Wowbagger Productions was established by Sara Kenney in 2011 to narrate stories through television, films, comics, and immersive experiences. Sara has dedicated 25 years to science within scientific organizations such as the Environment Agency and Wellcome Trust and has worked as a filmmaker specializing in documentaries, drama, and animation for networks including BBC, Channel 4, and Discovery.
In 2016 Sara wrote her first comic Surgeon X for Image Comics and in 2017-19 became a Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellow exploring comics, storytelling and health. Through Wowbagger, she also provides consultancy services for science communication and engagement projects.
Her current project is Avery Hill’s Acid Box, an innovative graphic novel created by some of the most talented UK comics artists today. Acid Box showcases over 200 stunning pages of comics by Sara, alongside contributions from artists James Devlin, Emma Vieceli, and Ria Grix. The project also incorporates the perspectives of numerous young individuals worldwide, presenting their visions through comics and insightful articles. Under Avery Hill’s guidance, Acid Box has officially launched its Kickstarter campaign.
Recently, we had the opportunity to catch up with Sara to discuss her creative beginnings, her establishment of Wowbagger Productions and her first opportunity to bring a project through Kickstarter with Acid Box. So, let’s welcome talented writer Sara Kenney to GVN Talking Comics.
The Evolution from the Sciences to Film and Television
GVN: Thank you for sharing just a bit of your time, Sara. Since this is our first opportunity to visit, let us start with some of your creative beginnings. You began your professional career in the sciences before moving to television and filmmaking. How did that evolution transpire and what made you decide that the entertainment industry was the direction you wanted to traverse?
SARA: Hello Geek Vibes Nation and thanks for inviting me! Yeah, I read a lot of science fiction and fact books when I was younger. I remember my dad handing me Parallel Universes by Fred Alan Wolf when I was a teenager. It totally blew my mind. I studied Ecology and Conservation as a BSc. in the early 90s and loved natural history documentaries. I worked for the Environment Agency for a couple of years while studying an MSc. in Science Communication at Imperial College. I landed a job in tele and went on to work at the BBC in 2000 – on a science series called Horizon. It was there that I first encountered the geological disaster featured in this comic. A film called Mega Tsunami Wave of Destruction.
I love science, storytelling and collected art books as a kid. So, to get to combine all these things I love through work – well that’s how I got here!
WowBagger Productions
GVN: In 2011, you founded Wowbagger Productions, blending your passion for science, television, film, and comics. How did this venture come about, and what goals did you have when establishing it?
SARA: If I’m honest, although I loved working in TV at the time it was limited in the sorts of stories you could tell and who got to tell them. In 2010 I saw a job advertised as Broadcast Manager in the Guardian at the medical foundation – Wellcome Trust. I’d never heard of them at this point but saw that they funded projects like ‘The Great Sperm Race’ and ‘Here’s Johnny’ a documentary about the incredible 2000AD artist the late Johnny Hicklenton and his battle with MS. Wellcome clearly did cool and innovative stuff.
Much to my amazement I got the job. It was a 1-year contract covering the post holder’s maternity leave. I was so inspired by the work they were doing bringing together artists and scientists. Taking an interdisciplinary approach working with historians and sociologists of medicine, I wanted to continue the work. So, in 2011, I set up Wowbagger Productions and the goals were to create inventive projects exploring science and health. Tell stories from perspectives you might not have seen in mainstream media.
The Pursuit of Comics
GVN: Speaking of comics, what inspired you to pursue that venue, and whose work influenced you?
SARA: My Dad had loads of comics Dan Dare, 2000AD etc. During my teen years, when I moved to Brighton in 1993, I got into Vertigo (Big up Dave’s Comics). I’m a Vertigo girl through and through. Y: The Last Man, Preacher, Fables.
For me comics was something I loved as a punter, but didn’t consider writing them as I just had no idea how to navigate in that space. But as I got older, I got braver and so started writing my first comic at the age of 40. Artists that inspire me at the moment, there are so many but Jeff Lemire, Alex Moore, Anand RK, Rachael Smith, Alison Sampson, Rachael Stott, Zara Slattery, Lucy Sullivan. Mostly artists whose surname starts with an ‘S’ apparently.
ACID BOX
GVN: Your latest project is a collaboration with the acclaimed UK publisher Avery Hill and features a wealth of amazing artistic talent for “ACID BOX,” which will be launching soon on Kickstarter. Could you please explain the premise of this exciting project and how you chose the artists who contributed to the book?
It’s just a brilliant experience being published by Avery Hill. They are such a great bunch of people and do great work.
SARA: I don’t feel like I chose the artists. More like timidly approached them to work with me and slightly bowled over when they said yes. They are all amazing and I am a lucky person to get to collaborate with James Devlin, Emma Vieceli, Ria Grix, Sofie Dodgson (colourist), Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Letterer), Katie West + Kirsten Murray (Editors), Joe Stone (Designer + artist), Alison Sampson (young adult cover work).
The premise for Acid Box – When Jade Nyo finds a portal to the 1994 rave scene in her local club toilet, she must fight to regain control and power – over both herself and the world.
The Input of the Younger Generation
GVN: One remarkable aspect of ACID BOX is the collaboration with young people from various countries to discuss themes from the book. They used these discussions as a foundation to create their own comics and articles, which are included in the project. How did this idea originate, and how long did it take to gather their contributions?
SARA: Most of my work involves collaborating with young people to work with them to develop skills and share the research journey. Workshops ran for around a year with creatives including Karen Berger, Shelly Bond, Jeremy Deller, Karrie Fransman, Rhiannon Griffiths, Lucy Sullivan, Irvine Welsh and a whole host of other people.
There are very few spaces in comics, where people can learn. Part of learning is trial and error so the workshops and mentoring is to help the young people have access to experts and then take from that what they will. They did a great job. I’ve only worked on three longform comics and six or seven short comics so I’m still learning too!
The Jump to Kickstarter
GVN: I mentioned that you are bringing ACID BOX to Kickstarter. Is this your first foray into crowdfunding, and what might fans expect when they visit the campaign?
SARA: Yes, this is my first Kickstarter and if I’m honest, I’m finding it pretty stressful. We are yet to launch, and it feels like you are throwing a party and possibly no-one will turn up. But it will be a very public no-show. And then you might have to walk out onto the street and beg people to come to your party (knowing they don’t really want to). I’m going to be away on a tiny island in Scotland during the last week of the campaign. This is exciting as the comic features the highlands of Scotland!
That said Avery Hill are running the campaign and they have done loads of Kickstarters before. We’re also working with the brilliant David Hyde who runs Superfan Promotions and he’s worked on over 100 Kickstarters, so we’re in good hands.
We have some lovely tiers for you with Acid Box comic, merch and artwork. We’ve got a brilliant trailer coming out and a few banging playlists.
Upcoming Projects
GVN: Thank you once again, Sara for speaking with us today. Before I let you go, I want to give you the chance to promote ACID Box and any other projects you and Wowbagger Productions might be working on.
SARA: Thanks for the invite, Geek Vibes Nation!
Wondering if ACID BOX is for you? Here’s a handy checklist to help you figure it out:
● Is your happy place a bouncing dance floor?
● Are you nostalgic for the parties of the ‘90s?
● Are you a fan of the power of friendship? Even across time and space?
● Do you enjoy well-researched, scientifically accurate sci fi adventures?
● Are you determined to have fun even in a world on the brink of disaster?
● Do messy main characters give you life?
● Is supporting art communities and youth access to those communities important to you?
● Do you just love comics?
If you answered YES to any of those questions, then yes, ACID BOX is for you, friend.
Please do sign up to Kickstarter here with 200 pages it’s defo bangers for your buck: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/averyhillpublishing/acid-box-a-stunning-sci-fi-graphic-novel?ref=1q0u16
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
