The VILLINEWS!

Comics and child labour: A POWERFUL COMBINATION

It seems like just the other day I was introducing you to my new strip for The Phoenix Daughters of the Demon, or my new new strip for the Phoenix Donut Squad, or my new new new strip for the Phoenix Bagel Battalion. But get ready to forget all those, because now I’d like to introduce you to my NEW new new new strip for the Phoenix: THE VILLINOOS! And this one is very special, because not only is it the first time in a long time that I’ve tried collaborating with another writer, but it is in fact the first time in EVER that I’ve tried collaborating with a writer who is MY OWN KID. Yes, the Villinoos is the creation of my son, Logan Cameron. He’s been drawing comics about these weird little dudes for years, our house is absolutely crammed full of their adventures, and it has been an absolute joy to get to work with him on creating a Phoenix-y version of it.

Anyway, instead of banging on about it myself, I thought I’d commemorate this occasion by handing the newsletter over to Logan, so he can introduce the strip and its characters himself. Take it away, Logan! (Please don’t trash my nice shiny newsletter.)

Thanks, Neill/Dad! I’ll try not to. Anyway, let’s get to it!

The Villinoos is set in the far future, in which humanity is locked in an eternal space war with the VILLINOOS, a race of spiky purple evil aliens, who, as it turns out, are the protagonists of the comic!

The comic centres around LORD VILLINOS, the Ultimate Supreme Ruler of the Villinoo Army, an insane four-armed Space Psychopath with no regard for morality or life in general, as well as NEVILLE, a failed Villinoo Clone Soldier with a sunny disposition who sees Villinos as a (somewhat abusive) parental figure.

The comic follows Villinos’ attempts to conquer the galaxy or use his Big New Weekly Superweapon to defeat the humans in each issue, while Neville accidentally ends up ruining said plans in truly idiotic ways.

But who are the Villinoos? I hear you (possibly) ask. Where did they come from? I hear you (maybe) cry. Well. Time for everyone’s favourite bit: the backstory!

The Villinoos have been floating around my head in varying forms since… I want to say 2016? Why 2016, you may ask? Why, dear reader, because that’s when the game Star Fox Zero came out, which, while critically under appreciated at the time, did leave one lasting legacy (for me): THE VILLINOOS!

The Villinoos follows two opposing sides in a Great Big Space War. Like Star Wars (Ok, The Force Awakens may have also had an impact on my work)! On one side is the ASTRONAUT ALLIANCE, a plucky group of Generic Human Fellows who strive for peace and freedom… possibly? On the other side are the titular VILLINOOS, a species of alien lads who are determined to get REVENGE on humanity for some old quarrel/battle of times past. Look, it made sense in my 9-year-old brain, alright?

Anyway, those early years of the Villinoos were extremely productive (quality of the stories is contestable, again, I was 9)! I spent a fair few days just absolutely churning out stories, and, eventually, days turned into weeks which turned into months. At some point I crossed the issue 100 mark, and around that time I forgot how many I’d made and decided to leave the Villinoos alone for a bit.

I’ve continued the Villinoos story from time to time over the years, and they’ve taken all sorts of forms! I even wrote a BOOK. But anyway, because these little weirdoes have been floating about in my head for so long, it’s really nice to finally put them out in the world and let people revel in their glory!

I won’t spoil anything for you, but the Phoenix version of the Villinoos came about because Dad/Neill needed a new, short, funny comic for some New Project Thing. I off-handedly suggested the Villinoos, and I guess he liked the idea, because next thing I know, I’m getting to actually write real proper stories about the little guys.

Anyway, this has gone on for a while, so I’ll just say this: it’s been very nice to get to write Villinoos stories for the Phoenix, so, uh, thanks nepotism, I guess? Make sure to read the Villinoos in the Phoenix for the next few weeks! Or don’t, if you’re not a frequent reader. That’s fine too.

…Neill here again, and I don’t really have anything to add except to say that my son is far too forgiving of people not reading the Phoenix, which I would like to categorically state is NOT fine. Who do you think pays for all those school uniforms you keep growing out of? Honestly. SUBSCRIBE NOW AND DON’T MISS A THING! Okay cool.