With the release of Free for All #1 this week from Oni Press, we are delighted to be joined by cartoonist and filmmaker Patrick Horvath.
Hi Patrick, it’s so great having you here with us.
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
My name’s Patrick Horvath and I’m a cartoonist and filmmaker based out of Los Angeles. I’m the writer and artist behind Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, and I’m also the creator of Free for All which is being released by Oni Press.
Can you tell us about the origins of Free for All?
The main inspiration for the book came out of the wake of the 2016 U.S. election. It struck me that a big problem at the root of all that turmoil was income inequality, and this country would probably be much better off if the rich actually paid taxes comparable to what everyone else does. I’d heard of the Giving Pledge started by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates (where they were trying to convince the rich to donate half of their wealth to philanthropy) and sort of twisted that in my head like a Paul Verhoeven movie. What if the were given a choice to either donate half of their wealth or be allowed to keep it if they were victorious in mortal combat.
Who are the World Finance League?
The World Finance League is essentially a federated league of nations that control and disperse funds for subsidizing the basics of existence around the world, namely: health care, education, housing, and universal basic income. It’s a radical redistribution of wealth that’s leveled out the resources of the planet and has led to a relatively peaceful age with this one ultra-violent gladiator spectacle at the center of it.
What can you tell us about Ted Brooks?
He’s a real estate magnate whose success came from the company that he had started with his former partner and wife, Luella Dominguez. Brooks is basically a ego-maniacal psychopath, and the traits that have led to his cold-blooded success in business have also served him well in the Free for All arena. As opposed to many of the others that are randomly picked to donate their funds or fight, Brooks actually opts-in to as many fights as he can. As a result, he’s the reigning champion.
As a creator, do you prefer writing or creating art?
That’s a tough question. Ha! If I can, I prefer doing both. I think there’s something really fun about being able to sit down and tell a whole story as you put it together panel by panel, refining it as you go along. That said, I really do enjoy drawing, and if I had to pick one or the other, I might choose drawing.
How did Oni Press get involved with Free for All?
Initially, Free for All was a project that I’d just made for myself, and I didn’t know if it would ever make it into print. Zoop reached out after Beneath the Trees… came out, and we did a small crowdfunded campaign to print it for supporters. As that was finishing up, Oni contacted me and asked if I’d like to give the book a home with them to put it out into the world, and I thought that would be a great idea.
Who is Luella Dominguez?
Luella Dominguez is essentially the beating heart of the story. She’s the former business partner of Ted Brooks, who is also her ex-husband, and following their dramatic split she’s gone onto become successful enough in her own right to qualify for the Free for All lottery. Aside from the higher concept of the world, there really needed to be an element of battling the emotional trauma tied into business and capitalism, and she brings that to this story.
Could you tell us about the world that Free for All is set in?
In the not too distant future, thanks to the World Finance League, we have a radical redistribution of wealth that now subsidizes the majority of people on the planet with health care, education, housing and a universal basic income. It’s essentially what would lead up to the post-scarcity society of Star Trek on Earth.
What has it been like working with Oni Press?
It’s been a major treat working with Oni. From the very beginning, they’ve put their full support and enthusiasm behind this book, and to be honest I feel very lucky to be included in the amazing slate of books they have coming out this year.
How long have you been working on Free for All?
It’s been an ongoing project, off and on since 2017.
How would you describe Free for All?
It’s a violent satire of what the world of the future could be if we radically reversed the power dynamics of the rich and put all of that into the blender of a Paul Verhoeven movie. At the time when I wrote it, it felt like a very cathartic way to process the times we were living in, and sadly it’s become even more prescient than I could have imagined.
Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?
I’m excited for readers to check out this book. If anyone was a fan of Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees I think they’ll find a lot of the same dark humor and emotion hiding underneath. I’m also currently working on the follow-up to Beneath the Trees… which will be out later this year. If anyone wants to keep updated, you can always find me at patrickhorvath.com where I have socials and a newsletter that you can subscribe to.
We would like to say a big thank you to Patrick for chatting with us and wish him the best of luck with Free for All.
