Review Fix chats with writer Simon Birks, who discusses his two comics, “The Boy Who Came Closer†and “Waking Nightmares†and the Kickstarter campaign for them looking for funding. Channeling Birks’ dark side, they are beautiful comics with explosive stories.
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Review Fix: What inspired these comics?
Simon Birks: Initially, I was looking to create one-shot stories to complement my ongoing series of comics. I’ve always written a lot of quiet horror, and was able to find these two gems getting dusty on my hard-drive (or perhaps in the cloud, nowadays!). They both existed as screenplays, so I had a little work to do to turn them into comics, but thankfully not too much.
I think it’s interesting both stories deal with childhood in some way, and the nightmares that can come from it. I think like most people, I suffered nightmares when I was younger, so perhaps it’s my way of trying to exorcise those demons!
Review Fix: How do they separate themselves from similar books?
Birks: One of my favourite quotes I’ve received from the reviews of Hexes is ‘a creepy and disorientating read that feels very different to the majority of horror books in the market right now.’ Basically, I don’t write to a formula. And I don’t rely on violence or gore to get the horror across. It’s the scenario, the mystery and the twists that put the reader on edge. I’m very proud to produce something which is very my own.
Review Fix: What have you learned about yourself as a writer through these comics?
Birks: Hexes has allowed me to go a little darker. A lot of the comics I write, I try to keep them at a level where most people could read them, but in opting for a horror slant in Hexes, I can find and write about places that have been off-limits so far. I also think it’s further proven my belief in letting the artists take control of the art, to give them a free reign and let them show me what they’re seeing in the corners, what ghosts they have in their closets. I like it. In fact, I love it.
Review Fix: What did you read as a kid? How did they influence these tales?
Birks: As a kid I did read a lot of horror. I remember receiving a science prize for coming top in the year when I was twelve. They gave all the winners book tokens to spend, and whilst I waited to be called up, I listened to the other kids book choices and realised they were all educational books. When I was called up, they announced my book choices to the gathered children and parents, ‘The Entity’ and ‘666’. I wonder what they thought! I read a lot of Stephen King and Dean R Koontz, as well as TM Wright, whose books had that disorientating type of horror I think is prevalent in my work.
Review Fix: You’ve written plays, poetry and novels as well as comic books- what makes the genre endearing to you?
Birks: A lot of the comics I write are originally short films I’ve written, which I just don’t have the time to produce. Turning them into comics allows a lot more strangeness, too, as the cost per page remains the same whatever the images! I also love the idea that something I’ve written can also create this beautiful art. I always view comics as primarily great art that happens to have a story! It’s the same with the films I produce, one of the things I feel most excited about is the soundtrack that goes with it. The same composer, Paige Lehnert, also provided the music for the Kickstarter campaign trailer, so that’s a double bonus!
Review Fix: What makes your Kickstarter special?
Birks: I think having two distinct comics, from two fantastic and different artists, makes it special. I already have two ongoing comics series (Sinners and Gone), and I wanted to create something for the people who visit my comic-con table looking for complete stories. Now they can take away both issues of Hexes and enjoy the stories without having to worry they’ll miss part of the story. The other great thing about the Kickstarter is the fact we’re offering the original A3 hand-drawn inked pages from both issues as part of the rewards.
Review Fix: What are your goals for this series moving forward?
Birks: The series has many more issues in front of it. They all occur in the same universe, the hexiverse I call it, so there’s potential for characters to pop up in more stories going onward. There are no concrete plans for this as yet, but I can feel it’s going to happen. Issue 3 is written, and issue 4 & 5 are halfway there. I’ll be on the lookout for yet more distinct artists to come on board and offer their take on each story’s imagery. There are always Hexes stories ready to be penned. They are the minutiae of everyday life. They are stories that could happen to anyone, anywhere, even to one of your close friends, and still you might never know about it.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Birks: Myself and Lyndon White (Hexes Issue 2 artist) have an ongoing serial to be published in a new monthly anthology comic called Comichaus. I am also developing another series with Ege Avci (Hexes issue 1 artist) called Robyn, which is more of a family friendly adventure which should appeal to all genders. On top of that Sinners Issue 3 will be Kickstarted in September, and Gone Issue 2 is also ready to be printed, it’s sometimes difficult to know which one to do next! We also have a feature-length film I wrote and my wife and I produced (and directed and acted) doing the festival circuit at the moment, and a movie I’m penning for a company in Russia who saw Sinners Issue 1 on Comixology and approached me to write their film.
I also have many other comic scripts written, and, as ever, am on the lookout for great artists!
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