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A Vision Of Monsters

Published Sat, 18 Apr 2015 11:00:51 -0500

Last updated Sat, 18 Apr 2015 11:14:01 -0500

Undead or Alive: Original Graphic Novel. Creators: Steve Bryant (writer/letterer), Jason Millet (artist), and Chris Murrin (editor). Close date: May 5, 2015. Publishing Date: November, 2015.

Steve Bryant writes,

I have a soft spot for monsters.

This obsession dates back to the monster comics of the '70s and '80s: Werewolf by Night, Dracula, Ghost Rider, Frankenstein—even some aspects of the Incredible Hulk from that time period! But towering above everything else were the twin titans of the swamp: Man-Thing and Swamp Thing.

Steve Gerber's writing on Man-Thing was creepy and atmospheric—aided and abetted by the wonderful art of his storytelling partners, Val Mayerik, Mike Ploog, and Jim Mooney. But Gerber also peppered the work with allegories and anagrams. It was a spooky puzzle waiting to be solved. And at its center was the coolest, creepiest-looking creature in comics.

At the same time, Len Wein and Berni Wrightson were serving up their own brand of muck monster in the pages of Swamp Thing. Wein and Wrightson's book was a lavishly-illustrated love letter to monster movies. And it was glorious.

Of course, Alan Moore reinvented Swamp Thing years later, exploring psychological horror, and filling the material with the themes, homages, and hidden elements that have been present throughout his career. Coupled with the brilliant art of his storytelling partners-in-crime, Stephen Bissette, and John Totleben, the book reinvented monster comics for a whole new audience.

These are the books that Jason Millet and I were influenced by when we started working on Undead or Alive.

Undead or Alive follows a team of monster hunters as they investigate a series of strange disappearances in the swamps outside the Louisianna parish of Gerber's Crossing. At the heart of it all is Areal Moon, an eccentric comic writer, pop culture icon, and practicing magician.

Jason and I are having fun creating a story dripping with the same atmosphere as the swamp classics that preceded us, as well as weaving in a number of Easter Eggs for readers that enjoyed the same tales we did. We hope that you will join us for Undead or Alive: The Lurker in the Swamp!

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