The following is an interview with writer Zac Thompson (Hunt for the Skinwalker) regarding the upcoming release of the comic book series, Cemetery Kids Don’t Die, through Oni Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Thompson about his shared creative process in collaborating with artist Daniel Irizarri to bring the epic world and characters to life on the page, what he hopes that readers may connect with about the series, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Cemetery Kids Don’t Die! What inspired you to bring this adrenaline-filled thriller to life?
Zac Thompson: It was mostly born from a decade playing World of Warcraft and a desire to explore the alluring charm of games that require players to almost maintain a second life in order to fully commit. Beyond that, I really wanted to blend kinetic action scenes with more thoughtful ruminations on the cost of technology and how it can both inhibit and enhance our lives. Basically, I wanted to blend my love of manga and my love of Cronenberg into a hearty stew.
BD: The series deftly weaves the horror and sci-fi genres together, keeping readers on the edge of their seat from start to finish. How would you describe your shared creative process in working with artist Daniel Irizarri to bring this epic world and characters to life on the page?
ZT: We talked a lot about how to ensure both worlds felt distinct while still being part of the same shared reality of the comic. Daniel was incredible in taking my rough ideas and really running with them to create a distinct visual language for both the game sections and the real world sections of the book. So, he came up with the ideas of having black gutters and more jagged paneling for the in-game sections balanced by the white gutters and clean lines in reality. It gives each section its own distinct personality on the page, where you intuitively know what world you’re looking at with a passing glance.
BD: What makes Oni Press the perfect home for this story?
ZT: Oni wants to make daring comics that you can’t find anywhere else and to that mandate we tried to push the medium as much as possible with this series. They empowered us to make the book as weird and unique as humanly possible, and I think the series is all the better for it.
BD: At Fanbase Press, our #StoriesMatter initiative endeavors to highlight the impact that stories can have on audiences of various mediums. How do you feel that the Cemetery Kids’ story may connect with and impact readers?
ZT: I hope readers see our disabled lead, Birdie Cutter, as a strong, driven character that is in no way defined by that disability. Beyond that – I wanted to write a book about siblings. Which I think is a character dynamic that’s underexplored in comics.
BD: Are there any upcoming projects on which you are currently working that you would like to share with our readers?
ZT: I’ve got a new neo-noir series from BOOM! Studios launching in April. It’s called Blow Away and it’s illustrated by Nicola Izzo. The title follows a wildlife videographer stationed in the Arctic who may have witnessed a murder. She’s isolated in the harsh wilderness and decides to take it upon herself to investigate.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Cemetery Kids Don’t Die and your other work?
ZT: I would say follow me on Instagram or Twitter (@ZacBeThompon) or subscribe to my newsletter on Substack – The Voice in Your Head Is Mine.
