The following is an interview with Lorry Jamison regarding the upcoming release of the latest issue of the Nightshade Anthology horror series, Nightmare Girl, with Comicker Press. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Jamison about the creative process of bringing the stories and characters to life on the page, what readers may take away from the story’s themes, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: Congratulations on the upcoming release of Nightmare Girl! How would you describe your overall thematic approach to the horror anthology, and what can you tell us about the premise of this latest installment?
Lorry Jamison: Thank you! So, I like to describe my Nightshade Anthology series as Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Heartstopper. It’s spooky, pokes fun at the genre, and has a lot of heart behind the horror. And it’s suuuuuper queer! I think horror allows for some of the most unique metaphors when it comes to emotions and angst, and that’s something I wanted to showcase in this series. Nightmare Girl is the most direct homage to some of my favorite horror movies, with an extra special twist. Our protagonist Clover (named after famed horror academic Carol J. Clover) wakes up to find herself trapped in this sort of labyrinth, where various slashers are all fighting each other to get to her. There’s a very specific reason why, and if you follow the references, you might be able to tell where it’s headed. But you definitely won’t see the climax coming!
BD: What can you tell us about your creative process in bringing these stories to life on the page?
LJ: It always starts with me hunched over a Google doc at a cozy library or coffee shop, collecting the various ideas and images in my head surrounding a story. Each issue really revolves around the protagonist confronting some sort of difficult emotion (and usually trying to run away from it), and thinking through what the most unique visual way to communicate that would be. From there it’s plotting out a script, roughly penciling pages, and then getting into a steady rhythm of inking and coloring pages. Each issue has a monochromatic color scheme, with the color enhancing the overall mood of the story.
And then, there’s always some back and forth with Peter, Comicker Press’ publisher extraordinaire, about formatting, story elements, or the behind-the-scenes sketchbook material. In each issue is a pretty detailed look into the making of that comic, to really give readers more content for the cost!
BD: At Fanbase Press, we always like to learn more about creators and what drives and inspires them. Are there any horror creators or projects that greatly influenced your creative process or that gave way to the genesis of the stories within the anthology?
LJ: So many, I could do dozens of these interviews just listing out my inspirations! But I’ll try to stick to the biggest ones:
E.M. Carroll’s horror comics always have such unique layouts and convey dread in really cool ways.
I also love everything James Tynion IV has written. The way he centers these big bombastic horrors around queer characters and their emotions really encouraged me to pursue my own version of that.
And finally, my comics are definitely the product of a childhood obsessively reading the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. I adored that work and am always wanting to make work that absorbs the reader as much as those books did for me.
BD: Do you foresee revisiting the world or characters of Nightmare Girl for future story arcs?
LJ: Absolutely! So, Nightmare Girl is issue 5 of a 6-issue series, with a finale where characters from the past issues unite against a common foe. While the story building up over these 6 issues will be complete, I definitely have ideas as to where to take this series next. The anthology format is perfect for cramming in all sorts of unique ideas. And then I’ve also been talking with Comicker Press about different formats for a longer-form story with two very important characters. While I have a very different graphic novel in development with Comicker, I want this anthology to be something I can always return to. It won’t be long before new stories make their way to my drawing table!
BD: What makes Comicker the perfect publishing home for this anthology series?
LJ: Comicker Press has the dedication and enthusiasm of a much larger publishing company. When I first connected with Peter to present my work and discuss the series, there was never a question of what was feasible. The questions as always, “What is your perfect vision for these comics, and how can we build on that?”
I have been blown away by the support and connections Comicker Press so actively fosters. There’s going to be so much they’ll announce on the horizon, and I’m thrilled to make work that’s a part of such a cool group.
BD: Are there any projects – past or current – that you would like to highlight for our readers?
LJ: Time to shout out the rest of my Nightshade Anthology – Issues 1-5 are available digitally through Comix.One app, and the first few are on Hoopla and Global Comix as a teaser.
These issues are available to order in print from Comicker Press’ website (www.comickerpress.com) with Issue 6 releasing before December!
BD: Lastly, what is the best way to find more information about the Nightshade Anthology and your other work?
LJ: You can follow me on Instagram, Bluesky, and Tiktok (@lorryjamison), and you can also follow Comicker Press on Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook. (Tiktok coming soon!) Keep your eyes peeled on these platforms for all sorts of really neat indie comics that Comicker is helping to bring to life!
