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 Instagram as @PhillipSevyComicArt, and at his official website, PhillipSevy.com. Drew can be found online on Twitter as @Drew_Zucker, on Instagram as @ArtOfDrewZucker, and at his official website, ArtOfDrewZucker.com.  I'm still figuring some stuff out regarding press, comics, and life, so I can't confirm when the next episode of Funny Book Splatter will be, but thank you for keeping the show on your podcast apps and giving it a listen. It is very much appreciated.  CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher | Spotify Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

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 as @TheVaultComics on Twitter.  CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher | Spotify Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

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-the-scenes content.   The Kickstarter campaign has already blown through its funding goal and is moving through stretch goals. It runs through September 17th, 2020 so there's still a good amount of time to back this project and get your hands on this special edition of Nocterra #1.   CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Stitcher | Spotify Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

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 projects he has in the works.  He offers a pretty unique perspective on the comic book industry and it’s always a fun chat. He’s currently involved in a Kickstarter campaign to fund the release of the collection of Haunted High-Ons.  There’s also a Tales from Mr. Rhee Omnibus on the way. The best place to check out his work is at his official website, DirkManning.com. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

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)

This week is the return of writer, Ben Kahn.  I last spoke with him way back in episode #25 when he was just starting his new series, Heavenly Blues with Scout Comics.  That six-issue series has now completed and has not only been collected in a trade paperback, available now, but has been optioned as a feature film, so there’s some pretty exciting times ahead for Ben. Ben can be found online at his official site, BenKahnComics.com and on Twitter as @BenTheKahn.   In other news, 2018 has wrapped up and I have shared my list of the top 10 horror comics of the year.  Be sure to check it out over at HorrorTalk.com. I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to a number of the creators whose work is highlighted in the best of the bloodiest on this show. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

Yes, I’m still playing catch up.  The last few months of 2018 have been insane.  I’m aiming to get into more of a regular schedule with next year.  Anyway, here’s the second half of my New York Comic Con interviews.  There are three here for you, all of which have books out now from Image Comics.  First up is Joe Casey with MCMLXXV, then Gisele Lagace with Exorsisters, and then Ryan Cady for Infinite Dark.  Be sure to listen all the way to the end because I asked a bunch of creators what classic Disney movie they’d like to see reimagined as a horror movie.  I collected the responses at the end of the episode. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week I’m playing catch up so I’ve got my first batch of interviews from New York Comic Con for you.  I did six altogether and I’m breaking them up into two episodes. This first batch includes Sanford Greene and David F. Walker from Bitter Root, then Christofer Emgard, the writer of The Whispering Dark, and finally, Evan Dorkin, Veronica Fish, and Andy Fish from Blackwood. I’ll interject in between each interview to give some additional specifics. Bitter Root #1 is scheduled for release on November 14th from Image Comics.  The Whispering Dark #1 is out now from Dark Horse Comics and the second issue is due out on November 21st.  Finally, Blackwood's single issues are available now from Dark Horse Comics and a trade paperback collecting the series is scheduled for December 12th. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

It’s been a little while, huh?  I know it’s weird for a horror-themed podcast to go on hiatus in October, but here’s what happened, guys.  New York Comic Con screwed up my schedule big time. It happened to fall at a time that I had no other interviews lined up so it was a perfect storm of sorts.  I’ve just recently dug myself out of that hole and I’m getting back into the swing of things. So, on with the show!  This week’s guest is Felipe Cagno, the writer of The Few & Cursed, which he describes as “Buffy meets Mad Max in the Wild West.”  Felipe is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the release of the 5th issue of the series. He’s had a lot of success on the platform and I pick his brain about that, the creation of the book, and more.  He also shares a pretty awesome story about his introduction to the horror genre. There’s still time to get in on The Few & Cursed Kickstarter campaign and if you’re just getting into this series, there are catch-up tiers as well.  Felipe can be found online on Facebook and Instagram as Felipe Cagno. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week I had an awesome chat with writer Dave Dwonch.  His work includes Prom of the Dead and the new webcomic, Mind Palace, which creates a singular universe of all of Bryan Fuller’s TV creations, including Hannibal.  Dave has an abundance of stories and we just scratch the surface in this conversation. I definitely want to get him back on the show to talk some more. Dave can be found online at OutOfMind.co.  You can find Mind Palace at MindPalaceComic.com and you can purchase Prom of the Dead at BehomethComics.us.   In other news, past guest Mike Garley has returned to Kickstarter for a one-shot digital comic called Our Final Halloween.  At the time of this recording, he’s only a few days in with over 100 backers and about halfway to the funding goal. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week I spoke with Laszlo Tomasfi, the writer of the anthology webcomic The Observatory, soon to be collected with some all-new material from Caliber Comics.  Laszlo is a long time listener of the show and has been breaking into the comic industry with a number of one-page horror stories. They’re all collected in this new book called Caliber Presents: Volume 4 - The Observatory, due out on November 28th. In related news, my audio troubles never cease.  Something happened halfway through this recording where my audio completely dropped out.  Laszlo’s is fine, but mine vanished. I did my best to recreate the conversation, but it’s going to sound a little weird.  My apologies. If you have any suggestions on how I might combat these issues, I’m all ears. Hit me up at JFerguson@horrortalk.com. Laszlo can be found online at his official site LaszloTamasfi.com and on Twitter as @LTamasfi.   CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is writer / artist Michael Hague.  He recently created an incredible adaptation / continuation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula called Mammon, currently available from Dark Horse Comics.  Hague’s artwork is something completely unique that you won’t find anywhere else on comic shelves today. It’s a very interesting story with a number of unexpected twists and turns.  Plus, there are monkey ninjas in it. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guests are Drew Edwards and Paulo Hernandez.  Drew is the creator and writer of Halloween Man, a long-running horror webcomic.  Paulo is one of the artists on the new Halloween Man anthology comic Bat City Special, currently on Indiegogo.  This comic serves as a spooky love letter to the city of Austin, Texas and it’s clear from speaking to these two creators that they care deeply for that town. There’s still plenty of time to back the Indiegogo campaign.  Rewards include numerous Halloween Man comics as well as original artwork, comissions, t-shirts, and more. More information can be found at HalloweenMan.com.  Drew can be found online on Instagram as @Drew_Halloween.  He’s also one of the hosts of the Castle of Horror podcast.  Paulo can be found at his official site, FiveLineGraphics.net. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

Ben Grisanti returns!  He was last on the show to talk about Polybius Dreams, his ‘80s horror comic with a haunted video game.  This time around, Ben has a new creepy one-shot called Secret Santas that could very well become a new holiday tradition...just not one you’ll share with your kids. Ben is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the release of Secret Santas.  It’s well worth checking out. You can find more about Ben’s work at HypnoticDogComics.com.  Ben can also be found on Twitter as @BenGrisanti. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Tom Ward, the writer of Merrick: The Sensational Elephantman.  This indie darling follows the fictional adventures of the real life Elephantman diving into the supernatural and the occult.  The character has even had a crossover with another indie character, Dr. Crowe. Tom is currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the release of issues #7 and #8.  You can check out the entire first issue for free before backing the campaign. Tom can be found online on Twitter as @HighBrowTrash. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

Due to a scheduling snafu, I don’t have a guest this week.  I’ve got a few horror comics creators lined up for the next batch of episodes, but this ended up being an off week.  Don’t worry though. I’m prepared for this. This has happened once before in between episodes 25 and 26 where I played the introduction episode of the first, but lost HorrorTalk podcast, If You Watch This, I’ll Read That. If you haven’t listened to that episode, here’s a quick recap.  The show is hosted by myself and my editor Steve Pattee. The idea is that I don’t watch a ton of horror movies and Steve doesn’t read a ton of horror comics so he’d give me a movie to watch and I’d give him a comic to read.  Then we’d come back and talk about it. This is the first discussion episode where I watched The Exorcist for the first time ever and Steve read one of my all-time favorite horror comics, Colder. This was recorded a few years ago, back when Colder was only a single mini-series.  Now it’s a trilogy. We recorded four episodes of If You Watch This, I’ll Read That over the course of several months.  These never made it out into the world because we couldn’t quite get on a more routine schedule. I intend to launch a Patreon for Funny Book Splatter by the end of the year and this show is one of the goals I’ve outlined.  I want to try and carve out at least one a month. So, if you like the show, please let me know. I can be reached via email at JFerguson@horrortalk.com and on Twitter as @JamesFerguson.  I would love to hear what you think. We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is writer Zack Kaplan, the writer of Lost City Explorers, Port of Earth, and the reason I wanted to talk to him on this show, Eclipse.  This is an awesome horror / sci-fi comic where the sun is the villain. If you step foot into daylight, your flesh will melt instantly. As a fair-skinned individual, I’ve always know the sun was up to no good.   You can get the first two trade paperbacks of Eclipse now, which collect the first 8 issues.  Eclipse #9, which kicks off the penultimate story arc, just came out a couple weeks ago. Zack can be found online at his official site, ZackKaps.com and on Twitter as @zackkaps. Quick note on this episode.  Somewhere in the middle my voice gets way deeper and I sound really weird.  I have no idea what happened. Maybe I hit puberty during the interview. In any case, I did my best to clean up the audio, but it still sounds a little funny.   CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week I’ve got a packed house for you.  Greg Smith, Michael Tanner, and Zach Lehner are here to talk about their young adult horror series, Junior Braves of the Apocalypse from Oni Press.  The comic follows a group of scouts as they return from a camping trip to find a zombie apocalypse has decimated their hometown. The second volume, Out of the Woods, just dropped this week.   Quick note on the audio for this show. We had some technical difficulties getting Zach connected, but we figure it out a few minutes after we started chatting.  We could see Zach, but not hear him. That’s why we get so excited when he chimes in all of a sudden. You can find out more about Junior Braves of the Apocalypse at the official site, JuniorBraves.com, Facebook.com/JuniorBraves65, @JuniorBraves65 on Twitter, and @JuniorBraves on Instagram.  Zach can be found online on Instagram @lehnerzach. Greg can be found on Twitter @ThatAmazingTwit. Michael can be found on Twitter @MikeIsErnie. In other news, I recently posted the latest Loot Crate unboxing videos to the HorrorTalk YouTube channel.  I film these with my two kids and they’re increasingly out of control. In the newest one, my three year old tries to slit my throat with a plastic scalpel.  It’s a little nuts. Check them out and subscribe to the channel for more of these unboxing videos and other content. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guests are Charlie Stickney and Conor Hughes, the writer and artist of White Ash.  They describe this book as “Romeo & Juliet meets Lord of the Rings in rural Pennsylvania.” If that doesn’t hook you, nothing will.  Charlie and Conor are currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the release of the third issue of White Ash. They’ve already doubled their funding goal.  You can check out a preview of the first issue on the Kickstarter page. I’ve already sung it’s praises with a review. Charlie and Conor also recently exhibited at San Diego Comic Con for the first time.  It was super awesome to hear about this experience bringing an indie comic to the biggest comic convention around. You can find more information about White Ash at the official site, WhiteAshComic.com.  Conor has a Twitch stream where you can see him drawing in real time at Twitch.TV/ConorHughes. In other news, past guest Frank Martin has just launched a Kickstarter campaign for the collected edition of Modern Testament.  He’s already met his funding goal so you can back this one with confidence. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is K. Michael Russell, the colorist of such horror comics as Hack Slash: Resurrection, Glitterbomb, Yakuza Demon Killers, and Steele Vs.  He graciously answered all of my ignorant questions about coloring and his process. Colorists are an underappreciated portion of the comics industry. K. Michael Russell can be found online at his official site, ComicColor.com.  He also runs an online art school at 01ArtSchool.com and a YouTube channel showing how to color comics.  He’s sharing his knowledge to help train the next generation of colorists. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week, writer M.L. Miller returns to talk about the conclusion of Gravetrancers from Black Mask Studios.  This has been a trippy and unpredictable read. No character is safe from this insanity. The fourth and final issue of Gravetrancers is due out on July 25th.   You can find more from M.L. Miller at his official site, MLMillerWrites.com.  He also has his own podcast called Spoiler Alert. In other news, the first volume of Long Lost from previous guest, Matthew Erman and artist Lisa Sterle is now out in stores.  This collects the first six issues of the series so if you slept on this in single issues, you can pick it up in the trade paperback.  On the Kickstarter front, past guest Mike Garley has returned with more Samurai Slasher. This time it’s a Survive Your Own Adventure book.  That’s right. It’s a horror version of the classic Choose Your Own Adventure series. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Joseph Oliveira, returning to the show to talk about his new project, Wendigo Wood.  I had first spoken with Joseph over a year ago, early in his comics career. Since then he’s had a few successful Kickstarter campaigns to fund the release of the first two issues of Ghost Island and an anthology called Folk Tales of the Cryptids.  He’s on Kickstarter again to fund the release of the first issue of Wendigo Wood, another comic that gives me a perfect excuse to avoid the outdoors. Joseph can be found online at AfterLightComics.com.  Sign up for his newsletter to receive a free PDF of Ghost Island #1.  You can also follow him on Twitter at @AfterLightComic. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week I’ve got something a little different for you.  I speak with Phil Butehorn, another writer just starting out in the horror comics industry.  We compare notes on first projects and processes including getting out ideas, working with creative teams, and pitching.   Phil also runs the I Love Horror Comics Facebook page.  If you’re a fan of this show, you should definitely go over there and give it a Like.  Phil can also be found at Illuminerdi.com and on Twitter @TheIllumiNerdi. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Michael Sambrook, one of the minds behind Griff Gristle and the horror anthology comic, Horrere.  Michael is part of a group of creators in the UK steadily pumping out some solid indie comics so I’ve been eager to speak to him.  Unfortunately, this interview gets cut short due to some day job responsibilities. I intend to have Michael back on the show soon along with some of his colleagues from Madius Comics. Michael will be tabling at Glassgow Comic Con this Saturday, June 30th where he’ll have copies of Horrere #3 available in print for the first time.  This was first released in digital this past Halloween. Horrere is carrying on the tradition of classic horror anthology comics like Tales from the Crypt and Creepy.   Michael can be found on Twitter at @Rapiaghi.  Follow along with Madius Comics on Twitter at @MadiusComics.  You can find Michael’s work on the Comichaus app, as well as at payhip.com/horrere. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week, for the first time, I’ve got three guests on the show.  I spoke with Nick Keller, Conor Nolan, and Kelly Fitzpatrick, the writer, artist, and colorist (respectively) of Bedtime Games.  This is an awesome new horror series from Dark Horse Comics set to debut on Wednesday, June 27th. It has a definite Stephen King vibe to it too as the comic follows three kids who head into a tunnel looking for mischief and end up uncovering a horrifying monster.   Nick can be found at his official website, NickFKeller.com and on Twitter @NickFKeller. Conor can be found at his official website, ConorNolan.com and on Twitter @conor_draws. Kelly can be found on Twitter @wastedwings.  You can follow Kelly’s dog on Instagram at @bostonboyarchie and Conor’s dog at @mayorofpuppytown. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Michael Stark, the co-writer of Wolverton: Thief of Impossible Objects.  Michael’s journey is pretty interesting as he had originally intended for Wolverton to be a feature film, but producers told him they were only buying IP that was a comic book first...so he made it into a comic.  He used Kickstarter to fund the printing of the first issue of a planned six issue series. You can learn more about Wolverton at the official site, WolvertonComicBook.com and on Twitter @wolvertoncomic. In other news, previous guest and prolific horror comics writer Cullen Bunn is on Kickstarter with an original graphic novel called Metro.  It’s co-written by Brian Quinn from Impractical Jokers and illustrated by Walt Flanagan. As a big fan of Tell Em, Steve-Dave, I was all over this.  Cullen Bunn’s involvement certainly didn’t hurt. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Matthew Summo, the writer of Dedication from the now defunct Double Take Studios.  Matthew’s story is fascinating as he was front and center for the rise and fall of Double Take so I pick his brain about how it all went down.  His work has already been featured in a recent FUBAR anthology. Matthew can be found online at his official website, MattSummo.com and on Twitter @mattmanbegins. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week I’ve got a do-over interview with Jacob Semahn and Jorge Corona, the writer and artist of No. 1 with a Bullet from Image Comics.  You may recall that I spoke with them previously but the audio files were corrupted so the interview got scrapped. They were kind enough to speak with me again now that the series has wrapped up.  No. 1 with a Bullet is a very timely and chilling look at our use of technology and social media. It could not be more relevant. As a bonus, colorist Jen Hickman also joins in the chat for a bit too, reflecting on her choices for the color scheme of No. 1 with a Bullet.   The series’ covers were nominated for an Eisner and once you see them you will understand why.  They’re pretty awesome. All six issues of No. 1 with a Bullet along with the six page prologue story will be collected in a trade paperback available at your local comic book shop on Wednesday, June 6th.   Jacob can be found on Twitter at @SaxonJacob and Jorge can be found on Twitter @jecorona. In other news, past guest Stephan Franck has returned to Kickstarter to fund the release of the fourth and final volume of his vampire heist comic, Silver.  I was quick to back this campaign because it has been an awesome ride so far. As a special reward, backers at certain levels can receive a slipcase to store all four volumes which will look pretty cool on the book shelf.   CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Enrica Jang, the writer of Crossing from Red Stylo Media.  This is a solid and unique ghost story comic. I was blown away by the first issue so I was quick to back her new Kickstarter campaign for the second and third issues.  At the time of this recording, Enrica is halfway to her funding goal with three weeks left. After the campaign meets its budget, the only stretch goals planned are for more comics which is something I really respect.  I think we can all get behind more comics. You can find Enrica and Red Stylo Media at RedStylo.com as well as Facebook and Twitter.  If you back the Red Stylo Media Patreon, you’ll receive access to the previous anthology titles from the publisher too. In other news, former guest Pat Shand is back on Kickstarter to fund the release of the original graphic novel Afterglow with artist K. Lynn Smith.  It’s a post-apocalyptic adventure following a girl and her giant mutated cat. I’m so in. In other other news, I had mentioned some time ago that I was going to make a comic.  That is still happening and is moving forward to some extent. After completing the Comics Experience Intro to Comic Book Writing course (which I highly recommend), I ended up with a five page script that I was really happy with.  I am now working on getting this made. It’s something small, but it’s coming together. I saw the layouts last week and it was amazing. Everyone should make comics because it feels so awesome seeing your words come to life like this.  I’ll keep you guys posted as this develops. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is James Powell, the writer of House of Fear, an all-ages horror anthology comic.  There are three issues of House of Fear out now, each dealing with different horrors, including Lovecraftian creatures, haunted houses, and...snowmen.  I assure you, they’re all pretty creepy, although not scary enough to give your kid nightmares. James has found a nice sweet spot. Quick note on this episode.  James mentions plans for an upcoming Kickstarter.  Those have changed a bit since the time of this recording, but suffice it to say that there is more House of Fear coming in the near future.   James was kind enough to set up a special offer for Funny Book Splatter listeners.  If you go to Ten31Publishing.com/Funny-Book-Splatter and sign up for his newsletter, you’ll receive digital copies of all three current House of Fear comics.  I can speak from experience in saying James’ newsletter is pretty solid. Most recently he offered a sneak peek into an upcoming issue so it’s well worth checking out. More information about House of Fear can be found online at the official website, Ten31Publishing.com, on Twitter @Ten31Publishing, or at Facebook.com/ten31publishing.   In other news, you may have seen the headlines that Infidel from last week’s guests, Pornsak Pichetshote and Aaron Campbell is heading to the big screen.  Michael Sugar and TriStar will adapt the series into a film. This is great news for horror fans. As excited as I am to see how Infidel wraps up, I’m just as interested to see how it will look as a movie.  Congrats guys! CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week I’m happy to welcome Pornsak Pichetshote and Aaron Campbell, the writer and artist of Infidel from Image Comics.  I was really excited to speak with these two as Infidel has been an awesome read so far. It’s easily one of the best horror comics in 2018.   The first two issues of Infidel are available now and issue #3 drops on Wednesday, May 16th. Pornsak can be found on Twitter @real_pornsak and Aaron can be found on Twitter @olmancampbell. In other news, early guest Cody Andrew Sousa has taken to Kickstarter to fund the release of the Croak trade paperback.  This was one of my favorite horror comics of 2016 so you can bet that I was quick to back this campaign. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Andy Conduit-Turner, the writer of the Horde Comics Anthology.  Andy recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the first volume which collects five stories featuring demons, monsters, and good old-fashioned murderers.   You can follow along with Horde Comics on Twitter as @HordeComics.  Andy can be found on Twitter as @SuperAndyT83. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

I’ve got my second return guest this week with Michael R. Martin, the writer of the incredible vampire comic, Blood & Dust.  Michael was one of the first guests on the show, appearing way back in episode #9. Since then, he’s successfully funded the second volume of Blood & Dust on Kickstarter and he’s working on the next volume now.  The book is a crazy new take on the vampire mythos and it is some great stuff. You can buy both volumes of Blood & Dust at the official site, BloodAndDustComic.com.  If you want to try the comic out first, sign up for Michael’s newsletter at the same site and you’ll get a PDF of the first issue for free.  You can also find Michael online on Facebook at Facebook.com/BloodAndDustComic or on Twitter @BloodAndDust. In other news, former guest Ryan K. Lindsay has a Kickstarter campaign running for the digital omnibus of Headspace.  The series is a great read and follows a sheriff trapped inside the mind of a killer. The book is over 200 pages with bonus content and you can get it for as low as 5 Australian dollars.  Past guest Joseph Oliveira is also back on Kickstarter to fund the release of Ghost Island #3. This is the series described as Jurassic Park but with ghosts. I’m definitely looking forward to where this comic goes next. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guests are Dave Scheidt and Scoot McMahon, the creative team behind Wrapped Up from Lion Forge Comics.  I caught up with them briefly during New York Comic Con last year and I’ve been eager to speak to them at length on the show.  Wrapped Up is a super fun, all-ages comic about a mummy kid named Milo and the wacky adventures he gets into involving pizza, vampires, pizza, gorillas, pizza, witches, and did I mention pizza?   The first volume of Wrapped Up is available at your local comic shop, collecting the first five issues, plus the free Halloween ComicFest story.  It will be available at book stores and Amazon on May 1st. Wrapped Up #6 also dropped this week. While there are some elements that pop up sequentially, this is a comic you can jump into with any issue.  There are tons of laugh-out-loud moments that work for both kids and adults so it’s definitely worth checking out. Dave can be found online on Twitter at @DaveScheidt.  Scoot can be found on Twitter at @scootcomics. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Clay Mcleod Chapman, the writer of Lazaretto from BOOM! Studios.  This was hands down, one of the creepiest books I’ve read in the past year. It’s the kind of comic that will have you washing your hands afterward and for good reason.  The series ran for five issues and you may be able to find them at your local comic shop. The trade paperback isn’t out for a bit, but you can definitely pick up digital copies of the single issues on ComiXology or Kindle.  This one comes highly recommended, folks. Clay can be found online at his official website, ClayMcLeodChapman.com. In other news, early Funny Book Splatter guest, John Lees is back on Kickstarter with the first volume of Sink from ComixTribe.  This collects the first five issues of the series including some extra material. It’s available in both a softcover and limited edition hardcover.  I backed this thing as soon as I saw it was launched and I strongly urge you to do the same. ComixTribe always overdelivers on their Kickstarters and they have some special giveaways planned for this very short campaign. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is writer / artist Denis St. John.  He has a collection of assorted spooky stories available now called The Land of Many Monsters: And Many More Monster Tails.  It features creatures of all shapes and sizes including fishmen, werewolves, and dinosaurs. It was really fun talking to Denis because you can tell he loves what he’s doing.  It shows on the page too. Denis can be found online at his official website, DenisComix.com, on Twitter @DenisComix, on Instagram @DenisSaintComix, and on Patreon at Patreon.com/DenisStJohn.  The Land of Many Monsters is available on Amazon right now. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is Jen Vaughn, the writer of Goosebumps: Download and Die from IDW Publishing.  I had previously spoken with Chris Fenoglio, the artist of the last Goosebumps series. This one is an entirely new tale and it’s off to a pretty great start.  It’s a fun all-ages story that works for adults and kids alike. If you’ve listened to this show, you’ll know how much of an influence Goosebumps is on an entire generation of horror creators so I’m so excited to see it return and in comic book form. Jen can be found online on Twitter as @TheJenya. The first issue of Goosebumps: Download and Die is available now at your local comic shop and digitally through ComiXology and Amazon Kindle.   CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week I’ve got my first return guest, Matt Miner.  I had previously spoken with him about his work on Gwar: Orgasmageddon and This Nightmare Kills Fascists.  This time around, Matt’s here to talk about his new slasher comic, Poser, available now from Waxwork Comics.  It’s a unique comic in that it comes with its own soundtrack on vinyl which really adds to the overall experience.   Poser #1 is currently available exclusively through Waxwork Comics.  The trade paperbacks of Gwar: Orgasmageddon and This Nightmare Kills Fascists are available now.  Both are definitely worthy checking out. Matt can be found online on Twitter at @MattMinerXVX.   CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)

This week’s guest is writer / artist, Nevin Arnold, the creator of Monsterella.  Nevin is currently using Kickstarter to fund the release of the second issue of Monsterella, an anthology comic in the vein of classic Vampirella and 2000 AD.  He’s already far surpassed his funding goal and he’s plowing through stretch goals. We recorded this on the day the Kickstarter campaign launched. You’ll still have some time to back the project after hearing this.  I backed it myself. Nevin can be found online at Monsterella.ca and at Facebook.com/HangmanComics. CONTACT: Email | Twitter SUBSCRIBE: RSS | iTunes | Google Play | Stitcher Music by Eric Matyas (www.soundimage.org)