It began with a meme.
When comic artist Anton W. Blake spotted a satirical article by The Hard Times claiming to interview “NYHC legend Bebop,” he immediately sent it to his friend and fellow creator Manny Gomez. The caption was simple: “Here’s our collab.” From that seed of absurd brilliance, Bebop and Rocksteady’s Mutant Moshpit was born—a 12-page punk-fueled TMNT bootleg comic that mashes mutant chaos with a lovingly curated mixtape of hardcore, skate punk, and noise.
“We approached each step of the process in a loose, run-and-gun way,” says Blake.
“Early on, I described it as treating it like writing or playing a punk song. Trim the fat, get in and get out as fast as possible.”
With both creators slated to appear at Indie Comics Creator Con (IC3) in New Haven, Connecticut, the timeline was tight. They had just over a month to go from idea to print. But the deadline pressure didn’t hinder the process—it defined it.
“It needed to be short, fast, and loud,” adds Gomez. “In twelve pages, telling a full story was a challenge. But once Anton and I found the right rhythm, that energy came naturally. It really did feel like writing a song.”
And like any good album, Mutant Moshpit comes with a tracklist. Inspired by Derf Backderf’s Punk Rock and Trailer Parks, Blake and Gomez assembled a soundtrack that mirrors the comic’s pacing. It’s loud. It’s bratty. And yes—it ruled on the car ride to the con.
“We also played it on our morning drive to IC3,” says Gomez. “That ruled.”
Despite being their first official collaboration, the chemistry between Blake and Gomez is undeniable—both on the page and off. So, will we see more of these anthropomorphic punksters?
“Never say never,” Blake says. “We haven’t discussed a direct sequel, but…”
“If there are three things punk bands love,” Gomez chimes in, “it’s tours, benefit shows, and reunions!”
For now, the duo is focused on their own solo projects. Blake is working on issue #3 of Zethia Space Witch through Cosmic Lion Productions, while Gomez, who serves as Assistant Comic Book Editor of Monkeys Fighting Robots, is co-writing the grindhouse- tinged Relic Hunter—a reality-hopping fantasy that sounds like Conan the Barbarian dropped into a John Carpenter flick.
But the door remains open. Because when punk mutants and DIY spirit collide, there’s always room for an encore.
