Meet a Local Comics Writer: A Chat with Matt Kund

by Mike Rhode

Recently I went to my first comics signing since the pandemic started. Matt Kund and Brett Murphy were at Fantom Comics on Dupont Circle for a few hours. I chatted briefly, bought their comics, took a couple of photos, and asked them for an interview. Here's Matt answering our usual questions.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I’m mainly a writer, I do draw a little and soon I am drawing my first story for an anthology I am part of.  

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

Mostly know I am digital, I love working in Procreate on my iPad, I never thought I would be a digital artist, but that’s mostly want I use now.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born in the 1970s in Washington DC.

Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?

My day job is with the Federal Government.  I live in the Maryland now.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

I have taken two classes in comics writing from Comics Experiences and on coloring class at Comic Experience as well.  

Who are your influences?

My influences - writing wise Jonathan Hickman is my biggest current influence.  I would love to be able to craft stories and world build like him

I grew up on 80s Marvel Comics, GI Joe and Spiderman 

I love Mike Zeck's Marvel covers.

Lee Weeks is my favorite all time, with Sean Gordon Murphy more currently.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

Get an early start, I did get serious about trying to make comics till my 30s.

What work are you best-known for?

I would think maybe my comic “Digital Forever” a sci-fi comic about a digitally-designed afterlife program.

What work are you most proud of?

A mini comic I did with call “RX-tiction” with my art and podcasting partner Noah Ray.  I was our first project together that lead to a bunch of future project and friendship built around art/movies and comics, and we told a zombie story with a twist I don’t think anyone else has tried.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

I am currently working on a book called “Metal Eagle”, that I’m excited about.  Pitched as "Atomic Blonde" meets "This is Spinal Tap."

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I don’t have a lot of writer's block.  I have written something every day for the last 1,500 plus days.  I was really influenced by "The War of Art" by Stephen Pressfield were he talks about not waiting for the muse, setting down each day and being ready for the muse.

What do you think will be your future in the field? 

Hopefully as writer, but I would love to have a Jeff Lemire-like career, writing a bunch of books, and maybe doing the art on one.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Awesome Con, or others? Any comments about attending them?

Yeah all 3 of those, and Heroes Con in North Carolina. 

What's your favorite thing about DC?

I zipped over to the Art Gallery or the Portrait Gallery on my lunch (when I go into the office).  It’s a great outing to get inspired to want to make things.

Least favorite?

Tourist not understanding the unwritten law of the escalators, walking on the left and standing is on the right.

What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?

National Portrait Gallery, it’s hardly ever crowded and so much fun to see the art!

Do you have a website or blog?

I have a website MattKund.com, I haven't worked on it lately I was trying for a time to detail the trails and tribulation of trying to break into comics as writer. Hopefully I get back to it. 

I have a Gumroad site to buy my comics - https://gumroad.com/forevercomics

Twitter @MKund
Instagram @MAK0876
Facebook Pages https://www.facebook.com/digitalforevercomic/ and https://www.facebook.com/ConstructingComic/

How has the COVID-19 outbreak affected you, personally and professionally?

I haven’t tabled in a year at a con.  But I have been able to Kickstart comic books as a publisher  -“Dino Thrashers” and as a writer - “The Reset” and a few anthology stories.  I run a meet-up group called DMV Indie Comics Creators and since March of 2020 we moved those to Zoom from in person meetings.

Tell us more about your new company, Forever Comics Publishing, your comic from it, and your Kickstarter campaign.

Forever Comics is a small publishing company I formed for my stories. And there is now an imprint mainly to handle sci-fi stories under Ageless Press, with the other co-founder Brett Murphy, who had started Legacy Comics, which is now the horror imprint under Ageless Press.

Forever Comics as published - "Digital Forever," "Multi - Larceny" and "The Reset" (via Kickstarter) and "RX-tiction," "Life Cycle" and "Orryx Mini Comics" with Noah Ray.

Matt, can you tell us about your Constructing ComicsPodcast?

Constructing Comics Podcast is a podcast I do with Noah Ray. It started off as a page-design podcast (which we still do from time to time). We do reviews of current releases, but we have found a good groove interviewing indie creators and some bigger names at DC and Marvel Comics.

What comic books do you read regularly or recommend? Is Fantom your local store?

Hickmen’s X books, and Pax Romain; Mister Miracle; Anything by Brubaker and Phillips.

 Yes, Fantom is my local store, I have been with them since Union Station, but since Covid, I have moved to mail order, happy that I can still help them out and get my books during the pandemic.

Matt Kund & Brett Murphy at Fantom Comics