Beginning Our Cosmic Journey

Sep 14, 2022

A few months ago a group of Comics Experience alumni decided to make our own comics and put them out for the world to see. We’ve since created 9 Sci-Fi stories that will be released in volumes over the next couple of months.

And Today, the PanelSmiths would like to present our Sci-Fi anthology Cosmic Journeys Teaser:

ALFIE IN OUTER SPACE

Available here:

ALFIE AVAILABLE ON KINDLE

It takes a lot to bring a comic together. The creators talk a bit about their creative process below.

First, Let's get to know the talented Panelsmiths for ALFIE IN OUTER SPACE.

GABBIE MIHM (WRITER) : My name is Gabbie Mihm, and I am the co-editor of Cosmic Journeys and the writer of Alfie in Outer Space. I am a social media manager by day and a comics writer and editor by night and weekends (sometimes early mornings.)

SAMI BILOFF (ARTIST) : I’m Sami Biloff, the comic artist and colorist for Alfie in Outer Space. I’m a part time freelance illustrator, part time graphic designer, and a full time creator.

How long have you been creating comics?

GABBIE MIHM (WRITER) : I’ve been writing comics for about a year. I took classes with Comics Experience to learn the craft. I’ve been editing fiction for years and got my undergrad degree in English and grad degree in Writing & Publishing from DePaul University in Chicago.

SAMI BILOFF (ARTIST) : I started creating and illustrating comics two years ago, in my junior year at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. It started with my first Intro to Comics course, then Advanced Comics, then I finished it off with my own personal comic for my senior thesis. Since then I’ve been working on my own webcomic and doing freelance comic art.

What was your Inspiration for the story? How long have you had the idea?

GABBIE MIHM (WRITER) : We needed an idea that would introduce the stories in the anthology. Everyone on the team is obsessed with my Boston terrier, Alfie, and he became our mascot in the early stages of the anthology.

Alfie Mihm. Gabbie’s Boston Terrier and Panelsmith Comics mascot.

A story about him finding our anthology became essential, and I wanted to go crazy and have as much fun as possible with it. For inspiration, I looked to one of my favorite series of all time, Beasts of Burden. It follows talking dogs that live in a neighborhood besieged by supernatural forces.

What’s your process for collaboration? How did you find collaborators? What art style did you want to go for?

GABBIE MIHM (WRITER) : I was already working with artist Sami Biloff on a project, and I loved her full color, cute, but still serious and professional style. I asked if she would be interested, and she said yes!

How many stories have you gotten published in other anthologies or as stand alone comics?

GABBIE MIHM (WRITER) : I have never had a piece published, so Alfie in Outer Space is really exciting for me. I am working on a 20-page one-shot piece about vampires that will end up being crowdfunded at some point in the future.

SAMI BILOFF (ARTIST) : None yet! But I look forward to getting my stories out in the world.

Who are your influences? Your fantasy collaboration team?

GABBIE MIHM (WRITER) : There are definitely a few writers and artists that have influenced my entire comics journey (starting with discovering the medium in high school). Tim Seeley is one of the greatest writers/artists out there and his work on Hack/Slash awakened me to the idea that not only could comics be in the horror genre, but they could also be different genres in general. Becky Cloonan’s short pieces that make up By Chance or Providence are a masterclass in telling shorter tales, and the art is to die for. If you like medieval gothic fantasy, you’ll love it. Scott Synder is also a part of my list, and he is actually who got me started writing comics. I took one of his masterclasses and he told me about Comics Experience! Last, but definitely not least are two of my favorite artists of all time: Jenny Frision (she does gorgeous covers for many publishers) and Carla Wyzgala (her style is sexy watercolor pinups). It would be a dream to work with any of these extremely talented creators!

SAMI BILOFF (ARTIST) : The work of Clayton Henry and Ryan Ottley has always been an inspiration to me and is what got me into comic art to begin with. Invincible, written by Robert Kirkman, is one of my favorite comics and I love how he handled mixing real world issues into a superhuman story to make such relatable characters. If I could adapt a story of his that’d be pretty cool and if I had a choice of a colorist to work with it’d be John Rauch.