Demons, diesel, and Post Malone: Inside vault’s wild ride ‘Big Rig’
This week on the AIPT Comics Podcast, we're joined by Vault Comics' Adrian Wassel and Nathan Gooden to talk all about Big Rig—their new high-octane series co-created with none other than Post Malone. We dig into the origins of the concept (yes, an 18-wheeler crashes into medieval Europe), how the creative team brought emotional depth to a story full of demons and chainsaws, and why Big Rig blends Evil Dead vibes with Fury Road energy. Plus, they talk about Post’s love for Barbaric, Michael Bay’s early involvement, and what’s next for the series if it continues beyond volume one.
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Show Notes
NEWS
- Writer Peter David has died
- 'Deadpool/Batman' and 'Batman/Deadpool coming late 2025
- Mark Millar's ‘Psychic Sam’ comic and movie announced
- 'Skullkickers' returns with Oni Press Compact Attack Editions in 2026
- 'Nightmare Before Christmas' novel gets graphic novel in June 2025
- Toxic Crusaders #1 announced
- Dark Horse celebrates Jack Kirby with ‘The Art of Fantastic Four’ out September 2025
- ‘Masters of the Universe: The Sword of Flaws’ announced for September 2025
Our Top Books of the Week
Dave:
- Absolute Martian Manhunter #3 (Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez)
- The Power Fantasy #9 (Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard)
Chris:
- Feral #13 (Tony Fleecs, Tone Rodriguez, Trish Forstner)
- Green Arrow #24 (Chris Condon, Montos)
Standout KAPOW moment of the week:
Chris - Absolute Martian Manhunter #3 (Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez)
Dave - Absolute Wonder Woman #8 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman)
TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK
- Chris: The Moon Is Following Us #10 (Daniel Warren Johnson, Riley Rossmo)
- Dave: DC Pride 2025 #1 (Various)
JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.
- Dave: Amazing Spider-Man #5 (Pepe Larraz)
- Chris: Imperial #1 (Javier Garron Connecting Variant)
Interview: Co-writer Adrian Wassel and artist Nathan Gooden about Big Rig #1 July 9 - FOC June 9
- What was the spark that lit the fire for Big Rig?
How did this story evolve from Post Malone’s original idea into the medieval demon-slaying road trip we see in Chapter 1? - How did the collaboration with Post Malone work on a day-to-day level?
Was he sending notes from the studio? Storyboarding demon fights on tour? - The idea of an 18-wheeler crashing into medieval Europe is wild in the best way.
How did you work to ground that concept emotionally and thematically? - What makes her essential to the story, and how does she play off Trucker?
- What kind of research or inspiration shaped the design of The Rig itself?
Did you draw from real-life trucking culture, heavy metal, religious iconography, or all of the above? - This book is described as Evil Dead meets Fury Road.
What’s your approach to balancing horror, action, and dark comedy on the page? - Nathan, your art often feels like it’s in motion even when the panels are still.
What visual challenges or opportunities did Big Rig present compared to something like Barbaric? - What was most important to you both in setting the tone for this first chapter?
⚙️ Segment Break: "Load It or Leave It"
Purpose: A rapid-fire segment where they say whether the following elements are "loaded" onto The Rig (i.e., present in the series) or "left behind" (not part of the story). This lets you transition into a worldbuilding breakdown in a fun way.
You say the element, they say "Load It" or "Leave It" — and optionally expand briefly.
Examples:
- Romance
- Chainsaws
- Holy relics
- Time travel
- Interdimensional truck stops
- Talking weapons
- Demon puke
- Flashbacks
- Post Malone cameos
- God
Wrap up the segment by picking one they said “Load It” on and asking them to expand:
“Okay, you said ‘Load It’ to talking weapons. Tell us more.”
Final Questions
- (Fun one) If Trucker had a mixtape in the Rig’s cab, what three songs would be on it — and does Post have to be on there at least once?