In autumn 2022, we discovered what happens when you combine dolls and a fascist dystopia. Survival Street was a moderately strange yet deeply important contemporary analysis told through a gang of A-Team-esque freedom-fighting monster dolls. Now, Survival Street’s creative team, writers James Asmus and Jim Festante, and artist Aviléi Kousaynov, have reunited for a second series.
The aptly titled Survival Street: Radical Left continues from the first series, following the Survival Street team rescuing children from a “brutal company town” after much of America has been sold to various private corporations. However, as we find out in this second, four-issue series, “Portland can’t accommodate everyone and is on the verge of cracking.” What you get in Survival Street: Radical Left is “radical deviation,” but it still contains more of the wit, insanity, and weird affirmation of the original Survival Street. If you’re still not buying into the radical puppetry, you should probably get your life in order, brother.
In the lead-up to the release of Survival Street: The Radical Left #1 this week (September 25th) from Dark Horse Comics, we posed some burning questions to Asmus, Festante, and Kussainov over email, including about the vision for Survival Street, their collaborative process, the introduction of an AI-centric storyline, and the possibility of a third volume.
Alternative cover by Benjamin Dewey, courtesy of Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: What was the response to the first release of Survival Street? Were you surprised?
James Asmus: I’ve been writing comics for 16 years now(!), and Survival Streets has received the most enthusiastic response of any of my work. The amount of fan art, outreach, and requests for sequels has been amazing, especially for a four-issue original miniseries. But while the entire creative team was excited about the idea and eager to make the book, we worried that the premise was too weird (and political), and that having dolls as real people fighting the “end of capitalism” would be too niche or outlandish. We wanted it to feel as new and relatable to people as it did to us.
AIPT: Did some of the events and story elements that happened in the first volume feel strangely prescient?
Jim Festante: We were writing the script before issue #1 came out, during which Ted Cruz got into a fight with Big Bird for doing a COVID PSA, which was way more entertaining than kids being found working in a dangerous meat processing plant. So we tried to focus on the “what ifs” rather than specific events, but the “what ifs” have been coming true a lot quicker recently (especially in the second volume of the series).
Provided by Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: Did you ever worry (even a little) that “Dystopia Doll” had a lifespan and that you might not get a second volume or a second story?
JA: Well, the dolls and the dystopian story certainly live on in their own right, so this issue is probably the same as any other sequel/return/continuation; that is, is there any need to add something meaningful that wasn’t said or done in the first? It would be easy to continue the series for 100 issues with a new example of nightmarish capitalism, but what Jim and I always wanted to do with the sequel was to broaden the scope and examine some unsettling issues and divisions among the “resistance.” At the same time, it would also be fun to explore other types of dolls in the world.
AIPT: Is there a stronger focus on AI in this volume than in volume 1? It feels like there is a lot of emphasis in some of the calls in the book.
Avilei Kusaynov: Yes, there is! I won’t give away any spoilers, but there is actually an issue dedicated to AI and its absurdities. Personally, I had a lot of fun writing this issue (after I overcame my battle with depression after reading the script for the first time and realizing that all of this craziness was already happening in real time). Again, I applaud James and Jim for their ability to poke just the right spot in our brains to make us laugh and cry.
Provided by Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: How do you think this volume differs from the first one, perhaps in tone or aesthetic?
JF: We wanted to maintain the “Capitalist Villain of the Week” structure throughout the issue, as we did in Volume 1, but we also wanted to look at the internal friction within the team and the “resistance” at large. Because the 1% is the problem, the 99% can’t agree on priorities, focus, or even how to fight back. This is reflected in Birdie’s calm approach to the mission and Herbert’s desire to be loud. That said, history shows that most democratic advances haven’t been bloody (think French Revolution, American Revolution, labor strikes), and that’s not to say that nonviolent civil movements can’t be successful. But when there are a variety of perspectives, it’s hard to organize disparate groups and rally around a sustainable cause of justice.
AIPT: How did the collaboration process between your team evolve over the course of this story?
AK: James and Jim set the golden rule of how a writer can make an artist’s life 100% easier. They made the script as rich and detailed as possible, making sure I fully understood every quirk and premise they wanted to convey. For me, not from the US and unfamiliar with some of the idioms, pop culture references, and current struggles related to the plot, the team was ready with all the necessary links and images. Over time, with the help of Google, Wikipedia, and a bit of curiosity, I felt more and more prepared to take on the challenges J&J threw at me. I went from asking loads of questions and seeking approval on pencil sketches to being silent for a week, to suddenly being flooded with chunks of finished dialogue, waiting for fine edits from the team. Of course, I have to mention Ellie’s amazing work. Her ability to convey atmosphere with bold colors was masterful in every respect, and got even better with each issue.
Provided by Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: Volume 1 had some really great satire that walked a clear line between seriousness and overt humor. Is there any change in the form of that satire in this new volume?
JF: Not really. James and I both value satire a lot and we handle it pretty strongly. I wouldn’t accuse us of being sensitive in any way. It’s not ideal for reality to outweigh the satire, because by taking a step back from the issues and looking at them through a lens that may be ridiculous, you can see what’s happening in front of you every day in a new light. So we’ve tried to keep up. As comedians, telling jokes has always been a kind of survival mechanism for us. So, of course, that’s reflected in the way we write.
AIPT: Does publishing volume two make you feel better about the world? Does things seem less dire now?
JA: I certainly feel less alone because so many readers have resonated with me in this book. (Laughs.) But as long as the world remains structured to allow billionaires to continue siphoning endless wealth at the expense of other people’s health, futures, and dignity… I’m skeptical and worried. (And anxious. Always anxious.)
Provided by Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: Looking back at Volume 1, is there anything you wish you had done differently?
AK: If James and Jim read this, they’ll probably beat me to it, but honestly, this idea just came to me when I read the question. One thing I regret not going into detail on enough is the print on Gargle’s T-shirt. Imagine how much of a storyline detail that could have become! It could hint at the topic of the next chapter, wrap up the current chapter, or even send a secret message to the reader. Who knows…
AIPT: Is there a page/panel/moment that sums up this chapter that you can give us a sneak peek at or give away spoilers about?
JF: I think the end of issue #1 sets things up nicely. Our team is trying to do the right thing, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re succeeding (either externally or internally). If they were always on top, there wouldn’t be so much conflict. But we see what happens when the pressure is finally on them, and how they each respond. It’s sad, and a little hopeless, and by the time issue #4 comes out, it’s clear that things aren’t the same as they were before.
Provided by Dark Horse Comics.
AIPT: Can we expect more from Survival Street in the future?
JA: We love this world and our team, so we’re all excited to do more. We already have lots of ideas for new ways to expand the series and what Survival Streets could become, but of course what opportunities we get will depend on the response from readers and comic shops. We hope that those who loved the first series will help get the books into the hands of new readers who may benefit and relate to it as much. A lot of our success so far has been thanks to word of mouth and personal recommendations.
AIPT: Is there anything else you’d like to add about the story, the dolls, the technology, your tech buddies, the current hellish situation, etc.?
JF: I truly believe that a lot of what we lack, and what capitalism has taken away from us by forcing us into smaller spaces, is community. What got us this far is our innate ability to work together as a social unit. Hopefully, the promise of better connection that technology promises will come true, but it definitely feels like technology has separated us more than ever. But when we go outside and spend time with our “neighbors,” we can restore a little bit of trust and familiarity in our humanity, and if we embrace that, it paves the way for us to move forward.
JA: I think the last decade or two have proven that we need to stop waiting for technology to save us. Every promising innovation gets bought up and repurposed for the sole purpose of maximizing profits. So we need ordinary people to be more conscious about their choices and look for ways to make things better for others, even if just in a small way. Without giving away any spoilers, I hope this new issue of Survival Street explores that complex experience in a relatable way, with enough silliness and hair-raising comic action to make it cathartic and enjoyable.
