The following is an interview with David Hartman on launching a Kickstarter campaign for the graphic novel, Monster Drive-In: Isle of Evil. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Hartman about his creative process in bringing the monster-laden story and characters to life on the page, the incredible backer rewards available through the campaign, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: You recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for your graphic novel, Monster Drive-In: Isle of Evil! What can you tell us about the premise of this monster-laden story?
David Hartman: The Kickstarter kicks off this September, and Monster Drive-In: Isle of Evil is really just my love letter to the monster movies I grew up on — the kind of grindhouse creature-features you’d see at a drive-in or on late-night TV. Those were the movies that made me want to draw monsters in the first place, and honestly, they still do. This first volume takes place on a cursed jungle island packed with headless corpses, stitched-together freaks, voodoo curses, and two mad scientists battling it out while a boat captain and his college passengers fight for survival. It’s got gore, camp, and just pure man-made monster chaos. On top of the story, I loaded it with sketches, fake retro ads, and even an undead usher to guide you through it all.
BD: This will mark the first installment in a series of tributes to faux grindhouse and B-movie monster movies. What can you share with us about your plans for the overarching Monster Drive-In series?
DH: I’ve had a bunch of ideas written down for comics inspired by monster B-movies, but I haven’t really had the time to focus on them until now. Isle of Evil is the first, and I’m already into the next one with a few more lined up after that. The dream is to keep this going as a whole series — each book its own complete monster story, and possibly even sequels.
BD: At Fanbase Press, we always like to learn more about creators and what drives and inspires them. Are there any grindhouse or B-Movie creators or projects that greatly influenced your creative process or that gave way to the genesis of this particular story?
DH: Almost too many to name, ha! My art has always been influenced by the classics, from Frankenstein to Evil Dead, but for this book in particular I was really pulling from movies like Horrors of Spider Island, Dr. Butcher M.D., and even Re-Animator.
BD: Why do you feel that crowdfunding has been such a valuable resource to ensuring the success of today’s comic book creators?
DH: I really like crowdfunding and back projects myself. Just like the movies that inspired my book, it gives people a chance to tell stories outside the mainstream — stories that might not exist if it wasn’t for a creator’s passion. I love seeing that kind of raw creativity. On a practical level, it lets you get your book straight into the hands of readers who actually want it, while making sure you print and produce the right amount to meet the demand.
BD: In light of the Kickstarter campaign, are there any specific backer reward tiers that you are most excited to share?
DH: Yeah, I’m really excited about the rewards we’ve put together. We’ve got autographed hardcover and softcover editions, plus original monster sketch cards and even 9×12 original monster drawings for people who like one-of-a-kind stuff. There are also fun add-ons like sticker packs, mini prints, and a fold-out map/brochure of the island itself. One of the coolest things, though, is the original soundtrack I made under my music alter-ego, Zorgon. If we hit a stretch goal, we’ll even have physical copies available, which I think fans will really dig.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Monster Drive-In: Isle of Evil and to support your Kickstarter campaign?
DH: The easiest way is to head over to Kickstarter and search for Monster Drive-In: Isle of Evil. You can follow the campaign there and sign up to be notified when it goes live. I’ll also be posting updates on my website, sideshowmonkey.com, where you can join my newsletter. I’ll also be sharing plenty of behind-the-scenes art and campaign news on Instagram at @davidhartmanart.
