It's the first Comics Corner of the new year! If you are new here or if you are returning, welcome! Kicking things off today is an interview I got to do with the very illustrious and rad Jeremy Lambert, writer of Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight. Also, we have details on part six of Spawn #281, The Gravediggers Union #3, Extremity #10, Hatchet #2, Paper Girls #19, and the "New World Order" of The Walking Dead #175.
Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight Q&A with Writer Jeremy Lambert: On December 23rd, I got a chance to speak with Jeremy Lambert, author of the latest iteration of the Goosebumps comic series titled Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight, at his signing of issue #1 at Third Eye Comics in Annapolis, MD. We discussed how he got started in a career writing comics, how he got involved with IDW Publishing, and, of course, all things Goosebumps and R.L. Stine!
Thank you so much for agreeing to talk with me. How did all of this happen? How did you get started in this field?
Jeremy Lambert: I used to do the thing a bunch of nerds used to do and make my own when I was younger. They were horrible, but I sold them for 25 cents to family and friends. I even drew them, so you knew it was extremely bad. I actually got serious with comic writing in 2010, when my friends Jordie Bellaire and Declan Shalvey asked if I had ever written a comic in addition to all the screenplays I was working on, and I had a couple unfinished comic scripts that I had abandoned, but I started working on them again and developing them.
I have them to thank for that spark and renewing my love of comic writing, honestly. And from there I just wrote a ton of pitches and issue ones, most of which should never, ever see the light of day, but I had to get through those and keep working on my scripts to get them to a point where I was comfortable to show them and start working with artists. My first real gig was a short story in the 2014 CBLDF Liberty Annual, drawn by Dec, colored by Jordie, lettered by Clayton Cowles, and edited by Lauren Sankovitch. From there I started working on more short stories and eventually a couple miniseries were in the works.
Were you a fan of the Goosebumps books before writing this comic? Do you have any favorite books in the series?
Jeremy Lambert: Absolutely! That is actually how I got involved with writing for this [first arc] of Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight. I would meet editors and other content creators at conventions, and we'd discuss our love of Goosebumps, and when IDW decided to pick up this comic, the opportunity presented itself. As for favorites, I would pick Night of the Living Dummy.
That's awesome! Slappy is so iconic. He's menacing and just plain awful to everyone. Okay, so the Goosebumps books are geared to the early teen, middle school age crowd. I remember reading them in middle school and then reading Fear Street books as I got older because the content is a little more mature. Is it difficult to write for the series while keeping the specific audience in mind?
Jeremy Lambert: It can be at times because I am a huge horror fan and my writing can get a little dark, but I know when to hold back. I have a wonderful editor and really everyone at IDW Publishing is absolutely a joy to work with. It's a collaborative effort, so we all work together and come up with something that works for everyone.
So, there are currently three issues of the first arc of Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight out at the moment?
Jeremy: Well, there's only one issue of Goosebumps out right now, but issues 2 and 3 will be released in January and then in April all three issues will come out together in one book. [Chris Fenoglio did the artwork as well as the cover artwork, Brittany Peer is the Colorist, and Drew Rausch also worked on the cover artwork].
Excellent. The artwork is stunning as well as the stories. R.L. Stine's presence is definitely felt when I read this comic.
Jeremy Lambert: Yes, it is very important to have a balance between the horror elements and the comedy. R. L. Stine was great at having that balance so that the stories would take you right at the edge of scary, but still be accessible to a younger audience.
Exactly. I think that is why R.L. Stine's work is so timeless. Everyone who has read any of his books can tell you their favorite character(s) and stories because they were terrifying but funny and sometimes silly at the same time. They find a way to forever live in your mind. So, after the third issue is released, a completely different set of the comics will be released at a later date by the same team?
Jeremy Lambert: Yes, a different set of comics will come out in February by a totally different team who are also very talented. [Download and Die! is written by Jen Vaughn from Adventure Time and illustrated by Michelle Wong].
I can't let this conversation end without asking if you have ever met R.L. Stine?
Jeremy Lambert: No, I haven't, but my editor [Lauren Sankovitch] met him at a convention, though. He mentioned me in a tweet once, and I was so [happy] about it.
That is very cool. He liked a tweet I sent him way back in 2010 or something. He tweeted that he was so happy to see how many readers of his books in the 1990s are now adults sharing his books with their kids and reaching out to him about how they influenced their lives. Thank you so very much for talking with me today. It was a pleasure.
Synopsis for Goosebumps: Monsters at Midnight #2: "Trapped in HorrorLand, sisters Mia and Ginny have no hope of escape… that is until a little Horror named Irk mentions the gate on the other side of the Scream-Park! Only problem is the never-ending nightmares that stand in their way! And did someone say something about a dummy? Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean- AAAAAGGHH!
AVAILABLE: January 2018
DIAMOND CODE: SEP170534
CREATORS:
Jeremy Lambert (Author) • Chris Fenoglio (Artist, Cover Artist) • Brittany Peer (Colorist) • Drew Rausch (Cover Artist)
IMPRINT: IDW
PAGE COUNT: 32
COLOR: FC
CATEGORIES: Goosebumps
TAGS: Action-Adventure, All Ages, Chris Fenoglio, Drew Rausch, Jeremy Lambert."
For more information on this new series, head over to IDW Publishing's website.
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Spawn #281: "Story: Darragh Savage, Jason Shawn Alexander
Art / Cover / Variant Cover: Jason Shawn Alexander
Published: January 3, 2018
Diamond ID: OCT170729
A NEW HERO PREMIERES!
Look for this exciting new character as she makes her heroic debut. Only ONE ISSUE left until the thrilling conclusion of “DARK HORROR!”
Digital: $2.99
Print: $2.99."
To learn more, visit Image Comics.
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The Gravediggers Union #3: "Story / Cover: Wes Craig
Art: Wes Craig, Toby Cypress, Niko Guardia
Published: January 3, 2018
Diamond ID: NOV170761
What is the key that will release the Dark Gods?
Desperate to prove herself as the true prophet of the apocalypse, Morgan embarks on a darkly mystical journey that may tear her apart. Meanwhile, to find the location of Morgan and the Black Temple, the Gravediggers have to do battle with one of the strangest creatures they’ve ever encountered: the Yuppie-Vampire!
Digital: $3.99
Print: $3.99."
For more information, visit Image Comics.
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Extremity #10: "Story: Daniel Warren Johnson
Art / Cover: Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer
Published: January 3, 2018
Diamond ID: NOV170754
Thea learns the hard way that peace never lasts.
Digital: $3.99
Print: $3.99."
To see more from Extremity #10, head on over Image Comics.
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Hatchet #2: "Flashback to 1985 - parachute pants, these new things called CDs, and slasher flicks are all the rage! A group of unsuspecting and rather dimwitted actors is making a new horror movie, "Hatchetface Lives," deep in Honey Island Swamp. Now they are face to face with the real Victor Crowley and no amount of sexs, drugs, or rock n roll will save them from a gruesome death. This is Adam Green's American slasher classic with all-new tales of terror!
American Mythology Productions
Written by James Kuhoric
Art by Richard Bonk
Pencils Eliseu Gouveia and Andrew Mangum
Inks Eliseu Gouveia and Andrew Mangum
Colored by Gene Jimenez
Cover by Emmanuel Torres
About Book:
Page Count
22 Pages
Print Release Date: January 3, 2018
Digital Release Date: January 3, 2018
Age Rating
17+ Only
Sold by comiXology."
To learn more about the new and ongoing Hatchet comic series based on the movie franchise, visit ComiXology's website on behalf of American Mythology Productions.
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Paper Girls #19: "Story: Brian K. Vaughan
Art: Cliff Chiang, Matt Wilson
Cover: Cliff Chiang
Published: January 3, 2018
Diamond ID: NOV170787
The Battle of the Ages has begun, and Tiffany and her fellow Paper Girls are caught in its deadly crossfire.
Digital: $2.99
Print: $2.99."
For more on this rad series, head on over to Image Comics' website.
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The Walking Dead #175: "Story: Robert Kirkman
Art: Charlie Adlard, Stefano Gaudiano, Cliff Rathburn
Cover: Charlie Adlard, Dave Stewart
Published: January 3, 2018
Diamond ID: NOV170604
“NEW WORLD ORDER,” Part One
NEW FRIENDS.
NEW ENEMIES.
NEW THREATS.
IT’S A WHOLE NEW WORLD.
Digital: $3.99
Print: $3.99."
To learn more, go to Image Comics' website here.
Tamika hails from North Beach, Maryland, a tiny town inches from the Chesapeake Bay.She knew she wanted to be an actor after reciting a soliloquy by Sojourner Truth in front of her entire fifth grade class. Since then, she's appeared in over 20 film and television projects. In addition to acting, Tamika is the Indie Spotlight manager for Daily Dead, where she brings readers news on independent horror projects every weekend.
The first horror film Tamika watched was Child's Play. Being eight years old at the time, she remembers being so scared when Chucky came to life that she projectile vomited. It's tough for her to choose only one movie as her favorite horror film, so she picked two: Nosferatu and The Stepford Wives (1975).
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