Misfits, Monsters, and Mayhem: Amit Tishler & Elliot Sperl Talk “The Last Wardens”
“The heart of The Last Wardens is in its chaos—both emotional and physical. We wanted to create a world where everything is constantly falling apart, and the characters are just trying to hold it together…and how they pick up the pieces, or don’t, in the face of overwhelming odds.”
For storytellers Amit Tishler and Elliot Sperl, the journey of creating comics is one of trials, setbacks, and ultimately, successes.
Their series, The Last Wardens, published by Mad Cave Studios, was once stuck in creative hell until Tishler and Sperl honed the script just right. Now, the series is halfway through the first arc with plenty of story to tell.
As of this article, there first three issues of The Last Wardens have hit stands and this action-horror title has been a joy to experience. Issue #1 received a 9.4/10 rating from Pages and Panels, and for a comic about paranormal misfits battling a grotesque monster, there are lots of possibilities for this series.
Tishler and Sperl talked with Pages and Panels about their inspiration, next steps, and the little details that make this series great,
Seth: For those unfamiliar, can you give a quick rundown of The Last Wardens? What can readers expect?
Amit: The story follows Danielle Pryor, a small-town girl in Bleakwood, Oregon, in 1975. Her life’s rough—an alcoholic father and financial struggles. Things get worse when her long-lost brother Bruce returns from Vietnam with a mysterious mutation, and he’s being hunted by a team of paranormal misfits. The town becomes ground zero for a supernatural battle, forcing Danielle to choose between what she loves and the fate of the world. It’s emotional, chaotic, action-packed, and visually beautiful. It’s full of mystery, and readers will only get answers when Danielle does.
Elliot: It’s also about failure—how it defines us and forces us to keep going. Every character deals with it in some way.
What inspired the small-town setting and fall aesthetic in Oregon?
Elliot: The town of Bleakwood came from developing Danny as a character. Originally, we hadn’t planned for it, but it fit with the themes of isolation and mystery.
Amit: The setting was key. Oregon in the fall, especially with its atmospheric look, perfectly suited the monster movie vibe we were going for. It’s also a time period that helps isolate the town from modern technology, keeping the story focused on character-driven chaos.
How did you know when the story was ready for print?
Amit: Honestly, you know it’s ready when someone agrees to publish it. It’s trial and error—failure is part of the process. You tweak, iterate, and pitch until something sticks.
Elliot: We even changed the title last minute. It was originally Night Legion, but we switched it to The Last Wardens right before pitching to Madcave Studios.
Why set the story in the 1970s?
Amit: Initially, it was a pragmatic choice to avoid modern technology complicating the story. But the 70s became integral to the characters. Bruce is a Vietnam War vet, and his relationship with his father, a Korean War vet, ties into the political and social issues of the time.
Elliot: Visually, the 70s gave us a chance to lean into a Grindhouse aesthetic. The fashion, colors, and overall vibe were fun to explore.
Danny wasn’t in the original script. How did she become the protagonist?
Amit: Originally, the story focused on the wardens and their mission. But adding Danny gave us a human perspective, making the mystery more relatable. She became the heart of the story because the wardens’ world crashes into her life, and the audience experiences that alongside her.
How did you develop the wardens’ unique powers and personas?
Elliot: Each character’s design pulls from things I love—Guyver, Evil Dead, and even Scooby-Doo. Their powers reflect their personalities. Bricks is a huge rock monster, but he’s gentle. Sarah has attitude and a shadow clone. Each warden brings something unique to the team dynamic.
Amit: Their powers also amplify the tensions between them, which makes their interactions with Danny more interesting. Their personalities are as important as their abilities.
What can readers expect from the first arc?
Amit: This arc focuses on Danielle’s entry into the wardens’ world. Readers will learn more about the team’s origins and the larger threat, but the core of the story is about how the wardens aren’t functioning well as a team. There’s a bigger problem beneath the surface that Danielle will uncover by the end of the arc, leading her to join them—whether she likes it or not.
What music would you recommend readers listen to while reading?
Elliot: I listened to the Evil Dead soundtrack while working on it, so I’d recommend that.
Amit: I’ve been into classic rock—Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and ACDC. It fits the vibe of the 70s and the story’s intensity.
This interview has been edited for clarity. For more information about Amit Tishler and Elliot Sperl, see their bio below!
Amit Tishler
Amit Tishler is an LA-based creative director, software designer, animator, and writer. He has brought his diverse talents to shows, games, and immersive experiences for entertainment brands such as Cartoon Network, Warner Brothers, HBO, Skydance, Nickelodeon, and more. A prolific writer and content creator, Amit is developing multiple, original graphic novels and comic book titles with publishers such as Mad Cave Studios and Humanoids Publishing, as well as a slate of original TV shows for networks, studios, and streamers worldwide.
Website: https://www.amittishler.com
Elliot Sperl:
Elliot Sperl is a writer, director and storyboard artist who has worked at Bento Box Entertainment on Fox's award winning animated sitcom 'Bob's Burgers' and 'The Great North'. His resume includes working as an Assistant Retake Director on Apple TV's 'Central Park', the action-comedy adaptation of 'Axe Cop' for FXX and other animated shows featured on HBO, MTV and the WWE Network. Elliot has teamed up with Amit Tishler to co-create original comic titles for publishers including Mad Cave Studios and Humanoids Publishing.
Website: https://www.elliotsperl.com