Q&A: James Robinson talks about the 80s horror-inspired comic series “PATRA”

June 21, 2024

James Robinson and Scott Kolins team up for ‘Patra, a new horror comic book series “about slasher monsters, mad scientists, and cult movie-style horror.” With the first issue of Dark Horse Comics coming out in August, I caught up with James Robinson to learn more about the origins of this series and get a taste of what’s to come in “One Innocent Girl… In A World Full of Maniacs!”

I’m so excited to have gotten a sneak peek of Patra #1 and can’t wait to read more! Can you tell me a little about the origins of this series and why you felt this was a great first series for your new collaboration with Dark Horse?

In truth, the timing of Patra being the first book in my series with Dark Horse was a bit of a coincidence. I’d been away from comics with TV and prose elements for a while, but I wanted to return, and in a way that was important to me on a really personal level. By that I mean, after many years at DC and Marvel, my own ideas had been left in a drawer for too long. So I reached out to various artists who had always impressed me and who I wanted to work with, or who I’d enjoyed working with in the past, including Scott Kolins. Scott was keen to start a project, and was the most readily available at the beginning, as other artists were wrapping up projects and commitments. He’d already heard some ideas for Patra, which are definitely as much Scott’s idea as mine. However, I added enough in terms of plot and the general direction of the story and characters that it quickly became our own. Scott then went to work like a man possessed, and Patra ended up being the first out of the gate.

Can you talk about your process with Scott Kolins in designing the characters and this world? The character designs are incredible and the overall look of the series is unique and striking.

Like I said, this idea was something Scott had thought up quite a while ago, particularly the look of Patra. However, the story and plot were definitely a blend of our different aesthetics and approaches to storytelling. Scott also added more line work and crosshatching to his art, making his style still feel familiar to anyone who has followed him since his days on The Flash, but new and fresh at the same time. It’s really beautiful work that shows even more of a new side of Scott Kolins through his coloring, which definitely adds another fresh layer to the look.

What can you tell us about this young girl named ‘Patra’ and can you give us a taste of what she will experience over the course of the series?

When we first meet ‘Patra, she is a scared girl who doesn’t understand the situation she’s in. All she knows is that when she’s in danger, a mask appears on her face and she holds a knife. That alone is enough for a scared little girl with no memory, but then there’s also the escaped madman who wants to kill her. I don’t want to give too much away, as there are twists and surprises along the way for both her and the reader. However, I can say that she comes out of her scared, insecure shell to be the hero she needs to be to take on the crazed killer (loosely based on Michael Myers from Halloween) who is the threat in ‘Patra’s first story arc. I will also say that there are many revelations about ‘Patra and other characters around her at the end of the first story arc, which will set up many fun, scary future stories.

I read that this story follows the tradition of 80s slasher films. What slasher films are your favorites?

I love all the classics, but if I had to choose a few, I would say…

Friday the 13th, parts 1 and 2.

Halloween 1 and 2 (probably part 2).

Nightmare on Elm Street, parts 1 and 3.

The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a masterpiece and the 2003 remake is beautiful, like bloody art.

My Bloody Valentine is so crazy, I love it.

Sleepaway Camp is even crazier.

This is a four-issue limited series. Do you have any plans to tell more stories from the world of ‘Patra’ if the opportunity arises?

Scott and I have 6 story arcs planned; the “slasher” of each arc will be loosely based on one of the classic movie killers of yore. So, yes, we hope to continue to expand the story of ‘Patra.

—

“A young girl named Patra wakes up with no memory of her past. All she knows is that a large knife and a terrifying mask appear when she is in danger. Oh, and then there’s a crazed killer who, in the tradition of 1980s slasher films, is slaughtering families in a small Midwestern town and wants Patra to be his victim too. Experience a new series in which a brave little girl faces both monstrous dangers and mysterious secrets in this homage to the classic horror films of yesteryear.

Acclaimed writer James Robinson and artist Scott Kolins bring a new slasher horror series to Dark Horse!”