Heads Will Roll When Lesly Julien and AJ O. Mason Launch Headcases #3
- Doug Wood
- Aug 6
- 4 min read
Comic Yeti Contributor Doug Wood sits outside the Yeti Cave with Lesly Julien and AJ O. Mason to discuss their comic Headcases #3.
Comic Book Yeti: Thank you so much for allowing me a review copy of your work. I really love this comic. Full disclosure up front we have collaborated in the past. Can you both go into your collaboration process of writing the comic? And how the idea of book started?
Lesly Julien: The process: It alternates, one of us will script and the other serves as the editor once that initial draft is done. After that we discuss the notes made and work together to form the final product.
AJ approached me a few years ago about collabing on a comic and I was down. We wanted to do something action packed. After a few failed concepts we came up with the central premise. "Kids steal a bag with something important in it." Little did we know how crazy it would get and issue 3 we see a bit more the significance of the decapitated head in a bag that's become so coveted.
AJ O. Mason: It’s honestly everything Lesly already said. Each issue we alternate as to who writes the script and who serves as the editor, and it’s really fun, because each issue we kind of get to switch hats. It’s quite refreshing!
CBY: You are now on issue 3 of your comic. How would you pitch your story to entice readers that missed your previous campaigns? What is the thing you are most excited to happen in issue 3?
LJ: Great question. I would say there's a lot more to enjoy now that we're past the halfway mark. And that also things start getting even crazier if that's possible.
I'm excited for readers to see our protagonists Hila and Ramon separate for the first time in the story. How they navigate things. Also there's a page I won't spoil but Paulo did an incredible job with a very memorable visual.
CBY: The comic looks so polished and the exciting premise really sets it apart from comics I see. Was the plan always to crowdfund?
AM: First of all, I’m really glad you said that! It’s really thanks to our team, Paulo, Warnia, and Micah who are all doing such a phenomenal job. And crowdfunding was not the first step in our plan. At first, after putting together a pitch package, we approached several publishers and submitted a pitch. After a few months of waiting and no response, we finally decided to take it to crowdfunding, but it was something that we were aware could happen and were absolutely excited about the crowdfunding route as well.
CBY: Issues 1 was such a fun and energetic read. Then with issue 2 really ramps up the excitement. As well as the violence. Knowing the book is now a crowdfunded project, did that change how the story was going to be told?
LJ: For me it wasn't a factor. The story would've unfolded the same whether crowdfunded or published traditionally.
CBY: Lesly, you have 2 other ongoing crowdfunded books that are fantasy and horror, do you find it hard to which back and forth between genres? Is there one that you find easier to write than the other two?
LJ: It's fun to pivot between multiple genres. Some people are gifted enough to focus on one type of story but I really enjoy the freedom of doing it all. It's cliché but I wouldn't say one is easier or harder than the others, they all present unique challenges that are fun to approach as a creator.
CBY: AJ, I believe this is not your first time writing comics with young protagonists. Is that something you tend to gravitate toward?
AM: I do sometimes write older protagonists, but I think the reason I often write comics about protagonists who are my age or younger than me is because every time I write, I want the story to feel relevant to my life and my personal problems. So that means I usually craft a story around a message or a theme or a philosophical idea that I’m either currently struggling with or have struggled with in the past. When I’m older, maybe that’s when I’ll feel more adequate to write about older protagonists and can actually relate to their struggles in a much more profound way.
AM: But maybe not, who knows? Hahaha
CBY: Since at the time of writing you are still in pre-launch phase. (Now Live!) Is there a reward tier you want to talk up and get people excited to get once you launch?
LJ: I think the After school Tutors tier is definitely one I'd recommend to folks that have stories in mind but need help making it a reality. AJ especially is a great resource for emerging creators to get potential advice from, with a graphic novel from Top Shelf debuting next year.
CBY: Hit me with your links to social media!
LJ: On Bluesky @leswrite.bsky.social
AM: Also Bluesky @ajomasonwriter.bsky.social
