Fanbase Press Interviews Kwento Comics

The following is an interview with Kwento Comics co-founder Waverley Lim on partnering with Clover Press to launch a Kickstarter campaign for the young adult urban fantasy graphic novel, The Mask of Haliya: Heir to the Warrior Moon. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Lim about Kwento Comics’ mission to provide greater representation for Asian American women in comics, the shared creative process of bringing the graphic novel series to life on the page, and more!

Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the launch of your Kickstarter campaign for The Mask of Haliya: Heir to the Warrior Moon! For those who may be unfamiliar, what can you share with us about the premise behind this young adult urban fantasy?

Waverley Lim: The Mask of Haliya: Heir to the Warrior Moon is the first volume of our series fusing Philippine mythology with thrilling adventure. It follows the journey of Filipina-American teen Marisol Reyes the night she arrives in the Philippines, where she meets her estranged older cousin, Isla, and discovers a wooden mask and its hidden powers. It’s a powerful coming-of-age story of an unsuspecting heroine who goes on a journey of self-discovery guided by ancient prophecies and the eternal struggle between light and shadow. As Mari navigates her new-found powers, she will go on an epic quest filled with battles against Philippine shamans, ruthless cult leaders, shady politicians, and creatures of the underworld, all while facing challenges that blur the line between allies and foes.

BD: Your publishing company, Kwento Comics, is making great strides to create a solution to the lack of Asian American representation in media. How do you feel that The Mask of Haliya will help to provide that representation in comics, but also to highlight the talented Asian women who are bringing the story to life?

WL: We hope that The Mask of Haliya serves as a beacon of light on Asian American voices in comics. Our work not only brings diverse Asian and Asian-American characters to life, but also shines a spotlight on the incredible talents of Asian women creators. In doing so, we hope this promotes a more inclusive and inspiring world in comics and media. It’s exciting to me to think that more young Asian girls growing up will see that it is possible to have a career in the arts and to trust their unique gift and share it with the world.

Read More: https://fanbasepress.com/press/interviews/comics/item/53984-fanbase-press-interviews-kwento-comics-waverley-lim-on-launching-a-kickstarter-campaign-for-the-mask-of-haliya-heir-to-the-warrior-moon-in-collaboration-with-clover-press/?fbclid=IwAR3ya12GZAVewYX7tfx30p417Vt-a-u3qdNA4a3CSgrST2pAjYJJVl_mQwA