We recently caught up with Craig Engler, (creator of Z Nation) to talk about his Kickstarter project to create a new comic series based on the work of famous horror author H.P. Lovecraft.
Horror News Network: With weeks to go on your Kickstarter campaign, you have already doubled the initial goal. Can you talk a bit about what that means to you and the project?
Craig Engler: The first thing it means is, our backers are going to get a bigger and better comic. We’re adding more pages and more rewards as we go, so the more money we get, the more we put into the book that our backers get. And the second thing is, we might actually break even on the comic! It probably seems like we should be making lots of money by this point, but printing, shipping, artists fees and platform fees will consume almost the entire budget. Which is fine, by the way. Our goal is to make an amazing comic, not to make money.
Horror News Network: What can you tell us about the main character, “Lovecraft”?
Craig Engler: This is a complete reinterpretation of the Cthulhu Mythos, and in our story Lovecraft isn’t a writer, he’s a modern-day alchemist and magician. He’s reluctantly fallen into the role of protecting humanity, even though he doesn’t have much use for — or tolerance of — people as a general rule. But he knows if someone out there gets a hold of the Necronomicon and summons the Old Ones, they’ll destroy the world and Lovecraft along with it, so someone has to stop that from happening. This generally doesn’t leave Lovecraft in a particularly good mood though.
Horror News Network: What types of monsters and things that go bump in the night will he be facing in the 48 page issue?
Craig Engler: Well the first comic is sort of an origin story for Lovecraft that’s actually got a bit of twist to it, so I can’t say much about it yet. But, there will be plenty of Lovecraftian horrors, both seen and unseen.
Horror News Network: Do you have plans for the comic after the initial issue? Will this be an ongoing series, or mini?
Craig Engler: The first issue is definitely the lead-in to what I hope will be at least a miniseries and beyond that an ongoing title. We’re talking to a few publishers right now but nothing is firm yet. So if we get the opportunity, we’ll definitely make more.
Horror News Network: Can you tell us a bit about the stretch goals and rewards?
Craig Engler: All of the stretch goals are designed to make the book bigger or to give our backers more rewards. We’ve already unlocked a goal that adds the script and original layouts to the digital issue of the book and another that adds 4 pages of Strange Lovecraft Facts and Insane Trivia that will be illustrated by Ryan Dunlavey. The next goal will unlock four additional pages from the Necronomicon drawn by artist Daniel Govar.
Horror News Network: Can you talk a bit about the artwork on this project by Daniel Govar?
Craig Engler: Dan is doing an AMAZING job on this issue. He’s a master at gray tonal art that compliments the story perfectly. He basically takes my words and suggestions and makes them 10 times better than I think they’ll be. Every time I get new pages from him I’m blown away!
Horror News Network: Tell us a bit about the rest of the team involved in this project.
Craig Engler: We have cover art by Lewis LaRosa, who’s being doing a lot of work for Valiant comics like Shadowman and Bloodshot. In fact, he’s now under an exclusive contract with Valiant and they’re lucky to have him. Mat Lopes is doing a fantastic job on the colors. And we have crazy talented guest artists doing Lovecraft pinups for us, including Brian Hurtt (The Sixth Gun), Richard Luong (Cthulhu Wars), Dennis Calero (X-Men: Noir), John Bivens (Dark Engine), Lukas Ketner (Witch Doctor) and Jamie Tanner (The Dark Well). Plus we just added Ryan Dunlavey (The Action Philosophers) as part of our stretch rewards.
Horror News Network: In closing, what would you like to tell our readers about ‘Lovecraft’?
Craig Engler: This comic is going to be a hell of a ride, with magic, monsters and guns all set against a Lovecraftian backdrop of cosmic horror and mystery. It’s going to be insane!
Horror News Network: Thanks for your time, Craig. Best of luck with this project!
