Forest Light is a packaging company that has previously worked with Innovation Publishing on such titles as All Hallow’s Eve and Phantom of the Opera. They are committed to producing graphic novels that have a timeless quality and are worthy of being perennials in the marketplace, much like the European comics market in regards to comics.

    In the first releases of the Forest Light imprint, they have teamed up with Fleischer Studios and King Features to launch a new era in quality comics.

The following is an interview with Mitchell Perkins, the driving force behind Forest Light and the writer of the Ko-Ko the Klown’s Christmas Adventure and Gulliver’s Travels. We had a chance to catch Mitchell on his busy schedule to share some information regarding these titles and Forest Light.

Cal: You have signed an agreement to distribute several Forest Light projects through Caliber Press. Could you fill us in on some of the specifics, especially in regards to Ko-Ko the Klown.

MP: For a Christmas release, Caliber plans to distribute Ko-Ko the Klown’s Christmas Adventure. This project is being produced in tandem with Fleischer Studios and King Features Syndicate. The storyline is original and will introduce readers to a host of marvelous Fleischer characters. Bimbo, Grampy, and Gabby appear in key roles that enable us to keep the story interesting and at times, down right scary.

CAL: Can you explain what you mean by scary?

MP: Well, we have ghosts, evil snowmen, and a "larger than life" villain. I don’t want to reveal too much about the story, but let’s say that Max Fleischer needs help with a Christmas story for his daily cartoon strip. The idea isn’t working out for Max and he’s facing a Christmas Eve deadline. Well, Ko-Ko and Bimbo appear just in time to help Max with his deadline but in the process, they travel to Santa town where they encounter an evil that threatens to abolish the very idea of Christmas forever!

CAL: Who’s working on this project with you?

MP: My partner on this project is illustrator George Broderick. His pencils are incredible and everyone at King Features was delighted with his work. Inking it will be Ray Snyder and Disney colorist, Scott Rockwell is handling the coloring. It’s quite an accomplished team.

CAL: What was it like developing a storyline for Ko-Ko the Klown? Today’s readers know very little about this Max Fleischer creation.

MP: Granted. Much of my enthusiasm for Ko-Ko grew out of the fact that as a child growing up during the early days of television, the silent Ko-Ko cartoons appeared frequently as "film funnies". Apparently the original negatives were sold to television affiliates across the country and they could run them wherever they wanted to. Many of these early animation shorts were a blend of live action and animation and frequently, Max Fleischer himself would interact with the animated Ko-Ko. In spirit, they were bold and daring. Ko-Ko would always find himself in incredible surroundings and in that context, they were not unlike Windsor McCay’s Little Nemo in Slumberland. Ko-Ko was a real cartoon "superstar" during the early 1920’s. Later when sound was introduced, Ko-Ko was reduced to sidekick status for the studio’s new superstar, the incomparable Betty Boop.

CAL: How long has this project been in production? Obviously, a full color book takes longer than a black and white book, especially a licensed one.

MP: I began the script way back in the fall of 1992. George began his character inter-pretations during January of 1993. Originally, while George was still working at Innovation, we tried to interest them in a Ko-Ko project but because of their financial difficulties, they didn’t want to commit to a new licensed project. So, while we worked on it, we sent the proposal to several publishers.

CAL: So, finally after all this time, the book will finally be released.

MP: Yes! This will be a very good Christmas present for me, as well as for all of the fans of great animation out there.

CAL: Gulliver’s Travels…this is an adaptation of Max Fleischer’s 1939 animated feature film?

MP: Absolutely! We have the complete endorsement of Richard Fleischer and King Features Syndicate. It’s being written by myself, with pencils from George Broderick, inks by Mark Yanko, and colored by Scott Rockwell. With the very successful mini-series that came out on TV starring Ted Danson, I think a lot of people will enjoy the first look at Gulliver. And of course, an animated look.

CAL: Max Fleischer’s Gulliver’s Travels is considered one of the great classics of animation. What was it like for you to have the opportunity to do something like this?

MP: For both George and me, this is a very special book. The film has a special charm all its own. Audiences love the film and there are so many scenes in the film that stand out. Fleischer’s film has what many film historians have cited as one of the most detailed action sequences ever animated.

CAL: Which sequence are you referring to?

MP: The beach sequence where the Lilliputians, under Gabby’s direction, secure Gulliver to transport him back to Lilliput. The animators have so much action taking place that each time I view that sequence, I manage to see a new piece of business that captures my eye.

CAL: How does the graphic novel adaptation of Max Fleischer’s Gulliver’s Travels differ from other film adaptations.

MP: Good question! George and I didn’t have to compete with an imposed time schedule from an anxious producer. We were limited on the visuals to the concepts created by the Fleischer animators nearly 60 years ago but George knew that going in and the colorist, Scott Rockwell is duplicating the look of the old Technicolor process.

CAL: In all likelihood, this will be the first release under the Forest Light banner. Is that something you feel is appropriate?

MP: Absolutely! This film was a key in the development of animation in the film industry and we feel that this animation will strike a chord with audiences out there and let them know the power of the graphic medium we call comics. Max Fleischer’s Gulliver’s Travels was… and will be again, a trendsetter!

CAL: What is your goal with Forest Light? Do you see a mission out there for you?

MP: Our main goal at Forest Light is to produce books primarily aimed for readers of all ages…not just kids, not just adults….all ages. Obviously there is a very conscious effort on our part to develop titles that will appeal to younger readers as very little original matter currently appearing in comics is slanted for that audience.

What we would like to happen is to produce graphic novels that have a timeless quality and are worthy of being considered as perennials. The European comic book market offers a very diverse selection of titles for readers of all ages which isn’t too different from the comic book industry in America during the 1950’s and 1960’s. There was a healthy selection of titles. For example, the Dell four color series had wide distribution and offered everything from movie adaptations to Disney titles and Gilberton offer the Classic Illustrated series. There was an incredible offering of diverse material from Tarzan, television shows, westerns, literary classics, biography, and more. The market needs diversity such as that to not only grow, but just to survive.

With a constant vigilance from concerned educators and parents, the importance of reading and learning reading skills has never been more prominent. With the type of material to be found in Forest Light productions, young and developing readers will find that reading is not just a tool, it can awaken the realms of imagination inside all of us.

Check out these Forest Light Titles

Snow Queen    Gulliver's Travels    KoKo the Clown