SATA
ENTRY TYPE:
WORK TITLE: BARB AND THE BATTLE FOR BAILIWICK
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.danandjason.net/
CITY: Montclair
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME: SATA 374
https://hellohornet.com/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Male.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Artist and writer. Creator of the animated cartoon program Rocket Monkeys; director of commercials. Has also developed television programs for Disney, Fox, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Workshop.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Jason Patterson is an artist and writer. Throughout his career in the creative industries, he has created the animated cartoon program Rocket Monkeys, directed award-winning commercials, and wrote and sold a feature-film concept. Patterson has also developed television programs for Disney, Fox, Nickelodeon, and Sesame Workshop.
In the children’s book Blue, Barry, & Pancakes, coauthored with Dan Abdo, the titular characters are good friends who live in the same tree house. Blue is a blue-colored earthworm that enjoys collecting things and has sophisticated tastes. Barry is an intelligent, green frog. And Pancakes is a large, yellow bunny with a very positive attitude. Trouble erupts when the threesome go to the beach together. Barry and Pancakes want to play ball. They dip into Blue’s private collection to find a red-and-white beach ball that has yet to be opened. They play keep away when Blue tries to get it back from them. Accidentally, the ball is swallowed by a whale that swims by, and the threesome agree to work together to get it back. Writing in School Library Journal, Gretchen Hardin lauded that the book is “Riotously entertaining.” Hardin appended that “readers will look forward to more adventures with this quirky trio.” Booklist contributor Julia Smith observed that the book is “rapidly paced and loaded with absurdity and laughs.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, February 1, 2021, Julia Smith, review of Blue, Barry, & Pancakes, p. 41.
Publishers Weekly, January 28, 2021, review of Blue, Barry, & Pancakes.
School Library Journal, 2021, Gretchen Hardin, review of Blue, Barry, & Pancakes, p. 62.
ONLINE
Dan Abdo & Jason Patterson joint website, https://www.danandjason.net (May 26, 2021).
Hornet, https://hellohornet.com/ (May 26, 2021), author profile.*
Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson are long-time partners, best friends and co-creators of the animated comedy series Rocket Monkeys. Their credits also include developing shows for Disney, Sesame Workshop, Fox, and Nickelodeon, not to mention directing lots and lots of animated commercials!
Shelf Care Interview: Dan Abdo & Jason Patterson
By Sarah Hunter.
First published May 6, 2022 (Booklist Online).
Welcome to the Shelf Care Interview, an occasional conversation series where Booklist talks to book people. This Shelf Care Interview is sponsored by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
In this episode of the Shelf Care Interview, Sarah Hunter talks to Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson, creators of Barb and the Ghost Blade, the sequel to Barb the Berzerker.
You can listen to this Shelf Care Interview here. This interview has been edited for clarity.
Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson are longtime partners, best friends, and co-creators of the animated comedy series Rocket Monkeys. Their credits also include developing shows for Disney, Sesame Workshop, Fox, and Nickelodeon, not to mention directing lots and lots of animated commercials.
Sarah Hunter: Today we are here to talk about the indefatigable Barb! Dan and Jason, tell me a little bit about your inspiration for Barb.
Dan: That was such a great intro. Thanks so much. Thanks for having us.
Jason: Yeah. Indefatigable, indefatigable. That’s such a great word. I wish I could say it.
Sarah: Indefatigable!
Jason: Indefatigable. Oh, man. That’s awesome.
Sarah: It just means tireless, which I would say is true about Barb.
Dan: A hundred percent. I feel like that’s spot on. Jason and I, we’re always coming up with ideas, we’re always trying to figure out what the next story is we’re going to tell and what medium we’re going to tell it in. And for a long time we were coming up with show and film ideas. And we decided that we wanted to do something that we could just make on our own. That we didn’t have to have a crew. Didn’t have to ask a bunch of permission. And so we started throwing ideas around and Barb developed out of that. We knew that we wanted to do something in the fantasy, swords-and-sorceries world. We knew that we wanted to have this female protagonist who was this total badass. And yeah, it just developed from there.
Jason: I feel like it started with a sketch of this character, and she had wild hair and she had a bandanna and she had a sword, and that was all we really knew about her. Like Dan said, we love to play in fantasy and genre. And I feel we bumped into Barb and we just followed her into this amazing world and it just kept unfolding. It was a really fun, creative experience where I think we went into writing these series without a huge master plan or a really super considered idea. We were just following Barb and all these other characters. Her world just started unfolding before us, and it was really super exciting and fun and also scary.
Sarah: The sword-and-sorcery tropes are all over these books. And I’m wondering if you can speak to some of the stories you were directly referencing, or anything that you wanted to leave behind from the sword-and-sorcery genre.
Dan: We grew up reading The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings and loving Conan the Barbarian and Gru and all that stuff. I remember always when I was a kid on the playground being like, “Okay. I’m going to be this character and you’re going to be that character. I’m going to be Michaelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or you’re going to be Hans Solo from Star Wars.” Jason and I both have kids and have daughters, and I remember we were like, “Who are our kids, who are our daughters going to be like?”
And so we were like, “Okay. Let’s create this Barb character, who, she’s wild. She’s got this crazy energy in her. She makes mistakes, but she’s always trying to do the right thing.” There was all these things that we knew we wanted in a hero that you see in those fantasy stories. And we just tried to infuse Barb with as much of that cool stuff as we could.
Jason: And I think one of the touchstones . . . we were talking a lot about He-Man, and it was such a great animated kid show when we were growing up. But there’s a real awesome message in it, which was, He-Man grabs his sword and he says, “I have the power.” And so I think part of wanting to have this strong female character in the story is we wanted girls out there to have that kind of character say, “I have the power,” which feels like a really cool thing to be able to tell a kid.
Dan and I have been to some conventions and stuff and when we’re signing our Barb books we usually say, “You have the power,” whoever it is. Because I think that’s something that kids are always told they don’t have a lot of power. They have to follow rules. They have no money. They can’t get rides anywhere. There’s a lot of stuff they can’t do. I remember it was fun for me as a kid liking He-Man and being like, “Oh, my gosh, what if I had that sword? I would have the power.” So to try to channel a little of that into our kids’ generation seems like a really cool thing to be able to do.
Sarah: Yeah. And that definitely comes to the fore in Barb and the Ghost Blade. But I won’t spoil the ending. I’ll just leave a tantalizing little hint out there, but that’s an important plot point. Tell me a little bit about the origin story of your collaboration, because you’ve worked on lots and lots of projects together.
Jason: Dan and I grew up in Montpelier, Vermont together, and we started hanging out in the back of, it was called the Independent Art Room. It was behind the regular art room and it was basically just a closet with no windows. I think there was a window they boarded up in the ‘70s for energy reasons. I was a nerdy dork. I was in the student council and Dan had these super baggy pants and he was a skateboarder. But we both loved Ninja Turtles and we loved comics, and we would just hang out back there and draw. And it became this little secret escape pod for us in the midst of high school and growing up, that we could just hang out and sit elbow-to-elbow and just draw all these silly fun worlds, I guess, that we got to share and inhabit.
Dan: We were variations of nerdy dorks. We were two very distinct variations of nerdy dorks.
Jason: Yeah. I was dorkier than Dan. Dan was way less dorky than me. He could skateboard. I could not skateboard.
Dan: Hold on, I think that could be contested. But yeah, I remember we became fast friends. There was a boom box back there that kids would bring their cassettes in, their mixed tapes. And we’d play music back there and draw comics and come up with our own comics. And it did feel like it was this special place where you could just let your free flag fly and do whatever you want. And we had an awesome art teacher. We had a great art teacher who was really encouraging and really supported us and championed us.
Jason: After we created Barb, we realized that our art teacher had wild hair and a sparkle in her eye and her name was Barb. So I think we have a shared collective unconscious, and Barb definitely came out of that too, I think.
Sarah: That’s very delightful. I was about to ask, are there any lingering things from those early collaborating years that make their way into your later work? But you just answered that question for me: it’s Barb!
Dan: It was so funny. We didn’t even know it. I remember Jason pointed it out, I don’t know, months after the first Barb book was published. And he was like, “Oh, my gosh. Is this just like Barb, our old teacher?” And I was like, “Holy smokes. You’re right.” It was just, she was just this character in our subconscious. She was really special. She was a really special teacher, and she was similar in a lot of ways where she just had this crazy energy. And yeah, the art room . . . we went to a public high school. It wasn’t anything fancy, but the art room felt like this place where you could figure stuff out, which I think is really important for kids. I think it’s really important for kids to have a space where they can go and try stuff out and explore and express themselves.
Jason: One thing that was so cool about her, too, was that she really took art seriously, which really made it seem special. Because there’s the football team, that’s serious; math is serious; science, that’s how you make stuff. Art can be seen as just something to fill 45 minutes, but for her it was really serious. She’d have models come in and we would draw them. She’d always have still lifes set up. She had this huge kiln. She was always trying to throw different media in front of people, and she really took it really seriously, which made it really special.
Sarah: That’s so cool. That’s a really good segue to my next question. Which is, most of, I think the vast majority of your projects are all very silly and fun. And I’m wondering if you can talk about why you think fun is so important for, obviously right for kids, but I think it’s important for adults too. Can you talk about the role of fun and why it’s important?
Dan: Silly means a lot to us and we believe there’s a real deficit of silliness in the world and we’re trying to add some more to it. And I don’t know, it just feels like it’s really easy to let the weight of the world weigh you down, and a little respite from that, a little bit of silliness, a little bit of absurdity, I love that. I love seeing that in other art and writing. And so if we can bring a little bit of that to the table it just feels like we’re on the right path.
Jason: Yeah, totally. It’s like silly pushes against the sadness of the world, I guess. The stuff that Dan and I like the most there’s always a thread of silliness in it. Like Princess Bride . . . it’s this dark, sad world, but the characters are so silly and buoyant that it really pushes against that. And it creates a great tension in the work, I think, when it’s a little bit dark, but then there’s someone who’s making fun of the darkness a little bit, I think.
Dan: Yeah. I would say, I feel Jason is the master of that too. I feel my nature... I don’t know if you’ve seen any of our Blue, Barry and Pancakes books too, but there’s a character named Barry, he’s this frog and he’s real anxious. He’s got lots of worries and is really concerned about lots of stuff. And I feel if I was left to my own devices that would be me all the time. But to have silliness thrown in there with Pancakes or Pork Chop, or all these other crazy characters, Jason really, I feel brings that to the table. And it’s like, “Ah, just a little bit of light.” You know what I mean? It’s like you’re shining a light into the basement. You need that a little bit; you can’t worry about everything all the time.
Jason: But I feel like we do have one real—that’s really sweet, Dan—but I feel like we do have one worry hat that we take turns wearing. And sometimes I’ll put it on and be like, “This is never going to work. This is impossible.” And it’s totally to Dan... Dan championed us to do Blue, Barry and Pancakes. I feel like sometimes one of us has the glowing sword and is leading the way through the darkness and the other one is like, “We’re never going to make it,” and then we switch roles.
Dan: There were literally no more snacks in this backpack!
Jason: Yeah. It’s time to turn back.
Sarah: It also seems like, thinking a little bit about the freedom of the art classroom, that being playful and having fun and being silly gives you more leeway to experiment and try new stuff without the weight or pressure of excelling on your shoulders. I feel like that’s important too, for a lot of kids, especially kids who are looking at art and looking at comics and feeling inspired to draw comics, knowing that they don’t have to do it really hard right away, I think is really freeing.
Jason: I think that was something that Dan and I took forever to understand. But when we were drawing the first Barb comic, it wasn’t perfect. It was a little scribbly and a little weird and stuff wasn’t perfect, but it was a thing that we could make. And at a certain point through we’re like, “This is how we’re going to just draw this. It’s not going to be perfect, but it’s going to look like this.” And that was great. When we’re pitching those shows to executives or something, you show them something and immediately all of these reasons why it doesn’t work. And when we show stuff to kids, kids have the exact opposite reaction, which is so cool. Kids lean in and they’re like, “This is amazing. I want to draw this.” They’re instantly on board and excited. And there’s like a magic in that, that I feel as an artist you can be in danger of losing. You should never just doubt yourself. I think just jumping in unprepared is a great start.
Sarah: I feel like kids are really good at knowing whether or not you’re having fun too. And I think that’s something that comes out in your books, is that you can tell that you’re having fun when you’re making them, and I think that adds to the silliness on the page.
Dan: And I’m so excited to hear you say that because I feel like one thing that we’re trying to do, or that would be so awesome if it happened, is that when kids read our stories, if they felt like they were spending time with friends, that’s the pinnacle for me. I get to spend all day drawing these stories with my best friend and I want kids to be able to pick up one of these books and settle into hanging out with their friends again. That’s totally how I felt when I was a kid reading comics. Picking up a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle comic or picking up Calvin & Hobbes, it feels like you’re settling in with friends. So yeah, that’s the goal.
Sarah: Well, that’s all the time we have for today. It was really great talking to you about comics and fun and art, and your very excellent art teacher. And thanks also to our sponsor, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for making this podcast possible. That’s all for now. Hope you’re getting ready to read something wonderful.
Author Chat With DAN ABDO & JASON PATTERSON (Barb & the Battle for Bailiwick), Plus Giveaway! ~ US Only!
August 24, 20238 Comments
Written by Cherokee Crum, Staff Reviewer
Posted in Authors, Giveaways, Interviews, News & Updates
Today we are very excited to share a special interview with authors Dan Abdo & Jason Patterson (Barb & the Battle for Bailiwick)!
Read on to learn more about them, their book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: Dan Abdo & James Patterson
For the past ten years, award-winning duo Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson have developed numerous animated campaigns, network TV and web series, and critically acclaimed commercial work. Their extensive portfolio has garnered them industry wide recognition, while their humorous sensibility and diverse skill set has landed them jobs for top global brands. Dan and Jason have set up properties at Twentieth Century Fox, Disney, and Nickelodeon as well as a feature animated film through Paramount Pictures. The well-versed storytellers have developed original content for a wide variety of platforms, including print (Nickelodeon Comics, The New Yorker), theater (Pilobolus), and digital.
Website * Instagram * Twitter
About the Book: Barb the Last Berzerker
The action of Moana meets the humor of books like Dog Man in this sidesplitting graphic novel about a young Berzerker who has to rescue her fellow warriors from the evil villain Witch Head before he destroys the world!
Barb is a Berzerker, one of a group of warriors sworn to protect the land of Bailiwick from the scourge of monsters that plagues it. But the fearsome crew seem to have met their match in the nefarious Witch Head. Using power from his magical sword, he tricked the Zerks and took them captive. Only Barb was able to escape—and she took Witch Head’s Shadow Blade with her.
Now it’s up to Barb to free her fellow warriors so they can stop Witch Head from taking over Bailiwick. On the way, she’ll battle vampire goat fiends, snot goblins, and a giant with serious foot odor issues (but don’t mention that to him—he’s very sensitive about it). Luckily, she’s got her best friend, Porkchop the yeti, to help her.
But the power of the Shadow Blade has a mind of its own, and the deeper Barb gets into her quest, the harder it is to keep the blade’s awesome power under control.
About the Book: Barb and the Ghost Blade
The action of Moana meets the humor of books like Dog Man in this high-octane and uproariously funny second book following Barb and her trusty yeti pal, Porkchop, on their quest to rescue her fellow warriors and liberate Bailiwick from the evil villain Witch Head!
Barb is a Berzerker, part of an elite crew of warriors who protect the land of Bailiwick from the scourge of monsters. The evil Witch Head has captured all the adult Berzerkers and Barb’s the only one who can save them. But she’s not alone—Barb’s got her own amateur crew of would-be zerks, made up of farmers, monsters, and her best pal Porkchop the yeti.
This ragtag gang must infiltrate Maug Horn, the monster capital where only monsters are allowed, and find Franny Fire Fingers, who they hope will lead them to the Wise Wizards and the power to fight Witch Head. But when even the powerful Shadow Blade sword is no match for the evil Barb encounters, she must learn that her true power comes from her own heart.
About the Book: Barb and the Battle for Bailiwick
The action of Moana meets the humor of books like Dog Man in this explosive and uproariously funny third book following Barb and her friends as they face off against Witch Head’s Shadow Army.
Barb is being held prisoner by the evil Witch Head at his lair, Castle Skunkwark. Injured and weakened, Barb is no match for the villain, but they both get a surprise when Raven, her Berzerker mom, appears to rescue Barb. The mother-daughter duo gets away but can’t stop Witch Head’s nefarious plan: he’s summoning a powerful army from the Shadow Realm and sending them to take over Bailiwick for him, once and for all.
Can a ragtag crew of berzerkers and five Wise Wizards with rusty powers find a way to beat the infamous Shadow Army? Can Barb figure out how to harness the mystical power of the Ghost Blade to lead the charge? And can Porkchop make sure everybody has enough snacks?
Amazon * B&N * IndieBound * Goodreads
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
Dan: Barb and the Battle for Bailiwick is really a conclusion to what we’re informally calling “The Witchhead Saga”. All the story threads that were introduced in Book 1 and Book 2 are addressed here. But at its heart this story is about holding onto the love of someone you’ve lost. It’s about how even though a loved one might no longer be with you, their love persists. Annnnd it’s also about kicking butt and snowboarding on cookie sheets!
Jason: The character of Barb was born out of the fact that we both had small kids at home, who never seemed to listen to us. It was super frustrating. But then we thought, what if we told a story about a kid who didn’t listen to the grownups around her, but instead made up her own mind. It all kind of grew from there. But our kids still don’t listen to us.
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
Jason: Wish we were Barb. but we are definitely way more of a Porkchop type person. Speaking of… what’s for lunch?
Dan: Totally accurate. Turkey sandwiches.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
Dan: No spoilers, but there’s an extended scene at the end of the story where Raven (Barb’s mom) really sees Barb for who she is. Not only is Barb her own person with her own vision of the world she wants to make, she is “more” than her mom. I’d go as far to say she’s better than her mom. I think that’s every parent’s dream. Every parent wants to see their kids grow into something better than themselves. Raven really learns from Barb in this book.
YABC: What came first, the concept, landscape, characters, or something else?
Jason: We are all about story! We’ll do whatever the story needs. In the first two books, Barb The Last Berzerker and Barn And The Ghostblade, we introduce our readers to tons of cool characters. In Barb And The Battle For Bailiwick we really get to see those characters do their thing. That being said, in every Barb story we bring our characters to new and exciting locals. We were really excited about showing the world Porkchop’s home, Yetisburg!
YABC: If you could only write one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Jason: Ha! Oh jeez. I think it would be a 50% Fantasy and 50% Sci Fi. Sorry we totally dodged that one.
Dan: Agreed, just add 50% super heroes too. Math is not our strong suit.
YABC: How do you keep your ‘voice’ true to the age category you are writing within?
Jason: Okay this one is easy. We wish we could write big serious grown up graphic novels that are dark and gritty. But everything we make always comes out a little sunny, a little askew, and little middle school. Probably because we both kind of peaked in second grade. Second grade ruled!
YABC: What can readers expect to find in your books?
Jason: We always seem to write about friendship. We are at the age where you look around a bit and see what really matters. Always have extra pens and paper. Snacks, preferably individually wrapped ones, they are easier to share. And, most important of all, a good friend.
Dan: Yeah, all our stories always have a friendship angle. We also love silliness! We also always try to write about something we really care about, I think, that’s where the heart comes in. Friendship/Sillyness/Heart.
YABC: What is your favorite snack when writing?
Jason: Ha! Snacks! Trail mix and coffee can help get those last few pages done!
Dan: 100% Coffee coffee coffee!
YABC: If you were able to meet them, would you be friends with your main character?
Dan: Totally! I would love to go on an adventure with Barb and Porkchop in Bailiwick. We often try to squeeze a two headed troll into our Barb books. It’s a little Dan & Jason cameo!
YABC: What’s your least favorite word or expression and why?
Dan: I love it when Jason draws Porkchop nervous, and he touches his two index fingers together. It’s so expressive and so funny! It always makes me laugh!
YABC: What do you do when you procrastinate?
Jason: Bike rides are the best way to clear out the cobwebs in our brains! Nothing beats the wind in your face, the petals spinning at your feet and the knowledge your deadline will be waiting when you get home.
YABC: What fandom would you write for if you had time?
Jason: Oooo! We love the Fantastic Four! A family of misfits who spend their time bickering and saving the universe! We love that stuff!
YABC: What’s up next for you?
Dan: We are deep into Barb Book 4! We really can’t get enough of spending time in Bailiwick. We are also cooking up a couple new ideas… stay tuned!
YABC: What is your favorite holiday or tradition and why?
Dan: I love love love Halloween. Growing up I always made my own costumes and now as a parent I make costumes with my kids and it’s so much fun. I also love how it’s a chance to to go gory and scary without actually being scared!
Jason: Yeah! And candy!!!
YABC: Is there anything that you would like to add?
Dan: We just want to thank everyone out there who has read a Barb book. We love these characters with all our heart and feel so fortunate that we get to tell these stories. We hope that when a kid (or anybody) cracks a Barb book, it feels like they’re hanging out with old friends. That’s what it feels like for us to make them!
Title: Barb and the Battle for Bailiwick
Author: DAN ABDO & JASON PATTERSON
Release Date: 8/22/2023
Publisher: S&S Books for Young Readers
ISBN-10: 1665914459
ISBN-13: 9781665914451
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel
Age Range: 8-12
Mixed-Up Files interview with Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson, authors of, Barb the Last Berzerker!
Hello Mixed-Up Filers,
Wow, you have me three times this month! How I envy you! Well, we are in for a treat today! We have the authors of the new graphic novel series from Simon & Schuster, Barb the Last Berzerker, by Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson.
JR: Thanks for joining us over at Mixed-Up Files!
Dan: Thank you so much for having us! It’s an honor!
Jason: Thank you so much!
JR: I was fortunate enough to have a chance to read Barb the Last Berzerker already, and found it to be so much fun! For those who don’t know, can you tell us a little bit about the book and where the idea for Barb came from?
Dan : Sure. Jason and I are writers, cartoonists, and animators. We were bouncing ideas off each other over sandwiches in Manhattan. We are huge fans of orcs, dragons, magic swords, and all things dorky. We knew we wanted to come up with an adventure story and we also knew we wanted to design a hero that our kids could look at and see themselves in. A real hero who did the right thing, even when doing the right thing is hard. Especially when it’s hard.
Jason: I think we were both in a place in our lives where we were creatively a bit frustrated. We hear the word no a lot! And so Barb is kind of this champion who never takes no for an answer. She never gives up! She really inspired us. It’s funny to say but we really do think of her as a real person. The more we got to know her, the world of Balliwick just kept unfolding in front of us in a really exciting and organic way. It felt more like a place we discovered rather than a place we created. Side note: Are italics kind of annoying? I can’t tell.
JR: They don’t bother me at all! There is a lot of humor in the book, as well as some more touching moments. How difficult is it to strike the right balance?
Jason: I think in all fiction, but especially fantasy, you have to really ground the reader. Action is a blast, but unless there is a real emotional story underneath, things can start to feel flat. Barb’s backstory was a really important element to get right.
Dan : Barb’s backstory and her relationship with her mom is one of things that makes Barb real. The comedy just flows out of these characters and the crazy predicaments that Barb and her pal Porkchop find themselves in. I grew up in a household with a single mom, and had never really seen an honest and fun relationship between a kid and a single parent portrayed in a fantasy adventure story. Barb’s relationship with her mom is rich and complex and gives us lots of places to go as writers and cartoonists.
JR: When reading the book, I doubt that this was in your minds, but I got a kind of Groo by Sergio Aragones vibe from it. Were you fans? Who were some of your influences?
Dan : We LOVE Groo! Sergio Aragonés is a genius cartoonist and we’re huge fans. I have always loved comics and cartoons that can really mix adventure and comedy. Teenage mutant Ninja Turtles has been a huge influence on me my whole life. The Scrooge McDuck comics and the Ducktales cartoon are also reference points I always go back too. Jason and I are always chatting about film and TV too. I think we’ve learned a lot about story telling by deconstructing some of our favorite films, like
Jason: Totally! Groo meets Conan! I think that could be the elevator pitch. Going over to Dan’s house after school and reading comics together was always such a blast. We would both just sit on the floor and get lost for hours. I remember one time in particular when Dan was super excited about a TMNT storyline where there was a dinosaur from the future. It was such a wacky idea but still totally worked in the world. It was so rad!
Dan : Triceratons rule!
JR: I could write a thesis about how much I love Duck Tales! The two of you have been friends since high school. What’s it like to work with your friend?
Dan : It’s a never ending nightmare I can’t wake up from.
Jason: Ha! I think Dan is joking. (God what if he’s not. This would be an amazing place to find that out. ) The best part is that we are in this together. It’s hard to make a comic. (probably not quite as hard as Barb defeating Witch Head, but close) What makes it easier is that as I sweat over my pages I know Dan is sweating over his pages too. When one of us starts taking this too seriously (usually me) the other one (usually Dan) can offer some perspective, we get to make comics everyday!
JR: Funny, I also like to tell my friends what I think that they’re doing wrong. What is your process like, and are there ever any disagreements over your projects?
Dan: We write and draw and do everything together. In all honesty, I feel super lucky to have a creative partner who is so talented and so fun to work with. I feel like I’m always running to keep up with Jason’s drawings and writing which makes me a better artist. Jason has one of the funniest and most twisted senses of humor I’ve ever encountered and I am constantly in stitches. We never really have huge disagreements.
Jason: That’s not true Dan, we do argue about stuff.
Dan: No we don’t!
Jason: Yes we do! Side note: Dan is an amazing story teller and artist, I have to run to keep up with him! I think his brain never stops.
JR: You’ve been responsible for projects in TV, movies, comics, and now graphic novels. What are the differences/pros and cons in each of these formats, and which do you prefer?
Dan: Right now we are all in on comics. It’s so great to be able to make something start to finish, with just a few people. One of the most frustrating parts of television and film development is that you can work for years on a project, and then in the blink of an eye it can go away. You can be left with literally nothing to show for it. Where in graphic novels there will always be a book, a physical thing, that you can hold. And the experience of reading a book is so exciting, so laugh inducing, and often more intimate and personal than watching something. We love film and TV, but dang comics are just so rad I can’t praise the art form enough.
Jason: Totally. It’s such a fun medium. Literally every part about making comics is fun. The writing, the first pass of thumbs, adding color, even answering questions about making comics is fun!
JR: When you do projects for TV/movies, how much autonomy do you have, as opposed to when you work on your graphic novels and can decide everything for yourselves?
Dan : Every project is a little different, but generally you have much less autonomy in TV/film. TV/Film is such a collaborative process, which is part of what’s amazing about it, but also there can be so many cooks in the kitchen that often all the edges get rounded off, and things become homogenized. Lots of metaphors there, but you get the idea.
Jason: With comics you can make changes up until the last second, which is so great. It gives the story a much more spontaneous and I think natural feeling. Like Improv Jazz . Animation has its own set of wonderful attributes, but you really can’t make changes once you lock picture. It’s just a much bigger boat and takes so much longer to change direction. Oops, switched metaphors there… I mean animation is more like a thirty piece orchestra.
JR: What are you working on next, and also, what’s next for Barb?
Dan : We have a graphic novel series called Blue, Barry, & Pancakes out with First Second books. It’s very different from Barb — these are super fun, surreal, stories of friendship between Blue a worm, Barry a frog, and Pancakes, a big fuzzy rabbit. They are aimed at a younger reader and are chock full of comedy, adventure, and heart!
Jason: Barb is definitely going to three books. We just wrapped the second book this week called “Barb and the legend of the Ghost Blade.” We will take a few minutes off…then it’s onto MORE COMICS!
JR: Thank you so much for joining us, and best of luck to Barb the Last Berzerker!
Dan and Jason: Thank you so much for hosting us and posing such thoughtful questions. We can’t wait to chat with you again! Cheers!
Well, that’s it for this time, Mixed-Up Filers! Hope you enjoyed, and make sure you go out and get Barb the Last Berzerker!
Little kids at heart: ‘Blue, Barry and Pancakes’ authors dish out madcap adventures
by Erin Roll
January 31, 2022
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Dan Abdo, left, and Jason Patterson outside Watchung Booksellers during a visit in 2021. Abdo and Patterson are the creators of the graphic novel series “Blue, Barry and Pancakes.” (COURTESY DAN ABDO AND JASON PATTERSON)
By ERIN ROLL
For Montclair Local
Jason Patterson of Montclair, one of the two co-authors of the “Blue, Barry and Pancakes” graphic novels for kids (and kids at heart), has a vivid memory of when he and co-author Dan Abdo were doing an event at Watchung Booksellers.
It was outdoors, on the green between the bookshop and the train station.
The kids in the audience had been sitting attentively on the grass, listening to the story.
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Patterson then started drawing the characters on an easel. He turned around and saw that all the kids were gathered around him, watching him draw. It was the process of watching the characters take shape that really drew them in.
“Kids are just so engaged in drawing and creativity,” he said.
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Abdo added: “All kids love to draw. Until something happens, and they feel like they’re not good enough [at it].”
Abdo and Patterson’s “Blue, Barry and Pancakes” series is about three friends — Blue the worm, Barry the frog and Pancakes the bunny — and their madcap adventures.
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A balloon rocket actually travels into space. An ice cream sundae contest goes horribly awry. A search for a runaway beach ball becomes a breakneck adventure.
The books are like Rube Goldberg machines, with one oddball thing leading to another.
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Pancakes is a big, cheerful, live-in-the-moment character, while Barry is more anxious and fretful. And Blue is an artistic worm with a rich inner life that his friends don’t always know about.
Kids love the silly stories and the fun, engaging characters, while parents are happy that their children have found books they love to read.
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Abdo and Patterson’s latest book in the series, “Enter the Underground Throwdown,” is due out later this year from Macmillan.
Besides the “Blue, Barry and Pancakes” series, the duo has also authored “Barb the Last Berserker.”
Outside of comics and illustration, Abdo and Patterson have had long careers in animation; currently, they are animation directors with the studio Hornet.
Originally from Montpelier, Vermont, where they were best friends in high school, both attended the Rhode Island College of Art and Design and eventually moved to Brooklyn to start their careers.
Home for a time was a converted coffin factory in Williamsburg. “Everything was a grand adventure. We didn’t know what was going on, but we had each other’s backs,” Abdo said.
Graphic novels have been identified as a good genre for kids who are either beginning readers or are older but reluctant readers. Patterson said he and Abdo were both late readers as children.
Comics have that visual element that makes up a huge part of storytelling, Patterson said.
Both loved to read comics as kids. “Calvin and Hobbes” was a particular favorite; Patterson cited the strip’s rich, imaginative worlds and the complex inner lives of the titular boy and tiger as part of its appeal.
Abdo makes his home in Montpelier, while Patterson now lives in Montclair. “There’s so many people from New York and Brooklyn — it feels like an extension of Brooklyn,” Patterson said of the township.
Abdo, for his part, said he is always excited to visit Montclair, and there is the prospect of being able to do live events here again soon.
“Kids in our lives are just as rich and deep as the adults in our lives,” he said.
“We totally kind of have this inner kid in us,” Patterson said. “We’re trying to keep up with them.”
Abdo, Dan BARB AND THE GHOST BLADE Simon & Schuster (Children's None) $13.99 5, 31 ISBN: 978-1-5344-8574-7
A rumor that demonic foe Witch Head is about to unleash an evil army sends Barb and her band of fledgling Zerks to Maug Horn, a city of monsters, in search of help.
Though cutting off abruptly in midcrisis, this sequel to Barb the Last Berzerker (2021) is likewise loaded with action and wisecracks--not to mention a supporting cast of racially diverse humans and monsters armed with, among other things, a snot launcher; a bad guy who looks like a cross between an inflatable wavy tube man and a dinner fork; and a fierce young hero with a worthy mission ("Taking out BULLIES is our JAM!"), two magic swords, and a Wonder Woman-style tiara. Young readers will either roar with delight or possibly wish they could unsee one scene in which Barb rescues a falling ally in midair by grabbing the waistband of his shorts ("Side note: I thought the FULL MOON wasn't until NEXT week"), and they'll laugh at the ridiculous plot twists and applaud both her dedication to doing good and her reckless willingness to take on much bigger and stronger baddies. As with the previous volume, the fast-moving, vibrantly colored panels and humorous dialogue will keep readers turning pages.
More punches and punchlines in pursuit of truth, justice, and the Berzerker way. (Graphic adventure. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2022 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Abdo, Dan: BARB AND THE GHOST BLADE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 May 2022, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A701896779/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=a56015f1. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.
Abdo, Dan BARB THE LAST BERZERKER Simon & Schuster (Children's None) $13.99 9, 28 ISBN: 978-1-5344-8571-6
She-Ra meets How To Train Your Dragon in this vivacious series starter.
In the world of Bailiwick, bands of Berzerkers protect the people and land from roaming monsters. Barb is a small, light-skinned Berzerker with a mess of curly black hair, a fierce, can-do attitude, and an aesthetic that lightly nods to Wonder Woman. When her band of Zerks is tricked and captured by an evil demon named Witch Head, only Barb is able to escape, stealing the Shadow Blade, Witch Head’s magical sword, in the process. Teaming up with Porkchop, a friendly blue yeti, it’s up to Barb to harness the power of the Shadow Blade and journey to recruit the Northern Zerks to help defeat Witch Head. The art is bright, energetic, and stylistically akin to that of Jeffrey Brown. Thick lines, varied paneling, and a consistently large font further the book’s wide appeal. Human background characters have a diverse range of skin colors. Readers will delight in the occasional gross-out jokes, strange creatures (vampire goat fiends, mergoblins, the Grub of Death), heartwarming camaraderie, and the over-the-top villain. Amidst the silly chaos are quieter moments that touch on Barb’s familial trauma, the cost of the war between Berzerkers and monsters, and what it means to be a good friend. Earnest, unstoppable Barb is easy to root for, and the next volume will be eagerly anticipated.
Nothing will stop readers from devouring this book. (map) (Graphic adventure. 8-12)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Abdo, Dan: BARB THE LAST BERZERKER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A669986414/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=0a39ac88. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.
ABDO, Dan & Jason Patterson. Barb the Last Berzerker. illus. by Dan Abdo & Jason Patterson. 256p. S. & S. Sept. 2021. Tr $13.99. ISBN 9781534485716.
Gr 3-7--In the land of Bailiwick, humans and monsters have been engaged in an endless war, and only a group of super strong warriors known as Berzerkers can help keep the monsters at bay. Barb, the weakest of her group, wants to join the fight, but their leader, Thunder, worries about keeping her safe. When a mysterious visitor offers to help the Berzerkers find a legendary weapon that will help them win the war, it's an offer they can't refuse. But that creature wants the Shadow Blade for itself, and soon all the Berzerkers except Barb have been captured. Barb escapes with the Shadow Blade, and her epic journey begins as she seeks help and tries to rescue her friends. Along the way she fights monsters and befriends a giant yeti named Porkchop. This is a tale of adventure, love, and friendship. Barb's memories of her mother, her bond with Thunder, and her friendship with Porkchop all strengthen her in different ways, and readers empathize with her. The humor also makes this a standout. The art style is cute, cartoony, and scribbly, perfect for this madcap adventure. Barb and Thunder are white, though their world is a diverse one, with numerous other characters of color. VERDICT For kids who enjoy funny adventures, weirdly adorable monsters, and characters who discover their own strengths.--Andrea Lipinski, New York P.L., New York City
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Lipinski, Andrea. "ABDO, Dan & Jason Patterson. Barb the Last Berzerker." School Library Journal, vol. 67, no. 9, Sept. 2021, p. 94. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A673471290/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=20cb5767. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.
Dan & Jason DANGER ON MOUNT CHOCO First Second (Children's None) $12.99 1, 4 ISBN: 978-1-250-25557-0
Scaling Mount Choco is just the tip of the ice cream--ahem iceberg--in Dan Abdo and Jason Patterson's latest adventure featuring a trio of unlikely friends.
In this outing in the Blue, Barry & Pancakes series, Barry the frog is dead set on winning a trophy to relieve the shame of his empty trophy room, so his friends Pancakes the bunny and Blue the worm vow to help him win a grand sundae-making contest. Realizing they need something special to carry the day, the pals set off on a dangerous journey to get the best chocolate ice cream from a yeti. To do so, they must cross the Sea of Seasickness and trek up Mount Choco. Challenges and mistakes along the way test the strength of their friendship. There are obvious morals about living in the moment and appreciating the people you meet on life's path, and some scenes are genuinely moving. The adventurers, amusingly, don't look anything like your typical worm, frog, and rabbit; Pancakes looks like a huge potato with a pink tufted tail, and Barry is square-shaped. The pictures are both funny and spectacularly bright. Unfortunately, the plot almost feels like an afterthought in this overwrought graphic novel. There are multiple dance sequences, some with instructions, and too many supporting characters vying for the limelight; on one double-page spread, there are 19 different animals, including a bright pink pig with a Dal�-esque mustache, suggesting a whole life history.
An absolutely hilarious caper bogged down by excess detail. (game and activity section) (Graphic novel. 4-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2021 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Dan & Jason: DANGER ON MOUNT CHOCO." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Dec. 2021, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A684108351/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=2433bc2f. Accessed 6 Nov. 2023.