The following is an interview with Bram Stoker Award-winning editor and writer James Aquilone on his return to Kickstarter for the 3-issue comic book series, Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Aquilone about the fan-favorite monsters that will be introduced in each issue, the exciting backer rewards available to supporters of the campaign, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Monstrous returns to Kickstarter with the 3-issue comic book series, Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters. Fans and creators alike have demonstrated their immense love for the legendary comedic duo. What are you most excited to tackle with this new series and the horror characters that they will be pitted against?
James Aquilone: What excites me most is taking Abbott and Costello places they never went in their movies. We’re starting with Carl Kolchak and the vampire Janos Skorzeny from The Night Stalker, then sending Bud and Lou into the distant future to encounter the Morlocks from The Time Machine, and finally throwing them into the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu. Each story offers a completely different setting and type of horror, which opens up some great comedic possibilities. The goal is to make these feel like lost Abbott and Costello movies.
BD: This series will mark the first comic book portrayal of Abbott and Costello in over 50 years. Why do you feel that these characters continue to resonate so strongly with today’s readers and creators?
JA: Their comedy is timeless. It’s built around two very different personalities, incredible chemistry, and perfect comic timing. You can watch “Who’s on First?” today, almost 90 years after they first performed it, and it’s still hilarious. Their humor has influenced generations of comedians, and I think it will continue to find new audiences. Hopefully, these comics will introduce them to a whole new generation.
BD: Are there any specific backer rewards that you would like to highlight for those who contribute to the Kickstarter campaign?
JA: We have some great rewards, including covers by J.K. Woodward, Zac Atkinson, Russ Braun, Robert Hack, and EV Cantada. There are also limited-edition comics, T-shirts, a collectible coin, trading cards, and stickers.
BD: Are there any projects from Monstrous — past or current — that you would like to highlight for our readers?
JA: We have a lot going on at Monstrous. We recently published Creepshow: 13 Tales of Terror, the first official Creepshow prose anthology, featuring Steve Niles, Jonathan Maberry, Nancy A. Collins, and others. We also produced a Weird Tales graphic novel with an incredible lineup of writers and artists, including Rodney Barnes, Eric Powell, and Kelley Jones.
And we’ve done several Kolchak: The Night Stalker projects, including the 50th anniversary graphic novel, Kolchak Meets the Classic Monsters, and a deluxe edition of the original novel. We’re also continuing to expand Monstrous Magazine, with our latest issue devoted to kaiju. There’s always something monstrous in the works.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Monstrous and support the Kickstarter campaign for Abbott & Costello Meet the Monsters?
JA: The best place is our Kickstarter campaign, where you can see the artwork, check out the rewards, and back the project. You can also head to our website, monstrousverse.com.
