Talking Oni Press’ ‘Mr. Muffins: Defender Of The Stars’ With Ben Kahn And Georgeo Brooks

For Reuben Mahmoud, any excuse to not do homework’s a gift, but even Reuben couldn’t have predicted his dog would become host to a celestial being and be called upon to save the universe. It’s a big ask but, if any dog could do it, it’s Mr. Muffins. Here’s what writer Ben Kah, and artist Georgeo Brooks had to say about their graphic novel, Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars, and its canine lead:

Rachel Bellwoar: As a cat owner, Ben, were you ever torn about making Mr. Muffins a dog and why a super corgi in particular?

Ben Kahn: Before I had anything else, the very first image in my mind was of a corgi flying through outer space. Corgis are just so silly and adorable, the idea of one being the ‘chosen one’ just seemed so much fun. And I know my cat doesn’t like going outside for adventures! He wants to stay in and take naps. I grew up with dogs, and know how special the bond is between a kid and their pet.

Bellwoar: Is there an origin story behind Mr. Muffins’ name?

Kahn: I just thought the name Mr. Muffins sounded fun and cute! I wish I had a more in-depth, intricate answer, but alas. I had to make sure it would be a fun name to say in an over-the-top baby voice. For maximum adorableness, of course.

Bellwoar: Mr. Muffins is dedicated to Akira Toriyama, who created Dragon Ball. In what ways would you say his work directly influenced Mr. Muffins?

Kahn: Akira Toriyama passed away when we were nearing completion on the book, and it hit us pretty hard. George and I both grew up watching Dragon Ball Z, and the impact it had on us overall as creators and storytellers has been immense. Mr. Muffins is packed with classic beam struggles, golden auras, and energy blasts. So much of the fun of Mr. Muffins is taking the epic action and space battles of Dragon Ball and Star Wars, and putting it in the paws of a sweet little corgi.

Bellwoar: They say dogs sometimes look like their owners. Would you say the same applies to intergalactic soldiers and their spacecraft and what was it like designing the space ships for this book, Georgeo?

Georgeo Brooks: It does, in fact! I paid a lot of attention to the overall aesthetic of the various vehicles and tools. With the antagonistic Hakar army for example, the idea was to design all of their technology with a very craggy look. Coral reefs, bones, and rock formations often came to mind as a motif. For our heroes on the other hand, I made sure to avoid hard edges, and opted for smoother and sleek shapes.

Bellwoar: Lasers are undoubtedly the weapon of choice in this galactic battle. One of my favorite moments, though, is when Lt. Cassara pulls out what looks this imposing weapon but all it does is throw a net around people. As one of Lt. Cassara’s first scenes, what did you want readers to know about her and was it fun getting to pull off those visual misdirects?

Kahn: It was definitely important to strike the right balance in Cassara’s first scenes. We have to set her up as our third major protagonist, but at that specific moment, she’s serving as our very first antagonist. We wanted to establish that she’s disciplined, highly focused on her mission. But she’s not trying to hurt anyone, she’s just doing what she thinks she has to. And a chase through the park is a nice place to start, because the action only gets bigger and bigger from there!

Bellwoar: I also love the questioning narrator who gets to give voice to some of the doubts readers might be having. Was that voice always part of the story?

Kahn: The idea of a narrator who is not at all omniscient and constantly frustrated by where the story goes was in my early drafts, but then while I was writing I found a few more opportunities to continue the joke. It was definitely an helpful element to inject more humor into the story.

Bellwoar: Nothing beats the genius, though, of Mr. Muffins leaving a rainbow trail wherever he flies. How early did you know that would be case?

Kahn: Once again, that was something that was just part of the image that popped into my head one day of a corgi fighting aliens in outer space. So that was really part of the visual language since Day One. Since Mr. Muffins doesn’t wear a cape (though how cute would that be?!), I knew we needed something to communicate his movement while flying. And a rainbow trail felt like that extra touch of magic and fun.

Bellwoar: Since Mr. Muffins isn’t a talking dog, his facial expressions are everything. What’s it like having a character who doesn’t always react to danger the way people might expect?

Brooks: I was taught that, visually, people should be able to understand a story and how a character is feeling even without dialogue. Being a dog and all, Mr. Muffins doesn’t need to read the room to get by in life. It makes for a fun contrast from the other characters. To him, a little bit of danger is basically the same as play time!

Bellwoar: It would be easy to let Mr. Muffins get all the attention but what can you tell us about his human best friend, Reuben Mahmoud?

Kahn: While Mr. Muffins handles the laser beams and space battles, Reuben is probably the heart and soul of the book. He’s really a normal kid—he’s over scheduled, tired of homework, and loves his dog. Reuben could not be more excited to discover Mr. Muffins’ powers. This is every video game and comic book adventure brought to life for him. But when the danger gets real, Reuben will need to find true courage to help his best friend.

Bellwoar: Lt. Cassara nurses some guilt over breaking the rules, but if she hadn’t she might never have found Mr. Muffins. What would you say to young readers who might be facing similar dilemmas of not wanting to break the rules but also wanting to do what feels right?

Kahn: I think the important thing is to really think things through. Is it there for a good reason for the rule, or does it serve to make things unfair? Some rules protect us, and some are unjust. The only way we can know which are which is to develop critical thinking skills. That way you can weigh the options and their consequences, and decide for yourself what you believe is right.

Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Ben and Georgeo!

With color assistance by James Penafiel and letters by Susie Lee, Mr. Muffins: Defender of the Stars goes on sale January 21st from Oni Press.