Here’s an excerpt of the email sent to Slice of SciFi from TODD creator Ken Kristensen, that describes the genesis and creative influence that inspired this artwork.

The late Eddie Bunker, a crime novelist, screenwriter, actor, and ex-con — and perhaps most famously, “Mr. Blue” from Reservoir Dogs — has come back to life as a character in Image Comics’ newest hit TODD, THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH. The book, an absurdist comedy with the trappings of a crime story, follows the misadventures of the Belluomo family and their infectiously optimistic paper-bag-wearing son who finds himself in the ugliest of circumstances surrounded by epically dysfunctional people. Todd befriends this Eddie Bunker-esque character while being held in adult jail on charges of murder. Hyper astute readers might just see a few other real-life cons in the book. T.D. Bingham (infamous Aryan Brotherhood lieutenant) has a cameo.

The cover to TODD issue #3 is an homage to the film Animal Factory (written by Bunker and based on his novel), which starred Willem Dafoe, Edward Furlong, and Danny Trejo.

For more about TODD, THE UGLIEST KID ON EARTH, please visit http://www.sliceofscifi.tv/meet-ken-kristensen/ as well as the hilarious “TODD TATTOO” Interview After Party video at http://www.sliceofscifi.tv/ken-kristensens-todd-tattoo/