Are you ready for the Perfect Crime Party? Well, get ready, because Iron Circus Comics has just launched a Backerkit campaign for the wild project, which brings together 40+ creators for an anthology on the perfect crimes of the title.
“PERFECT CRIME PARTY is the platonic ideal of the Iron Circus anthology,” said Iron Circus Founder Spike Trotman said via a press release provided to Comic Book Club. “A cool idea, tossed at incredibly creative people, who are left to do with it what they will! The results are always so fun and unexpected.”
The full-color 300+ page anthology contains 25 stories from 40+ creators, plus a cover from Jeff Smith. In advance of the Backerkit launch, Comic Book Club had a little party of our own with 16 of those creators. Those are [deep breath] Amy Chase, Axur Eneas, Caitlin Like, Chuck Harp, David Brothers, Erin Roseberry, Henry Barajas, Illuminated, John Konrad, Jules Valera, Kit Mills, Luis Santamarina, Mariah McCourt, Nick Mamatas, Reetta Linjama, and Tayson Martindale.
Whew! That’s only a small selection of the folks involved in the project, but enough to throw an email interview shindig where we asked the creators a little more about their stories, their take on the perfect crime, their take on the perfect party, and also tried to get them to confess to crimes of their own. Read on for all of that, and much, much more!
Comic Book Club: Okay, I’m sort of sending these questions out of the blue so… Who are you, and tell me about the story you’re doing!
Amy Chase: Hey! My name is Amy Chase, and I’m a writer. I’ve previously had books published with folks like Archie Comics for their illustrious horror lineup, as well as officially licensed Dungeons & Dragons and My Little Pony with IDW. For the Perfect Crime Party anthology, I co-wrote “Play it Again” with the amazingly talented Tango, who also provided all the lineart for the piece. Coloring rockstar Xenon Honchar and lettering wizard Noah Stephens stepped in to complete the punk rock vampire heist story with us.
Axur Eneas: Written Off is a story about a group of artists pulling a heist to rescue their movie before it is deleted by the studio, which is doing it just for a tax write-off. It’s a way to express our anger at this tactic the studios have been doing recently with no respect for the artist and crew that pour their time and effort into making a movie or a series.
Caitlin Like: Hello! I’m Caitlin Like, and I’m a cartoonist and writer from Portland, Oregon. I do a lot of work in the historical education and historical fiction genres, including the story “Sincerely, A Lady” that I illustrated!
Written by Molly Muldoon, “Sincerely, A Lady” is the story about a forgotten missing person from regency England, and the gossipy exploits that might have led to their disappearance.
Chuck Harp: I’m Chuck Harp and I’m a writer of various mediums, including comics. When not writing comics I’m scribbling about skateboarding for various outlets. My short story “Racked” is about a group of graffiti artists who, after a mishap in a trainyard, concoct a plan to gather new supplies to continue their craft.
David Brothers: I’m David Brothers, and I co-created Polyphonic Funk: My Outlaw Melody with Alissa Sallah! It’s the story of a recent high school graduate who’s looking to strike it big in the criminal underworld alongside the ghost of her father, hopefully before her mom gets out of jail and forces her into college. If you love manga like JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure or rowdy crime stories, Polyphonic Funk is just your vibe.
Erin Roseberry: I’m Erin Roseberry, I’m a NYC-based cartoonist and printmaker, and I contributed the comic “The Cloud Thief” to Perfect Crime Party. My comic is about a perfectionist, overachieving witch who is struggling to end a drought, because her weathermancy skills just suck. Instead of admitting to not being the best at magic, she decides to gather up her crow familiars and commit the perfect crime: stealing a rain cloud from her academic rival that is insufferably good at weather magic!
Henry Barajas: I’m Henry Barajas. I’m based in Los Angeles by way of Tucson, AZ. I wrote La Voz De MAYO Tata Rambo and Helm Greycastle. Currently, I’m writing the longtime syndicated comic strip: Gil Thorp. Lately, I’ve been really into the classic Japanese cooking competition show: Iron Chef. I’m lucky to have a part in this crime party. I collaborated on Joke Thief with Kit Mills. It’s one of those crimes that doesn’t get enough attention. The story follows Rusty Nails and his pursuit to craft his next set by befriending an up-and-coming comedian who’s much funnier than him.
Illuminated: I’m Illuminated, I’m a cartoonist from Italy. My story is “Psikotika Will Strike at Midnight,” and it’s a surreal tribute to 60s Italian crime comics, titles like Diabolik, Kriminal, Satanik, all about a malevolent masked man with a name full of Ks always running one step ahead of the law.
John Konrad: My name is John Konrad and I’m a cartoonist based in Tucson, Arizona. My story is “Darling Doesn’t Know,” a noir screwball comedy about a celebrity couple that resort to murder to inherit each other’s fortunes. What they don’t realize is that both of them are flat broke.
Jules Valera: By day, I do prepress for a comic book publisher; by early evening, I’m a comic artist. It was via the former that I met my coworker, novelist and editor Nick Mamatas, whose wickedly funny and dark short story about two cutthroat sisters and their bloodthirsty competitive streak was adapted to become the comic that we’ve produced together.
Kit Mills: I’m Kit Mills, the illustrator behind “Joke Theft.” It’s a heist story, but with a twist—the loot is intangible. Who would bother putting so much effort into stealing something that doesn’t even have any real value? You might be surprised. As it turns out, the pursuit of success in stand-up comedy can be a sinister business. Henry Barajas wrote a killer script for this, and I had such a blast bringing the visuals to life.
Luis Santamarina: Hey, what’s with the bright light? Can you dim it a bit? The story “Racked” is simply a lighthearted tale about street art, graffiti, and youth. My name is Luis Santamarina and I’m a comic book artist and colorist, I assure you! And that package in my backpack isn’t mine.
Mariah McCourt: Aside from being several hedgehogs in a black, witchy, trench coat, I’m a writer, editor, artist, and mom who is possibly too excited about getting to tell a cozy crime story. PRYM & BURN, drawn by the incredible powerhouse that is Jules Rivera, is a little historical piece about women working together to get revenge. Set in Victorian Edinburgh, the story was inspired by the copious amounts of Miss Marple and Sherlock Holmes I watched as a kid on PBS’s Masterpiece Theater. You know the one, with the Edward Gorey intro and epic music? I was obsessed with that, so getting to tell a story in that vein is incredibly exciting for me.
Last year I took a trip with my daughter and my mom to the UK, an absolute dream of mine, so setting the story in Edinburgh just felt right. The history of that city is pretty bonkers, with a rich storytelling history as well, so PRYM & BURN is an homage to that experience as well.
Nick Mamatas: I’m Nick Mamatas, mostly a prose author, but I’ve written a few comic scripts. “The Twenty-One Foot Rule” is an adaptation of a noir short story of mine, which was originally published in the first issue of the crime fiction magazine Dark Yonder.
Reetta Linjama: I’m Reetta Linjama, I make art in a few different mediums. Animation takes most of my time but comics is where I get to call more of the shots. Not all of the shots, because for now I prefer to illustrate more than write. It’s also a welcome chance to add to the list of genres I’ve worked in. First crime comic!
Tayson Martindale: My name is Tayson Martindale and I am a cartoonist from Edmonton, Alberta (Canada!). The story I’m doing is called ‘BLUEDOLPH THE DEAD-NOSED REINDEER: A BRUCE JUSTICE HOLIDAY WHODUNIT’ – it’s a long title, ha!
Without spoiling too much about your story, what are the most important ingredients of a perfect crime?
Amy Chase: A good crime is all about the prize, right? The object of the crime, in our case a heist, has to be something worth breaking all the rules for. And it’s important for the reader to want the thief to succeed, so there has to be personal (and definitely not wooden) stakes involved as well.
Axur Eneas: A great heist needs to have a plan, a team of wacky specialists, and a big surprise at the end.
Caitlin Like: TIME.
Chuck Harp: I think the biggest ingredient would have to be simplicity. Keep the crew small and with only those you can trust. Stick to the plan, but be ready to adapt should something come up.
David Brothers: The perfect crime needs both desperation and confidence. Desperation is why you need something big and flashy, and confidence is why you think you can pull it off. Of course, nobody ever really thinks about how being desperately confident isn’t necessarily a great thing, right? Cool heads prevail. Luckily, teenagers like Melody are notoriously level-headed!
Erin Roseberry: The most important ingredients of a perfect crime? Complete and utter self-confidence and some underlings (like maybe…magical crow familiars?) that will go along with any scheme you come up with!
Henry Barajas: The most important ingredient of our story is trust. I did stand up for a number of years. I wasn’t very good, but I wrote my own knee slappers. One of the things that could tank a career is stealing other comedian’s material, so you had to trust the others around you wouldn’t do your material in different rooms. But like a lot of live entertainment, sometimes a show happens in the room and it never leaves the walls. Many famous comedians have been known to alter jokes and make them their own, so joke theft is a perfect victimless crime.
Honestly, the most important ingredient to this whole thing is Kit Mills. He took this idea and ran with it like John Dillinger storming off with some bank’s money. I’m blessed that he agreed to do this with me, and I think we told one fun fable.
Illuminated: A tight catsuit and spooky mask are essential. If you don’t look the part while doing crime then what’s even the point?
John Konrad: I think the biggest ingredient of a perfect crime is hubris. The only person who thinks a crime is perfect is a person who thinks they can get away with anything. Arrogant characters like that are a lot of fun to root for (and against).
Jules Valera: If there’s a back handy, stick a knife in it!
Additionally — there’s no better trap than one where your prey walks in completely of their own volition. Especially if it’s a sibling. No, I didn’t HIT you, YOU walked into MY FIST!
Kit Mills: It’s similar to the campsite rule: leave no traces behind. Better yet, don’t even let your victim know that they’ve been had.
Luis Santamarina: There’s only one ingredient: keeping your mouth shut.
Mariah McCourt: In our story the perfect ingredients are a lot like the perfect cuppa tea. Long simmering resentments, a dash of the right circumstances and compatriot, and you have the perfect brew to commit a crime.
Nick Mamatas: Getting someone else to do it for you, of course!
Reetta Linjama: To me a perfect crime would be a crime that nobody even knows happened. Leaving a replica, undetectable poison, strangers only, absolutely no returning to the scene. But you can’t blame a hardworking swindler for wanting some recognition and perhaps even press…
Tayson Martindale: Motivation, Means, Meanness, and some good festive baking.
More importantly, what are the most important ingredients of a perfect party?
Amy Chase: My personal party essentials are good music, a tasty dip that keeps you within the snack table vicinity all evening, and when all else fails, a cat or a dog to go hang out in the corner with.
Axur Eneas: Like a RPG Party, it’s having great guests and partners in crime.
Caitlin Like: I think snacks. Food is the most important part of any party for me, at least.
Chuck Harp: Besides the right group, music is key! You could be partying in the nastiest joint you’ve ever crawled across, but if the tunes are good, you’re pretty much set.
David Brothers: It ain’t a real party unless a friendship comes close to ending (at least) over Mario Kart or Rock Band, in my experience. As long as you’ve got those in the mix, things will usually turn out okay. Maybe not the friendship, but you know. Easy come, easy go.
Erin Roseberry: The ingredients of a perfect party should also involve those same underlings that will go along with any scheme you come up with—but, y’know, fun party schemes instead of crime schemes. Maybe the main character of my comic should’ve been throwing parties with her familiars instead of committing crimes?
Henry Barajas: There are a lot of ingredients to a perfect party. The biggest thing is the music. People are pack animals, and they like to dance. Even if it’s not a dance party, you have to have something to fill the dead air. The next thing is food. You’re either flexing your culinary skills, or you better have something for folks to nosh on or count on them never accepting the next invite. Lastly, comfort. You’ve got to have enough chairs or places to lounge and kick it.
Illuminated: Oh well, the people you invite obviously. With the right circle you can have fun even with prison grub instead of chips, and you keep all the pricks away.
John Konrad: I maintain that all good parties need to have a theme. They don’t need to be costume parties, but that helps too. The constraints of a theme lead to some very creative choices, which you can also see on display in this anthology.
Jules Valera: Make sure your parents aren’t home.
Kit Mills: A perfect party needs a theme (does not need to be closely followed, but some kind of guiding principle for outfits and vibe is helpful and lets the guests feel festive), a variety of snacks, enough nooks and little spaces for intimate conversations away from the main space, and some kind of tactile activity for people to do. Personally, I prefer dancing, but I’ve also been to very successful collaging and pasta-making parties.
Luis Santamarina: Above all, sharing a mischievous mind, good conversation, and stylish bandanas.
Mariah McCourt: Good friends, good food, and a lot of laughter. If it can be outside in a forest or at the shore, that takes it up a notch from “perfect” to “sublime” for me.
Nick Mamatas: Cake. Seriously. I was just at a conference in another country and not one of the parties had any cake, and thus all fell short of perfection. Get a sheet cake for your parties.
Reetta Linjama: My sweet tooth demands sacrifice first and foremost. Character costumes would be a nice extra, but it’s not a party until music and dancing.
Tayson Martindale: The same ingredients of a perfect crime, minus the meanness.
Real quick, and I’m “definitely” “not” a “cop,” what’s a crime you’ve gotten away with in real life? I once shoplifted a pack of gum but my dad caught me, if that helps.
Amy Chase: No snitching! When I was a kid, like 7 or 8 years old, I skimmed off the top of a small “save the animals” craft sale a few of my friends and I put together. I needed like $5 more to be able to buy the new Pokémon game that came out that month, so I stole some change to make up the difference. I still feel awful about it to this day and have donated to numerous endangered animal charities since then.
Axur Eneas: I pretty much made all my art with cracked software, even things for big studios—they should provide us with free licenses!
Caitlin Like: Still on food, I accidentally stole an expensive orange a while back. I didn’t mean to not check it out, it fell to the bottom of the cart!
Chuck Harp: Well, getting away with it means never talking about it. So I’ll have to plead the 5th on this one. But good try.
David Brothers: Thanks to a bulletproof, totally legal, and completely legit contract with the United States government I lucked into in college, I get a nickel every time someone says “bro.” Slow money is better than no money, and easy money is the best money of all, bro. Robbing banks is so 1995.
Erin Roseberry: When I was a kid I was on a field trip and grabbed a bunch of candies from what I thought was a free bowl on the counter of a restaurant. On our way out my friend pointed out those weren’t free candies, they were .25 cents each! I was a little teachers-pet-goodie-two-shoes-responsible-eldest-daughter type and was absolutely wracked with guilt over this minor crime and never stole candy again.
Henry Barajas: It doesn’t because that’s what a cop would say. When I was a kid I used to steal magazines from the grocery store. My fall guy was my (REDACTED). One time we both stole the same magazine, but I got caught. I was young enough for the shop to take pity on me, so they told me the next time I did it they were going to call the cops. Once we got in the car my (REDACTED) pulled the magazine out and my (REDACTED) couldn’t help but be impressed with our work.
Illuminated: I’m as squared as the Madison Square Garden, never committed a crime in my life.
John Konrad: One time in high school, I maybe sorta kinda clipped a car in the parking lot and then drove away before anyone noticed. I got away with it, but I was so wracked with guilt I spent the entire next day watching cartoons under a blanket.
Jules Valera: In another life, I was a candy mule — when I was a kid, my big sister used to load my dungarees up with sweets from the pick n’ mix section in Sainsbury’s. I’ve kept it quiet all these years, but I’m finally ready to throw her under the bus.
Kit Mills: Fleeing from the cops on my bicycle after running a red light, running several more in the process. (This is a weekly occurrence. I promise that I look both ways before breaking the law, but usually forget to check behind me for cop cars.)
Luis Santamarina: Yeah, yeah, sure. The only crime I can recall is against myself, procrastinating everything to make myself suffer the last 12 hours of a deadline.
Mariah McCourt: Extremely accidentally not paying a check at a restaurant, although I went back the next day and fixed it!
Nick Mamatas: There are so many laws that almost everyone in the United States at least commits three felonies a day, and thankfully we all get away with most of them unless someone decides that we mustn’t. Ever throw away a piece of junk mail addressed to a prior tenant? You’re a felon. We’re all felons!
Reetta Linjama: My dancing. And I’m highly likely to reoffend.
Tayson Martindale: I was accidentally given too many tacos at a Taco Bell drive thru once. I only realized after we had driven away, but it was glorious.
Parties are all about mixing it up, so which other creator are you excited to check out a story from?
Amy Chase: I’m very excited to check out “Polyphonic Funk: My Outlaw Melody” by David Brothers and Alissa Sallah! In the most tangential of ways, I consider David a “partner in crime” since we both did backup stories in Chip Zdarsky and Jacob Phillips’ detective series NEWBURN with Image Comics. I loved his sense of style and pacing there and know this ghost heist story is going to be simply awesome!
Axur Eneas: Ale Green & Fanny Rodriguez are also in the Perfect Crime Party anthology. It’s great to be in the book with them—we are representing Mexico!
Caitlin Like: David Brothers & Alissa Sallah’s “Polyphonic Funk: My Outlaw Melody”! Alissa is a phenomenal cartoonist; you should read her graphic novel “Weeaboo” from Oni Press.
Chuck Harp: With so many great creators in the mix it’s hard to choose one. But I have been reading Henry Barajas’ work for some time. He’s dabbled in so many different books and genres over the years I’m excited to see what he’s crafted for this anthology!
David Brothers: I saw that James F Wright and Jackie Crofts are doing The Ninth Life of Tabitha Tuxedo together, and they’ve been a top-tier crew since Nutmeg debuted. That’ll be a must-read, for sure. They bring a charm as a team that can’t be beat, and always find a fun new angle to approach wanton skulduggery from.
Erin Roseberry: I’m a huge history nerd so I was excited when I saw a preview of “By The Horns” by Malcolm Derikx & Brenna Baines, which takes place in Bronze Age Crete. I would recognize those bull-leapers from the famous murals at Knossos anywhere!
Henry Barajas: I have so many friends in this book! I’m stoked to see what David Brothers, Jules Rivera, Mariah McCourt, and many others have in the chamber so to speak. I must say Play It Again by Tango, Amy Chase, Xenon Honchar, & Noah Stephens checks a lot of my boxes. An old crust vampire trying to get his music back? Sign me up!
Illuminated: Of the top of my head, this is the second time I’m in an anthology alongside writer Amy Chase, and here she worked together with Tango, a phenomenal artist, so I’m really looking forward to their contribution.
John Konrad: I’m excited to read Play It Again by Tango, Amy Chase, Xenon Honchar, & Noah Stephens, which is a vampire heist story. I’ve taken a look at some of the pages and the colors are stunning. I love that this anthology bleeds into all different genres, like horror and fantasy.
Jules Valera: I’m very excited to read Kit Mills and Henry Barajas’ “Joke Theft” — there is no worse crime!
Kit Mills: I’m really excited to read “Play It Again” by Tango, Amy Chase, Xenon Honchar, and Noah Stephens. The art by Tango (and colors by Xenon Honchar) is so fun and dynamic, a real burst of punk energy even within an anthology filled with pranksters and charming criminals.
Luis Santamarina: Like I said, I’m not a rat. But you should check out Konrad. (And check out his backpack.)
Mariah McCourt: I mean, really, everyone! There’s such a fantastic mix of stories, genres, and creators here. Since I do love a good historical, I am very excited about SINCERELY A LADY by Molly Muldoon and Caitlin Like.
Nick Mamatas: “Polyphonic Funk” by David Brothers and Alissa Salah, definitely!
Reetta Linjama: I can’t wait to read Matylda McCormack-Sharp’s ’Le Debacle de Fromage!’ As a huge cheese fan, a cheese of note might incite me to crime. It’s funny animals too! The cheese underworld as a whole deserves more storytelling attention.
Tayson Martindale: Ooh I’m definitely excited to check out ‘THE GOOD WORD’ by Bevan Thomas and Reetta Linjama. The concept for their story in the anthology sounds really cool!
Perfect Crime Party is live on Backerkit now! Check out the full Perfect Crime Party lineup, below:
- Bluedolph the Dead Nose Reindeer by Tayson Martindale – Someone has murdered one of Santa’s Reindeer and there is only one detective who can find out which perp belongs on the naughty list!
- By The Horns by Malcolm Derikx & Brenna Baines – Teens in ancient Greece plan to save their favorite bull for a sacrificial alter.
- Darling Doesn’t Know by John Konrad – Two celebrities think murder is an easier solution to their problems than divorce.
- Grand Theft Octo by Kate Ashwin & Claude TC – This set of thieves is gonna rob the most expensive casino in the galaxy!
- Joke Theft by Henry Barajas & Kit Mills – A joke thief makes the perfect set.
- Play It Again by Tango, Amy Chase, Xenon Honchar, & Noah Stephens – A vampire wants to recover memorabilia of his old band for a music collection.
- Polyphonic Funk: My Outlaw Melody by David Brothers & Alissa Sallah – A delinquent plans a car heist with the help of her dead father’s ghost.
- Prym and Burn by Mariah McCourt & Jules Rivera – Without easy access to divorce, women in Victorian London need to find other ways to free themselves from abusive husbands.
- Psikotika Will Strike At Midnight by Illuminated – A detective tries their best to stop a grand theft they were warned was coming.
- Racked by Chuck Harp, Luis Santamarina, & Rob Jones – When your crimes need art supplies, the answer is more crime.
- Reap What You Sow by Ale Green & Fanny Rodriguez – Gorilla gardening is the best solution to beautify the neighborhood and help native plants.
- Sideswiped by Chris Sebela & Kendall Goode – A sap finds out his first date was a set up.
- Sincerely A Lady by Molly Muldoon & Caitlin Like – A new wardrobe reveals a history of sneaking, spying, and gossip.
- Smugglers Abroad by Michelle Gruppetta & Fleur Sciortino – A family tries to get the best chocolate over the border.
- Spirit Duplicator by Rodrigo Vargas & Coni Yovaniniz – Fraud and theft are the only ways to stop this card-playing bully.
- The Cloud Thief by Erin Roseberry – A witch needs to steal some clouds to make it rain.
- The Crime Beat by Van Jensen & Neal Obermeyer – An underpaid journalist takes revenge on their boss.
- The Good Word by Bevan Thomas & Reetta Linjama – A snake oil salesman meets his match in a small town.
- The Heist by Amy Chu & Anderson Cabral – In a world where paper is rarer than gold, a thief must break into the most heavily guarded building in town: the library.
- The Ninth Life of Tabitha Tuxedo by James F Wright & Jackie Crofts – Tabitha Tuxedo conducts an elaborate jailbreak for their partner in crime.
- The Plague of the Living Rest Benches by Nathaniel Wilson – Scientist and unethical experiments have led to the sidewalks of the world being deadly.
- The Swinevald Pearl by Ben Coleman & Cat Farris – All the security in the world won’t stop this otter from getting his pearl.
- The Twenty-One Foot Rule by Nick Mamatas & Jules Valera – A fake and deadly duel turns out to be not so fake after all.
- Trevor n Derrick Le Debacle de Fromage by Matylda McCormack-Sharp – A mouse is determined to get its favorite cheese all to itself.
- Written Off by Ryan Estrada & Axur Eneas – A movie crew aims to steal the rights back from the corporation that is ruining their movie.
