GVN Talking Comics Interview: Troy Little On ‘Rick And Morty’ 10th Anniversary Deluxe Omnibus Library Kickstarter

April 3rd, 2025! That is when Oni Press – the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels for more than 25 years – will celebrate ten years of blockbuster comic books and graphic novels inspired by Adult Swim’s global animation phenomenon, Rick and Morty. Oni Press is heading to Kickstarter for an anniversary celebration that defies physics itself with the RICK AND MORTY 10th ANNIVERSARY DELUXE OMNIBUS LIBRARY! Featuring one insanely deluxe box set packed with five oversized, hardcover omnibus volumes – each packaged with spectacularly designed, exclusive slipcases and eye-popping acetate sleeves – that present Oni’s first 100 issues in complete chronological order, this is the most complete, most over-the-top RICK AND MORTY reading experience ever attempted!

In preparation for this exciting campaign, we sat down with two of the creators who contributed to this collection: writer Kyle Starks and artist Troy Little. For this campaign, they have collaborated for the first time on an exclusive two-issue series titled “The Unprintable Rick and Morty. This will be the only printing of this collector’s edition, so it will be a great addition to this Omnibus. We started with talented artist, Troy Little.

Creative Beginnings

GVN: Thank you for giving me just a bit of your time, Troy. Since this will be our first opportunity to converse, let’s start with a bit of your creative beginnings. When did you first take an interest in comic art and whose work inspired you to consider that possibility?

Troy: I’ve been a lifelong comics fan beginning with newspaper strips. I learned to read via Peanuts and later became obsessed with Garfield. Growing up we didn’t have any local comic shops (I live on an Island) so I was limited to what showed up on the spinner rack in the magazine shop. Star Wars comics, Power Pack, Cloak & Dagger (a real Marvel kid) eventually made way for Groo, Ralph Snart and TMNT.

Self-Publishing

GVN: You self-published your work early on for your book Chiaroscuro. How much thought did you go through in making that decision and did you seek out any advice on how to proceed?

Troy: I was working in animation in the mid 90’s and became somewhat disillusioned with the system of making cartoons here in Canada. I discovered alternative comics like Cerebus, Bone and Strangers in Paradise all at once and realized they were all creator owned and self-published. A light bulb moment when I realized comics could be done independently so I gave it a shot.

Getting the Attention of Dave Sim

GVN: As a result of your good work and tenacity, Chiaroscuro came to the attention of Dave Sim (creator of Cerebus). How important was it for your career to get that kind of attention from such an iconic indie creator?

Troy: Dave set out the blueprint on how to self-publish and I followed it to the letter. Unfortunately for me, I was 15 years late to the party. That said, I put the work in, received a Xeric Grant and dove headfirst into DIY comic publishing. I sent out collected POD copies of Chiaroscuro to publishers and industry people. Dave was the only one to respond and he wrote a kind review that caught the eye of Ted Adams at IDW. Since then, I’ve had a career in comics, so I can’t under state just how important that was to me.

Rick and Morty VS Dungeons and Dragons

GVN: In 2018, you teamed with writers Jim Zub and Patrick Rothfuss for “Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons and Dragons” for IDW. How did that project come about and were you a fan of the Rick and Morty series going in?

Troy: Jim and I had been working parallel in the industry at one point – he on Samurai Jack and me on Powerpuff Girls back when IDW had the Cartoon Network license. We’d never met but when the idea for R&M VS D&D looked like a real possibility he pitched my name in as artist for the project. At the time I hadn’t seen Rick & Morty, so I watched a few episodes and realised I would be a pretty good fit for this book. Working with Jim is a hoot, the guy knows his stuff so I’m glad we got to make a sequel and the VS Cthuhlu series.

The Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary Deluxe Omnibus Library

GVN: Speaking of Rick and Morty, our friends at Oni Press are bringing to Kickstarter The Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary Deluxe Omnibus Library. A five-volume hard cover collection of Oni Press first 100 issues of the series plus a bonus two issue series “The Unprintable Rick and Morty” by yourself and writer Kyle Starks. How did this project come about and had you worked with Kyle previously?

Troy: This was the first time I’ve worked with Kyle, and it was a step outside the VS books I’ve done so far. I had an absolute blast running Rick & Morty through a full on “Duck Amok” sequence and really messing with the comic page format. Jam packing pages with mayhem is my bag and Kyle delivered a great adventure for an artist to play in. This set of books is going to blow your mind and I’m happy to be able to contribute something unique to this beast.

The Unprintable Rick and Morty

GVN: Part of the uniqueness of this two comic series is that, as the title reveals, this will be the ONLY print of these stories. This makes this a very desirable inclusion. As a creator and publisher, is that idea exciting to you, since this is a one and done deal. (Unless they treat it like the death of a character in comics…never say never).

Troy: It’s a weird mixed feeling because as a creator you want people to have access to your work and this makes it difficult to share. As a collector, it’s a wonderful, rare treasure known only to few. Not quite Wu-Tang level but definitely for the die-hards out there. So on one hand I rebel against its exclusivity but on the other I revel in this being a physical and limited object in a world full of too many things. In that sense, I kinda dig it.

Pegamoose Press

GVN: I want to thank you once again for spending some of your time with us, Troy. Before I let you go, I want to mention your collaboration with your wife Brenda Hickey on your own imprint, Pegamoose Press. You started this in 2019 with “Halls of the Turnip King” and “Angora Napkin: The Golden McGuffin.” Followed by your well received graphic novella “Butterfly House.” Do you have any upcoming projects from Pegamoose Press that you would like to share?

Troy: Pegamoose Press is the baked in extension of my DIY origins in comics. I’m lucky to be married to a like-minded and extremely talented creator, so it made sense to team up and start a small imprint. We’ve even gone a step beyond self-publishing with “Orchard of the Tame” by Nick Cross and Marlo Meeks. We have two more books coming out this year on top of everything else, Brenda’s “Don’t Call Me Sidekick!” and my graphic novella “Levada”. Comics by any means necessary, we say around here!

If you are a fan of Rick and Morty, then this is the campaign for you. Brought to you by Oni Press. Check out the link to the campaign.