Archer Storyboard Artist Brings Totally Rad ‘Pizzasaurus Rex’ To Oni Press
by Hannah Means Shannon
Oni Press has announced a new original graphic novel with all-ages appeal for summer 2018, Pizzasaurus Rex, written and illustrated by Justin Wagner (Storyboard Artist, Archer) with colors by Warren Wucinich (Invader ZIM).
As you might surmise from the title, this is a humorous book, but it also has an action/adventure slant, featuring a young science prodigy, Jeremy Duderman. Or at least he is in his own mind. He’s having trouble with bullies and with making friends, but his scientific accomplishments will soon show the world his worth. Jeremy has invented the Reality Alternative Dimensionator (R.A.D. for short), a device that allows Rex Raditude, the Pizzasaurus, to enter our dimension. He’s a “guitar-shredding, pizza-loving party animal”. Enter supervillain Emperor Buzzkill and his minions who want to end “pizza parties, skateboarding, and all things rad”. Can Jeremy really help stop them?
Justin Wagner says:
The cartoons that I grew up with in the 80’s and 90’s were junk meant to sell action figures and promote pizza chains. That being said, that junk was still totally wicked. Pizzasaurus Rex pays homage to that stuff in both art and the writing. It’s my love letter to that most-excellent time where everything was way radical.
Warren Wucininch, too, sees the appeal of the radical:
The lost era of Saturday morning cartoons was one of the hallmarks of my childhood. Justin Wagner manages to capture the look, and more importantly, the feeling of those cartoons. Working on Pizzasaurus Rex takes me back to those righteous times.
Pizzasaurus Rex (168 pages) will be released as a trade paperback on July 25, 2018.
