Well, here we are, with a brand new interview with Devin "Ghost" Minter, the creator of the brand new webcomic, Monster Soup, which debuted yesterday! Sink your teeth into her brain with these ten mind-numbing questions I just HAD to ask....
1. So why monsters? What is it about them that just gets your creative juices splashing all over the page?
My love for monsters began with Dracula. I remember when I was a child, sitting with my mother on the couch and watching the 1979 Dracula film. It then snowballed from there. My interest with other monsters and the supernatural soon followed. Whether it is comics or novels, I can’t imagine writing about anything else. I think it’s the idea of the unusual. There’s also the element of fear of the unknown. When I was a child, anything was possible, and vampires and other monsters existed in my world. One would think that growing up would kill that imagination, but I believe it had the opposite effect. Through writing and art, the worlds and characters I create are limited only by my imagination. So that’s me--a big kid who loves to be frightened and hates being told to grow up.
2. If you had to choose, which famous movie monster is your favorite, and why?
It would have to be Dracula, of course, since he started it all for me. He has been re-imagined, reinvented, and refuses to leave the entertainment world no matter how many times he’s been killed. Stoker had no idea what he was releasing onto the world, and throughout everything that has followed, Dracula has truly become immortal.
3. Is art something that you have a chance to use at work?
Sadly, no. For the longest time I considered art only as a hobby. But like most who love art, it would be a dream to make it a career. At the moment I don’t have a typical 9 to 5 job, so I can focus most of my time on art.
4. You're told that you have thirty minutes to live, and the only way to survive is to draw your
"perfect life". What would you draw, and why?
A circle. Circles are endless.
5. Do you plan on promoting Monster Soup, and if so, what types of advertising do you plan on
trying?
At the moment, I don’t have any plans for advertising in the works. I’ve mainly been focusing on the comic itself. Word of mouth seems like the only advertisement I’ll have for the time being. I’m hoping that once I find a solid footing, and build up a nice archive, I can start focusing on the advertising element.
6. What do you like better in your webcomics, black and white or color?
I have no personal preference for either. Whether color or B&W, I think it’s another part of a comic’s overall style or personality. I guess I can say that I’m a fan of both.
7. Walk us through a day in your comic-creating life.
I wake up at 6:30 in the morning, grab my coffee, a simple breakfast, make my internet rounds, then turn on my iTunes and begin working on that day’s pages. Aside from the many 10-15 minute breaks, I tend to work all day. Nothing too thrilling or spectacular.
8. What are your artistic tools of the trade?
I work all digital when it comes to my comic, aided with an old Wacom Intuos 2. I do have sketchbooks I’ve made; three inch binders filled with simple copy paper. I prefer to use red and black Bic ballpoints, and sometimes a light blue Prisma or Copic marker when sketching. The digital programs of my choice are Easy Paint Tool SAI (roughs, inks, flats, shading, backgrounds) and Adobe Photoshop (text/dialog, panels, touchups, and the final Save). I did attempt to work with Manga Studio, but I kept finding myself fumbling around. I would love to be comfortable with it as I am with Photoshop and SAI, but decided not to rock the boat right now. Perhaps one day I’ll take a longer stroll through Manga Studio.
9. Any favorite webcomics that you have bookmarked?
I just recently entered the world of webcomics, so my list is a small one. The ones that I currently keep coming back for more are “Captain Ahole” (of course *wink*), “Adrastus” (http://adrastuscomic.com/), “Titanzer” (http://titanzer.com/), “Oglaf” (*NSFW* http://www.oglaf.com/), “Well This Is Awkward” (*NSFW* http://wtia.comicdish.com/), “Next Town Over” (http://www.nexttownover.net/), Incubus Tales (*NSFW* http://incubustales.comicdish.com/) and... I can’t think of anymore off the top of my head. I need to get a proper reading list together, but like I said, I’m a new to the scene.
10.And, finally, why should people give Monster Soup a shot?
It has humor, bloodshed, classic monsters, and a passionate writer/artist who will try her darnedest to finish the story. I also tend to describe the comic as an animated series that would air on the heels of HBO’s True Blood. I really need to find a good pitch. That will be on my list of things to do. *jots it down*
Many thanks to Devin for taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer these questions for us, and be sure to give her comic a chance, because it looks like it's going to a be a good one! Thanks for reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment