Dawn Brown: Little Red Hot Bound

By Paul Dale Roberts

The first issue of Dawn Brown’s Image Comics series, Little Red Hot, hit comic stores in February of 1999 and introduced Chane, the soulless female bounty hunter with a passion for killing and a thirst for money. Two years later, Brown and Chane have returned for yet another crack at adventure, and this time every bounty hunter in the world is after the bounty on her head.

Paul Dale Roberts recently had the opportunity to talk to Dawn about the new storyline and get a little bit of inside information on the making of Little Red Hot: Bound.

Paul Dale Roberts: Before we get this interview started, can you tell us something personal about yourself? Your family life, where you were born and raised, what schools you attended? Maybe some details from your resume?

Dawn Brown: I was born and raised in Kansas City, specifically, a little suburb called Prairie Village, in Kansas. [I’ve] been drawing since I could pick up a crayon. I went to college at the University of Kansas and graduated in 1991 with a BFA degree in illustration/graphic design. Most of my classmates seemed to go into advertising or Hallmark Cards, which is based in Kansas City. I didn't want to do either, so I packed up everything and moved to California.

Sounds like a smart thing to do, right? I tried for a few years to get into animation, but it just never happened. My big break into an art department happened in late 1993, on the TV show, seaQuest DSV. It was on that show that a very patient art director and set designer encouraged me to tinker at the drafting table. Drafting was the fastest and easiest way I could earn money drawing again. Within two years, I made it into the set designer's union, and I've been fortunate enough to work on "comic bookish" movies ever since.

PDR: What was the first comic book you ever read?

DB: Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man!

PDR: What were your favorite comic books growing up?

DB: I used to watch the delightfully campy Batman TV series when I was a kid, and when I would check out the Batman comics, they seemed so gloomy and serious. Spider-Man used to make appearances on a TV show called The Electric Company, and when I would check out the Spider-Man comics, they were so funny! As a kid, I figure I could relate to Peter Parker more than I could relate to Bruce Wayne.

PDR: For people unfamiliar with Little Red Hot Bound, can you tell us something about it?

DB: In the first Little Red Hot story, “Chane of Fools”, we meet Chane, (pronounced Shane) the best bounty hunter in the biz. Some say she has the luck of the Devil on her side. The truth is, she's married to the Devil! She is hired by a dying man to find God. Still reeling from what she may or may not have seen in the desert, Chane decided she wanted to break it off with her Devil hubby and reclaim her soul. Breaking a deal with the Devil is never without consequence, as we see in the new series, LRH: Bound.

In the two years between these series, Chane has been trying to get her life back on track and stay out of trouble. She quit the bounty biz [and] stopped killing people. As hard as she tries, she's not really happy. She's kind of bored. The new series opens with Chane on the run. She's fled from the United States, for reasons not revealed. The hunter is now the hunted! Welcome to a kinder, gentler, Chane, though I promise not for long.

PDR: How did you come up with the title 'Little Red Hot Bound'?

DB: "Little Red Hot" is the Devil's nickname for Chane. Chane is coerced by a pair of rookie bounty hunters, Vincent and Bea Price, into searching for a missing boy, rumored to be the son of god. The Prices have her "bound" physically, and the Devil has her "bound" emotionally. Hence the subtitle.

PDR: Tell us about some of the characters in Little Red Hot Bound.

DB: In addition to Chane and the Devil, two newcomers to the LRH family are Vincent and Bea Price. Eager to advance their careers, they decide the best way to find this child first is to recruit help from the best in the business - Chane. Heir to Chane's crown as best in the biz is Venditti, a rogue bounty hunter along the lines of Boba Fett. He lurks in the shadows behind Chane and the Prices, also eager to claim this boy.

PDR: There is plenty of mystery and intrigue in Little Red Hot Bound. This is the type of comic book that would have Ian Fleming smiling. Would you compare your comic book to some of Ian's James Bond novels?

DB: Thanks, I hope Mr. Fleming would be proud.

PDR: Do you have a website and if you do, what is the URL address?

DB: Yes, it is www.littleredhot.bizland.com

PDR: How can somebody contact you?

DB: I can always be reached by email: RumbleCity@aol.com

PDR: How did you become such a great artist? I'm dazzled by your drawings! Did your artistic skills come naturally or did you go to school for this?

DB: Aww, Paul, you're making me blush!

I'm glad you like the drawings, made possible by a little gift from God and years and years of practice!

PDR: How can someone order back issues of Little Red Hot Bound?

DB: Glad you asked. You can either ask for them at your favorite comic shop or, if they just give you a blank stare, you can order all the Little Red Hot books from me. Just visit the website.

PDR: How did you come up with the idea of Little Red Hot Bound?

PDR: My first mini-series, Little Red Hot: Chane of Fools was a success. I wanted to keep the ball rolling with Image and my budding comics career. At the end of “Chane of Fools”, Chane has won back her soul from the Devil. She has a clean slate. But then I was thinking about what happens after the "happily ever after.” The thing about being human, is eventually, you're gonna mark that clean slate. This is where “Bound” picks up. She's set up to fall down again. In “Chane of Fools”, she accepts an assignment to find God for a repentant man. For the sequel, I thought it might be kind of funny to have her search for the "Son of God", although the situations are completely different.

PDR: This story is headed for biblical proportions, since the Son of God is involved. Is this story referring to the second coming?

DB: No! Not to give the ending away, but I need to make clear that this is not a religious comic. The story is simply about this woman, Chane, and her struggle to save herself. It's about her relationship with her captors, the Prices, and her ex-husband, the Devil. The Prices have her "bound" physically, and the Devil has her "bound" emotionally. The fact that this boy they're searching for might be the messiah is incidental.

I keep telling people it's no more religious than Indiana Jones searching for the Ark of the Covenant or the Holy Grail. No one refers to the Indy movies as "biblical".

PDR: When this series end, will we see Chane again somewhere else? She is a skilled bounty hunter, I can't see her getting killed off.

DB: I hope Chane will be around for a long, long time.

PDR: What other future projects do you have planned?

DB: I'm hoping my work on Little Red Hot will attract the attention of the fine people at DC or Marvel. I would love to work on a Wonder Woman book, for example.

PDR: Tell us about some of your creative staff members.

DB: The creative staff behind this book is pretty small, actually. It's just me and my husband, Warren Manser. He's my pillar of strength, emotional support, and occasionally lends a hand with the painting. He works as a conceptual illustrator in the film industry. Most recently, he worked with the costume designer Jim Acheson developing the Spidey suit for the movie next year, and he just started working with Jim again to develop the Daredevil suit for the upcoming movie.

I must also give props to the tireless staff at Image Central. They get the books in the shops, and make sure you know about it. Anthony Bozzi is a hurricane of enthusiasm and support.

PDR: If you were stranded on a desert island, what 3 things would you bring with you and why?

DB: Warren, water, and a working cell phone.

PDR: Your thoughts on the comic industry?

DB: Sometimes I'm a little sad I missed the big heyday in the early 90's. I can only imagine where Little Red Hot would be if she came out then. Maybe it will swing back around again. Let's hope so.

PDR: Your three favorite fictional heroes and why?

DB: Superman - because I believe a man can fly. Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird) - because I wish justice was blind. Charlie Brown - because even though he knows Lucy will pull the football away, he never stops trying.

PDR: Here's an off-the-wall question. Have you ever experienced anything of the paranormal?

DB: Yes. I had a near-death experience in college. There is definitely something waiting for us on the other side.

PDR: Your three real life heroes and why?

DB: Warren Manser - my husband, best friend and a true talent. Tina Turner - the ultimate empowered woman. She found her strength in spite of extreme adversity. Frank Miller - for producing the comics that have inspired the most exciting chapter of my life thus far.

PDR: What movies, cartoons and TV shows are your favorites?

DB: Terminator, Lethal Weapon, Star Wars, Silence of the Lambs, South Park, Bugs Bunny, That 70's Show, The X-Files, The Sopranos [and] Survivor.

PDR: What books do you read?

DB: Read? Not much that's not comic or industry related, unfortunately.

PDR: What are your hobbies and recreational activities?

DB: Promoting Little Red Hot. Promoting Little Red Hot. Promoting Little Red Hot.

PDR: What comic books do you read now?

DB: Anthony from Image turned me on to David Mack's Kabuki. It's like Sin City set in the Land of the Rising Sun. I can't put it down.

PDR: When can we expect Little Red Hot Bound: The Movie? Who will be playing the character parts?

DB: Ha! I hope we can expect it soon! Developing this into a TV series or movie has been part of the plan from day one. We're still looking for the right people to make it so.

Dream casting call. Hmm... if it's done dark and serious, Jodie Foster would be the perfect Chane. If it's done light and campy, Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock From the Sun). Her character Sally was so in love with her anger, I love that!

PDR: Well, I guess that winds up the interview. Thank you. Is there anything else you would like to say before closing?

DB: This book wouldn't be possible without the support of you guys, the readers. You are the most important part of this industry, and you don't get the credit you deserve. How you spend your hard-earned dough sends a message to retailers and publishers. If you buy crap, they'll put more crap on the shelves. If you find something that's really good, no matter what it is, tell your retailer. Tell your friends. Use your voice and be heard. Thanks!