Sheep reviewer and comic lover Gef Fox got a chance to talk with the writer of Kiss Me, Satan. A new and exciting horror/action comic from Dark Horse. This has been one of my favorites of 2013 (Sharon) as well as Gef's.
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| everyone wave to Juan! |
Victor: There was a bit of back and forth about who the artist would be, but Juan was just coming off COLDER and Dan Chabon said "How about this gut" and I saw the samples and said "sure, why not?" HOLY POOP! Juan delivered in a way I never could have imagined. No matter what I pictured in my head, Juan drew something even better. The guy is a super star on the rise.
Gef: When it comes to urban fantasy, as well as horror, New Orleans might be the most visited city in the genre--second only to New York City, I suppose. For you, was their a particular attraction to that region when coming up with Kiss Me, Satan?
Victor: For me it was a no-brainer. I live in Baton Rouge about an hour north, and I've spent a good amount of time in New Orleans, feeling the vibe and getting a sense of the place. I think it's a setting that's been used a lot but still not to its full potential. Juan has really captured the flavor of the place in his artwork.
Gef: Barnabus makes for a good anti-hero protagonist, doing what he can to work his way back into Heaven, but the supporting characters certainly do a lot to chew the scenery. Is there any kind of balancing act when it comes to keeping Barnabus as the central character, as opposed to turning the series into a huge ensemble cast with everyone jockeying for attention?
Victor: Honestly, I don't have a problem with that. I'd rather have an ensemble cast fighting for attention than a bunch of characters who obviously only exist to make the star look good. Frankly there were a dozen times during the writing of this mini that it occurred to me I could do a book just on the witches or just on Malcolm or just on the Bone Wrangler or just on ... well, you see what I mean. I'm glad to suffer from an embarrassment of riches.
Gef: Jules, the cigar-chomping cherub, only made one brief appearance in the first issue. With four issues in, any chance of seeing him again?
Victor: Well, the mini is actually five issues and we do see him in #4 ... do we see him again. Stay tuned. But he's awesome. A little cherub gangster with wings.
Gef: Kiss Me, Satan feels like the kind of series that doesn't believe in brake pedals. The action is constant without being overwhelming. What kind of consideration goes into the pacing of this kind of series?
Victor: Raymond Chandler is famous for his rule that if things slow down have a man with a gun in his hand walk through the door. Or words to that effect. I really want things to be fun and fast, and it sounds like you've caught onto that. I guess I feel the same way. Really, I just want things to stay fun fun fun. Right?
Gef: The five-part mini-series is something I have come to really appreciate as a relative newcomer to the medium, since there seems to be such a learning curve when it comes to jumping into the middle of an ongoing series. It is a finite story arc, while lending itself as a jumpoff for further stories. What's your take on this approach to comics?
Victor: All I can say is that it's good for me. KISS ME, SATAN would never have had a chance if I'd demanded from the git-go it be an ongoing series. But it was perfectly cool and reasonable that we give it a chance for 5 issue. You know what? If people want it, I'd love to do more.
About the Author:
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Victor Gischler is the author of such novels as GUN MONKEYS, SHOTGUN OPERA, GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE, THE DEPUTY and others. His work has been optioned for film and translated into numerous languages. He's also written such comic book titles as X-Men, Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth, The Punisher, Conan, and The Shadow. He is a world traveler, grad school survivor and BBQ aficionado.
Gef: When it comes to urban fantasy, as well as horror, New Orleans might be the most visited city in the genre--second only to New York City, I suppose. For you, was their a particular attraction to that region when coming up with Kiss Me, Satan?
Victor: For me it was a no-brainer. I live in Baton Rouge about an hour north, and I've spent a good amount of time in New Orleans, feeling the vibe and getting a sense of the place. I think it's a setting that's been used a lot but still not to its full potential. Juan has really captured the flavor of the place in his artwork.
Victor: Honestly, I don't have a problem with that. I'd rather have an ensemble cast fighting for attention than a bunch of characters who obviously only exist to make the star look good. Frankly there were a dozen times during the writing of this mini that it occurred to me I could do a book just on the witches or just on Malcolm or just on the Bone Wrangler or just on ... well, you see what I mean. I'm glad to suffer from an embarrassment of riches.
Gef: Jules, the cigar-chomping cherub, only made one brief appearance in the first issue. With four issues in, any chance of seeing him again?
Victor: Well, the mini is actually five issues and we do see him in #4 ... do we see him again. Stay tuned. But he's awesome. A little cherub gangster with wings.
Gef: Kiss Me, Satan feels like the kind of series that doesn't believe in brake pedals. The action is constant without being overwhelming. What kind of consideration goes into the pacing of this kind of series?
Victor: Raymond Chandler is famous for his rule that if things slow down have a man with a gun in his hand walk through the door. Or words to that effect. I really want things to be fun and fast, and it sounds like you've caught onto that. I guess I feel the same way. Really, I just want things to stay fun fun fun. Right?
Victor: All I can say is that it's good for me. KISS ME, SATAN would never have had a chance if I'd demanded from the git-go it be an ongoing series. But it was perfectly cool and reasonable that we give it a chance for 5 issue. You know what? If people want it, I'd love to do more.
website-FB-twitter
Victor Gischler is the author of such novels as GUN MONKEYS, SHOTGUN OPERA, GO-GO GIRLS OF THE APOCALYPSE, THE DEPUTY and others. His work has been optioned for film and translated into numerous languages. He's also written such comic book titles as X-Men, Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth, The Punisher, Conan, and The Shadow. He is a world traveler, grad school survivor and BBQ aficionado.
Okay I suddenly feel myself needing to seek out a cigar-chomping cherub LOL Thank you for taking the time and effort to share with us, it was fun :)
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