Review Fix Exclusive: Andrew Perry Talks ‘Undetermined’ And More

Review Fix chats with writer Andrew Perry, who discusses the inspiration behind his upcoming comic “Undetermined” and Kickstarter supporting it.

Review Fix: When did you know a career in comics was for you?

Andrew Perry: Would you believe, not until about a year ago. I’ve planned a sabbatical from my day job in IT for about 5 years and have finally plucked up the courage to take one. I intended to write fictional novels and short stories, then I met Simon Birks from Blue Fox comics and started reading his stuff. Next thing, I’m hooked on backing Kickstarters, then I thought why can’t I write one too.

Review Fix: What did you read as a kid?

Perry: A long, long time ago, I was in a WH Smiths with my grandparents. I’d been given a bit of pocket money and wanted a comic. Granddad said ‘Dandy or Beano,’ but then I saw this wonderful, colourful cover depicting transforming robots. I was hooked. Thundercats sticks in my memory, but perhaps one of my favourites was Power Pack. I wanted to be Mass Master so much, I can still recall a vivid dream where I transformed myself into a cloud.

Review Fix: For people who haven’t read them, what are your stories about? What makes them special?

Perry: I’ve got a pretty strange imagination, and that’s what tends to carry itself to the page. I’ve written a few horror stories, one of which is being published soon (www.twisted50.com) and that touches on the personal experience, not just for me, but what others have felt too. For the sci-fi stories, it’s based on predicted, theoretical or actual events, but I’m trying to avoid common cliche or trope and imagine alternate views – not so easy when there’s so much material out there. However, I think writing something that people feel could happen to themselves, or to the world they live in hits home and I always imagine weird and wonderful ways societies or individuals can disintegrate or evolve.

Review Fix: What was the inspiration for this comic?

Perry: Have you ever looked at one of those infinity mirrors? (If not, you’ll have the opportunity as we’re offering custom-built, ‘Undetermined’ branded Infinity Mirrors as part of the Kickstarter rewards). Are all those other you’s, you? What if one was different, and that was another you living another life in another universe? Maybe that other you chose left, while you chose right, but going right didn’t work out too well for you. Now imagine you could take the place of that version of you that chose left. Now multiply that by all the decisions you ever took, by all the decisions your alternate selves took, by all the decisions those around you who were influenced by your decisions took.

Review Fix: How would you describe your style?

Perry: Imaginative and exploratory. I’m always thinking ‘what if’ or ‘imagine that’. People have asked me how I come up with such random ideas. Coffee and beer help, but maybe I was dropped on my head as a kid or something…

Review Fix: How do you want this story to be remembered?

Perry: In a perfect world, as the issue which spawned an entire series of comics and spin-offs, a novel and the film. Realistically, as an interesting debut venture and exploration into ideas of determinism. Something that gives the reader a glimpse into my imagination and might make them consider reading something else I produce.

Review Fix: What are your goals for this comic this year?

Perry: The Kickstarter is planned for May and fulfillment in August. Reaching the funding target and having feedback (critical and good) would be amazing.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Perry: Lots more stories and poems, possibly another idea for a comic which I originally planned as a series of short stories, but think it will lend itself to the medium well.

For Undetermined, I have the storylines for the follow-up volumes and plan to begin scripting Volume 2 in the next month or so.

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14230 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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