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 spoke first to artist Troy Little, now its writer Kyle Starks turn.
Kyle’s Love of Comics
GVN: Thank you, Kyle, for sharing some of your time with us. Since this is our first opportunity to chat with you, let us start with your creative beginnings. When did you first take an interest in comic, and writing specifically and whose work inspired you to consider that path?
KYLE: I mean, I’ve loved comics my entire life. I was pretty sure I was going to be a fine artist, some kind of painter, but in college I learned quickly that was not a real option for me at my skill level. When I started having kids, I made a sort of bucket list of things I didn’t think I’d ever have time to do after they were born and first on that list was “finish a comic.” I did that – which was my first book and just fell in love with the process of it. Turns out I’m a way better writer than artist and that is where I get most of my opportunities now. I never planned on it as a career. I never considered it. I just fell into it and like I said I’m pretty good at it so I keep getting to do it. Which is great for me because it’s all I want to do!
First Exposure to Crowdfunding
GVN: As a wrestling fan from “back in the day,” I appreciated your first webcomic “The Legend of Ricky Thunder. This was your first use of crowd funding for your book. What was that experience like (seeing it was your first exposure) and what did you learn that you carried on to future projects?
KYLE: I adore Kickstarter. It literally started my career. I love seeing everyone who wants to support and read your thing, I love feeling like you’re interacting with all those people. It’s an amazing feeling all around. I think the biggest thing I learned was how to be a project manager. How to do every part of the comic industry. Very helpful to do this job well!
Options, Options
GVN: Before we get into your upcoming Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary Deluxe Omnibus Library, I want to ask about something that I hope is not a sore subject. In my research for our interview, I noticed that a few of your books had been optioned for film, including “Sexcastle” and “Kill Them All” but things have not moved forward (as of yet). If you had to give advice to young creators and the possibility of film options, what would you tell them as far as getting their hopes up?
KYLE: My advice would be that a lot of things get optioned but very, very, very few things actually get made. Get excited about the option, be hopeful for more but don’t get your heart set on it. An option is like an award nomination – that’s the real honor, right?
Writing for Rick and Morty
GVN: In 2016, you were given the opportunity to write for Oni Press on the popular Rick and Morty Series. How did that job come about, and did you have any apprehension in writing for the uber popular series?
KYLE: Zero apprehension! I was thrilled! I had just written one issue of Invader Zim and told my wife I wish Oni had given me a shot at Rick and Morty because I was way more familiar with it, way more fond of it. When I started on Rick and Morty they had yet to put it out on Hulu and it wasn’t the pop culture powerhouse it was now – so it wasn’t like the rabid fanbase that exists now at all. I think for me, for telling stories, there’s no reason to have apprehension – just try to tell the stories you wish existed. It’s easier to think about pleasing yourself than the rest of the world.
Staying Close to the Show
GVN: As a follow-up, you wrote 48 issues of Rick and Morty for Oni. Did they give you any guidelines as what you could or could not do with the characters? Fans tend to feel a form of ownership with their beloved characters and what they should or shouldn’t do.
KYLE: I was never given any direction or any notes outside of some concerns by Cartoon Network. The Rick and Morty people pretty much only ever said “ha ha that’s funny.” I had an issue once about two characters and when we asked, they said “it’s a multiverse, it doesn’t matter.” So, the show was down for anything – but I always strived for the comic to be as close to the show as humanly possible. I was never making my own thing. I was trying to make more episodes of the show for the fans of the show. And back then it was a long time between seasons! We needed more episodes!
Working with Troy Little
GVN: So, in conjunction with the indomitable Rick and Morty, Oni Press is collecting their first 100 issues in five oversized hardcover omnibus volumes for the Rick and Morty 10th Anniversary Omnibus Library. In addition to this collection, you are collaborating with talented artist Troy Little (who is no stranger to Rick and Morty himself) on two special “Unprintable” Rick and Morty Books. How did this opportunity come about and had you the pleasure of working with Troy before?
KYLE: I got to work with a ton of great artists over my 48 issues on the Rick and Morty main series – notably Marc Ellerby who was the heart and champion of that series and still is. I saw the amazing work Troy did on the Rick and Morty: Dungeons and Dragons series and was always a little jealous that I didn’t get to work with him. I would’ve loved to renew that association with Marc for nostalgia’s sake of one more issue – we did so many books together – but he was unavailable so there was only ONE CHOICE for me and luckily it worked out. Troy did a killer job on these books, and I’m thrilled I got to check “work with troy little” off my Rick and Morty comic checklist.
New Projects
GVN: I want to thank you once again for your time, Kyle. Before I let you go, I want to give you the opportunity to tell our fans about any other projects you have coming and where they might follow you on social media.
KYLE: You can follow me on almost all social media at @thekylestarks – and right now I’m wrapping up a horror book with Dark Horse called THOSE NOT AFRAID about two serial killers trying to break the state record for murders. But if you’re a Rick and Morty fan reading this article I think I have a bunch of other books you’d love too! Check out: if you wish there was more superhero type R&M stuff PEACEMAKER:TRIES HARD or BARFLY. If you love horror too maybe my meta-slasher killer series WHERE MONSTERS LIE. Or any of my written/drawn books! (KARATE PROM, KILL THEM ALL, SEXCASTLE, ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN) Wubba Lubba Dub Dub!
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.
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.
