Funny Book Splatter

Yes, it’s been awhile. I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus from comics press since June to make some comics of my own. As a quick plug, be sure to check out Nightmare Theater 2 on Kickstarter. That’s where you’ll find “Going Viral,” an 8 page short written by me, illustrated by Sonya Kinsey, and lettered by Scott Ewen. I’m excited! This episode features the return of Phillip Sevy and Drew Zucker, the creators of The House. This incredibly creepy series began as a digital-first comic, then made the jump to print for a collected edition on Kickstarter. Now, it’s available in a new revised edition at your local comic shop through Dark Horse Comics. It’s coming to bookshops and Amazon in the next week or so.  I was an early advocate for The House so I’m really excited for Phillip and Drew as the series makes the jump to Dark Horse. If you missed out on the previous versions, you are in for a treat as this psychological horror is sure to get under your skin. Phillip can be found online on Twitter as @PhillipSevy, on

This week’s guest is Mark Bouchard, the writer of It Took Luke, a horror graphic novella, currently on Kickstarter. I’ve seen a few pages of this book so far and I cannot wait to check out the rest. The monsters in this thing are out of this world.  I backed this project pretty quickly and I encourage you to do the same. The campaign runs through October 28th so you still have time to back it.  Mark can be found online on Twitter as @https://twitter.com/barkmouchard.  CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher | Spotify Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week we’ve got the return of Frank Martin, the writer of Modern Testament, a slew of prose stories, and Macabre Motel, currently on Kickstarter. I got an early look at this new one-shot and it’s some pretty creepy stuff. Big Twilight Zone energy. The Kickstarter campaign for Macabre Motel runs through October 29th so you still have plenty of time to back the project.  Frank can be found online at FrankTheWriter.com and on Twitter as @frankthewriter. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher | Spotify Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

I’m digging back into my treasure trove of lost episodes for you this week. This was a conversation with Adrian and Damian Wassel from Vault Comics I recorded about a year ago. Yes, I’m very timely. The chat is still super relevant, especially looking at what Vault has done since then. This was recorded just as Nightfall, their annual horror imprint was getting started with The Plot and then Black Stars Above. The next title, The Autumnal, just launched and it’s pretty great.  Vault is digging into genre fiction in the best way and all of their books have a signature look to them, whether they’re horror, fantasy, or sci-fi. If you want to check some out, head over to VaultComics.com where you can download the first issues of a number of titles. I can personally recommend Submerged, Resonant, and Cult Classic: Return to Whisper. Honestly, though, they’re all good so you’re in for a treat regardless.  The best places to find Adrian and Damian is through the official Vault Comics website, VaultComics.com and a

Piggybacking on last week’s episode with Marissa Louise where we did a deep dive into coloring, I’ve got another chunk of knowledge for you today with my guest, DC Hopkins. We dig into lettering as a whole, working as part of AndWorld Design, his approach to horror comics, and much more. After reading comics all my life, I love that I can still learn so much about this medium. DC can be found online at his official site, HopkinsLetters.com and on Twitter as @DC_Hopkins. You can find more at AndWorldDesign.com. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher | Spotify Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

As I’m getting back into the swing of things, I’ve unearthed a previously “lost” interview. This was a podcast I recorded with colorist Marissa Louise last year. You might know her work from comics like Hex Wives, Grumble, and Stranger Things: Six.  This was a fascinating discussion as we dig into Marissa’s process, how she selects colors for a specific scene to convey certain emotions, and much more. It’s a colorist clinic here and it definitely gave me a renewed appreciation for everything that goes into this aspect of making comics. Marissa can be found on Twitter as @marissadraws.  CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher | Spotify Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

What is this? A podcast? That's right, folks! Funny Book Splatter is BACK! I am your host James Ferguson. Did you miss me? I sure missed you. After a hiatus that lasted more than a year, the horror comics podcast brought to you by Horror DNA is back for more and I've got a big one for you. After being gone for that long, it would have to be something major for my return episode, right? I got a chance to speak to none other than Scott Snyder.   Sure, you know his work on Batman for stuff like Death of the Family and Court of Owls, not to mention the most recent Last Knight on Earth and Death Metal, but he's got a pretty great horror pedigree with books like Wytches, Severed (a personal favorite), and Nocterra, his new comic with artist Tony S. Daniel, coming early next year from Image Comics. Fans don't have to wait that long for this new comic though as Scott has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a special version of the first issue including side-by-side comparisons of his script and tons of behind-t

You know, in the comic book world, issue #100 could be considered a collector’s item, so what better way to ring in this monumental occasion, than by taking us back to the beginning?  No, I’m not rebooting the show. When I started this podcast, I made a list of creators I wanted to talk to. The very first person on that list was Dirk Manning. He was on the first episode of the show.  He was the first person I ever interviewed in my horror comics journey. It was only fitting that his return ring in episode #100.   When Dirk and I last spoke on the podcast, he was putting together the massive Nightmare World Bible, collecting all 52 stories in his connected universe of monsters, Cthulhu, and more.  Since then he’s released something like a billion comics like Haunted High-Ons, Hope, and Tales of Mr. Rhee, with more to come, like The Adventures of Cthulhu Jr and Dastardly Dirk, launching on Halloween ComicsFest from Source Point Press.   It was awesome to catch up with Dirk again to talk about all of the many

This week’s guest is Timothy Bach, the writer of The Family Graves from Source Point Press.  Picture The Incredibles but instead of super heroes, the family is made up of monsters and that gives you an idea of what to expect from The Family Graves.  The four-issue mini-series is getting collected in a trade paperback coming out on October 23rd so be sure to pre-order it at your local comic shop.   The Family Graves is also part of the partnership between Source Point Press and Comics Experience, so it was fun to talk to Timothy about how this book came together through the program.  I’ve gone through a few courses at Comics Experience and I got a lot out of them so I’m always curious how others put the knowledge to use. Timothy can be found at his website, MoonriseComics.com and on Twitter as @tdrbach.   CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Michael Moreci, the co-writer of The Plot, coming soon from Vault Comics.  Michael wrote this with Tim Daniel as part of Vault’s new annual horror imprint, Nightfall. I got a look at the first issue and it’s pretty awesome.  There’s already some great buzz about it too so be sure to check it out when the first issue debuts on September 25th. I’ve followed Michael’s career for some time.  He first popped up on my radar with Hoax Hunters, a series he co-wrote with Steve Seeley a few years ago.  Since then he’s played in the sci-fi / horror space with some great titles like Roche Limit, Burning Fields, and a personal favorite, Curse.   Michael can be found at his official website, MichaelPMoreci.com.  Be sure to sign up for his email newsletter too. He’s also on Twitter and Instagram as @MichaelMoreci. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Jordan Thomas, the writer of Frank at Home on the Farm.  This indie comic is super unsettling and will have you looking over your shoulder for hours after reading.  Jordan is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the release of the second issue. I got to pick his brain about the creation of the book, how he established the disturbing tone, and his experiences in horror and comics. There is still plenty of time to back the Kickstarter campaign for Frank at Home on the Farm.  I backed it myself and I strongly encourage you to do the same.   Jordan can be found on Twitter as @Jordan_J_Thomas.  Clark Bint, the artist of Frank at Home on the Farm, can be found on Twitter as @clarkbintart. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Mark London, the CEO and CCO of Mad Cave Studios as well as the writer of Wolvenheart, an upcoming victorian time travel thriller.  This was an awesome chat because Mark has a multi-layered perspective of the comic book industry. On one side, he’s a creator and on the other, he’s running a business.  I also picked his brain about the Mad Cave talent search where he’s looking for new, up-and-coming writers and artists to work on some of the Mad Cave titles. Wolvenheart is set to debut on October 30th.  I’ve gotten a look at the first issue and it’s pretty cool.  It’s full of monsters, time travel, and a bit of steam punk. Definitely worth checking out.   Mark can be found on Twitter as @MarkLondonMCS.  You can learn more about Mad Cave Studios as the official website, MadCaveStudios.com. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Ryan King, the writer of Cricketsong, currently on Kickstarter.  I spoke with Ryan about his journey on this book, collaboration with artist Daryl Toh, experience with Kickstarter, and starting out in comics.   Cricketsong is a blend of genres, playing in the same realm as From Dusk Till Dawn and The Hitcher.  I’ve backed the project myself and I encourage you to do the same. Ryan can be found online at his official website, RyanKingWrites.com and on Twitter and Instagram as @ryyyan_kiiing. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Rich Douek, the writer of Road of Bones, coming in May from IDW Publishing.  It’s a pretty creepy comic, set in 1953 in Siberia where a terrifying monster lurks in the darkness.  I got a look at the first issue and it’s pretty solid. Plus, it’s illustrated by Alex Cormack, who you might know from Sink so that’s always a good thing. Rich can be found online on Twitter and Instagram as @RDouek and at Facebook.com/guttermagic. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)  

This week’s guest is Joey Weiser, the creator of Ghost Hog, coming in May from Oni Press.  You’re not supposed to judge books by their cover, but how can you go wrong with a title like that?  This is an all-ages original graphic novel about..well...a ghost hog. If you want to try out Ghost Hog before buying it, you can check out a completely original story in the Oni Press Free Comic Book Day issue on May 4th.  Try that out, then come back on May 8th to pick up the graphic novel with entirely different material. Joey can be found online on Twitter as @JoeyWeiser, Instagram as @JoeyWeiserComics and his official website, tragic-planet.com.   CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Magdalene Visaggio.  You might know her work from comics such as Kim & Kim, Quantum Teens Are Go, and that really awesome Superman story in last year’s Cursed Comics Calvacade.  She’s writing a new series due out in March from Oni Press called Morning in America. I got a look at the first issue and it’s pretty awesome. What I liked most about this conversation is Magdalene’s perspective on the ‘80s.  Morning in America is set in 1983 so there’s a nostalgia factor in there, but she brings a really interesting viewpoint to it that really explains a generation’s current fascination with that decade.   Magdalene can be found on Twitter as @MagsVisaggs.  Morning in America #1 is due out on March 6th. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is John Horlsey, the creator of The Eynes, a new anthology series currently on Kickstarter.  John has orchestrated an elaborate and impressive setup for this comic, pulling the strings behind the scenes to tell an overarching narrative using short stories from creators all around the world.  Each tale looks at different characters from across time that have been fighting monsters for ages. It’s pretty cool stuff and it’s clear from speaking to John that this project is in good hands. He’s very buttoned up. You can find out more about The Eynes and check out previews and the Kickstarter itself at EynesAnthology.com.  John can be found on Twitter as @y2cl. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)