GVN Talking Comics Interview – Comic Artist Meredith McClaren For Oni Press ‘Meat Eaters’

Oni Press has been surprising and entertaining fans with their summer graphic novel series, primarily within the horror and supernatural genres. Coming up next, scheduled for July 8th, is the talented creator Meredith McClaren’s book “Meat Eaters.” Recently, we had the opportunity to talk to Meredith about her comic beginnings, her animation ambitions, and her latest book, “Meat Eaters.” So let’s welcome Meredith McClaren to GVN Talking Comics.

Creative Beginnings

GVN: Thank you for sharing a bit of your time, Meredith. Since this will be our first chance to chat, let’s start with your creative beginnings. When did you first take an interest in comics and comic art, and whose work inspired that ambition?

MEREDITH: Oh. Definitely Sailor Moon in middle school. I grew up pretty much always thinking I’d go into animation, with a healthy hobby in comics. But at the time I finally went to school for animation, the 3D boom was well underway and people had pretty much declared 2D animation all but dead, and that had been my preferred media.

I also found out I only really had the patience to draw a really great thing ONCE. So, I pivoted into comics.

Now that people are coming back around to the novelty of 2D animation, I still have an interest in one day working in that field, but comics lets me do a whole production for myself, and it’s hard not to fall in love with that kind of freedom.

And while I consumed a huge amount of manga, I found that European comics embraced a distinctly ‘animated’ look to their books that’s so engaging, and lean into their aesthetics a lot too.

Animation Ambitions

GVN: As you just mentioned, I saw that you originally had an interest in animation. What made you decide to focus more on comics, and who gave you your first break toward that end?

MEREDITH: Like I said, comics give you a huge range of control over the art direction of the book. Environments, costumes, action. Animation is a wonderful medium because it brings a collective of talented people together, but comics are fun because one person can exercise a huge range of skill.

Oni was actually the first publisher to outright hire me. They made the mistake of telling me in college if I was ever in the Portland area, I should set up an office tour. And I took them up on it. I tested for another fun book, but somehow my work ended up in Jen Van Meter’s hands and I was so ridiculously enthusiastic to be offered a chance drawing HOPELESS SAVAGES v4. It was such a great book to be starting with, I had read the first three volumes in high school. I couldn’t have asked for better.

Lessons Learned

GVN: Throughout your career, you have created various books across different genres, including the critically acclaimed Image Comics series “Black Cloak,” co-written with Kelley Thompson. As you reflect on your journey, is there a particular lesson you’ve learned that still resonates with you today? Perhaps a lesson related to handling rejection or success?

MEREDITH: There’s a lot. There’s SO MUCH. But if I had to pick just one off the top of my head? If you’re new to the industry, you should know that chances are good you’re gonna get a weird little malaise after your first big project finishes. Whether it’s a standalone graphic novel or a multi-book series. It kinda takes a lot of us off guard.

(I found out just recently that the same thing happens to Olympic athletes. It’s a whole thing.)

Basically, if you grind away at something for weeks/months/years at a time? And it ends? You’re gonna have a neat little mental hiccup. It’s really common. Having hobbies helps. Or another project in the wings. But what helps the most is to give yourself a set time of breathing and then move on to the next thing.

Meat Eaters

GVN: Your latest book is the newest installment in the Oni Press’ summer 2025 graphic novel lineup, entitled Meat Eaters. How did that opportunity with Oni Press come about, and did you already have this story in the works before you pitched it to them?

MEREDITH: As stated, I’ve already gotten a couple of titles under Oni and have had a good time working with them. So, they were amongst the first people to approach with this title. I did have MEAT EATERS pitched and ready to go. I’d wanted to do Ashley’s story for a while. But I didn’t take off with it in earnest until Oni said ‘yes.’ I’m grateful that it was a story I could develop alongside them, and with their input. It’s always nice when you’re not creating in a vacuum.

Life (or Death) Sometimes Sucks

GVN: Meat Eaters is an impressive and thought-provoking tale about fear, death, monsters, and the evil that permeates us all. Please share with our readers the premise of Meat Eaters and what you would hope that your readers will walk away with.

MEREDITH: Ashley died. And that sucks. Unfortunately, the world kept turning. MEAT EATERS is at its crux about being changed in a way you do not like. Unfortunately, it happens to most people. Something happens. Your health. Your headspace. Your identity. Something changes, and it changes you, and not always in a favorable way. And you just have to… figure out how you get on with it. Because fighting it can just make things worse. And the world doesn’t stop to accommodate you.

New Projects

GVN: Thank you once again for talking with us, Meredith. Before I let you go, please tell our readers one last time about Meat Eaters and any other projects you have upcoming.

MEREDITH: MEAT EATERS is about trying to find the version of yourself you can move forward with. And the people who will walk alongside you through it. It’s also about blood and guts. And murder.

I’ve also got BLACK CLOAK, my fantasy sci-fi book with Kelly Thompson, which is a lot of fun. CRUMBLE, a middle grade fantasy written by me and drawn by loveliest Andrea Bell. Both came out this year as well.

And for future projects, I’m currently working on a travelogue about my trip last year to Vietnam, ENJOY. ENDURE. Which is self-published right now on my Patreon but will be available to the public before the end of the year. And my next middle grade fantasy THE RIFT has been announced for 2029. About two half-sisters, one a mermaid, one a human, and navigating the changes that occur as people grow into themselves.

Oni Press Meat Eaters by Meredith McClaren is available on July 8th where great comics are sold.