Scott Kolins Talks About His New Series ‘Patra In Trade Now

The Horror Of Childhood

Scott Kolins is a 30-year veteran of the comic industry, who studied at the Joe Kubert School and is known for his work for various American comic publishers. His work on Spider-man, The Fantastic Four and The Flash are memorable, but that is far from the topic of conversation on this occasion.

Scott recently spoke to Tripwire’s contributing writer Paul N Neal about his new series, ‘Patra, out in trade paperback this week from Dark Horse Comics…

TRIPWIRE: Is it true you have found social media a little frustrating to help make your fans aware of ‘Patra, a collected edition of a miniseries you co-created last year?

SCOTT KOLINS: Very frustrating. I understand that most internet platforms would want compensation to have access to the millions of accounts on their sites – but when you have a small group of followers and friends that seem interested in your material – and they hardly ever see your posts??  I’ve spent a year, daily trying to get word out on my small projects – and 90% of my followers have not seen 1 post?? Not 1 ‘Patra post in a year?? That seems exactly against any free speech and the positive feeling of a social platform – which is why we join such things! Feels like censorship to me. And I’ve heard several times – that paying for better coverage doesn’t really go far at all.

TW: Please take this opportunity to talk about ‘Patra. What is it about? What type of comic fan will it appeal to?

SK: ‘Patra is a comic book I’ve wanted to make ever since seeing John Carpenter’s Halloween. ‘Patra is a classic horror-terror story that involves a kid, a bizarre serial killer and some odd things that can’t be explained. The kid has a skull mask and a giant knife that appears and disappears – with no explanation. ‘Patra, the kid, can’t be seen or heard by almost anyone else but is visited by her dead sister.

The serial killer has a knife that glows, and he eerily tracks the kid through woods and neighbourhoods. ‘Patra is running to stay alive from the serial killer, Jeremey Jones, for much of the story. It’s set – like many classic slasher movies – in any small town in America. The local police dept. and even a psychologist get involved in surviving the story. Does the kid survive? What about the serial killer?

The ending has a few shocking moments (one part revealing ‘Patra’s real name!) and it leads to more stories – if we get to tell them. James Robinson, the writer, has several more stories planned. It’s probably the darkest story I’ve worked on aside from Solomon Grundy for DC Comics – but it’s not hard core. Not rated R. Most violence in the book is done off camera or in silhouette. But I tried my damnedest to make it scary.

All that said, I don’t think you need to be a horror fan to enjoy this book. It’s full of suspense, mystery and action! Same as I don’t think you needed to be a Flash fan or even a super-hero fan to enjoy my work for DC and Marvel. Did you have to be an archaeologist to enjoy Raiders of the Lost Ark?

TW: It is a project written by acclaimed writer James Robinson. Have you worked together before? How did this collaboration come about?

SK: This is our first time working together. James and I have talked about it for many years. He reached out again around the end of 2023. We threw a bunch of book ideas back and forth for a month or two until I finally showed him the sketch of ‘Patra. James loved the sketch and my ideas behind it – and admitted that he also had a serial killer story he wanted to do – a very different story – and the 2 ideas married amazingly well. We brought ‘Patra to Dark Horse, who I’ve happily worked with before, and they agreed to publish. My story would’ve finished at the end of 4 issues. James had a brilliant and a much bigger and complex story, which I’m waiting to continue drawing – pen-in-hand! But sales these days – even for us 30-year veterans – is hard to come by. Harder even to just get the word out there, that the book even exists.

TW: Is there possibility of a sequel to ‘Patra?

SK: That all depends on the fans – the readers. We can’t do this without them. James and I both poured everything we have into the book.

TW: Can you describe in two sentences or so why people should buy the collected edition of Patra when it is released on 8 April? 

SK: I think it’s the best comic book James and I have ever made and there are plenty of extra drawings and notes showing the creation of the ‘Patra that are included the collected edition. And I’ve heard it would make a great movie.

TW: Is the book available online in a digital format? At this stage is it just available as a physical book? If it sells out, is there a chance of a second print?

SK: I believe Dark Horse still publishes a digital form.

TW: Would you prefer people bought the book though?

SK: Yes I always prefer a hard copy myself.

TW: So, you have willingly offered Tripwire a five page preview?

SK: Yes Please.

TW: Thank you.