Interview: Gun Honey is Back For Blood
Jul 26, 2022
Interview by Nicki Faust
GUN HONEY IS BACK FOR A BLOCKBUSTER NEW SERIES! FEATURING COVERS BY ADAM HUGHES, ARTGERM, AND ROBERT MCGINNIS!
With weapons expert Joanna Tan, the legendary "Gun Honey," off the grid, recuperating from her last job, a vengeful rival takes her place - and frames Joanna for murder. On the run from Malaysia to Milan, from Montana to Monaco, can Joanna catch up to her ruthless enemy...or will she catch a bullet first?
We spoke with Hard Case Crime founder and editor Charles Ardai – also an Edgar and Shamus award-winning writer – about GUN HONEY: BLOOD FOR BLOOD #1.
Hey Charles, Gun Honey volume one was such a hit we’ve brought it back for a second series. What do you think has been the secret to its success?
Charles Ardai: Gorgeous covers, by some of the best artists in the business. A story that delivers knockout plot twists issue after issue. A character you love to watch get herself into and out of trouble. If I weren’t writing it, I’d be one of our readers for sure.
The first series saw Joanna helping the U.S. government with their quest to bring down a criminal. Will Joanna be working with them again in this series?
Charles Ardai: Yes and no. One of the government agents we liked is back, but there will be several others you won’t like much at all – along with one former agent who’d like to see Joanna dead.
What is it about Joanna that you think has proven so popular?
Charles Ardai: She’s self-made, self-reliant, very capable – this woman is the best in the world at what she does and she makes no apologies for it. Even though it happens to be against the law. That kind of confidence and competence is exciting to see, in the same way that it’s fun to watch James Bond or Tony Stark do what they do. It’s especially fun to see a woman in that sort of confident role for once.
Where did the inspiration for Gun Honey come from?
Charles Ardai: A writer friend of mine named Euny Hong was thinking of writing a book for us but only wanted to if she could do it under a pen name. I used an anagram for my own pen name, so I tried to come up with one for her – but what I came up with instead was “GUN HONEY.”
Not a good pen name, but an excellent title, and when Euny didn’t use it, I took the ball and ran with it.
What was your favorite part to write in the upcoming series?
Charles Ardai: Oh, man, there were so many! At one point Joanna is trapped in Italy and she has to escape three times in a row, in one night. Later, she infiltrates a charity event in Monaco disguised as a showgirl. But my favorite may be when she breaks into a moving RV that’s
going 50mph down a highway.
What do you think fans will like the most about series two?
Charles Ardai: This new story really pushes Joanna to her limits – she has an enemy who’s just as skilled as she is, physically stronger, and probably a better chess player. In a situation like that, you can’t even take for granted that Joanna will survive. Will there ever be a GUN HONEY 3? You’re just gonna have to wait and see.
GUN HONEY: BLOOD FOR BLOOD #1 written by Charles Ardai and illustrated by Ang Hor Kheng arrives on August 24, 2022 at your local comic shop and features covers by ADAM HUGHES, STANLEY "ARTGERM" LAU, PHOTO FEATURING TABITHA LYONS, ROBERT MCGINNIS, JOSEPH MICHAEL LINSNER, ROMAIN HUGAULT, and ROMAIN HUGAULT NUDE VIRGIN VARIANT. Reserve your copy with PREVIEWSworld Pullbox.
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With weapons expert Joanna Tan, the legendary "Gun Honey," off the grid, recuperating from her last job, a vengeful rival takes her place - and frames Joanna for murder. On the run from Malaysia to Milan, from Montana to Monaco, can Joanna catch up to her ruthless enemy...or will she catch a bullet first?
"THE FINEST KIND OF PULP NOIR." ED BRUBAKER
With weapons expert Joanna Tan, the legendary "Gun Honey," off the grid, recuperating from her last job, a vengeful rival takes her place - and frames Joanna for murder. On the run from Malaysia to Milan, from Montana to Monaco, can Joanna catch up to her ruthless enemy...or will she catch a bullet first?
"THE FINEST KIND OF PULP NOIR." ED BRUBAKER
With weapons expert Joanna Tan, the legendary "Gun Honey," off the grid, recuperating from her last job, a vengeful rival takes her place - and frames Joanna for murder. On the run from Malaysia to Milan, from Montana to Monaco, can Joanna catch up to her ruthless enemy...or will she catch a bullet first?
"THE FINEST KIND OF PULP NOIR." ED BRUBAKER
With weapons expert Joanna Tan, the legendary "Gun Honey," off the grid, recuperating from her last job, a vengeful rival takes her place - and frames Joanna for murder. On the run from Malaysia to Milan, from Montana to Monaco, can Joanna catch up to her ruthless enemy...or will she catch a bullet first?
"THE FINEST KIND OF PULP NOIR." ED BRUBAKER
With weapons expert Joanna Tan, the legendary "Gun Honey," off the grid, recuperating from her last job, a vengeful rival takes her place - and frames Joanna for murder. On the run from Malaysia to Milan, from Montana to Monaco, can Joanna catch up to her ruthless enemy...or will she catch a bullet first?
"THE FINEST KIND OF PULP NOIR." ED BRUBAKER
With weapons expert Joanna Tan, the legendary "Gun Honey," off the grid, recuperating from her last job, a vengeful rival takes her place - and frames Joanna for murder. On the run from Malaysia to Milan, from Montana to Monaco, can Joanna catch up to her ruthless enemy...or will she catch a bullet first?
"THE FINEST KIND OF PULP NOIR." ED BRUBAKER
With weapons expert Joanna Tan, the legendary "Gun Honey," off the grid, recuperating from her last job, a vengeful rival takes her place - and frames Joanna for murder. On the run from Malaysia to Milan, from Montana to Monaco, can Joanna catch up to her ruthless enemy...or will she catch a bullet first?
"THE FINEST KIND OF PULP NOIR." ED BRUBAKER
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Nicki Faust's heart is as cold as concrete in the Chicago winter. When not writing for PREVIEWSworld, Nicki is busy playing Limbo on Twitch, writing about the great robot uprising on Medium, and completing the untitled follow-up to the 2012 best-seller, Sue Storm: A Nude Photobook.
