A Bad Bug Christmas Story

Hello Friends!

The Bad Bug Crew was talking and we thought it would be fun to do deeper dives into some of our series. It’ll give us an opportunity to provide some history, behind the scenes, and fun facts for your favorite Bad Bug books. Given the time of year, we thought it’d be appropriate to start with Bad Bug’s one and only Christmas story…

Periwinkle was the FIRST graphic novel to launch under the Bad Bug banner back in 2021. It was written and created by Me (Scott Wilke) with art done by Arturo Mesa and lettering by none other than Dave Lentz.

The journey for Periwinkle was a long and arduous one. It all began in 2019 when Mike and I were working on Undercity Tales. Mike had asked me if I had any story ideas to bring to Bad Bug and I mentioned this concept I had.

An elf seeks revenge after Santa is murdered by Krampus.

Mike immediately called me and told me in a super supportive way… “Write that f*cking book, Wilke!”

For the following year, I tinkered around with the script. It was 2020, so I had time on my hands. Problem was, I struggled with finding the right tone for the story. I had drafted at least three different scripts by the end of that year. Then, in 2021 I had my “flux-capacitor dream” moment when I envisioned the weapon for our protagonist. An axe made from the runner of Santa’s sleigh and the LITERAL North Pole itself.

We now lovingly refer to it as…THE SLEIGHER!

I know what you’re thinking, a weapon seems like a trivial detail. However, this weapon design pointed me in the direction I needed. Our protagonist would not be a polished fighter, he would be a barroom brawler. He would be creative. Cunning. Versatile.

Most importantly, the weapon would serve as a visual representation for what Christmas had become not only for our elf, but for the world. Something once synonymous with joy had become dark, dreary…and dangerous.

And from that moment the script flew together and Periwinkle was born.

As for the name, I wish there was more of a story there. I just always wanted something unassuming and meek. I thought it was a cool juxtaposition.

A fun little Easter egg is that all the elves are named after colors.

So we had a name, a weapon, and a script. We just needed an artist. Mike came in clutch again by finding Arturo Mesa on Instagram. I reached out and Arturo was immediately in, no questions asked. So, we were off to the races!

Check out these initial concepts from Arturo.

The Kickstarter was a huge success and production officially started in January 2022. I wish I could say it was smooth sailing from that point on…buuuut, as some of you know, we ran into delays.

The book was officially completed in February 2023. I think once you’ve seen a copy of the book and looked at how detailed the pages are, you’ll understand how the book was in production for over a year.

Here are some of my favorite pages from the series. Look at all the little toy Easter eggs.

Even though this book features Christmas characters, Periwinkle’s story goes way beyond the holiday. It’s a story about coming to terms with loss. It’s a story about finding a new direction after life knocks you off course. It’s a story about obsession. Rage. Hatred. Yet, at its core it is a story about love. Family. Purpose.

I’m super proud of what we created here. It was definitely a team effort all the way around. Arturo added so much character and life into the series. It surpassed even my wildest expectations. And, without Mike’s encouragement and support, I highly doubt this book would exist right now.

GET YOUR COPY OF PERIWINKLE HERE!

As we neared the end of production, I knew I wasn’t done with this world. I always loved reimaginings of beloved childhood characters and I wanted to do a whole universe dedicated to that. As I pondered options, my mind immediately went to the adorable little cherub, Cupid.

I had managed to make one of Santa’s elves a badass. Could I accomplish the same with the god of love? Challenge accepted!

Cupid takes place before the events of Periwinkle, shortly after the murder of Santa Claus. The world, already in a state of emotional decay, completely deteriorates after the death of the jolly saint.

For the god of love, no love left in the world is bad for business.

To make ends meet, our winged protagonist gets involved in some shady dealings with a loan shark. In order to save his ass, he has to somehow get his hands on $10,000 in 24 hours.

He doesn’t have to do it alone, though. He calls upon his friends, Boogeyman and Tooth Fairy, to help him pull off the heist.

Tooth is a lovable (and creepy) fairy who has questionable practices when it comes to children’s teeth…

And Boogeyman, well…things aren’t going too well for him. With kids being so desensitized to violence and hatred, they really don’t fear anything anymore. This has left the Titan of Terror with crippling anxiety and depression.

Cupid’s story will be told over a series of one-shots. That’s right, issue #1 is a complete story! This is going to be my method moving forward with this universe. It gives me a chance to see what you, the fans, want to see.

And don’t worry, I won’t only be focusing holiday characters. No character/being from our childhood is safe. *insert maniacal laughter here*

If you’re interested in following along on Cupid’s journey, you can sign up at the link below to be notified of when we go live!

CUPID: ISSUE 1

I just want to thank you all for your support. Whether it’s this book or any book I’ve written for Bad Bug, you’ve all been super supportive and helped me realize a dream. Even if Mike kicks me off the team, I’m gonna find ways to get my stories to you all.

I love you all!

Bugs and Kisses,

Scott Wilke