This audio interview was conducted by Chris Doucher, Editor-in-Chief Writer and Comic Panel Moderator for GeekNerdNet. (Image credits to: Fred Highbaugh, Jaimel Hemphill and GeekNerdNet) - *If you would like to use any clips, screenshots, or images from the interview and/or written post below, you must have permission from GeekNerdNet.com to do so.
L to R: Fred Highbaugh and Jaimel Hemphill from NPC at Fan Expo San Francisco 2022. (Image credit: Chris Doucher/GeekNerdNet)
At the inaugural Fan Expo San Francisco, I had the pleasure of meeting, chatting and laughing with creators Fred Highbaugh and Jaimel Hemphill from NPC (National Press Comics). These two hilarious, talented and super nice creators are based in Oakland, and as Hemphill says: “We specialize in creator-owned comics. We don’t publish anything the company owns. The company only owns its own logo. For those of you who are big comic fans, we are Image, but not famous.” Seriously, this interview was so fun, and I am sorry it has taken this long to get it out to you all. The lineup of creator-owned books is astounding. Hemphill is the creator of the series SON-LAR, a series about the world’s worst suoperhero: A drunken fry cook in East L.A. gets the ability to change reality. And, Highbaugh is the creator of BOOM UNIT, a series which follows the cast of characters to fight against a guy who rules the world. Be sure you check out all the titles under the NPC banner., and learn about the creators, too. Go ahead and listen to Hemphill and Highbaugh talk all things NPC.