Q&A: Joshua Viola Shares Details on ROCKY HORROR SHOW: BIDE OF ROCKY HORROR Graphic Novel

Fans of Richard O’Brien’s cult classic Rocky Horror Show will be able to experience Janet Weiss and Brad Majors’ next adventure in a brand-new original graphic novel titled Bride of Rocky Horror. Set seven years after the original, the officially licensed story is a continuation of the iconic stage production, with a creative team comprised of writer Magdalene Visaggio, artist Noemi Vettori, colorist Josh Rodriguez, letterer Jeremiah Lambert, and cover artist Soo Lee. Having just launched the Kickstarter for this graphic novel, I caught up with Bit Bot Media’s Joshua Viola, who told me all about how this project came to be and, as a longtime fan of all things Rocky Horror, why he’s excited for everyone to read this new story:

We caught up during the Rocky Horror Show video game release and spoke about your love of everything Rocky Horror. As a fan, you must be so thrilled to have worked on this project. How did the idea of creating a graphic novel sequel come about?

Joshua Viola: Actually, when I first pitched the licensor on the video game, I also suggested a graphic novel. At the time, though, they already had one in development and didn’t want competing projects, so we focused on the game instead. Earlier this year, the licensor reached back out to let me know that the original publisher had stepped away, and they asked if Bit Bot would be interested in taking over and finishing the graphic novel. That was a no-brainer, and here we are. It’s been fun to see what had been created early on and to help bring the project across the finish line. But make no mistake: this is truly thanks to the incredible work of Mags and Noemi. It’s their vision, their baby.

You’ve put together a superstar team of creators to bring this idea to life. Can you talk about some of the ideas you initially brought to the table and working with Magdalene and Noemi to further flesh out the story and this world?

Joshua Viola: Since the overall story had already been established by Mags, I came in primarily as an editor, working closely with the licensor to finalize certain story elements they wanted to see. My main focus, though, was on the art. Noemi had originally been attached and created some early concept work, so it was important to me that she finish what she started. We brought her back on board and built the rest of the team around her. I brought in a few longtime collaborators, concept artist Aaron Lovett, and letterer Jeremiah Lambert. As for newcomers to the Bit Bot team, we brought in Josh Rodriguez for colors, along with cover art contributions from Soo Lee, Uncle Frank, and Noemi herself. We also tied the project back to our video game launch last year by including a chiptune soundtrack from Sam Beddoes and introducing new merchandise like our Rocky and Frank N. Furter plush.

In terms of available reference material, did you have any media archives that you had access to as a reference point? Any interesting research or discoveries take place as the team was building out this story?

Joshua Viola: Well, again, the core idea was already in place from Mags, and all of the references came from material that’s public knowledge. Everyone knows the film, and we specifically had to pull from the stage play. Fortunately, we had a fantastic point of contact at the licensor—Rebeckah Dalton—who knows the franchise inside and out. She played a crucial role in approving the new material and ensuring everything stayed true to canon.

I imagine one of the challenges was how to best convey the energy of the musical on the page. Why was Noemi perfect for this project and what can fans expect from the art?

Joshua Viola: When Bit Bot took on the project, I had the option of bringing in any number of artists I’ve worked with before. But as soon as I saw Noemi’s concept art and her portfolio, I knew she was the right choice. She had been attached early on and her love for the franchise and passion for the project were unmistakable. It would have been a mistake to hand it to anyone else.

For the Kickstarter campaign, there are all kinds of great Rocky Horror offerings beyond just the graphic novel. Can you tease some of the other Rocky Horror items and projects that you’ve been cooking up at Bit Bot Media?

Joshua Viola: Absolutely! In addition to the video game soundtrack and plush collectibles, we’ve put together a full line of apparel (shirts, hoodies and hats) along with limited-edition art prints and multiple versions of the graphic novel, including interconnected covers and signed deluxe hardcovers. And if this campaign really takes off, one of our stretch goals is to unlock a physical PlayStation 5 edition of the video game.

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From the Press Release: […] Bride of Rocky Horror is a full-color, 95-page extravaganza by GLAAD Media and Eisner Award-nominated writer Magdalene Visaggio (Girlmode), artist Noemi Vettori (X-Men Unlimited), colorist Josh Rodriguez (Credit tk), letterer Jeremiah Lambert (Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver – The Dead Shall Rise) , and Bram Stoker Award-winning cover artist Soo Lee (Carmilla).

“Rocky Horror is one of my favorite stories of all time,” said Magdalene Visaggio. “It was the safest queer art I had access to when I was young because my parents were both huge fans. So to get the chance to look beyond it and see how it could have played out once that fateful night ended was a dream come true. I tried to make something as personal and idiosyncratic as O’Brien’s original, riffing off the themes that stood out to me the same way O’Brien was riffing on his childhood influences. I think me and Noemi have made something really unique.”

The all-new chapter of the Rocky Horror saga will be published by Bit Bot Media, a new, cutting-edge multimedia company from Klayton (Celldweller/Scandroid), the multifaceted musician known for his contributions to major motion pictures, TV, and video games including Transformers, Malignant, and Killer Instinct, and Denver Post bestselling writer Joshua Viola (Soul Reaver, True Believers).

In Bride of Rocky Horror, Janet Weiss has embraced a life of decadence and debauchery. But when a mysterious invitation draws her back into the orbit of her ex-fiancé Brad Majors, a new mystery unfolds. Who is the enigmatic Bridget Von Frankenstein? What secrets is Brad hiding? And is it, once again, time for the Time Warp?

“As an artist, and even more so as a Rocky Horror Show fan, it meant a lot to me to pay tribute to our beloved characters, striving to stay as true as possible to their original appearance and personalities,” explained artist Noemi Vettori. “I hope I succeeded in representing what Rocky Horror embodies: chaos, passion, and rebellion. Working on Bride of Rocky Horror wasn’t just about illustration, it was about channeling all the energy of an eccentric and mesmerizing musical onto paper!”

“As a long standing fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, it is such an honor to be able to work on the covers for the resurrection of this wild world!” said cover artist Soo Lee […]

In addition to the Bride of Rocky Horror collectible hardcover, the Kickstarter campaign will offer a wide range of exclusive collectibles and merchandise, including:

• Four interconnecting prints by superstars cover artist Soo Lee;

• Plush figures of Frank-N-Furter and Rocky;

• The Rocky Horror Show Video Game, designed and developed by Sam Beddoes of FreakZone Games. The Rocky Horror Show Video Game faithfully recreates scenes and dialogue from the original stage play, allowing players to step into the shoes of Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott. Each level is meticulously designed to capture the essence of the original sets in a nostalgic 8-bit format. Gameplay combines challenging but rewarding platforming and light combat elements, such as picking up and throwing objects at enemies and other experiments from Dr. Frank N Furter’s laboratory.

• The Rocky Horror Show Video Game Soundtrack, featuring chiptune renditions of the beloved classic songs, including the fan-favorite “Time Warp” on vinyl

• Limited-edition 8-bit themed figures of Frank-N-Furter

“Bride of Rocky Horror is an officially licensed story that’s sure to delight Rocky Horror fans old and new,” said Bit Bot Media Josh Viola. “We’re beyond excited to bring this iconic world back to life for the fans.”

For more updates, sign up at bitbotmedia.com for the Bit Bot newsletter and follow the company’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

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To support the campaign and learn more, visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bitbotmedia/rocky-horror-show-bride-of-rocky-horror?ref=quoz57