Talking Dynamite’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ With Writer Greg Pak

The power of “ohana” is strong with Lilo and Stitch, and what better way to welcome in 2024 than with a Lilo & Stitch comic? Wrtten by Greg Pak, with art by Giulia Giacomino, read on to hear more about the series from Pak himself:

Rachel Bellwoar: As someone who’s only seen the original movie, I actually really appreciate that the series will be picking up from there (instead of covering the various sequels and TV shows that have come out since), but was that an easy decision to make?

Greg Pak: I absolutely loved the movie when it came out, so it wasn’t tough for me, ha ha! I totally appreciate the value of continuity and canon and always want to respect the work that’s come before and the investment of long-time fans. But it’s also critically important to tell stories that are accessible to everyone, brand new readers included. So it made a lot of sense to start our story right after the events of the original movie, especially since the big themes and character beats we’re playing with make the most sense coming right at that point. We’re doing our best not to contradict any of the stories that came later, but if all you’ve ever seen is that first movie, you can pick up the first issue of the comics and not miss a beat!

Bellwoar: The series is called Lilo & Stitch, but while the solicitation text mentions that Stitch will be contending with robots, it doesn’t get into Lilo’s role as much. Will she and Stitch be working together against the robots, or will she have her own mission to complete?

Pak: Without spoiling too much, I can say that Stitch takes it upon himself to lead his pursuers as far away from Lilo as he can in order to keep her safe. But Lilo, of course, isn’t going to let her best friend face this kind of danger all by himself!

Bellwoar: Coming off of series like Mech Cadets, why do you think aliens and robots go so well together?

Pak: They’re just cool, right? And the original Lilo & Stitch movie had great aliens and robots and alien tech throughout. So it felt like some great groundwork was already beautifully laid for the look and feel of the additional elements we might bring to the comics.

Bellwoar: Stitch is known for having a bit of a temper and the same is true of the Incredible Hulk. Has your experience, writing for The Incredible Hulk, been helpful in writing for Stitch?

Pak: Yeah, I also write Darth Vader, so anger has been a pretty huge theme in my work for years. I think characters with anger management issues are enormously compelling because all of us experience so much frustration and fear and anger every day in this flawed world. Fictional characters give us a great way to vicariously vent… and then maybe explore the consequences of that kind of action in a safe way. I think these kinds of characters are especially compelling and important for younger readers, who often have fewer tools for managing their emotions.

Bellwoar: Hawaii played such a central role in the movie but it sounds like Stitch might be doing some traveling here. Was it difficult, leaving that setting behind, and how has that decision opened up story possibilities for this series?

Pak: We do spend some key time on Kaua’i, but yes, the story ranges across the globe. I think it opens up some compelling chances to explore not just Stitch but also Lilo in new environments, which can be a great way to challenge them, reinforce the lessons they learned at home, and bring out our central themes.

Bellwoar: More than anything, Lilo & Stitch is about the relationship between Lilo and Stitch. What do you think it is about that friendship that’s so special?

Pak: I love that the movie establishes Lilo and Stitch separately as lovable but also totally out of control. They each feel like outsiders and are treated by other people as little monsters. So when they come together, they seem destined to create even more mayhem between the two of them — including annoying each other and hurting each others’ feelings. But the more time they spend together, the more they relate to each other. Sometimes we really can’t get along with people who are too similar to us. But sometimes someone who’s going through the same thing can really be there for us, and that’s the case with Lilo and Stitch, and I think it’s beautiful.

Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Greg!

Lilo & Stitch #1 goes on sale January 3rd from Dynamite Comics.