In our latest Q&A, I catch up with writer Jonathan Chance to talk about his latest horror comic book release, Permadeath, from Dead Sky Publishing. Aside from talking about the creative process on this one-shot, he gives a significant update on upcoming projects you'll want to keep on your radar:
Permadeath instantly brings to mind classic horror anthology movies, TV, and comics. What are some of your favorites that inspired you to write Permadeath?
Jonathan Chance: For me personally what I didn't want to do was a horror host. I think there's a thin line before it becomes cheesy at least in comic books. Though I've always loved the original E.C Comics and the modern Creepshow comics. They represent how to do it right currently, but also why we shouldn't have more than a handful. For Permadeath I wanted it to be its own animal but channel something in the line of the creepier tales from Rod Serling's Night Gallery or in comic books Eclipse Comic's Tales of Terror.
How did this particular project come about and were these two stories perfect for this one-shot?
Jonathan Chance: I was aware Dead Sky Publishing was beginning to branch out into comic books specifically horror through my friend, horror writer R.M Brandt. So, I reached out to them with different projects and Steve Wands and the team over there loved these two particular stories together and how they related to one another through playing with death, but also the game of death. The old gang at the retirement home refer to playing with astral projection as "The Big Game" as a disguise from the nurses and the teen in "Scattershot" is playing a video game he thinks for life or death, sadly. Wands came up with the title combining the two and being it was a double feature, I said it wasn't a one shot but a "Two shot" so that stuck as well.
You worked with different teams of artists for each story? Was that an intentional choice and can you talk about how their work helped to bring your script to life?
Jonathan Chance: Nothing is ever the same and it always feels exciting and fresh but picking the right artist for the right story is very important. This person along with the amazing colorist is going to guide your vision and you're trusting in their ability to capture the vision you see in your mind. So, I take a lot of time decided which direction to go and what way could be best in my opinion. I write the script, storyboard all the pages and send notes on more personal things in the scene, certain expressions, moods, and continuity. But it's definitely intentional because every theme or world you're capturing requires a mood or style that will best suit the story. I love working with different teams. Dell Barras I knew was incredible for his fantasy art and colorist Omar Estevez would be a great match to serve the modern world with beautiful 80's gel like moods and to switch between the fantasy realm with a different look. Same with Rafael Lanhellas's amazing illustrations on The Big Game, I originally saw he did some really great body horror pieces in an Evil Ernie issue, and I knew he'd be perfect because we needed our own catastrophic body horror art in the book. The colorist Damian Felitte is a longtime collaborator I enjoy working with. We did Cover the Dead with Lime, most recently House of Vincent a short tale, but he always knows what I want and has this mindset of determination and passion I truly admire.
Based on what I've read, it seems like you have plenty of stories and fights in store for readers. Can you tease what projects you have coming up?
Jonathan Chance: I do! It's an exciting time. Titles coming out and in progress are Never by Night, House of Vincent, Pots and Panels, America Hysteria and a series on the once thought forgotten American Indian Ohlone tribe. Never By Night is due out this Halloween from Snowyworks via Barnes and Noble and Amazon etc. This is my very own anthology series I have wanted to do for a long time. My intention with it is for every year to bring out a new volume every Halloween of new horror stories from me showcasing some of the best creatives in the business sharing a stage with new up-and-coming talent on the same playing field. With each new volume each year I want this to become event reading. A place for horror folks all over the world to come every Halloween and to be excited about the newest stories and who is in this year's volume. This first NBN year has some greats such as illustrators Dell Barras (Conan the Barbarian, Permadeath, he was also the storyboard artist for X-Men, TMNT, RoboCop) Ron Joseph (Gi Joe, Transformers, Loup Garou) Roman Stevens (Batman - Gotham by Gaslight, Specs, Children of the Woods) and fresh new artists C.E Zacherl, and Fernando Damasio. It will be four stories, 82 pages.
Pots and Panels is another unique anthology, it's from Chuck Satterlee. One of my stories and recipes will be in the book along with a slew of other incredible writers including the great Steve Niles! That goes on Kickstarter mid-September so look out for that and the host of perks available.
I just completed a short tale called House of Vincent with Ryan Carr illustrating. It's a touching tale on the latter years of horror legend Vincent Price. The short version of that is available with Inservice Comics music, musician anthology Set List I (of 2) and the intended longer version is looking for its rightful home currently.
Ohlone is a series I am starting with Henry Munoz a present day Ohlone tribesman. He approached me after reading The Boy Who Conquered a Mountain and we got talking and became fast friends. Over the last year he told me all about his history, stories of his ancestors and family and it really moved me and even I took my son to the last pow wow ceremony. Once, long ago, they were wrongfully said to be extinct. Clearly, they are alive and well and in the last 8 or so years the tribe has actively responded to this claim especially with the use and proof of DNA through the diligent work of Henry his sisters and family making sure to keep alive the importance of their legacy, not just state recognized but federally put back into the system as an official tribe. For posterity for future generations, we are building a miniseries on this positive and unique tribe from its history of true-life tales old, ancient and modern, myths and legends and hardships individually from this tribe and I honestly think this will be unlike many Indian shows seen on television and movies for its accuracy and intention to detail stories from the Ohlone-Rumsen people.
America Hysteria I am still tight lipped about. It's a new horror series from me in the works and I'm 3/4 through completing issue 1. I will begin shopping that one very soon as well.
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“THE BIG GAME”
“SCATTERSHOT"
After spending more than 10 years as a consultant in the tech and entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his interest in horror and sci-fi. Since then, it has grown into an online magazine with a staff of writers that provide daily news, reviews, interviews, and special features.
As the Editor-in-Chief of Daily Dead, Jonathan is responsible for bringing the latest horror news to millions of readers from around the world. He is also consulted with as an expert on zombies in entertainment and pop culture, providing analyses of the zombie sub-genre to newspapers, radio stations, and convention attendees.
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