<\/p>\n","post_title":"ComicBuzz Chats With Steve Ellis","post_excerpt":"Monsterwood","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"comicbuzz-chats-with-steve-ellis","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 02:15:49","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 01:15:49","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206741","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206675,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2021-08-05 15:19:39","post_date_gmt":"2021-08-05 14:19:39","post_content":"

Today we are thrilled to be joined by the multi-talented Jason Rosen, not only is Jason a special effects artist but also the founder of Skinwalker Studios. Jason joined us for a chat to talk all about Monsterwood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hi Jason, thanks for joining us today. We are so happy that you have taken time out of your busy schedule for us; we are delighted to chat with you and find out more about\u00a0Monsterwood<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s great to be with you, Shabbir! Thank you for speaking with us!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

For some of our readers who may not be familiar with your work, could you please tell us a bit about yourself?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Creatively, I have an eclectic background. I grew up in the 70\u2019s and 80\u2019s, devouring comics and film. Looking back, it still feels like a golden age of both comics and film. All of the great work, artists, and stories of that time had such an influence on me. I have always known I wanted to do \u201cthat\u201d before I even knew what \u201cthat\u201d was. I now know it is to tell stories and create worlds. I have worked to do just that, on everything from children\u2019s puppet shows to horror movies, from performing along with Henson puppeteers to being directed by the late Wes Craven. I have contributed designs, both 2-d and 3-d maquettes for pre-production on film and television, done special effects makeup, as well as specialty props, etc. So for me, the medium with which the story is told can take many forms. With Monsterwood, the graphic novel format allows us to tell the story the way we want to tell it and as large as it needs to be told, without any limitation of medium or budget.<\/span><\/p>\n

I also hold a B.F.A in Fine Arts and a M.F.A. in Dramatic Arts with a concentration in puppetry from UCONN, one of the only accredited programs of it\u2019s kind in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Could you tell us about the origins of\u00a0Monsterwood<\/em>?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sure! The first spark of\u00a0Monsterwood\u00a0<\/em>was tied to the birth of my first born son. I was doing the first-time parent thing and just staring at this little being. I knew \u201chow\u201d he got there, and enough high school science to understand the process, but I couldn\u2019t just chalk it up to mere biology. I kept staring at this little person asking myself where they were from, why they were here, and what they came to do. No doubt, universal questions, but they had never seemed so profound to me. The complete blank slate of a life and so many possible destinies. He was the impetus for one of the main characters, Jovis, the scrappy orphaned street rat raised by his adoptive Mahru ( Monster) grandmother. From there, Jovis\u2019s world grew and so did his role and purpose in it. All of the characters are so intertwined in the collective outcome of their world, just like we are all connected. I worked hard to make Monsterwood an entertaining, wild fantasy adventure with some horror elements while also exploring universal themes about finding our own purpose and path through life, while having to face some harsh realities that we do not have the luxury of turning away from.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How did Steve Ellis join\u00a0Monsterwood<\/em>, and what made him the right artist for the book?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It was an unexpected blessing. I actually had started doing some preliminary work with another artist going back and forth on trying to dial in what my world looked like at that point. He was finishing up another gig, so it was about six weeks of talking and dialing things in a bit. As we were about to start working on the first graphic novel, he got a full time gig for a big video game company, so I don\u2019t blame him for taking it. He\u2019s a great guy and very talented and we are still in touch today. However, at the time, I needed an artist and not just one of the many super talented people out there, I needed to find\u00a0the\u00a0<\/em>artist that was right for\u00a0Monsterwood<\/em>, my dream project. I turned to an old childhood friend, Mike Mrak who is now Design Director at Scientific American and told him I need the right artist right away! Being familiar with the project, Mike threw some real heavy hitters my way, all with varied styles. Then I saw Steve\u2019s work and in particular,\u00a0High Moon<\/em>. We actually met in an old manager\u2019s office in NYC. We quickly had a creative short hand and I was absolutely sold. At this point, I can\u2019t imagine doing it with anyone else. Steve is a great guy and his work is just amazing. His skill and imagination are limitless.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

There was a bit of a gap between the release of book one and book two; why was that?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

My life kind of imploded. My elderly mother was the victim of a violent home invasion and was assaulted. I found her, barely alive on her kitchen floor, two days later. At the time, I was working two jobs to pay my son\u2019s college tuition, in addition to coordinating life for my mother. Six months later, I found myself facing a divorce after 23-years of marriage. I went into survival mode. (This is not an invitation to my pity party, but I believe in speaking the truth in order to normalize how traumatic and messy life can be.) Throughout all of that, I was mailing out Kickstarter rewards from the first\u00a0Monsterwood<\/em>\u00a0book and eagerly planning on getting back to\u00a0Monsterwood\u00a0<\/em>book 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Nicholas Efstathiou joined you as co-writer on book two; how did that come about?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It was a question of timing. Monsterwood is my original IP, based on a screenplay I wrote way back then. It has evolved over the years, but still stayed very true to that original draft. Through the years there were so many variations and directions I could have taken or developed the story. I had another collaborator I was going to work with, but the timing didn\u2019t work out . This time, I found myself in need of a co-writer. Nick and I had some mutual friends locally and he had even backed the first two Kickstarters. Little did he know he would be co-writing Book 2 with me! I was familiar with Nick\u2019s writing through his great and creepy horror series,\u00a0Cross<\/em>, Massachusetts<\/em>. I love collaborating. I think working with another writer who is familiar with the spirit of the piece helps me focus and fully define all of the thousands of ideas that live in my head.\u00a0Monsterwood<\/em>\u00a0is a huge world, with its own history; flora and fauna. I can\u2019t put it all out there in three books, and some of it doesnt need to be there at all, but Nick, Steve, and I need to know it. It makes for a more fully realized, cohesive world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

How would you describe\u00a0Monsterwood<\/em>?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It is a high concept fantasy adventure with some horror elements. It\u2019s my love letter to all of the great fantasy, horror, and scifi that I grew up on.<\/span><\/p>\n

The series follows the difficult, sometimes brutal journey of a scrappy commoner raised in the slums of the city, and a sheltered princess as they move from the innocence of youth to the open battle of adulthood, set in a fresh and unique world filled with outlandish creatures that feels like\u00a0The Jungle Book<\/em>\u00a0meets\u00a0Lord of the Rings<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Monsterwood<\/em>\u00a0takes place fourteen years after the king and queen of Magog met mysterious, violent deaths at the hands of a group of deformed outcasts known as monsters. Now, as a new ruler is about to be crowned, two young people from completely different backgrounds--Jovis, an orphaned independent young boy, and the Princess Jocosta, herself the courageous, willful heir to the throne--will reluctantly join forces on a journey into the dark and forbidding forest known as Monsterwood. There, they will discover the truth about what really happened in those dark days of betrayal and murder...and begin to fulfill their own destinies.<\/span><\/p>\n

At its core, it\u2019s\u00a0a coming of age story that combines a fairy tale aesthetic with appropriately dark edges, significant twists, Monsters, strong characters, and tons of action and adventure in a world that is both haunting, and beautiful. The world of Monsterwood explores many themes; young people transitioning into adulthood, aspects of the classic hero's journey structure set in a new and captivating world, powerful people behaving badly, magic and supernatural elements, madness, pain, love, loss, and even some humor .<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Book two ended on a cliffhanger; what can you tell us about book three?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

No spoilers, but I can tell you it is going to be bug nuts! The first book felt kind of like a landing pad, a good introduction to the world and characters. The second book the threat became more real and defined. The third book, it\u2019s all on the line for everybody. There is no chance for a peaceful resolution and we are not lying when we say that \u201ca battle is coming and not all those who enter will survive.\u201d We also have some surprises coming up which are going to turn a few character\u2019s perceived realities on their heads. There are also some nice set ups for some characters that will allow us to take things even farther and expand the world of\u00a0Monsterwood\u00a0<\/em>even more, in time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

As a creator, does crowdfunding your project make it easier than dealing with a traditional publisher?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The easy part is you don\u2019t need to ask permission to publish, you don\u2019t need to pitch, have an editor, wait for someone else\u2019s publishing calendar, etc. You have control of all of those things. It is harder because you don\u2019t have all of the support that a traditional publisher brings. Editors can be a writer's best friend, just like an art director can be an artist\u2019s best friend. Win, lose, or draw, all of the creative and business decisions are our\u2019s to own. So we work hard as a team, communicate and delegate, stay focused, and most importantly, love what we do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Crowdfunding also has an aspect to it that is not the same when working with a traditional publisher, that being the relationship with the backers, who in turn become our readers. It is such a humbling and fulfilling aspect of a crowdfunding project. We know each and every one of our supporters' names. We never lose sight of the faith and the funds invested in us. There are a lot of great projects out there. When people choose us, it really does mean the world to us and the fact of the matter is, without their backing we just simply would not be able to produce these\u00a0Monsterwood\u00a0<\/em>books.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

What has the feedback been like for\u00a0Monsterwood<\/em>?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Overwhelmingly positive! We even have some 5 star reviews on Goodreads! I love hearing from people about Monsterwood. It is always so interesting to hear who their favorite character is, what their favorite scene is, or what aspect of the story or who\u2019s story arc they want to see resolved. The most common question I am asked is when is Monsterwood Book 3 coming out! I can't think of a better question and my answer is,\u00a0\u201cHopefully soon, with your support!\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

When you and Nicholas are writing, how does that work; do you write a full script and send it to Steve?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

My original screenplay was the source for the outline of the books. Based on that, Nick and I initially work on outlines of scenes together. They are a little more than outlines actually, containing notes and descriptions of key elements, actions, or dialogue of each scene. This then goes to Steve and the three of us go over everything together, with Steve breaking down how many pages he thinks he will need to effectively capture it all. From there, Steve works on thumbnails that then come back to Nick and I. We then write the script for those pages according to the thumbed panels. This way we all can see if we need to expand the page count, or sometimes shrink a scene before we proceed. Final art means one more round to polish edit any last bits of dialogue.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Do you have a favourite Kickstarter reward?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course, the book! That is the reason for the campaign. We really want to finish this story, for ourselves, for our readers, and for people who haven\u2019t read any Monsterwood yet and just like what they have seen so far.<\/span><\/p>\n

Past that I like the 3-D Scrag head magnets and the tapestry of Steve\u2019s amazing cover for Book 3!<\/span><\/p>\n

Steve\u2019s special edition books with pencil drawings, inland wash or even watercolor always turn out amazing and are really something not to be missed! They make the book that much more special and rare. I mean, who doesn\u2019t want an original drawing by Steve Ellis? I certainly do!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you like what you see, consider backing the campaign at any level. Every bit truly does help and the greater number of backers helps us raise visibility too. Beyond becoming a backer, please share word of the Monsterwood campaign with like minded folks. We really do think you and others will enjoy the world we have created for you. We can\u2019t do it without backers! To that end, check out the campaign:<\/span>\u00a0https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/monsterwood3\/monsterwood-book-3-annihilation-graphic-novel\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

A big thank you to Jason for sitting and chatting with us, we would like to wish Jason and all of his team the best of luck with their Kickstarter.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"ComicBuzz Chats With Jason Rosen","post_excerpt":"Monsterwood","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"comicbuzz-chats-with-jason-rosen","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 02:24:02","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 01:24:02","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206675","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206620,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2021-07-28 14:11:41","post_date_gmt":"2021-07-28 13:11:41","post_content":"

Today we are joined by the multi-talented writer\/artist Jimmy Palmiotti. Jimmy is a multi-award winning comic book creator. Some of the comics Jimmy has worked on include The Big Con Job, The New West, The Monolith, 21 Down, The Resistance, The Pro, Harley Quinn, Jonah Hex, Power Girl, just to name a few. As he launches his new graphic novel Rage with Scott Hampton, we got to sit down and chat with him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hi Jimmy, we are so excited to have you here with us today. There is so much that we could talk to you about, and we would love to. We understand that you are very busy; we are so delighted that you have taken some time out of your schedule to talk to us about your new graphic novel, Rage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can you tell us about the origin of Rage?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The simple origins of RAGE are that it was simply put together by two guys that wanted to work together again and tell a story they can own for a change. Scott Hampton and I have worked a few times on different projects, one of the last being the G.I. Zombie series over at DC COMICS, and we were talking about future projects when both of our schedules had a significant gap in them and we jumped at the opportunity. I already had the Kickstarter know how, so we then moved on to finding just the right idea where we would both have an interest in the subject, which was a bit of horror mixed with some over the top drama. We were looking for something that we would have a passion for and that\u2019s how RAGE came about. Right property at the right time.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How would you describe Rage?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I would describe the RAGE graphic novel as a mix of Horror, disaster movie, and a lot of humanity. Rage is less about the event and more about the relationship between father and daughter and their emotional scars they have between them that brings them closer. Rage is a study in a shared trauma and how people push through and deal with it differently. A lot of my past therapy comes into play when telling this story and at the end of the day, outside of that, it\u2019s a big adventure of two people crossing the United States while it is in the grips of an unknown disaster. We wanted to do something fun, weird and visually stimulating. I think RAGE delivers all of this and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

How long have you been working on Rage?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When you are doing something, you love, it really doesn\u2019t feel like work. That said, we have been creating Rage for the past 8 months during the pandemic and finally getting to the point where it made sense to start the Kickstarter. This gives us the opportunity to deliver the book very quickly after the campaign ends. With 16 Kickstarters under my belt, I know one of the major concerns is the book comes out on time and right now, with a perfect track record, I do not want that to change.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You are working with Scott Hampton on Rage; what made Scott the right choice for Rage?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Scott and I are different people in so many ways, but at our core, we both understand the importance of emotionally driven decisions. We also have an eye for art and both love this form of storytelling. We are fans of a ton of genres outside superhero\u2019s and we both have very international tastes in storytelling- meaning we have no problem with language, nudity and violence. Rage delivers on all of the above in this adult graphic novel.<\/span><\/p>\n

You are crowdfunding Rage, does dealing directly with readers make the project more special for you as a creator?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Crowdfunding is a simple and direct way to feel out what one\u2019s audience wants from a creator. They support a project with their pledge and as each campaign ends, you can easily see what works and what doesn\u2019t when you see the support or lack of on a campaign. This kind of grass roots feedback helps mold each and every project. I see a lot of the same names campaign after campaign and love it. I would also love to have some more retailers involved and offer pledge levels for them as well. Dealing directly to the consumer is a gift for me and trying to live up to their expectations is a constant challenge I am happy to make. I love the entire process, even packing up the books.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Do you have a favorite Kickstarter reward?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On Rage we are offering something unique to my other Kickstarters, and this is a lot of Original art by A Scott Hampton from the interiors of the book as well as I am offering a commission on the inside covers of a certain amount of books where a backer can choose for me to draw the character of their choice. We also have some special stretch goals added which we will show when and if we reach our goal on the project.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My message to ComicBuzz readers is thank you for getting this far into the interview, thanks for supporting this wonderful site and the people behind it and you can all do me a favor and check out our latest Kickstarter and share the links on social media, and please join our mailer at PAPERFILMS.COM so we can bring you news and exclusive deals each month. Also, please take care, be careful, keep calm and have integrity in everything you do<\/span><\/p>\n

A big thank you to Jimmy for taking the time to chat with us today. We would like to wish Jimmy and everybody at PaperFilms the best of luck with their new graphic novel Rage.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rage graphic novel is now <\/span>live on Kickstater<\/a>.
<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information, visit<\/span> www.paperfilms.com<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"ComicBuzz Chats With Jimmy Palmiotti","post_excerpt":"Rage","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"comicbuzz-chats-with-jimmy-palmiotti","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 02:28:33","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 01:28:33","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206620","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206335,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2021-06-02 15:23:51","post_date_gmt":"2021-06-02 14:23:51","post_content":"

With the launch of The Literary Tarot campaign on Kickstarter this week, we got a chance to sit down with the CEO and founder of Brink Literacy Project, Dani Hedlund to find out all about The Literary Tarot.<\/span><\/p>\n

Welcome Dani, thank you for taking the time to be with us, we are so happy that you could join us today.<\/span><\/p>\n

My pleasure, Shabbir! I\u2019m so excited to be here!<\/span><\/p>\n

For some of our readers who may not be familiar with Brink Literacy Project, could please tell us about your nonprofit?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I sure can! Brink is a zany group of lit geeks, all working to increase literacy rates, foster a love of literature, and empower people living on the brink to turn the page toward a better future.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nonprofit does that in a slew of cool ways. We teach comic book courses in maximum security prisons, nurture and publish the next generation of great storytellers (alongside some swanky industry legends) in our art and literature anthology, F(r)iction<\/em>, and then we use those books in classrooms across the country, elevating diverse and marginalized voices.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a real labor of love and we are almost entirely volunteer run (so imagine 40+ geeks scattered across the globe, all fighting for stories and art and education). We all love it, but man, our parents think we\u2019re nuts!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What is The Literary Tarot?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Literary Tarot is a full tarot deck that pairs each card with a literary classic that exemplifies the themes of said card. Who is a more classic Fool than Don Quixote? What\u2019s a more ominous Tower than Lovecraft\u2019s monsters? How could Death be any more transformational than a bite from Dracula?<\/span><\/p>\n

But we didn\u2019t get just anyone to make these pairings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the greatest living storytellers came together (icons like Margaret Atwood, Patrick Rothfuss, Roxane Gay, & Mark Millar) have joined our ranks to each pair a tarot card with a classic they love. They\u2019re the experts on these literary gems, and they bring that knowledge, insight, and considerable wit to each card!<\/span><\/p>\n

Working with a team of five incredible artists, we then brought each card to life with the intricacy and flair that has long enchanted tarot and comic lovers alike!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Can you tell us about the origins of The Literary Tarot?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Like so many literary classics (Bilbo stealing the One Ring, for example), the origin of this deck started with a theft.<\/span><\/p>\n

The theft of an idea.<\/span><\/p>\n

Listen, I\u2019m not proud of it, but I did not come up with this concept. In fact, it was my partner\u2019s idea. He tossed out a simple \u201chey, you should make a tarot deck, but like, literary themed\u201d as an off-hand comment after dinner one day. Clever bastard.<\/span><\/p>\n

But don\u2019t worry, the nonprofit negotiated ownership of the concept from his grasp through the payment of him getting to do one of the first cards (if you\u2019re curious, he paired The Scarlet Pimpernel<\/em> with the Five of Ink, won bragging rights for the end of time, and I do the dishes a lot now\u2026 okay, I intend to do the dishes a lot, that\u2019s the same thing\u2026right?).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

We understand that you are working with a huge amount of incredibly talented people for The Literary Tarot, can you tell us who these people are?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

To be honest, I\u2019m still in shock about the author roster. There are over 60 authors already attached to this project, all of whom are at the top of their game and, despite being some of the busiest humans alive, found time to donate their insights, wit, and words to create this deck to support our nonprofit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not all of them are tarot gurus (in fact, most aren\u2019t), but all jumped into this mad caper anyway, excited to merge storytelling and art in a new, weird way.<\/span><\/p>\n

But you probably wanted more names, eh? Well, I\u2019m going to do a terrible job of this, because frankly, there are just too many to list, but here\u2019s a wee taster\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

The creatives who have jumped on board are the who\u2019s-who of modern storytellers, from the greats we grew up to comic creators who couldn\u2019t stop winning awards, getting film\/TV deals, or enchanting the hell out of us to save their lives (Kelly Sue DeConnick, Kieron Gillen, Marjorie Liu, G. Willow Wilson, and so many more).<\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got horror writers (Benjamin Percy, Stephen Graham Jones, Victor LaValle), literary fiction and nonfiction leaders (Celeste Ng, Roxane Gay, Damian Barr), fantasy and sci-fi powerhouses (Lev Grossman, Rebecca Roanhorse, Leigh Bardugo, Charlie Jane Anders, Carmen Maria Machado), and crime author extraordinaires (Chelsea Cain, Hart Hanson, and Simon Tolkien). Hell, we even have the comedic brilliance of Joel Kim Booster and the journalistic force of Talia Lavin.<\/span><\/p>\n

And that big old list leaves out 40 other bestselling, boundary-pushing powerhouses (that I\u2019m already kicking myself for not mentioning, but damn you, Shabbir, I need to stop typing!)<\/span><\/p>\n

In conclusion: They are all amazing, big-hearted, brilliant storytellers, and I am humbled and shocked and awed by every last one of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

It sounds like the project has been a lot of hard work getting it up to this point, has that been the case?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

You know those people who chronically underestimate how much time something will take? Yeah, I\u2019m that person.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since January, my brilliant team and I have put in thousands of hours, helping each author nail their pairings, meticulously creating the art, researching classics like it\u2019s finals week at uni!<\/span><\/p>\n

But the real VIP t-shirts go to the team of celeb authors. Many of whom didn\u2019t just donate their time to creating their unique literary pairing\u2014some (like Kelly Sue DeConnick and Lev Grossman) went the EXTRA mile and jumped in to help us grow the roster, get the word out, and suffer through being guinea pigs as we ironed out the pairing process.<\/span><\/p>\n

So yes, it\u2019s a lot of work. Though, to be honest, it\u2019s hard to think of it as work when you get to make something this cool\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

What has it been like dealing with all of these incredibly talented people?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m not gonna lie: juggling this many creatives on a high-stake project with a billion moving pieces is\u2026ah\u2026complicated.<\/span><\/p>\n

But honestly\u2014I know this makes me sound like a total sap\u2014all our creatives are just so kind and brilliant and inventive that it\u2019s been a damn joy. It\u2019s like having a front row seat to see how my favorite writers\u2019 minds work.<\/span><\/p>\n

And let me tell you, this front row seat is intimate, because the way our authors are choosing their classics and cards is so personal to them. Makes sense, right? Think of your favorite classic. If you were asked to come on this project, you\u2019d choose something formative, right? A book you loved as a kiddo? A text you poured over at uni? Something you\u2019re obsessed with right now?<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019d have to get really jaded to think the magic of that process didn\u2019t outweigh a bunch of complicated spreadsheets and legal nonsense and strict deadlines. And, if we did our jobs right (which I sure as hell think we did), our readers will get to sit in the front row with us, not only witnessing these amazing portals through literary canon, but also getting to experience how each card unlocks portals within themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Why did you go down the route of crowdfunding for this project?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019m a big fan of crowdfunding. Not just on the nonprofit side (though we have run a slew of Kickstarter campaigns for F(r)iction)<\/em> but also just as a creative.<\/span><\/p>\n

The idea that we can engage the people who actually want the things we are making in such a cool and intimate way is pretty damn cool. Backers are more than just buyers. They\u2019re (to use a gross nonprofit word) stakeholders.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sure, more than a hundred baddasses came together to make this deck. But with crowdfunding, thousands (she says, hoping she\u2019s not being too optimistic) will help us bring it to life, sharing their excitement, experiences, and insights. We even have fun things planned through which our backers will help us make some major decisions for the deck, so not only are they sitting in the front seat, they are also co-directing the show.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s pretty cool, eh?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Do you have a favourite Kickstarter reward?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, my favorite reward is a stretch goal, so I\u2019m sworn to secrecy. But I can talk about my second favorite.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a Reader Tier on the campaign where you\u2019ll get the literary tarot box set AND our upcoming ARCANA themed issue of F(r)iction<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

And that baby is an explosion of magic. Stories and art about stage magicians tapping into real magic, apocalyptic worlds with prophetic visions of whales, an intimate memoir about a tarot reading that changed everything\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

And like all issues of F(r)iction<\/em>, diverse debut talent is published beside some of the biggest names in the game.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s a lot of magic, metallic foil and custom art, and some of the best fantasy writers out there\u2026all in one tier! How can you go wrong?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks for reading! I swear I\u2019ll learn to talk less someday (lies!).<\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to say thank you to Dani for taking the time to chat with us about The Literary Tarot. We would like to wish the whole team at Brink Literacy Project the best of luck with their campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n

To support the campaign, visit Kickstarter: The Literary Tarot campaign<\/a>
<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"ComicBuzz Chats With Dani Hedlund","post_excerpt":"The literary tarot","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"comicbuzz-chats-with-dani-hedlund","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:12:56","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:12:56","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206335","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206099,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2021-03-30 18:01:04","post_date_gmt":"2021-03-30 17:01:04","post_content":"

With the launch of\u00a0Inferno Girl Red<\/em>\u00a0graphic novel on Kickstarter today, we are delighted to be joined by the co-creator and writer Mat Groom. Mat has worked on numerous comics including\u00a0Self\/Made<\/em>,\u00a0Crimes of Passion<\/em>,\u00a0Tales from the Dark Multiverse<\/em>,\u00a0The Rise Of Ultraman<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0The Trials Of Ultraman<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hi, Mat thank you for taking the time to sit and chat with us today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanks for having me! I really appreciate the opportunity to talk about INFERNO GIRL RED.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Mat for some of our readers who may not be familiar with your work, could please tell us about yourself?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Sure! I\u2019m from Sydney, Australia, and during the day I work at a creative agency called FOR THE PEOPLE as a writer. And during my evenings and weekends, I write comics! I started with SELF\/MADE, a creator-owned series published by Image Comics, I\u2019ve done a few small one-off things for DC Comics, and I currently co-write the ULTRAMAN books for Marvel, with Kyle Higgins!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

You have just launched a Kickstarter campaign for your new graphic novel\u00a0Inferno Girl Red<\/em>, could you please tell us about the\u00a0Inferno Girl Red\u00a0<\/em>graphic novel?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Absolutely! INFERNO GIRL RED is a 100-page graphic novel about a teenage girl named C\u00e1ssia Costa who has to overcome her hard-earned skepticism to wield the power of a magical dragon bracelet and save her city, which has been ripped out of our existence by ancient cult and their army of demons! It celebrates hope in the face of darkness and action in the face of apathy, and features a mix of superhero action, teen angst and tokusatsu action.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Why did you choose to use a Kickstarter campaign to release your graphic novel?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We did approach some publishers initially, but the only options before us in traditional publishing were splitting the novel into single issues or giving up the intellectual property rights (and thus control of the destiny of the series). Neither of those options was acceptable to us, so we decided to take the book to Kickstarter! This allows us to genuinely gauge reader enthusiasm for the series and, if funded, will mean our art team can work on the book for the better part of a year and still be able to pay rent and buy food!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Could you tell us about the origin of Inferno Girl Red?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah! The mother of our lead character C\u00e1ssia, Ana, became something of a pariah years ago for unjust reasons and because of that C\u00e1ssia and Ana have had to move from city-to-city, barely getting by as Ana looked for work. It\u2019s not like C\u00e1ssia has a bad life, Ana is a supportive and loving and enthusiastic parent, but their situation has meant that C\u00e1ssia has grown up pragmatic, and highly-rational-- not a big believer in fairy tales.<\/span><\/p>\n

But when she gets an invitation to a prestigious boarding school in the near-utopian Apex City, it looks like her situation is about to turn around. Her skepticism seems to be validated, though, when the entire city is ripped out of our existence. It looks like there might be hope when C\u00e1ssia encounters a magical dragon bracelet that lets her transform into INFERNO GIRL RED\u2026 but the gauntlet is powered by belief, and C\u00e1ssia might be the worst person in the world to wield it\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is there a reason you wanted to release\u00a0Inferno Girl Red\u00a0<\/em>as a graphic novel instead of telling the story in parts using single issues?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a little difficult to describe other than \u2018this felt right like the right format for the story\u2019. I write single issues for ULTRAMAN, I wrote single issues for SELF\/MADE (and particularly loved playing with the format there), but at every stage of building this story it was clear to me that this story would work best as a novel, with a bit more time to breathe and without the need to have a beginning, middle and end every 20(ish) pages as you really should in single-issue comics.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

How did Erica D\u2019Urso join the project and what has it been like working with her?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Editor Kyle Higgins and I conducted a long search for the right artist for the series, but it wasn\u2019t until we found Erica (who was recommended to us by Francesco Manna, our artist collaborator on ULTRAMAN) that we knew we\u2019d found the right person. Erica can handle explosive, dynamic action just as easily as heartfelt emotional moments, and that was the balance we needed\u2014but she also has a tremendous sense of style and design that fit just right. Since we\u2019ve been working together, I\u2019ve also discovered that she is lovely, enthusiastic, wildly inventive and really dedicated. So, basically, I\u2019m the luckiest writer in the world!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Can you talk us through the design of the character of Inferno Girl Red and how her look came about?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Well that was all Erica, but I can talk a little to the conversations we had during the design process. We talked a lot about the awesome design aesthetics of tokusatsu heroes like the SUPER SENTAI and the KAMEN RIDERS\u2026 but also the design choices of recently-created American superheroes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ultimately, the goal was to create something clear and iconic, but also very forward-thinking and fresh\u2026 I think Erica absolutely nailed it. There are so many great touches, from the super sneakers to the energy scarf\u2026 and it was all Erica.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

On The\u00a0Inferno Girl Red\u00a0<\/em>graphic novel you are working with Igor Monti, Becca Carey and Kyle Higgins what has been like working with them?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh it\u2019s been a dream. Igor and Becca are both doing work that I really do think will be looked back on as ahead of its time. Igor creates these wondrously vivid and electric palettes that look kind of wild but actually aren\u2019t, they\u2019re very carefully guiding the tone of each page from panel-to-panel. And what he does with light and shadow is some sort of magic trick. Becca took our request to make the lettering feel as emotive and dynamic and create as the art\u2026 and just RAN with it. So good.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for Kyle\u2014we've been friends for years, and we co-write ULTRAMAN together, so we have a very natural working relationship. But I never take his experience for granted\u2014he has so much wisdom to share, both about storytelling but also about the process of producing comics, which is really important to know if you\u2019re doing a creator-owned comic.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Do you have a favourite Kickstarter reward?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh actually my favourite I can\u2019t talk about just yet because we haven\u2019t announced it quite yet, it\u2019s taking a little longer to finalise\u2014but it\u2019s SO cool, and I think completely unlike anything I\u2019ve seen from a comics Kickstarter before.<\/span><\/p>\n

But that\u2019s a bad, vague answer, so I\u2019ll instead say: our art prints. Seeing our world interpreted by legends like Nicola Scott and Darko Lafuente and Tiffany Turrill and so many more\u2026 it\u2019s been an incredible thrill and a real privilege, and I\u2019m so happy with how they turned out.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Is there a connection between\u00a0Inferno Girl Red\u00a0and\u00a0Radiant Black?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes.<\/span><\/p>\n

☺<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Any message for the ComicBuzz readers?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I hope you\u2019ll consider backing our campaign! It\u2019s a genuine passion project from a team of creators pouring their hearts and souls into it, and there\u2019s no way it can come to life without community support. So please, come check out our campaign\u2014come for the gorgeous art, stay (and back) for the heartfelt and timely story that has something to say about what it\u2019s going to take for humanity to persevere.<\/span><\/p>\n

We would like to say thank you to Mat for talking to us about his new project. We would like to wish the whole team of\u00a0Inferno Girl Red\u00a0the best of luck with their campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n

To support the campaign, visit Kickstarter: Inferno Girl Red<\/a>.
<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"ComicBuzz Chats With Mat Groom","post_excerpt":"Inferno Girl Red","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"comicbuzz-chats-with-mat-groom","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 16:01:29","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 15:01:29","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206099","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205967,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2021-02-24 10:52:39","post_date_gmt":"2021-02-24 10:52:39","post_content":"We got a chance to sit down and chat with the very talented Ricardo Delgado, as his latest project Dracula of Transylvania an illustrated novel goes live on Kickstarter.<\/span>\n\nWelcome<\/span><\/strong><\/em> Ricardo, thank you for taking the time to be with us, we are so happy that you could join us.<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\n\nRD: Hey, I\u2019m happy to be here talking vampires, ghosts and other things that go bump in the night!<\/span>\n\nFor some of our readers who may not be familiar with your work, could please tell us a bit about yourself?<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\n\nRD: I\u2019m a comic book creator, novelist, conceptual designer and storyboard artist. My comic book AGE OF REPTILES has been published by Dark Horse for a quarter century, my novels WARHEAD and SAM SPECTER AND THE BOOK OF SPELLS precede this one, and my film credits include MEN IN BLACK, INCREDIBLES, STAR TREK FIRST CONTACT, X2 and a bunch of other stuff.<\/span>\n\n\nWe would love to know about your history with Dracula?<\/span><\/em><\/strong>\n\nRD: I have to start with the different versions from my childhood, from the creepy elegance of the Universal films to the violence and terror of the Hammer films to the TOMB OF DRACULA Marvel comics which I obsessed over and honestly there used to be these very cool Ben Cooper Halloween costumes that I LOVED as well. There was a series of monster model kits in the 1970\u2019s by this company named Aurora and I collected nearly all of them, and man did I love my Dracula model, complete with the glow-in-the-dark head! But more than anything the classic Universal monster movies just seared themselves into my heart and spent many of the days leading up to Halloween watching all of them. To this day because they are in black and white those movies remain\u2026ghostly to me. No other way to describe it. And there was this set of trading cards with stock photos of the universal monsters that I avidly collected. I\u2019ve just loved that stuff my whole life. There\u2019s also this reeeeallly cool image of Dracula and the Frankenstein monster that I found in one of Frank Frazetta\u2019s art books and man did I obsess over that image, nearly as much as the one where Dracula fights the Wolf Man in a graveyard! Wow, to this day.<\/span>\n\nCan you tell us about the origins of Dracula of Transylvania?<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\n\nRD: Nope. Of course! At first I developed this as a story, not sure whether it be a comic book or novel. In the end I went with novel because it was a challenge. I like challenges and think the project came out the better for it. The art here is really lush and beautiful and horrifying, just like the story itself. I appreciate how the story works well to inform about history as it goes along and mostly how it takes pains to celebrate the Victorian Era ghost story like those of Edgar Allan Poe, M.R. James, Sheridan Le Fanu and Bram Stroker himself of course. I love that stuff, those stories and sought to weave that feeling into this story and feel like I\u2019ve succeeded.<\/span>\n\n\nWhat has the process been like working on Dracula of Transylvania?<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\n\nRD: Well, I had to do some historical research to set the stage for the story, but the real work began after that in a broader sense to connect the story\u2019s settings, costumes and other details to the era\u2019s context. I went through three drafts then a dialogue polish. I then created historical \u2018interstitials\u2019 throughout the story, especially when the narrative moved to a different locale, to further explain where that setting and place in the world was at that time in history. After all that I had a novel, but then how to make it unique and more interesting to publishers? That\u2019s when I started creating the concept art that\u2019s part of the book. My pitch was ART OF STAR WARS meets SALEM\u2019S LOT.<\/span>\n\nHow would you describe the novel, Dracula of Transylvania?<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\n\nRD: THE EXORCIST meets LORD OF THE RINGS. Horror within a sprawling adventure that vastly expands the supernatural world of Dracula. Lightning-fast action sequences framed by some pretty damn scary stuff, with endearing protagonists that decide to do the impossible: fight back against Dracula, who once destroyed a combined army of all the city\/states in Europe. Some seriously wicked and violent stuff from the count, who does not whether you are human, vampire or otherwise, he is the son of Satan and you will do his bidding or suffer the consequences.<\/span>\n\n\nThere are many different versions of Dracula in books and on the big screen, do you have a favourite version of Prince of Darkness?<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\n\nRD: A lot of them, but I do really like a few of the more modern retellings like the 1979 Frank Langella version and the Coppola BRAM STOKER\u2019S DRACULA for different reasons. The first because it\u2019s a great mood piece with a very good story and the second because there\u2019s a layer of artistry and artisanry that I really like.<\/span>\n\nWhat can you tell us about the Prince of Darkness in the Dracula of Transylvania novel?<\/span><\/strong><\/em>\n\nRD: That you\u2019ll read about how Dracula came to be, how he rules over all the Nosferatu as king and how this version of Dracula has had a presence throughout history. This novel takes place between 999 and 1899 AD. You\u2019ll also see how some off the vampire king\u2019s subjects aren\u2019t too thrilled with his ruthlessness and taxation, how they resent him for thinking of them as subjects and how certain historical figures throughout time were actually vampires themselves. Heady stuff, hopefully.<\/span>\n\n\n\nWould you have any message for the ComicBuzz readers?<\/em><\/strong><\/span>\n\nRD: Yes, if you think that Dracula is played out, if he\u2019s become a lesser villain in your modern eyes, then this is the book for you because Dracula of Transylvania takes no prisoners, puts everyone in his path to the sword or stake and seeks only to continue to rule, and those vampires that agree with him can come along and be ruled or they can die by his hand. This is the no fooling around version of Dracula, and with some fun yet terrifying stuff to read along with. DRACULA OF TRANSYLVANIA is the novel you\u2019ve been waiting for, with some impressive concept art and historical annotations along the way. Check it out, it\u2019s everything you wish a book like this could be.<\/span>\n\nWe would like to thank Ricardo for taking the time out of his busy schedule to chat with us. If you would like to support Dracula of Transylvania and in the process pick up some great rewards please check out the campaign, visit Kickstarter:<\/span> https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/cloverpress\/ricardo-delgados-dracula-of-transylvania<\/a>\n\nThey have already unlocked a stretch goal at the $24,000 mark for several postcards featuring Ricardo\u2019s art and they have added a new stretch goal which is still locked for a two-sided bookmark at the $33,000 mark.<\/span>\n\nThe Dracula of Transylvania campaign is live now through March 25th, 2021. For updates, follow Ricardo Delgado<\/span> on<\/span> Instagram<\/a>,<\/span> Twitter<\/a> and<\/span> Facebook<\/a>, follow Dracula of Transylvania on<\/span> Twitter<\/a>, and follow<\/span> Clover Press on<\/span> Instagram<\/a>,<\/span> Twitter<\/a> and<\/span> Facebook<\/a>.<\/span>\n\nTo support the campaign, visit Kickstarter:<\/span> https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/cloverpress\/ricardo-delgados-dracula-of-transylvania<\/a>","post_title":"ComicBuzz Chats With Ricardo Delgado","post_excerpt":"Dracula of Transylvania","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"comicbuzz-chats-with-ricardo-delgado","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 16:26:13","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 15:26:13","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205967","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205501,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2020-10-26 17:35:59","post_date_gmt":"2020-10-26 17:35:59","post_content":"

We got a chance to sit down a have a quick chat with the very talented creator Peter Ricq as he gets ready for the release of his first illustrated book Ghosts Are People Too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hello Peter, could you give a quick introduction of yourself and your numerous careers that you have for our readers that may now be familiar with you?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

HI! Yeah I can do that. My name is Peter Ricq and I was born in Montreal Quebec (french for Canada). My parents let me watch whatever I wanted and my dad even rented classics like Alien and Aliens \"You kids have to watch this\" when we were 7 or 8 and Predator or Robocop \"this looks sick, let's watch this tonight\". Obviously, he said these in french and so it sounded different. I didn't end up like a murderous crazy person and am very kind but I do love anything that has to do with murder, mysteries, the supernatural, science fiction and you can see that in my work. Here is what I do:<\/span><\/p>\n

- I'm a fine artist and have been active in the art scene since 2004 (PeterRicq.com)<\/span><\/p>\n

- I'm a filmmaker and have directed many music videos and made a horror\/comedy Dead Shack that is streaming exclusively on SHUDDER.<\/span><\/p>\n

- I've made 3 graphic novels 'Once Our Land 1&2' (Scout Comics) and A King's Vengeance.<\/span><\/p>\n

- I'm in several bands HUMANS, Gang Signs, Ladyfrnd, The Red, Samatata.<\/span><\/p>\n

- I've created several animated television series like The League of Super Evil (Cartoon Network, YTV, BBC).<\/span><\/p>\n

- I'm a very good vegan chef.<\/span><\/p>\n

- I love Halloween.<\/span><\/p>\n

You are currently Kickstarting your first illustrated book, \"Ghosts Are People Too\". Which is currently going very strong over on Kickstarter (<\/span><\/strong>https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/peterricq\/ghost-are-people-too<\/a>). What keeps drawing you back to using this site, as this is your third time I believe in crowdfunding your books?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fourth time! Yeah, I love how the site makes it possible for entrepreneurs and artists to put their ideas out there, get the word out, find followers from around the world, and get the funding they seek so they don't sell their soul along with their baby. I think Kickstarter is one of the best things to come out for independent artists and entrepreneurs.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

So this book is about making friends with ghosts, and getting the message across that they are also scared of us that are living. Can you tell us about the origins of the book and if have you ever had an encounter of the spooky kind?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I kind of wish I did have an encounter but I'm not sure if I'd be able to handle it honestly. I think I'd be too scared and so I made this book to help myself with the idea to be less afraid of ghosts.<\/span><\/p>\n

The book idea came from seeing Edward Gorey's books in the bookstore and thinking \"Is this the only dope kids book here? Where are all the other morbid spooky books?\" So I figured, I can help put an end to this tragedy and give the kids in the world what they want and deserve, another great, morbid, funny, and fun kids book with wonderful illustrations.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Which came first - the idea for the story or Ethan's' character?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The idea, as for Ethan, I wanted to his design to be contemporary like the Cartoon Network shows but I wanted the execution to be more like something out of an old book you would find in a haunted house.<\/span><\/p>\n

How long have you been working on \"Ghosts Are People Too\", and did the current global Coronavirus lockdown allow you to focus more on your work or did it restrict your creative thinking?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I've been thinking about this book for years but you could say that I've been working on this book my whole life since it takes everything I've developed since I started drawing and has put them together all into this one thing here. The pandemic has helped me see it to its completion though yes. I was scared, lost a ton of work and decided to finish this book as I wait for things to get better.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You have mentioned before that you enjoy the works of Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman. Can you recall how you came across their works and which has been the most influential on your own style?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Tim Burton's work, I don't like his newer stuff but I love and still rewatch in aw his older work. I think I saw all his films as they came out starting with Pee-Wee but Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Batman were my favorites and the art direction and vision in his films were just incredible. His work was so magical and it made me feel like anything is possible. I loved how he always had his monsters kind and not necessarily villains (Just like Guillermo Deltoro) and I wanted to do something in that vein with this book.<\/span><\/p>\n

When you are creating an illustration for this book, what is that process like and how long does it take? Did you research or have any source material that helped you develop the final character design for Ethan? <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yeah, I use a ton of reference and with my photoshop wizard skillset, I manipulate the photos to make them look a bit more cartoony, like their shapes. I then draw my characters and sometimes use photography as a base too. I then print it, pencil it, then transfer the pencil to the illustration board and start inking a few lines but mostly do pointillism to give it that old-time look. It might sound like it's a long process and it is but I get to relax when doing this and listen to great podcasts, audiobooks, TV shows, and youtube videos. I learned a lot about the world and history while working on this book.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How would you describe the look of the book?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I would say it's a more contemporary\/cartoony version of Edward Gorey and Tim Burton's work.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you very much for your time Peter, it was a pleasure getting to interview you. Have you any message for our ComicBuzz readers that will be reading this right now?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Be afraid, be very afraid MUHAHAHAhahahaaaaaaa. Nah I kid, enjoy yourself, and be kind to your supernatural roommates. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you would like to get a copy of Ghosts Are People Too<\/strong> or find out more information about it please feel free to check it out at:<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/peterricq\/ghost-are-people-too<\/a><\/p>\n

I would first of all like to say a big thank you to Peter for taking the time out of his busy schedule to sit and chat with us. I would also like to thank Vixen Ninetails for all the help with this interview.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"ComicBuzz Chats With Peter Ricq","post_excerpt":"We get ready for the spooky season","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"comicbuzz-chats-with-peter-ricq","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 19:16:58","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 18:16:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205501","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":203049,"post_author":"2","post_date":"2018-12-11 19:46:41","post_date_gmt":"2018-12-11 19:46:41","post_content":"

Chase the moon: a love letter to the 80s with romance and horror, monsters vs humans<\/b><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

\r\n\r\nChase the Moon <\/em>is the bastard child of West Side Story\u2018s romance, the often violent and stylized world of The Warriors, and the horror sensibilities of The Monster Squad. It\u2018s a perfect fit for readers looking for 1980\u2018s nostalgia tinged with both the macabre and beautiful.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe story<\/strong><\/span>\r\n\r\nIt\u2018s Halloween, 1986. Witches, vampires, mummies, and ghouls are everywhere. Among these creatures is Jason, a werewolf, whose life is nothing but conflict. As a member of the \u201cLunatics,\u201d an infamous wolf gang, Jason is locked in a constant life or death struggle with the other horrific crews that prowl the streets...and the special police units that hunt them.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nJason is in love with Sam, a promising college student. The young lovers are the living embodiment of \u201cNever Tear Us Apart.\u201d It's just too bad they are living in a \u201cDie Die Die My Darling\u201d world. Sam has it all figured out, though. She is transfering to a university far away from these troubles and has asked Jason to accompany her. Naturally, Jason is at a crossroads. He can either choose love and abandon his crew...or stay with the only family he\u2018s ever known, while losing the love of his life.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, Griffin, a charismatic warlock and leader of the \u201cHex\u201d--the most powerful gang in the city--calls for a midnight summit of all the city\u2018s gangs in an attempt to forge a truce and end the constant battles with humanity. This radical idea is met by opposition. Not so much from the other gangs who have grown weary of the endless bloodshed, but by Griffin\u2018s own brother, Simon--the paranoid firebrand. He views humanity as a nuisance that needs to be eradicated. After a squabble between the two brothers, Simon brutally murders his brother and frames Jason for the crime.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nIt\u2018s panic on the streets as Jason and the Lunatics are now public enemy number one. Every gang in town are gunning for the Lunatics, as the crew make a mad dash out of the city!\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nWritten by Bob Frantz and Kevin Cuffe<\/span>\r\nArt by Drew Moss<\/span>\r\nLetters and Edits by Chas Pangburn<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nhttps:\/\/www.kickstarter.com\/projects\/471680950\/chase-the-moon?ref=project_link<\/a>","post_title":"Chase the Moon Campaign On Kickstarter","post_excerpt":"Love letter to the 80s ","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"chase-the-moon-campaign-on-kickstarter","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2018-12-11 19:46:41","post_modified_gmt":"2018-12-11 19:46:41","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=203049","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":12},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_22"};