Deep Discussions with Decapitated Dan: Angel Fuentes

Welcome back kiddies! This time we welcome Angel Fuentes into the dungeon. Sit back and relax as he tells us about who he is, what he does, and what we can expect from him in the future. Trust me, you will like what you read!

Decapitated Dan: Hey Angel. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me about Gunbreed and what else your working on.First of all let’s talk about you. Who are you and what do you do?

Angel Fuentes: I’m a writer born and raised in Puerto Rico. I’ve been writing comics since 1997. Most of my work has been self published locally. I’m currently finishing my masters’ degree in screenwriting. Some of my past works are Parallel Zero, Santa Cristal, and Gunbreed (the original 1999 version).

DD: How did you find yourself getting into making comics?

AF: I found my passion for comics by accident. When my first girlfriend left me, a friend gave me a comic to get my mind off her. That was Speedball number nine by Steve Ditko. It was a really cheesy story, but it opened my mind to what comics could be. After that, I quickly began to draw my own cheesy comics in construction paper, until I realized I suck at drawing. So I partnered up with some friends, real artists, and I wrote stories for them. The rest is history.

DD: So what can you tell me about Gunbreed?

AF: Gunbreed is a supernatural western tale about a sheriff in the old west who witnesses the killing of his son and the people he protects at the hands of a gang of crooks that have become involved with magic.

DD: Who are the main characters?

AF: Sheriff William “Powder” Cain is the main character. He gets dragged into this supernatural world and comes back from the dead to avenge his son.

Henry “Black Cloud” Stevens is the leader of the gang. He’s a vicious violent man. He makes a deal to sacrifice Powder Cain’s town in order to resurrect his dead girlfriend.

Samuel is a wizard with his own plans and agenda. He uses the gang to take control of the town.

DD: Where did this idea come from?

AF: My inspirations for Gunbreed are more western than horror. This particular story is very much influenced by Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven and some of the old spaghetti westerns. The supernatural twist is something was not done much at the time (this was back in 1998-99). The new version of the story, Ghost Town Resurrected, is a darker take. AC_Osorio provided art and colors on it and Carlos Mangual did the lettering.

DD: What are you hoping readers can take away from this story?

AF: I mostly hope people get entertained by it and come back for more. It’s a supernatural western tale with lots of flying limbs and exploding corpses. And the art is awesome!

DD: Can we expect more in the near future?

AF: We will publish Gunbreed as a series of self-contained one-shot comics for now. Ghost Town Resurrected was the first. The next one will be Haunted Guns that should come out by January 2010. There is also a Gunbreed short story in the first issue of our anthology book RBA Presents, available right now through our website www.razorbladeaple.com.

DD: So let’s change subjects a little here. What can you tell me about Razor Blade Apple Studios?

AF: RBA Studios was founded in late 2006 by artist Ozzy Fernandez and myself. Our Marketing Director is Rikky Carrion, and AC_Osorio is our Art Director. We also have Denise Fernandez as Editor and Ivonne Falcon as Assistant Art Director. So far we’re working with over 22 artists and writers from PR and several parts of the US.

Our stories explore genres such as Supernatural, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy. We produce and distribute our comics locally in Puerto Rico, but are attempting to conquer the American market through conventions in Orlando and New York. However, we do have all our comics for sale online at our website’s store.

DD: What kinds of titles have you put out so far?

AF: We currently have two titles being published: RBA Presents, an anthology book by various artists and writers that features original Supernatural, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy stories, currently up to issue #3; and Leviathans, an action adventure book written by myself with art by Ana Bruno, about a reality show on dragon hunting. We recently published issue 2 of Leviathans and a complementary one-shot special called Belly of the Beast.

Then we have the Gunbreed: Ghost Town Resurrected one-shot. Hopefully people will show enough interest to turn our zombie cowboy into a series.

In addition, we have published two adult oriented one-shot comics called You Complete Me and Survival Guide to a Slasher Movie. You Complete Me, by artist Guillermo Martinez and myself, is an anthology of short social satires, some with surreal twists, which was recently debuted at the Alternative Press Expo (APE) in San Francisco. Survival Guide to a Slasher Movie is the brainchild of artist/writer Joey Rodriguez, is a comedy with graphic violence and nudity about a serial killer that takes you on a tour through a classic horror/slasher flick.

DD: What can we look forward to seeing from Razor Blade Apple?

AF: As I said before, Gunbreed: Haunted Guns is just around the corner in January. We are planning on putting out at least two or three more Gunbreed one-shot specials throughout 2010.

Also coming up in issues #4 and 5 of RBA Presents: more short stories, more new concepts.

Leviathans issue 3 will come out by the first quarter of 2010. I can’t wait for people to read the crazy stuff we have planned for this title.

Other one-shot-specials and miniseries are in the works, but nothing I can talk about now.

Did I mention that all these comics will be available for purchase at www.razorbladeapple.com?

DD: What is the fan base like for Razor Blade Apple?

AF: I think fans have responded positively to our efforts to provide a high quality product in terms of art and stories. Sometimes we take a little longer than we expect to produce the comics, but in the end, the fans are there and they see that the extra-work we put in our comics. That said, I want to make clear that we are also working on having our comics out on time.

So far, RBA fans are Gunbreed fans, horror and zombie fans, or western fans that are interested in the horror twist. Hopefully we’ll be able to cater more stories in that same vein for them.

To all our fans: RBA is still trying to find its unique voice, and we’re experimenting with different types of stories. So this is the time to write us and give us your feedback on our works. What you want to see more and what you want to see less of. Feel free to write us at angel@razorbladeapple.com with your comments.

DD: Can we expect more from you horror comic wise in the future?

AF: You can definitely expect more Gunbreed in 2010, and I also recommend checking RBA Presents: for some new horror concepts we want to test out there. I can mention two shorts with horror elements: Mercy (issue #2) and Vanity (issue #3). Please stay tuned for issue 5 for an interesting take on a Latin folklore horror tale. If people like Survival Guide to a Slasher Movie, they can definitely expect sequels. Besides those projects, we’ll sure keep everyone updated as we get ready to announce them.

DD: What was it that got you interested in horror comics?

AF: My first horror comics were the reprints of Tales from the Crypt and Vault of Horror. Fifties horror kicks ass! I’ve always been into Marvel’s Ghost Rider because my brother is such a huge fan and I read them all from him. The Garth Ennis, Warren Ellis, and Brian Azarello Hellblazer tales are also really cool. And Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing just blew my mind away the first time I read them.

DD: Can you talk a bit about your experiences so far with working in comics?

AF: Just that I’m proud and lucky to be writing comics. Everything my partners and I’ve done has been out of our love for the comics medium. We take seriously every criticism seriously and are very grateful for the immense support we’ve gotten at conventions and signings. We’re just getting started.

Oh, and at conventions, it’s hard to sell comics to cosplayers. They don’t seem to have pockets on their costumes.

DD: What comics are you currently reading?

AF: I’m a hardcore Batman fan, so I read everything bat-related. That’s about twelve titles right there. Besides that, I’m into Vertigo stuff such as Sandman related projects, Hellblazer, Madame Xanadu, Unwritten, and House of Mystery. Looking forward to American Vampires. From Marvel I buy Stephen King’s the Stand and Dark Tower.

DD: So in summary give me a quick recap on Gunbreed and why fans should give it a try.

AF: How about this: Besides getting a supernatural horror western tale with all the excitement it entails and getting great art from some the best artists RBA can provide, I will let fans in on a little secret. Gunbreed is the first wave of what may become a supernatural horror comics universe. Check for hints in our next Gunbreed special, Haunted Guns, as well as in short stories we publish in RBA Presents.

DD: Thanks so much Angel. I hope people can jump on board and check out all your projects. I know from what I have read, I love them all already.

If you want to check out more work by Angel and Razor Blade Apple please go to www.razorbladeapple.com

4 New Reviews Posted!!

Just posted 4 new reviews. Dingo #2, Vegetable Wars #3, Church of Hell #3 and The Anchor #1. Check em out!

Deep Discussions with Decapitated Dan: Gabe Rodriguez

Welcome back kiddies! This time we welcome into the dungeon one of my favorite artists and soon to be your, Gabe Rodriguez. So sit there and pretend to enjoy it as much as I did, as he tells us all about his work, his pet monster and a little turtle who sells lemonade.

Alright lets start out with a short answer section and get the usual out of the way.

Name:
Gabriel Rodríguez

Age:
35 (but looking WAY younger.....)

Married/Single/Dating/Other:
So happily married...

Pets:
No pets, YET (planning some surprise for my older kid next Christmas...)

Highest Education Level:
Architect, with Master Degree from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

High School Mascot:
My CDs...

First Job:
I painted a replica of the cover of Rush album Hemispheres for a friend from the school, that was my very first paid job...

Favorite place to hangout with friends:
As soon as I have a minute to hangout with anybody... ANY place....

Staying with short answers lets talk about what you do:

Comic(s) you created Before 1999:
Just one: a 24 page issue of a self written comic named Urban Myths, just done to test myself, to know if I was able to write and draw a complete comic issue.

November 21, 2005:
Diablo (a chilean super hero, just one issue that was published but never distributed), about 25 illustrations for a fantasy card game named Myths and Legends, and with IDW, as a real professional since 2002: 26 issues of CSI comics (5 miniseries plus a 48 page special), and the adaptations of George Romero's Land Of The Dead, and Clive Barker's The Great And Secret Show.

November 22, 2005 - December 21, 2012:
Still with IDW, the adaptation of Robert Zemeckis' Beowulf, covers for Transformers, Astroboy and Angel, and since late 2007, and probably until 2011 at least, Locke & Key with Joe Hill...

Alright all that stuff aside lets get to the meat of the interview:

What do you do when not making comics?
If possible, sleep... also, taking care of my kids, from time to time going out with my wife, and once or twice a year, going to a concert or something like that...

Favorite sports teams to watch?
The Chilean Fútbol Team (soccer for you, guys), getting ready for the South African World Championship next year!!

You take a trip to the North Pole and get stranded for 1 year. What do you do to pass the time?
Hunt polar bears with my bare hands....

When you were 15 what were you for Halloween?
We didn't celebrate Halloween in Chile until about 10 years ago (y'know, globalization...).... so I was 25.

Favorite comic character when you were 15 and now?
Then: Batman.
Now: The Locke family.

If you had to dance to one song for the rest of the day. What would it be?
"Persiana Americana", by Soda Stereo (rock band from Argentina)

Back to comic stuff for now.

Knowing that Iceman is the greatest hero of all time, why do you think he is so underused?
His manager knows that getting overexposed kills your credibility in comics...(ask Wolverine...)

Alright your making a comic about a turtle who sells lemonade to rich fish, what would his name be and sell me on a quick pitch? Go!
The comic would be named Squeezed, and would be about this little turtle who would raise their fellow juice sellers against the fish mobster syndicate that controls the juice market, but everything get's complicated when he fell in love with the Catfish Boss' daughter.... A cross between the Godfather, Animal Farm and Meet the Feebles...

We all know you are a master with the pencil, so where did it all begin and how can I be more like you when I decide to grow up?
You need to start before growing up. My first memory about myself is drawing, should be from when I was 4... didn't stop since then.

Where is the real money at in comic creating?
There's NO real money, that' why it's still such a lovely business to dedicate your life to...

When your making comics whats going on around you? Music, what kind? Silence? TV on?
Mainly music, from progressive rock to electronic and movie soundtracks, and occasionally some TV and my older son asking things...

10 years from now. Where do you see yourself?
Just as now, sharing with my family, doing what I love and enjoying every second of the day....

If I sent my ninja to your house to steal Locke & Key sketches how would you stop him?
I would let my pet monster to come out from under the bed to eat him....

Alright we can finish up with a quick word association game. I will say a word, you give me a quick one sentence response.

Joe Hill?
The Heart of a Kid combined with the Mind of a Genius.

Zombies?
Shopping mall.

Horror Comics?
Sometimes uncompromised creativity, sometimes popcorn show.

Bananas?
Apples.

Godfather 1 and 2?
Perfect and "no-perfect-but-better".

DC Comics?
Mythology.

Nachos?
Burritos.

Decapitated Dan?
Not yet.

Gabriel Rodriguez?
Yes!

Awesome! Thanks so much Gabe!

If you want to learn more about Gabe and how awesome his work is go to http://www2.gr.cl/

Deep Discussions with Decapitated Dan: Ken Meyer Jr.

Welcome back kiddies! This time we welcome Ken Meyer Jr. into the dungeon. Sit back and relax as he tells us about who he is, what he does, and what we can expect from him in the future. Trust me, you will like what you read!

Alright lets start out with a short answer section and get the usual out of the way.

Name:
Ken Meyer Jr.

Age:
52 (and yes, that sounds just as old to me as it does to you)

Married/Single/Dating/Other:
Married with two daughters (9 and 15)

Pets:
Two cats I don't like much (Tybee and Talia) because they seem to pee wherever the hell they please, and a dog that is ok (London)...oh, and a ball python named Erwin

Highest Education Level:
MFA recently from the Savannah College of Art and Design (Sequential Art)

High School Mascot:
Uhhh, they were the Lancers, so I think it was a Knight.

First Job:
I think it detasseling corn in Minnesota when I was probably 13 or so.

Favorite place to do the Safety Dance:
Far far away from any human beings (that can see).

Staying with short answers lets talk about what you do:

Comic(s) you created Before 1999:
I created a Wolverine/Daredevil homage (or rip off, depending on your preference) called Feral way back in '81. I also worked on the Adolescent Radioactive Hamster spin off, Clint, a bunch of Caliber titles (Kilroy, Negative Burn, etc), a few Marvel painted projects, a lot of Revolutionary Comics covers and a bunch of other small press things.

January 1, 2000 - January 2, 2003:
If by, 'created,' it can mean 'drew or painted,' then I continued doing stuff for Caliber/Desperado, covers for small press comics, but I had drifted more into gaming work in the mid nineties. I also did a graphic novel for NBM called Gustav P.I.

January 3, 2003 - Today:
Mostly gaming work, mainstream commercial work, and the odd cover or Negative Burn story.

Alright all that stuff aside lets get to the meat of the interview:

What do you do when not making comics?
I listen to way too much music, drink way too much Dr. Pepper, try to play tennis whenever I can fit it in, watch too much tv, blah blah blah.

White Hen or 7-11?
Since I have no clue what White Hen is (unless I am in KFC), I will say 7-11...I think I worked there at some point early in life.

Your in bed, when BOOM! Nuclear plant blows. Your hit with radiation and now have a super power and a weakness. What are they?
My super power would be the ability to remotely correct your spelling of 'your' to 'you're' and my weakness would be the inability to not correct people's spelling mistakes.

When you were 7 what were you for Halloween?
Oh man, that was too long ago to even have a ghost of chance to remember...maybe I was a ghost!

Favorite comic character(s) when you were 10, 20 and 30?
I will say Challengers of the Unknown, Killraven, and Nexus.

If you got served, what would you do?
I would tip, but not too graciously...I am a starving artist, after all.

Back to comic stuff for now.

Knowing that Iceman is the greatest hero of all time, why do you think he is so underused?
Because comic book artists like nice bright saturated color and Iceman is a boring white!

Alright your making a comic about a team of women who go out and fight the evils of dirty clothes. If they see a spot they have to clean it. Whats the name of the book and sell me on a quick pitch? Go!
It would be called Gutter Sluts. The gimmick is, they are totally naked until they actually get around to cleaning those dirty clothes to get them on...for some reason, the clothes never end up clean enough in their minds to actually put on.

We all know how good you can draw but what do you really want to be when you grow up?
I want to be either an XM DJ or a pro tennis player.

Where is the real money at in comic creating?
Leaving and going into Games.

When your making comics whats going on around you? Music, what kind? Silence? TV on?
Music....all the time, all the time.

10 years from now. Where do you see yourself?
I am so old, I won't be able to see myself by that time.

What do you know about the process of making twinkies?
I know that I don't want to be there to hear the sound of that junk getting squirted in there.

Alright we can finish up with a quick word association game. I will say a word, you give me a quick one sentence response.

Kilroy?
Maybe made into a movie soon!

Magic: The Gathering?
Too big to hire me anymore...write letters!

Horror Comics?
Something I am good at. So, where is the work?

Betty Boop?
A waist to die for...unless you really want to die, in which case, get a waist like that!

Barry Manilow?
He writes the songs only blue haired women in Vegas want to sing.

Brussel Sprouts?
Nahhhh...but Prefab Sprout, I love them.

Papaphobia (Fear of the Pope)?
I thought that was a fear of Pap Smears? Maybe it's a fear of the Pope handling your Pap Smear?

Decapitated Dan?
I hear he does good Pap Smears.

Ken Meyer Jr.?
No, I do not do Pap Smears!

Thanks so much Ken!

To Check out what Ken is up to and to see his work please go to http://www.kenmeyerjr.com

4 New Reviews Posted!!

Just posted 4 new reviews. President Evil #1 - 3, We Kill Monsters #1 - 3, 28 Days Later #5 and Dead Future #2. Check em out!

Deep Discussions with Decapitated Dan: Jimmy Palmiotti

Welcome back kiddies! This time I tricked Jimmy Palmiotti to come down into the dungeon. So go on and take a look at what he had to say when he woke up and found out he was trapped in the interview chair.

Alright lets start out with a short answer section and get the usual out of the way.

Name: Jimmy Palmiotti

Age: OLD

Married/Single/Dating/Other: ENGAGED.

Pets: Snakes, Raccoons, Hawks, Lizards and Armadillos. I just call them by what they are. They are all in my yard.

Highest Education Level: Art Students League and NYC Tech

High School Mascot: A paintbrush

First Job: Mowing my aunts lawn or shoveling snow.

Favorite outdoor activity: Swimming

Staying with short answers lets talk about what you do.

Writer, artist, creator of weird things.

Comic(s) you created Before July 4, 1985:
None other than the ones in my bottom drawer.

July 5, 1985 - September 1, 2009:
too many to mention....thats what google is for.

September 2, 2009 - Tomorrow:
Powergirl, Jonah Hex, Last Resort, Time Bomb, Splatterman.

Alright all that stuff aside lets get to the meat of the interview.

What do you do when not making comics?
I spend a lot of time with Amanda Conner...we eat, swim, travel, go to movies, bowl, conventions, visit friends, shop, beach and all sorts of normal things.

Your Ipod breaks and it gets stuck on one band. What band are you hoping it is?
Probably my classical music section. Easiest to work to.

Your join the Army and while at boot camp you are given a serum. What are you hoping you turn into?
Someone that isn't in the army anymore and can turn invisible at will.

When you were 10 what were you for Halloween?
I think I was a skeleton, always loved them.

Favorite comic character when you were 9 and 13 and 16?
9: Superman
13: Hulk
16: Conan

When it comes to tv what are you watching?
Big Bang Theory, Medium, Rescue Me and films on IFC.

Sports wise, who ya rooting for?
NY teams always. Right now, Yankees.

Back to comic stuff for now.

Knowing that Iceman is the greatest hero of all time, why do you think he is so underused?
Because he isn't the greatest hero of all time. He is a buff snowman.

Alright your making a comic about a 7 year old girl who gets lost in woods with nothing but a pocket knife and a canteen full of gasoline. Whats the name of the book and sell me on a quick pitch? Go!
HAPPY ON THE SURFACE: A girl goes into the woods chasing after her parents killer. She eventually tracks him down with the help of the animals living in the woods . The big reveal is that its her uncle Harry, and he was responsible for repeated rape years before and disappeared until that very night to kill her family. Betty, the girl, was unfamiliar with the woods and left a trail of gasoline behind her ...until she catches her uncle sleeping next to a tree. She then pours the gas all over him...stabs him in the groin with a pocket knife and lights him on fire. As he burns alive we see a demon that resembles a spider monkey covered in tar, rip out of his stomach and run deeper into the woods. Betty follows the gasoline trail now on fire back to her home and calls the authorities to deal with her butchered parents. The end.

We all know how good you are can write a story or two but what can you do with some dental floss, 2 rabbits feet and a slotted spoon?
I can throw them out my car window while doing 90 and cause major damage to some poor bastard on a bicycle.

Where is the real money at in comic creating?
Owning the property...the character.

When your making comics whats going on around you? Music, what kind? Silence? TV on?
Music...classical.

5 years from now. Where do you see yourself?
In my house, hopefully less fat with a good amount of money in the bank.

Alright we can finish up with a quick word association game. I will say a word, you give me a quick one sentence response.

Last Resort? 5 issues from IDW, out now.

Zombies? Done to death

Horror Comics? Love them

Pot Belly Pigs? Tasty

Muffins? Vagina

Muppets? Felt put to good use.

The number 8? Octopus

Towels? Shower

Decapitated Dan? Lost without a head.

Thanks Jimmy

If you want to know more about Jimmy Palmiotti you can check out his blog @ http://jimmypalmiotti.blogspot.com/

Deep Discussions with Decapitated Dan: David Lillie

Welcome back kiddies! This time we welcome David Lillie into the dungeon. Sit back and relax as he tells us about who he is, what he does, and what we can expect from him in the future. Trust me, you will like what you read!

Decapitated Dan: Hey David. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me about Dreamkeepers and any other projects your working on. First of all lets talk about you. Who are you and what do you do?

David Lillie: Who am I... Well, I'm an art college grad who works as a night shift security guard. While it's not the most glory-drenched career, it does give me the valuable opportunity to pay bills while working with my wife Liz on our books. Doing art professionally wound up sapping all my time and energy, whereas now that my joe-job doesn't tap into my creative time I can pursue the comic much more effectively.

DD: How did you find yourself getting into making comics?

DL: It was kind of a boomerang effect. I was a picky kid, so I never read many comics growing up. I drew a lot, though - from the time I was twelve until I graduated high school, I wrote & drew my own 7-part comic series. Art college kept me too busy for creativity over the next four years, but I did have time to snowball an animated series concept with a friend. After researching the business end of Hollywood, I realized it was eminently unlikely a nobody like me could pitch a cartoon and retain creative control. At that point creative control was becoming very important to me, as I was falling in love with the characters and the story... So the natural choice was to return to comics, and enjoy storytelling with no restraints.

DD: So what can you tell me about Dreamkeepers?

DL: If I could only live once, it's the story I'd want to tell. And by all indications that is indeed the case, so I'm getting right to work. It takes everything colorful and fun that I love about cartooning, and applies it to a story which doesn't pander to children. Dreamkeepers doesn't fit on the fantasy shelf next to the sword and sorcery books - but neither does it match adventure, horror, romance, or humor genres precisely... It kind of has a life of its own. I know that probably sounds terribly pretentious, but the project really does have a layered scope to it. The challenge so far has been using that to intensify the narrative, rather than dilute it.

DD: What's it all about?

DL: Demonic nightmares infiltrating the Dreamworld to butcher our otherworldly counterparts, the dreamkeepers. Once they kill off the dreamkeepers, they'll have access to our unconscious minds while we dream, which is a bad thing. (Dreamkeepers are basically cartoonish animal influenced versions of ourselves.) The story begins with some young dreamkeepers who really have no awareness of the events that are beginning to take shape - they have their own personal lives to worry about. But as the impending bloodshed begins to gather momentum, they get caught in the undertow, and in the end become key players in the unfolding cataclysm. I guess I would call it an epic of personal proportions.

DD: Who are the main characters?

DL: Things kick off with Mace and Whip - two dirt-poor orphans with big plans and a talent for creating trouble. They're contrasted against Lilith and Namah, the upper-class daughters of the elected Viscount - although Namah is illegitimate and concealed from the public. This contributes to her perennially cheery perspective on life. We get to show their childhood back stories in our weekly web comic 'Prelude', which is considerably more light-hearted than the graphic novels. Monsters haven't started eating people yet.

DD: Where did this idea come from?

DL: A college roommate and I brainstormed some on the basic premise - what would it be like if there was something to protect our dreams while we slept? What would a story taking place in the Dreamworld be like? Over the summer, I hit the library with books on dreaming, the unconscious, dreams in human mythology and ancient culture... And began to draw up the cast members for the series. I continued doing concept art and developing the idea all through my last year in college, right up until we started the first graphic novel.

DD: What are you hoping readers can take away from this story?

DL: I honestly have no idea. I certainly hope others enjoy it, and the feedback I've gotten so far has been extraordinarily supportive. But really, I just have this vivid, enticing vision in my head of what this story could be. It seems almost like a real and independent thing, and I want to do everything I can to bring it into the world properly.

DD: Can you talk a bit about the coloring process on your books. From what I have seen this is one of the highlights aside from the story.

DL: Photoshop and I get along rather well. My stint in art college was useful in exposing me to some of the lighting techniques used in digital animation... Although I don't apply 3-D software to Dreamkeepers, the lighting principles and experience show. Everything is done manually in Photoshop with layers and adjustment layers - I actually have a brief tutorial up on Youtube that shows how it works. The end goal is to do more than simply create a believable alternate reality, of course. The settings must have mood, impact - they're really an unseen character all their own. Creating something immersive for the reader is always a goal, and I believe helps magnify the impact of the events being portrayed.

DD: When all the volumes are done, can we expect a larger book collecting them?

DL: Certainly! I'm expecting a collection someday, and self publishing conveniently puts me in a position to make those kinds of calls. Assuming I don't utterly fail, of course - but I'm not planning on doing that.

DD: What can we expect from you in the future?

DL: In the next few months, I'll be finishing the Dreamkeepers website and getting digital book sales available on the first two books. That will dramatically lower the buy-in price for prospective customers, and I hope to expand my audience as I finish the 3rd Volume of the graphic novel saga over the next year or so. After that? I'll start book 4. Eventually I want to be the first independent comic publisher to take an idea truly mainstream, and have the financial ability to publish other creators as well. Or at least that's what I like to imagine as I stroll through my security site at night.

DD: What comics are you currently reading?

DL: There's a fantastic webcomic titled Lackadaisy that I've been enjoying, and I've also been revisiting my childhood Calvin and Hobbes collection lately.

DD: So in summary give me a quick recap on Dreamkeepers and why fans should give it a try.

DL: Well, it's good, and neat, and... Alright, I suck at self promoting. Drawing is easier. Listen folks, just read Dan's review, or go to my site dreamkeeperscomic.com - I've posted a ton of reader and professional feedback on the graphic novel page. See what they're saying, poke around, read some of the free stuff, and see if you'd be interested in following what Liz and I are making. We'd love to have you visit.

DD: Thanks so much David. I hope people can jump on board and check out your books. I know I have been really impressed by what I have been able to check out so far.



If you would like to know more about Dreamkeepers please check out David's site dreamkeeperscomic.com

Just posted 5 new reviews. Howard Lovecraft and the Frozen Kingdom, A Very Zombie Christmas #1, The Field on the Edge of the Woods #1, FVZA #2 and Incarnate (full series).

Deep Discussions with Decapitated Dan: Darick Robertson

Welcome back kiddies! This time we welcome Darick Robertson, all around bad ass artist, into the dungeon. He tells us about his comics, and so much more. So enjoy!

Alright lets start out with a short answer section and get the Usual out of the way.

Name: If you don't already know, this will be a pointless interview.

Age: Old enough,.. yadda yadda

Married/Single/Dating/Other: Married to a formerly Single woman who I was Dating and no Other since.

Pets: Cat, Tango. Rat, Kirby.

Highest Education Level: Just High School and the School Of Hard Knocks.

High School Mascot: the 'Aragon Don', which I designed for my school and they're still using actually.

First Job: Cook/Cleaner Chicken Unlimited.

Favorite thing to eat at the movies: Popcorn and Junior Mints.

Staying with short answers lets talk about what you do:

Comic(s) you created Before 1995:
Space Beaver, Ripfire, co-created Nightman and designed all the Strangers for Malibu's Ultraverse.

From 1995 - June 16, 2005:
Transmetropolitan, The Boys.

June 17, 2005 - The end of time:
I'll get back to you on that.

Alright all that stuff aside lets get to the meat of the interview:

What do you do when not making comics?
Spend time with my wife and kids, hang out with friends, travel whenever possible, play guitar and sing.


Favorite TV Shows past and present?
Currently loving: Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Weeds, Simpsons and South Park, Entourage, Bored To Death, Curb your Enthusiasm, Flight Of the Conchords.

Favorite past: Spaced, Jekyll, Red Dwarf, Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Malcolm in the Middle...

You're stranded on a desert island for 5 years. You get one comic to read, what is it (trades are allowed)?
I hate these kinds of choices. I'm a mad collector and have as much stuff as I can hold onto. But it would have to come down to my hardcover Frank Miller Batman collection.

When you were 10 what were you for Halloween?
Batman!

Favorite Music when you were 6, 16 and 26?
6- EARLY Olivia Newton-John (pre-Grease), Abba, and other pop that my older sister listened to.

16- That was my transition year: Van Halen, REO Speedwagon, U2, The Ramones, Joe Jackson, The Smiths The Cure, English Beat, Roxy Music, Talking Heads, Duran Duran, The Stranglers...

26- Mid nineties stuff, all of the above and discovered Jellyfish, Sarah McLachlan, Gin Blossoms, Tori Amos, Better Than Ezra, Del Amitri, Fastball, Green Day, the PIxies,

I give you a remote control car. You get to choose one action figure to put in it to be a driver. Who is that character and where would you take it to play with it?
The most posable one that fits the scale and can look believable behind the wheel, that fits the them of the car.

Back to comic stuff for now. Knowing that Iceman is the greatest hero of all time, why do you think he is so underused?
Too easy to defeat, and acts like jack-ass too often.

If you were to make a comic about the life of a house wife circa 1950. What would the title be and sell me on a quick pitch? Go!
Suburban Hell. 50's house wife by day gets into the occult out of boredom, and turns her life upside down with black magic.

We all know you kick ass drawing ? But what do you really want to do when you grow up?
Too late. If I haven't grown up by now, I'm not going to.

Where is the real money at in comic creating?
In movies.

When you're making comics what's going on around you? Music, what kind? Silence? TV on?
Usually TV on to political blah blah or talk radio, sometimes music when the prior gets to be too much.

10 years from now. Where do you see yourself?
New Zealand.

Alright we can finish up with a quick word association game. I will say a word, you give me a quick one sentence response.

Frankenstein? Poor misunderstood bastard.

Space Beaver? Poor misunderstood bastard.

Transmetropolitan? A smart choice in the 90's.

Horror Comics? Awesome and poised for a comeback as soon as people regain a sense of
humor.

Fruit Stripe Gum? Delicious and affordable.

Robocop? Great character never properly exploited.

Marvel Comics? Owned by Disney.

Pillow Fights? Fun with topless girls in 70's films.

Decapitated Dan? needs a body.

Darick Robertson? Is done!

Thanks so much Darick.
You bet!

If you want to see what Darick is up to check out his site http://darickrobertson.com/

Deep Discussions with Decapitated Dan: Alex Thompson

Welcome back kiddies! This time we welcome Alex Thompson, into the dungeon. Sit back and relax as he tells us about who he is, what he does and what we can expect from them in the future. Trust me you will like what you read!

Decapitated Dan: Hey Alex. Thanks for taking the time to talk with me about Approbation Comics and the projects your working on.

Alex Thompson: Hey, Dan! Always a pleasure. Apologies on the delay… I had the flu. Thankfully, not any of the exotic versions. The basic kind was bad enough!

DD: First of all lets talk about you. Who are you and what do you do?

AT: I am Alex Thompson and I’m a writer. Mostly comic books and screenplays. I also do a little acting and other behind the scenes movie related work.

DD: How did you get into making comics?

AT: I’ve always been a storyteller using a mixture of words and pictures. I always thought I’d tell those stories via television and movies, but those routes were a bit out of my reach due to lack of cash and connections. Then I discovered comics and after analyzing the hell out of them I learned that they were just like television and movies, just on paper. I could tell my stories that way without as much up front cash, plus I’d have more control of the final result.

DD: So what can you tell me about Approbation Comics?

AT: Approbation is the place I can play… do the books I want when and how I want to do them. This is a big deal because in Chinese astrology I’m a Horse sign… we tend not to like being fenced in and like to go all out on projects when the mood strikes us. This tends to not be superhero stories (aren’t there enough of those already out there?!) and are usually of the horror variety.

DD: What's titles do you currently have out? (descriptions of each on if you can)

AT: Our main focus right now is Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies. Right now we have nine issues out via our online store at Indyplanet.com. That’s a big deal for me as I’ve never had nine issues of any one comic title out and we are hard at work on getting issues ten through twelve out! We really would like to get Chaos Campus out there in the local comic shops in the form of graphic novel collections and we’re trying to get people’s help on making that dream a reality via our page at KickStarter.com.

Some other titles…
Vampires Unlimited, which isn’t your typical love struck, poetry writing, prissy vampires. These were contemporary people who were turned in a science experiment who try to find their way not fitting in with their old lives or the new lives of the supernatural. I’m planning on restarting this series from scratch under the name, The Lazarus Factor.

The Evil Inside and Amour were a horror and romance anthology series I did to experiment with short 7-ish page stories and to try and stretch my writing abilities. It was a fun little exercise with interesting results.


DD: Where did this ideas for all of these titles come from?

AT: There’s this Idea Store online that I order ideas at a bulk rate… okay, I kid (maybe). They come from wherever. They come from excitement, they come from boredom. They come from events and non events. They come from dreams. They come from everywhere. I just try to be receptive when they pop up.

DD: What are you hoping readers can take away from your books?

AT: I’m at a crossroads in my writing career right now… usually I’d be happy with people just enjoying the work and going away with a smile on their face from being entertained. In a way I still want that, which is why I’m doing a book called Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies!

On the other hand, I’m ready to strive for the next level… to touch the soles of the feet of the great writers who really teach a lesson and really make you ponder, think, and possibly change or improve things relating to the human condition.

DD: Can you talk a bit about what it takes to come up with so many different titles?

AT: Haha, huge heaping parts of frustration, restlessness, stubbornness mixed in with a touch of ADD, bi-polarism, and poverty.

DD: How did you go about finding all of these artists for your books?

AT: After doing this stuff for ten years, sometimes I strike up the initial conversation and sometimes I’m the one approached.

DD: What can we expect from you in the future?

AT: More insane, random, and wild fun times with the Chaos Campus series. There are 60 issues of this series planned and I really intend to write “The End” on the last page of that 60th issue. I have the series split into three 20-issue acts… so if I’m not able to do all 60 you’ll at least get the first 20 issues even if it kills me.

Blood, Shells, & Roses through Arcana. I’ve been saying this for years and this project has had every single freakin’ roadblock possible thrown at it. But it’s almost done. And this series just might really kill me. But it will come out. Soon.

I’m also working on a few horror screenplays and comic mini series. I really want to get these right so I’m doing further extensive rewrites on these. I won’t mention them here, but for those who are REALLY interested in knowing, do a quick internet search on me… I’m sure you’ll discover those projects.

DD: What got you into horror comics?

AT: I just like horror, period. Whatever form I can get it. I do horror comics because I like writing horror and there aren’t many horror comics out. There are so, SO many superhero comics. I’m not really a superhero fan. I can do it in small doses or for particular stories here and there, but it’s frustrating to me how the genres in comics are split. 95% superheroes and 5% everything else?! That’s CRAZY to me! Do you see things like that in other entertainment mediums? Movies? TV? Novels?

DD: What comics are you currently reading?

AT: I’ve kinda been slacking on the comics lately. I still love The Boys, Bomb Queen, and Hack/Slash.

DD: So in summary give me a quick recap on Approbation Comics and why fans should give your titles a try.

AT: Approbation Comics is where you turn when you want a break from superheroes! You don’t have to cut them from your reading diet, but is that ALL you want in your reading diet? I love pizza, but could you eat it every meal, every snack, every day of every week, month, year?! Variety is a beautiful thing.

But yeah, come on over… we have Chaos Campus: Sorority Girls vs. Zombies! How can you not have fun with hot girls fighting the undead?! People have preconceived notions about the series that either makes them jump on the book or they run away. Those who run to it get what they expected, but stay because there is so much more to the book than insinuated. Those who run away but eventually come back to check it out are usually amazed that this isn’t the early 90’s mindless T&A crap… yeah, there’s T&A, but they end up staying because of humor, the storytelling, and our heroines aren’t mindless bimbos but young feminists in their own right.

DD: Thanks so much Alex. I hope people can jump on board and check out your books. I know I have been really impressed by what I have been able to check out so far.

AT: Thank you for having me, Dan! I appreciate the compliments and the help you’ve given to expose more people to Approbation Comics and Chaos Campus!

7 New Reviews Posted

Sorry everyone got way behind. Have posted 7 new reviews. Dead Future #1, Victorian Undead #1, Zombie Dave #1, Happy Panda Funtime Show #1, 28 Days Later #4, Asylum of Horror #2 and FVZA #1.