Ben Stenbeck’s art is is instantly recognizable for its portrayal of all manner of monsters, both the ferocious and sympathetic kind.
Stenbeck has worked extensively in the worlds of Hellboy and Baltimore, and in Image Comics Our Bones Dust series, the artist took over the writing for his first foray into the world of post-apocalyptic sci-fi.
We spoke to Stenbeck on the eve of the release of the graphic novel edition of Our Bones Dust and delved into his creative process and the variety of influences and experiences that he used to fuel his latest story.
Where did the inspiration for Our Bones Dust originate?
Ben Stenbeck: It began as a gag story 12 years ago. It was just going to be a short joke story, -Scary cannibals hunting this kid through a ruined city, and then suddenly the kid turns the tide and butchers them all, And then you realize they were chasing the kid for something silly like a book or at one point a porno mag. It was called “The Last McGuffin”. It percolated in the back of my head for a few years before becoming more about an AI being studying a post apocalyptic Earth, looking out for a feral child being chased by cannibals. Its a sort of Gumbo of things I’ve always been interested in and things I was interested in when I wrote it.
Your main character Attis is an “AI Archaeologist”, which would indicate a separation from humanity, yet he is a very caring being as well. Can you describe both sides of him?
Ben Stenbeck: I always thought of Attis as a her. It was important to me that Attis felt ‘human’. So she’s fallible and makes mistakes. She doesn’t really see where some of her choices will end up. I think she’s interested in preserving innocent life because it’s such a rarity in her universe. She’s fully aware of the horrors other humans are capable of so it’s easier to just tag and release them when she comes into contact with that type of human. (Which is almost all of them)
You are well known for your work in the horror genre in comics, yet Our Bones Dust leans more into the realm of science fiction. How was it different?
Ben Stenbeck: I’m not really sure, I really like stuff that mixes up genre, there’s elements of horror in this. I guess its about creating a different atmosphere, maybe horror is fear of the unknown and sci-fi is awe of the unknown?
You’ve worked with some excellent writers over the years. What did you learn from them about that aspect of creating a comic that you applied to Our Bones Dust?
Ben Stenbeck: I learned that sometimes you can write something difficult to draw that Ben Stenbeck doesn’t want to draw, but it needs to be there for the story and sometimes Ben will surprise himself and figure out how to draw it.
In terms of the look of Our Bones Dust, which is filled with the remnants of our former world, what particular elements did you feel that you needed in the story?
Ben Stenbeck: I wanted to get across the silence and emptiness of this world, so I tried to have as many quiet environment shots as I could get away with. Dave Stewart brought those silent environments to life in a way I thought was really beautiful. And I made an effort to separate it from my Mignola work. Using less black and trying to stick to line art.
You have worked on numerous comics and with many unique characters with Mike Mignola in the Hellboy universe and Baltimore. Which story/character did you enjoy illustrating the most and why?
Ben Stenbeck: I think Koshchei has been my favorite so far. I love his story but also drawing the world he inhabits and all its characters is just endlessly fun.
Upcoming projects?
Ben Stenbeck: In October there’s a horror story I wrote drawn by Matt Smith in the Headless Horseman Halloween Annual from Dark Horse. I’m wrapping up art on a three issue series written by Mike Mignola and then I start work writing and drawing my first book in the new Lands Unknown Universe, which is the same universe as Mignola’s Bowling with Corpses book coming out towards the end of the year.
Our Bones Dust is currently available in bookstores everywhere and will be available at your local comic shop on Wednesday, June 26.
