The team behind crime thriller Mugshots, writer Jordan Thomas and artist Chris Matthews, are back with a new horror series for Comixology called Exorcism Island.
The five-issue Exorcism Island (#2 is out now on Amazon’s Comixology Originals) transports the classic exorcism/possession story to a remote Caribbean Island run by the Vatican who investigate the most troubling demonic possession cases known to man.
We spoke to Thomas and Matthews all about their new series and what they learned from Mugshots in this exclusive interview with the pair.
What can you tell us about the origins of Exorcism Island?
Jordan Thomas: It started with an image I had pop into my head. An isolated location with a collection of cabins set out in the shape of a crucifix. I imagined it would be a possession story and straight away knew that it was people that were demonically possessed in those cabins. This was the same time Chris and I were close to finishing Mugshots, so I took the basics of the idea to him to see if it excited him and if he’d want to draw it; he did, so I began developing it. Asking the questions you always have to know for a good story, What? Why? Who? And what next?
Chris Matthews: Jordan was over visiting me in Germany and we were discussing what we should do next after Mugshots and he told me he had this idea about an island where a bunch of possessed people were sent. Not a hard sell as I love horror stuff.
You both worked together on the crime comic Mugshots. What did you learn about your experiences on Mugshots that you were able to apply to Exorcism Island?
Thomas: I definitely tried to cut down on the words per panel and keep how much was happening per panel quite simple, as we had a few issues with multiple people speaking and such in Mugshots, but I think in general most of this would come down to the stylistic changes Chris made between the two books.
Matthews: Well, speaking for myself, Mugshots was my first comic so I was just learning the ropes, really, so everything was new. One of the things I learned after Mugshots was focusing on creating a page rather than a bunch of individual panels; trying to tie everything in together with abstract shapes and balance it all out is a really interesting way to work.
Jordan: What did you feel is important to take from classic possession stories and what new elements did you add to the mix for Exorcism Island?
Thomas: I like a beaten down character in a horror story, someone at the end of their rope, so this story has like half a dozen of them! I’ve also always liked the feeling of an epic backstory to events without feeling the need to explain away all the mystery of that. I think the concept of the stockpiling of evil all in one place is something I haven’t really seen done how we’ve approached it here, and the larger cast of characters I think is a bit unusual for this type of story that tends to have a duo of exorcists for example, so we have more personalities to play off.
Chris: How did you approach Exorcism Island in terms of your graphic art style and color choices?
Matthews: The main inspiration was from the posters of Saul Bass. I love this blocky, graphic style. It‘s just a question of how graphic I could go in the comic without losing out on subtleties.
What can you tell us about your protagonist Father Gigi Amato, story-wise and visually?
Thomas: To be honest I don’t know if you’d exactly call Gigi the protagonist. He’s kind of the stand in for the audience. He’s the one being introduced to this bizarre scenario filling the readers shoes, but once we settle into the story I’d say it’s a true ensemble piece and all the priests are carrying scars from their past that the demons try to use against them and Gigi’s weighs especially heavy on him.
Matthews: Since he‘s essentially the device in which the story is told through, I tried to keep him relatively bland; his looks don’t really tell you too much about who he is. The more overt characters are resigned for the rest of the cast.
Do either of you have a favorite scene or image from the first issue?
Thomas: I like the main possessed we encounter coughing up a rat. That was fun to write and Chris nailed it in the art.
Matthews: Probably when Gigi first enters a cabin. The poor lad gets quite a shock.
Upcoming projects?
Thomas: Skin Police vol.2, my action-packed conspiracy sci-fi series with Daniel Gete, is currently coming out through Oni Press for any Blade Runner or Moebius fans out there.
Matthews: We‘ve both got a few exciting things lined up but nothing I can go into. Stay tuned.
The first two issue of Exorcism Island are currently available to read on Comixology.
