At the Beginning of Infinity

Brian Pulido

by Jennifer M. Contino and Lisa Webster

Publisher Brian Pulido founded Chaos! Comics a few years ago. Happy with Chaos!'s image, but wanting to publish a different kind of comic book, Pulido decided to found another publishing company to fit his new vision. The first title from Infinity Comics is Counter-Strike, a story about a brother-sister team of infiltrating agents cast in a Robin Hood mold. Tarts Lisa Webster and Jennifer M. Contino wanted to talk to Brian about founding another publishing house, and his vision for the future, as part of Sequential Tart's "New Kids On the Block" month.

Sequential Tart: Why is Infinity Comics starting now?

Brian Pulido: There is a need for an on-time shipping action-adventure publisher that delivers good quality comics at an affordable price.

ST: What is Infinity trying to accomplish in this industry?

BP: Fill the gap left by Cliffhanger! comics when they blew it due to not shipping comics on time. Tell stories that can be movies on the page.

ST: What are the immediate and far focused plans of Infinity?

BP: Short term – successfully launch the brand Infinity. Have our comics well received. Long term – slowly and responsibly grow the line.

ST: What is Infinity doing that's so different from any other startup company, at least 50 of which have come and gone since Image debuted in 1992-3?

BP: First, we are delivering fun comics that will be delivered on time. Second, like my other company, Chaos!, Infinity will offer a sense of belonging that other companies just don't and never will have. Our comics will offer stuff beyond the comics. Infinity will become a lifestyle.

ST: What are you doing with Infinity that you couldn't do with Chaos!?

BP: Chaos! is all about the dark side of the supernatural. We couldn't do heroic action adventure titles at Chaos! and expect them to be well received. With Infinity, we can.

ST: Are there mistakes that you made at Chaos! that will help make Infinity stronger, just because you've already 'been there; done that?'

BP: Sure. I've published comics for close to seven years. Hundreds of publishers have come and gone. I'm still here thriving. I will take all my experience and pour it into Infinity.

ST: What is Counter-Strike?

BP: Counter-Strike, Inc. stands for a revenge service. Led by Robin Hunter, they seek out people screwed by big corporations (for example, towns with environmental problems, hostile corporate takeovers, third world governments) and Counter-Attacks the companies that did it.

This takes them on global adventures, coming into contact with super rich, obsessive, eccentric villainous corporate heads (oil barons, car company heads, oil sheiks, Silicon Valley corporation heads, a movie studio head, the wildly rich and their guards/assassins).

Her core team is: Robin (the leader), her brother Matt (her accomplice/side kick), her “nanny” Victoria Sikes (the stabilizing element) and their equipment manager, Bruno Alteri. The field operatives are Robin and Matt.

The Identity of Counter-Attack is a closely guarded secret. They use disguises, false identities and the element of mystery to guard their secret.

They are non-costumed adventurers. Robin doesn’t use a gun to kill, (she is not a killer) but is very adept at target shooting. Same with Matt. He doesn’t kill.

Counter-Attack uses state of the art spy gadgets – spy technology, hacking equipment, satellites, you name it. The key is to keep on the edge of reality-based technology – and private investigating techniques.

ST: Why retell the story of Robin Hood and why should readers care about these modern day type Robin Hoods?

BP: It’s not an exact re-telling of Robin Hood. From that story we borrowed the “Rob from the rich, give to the poor” concept.

Readers will care because these are real people with real challenges, not super empowered types who can lift the world. When they are in jeopardy, we can feel the stress and the consequences.

ST: Why do Robin and Matt Hunter hate corporate America so much?

BP: Once Robin Hunter and her family lived an affluent lifestyle. Her family’s import/export business made them rich. Based in Manhattan, but with homes throughout the world, they traveled extensively. Robin is a competitive kick boxer and an “A” student.

On the eve of her college graduation, all of that changed. Through a criminal takeover of her family’s company by Gabriel Blackwell, her family’s dynasty was robbed from them. They were literally destitute.

While searching for a way to dismantle Gabriel Blackwell’s company, Robin came up with an idea to solve her family’s financial troubles: an internet “spy” store specializing in surveillance technology. She recruited her techno-savy younger brother, Matt, and their sassy housekeeper Victoria and launched the venture.

ST: Why a brother/sister team?

BP: We see so few siblings in comics, but there’s rich material to mine from brothers and sisters and the conflicts that arise from simply being family.

ST: In the past, Chaos! has gotten attention for its scantily clad female characters. You plan to start fresh at Infinity, but the lead character in Counter-Strike has an outfit like we might see on a Chaos! character. Why is that? Her outfit doesn't exactly say, "I'm in the espionage business."

BP: I don’t have any apologies about how we make comics at Chaos! Love them or leave them.

Also, I disagree with your observation on Robin being scantily clad and being in an outfit that doesn’t say "I’m in the espionage business." Look closer.

ST: Will Infinity be all by 'known' creators or, like with some of your other work, will you take a few chances on unknowns?

BP: It will be a combination of known creators, unknown creators and creators from outside the comic biz.

ST: I've read that most of the properties published by Infinity are with a more 'Hollywood' type goal. What else are you doing to get your comics noticed by the producers of silver screen classics?

BP: We have an entire division dedicated to selling our properties into on-line, video game, movies and TV. We have six or seven properties percolating in those fields, however it is premature to discuss any of it.

ST: Do you plan on going to any conventions this summer?

BP: We will be at the Chicago Comic Con, San Diego and New York (Big Apple) in September.

Infinity Comics
Chaos! Comics

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