The following is an interview with David Hartman on returning to Kickstarter for the latest Monster Drive-In graphic novel, The Hunchback of Naughty Dames. In this interview, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief Barbra Dillon chats with Hartman about all of the pulpy, noir fun that readers will have in store with this latest installment, the incredible backer rewards available through the campaign, and more!
Barbra Dillon, Fanbase Press Editor-in-Chief: You recently returned to Kickstarter with the latest installment of your graphic novel, Monster Drive-In: The Hunchback of Naughty Dames! What will new and returning readers have in store with this latest volume?
DH: The Hunchback of Naughty Dames is like the next feature at a horror movie marathon. This time around, it’s a noir horror story filled with a hunchbacked private eye, black magic, scarred starlets, and, of course, plenty of monsters. Like the first volume, it’s presented as a movie that never actually existed, complete with a horror host, fake retro ads, and all the fun extras you’d expect from a late-night creature feature. But this is an all-new story with its own cast of characters, mysteries, and monsters.
BD: How would you describe your creative process in bringing each new graphic novel to life on the page?
DH: I’m treating each book like a movie I would have loved discovering as a kid on late-night TV. A throwback to the monster movies, noir thrillers, and horror films I grew up on. Each Monster Drive-In volume tells its own standalone story and has its own voice, characters, and visual style. At the same time, they all need to feel like they belong in the same strange universe, as if they were different movies being shown at the same drive-in theater. The challenge—and the fun—is finding ways to make each book feel fresh while still fitting naturally into the larger Monster Drive-In world.
BD: Likewise, what can you tell us about your inspiration for the incredibly fun vintage ad parodies within the book?
DH: I’ve always loved the old ads that used to appear in comic books. They were these fun, little breaks between the stories, and, sometimes, they were just as memorable as the comics themselves. Part of the fun of Monster Drive-In is recreating that experience, but with my own weird twist. I love coming up with absurd products, ridiculous gimmicks, and over-the-top ad copy that feels like it could have come straight out of a vintage comic. Honestly, almost as much work has gone into creating the fake ads as the actual story itself—ha ha!
They’re one of my favorite parts of the whole project.
BD: In light of the Kickstarter campaign, are there any specific backer reward tiers that you are most excited to share?
DH: Yeah, we’ve got some really fun rewards this time around. Like Volume 1, there are art prints, unique sticker packs, and original artwork available through the campaign. One of the stretch goals we recently unlocked is a soundtrack designed to be listened to while reading the book, featuring all-new music by my electronic alter-ego, ZORGON.
One of the rewards I’m especially excited about is the pressbook. Back in the day, movie studios would send these promotional booklets to theaters filled with cast bios, behind-the-scenes stories, publicity materials, and fun facts to help exhibitors promote the film. I created a Hunchback of Naughty Dames pressbook in that same spirit, complete with fake production history, actor profiles, and even a pull-out poster in the center. It’s one of my favorite pieces from the entire campaign. We also unlocked a stretch goal that adds a free oversized faux movie ticket to every physical order.
Those kinds of extras are a big part of what makes Monster Drive-In so much fun for me. They help sell the illusion that these movies somehow existed and have been sitting forgotten on a shelf for decades.
BD: For eager readers, are you able to share where the Monster Drive-In series may be headed with its next installment?
DH: I’ve got a handful of stories I want to tell with the Monster Drive-In series. It’s been such a fun creative playground because every volume can explore a different genre, setting, or type of monster movie while still feeling like part of the same universe.
I already have the next installment planned and written, but I’m not quite ready to give away the details yet. What I can say is that it will definitely continue to be inspired by the kinds of grindhouse and cult films I love, and it will absolutely be packed with monsters.
BD: Lastly, what is the best way for our readers to find more information about Monster Drive-In: The Hunchback of Naughty Dames and to support the Kickstarter campaign?
DH: Readers can head over to Kickstarter and simply search for Monster Drive-In or The Hunchback of Naughty Dames. They’ll find the campaign page with a full preview of the book, reward details, stretch goals, and all the fun extras we’ve been unlocking along the way.
The great news is that the campaign funded on its very first day, and the book itself is already completely finished. All of the art, lettering, and design work are done, so at this point it’s really about reserving your copy before the campaign ends. If you’re a fan of horror, monsters, noir mysteries, or classic grindhouse movies, I’d love for you to check it out and join us at the Monster Drive-In.
