Like many comic book aficionados. Conskipper has eagerly awaited the first new EC Comics (from Oni Press) ever since the initial announcement chilled our bones in February.
Conskipper will be celebrating the launch of the new EC line (which currently consists of Epitaphs From the Abyss and Cruel Universe) with a series of interviews with some of the writers who are helping to unearth the long thought dead brand of horror, mystery, and mad science.
J. Holtham is up next in our lineup and the publication of our interview coincides with the release of the first issue of Epitaphs From the Abyss, in which Holtham’s story eerily resides. Learn more about the story and Holtham’s process in this exclusive interview.
What can you tell us about your story in EC Comics: Epitaphs from the Abyss?
J. Holtham: It’s a bit of a poison pen letter to all of the self-important, self-satisfied screenwriters I’ve come across in my time. An EC Comics is all about the twist and making it satisfying, so I wanted to have a villain we could all hate. It’s always good to see someone get the ending they so richly deserve.
How did you become involved in the project?
Holtham: Oni Press reached out a few months ago to ask me if I wanted to jump on board. And of course I did. I’m a longtime horror head so getting a chance to work with one of the most influential and important horror brands is a dream come true.
You have worked on a number of television series such as Jessica Jones and Cloak and Dagger. What did you learn from those experiences in terms of telling an anthology-style comic story?
Holtham: The big thing I’ve learned is that character is all. That’s what people lock into, what people care about. Anthology, serialized, whatever the format is, if the characters are interesting, people will go with you wherever you want to go.
Who did you collaborate with on the story, and how did the artwork “flesh out” it out?
Holtham: The absolutely incredible Jorge Fornés came on and just blew me out of the water. He brought every frame to life and really got the tone. And, of course, he brought buckets of blood. His work more than matched what I put down; he leveled it all up.
What are your thoughts on the rebirth and legacy of EC Comics?
Holtham: I feel like now is the perfect time for EC Comics to come back. With all of the drama, chaos and uncertainty we’re all dealing with, stories that give us some sense of justice, some sense of wrongdoers getting punished are exactly what we need. And if that justice happens to be bloody, all the better, right?
Epitaphs From the Abyss #1 is currently available at comic shops everywhere.
