Creator Interview: Eric Neal Allred

Eric Neal Allred is a writer, co-creator of OuterSpaced - a stoner comedy comic - with Ben Collins and Jacqui Venterini proficiently providing the artwork. He is an advocate for speaking out for beliefs and backing it up with facts. His first essay for This Comic Kills Fascists was titled, Fast Food Fascist, that shed a light on America's political migration towards a MAGA future. Eric’s supplying more thought provoking analysis of the US in This Comic Kills Fascists Dos which is in its last week on Kickstarter! Go support Indie Comics!

Welcome, Eric!

What were some of your inspirations from when you were a kid? Do you notice a watermark left on your work today?

My youth shaped so much of my politics in retrospect. I was shown Monty Python and the Holy Grail at a young age, and I remember distinctly the bit of Arthur coming across Dennis the peasant and his partner in search of the owner of a castle, their conversation drifts into modern class structure and defining the current political system…I remember finding it so funny despite having no grasp on the concepts mentioned. It wasn’t until young adulthood that I was like, Michael Palin was onto something there. Seeing that film in like 3rd grade informed my sense of humor too as I definitely gravitate towards the absurd. One thing my writing partner Ben Collins always go back to is films/stories with heart, I feel like that’s where we both gravitated towards as kids and still to this day. Films like The Sandlot stand the test of time largely due to the emotional weight of the characters and their ties to eachother. We attempt to do that with our silly stoner comedy OuterSpaced in every issue, creating that tie that binds the reader to the emotion, whether we’re successful or not is on the reader but it certainly is conscience in our discussions and planning.

Was there a moment in your life that sparked the interest in the political side of life?

Politics always interested me, I grew up outside of Chicago in a very libertarian leaning household…hearing my parents gripe and bemoan the Clinton years and weirdly celebrate W.’s terms was very eye opening for me…I remember beginning to question things young like eighth grade when Clinton’s government shutdown, like how can that happen? These people don’t even do anything but they can just say…no we didn’t reach an agreement on how to fund the government but y’all are still gonna be taxed. Like what? it wasn’t until high school that I began to even think politically in any true sense, which was probably 9/11…I think? (I forgot; badoomp tsh) but seriously it was my sophomore year when shit hit the fan with xenophobia and patriotism in my school and town which really was like…is this a cult? And then cut to the present and it’s just gotten so much worse.

My lady is from Houston and I've spent a little bit of time all around the state of Texas. (Except San Antonio, I still have to do that Riverwalk.) Texas is a very lovely state and also very unique. To me, Texas is a gemini with two sides to it. Has Texas been an inspiration towards your work?

It’s weird to think about it but I’ve fought calling myself a Texan for years but I’ve lived here for like 20 years now so i am finally admitting what I am…a Texan. It has undoubtably worked its way into my work. I come from the world of film and shot a handful of shorts and a feature film out here, all deeply routed in Austin culture. I do have a western horror in my backpocket that I’ve been tinkering with that I would love to put to celluloid or on a comic page. I certainly enjoy crafting Texan characters, there’s so many folks from different walks of life in this ginormous state and they’re all very interesting and layered but underneath them there’s shared love of this state and land, I’ve literally never met anyone more in love with where there from than folks FROM Texas. As a youngster I always equated Texans with the scene in PeeWee’s Big Adventure with the rodeo and to be honest I wasn’t too far off. Weird sense of state pride.

In "Fast Food Fascist," your article for This Comic Kills Fascists, your voice has a grittiness that is superbly paired with caution but ends with a positive mantra. I'm a huge believer in positivity. What message is the most important for you to convey?

I like to think of myself as a positive person that wears cynical glasses. Which is where Fast Food Fascist comes from, as well as my adoration of alliteration. I think acknowledging the issues is the most important in any story or message you’re trying to convey. So there’s a sense of realism in most of my work that deals with the two edges of the blade, positivity and negativity but I hope the positive shines through cuz the last thing I wanna do is leave the audience in a bummed out mood. My feature film “A Lack of Furniture” is a mosaic of a relationship as it crumbles but to endure the pain of a breakup is only possible because of the joy that relationship brings so even tho the story is about a failure to see the positive is how we survive. One mantra I live by is Acknowledge Progress and that usually makes way for positivity. In “Fast Food Fascist” I tried to draw out the positive by describing ways to do good for you and your body in eliminating waste. Which I think is important, we all need to drink more water and be kind to ourselves amidst the horrid political climate. Cuz if you’re not good you cannot DO good.

After a long day writing and speaking truth to power… I have to ask the hardest question that has ever existed and you're stuck answering the impossible. What's the best pizza topping?

Depends on if we’re talking best all time…or most versatile. Most versatile is the simple mushroom but, THEE best pizza I’ve ever had is from a vegan spot in Austin called Lil’ Nonna’s and their Strawberry Alarm clock is a fucking revelation. Strawberries, habanero slices on a vegan cheese and a white sauce (i believe) and then a drizzle spiral of Balsamic reduction…it will knock you off your feet. Savory sweet spicy…mmmmmmm now I want pizza.

This Comic Kills Fascists Dos on Kickstarter!