We’re in a golden age of comics right now and in an age of geek none of us could have ever imagined, but with the good comes the bad. As our geek news sites become more corporate they tend to focus less on comics and in some cases less on independent creators. My goal is to never shy away from giving a soapbox to those starting out, the independent, the unsung and the creators trying to carve a niche for themselves.
Today I am interviewing writer Mina Elwell about her upcoming Scout Comics release InferNoct. A horror comic she has created with artist Eli Powell.
For those wondering what InferNoct is about here’s a summary, I yanked from the website.
As Sam attempts to discover the real reason the people of her town are being destroyed, she becomes aware of mind-rending creatures that feed off the sanity of their victims. It’s up to her to do something about it… if she can only keep her grip on reality.
This sounds and looks like it’s right up my alley. I’m a horror fanatic and couldn’t be more excited for this comic to come out. We can always use more horror in comics.
The book is also colored by Tristan Elwell and lettered by Marshall Dillon whom I am also interviewing (for a later date).
Now let’s get to that interview.
Marco: Let’s start off with a couple of easy and fun questions. What made you fall in love with comics and how did you get your start in this business?
Because I noticed on your Facebook page it said you are the Media Director at Scout. But I also remember when talking to you about setting up this interview you mentioned stepping back a bit at Scout. Mostly because the comic was taking up a lot of your time.
Mina: My dad got me into comics pretty young. There was a lot of Asterix the Gaul, Amazing Spider-Man, Batman… Then I got a little older and read Sandman, and that was a big deal for me.
AC Medina and I went to SVA together while he was still working on Elasticator. I got to know Scout through AC. Right now, I’m pretty focused on InferNoct, but I am working with Editorial Director Michael Sanchez on expanding Scout’s online presence in the future, so keep an eye out for that.
Marco: Something I like to ask creators every now and then are their opinions on the industry. So, what’s something you feel this industry could use more of or needs to change?
Mina: There are fantastic stories being told in comics right now. Availability isn’t an issue, it’s a question of visibility. I think about me and my friends in high school arguing about our favorite superheroes in study hall, and how much we would have appreciated any of the LGBTQ comics I saw at Flame Con last year, but we didn’t know to look for them. I’m not sure what the answer to that is. Teach teens to Google?
Marco: So, tell us about InferNoct and how that book came to be (especially at Scout) and the team that is on the comic with you. It seems like it’s possibly a bit of a family affair as well. That or Tristan and you just happen to have the same last name. (laughing)
Mina: Where did the concept come from… When I decide to work on a project like this, I’m basically deciding to let it be 20% of all thoughts in my head every day, and that’s when I’m not typing anything. If you’re going to spend the next year thinking about something it should be something you like.
For me, that’s the creeping madness and the corruption of the New York countryside. I don’t pretend to know your happy place.
I went to Scout because AC Medina and Michael Sanchez live there. If they told me the only way to get published now was to read your comic aloud from the top of Mount Kilimanjaro I’d try it.
You shouldn’t have asked me about the team! I could talk about these guys forever.
Eli Powell is my co-creator and the artist. Every time I send him something particularly twisted and I’m a little concerned about his reaction, he sends me back images that take it to a whole new level. I’m positive that when I read InferNoct I will be surprised by something Eli slipped in there and it will delight me.
Marshall Dillon is our letterer. I think he knows more about comics than any of us.
James Pruett, the creator of Mindbender and publisher at Scout is our editor. I bother him at 2 am with questions and he always answers.
And yeah, you caught us! Tristan Elwell is the colorist, but he is also my father. He’s an incredible illustrator. He’s giving the whole comic this really old school Vertigo look.
His love of all things goth and macabre probably has something to do with my horror obsession. I’m proud to say that I think I creeped him out with issue 2…
Marco: Well, it’s time for this ride to end. I want to thank you for letting me interview you. I hope the comic is a huge success and that you get to keep telling kick ass stories for years to come. But before we go this is the section I like to call PIMP YOUR STUFF! This is where you get to make a passionate plea to the reader as to why they should check out your comic when it comes out. Also tell us when we can expect to see InferNoct in stores and pre-order it.
And if there is anything else you’re working on whether in or outside of comics then mention that as well.
Mina: When I wrote this, I was thinking about being a kid, and reading illustrated horror stories and horror comics, and the way it felt when you saw something a few pages ahead that was really really creepy… And then you turned the pages getting closer and closer to it… I’m a huge horror buff. It’s rare that I find anything scary anymore, but I miss it. Each issue of InferNoct gets stranger and will take you deeper into our world because — as I routinely sign off on the InferNoct Facebook — we love you, and we want to scare you.
Issue 1 is available for preorder in August and will be in stores in October.
And that’s the end of that. I want to thank Mina for letting me interview her and I hope you all enjoyed reading it. Don’t forget to check out InferNoct when it’s released. Also, don’t forget to stay up to date on the comic via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
