Jackie and the Magical Guys follows a sixteen-year-old girl who travels back in time to prevent an apocalypse and accidentally turns a group of men into girls with magical abilities. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

This question is bringing me back decades ago in a good way! It all started when my babysitter introduced me to the great Rumiko Takahashi and her various works. So I grew up watching and reading Ranma 1/2, a very popular gender-bender series in Japan. Rumiko Takahashi is also the creative genius behind Inu-Yasha. I’m a big Rumiko Takahashi fan. It’s a secret I’m struggling to keep. Shh.

Speaking of secrets, it’s not a big one that I was a shy and geeky first-generation Laotian-American, and I didn’t have many friends growing up. As a result, I spent a lot of time with my sister Amone, and we immersed ourselves in the world of books. Countless times, Amone and I would be dropped off at Waldenbooks while my mom wandered to nearby stores in the mall. So my sister and I would sit down in a corner somewhere and read stacks of Viz and Tokyopop manga (and later purchased some of course when we saved up enough money). We absolutely devoured Inu-Yasha, and later one day when we went home, we discovered the first episode of Inu-Yasha airing on Adult Swim… And. We. Flipped. Our. Lids! We screeched like Ranma being dunked in cold water for the first time, and my mom thought we went rabid. She wasn’t aware that we should’ve been diagnosed with Rumiko Takahashi fan-fluenza.

Rumiko Takahashi’s body of work brought me so much joy in my childhood that I started daydreaming about creating my own stories. I usually start with “what if” questions when anything sparks my imagination. What if I combined gender bending with magical girls and time travel? Blend the concept with fast-paced, frenetic energy, and rapid-fire dialogue like a 90’s cartoon? But what if I threw in the trademark cheesy “90’s kids” American superhero quips? Perhaps with an extra dose of cringe? (Maybe that was a contribution as to why I didn’t have many friends when I was young…) Those 90’s jokes are pure nostalgia for me. So you’ll notice a lot of that flavored in Jackie and the Magical Guys.

My humor may not be for everyone, but you’re all invited to it! So get your charcuterie boards ready because I’m bringing the cheese.

How long did it take you to imagine, draft, and write the world your characters live in?

This story has been brewing for what feels like a lifetime… It was a constant companion in my mind, and Jackie and the Magical Guys evolved and grew with me over the years. Then when it finally demanded to be put on paper almost a decade ago, I would scribble ideas into a notebook whenever I had breaks between work. Sometimes I would even write on random scraps of paper. The story evolved even further.

Moments I had at a quiet coffee shop were sparse, but I was happy when I could finally sit down and start writing the script. Once I started, it was like the characters just took over. Their voices, banter, and silly quirks manifested into words. It was one of those rare times when writing felt more like I was building castles in a sandbox than clocking into work. That was just about a decade ago, and it’s still one of the most fun experiences I’ve had with a script.

Very quickly after that, I had the finished story, and the art from Hamons for volume one was all set. The files were collecting dust in my computer for a while and were unread by the public, but it took a nudge from a very kind and supportive colleague to finally turn it into a physical reality. Thanks to them, and the amazing folks who backed my crowdfunding campaign, I was able to bring Jackie and the guys to life. And seeing readers dive into it, laugh, and even re-read it–that’s the best kind of reward. Even if Jackie and the Magical Guys makes just one person smile, it’s all worth it.

The artwork in your book is fantastic. What was the collaboration process like with illustrator Hamons?

Working with the very talented Hamons was like a creative mind sync. He just got the rhythm of the story right from the start. He had a knack for nailing character expressions that cranked up the humor all the way up. Hamons understood the goofiness of Jackie and the rest of the gang straight away. His style is a blend of anime and DC cartoons like Young Justice with his own dynamic energy and flair. He totally embraced the zany, out-there vibe of the story right away, and I have so much gratitude for him. He actually created the animated trailer ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwShlOGisG0 ), and he drew it frame by frame. I am very grateful to have worked with him.

Can we look forward to a second installment of Jackie’s adventures? What are you currently working on?

That’s a most definite yes! I hope to continue sharing Jackie’s journey with everyone as long as you all would have me. I stare at you through your screen with hopefully doe eyes and not like a spirit from The Conjuring.

There are two other projects I have permission to announce. The first is a Laos-inspired supernatural fantasy comic called Vongfai written by Nor Sanavongsay and me and illustrated by Lanna Souvanny. Such an accomplished group–wow! I am delighted and grateful to be writing with Nor and help contribute my experiences as a child of Laotian refugee parents to the story he created. Vongfai represents our rich Southeast Asian culture, and we are excited to weave this tapestry for the younger generation. We will be sharing samples of the comic at Los Angeles Comic Con later this year.

If you’re interested in feasting your eyes upon a zombie comic book, I am also thrilled to reveal that I am part of the Descendants of the Undead team led by Ken Foree who plays the protagonist in George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. This is the mailing list for the zombie comic if your curiosity has been piqued.

But of course, there are other fun projects in the works. In the meantime, I hope to see you around comic conventions on the West Coast!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this interview!

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