The following is an interview with comics creator Kyle Stück regarding the recent release of the Evil Cast trade paperback through Markosia Publishing. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Stück about his shared creative process in working with artist Enrico Orlandi to bring the story and characters to life, future opportunities to expand the story into other entertainment mediums, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the recent release of Evil Cast! As a refresher for those who may be new to the series, what can you tell us about the story’s premise?
Kyle Stück: Thank you, Barbra! Evil Cast is a love letter to horror, its conventions, and its fans. Think Evil Dead meets Scooby-Doo. Bathed in blood and self-awareness, it follows fictional versions of my longtime collaborator Noah Baslé (Ominous Media) and myself as we find ourselves caught up in a horror adventure filled with all the monsters and evil our characters previously thought to just be stories. Whether it’s through the recreation of classic horror movie posters for each issue or the playful tribute and subversion of tropes, I think horror fans will get a kick out of it! If not, it’s Noah’s fault.
BD: In looking back at the development and creation of the series, what can you share with us about your creative process in working with artist Enrico Orlandi that really made this series unique?
KS: Two things come to mind:
First is Enrico’s art. I knew at the beginning of conceiving Evil Cast that I wanted the art to contrast the horror elements. All that is to say…I wanted a cute style that would simultaneously make the horror moments hit harder while also adding a fun and charming aspect to the humor. Based on people’s reactions, I think we definitely accomplished this in some scenes where the gore caught people off guard after being lulled into a false sense of security by the charming artwork. (Good job, Enrico.)
The second thing is the fact that Enrico and I have never met in person; we met online, so our relationship and collaboration all took place digitally. He’s based in Italy and I’m based in the United States, so there was a bit of a language barrier sometimes, but we figured it out. (His English is WAY better than my Italian!) It seems like this is happening more and more in a post-COVID world, but I did want to share it as I find it encouraging as a creator who before felt limited by his immediate circle. I’ve found so many friends and talented folks through the internet, so I hope my fellow creators or horror geeks out there know that regardless of where they are, there’s a space for them. I’m very thankful for Enrico, and I look forward to more and more people discovering his work!
BD: What made Markosia the perfect home for this series?
KS: Mainly the fact that they said yes to it, haha! They also happen to be one of the UK’s leading independent publishers, which doesn’t hurt either. Besides that, they also produce a LARGE range of diverse comics and let creators do what they want…what else can you ask for?
BD: If given the opportunity, do you foresee expanding the world of the series or its characters into subsequent story arcs?
KS: Absolutely! There is a large and diverse cast in Evil Cast, and I’d love to explore more of their stories in the future. I also recently had a short story published in C.F. Page’s anthology, Anterior Skies, which may or may not tie into the Evil Cast universe, buuuuut you didn’t hear that from me…
BD: Are there any other upcoming projects on which you are working that you are able to share with our readers?
KS: I am currently working on three brand-new fantasy comics all set within the same universe. One (Wild Hearts) is an adventure comedy; picture The Princess Bride meets John Hughes. The other (Hallowed) is straight-up horror, I pitch it to people as Templars vs. Witches. The final one (Wine & Beasts) is a romantic action adventure in the vein of Zorro and The Count of Monte Cristo. That’s about all I can say at the moment, but I am VERY excited to share them with folks!
BD: Lastly, what would you like to tell fans who want to learn more about Evil Cast and your other work?
KS: I would tell them they’re beautiful and that I love them. After apologizing for being too forward, I’d awkwardly cough and recommend checking out my website (ominous.media/buyevilcast) or my Instagram (@kyle_the_ecuadorian).
