When it comes to comic books, readers often see only the finished product. What they don’t see is the journey a page takes from rough concept to completed artwork.
Today, Action A Go Go is excited to present an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at SUPER KAIJU ROCK-N-ROLLER DERBY FUN TIME GO!: FUJI-TENGU FLAMES, the latest hardcover graphic novella from Fun Time Go! and the third installment in creator David Hedgecock’s delightfully over-the-top world of roller derby heroes, punk rock attitude, and giant monster mayhem.
Currently funding on Kickstarter, FUJI-TENGU FLAMES reunites writer David Hedgecock and artist Rolando Mallada for another adventure featuring Harmony, Lyra, Melody, Cadence, and Viola—the roller derby team known as the Diva Demons who moonlight as the rock band The Burnouts. Together, they find themselves caught in an ongoing battle involving ancient magic, towering kaiju, and the fate of the world itself.
To celebrate the campaign, Fun Time Go! has shared a collection of exclusive process images with Action A Go Go, giving readers a rare glimpse at how these energetic comic pages evolve from sketch to finished art.
Building the Chaos
Comic storytelling begins long before colors are added to the page.
Artists first establish composition, character placement, and pacing through rough layouts. These early sketches allow creators to determine how a reader’s eye will move across the page and where the most important moments should land.
At this stage, the energy is already present. The crowd, the stage, and the larger-than-life atmosphere are all taking shape, even in their earliest form.
The next step is the inked version, where those rough concepts become fully realized line art.
With the structure established, the final color pass transforms the scene into a vibrant concert spectacle filled with motion, light, and personality.
The result captures exactly what makes SUPER KAIJU ROCK-N-ROLLER DERBY FUN TIME GO! such a unique experience: equal parts rock concert, Saturday afternoon monster movie, and comic book adventure.
Character Moments Matter
While giant monsters may dominate the title, the series succeeds because of its cast.
The following sequence highlights the interaction between characters before the action escalates, showcasing how expression, body language, and visual storytelling are developed throughout the production process.
The pencil stage establishes the emotion and movement.
The inked version sharpens the performance and strengthens the page’s visual rhythm.
By the final stage, every panel feels alive, helping readers connect with the characters before chaos inevitably erupts around them.
From Concept to Impact
Perhaps the best demonstration of the creative process can be seen in this explosive sequence.
What begins as a rough layout designed to communicate movement and scale eventually evolves into one of the page’s most dramatic moments.
Even at the sketch stage, the intended impact is clear.
The inked version introduces texture, contrast, and depth.
The completed page delivers the kind of colorful, high-energy storytelling that has become a hallmark of both the series and Rolando Mallada’s artwork.
The Kickstarter Campaign
SUPER KAIJU ROCK-N-ROLLER DERBY FUN TIME GO!: FUJI-TENGU FLAMES is currently funding on Kickstarter and features a 48-page full-color hardcover graphic novella alongside a variety of collector-focused rewards, including exclusive artwork, sketch cards, standees, pin sets, collector boxes, and more.
The campaign also features artwork from an impressive lineup of comic creators, including Chuma Hill, Netho Diaz, and The Xong Brothers.
For longtime fans of kaiju fiction, punk rock culture, roller derby, and all-ages comic book adventure, FUJI-TENGU FLAMES looks poised to continue the series’ unique blend of heart, humor, action, and unapologetic fun.
To learn more about the project or back the campaign before it concludes, visit the Kickstarter page below:
Our thanks to David Hedgecock, Rolando Mallada, and Fun Time Go! for sharing these exclusive process images with Action A Go Go readers!