An Austin Allen Hamblin Interview by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. “I Reads You”
Austin Allen Hamblin is a comic book creator, writer, journalist, and publisher. He has self-published a number of his comics works, including “The Adventures of Punk and Rock" (2014-16) and “Smile if You Farted" (2021-25). Hamblin has also appeared in the “Stairway Anthology” from Image Comics/Top Cow Productions (2020) and “Wizerd #2” from Cosmic Lion Productions (2022). He and I both had work in Carter Allen's “Ectyron Omnibus Vol. 1” from Candle Light Press (2022).
July 22, 2026 sees the release of the “BIG GUNS STUPID REDNECKS” trade paperback (Source Point Press), which collects Hamblin's three-issue miniseries, “Big Guns Stupid Rednecks” (Band of Bards). It was written by Hamblin; drawn and colored by Mariana Meira; and lettered by John Ira Thomas. The final order cutoff (FOC) date for the TPB in comic book shops is Monday, June 29, 2026. I have included the order numbers below this Q&A.
Hamblin consented to answer a few questions for a “Negromancer Q&A.”
-------------------------
I READS YOU: Austin, please introduce yourself to readers.
HAMBLIN: I am a staff writer at CBR. I have written comics for Image Comics, Source Point Press, Cosmic Lion Productions, Orange Cone Productions, and Candle Light Press. I'm just a guy from small town Iowa who loves comic books and is too stubborn to quit making them. I like to make weird off-the-wall fun comics.
I READS YOU: What are the plot, settings, and characters of “BIG GUNS STUPID REDNECK” (BGSR)?
HAMBLIN: The short version is that aliens are abducting rednecks and forcing them into laser gun gladiatorial combat for inter-gatical cable's newest hit show “Big Guns Stupid Rednecks.”
It is really a story about two brothers. Retired detective Clint looks into his white trash brother Clay's disappearance only to get abducted and find out Clay is the reigning BGSR champion with 27 kills.
I READS YOU: I like everything about BGSR, especially the twist that really upends the hero/villain dynamic. When you were developing BGSR, what did you think readers would like the most?
HAMBIN: Really the main thing I wanted was to catch people off guard and hope they have fun while reading it. Don't get me wrong. I love life-changing stories, but sometimes you just need to shut your brain off and enjoy some cool fights. What happens in Clint and Clay's fight is something people either love or hate, and there is no wrong answer.
I READS YOU: Artist-colorist Mariana Meira's clean storytelling and graphic design makes BGSR seem like both a traditional science fiction tale and a modern video game thriller. Did Meira's storytelling affect how you developed the series?
HAMBLIN: For sure. When we did the single issues I had a pitch, but no script. So when we ended up together and started chatting I was able to put in things I knew she would be excited about. I'm totally OK with things being changed from my script as long as it makes the comic better. She came back to me with some different ideas a few times which made it into the finished comic.
I READS YOU: Is there a future for the BGSR? Why or why not?
HAMBLIN: This is an interesting question for sure. There are definitely more stories which can be told in this universe. I don't see us ever diving back into Clint or Clay's story again (though they may appear), but there are ideas. Really it's just a matter of the right timing. Mari was doing an art restoration program in Italy which she just got back from. She's busy, and I've been doing my thing making comics and writing for Comic Book Resources. It will happen for sure, but nothing is in the works right now.
I READS YOU: What upcoming work can readers can expect from you?
HAMBLIN: Nothing I can talk about... yet.
I READS YOU: Thank you, Austin. Below is all the information you need to help you purchase the Big Guns Stupid Rednecks trade paperback and get to know Austin Allen Hamblin.
-------------------------
LUNAR DISTRIBUTORS' LISTING FOR “BIG GUNS STUPID REDNECK” TPB:
(W) Austin Allen Hamblin (A) Mariana Meira (L) John Ira Thomas (CA) Kurt Belcher
After a string of unexplained disappearances in the southern parts of the United States, retired detective Clint searches for his white trash brother. While trying to solve the mystery of his brother's disappearance, Clint ends up being abducted... by aliens! He is now in the arena for Big Guns, Stupid Rednecks, intergalactic cable's newest hit show, which puts humans in blaster gun gladiatorial combat, and his brother is the reigning champion with 27 kills! From the minds of Austin Allen Hamblin and Mariana Meira, BIG GUNS, STUPID REDNECKS is a fast-paced social commentary full of rednecks blowing each other up with lasers. This trade paperback collects, for the first time ever, all three issues of the hit indie comic with loads of new bonus material.
Retail: $19.99
Initial Due Date: 5/28/2026
FOC Date: 6/29/2026
In-Store Date: 7/22/2026
ISBN: 9798888760468
Page Count: 100
Product Code: 0526PP1136
Dear readers, the Big Guns Stupid Rednecks trade paperback collection arrives July 22, 2026. The final order cutoff for comic book shops is June 29, 2026.
The order number for stores that get their comic books from Lunar Distribution is 0526PP1136.
The order number for stores that get their comic books from Universal Distribution is PRA04260007.
There is also a signed edition of the Big Guns Stupid Rednecks trade paperback autographed by writer Austin Allen Hamblin that is available at Starfighter Comics: https://www.starfightercomics.com/.]
You can visit all of Austin Allen Hamblin's pertinent websites via his Linktree page: https://linktr.ee/austinallenhamblin. Hamblin continues to writer for CBR and you can find that work on his CBR profile page: https://www.cbr.com/author/austin-hamblin/.
Review: Big Guns Stupid Rednecks #1
Review: Big Guns Stupid Rednecks #2
Review: Big Guns Stupid Rednecks #3
BIG GUNS STUPID REDNECKS PREVIEW PAGES:
THE END
------------------------------
