2026/10/27 15:45:26 +00:00 | Jonathan James
“From scorching deserts to fathomless oceans, from sacred temples to ancient graveyards,” Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart invites readers to join a daring skeleton and his trusty spectral butler in “supernatural pulp adventures” around the globe.
With the hardcover comic book anthology of five interconnected tales now available on Kickstarter from Goats Flying Press, Daily Dead caught up with cartoonist Joe Atalla in a new Q&A feature to discuss making his writing debut with Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart, being inspired by the wonderful work of Mike Mignola, and collaborating with a talented creative team including artists Juni Ba, Jesse Lonergan, Dimitrios Pantazis, and Armand Bodnar, as well as colorist Brad Simpson, letterers Jeff Powell and Aditya Bidikar, and editor Sebastian Girner!
You can read our full Q&A with Joe Atalla below, and we also have preview pages from two of the stories featured in the anthology! To learn more about Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart, be sure to visit:
Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart combines pulp adventure, humor, and the supernatural. What was the original spark that brought this skeleton adventurer to life?
Joe Atalla: The earliest version of Sir Reginald started as a response to an October drawing challenge. I took the opportunity to string the drawings together into a larger story, and, since it was during spooky season, a skeleton and ghost were the perfect protagonists. I’m attracted to supernatural pulp adventures and thought that would be the perfect world for my characters to inhabit. I had recently reread Mike Mignola’s The Amazing Screw-On Head and was inspired to create a zany adventure in a similar vein.
Why does Sir Reginald mean so much to you as a character? And what do you think readers will come to love about Sir Reginald and his adventures?
Joe Atalla:Sir Reginald is an extraordinary individual. He’s a super smart man of science who is not afraid to throw down with a monster. But, deep down, he’s as conflicted as all of us. As much as he wants to do the right thing, he has other desires pulling him in the opposite direction. He’s deeply relatable that way. He’s both someone we can aspire to and see ourselves reflected in at the same time.
What can you tell us of Sir Reginald’s ghost butler, Mr. Spittle?
Joe Atalla:Where Sir Reginald is all action, Mr. Spittle is nervous and cautious. He is fiercely loyal to Sir Reginald and is often the one that saves the day. In some ways, Mr. Spittle is the true hero of our story. As Sir Reginald pursues his goals at all costs, Mr. Spittle is the guiding light that prevents him from losing his humanity.
Making your writing debut with this anthology, what was it like jumping into this new adventure as a writer collaborating with multiple artists?
Joe Atalla:We were able to assemble such a spectacular group of artists that, honestly, I was a little nervous at first. Being in the same book as Juni Ba, Jesse Lonergan, Dimitrios Pantazis, and Armand Bodnar is intimidating. They are all artists whose work I love and deeply respect. Once we started working together, though, it was an amazing collaborative experience. They each brought their considerable strengths to the stories and helped elevate my story beyond what I imagined. Collaborating with the whole team—not just the artists but Sebastian Girner the editor, colorist Brad Simpson, and letterer Jeff Powell too—was the best part of working on Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart.
Sir Reginald’s adventures take him from lost pyramids to the ocean depths. What can you tease to our readers about the adventures and obstacles Sir Reginald will encounter?
Joe Atalla:There’s a lot of adventure and fun packed into this book. Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart is a collection of five interconnected stories that build to a larger narrative. Each story tells a different adventure and takes place somewhere new. With each story, the mystery unravels further. Sir Reginald and Mr. Spittle will face all sorts of monsters and some over-the-top villains. I did a lot of research into myths that would naturally tie into our stories, grounding the stories into historical context.
With Goats Flying Press launching the project on Kickstarter, what can you share about the campaign and the offerings that will be made to backers?
Joe Atalla:Goats Flying Press has built an amazing community of readers and a library of unique independent books. I feel so lucky that Sebastian Girner, the publisher, saw the vision for Sir Reginald and helped me bring him to life. We have some great stretch goals and tiers for backers at varying budget levels. There will be prints as well as original art, from sketch cards to commissions, available. We’ve seen what backers have liked in past campaigns and want to make sure we’re providing it. It’s also important to us that the rewards make sense to this book and don’t feel tacked on. We’re putting a lot of thought into each element and making sure we’re not overcomplicating the campaign. I have to tease that there will be a special treat for early physical tier backers, so I highly recommend signing up on the pre-launch page to be notified when the campaign goes live.
What are some of the movies, shows, and stories that inspire you and informed Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart?
Joe Atalla:Sir Reginald is indebted to the storytelling traditions of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells but is more closely inspired by the supernatural action of Hellboy and the globe-trotting adventures of DuckTales. Sir Reginald himself is an homage to Sir Reginald Hargreeves of the Umbrella Academy. I can’t help but picture Colm Feore’s great depiction in the television show when I read Sir Reginald. Ultimately, Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart has all the elements that have resonated with me in the stories I love and come back to. The most serious stories should have moments of levity, and the funniest stories should still have emotionally poignant moments. I hope our readers will enjoy the ride we’re taking them on and want to come back for more.
From the Press Release: Goats Flying Press is proud to announce Sir Reginald & the Clockwork Heart, an all-new pulp adventure anthology featuring a cadre of all-star comic creators. The gorgeous, 96 page, full-color, hardcover book features five interconnected adventures written by Joe Atalla (a dynamic cartoonist making his writing debut) and illustrated by a cadre of sensational superstar creators — Eisner Award-Nominee Juni Ba (The Fables Of Erlking Wood), Eisner And Ignatz Award-Winner Jesse Lonergan (Drome), superstar illustrator Dimitrios Pantazis (Hello Halloween), and smash-hit indie creator Armand Bodnar (Frog Knight). The book is colored by Brad Simpson (Feral), with letters and design by Jeff Powell (Absolute Green Arrow). The project is now live on Kickstarter.
“Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart has everything I think a comic should today—memorable characters, action, adventure, romance, humor and a dash of mystery,” said creator Joe Atalla. “Beneath this lies a fiercely beating heart that will make you question yourself by the end of the story. I’m so proud of what my collaborators and I have created. These stories have something for everyone.”
From scorching deserts to fathomless oceans, from sacred temples to ancient graveyards, Sir Reginald and the Clockwork Heart follows the eccentric adventurer Sir Reginald, intrepid gentleman (and skeleton) adventurer and his loyal ghostly butler Mr. Spittle, on a series of extraordinary expeditions. On each adventure, Reginald finds a mysterious artifact to add to his growing collection. However, there is more to these missions than meets the eye… What is Sir Reginald really scouring the globe for? And what is the secret project he keeps hidden even from his close confidant Mr. Spittle in his secret workshop?
“We’ve brought together five all-star creators to introduce readers to the world of the globe-trotting, tomb-raiding, tea-sipping skeleton adventurer Sir Reginald,” said Goats Flying Press Founder and Publisher Sebastian Girner. “Bringing together the spooky pulp adventure of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy with the zany all-ages hijinks of DuckTales, Sir Reginald & the Clockwork Heart is sure to delight readers of all ages, longtime fans of comics and graphic novels and first-time readers alike.”
Sir Reginald & the Clockwork Heart features five fantastic tales and one overarching mystery:
- The Curse Of Osiris, featuring art by Juni Ba
A lost pyramid, an ancient god, and a forbidden resurrection, brought to life by Juni Ba.
- In The Deep Below, featuring art by Joe Atalla
Something unthinkable lurks beneath the waves near an old fishing hamlet, where the shadows run deeper than the darkest ocean.
- The Lost Temple, featuring art by Jesse Lonergan
Sir Reginald returns to the ruins of an ancient temple to right a wrong he himself started many moons ago.
- Wyrm Of Destruction, featuring art by Dimitrios Pantazis
An expedition to an old Barrow in the English countryside sets loose a fierce dragon.
- The Clockwork Heart, featuring art by Armand Bodnar
In this 28-page climactic story Sir Reginald faces off against his old nemesis, Prof. Zardoc, in a race against eternity itself to uncover the secret of the Clockwork Heart, and undo the greatest regret of his life…no matter the cost!
“This is the type of fun passion project that as an artist I enjoy being a part of,” said Juni Ba. “To help a newcomer’s vision come to fruition for the love of making art and the fun of giving their ideas life. I hope this energy carries through to readers! “
“Sir Reginald & the Clockwork Heart was one of those fun projects that delicately balances adventure and whimsy and calls back to all the pulp adventure stories that were a constant background of my childhood,” said Jesse Lonergan. “I was excited to be a part of it and explore the jungle-covered ancient ruins with Joe Atalla.”
“In an effort to avoid using the broadly non-specific and oversaturated descriptor ‘FUN’ to describe my experience working on Sir Reginald, I will instead articulate that I found the project personally fulfilling on a creative level,” said Armand Bodnar. “The script was snappy, well rounded, and most importantly, contained a pleasant amount of irreverence; any comic that takes itself too seriously is death for me. The freedom permitted—allowing each artist to craft their own unique vision for the material and characters—was a welcome respite from the often rigorous demands for continuity and consistency made by less artistically-minded publishers. Most exciting was the chance to contribute to a project so packed with fantastic creators; I have immense admiration for every other artist on the book, and to be able to contribute the ‘capstone’ story was a small honor I would be hard pressed to turn down.”
“I was acquainted with his lordship Sir Reginald and his faithful companion Mr Spittle when I was working on the ‘Wyrm of Destruction’ story” said Dimitrios Pantazis. “These two characters are a delight to draw. Like old friends you haven’t seen for a long time but you can easily bring their characteristics back. Icons.”
For updates, follow Goats Flying Press on Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube. You can subscribe to the Goats Flying Press newsletter here. To visit the campaign for SIR REGINALD & THE CLOCKWORK HEART, head to Kickstarter.
ABOUT GOATS FLYING PRESS
Goats Flying Press is an independent comic book publisher located in Brooklyn, NY, that seeks to keep comics wild and vibrant and set a new standard in creator-owned and crowd-funded comic publishing. Against All Odds!
ABOUT THE CREATOR:
Joe Atalla is a cartoonist and writer living in the Pacific Northwest with his amazing wife, four children, and various pets. He brings the rigor of years in architecture and award-winning home design to his storytelling. He is currently figuring out how to bring all the stories in his head to life. He’s still working on it.
“The Lost Temple” Artwork by Jesse Lonergan
“The Curse Of Osiris” Artwork by Juni Ba
