With the release of Destination Kill #1 on May 13th from Oni Press, we are delighted to be joined by cartoonist Joe Palmer. Joe has worked on numerous comics, including Time Before Time.
Hi Joe, it’s so wonderful to have you here with us.
JP: My pleasure. Thanks for having me.
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
JP: I’m Joe Palmer, and I’m a cartoonist from England. I’ve been working in comics for the last 10 years, primarily as an illustrator, and my new book Destination Kill is the first long-form story I’ve produced as both the writer and artist.
Can you tell us about the origins of Destination Kill?
JP: Story-wise, Destination Kill was a combination of ideas that I’d had in mind for about 8 years. A futuristic London setting, the gang of builders, a transatlantic train connecting London to New York, a police officer struggling with her mental health and a sleazy private detective were all story elements that had independently been rattling around in my brain which I ended up weaving into a narrative when I eventually sat down to write the book.
As for the practical side of things, I’d wanted to write and draw my own work for quite a while, but it took me a while to get motivated to actually do it. In hindsight, I think I was really just resisting the amount of work it would take to create something like this. I’d been working as an illustrator of other people’s stories the entire time I’d been working in comics, and for a while that was satisfying, but eventually I came to the realization that I needed to find an avenue to express my ideas, and to really break out on my own. In 2021-2022, I made some money from original art sales and from a movie/TV option, and realising I now had the means to finance production myself, I took the leap and jumped in.
What can you tell us about Gina Serene?
JP: Gina’s the lead of the story. She’s a police officer who has anxiety, but she’s suppressing it with medication rather than looking at her underlying issues. She’s hoping that a trip on the transatlantic train ‘The Paradise Loop’ will alleviate her stress, but things don’t go to plan.
You created all of the art for the Destination Kill. What part of that process did you enjoy the most?
JP: Every stage of the process has its merits, but I’ll try to break it down.
The writing was really tough to begin with, as it was the longest thing I’d ever attempted to write, but eventually I found my way and began to have fun with it. Thumbnailing is where I lay out the entire foundation. It’s a really intensive period for me, but when it’s done you’ve essentially got all of the storytelling down on the page, and can then just focus on aesthetic choices. Pencilling is the real hard labour, with tons of back and forth, revisions and editing. Inking is cool, because it’s more of a motor skill, and I can move quicker and relax (a bit). And finally colouring, which was new to me as I’d not coloured this amount of pages before, and where I tried my best to give the various scenes a distinct palette and mood.
How did Oni Press get involved with Destination Kill?
JP: I pitched the book to Oni back in 2022 or 2023 and they were really enthusiastic about it. I was hesitant to commit to a publisher at the time, and just wanted to focus on the work. I finished the book in 2024, and when I approached them again they were still interested. They’ve been really supportive, and I’m really grateful to them for believing in the project.
What can you tell us about Overcon?
JP: Overcon is the corporation who are now governing the city of London. They’re running the city as if it were a business, which depending on your world view, you may see as a good or a bad thing.
How long have you been working on Destination Kill?
JP: I made several half-hearted attempts to begin work on the book, but I think it was early 2022 when I actually sat down and started writing.
The book was originally going to be over 200 pages, and I got about 60 pages into that version before I realised that I was never going to finish it. I edited it down and rewrote the whole thing to make it more manageable, and that’s the version I ended up with.
I know for sure that I actually started drawing pages in 2023 because I wrote the date on the art, and for the same reason I know that I finished drawing the book in 2024. So I’d say probably around 2 years total time.
As a creator, do you enjoy writing or creating art more?
JP: One can’t really happen without the other in comics, but if I had to pin it down, I guess I’m more of a visual person.
Can you tell us about the world in which Destination Kill is set?
JP: The story takes place in London in 2125, and as such there are some recognisable elements and some unfamiliar things. It’s a world where political unrest and extreme violence are prevalent. But there’s also occasionally sass-mouthed robots.
Who is Lance Wingman?
JP: Lance is a private detective and Gina’s ex-partner. He enters the story ostensibly to help out with a police investigation, but he’s got his own motivations, which we’ll learn more about as the story progresses.
What can you tell us about Destination Kill?
JP: Destination Kill is a fast-paced science fiction adventure, and I hope readers will have some fun with it. I’m incredibly proud of the book, and I’m excited for it to now have a chance to find an audience.
Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?
JP: Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the book!
A big thank you to Joe for chatting with us, and we wish him the best of luck with the release of Destination Kill.
