Erik Larsen is the creator/writer/artist of the wildly popular Savage Dragon, Creator/Scripter of SuperPatriot as well as being co-creator/editor of Vanguard, and Erik created and will be scripting and co-plotting Freak Force.

Keith Giffen is best known as the plotter of SuperPatriot and Bloodstrike as well as the plotter/artist on Images of Shadowhawk and the creator/writer/artist of Trencher and DC's extremely successful Lobo. Keith will be plotting Freak Force.

Victor Bridges is a relative newcomer to Image Comics. His first job was for Americomics on Faze One Fazers. He has contributed pin-ups to the Homage Swimsuit issue, Spawn, Youngblood, Prophet and a four-page Mighty Man backup in the Savage Dragon #3. Vic will be penciling Freak Force.
 
VICTOR BRIDGES

Vic, how did you get involved in the Freak Force project?
 
Actually, Jim Lee wanted me to do StormWatch for him. I turned it down, which would have been a stupid move if Erik hadn't called. Erik asked me to and I said OK. It's ironic because Erik had worked with me on the fourth issue of my book, Fazers. Erik has that simplicity of style that I like. I think we work well together. I respect him, like him, and understand my role as his employee.
 
Why did you decide to get back into comics after such a long break?
 
I thought it was time for me to start making serious money (laughter). I never really left. I did work here and there for Americomics. I went yearly to the Orlando con in Florida. I had a part time job. Width some encouragement from a fellow artist, I decided to seriously look for any artistic work I could find. I would give it a year of honest effort. If nothing happened I would do something else. 

I understand you are about six issues ahead on Freak Force. How is this possible?
 
I started in February and the book doesn't come out until December. I would consider it pure laziness not to be ahead. I also wanted to see just how far ahead I could get before the first issue came out. Maybe, I hope, Erik will let me do a story of my own. If not, no problem.
 
Who is your major influence?
 
John Byrne, for his style. I had the privilege of meeting him at the San Diego con this year. I like the man, and would like to get to know him better; maybe even work with him. Also, Terry Austin, for his inking style. Bruce Lee once said (I think) that "simplicity is the beginning of art". Their work is simple, enjoyable, and readable in a visual sense. Simplicity equals great comics.
 
How do you like working with Erik and Keith?
 
Erik is a great boss to work for. As a matter of fact, I call him boss. Keith, like Erik, writes the scripts in the form of break downs which I love because it cuts down on the time. If it's in words instead of pictures then you have to figure out what the writer wants. Of course that takes time.  Keith has the ability to capture the emotion and action of a scene very concisely.
 
KEITH GIFFEN

How did you get the job of writing Freak Force?
 
I think I volunteered. Every time I called Erik to go over some plot points on the SuperPatriot mini-series, he'd bring up this new super-hero group that SuperPatriot was going to seg into. He piqued my interest, and before I knew it, we were batting around ideas for this new book of his, and I guess the rest is history.
 
You seem very busy writing and drawing assorted books, how do you keep on top of it all?
 
I use the 8 hour work day system. I know, I know, it's a radical idea, but it works for me.

You've had a lot of time to think about Freak Force, how would you describe this team?
 
I tend to see the F.F. as a family. You know, Reed as the father-figure, Ben as the gruff but lovable...ahh, sorry...wrong F.F. Actually, it's Dart as the mother-figure and Barbaric as the wayward but good intentioned son...shouldn't you be asking Erik this?
 
What is your vision of Freak Force? (sorry, I couldn't resist)
 
I see F.F. as a, oh I dunno, a comic book I guess. Yeah, and in color too! And on that fancy paper like Todd (Mcfalane) uses!
 
Do you have any other projects coming up?
 
Yep. Sure do.
 
ERIK LARSEN

Where do we start in Freak Force number one?
 
EL:  Both the SuperPatriot mini-series and the Savage Dragon books have led to this group coming together. SuperPatriot in the span of the mini-series gets his head together with a little help from his friends. Meanwhile, in the Savage Dragon book, the members of Freak Force come to grips with the fact that they're really not cut out for police work and so they all quit the Chicago Police force. That's the starting point. The first issue deals with them setting up their new lives and dealing with their first major threat.
 
Who's on the roster?
 
Ricochet and Barbaric, teenage runaways with a mysterious past, Rapture, former hooker now electrically endowed, SuperPatriot, the fighting fossil from the fabulous forties who's cybernetic limbs can transform into weapons, Horridus, whose spiny protrusions and lizard-like appearance lead her parents to keep her locked in the basement her entire life. Dart, the sharp object throwing, butt-kickin' team leader and a revitalized Mighty Man, the world's mightiest man.
 
They sound like an interesting bunch. Do you have a favorite character?
 
I like them all for various reasons. I had this rebirth of Mighty Man storyline worked out years ago when I was working on Vanguard in the pages of Megaton, so I've definitely done a great deal of thinking about this character. SuperPatriot also has a lot of history that I can play around with. Dart and Horridus were created when I was a little kid and it's nice to finally get them in print. Rapture, Ricochet and Barbaric are all fairly recent creations but ones I have a real fondness for. The whole team is very easy to script. I feel like I know them all really well.
 
After all this time doing a solo book, why a super team?
 
It just occurred to me one day that Image Comics doesn't have enough team books (laughter)! No, I've always enjoyed team books and, as a writer, it's a lot of fun to write a team book because you can play off the other members of the team. Keith and I talk through the plots and come up with the plot points that we want to hit, then he draws up these funky plots which go out to Vic and when they come back, they're a breeze to script.
 
How closely will Freak Force be tied into the Savage Dragon?
 
Very. The Savage Dragon makes appearances in several issues and Freak Force members will be turning up in his book on a regular basis. The series ties into SuperPatriot's mini-series, too. The Covenant of the Sword shows up fairly early on with the Dragon and SuperPatriot's foe Mako in tow. Also, Vanguard crosses over in later issues of Freak Force. My small group of titles all fit together to form a larger picture.
 
How do you like Vic's work?
 
Vic is very influenced by John Byrne and, as a big John Byrne fan, it's a real thrill to look at Vic's stuff. Byrne draws some characters that I designed years ago when the Doom Patrol crossed over into Superman, and I get that same charge when I see Vic draw these characters that I designed. Vic's storytelling is great, his backgrounds are terrific and his figurework is exciting and dynamic. I really couldn't ask for anything more from an artist.
 
Will this book be monthly?
 
Without a doubt. I knew Vic only from his Faze One Fazers days, which was a long time ago. I was a little concerned about whether he could handle a monthly book given the relatively few pages of work I'd seen from him over the years. That being the case, I chose to have him draw Freak Force, which was planned to come out in December. Vic turned it around in a month and we've been going strong ever since. Vic drives Keith and me nuts all the time because he'll call up and tell me he's close to being finished and we'll have to scramble to get a plot out to him! Right now, he's working on issue six. I'd like to have eight issues in the can when the first issue comes out and that seems pretty likely at this point.