in steering series decisions! Graphic novels have always been about the fans, and allowing them a say is a natural evolution of the genre, and a huge advantage of being digital — plus it’s ton of fun.
InterPop: How has your experience been working with InterPop?
Chantelle: It’s always wonderful to see a new company in the graphic novel space, particularly one with such novel ideas and backed by such amazing creatives and execs. This is my first rodeo, so I’m lucky that I have the chance to get my feet wet co-writing with a veteran like Alex Segura, and then get such amazing guidance from Rachel Gluckstern. Plus, as a fan and a nerd, it’s just plain exciting to see every step of the art process with Adrián Gutiérrez and Wil Quintana — let alone weigh in on it. It’s a dream, and I’m so grateful to InterPop for giving me this opportunity!
