Steve Niles | Horror Writer

Deadliest Warrior: Vampires Versus Zombies! Full Episode Free Online!

The match-up everybody wanted finally happened!

It was all in good fun but I really have to give the folks at Deadliest Warrior, 44 Blue and Spike huge props for taking subject as seriously as they did. Not only that, thanks so much for supplying Max Brooks and I with greatest and bloodiest tests you could make.

The full episode is now available online…and running all the time on Spike because I woke up to my stupid face talking yesterday morning. Talk about nightmares.I can't thank Mack, Geoff and the Doc for treating us so well and making us fell at home.

 
Now…enjoy the episode…and then have your own debate, preferability not on my Facebook page this time.

Vampires vs. Zombies - Episode 310

http://www.spike.com/full-episodes/q7bq0v/deadliest-warrior-vampires-vs-zombies-season-3-ep-310

Enjoy!

-Steve

 

Biggletron's Nerdcore: Steve Niles Talks Punk, Comics & DIY

"That's what I miss about those D.C. days that I wish there was more of in comics. There are no contracts. That's a 25-year plus handshake deal."

You’re probably already familiar with Steve Niles the horror writer, video gamer, and turtle enthusiast. Best known for the comic book 30 Days of Night and its two movie adaptations, he’s also penned titles such as Batman, Hellspawn, Cthulu Tales, and Mystery Society. Oh, and over-achiever that he is, Steve has written some novels, movie scripts, and video games, too.

Here’s what you might not know about Steve Niles: His roots are in the iconic Washington DC punk scene of the 1980s. Think Bad Brains, Minor Threat, Youth Brigade, and Fugazi. Steve played bass for Gray Matter and Three, whose albums are still available from Dischord Records. That experience continues to influence him 25+ years later, and holds a very special place for him.

So when my friend Janelle Hessig asked me for suggestions of who to include in the punk comics issue of Maximum Rocknroll that she was editing, I suggested Steve. Janelle had me do the interview – which was a great, new experience for me – and I eagerly turned it in at the beginning of October 2010.  However, the Maximum Rocknroll board ultimately decided not to run the interview. They felt that because he has written for Marvel (Disney) and DC (Warner Bros.) in the past, it would conflict with their anti-corporate policies. For the most part, I understand their decision. It is frustrating nonetheless, especially given what Steve says in the interview.

But, I’m all about making lemonade out of lemons. Next stop, the exact opposite forum: MTV Geek! The folks I talked to there were very nice and wanted to run the interview, but that ended up being a bust as well for two reasons: 1) the amount of paperwork I had to fill out to get set-up in their freelancer system was prohibitive, and 2) the guy from Viacom’s HR department that I was dealing was a complete asshole. That was in January.

And here we are. It’s still a good interview, and luckily Steve suggested we just post it on his site. Red tape eliminated! I hope you enjoy learning more about the little punk…

-Branwyn

Branwyn: When you were touring around the country in what was probably a shitty Econoline with other stinky dudes, sleeping on people's floors, did you ever think that one day you'd be where you are today?

Steve: Now I get to hang out with stinky dudes at comic conventions, so not a lot has changed. Back then I was such a spaz, all I wanted to do was comics. Even when I was touring I would annoy the band with my stories or my publishing ideas. They were my only audience. It's nice to look back at projects like Cal McDonald (published as Criminal Macabre) and see that stories I wrote to make my friends laugh turned into shit they are now making into comics and movies.

Steve cont'd: Cal in particular reminds me of the old band days. The first novel is littered with D.C. references. I mean, he's a junkie detective, monster hunter whose favorite band is the Stooges. I miss those days. Not because of the scene or being young and shit, but I miss having those friends around. We were in a band because we were friends, not the other way around. We were always hanging out and cracking up, so why not make some music and annoy people?

Branwyn: Which was your first love, punk or horror? How did you transition from being a punk kid playing in bands to being a comic book writer?

First SDCC 1987

Steve: Horror and comics came to me at the same time. I was just a kid when I started reading comics so it beat out punk by a decade or so. I loved all the Marvel stuff and Creepy Eerie, some Batman. I know there was a gap in there when I didn't read as many comics and started being more interested in music and being a little dirtbag. I moved out of my parents’ house in Virginia when I was 17 and into D.C. I'd already started playing some music and we'd put out the first Gray Matter LP when I started reading comics again. I think what got me back in were books like Twisted Tales, Grim Jack and the Watchmen and Dark Knight.

Check out the Grimm Jack hat

Steve cont'd: Somewhere around there I got the comic-bug again, except this time I wanted to make them. I'd always been writing in some form or another so this gave it more focus. From there, with music and comics, it all just sort of snowballed. I wound up playing with 2 bands, Gray Matter and Three (Three was Gray Matter with Jeff -Minor Threat- Nelson on drums), and starting my own rink-dink publishing company at the same time. The company was called Arcane Comix. I managed to put out some Clive Barker prints and one anthology before I realized I hated business and just wanted to write.

Branwyn: How active of a role did you take in writing music and lyrics?

Steve: Geoff Turner handled all the lyric writing. There were a couple of cases where me, Mark or Dante would throw in some lines, but really it was Geoff behind all the singing stuff. I contributed more in riffs and shit like that, a lot of the songs on Take it Back were "written" by me. And by writing, I mean I made something up and showed the other guys. Not like I was writing music.

Branwyn: Have you brought anything from your Gray Matter and Three days to your current work? Either in terms of how you approach the work, collaborate with others, or whether or not it serves as inspiration.

Double-Single cover by Jon J Muth

Steve: I point to my experience with music as to why I love collaboration so much. I like to collaborate with writers and not just artists. I hope I've brought other things with me from those days, the spirit of DIY, and also doing business without having to step over other people, things like that. I'd like to think I've managed to work outside the system somewhat. That might be bending it a bit because I couldn’t get DC or Marvel to hire me for a long time. I was sort of forced to go at it alone and find other ways to get published. Now I obviously do a lot of DC stuff, less now than a few years ago.

With John Bolton 1988

Branwyn: How do you feel about your creator-owned work, versus what you've done for Marvel, DC, video games, that sort of thing? Do you approach the process differently for each? I'm obviously biased towards the creator-owned model, but a lot of great work has come from the big boys, and the opportunity for financial stability is greater.

Steve: I agree a 100%. I wanted to work at Marvel because I loved the characters, but my preference is to do creator-owned books. Mostly that's what I have done. DC was a bit different. They offered me a lot of freedom. With Simon Dark, Scott and I actually owned the character, but he lived in Gotham. I thought that was very cool of them to try.

Steve cont'd: Starting with Templesmith, I've always split my rights with artists, not something everybody did at the time. In some ways, getting creator-owned books done is like forming a band, and then breaking up after 4 issues because the drummer wants to go solo. At the end of the day I like owning and sharing my rights, but it's fun to play with those big 2 characters now and then. 

Branwyn: Other than occasionally getting on stage & playing with TOOL, are you still active in music?

Steve: I wasn't actually playing that night. It was a gag. I had the guitar on stage but Adam was backstage playing. I'm a shitty little punk rock bass player. I could never play like Jones, not in my wildest dreams. That was sort of a gift from Jones. He wanted me to see what it felt like to stand in front of 60k people. I goof off with music. Gray Matter had a 25th anniversary a few years back. That was fun.

Branwyn: Gray Matter's albums were reissued last year, and now Three's is going to be also. How’s that going?

Steve: We sold a song to Tony Hawk for a videogame. That was just surreal. I'm 45 now, selling songs we recorded in high school. I was really happy Dischord released all the Gray Matter and Three stuff. It still sells and because Dischord is just plain awesome I get a little check now and then. That's what I miss about those D.C. days that I wish there was more of in comics. There are no contracts. That's a 25-year plus handshake deal. That's the way it should be. There's way too much infighting and petty gossipy backstabbing in comics. And people are fighting over pennies and 2 seconds in the limelight. It's sad.

Branwyn: Are you still in touch with your former bandmates and label? How have they reacted to your current success?

Steve: We touch base whenever we can. I think they think my success is hilarious because they know better than anybody this is what I did then for free, and I'd still be doing it now regardless of the level of success. I leave zillions of Easter eggs in my projects for them all the time. I think I've killed Geoff in comics four times now, Dante is in Criminal Macabre, and Mark IS Fused.

Branwyn: Do you encounter many people (creators or attendees) at comic book conventions and store signings who were fans of your music before your writing?

Steve: Only cool creators like Rick Remender and Phil Noto. Kidding. Yeah, every once in a while somebody comes up who knows the music. It's always cool when they ask me to sign a CD or something. It's great they remember.

Branwyn: Of everything that you’ve done, what are you most proud of?

Steve: No one project or anything. I think that I've tried really hard to bring some of that D.C. spirit, as I felt it, to everything I do. High School didn't mean shit to me. I learned most of what I carry today from those days in D.C.

Branwyn Bigglestone is Accounts Manager for Image Comics and does freelance comic book editing. She spent her formative years in the 1990s Bay Area punk scene, and was Head Coordinator for legendary club 924 Gilman Street from 1993-1994. www.twitter.com/Biggletron.

 

Creator-Owned Strikes Back!

Clearly, I’m just pulling titles out of my ass now

This is officially the most I’ve ever blogged before, so bear with me. The response to the others has been amazing, so I thought I’d update you before I disappear for a week.

Hopefully when I return I’ll have some news on both creator owned front and some new projects of mine.

I really wish I could post all of the emails, Tweets and Facebook messages I’ve been receiving so you could see how creators and fans alike are responding to a simple attitude adjustment, and some simple tips.

Based on what I’m seeing, people want change. They want comics to survive.

I got some shit from a couple cynical creators, but I just wished them luck and moved on. I’m dead serious about this no negativity thing. If all you want to do is bitch and complain I’m sure you can find an ear other than mine.

It’s been fascinating watching new ways to be negative being invented as I refuse to fight. My favorite was are the folks saying guys like Powell and I aren’t “Indie” enough. People should do their research. I was stapling Xeroxes and selling them door-to-door before, well, a long-ass time ago. So were guys like Ed Brubaker and Mark Millar.

Hell, I remember standing with Brubaker at SDCC back in 1989-1990. We were both kids peddling our creator-owned books. Now look at him, all killin’ Captain America and shit.

It takes a long time to get anywhere in any business. Please, don’t fault creators for their success.

So yeah, think before you Tweet, Junior.

I’m still allowed to be sarcastic, right?

Did anyone listen to the Meltcast I did? It was fun and we really got into some of these issues. One of the things we talked about is the “bubble” that comics live under.

In the Meltcast I used the Scott Pilgrim film as an example. When the film was released, the excitement, Tweeting and hype within comics was huge. I, like many people, thought it was going to do really well, but instead in tanked. If I recall it came in 5^th. Eep!

I think we have to remember, despite all these huge films based on comic books, the mainstream (or THE OTHERS as I like to say) do not know we exist.

Along with all of the things I’ve mentioned, I’m now going to make an effort to reach out to possible fans OUTSIDE the bubble. I know a lot of Horror fans and Science Fiction fans who don’t read comics.

How can we get those folks?

Some good Sci-Fi comics would be a start. I am always astounded how Sci-Fi isn’t more prominent in comics.

Anyway, this bubble we live in. Let’s break it, or at least make it bigger.

I had one REALLY stupid idea, but if it worked it would be fun. I thought about creating a Comic Book Message in a Bottle by taking one of my favorite OGN’s and writing a mailing address inside the back cover, then handing it to a new reader. Ask them to read it, sign it and pass it on. If just one book made itself back with the inside front and back cover scribbled like a high school yearbook it would be pretty fucking cool.

Not a solution by any stretch, but could be fun.

This Wednesday will be my first column spotlighting creator-owned books. I’m leaving all the announcements to the website, and I’ve already talked about it here.

Eric Powell took down his video and posted this message: http://www.facebook.com/notes/eric-powell/my-video/178754798833147

I can’t speak for Eric, but I took a beating over my blog. I imagine he did too. It is really exhausting dealing with all that misdirected hatred.

That reminds me...

Can I give another been-bugging-me-a-long-time suggestion? This is something that I see a lot now that we have Facebook and Twitter where creators and fans interact together.

If a creator posts about having a rough day; they’re having trouble meeting deadlines, too much work, not enough work, their computer crashed, ink spilled, tablet blew up…whatever...Please, please, please don’t comment or reply “Trade ya!”

It happens every. single. time. I post anything that isn’t backflip happy.

We know we are lucky to be doing what we do. Many of us are struggling. Some of us are juggling day jobs with being comics creators. Let them have bad days too.

It’s one of the most perplexing things about the Internet. Now creators and fans can interact, as we never have before, and so many seem to squander the opportunity. I don’t understand why so many use it to rail against the same people they claim to love. Make no sense.

Just try to remember, before you blast a comment at a creator, most of them are working-class mugs like you.

I’m tired today. Can you tell? Just trying to answer the mail of a small fraction of creators takes time. But I am looking at everything you guys send me. Keep it coming.

Lots of good going on out there; Every time I Tweet asking for updates of creator projects I get an explosion of responses from creators working on their first book and others who are working on their 100^th book with the same enthusiasm.

I don’t want to cover the same ground over and over, but I’m going to stick to simple ideas until larger solutions present themselves.

Retailers- Just a quick note to say I am not forgetting about you. I know you are all in as tough a spot as the rest of the industry. I’d really like to hear from you about what creators can do to make your job easier.

Publishers – I’ve had a couple pubs call me about this creator-owned push. Some were a little irked because they thought I was preaching self-publishing. I assured them, that while I am suggesting a more DIY attitude, I am not saying avoid publishers.

There are many publishers who have always backed creator-owned books – IDW, Dark Horse, Image, Slave Labor- to name a few, but everybody, across the board is having trouble selling creator-owned books and the doors are closing for the moment. SO, what I’m actually suggesting is talking the burden off of publishers a little, while we ride out this current wave of declining sales.

Many publishers clearly want to do more creator-owned, but they are being forced to focus on licensing and books with built-in audiences. They are trying to survive too. I get that, and that’s why I’m actively looking for new ways to publish material.

Creators – All the dialogues going on now are leading to good things. I’m hearing about grassroots ideas like ad-swapping and creating ways to cross-promote each other's projects. Support each other. Creators like Warren Ellis have been doing it for years. Mentioning a book you like by someone else can help a lot.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned the past couple weeks, NOBODY got into, or stays in comics for the money. Across the board, creators –at ALL companies, at all levels- have made it very clear they do it because they love comics.

Fans- You really are the most important link, and I’m saying this knowing that most creators, publishers and retailers are fans as well. We all love comics and we all want them to thrive.

Everybody can help by doing two simple things this week.

First, try something new. Doesn’t matter what, just try something new.

Second, reach outside the bubble. See if your friend who loved the Iron Man movie has ever read the Demon in a Bottle trade. Maybe you know a Hellboy fan who isn’t aware that Mike has published enough material for 20 more movies.

One new reader can really make a difference now.

As always, thank you so much for all the support.

Create and help instead of destroy and hate.

-Steve

PS: Check out other creator’s sites for news and updates on new projects.

Here are some I stop by all the time…

Mark Millar: http://www.millarworld.tv/

Joshua Fialkov: http://www.thefialkov.com/

Eric Powell: http://www.thegoon.com/index.php

Jimmy Palmiotti: http://jimmypalmiotti.blogspot.com

Skottie Young: http://www.skottieyoung.com/

And many creators you can follow on Twitter…

@thejillthompson

@ StephBuscema

@ ronmarz

@ KurtBusiek

 @ kmellon

 @philhester

Okay, I gotta run now but here's new image I found of Spock and his badass car!

Other Creator-Owned Posts

Creator-Owned: The Revolution will be Tweeted

Creator-Owned Update & Bloody Pulp Announcements!

Origins of this Creator-Owned Support Thing and Updates

What’s all this Creator-Owned Talk?

Creator-Owned Comics: Not Whining Yields Results

 

 

Creator-Owned Comics: Not Whining Yields Results

It’s just been a few days since I posted my rant about Creator-Owned comics and already the response has been pretty great, and pretty telling at the same time. 

First and foremost, thanks to everybody who re-Tweeted and re-posted my rant all over the place.  I don’t generally post things that get the re-Tweet so the ripple effect and sheer number of re-posts was amazing as was the outpouring of support. I’ve received more messages via email, Facebook, Twitter in support of creator-owned than I have for any of my projects or clever quips.

I have to say, it feels pretty good to hear people want diversity and are willing to do what it takes to create/buy what they want.  I think people are ready for the task ahead. I’m not fooling myself. Collectively, we have one Hell of a boulder to push up hill, but we can do it.

I thought some of the non-reaction to the rant was equally interesting. I sent it directly to several “creator friendly” blogs , news sites AND creators . Not only didn’t  they re-post (which is fine) it, but didn’t reply at all.  When I looked at these blogs/sites the reason became clear. Most of the news was about gossip or complaining about some character dying or complaining about a characters look in a movie. I dunno. I saw a lot of negativity. That’s fine. That’s cool. That gets them readers, but I don’t want anything to do with it.

This is just something that I (and I hope we) can learn to ignore and step around. We need to create our own news blogs and get news to fans and creators alike. Not all creators or Bloggers are going to get behind this. 

I do not fault any creator or blog/site that doesn’t get behind all this DIY, grassroots talk, but man, some show of support would really help. There are some well-established creators who could really help rally the troops so to speak, certainly more than me. I hope they’ll come to the table at some point.

There were a couple hilarious comments. The most telling was and I’m paraphrasing here was, “Why would you want to help your competitors?!”

Yes, why would we? Well, for one, I don’t view Eric Powell as a competitor or Mike Mignola or Terry Moore. I don’t have to take from someone else to gain something. That’s a very twisted way of thinking in my book.

We’re all fighting the same fight. Sure, we’re all going for a slice of the same pie, but believe me, there’s plenty for everybody, and if we work together we can actually make the pie bigger again, like it used to be.

If there’s one thing I learned from my minor roll in the DC music scene was this; you CAN do it all yourself. We put on our own shows, put out our own merch and records, booked our own tours. Nobody was going to help us and we didn’t sit around waiting for “them” to help.

To be completely honest I only looked at the comments on one blog, saw people already debating and walked away. They were actually fighting about having a positive attitude. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be hilarious.

Lots of fans seemed confused about the difference between creator owned and mainstream books, so maybe I should clarify what I think it is. Very simply a book is creator-owned if a creator has stake in the game, some portion of rights to their project. If you signed a Work-For-Hire contract, it’s not creator-owned, and that’s fine too.

Lots of people think I’m out for Marvel blood, but this isn’t true at all. In fact, with recent changes at Marvel I’m actually excited to see what books come out of there. Will I work for them? I doubt it, but only because I really want to focus on creator-owned. Many of my friends work for Marvel and I cheer them on as hard as I cheer them on when they do creator-owned.

We don’t have time for a war. If we fight, we die.

It’s hard not to react to a comment especially when it’s aimed at us or something we love. When I commented that comics need a more DIY/Punk Rock attitude I got one message asking if that meant I only wanted to produce bad comics because punk rock sucked. I just deleted the comment, and blocked the commenter. Onward.

This whole thing was triggered because of a pointless bicker-fest over nothing, that accomplished nothing but alienating two creators from each other. I don’t want to see that again. I refuse to argue about nothing. I won’t do it. Nope. Not gonna fight.

BUT, mostly the reaction was good…

So far I've been contacted to do a regular column featuring spotlights on creator-owned creators, publishers and titles.  I’ll be needing info from creators out there about your books. Send me basic info, cover, links to [email protected] so I can start collecting titles to feature.

A creator-owned publisher has offered me a monthly. This has been the single biggest thing I’ve wanted to do and next could. I’ve always admired what Kirkman did with Walking Dead and Larson with Savage Dragon. Keep the books coming out so it has a chance to catch on. I will also use this series to spearhead attention on creator-owned books.

At least two websites are doing creator-owned focus things as a reaction to the blog.

One here: http://www.BackroomPodcast.com/backroom-comics-content/indy-comic-book-fail-lesson-43-thirty-days-of-indy-comics/

Here’s one spotlighting all creator-owned! http://creator-owned.blogspot.com/

And one here: http://www.thegirlynerd.com/2011/01/25/a-few-words-from-steve-niles/

And a nice mention here: http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/01/quote-of-the-day-steve-niles-on-supporting-creator-owned-work/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Next week I'm doing a podcast to talk about creator-owned books and what we’re trying to accomplish, I’ll post info.

That’s basically it. There has been a ripple effect. People want creator-owned books, but it’s up to us to figure out ways to get our material to readers.

Feel free to drop me a line at [email protected] if you have a creator blog or a book you love that you want to see get some attention.

Thank you all. Thank you, creators, thank you, retailers, thank you, publishers and huge thanks to fans and readers. Because of all of you, I feel pretty damn good about comics right now.

 Support Creator-Owned comics! Give Eric Powell a backrub next time you see him!

-Steve

 

 

 

 

 

What’s all this Creator-Owned Talk?

Okay, here's my rant...

Some of you may have noticed my pushing creator-owned comics harder than usual recently, so I thought I’d take a moment to clarify my thoughts.

First off, this is in no way an anti-Marvel or anti-DC thing. Those are great publishers to work for if you can find the work. DC has always been good to me. I’ve done a couple things at Marvel. I just want to set the record straight, for myself at least, that I do not believe we have to tear down the Big Two to find a place in comics.

Mainly, like many creators, I’ve tried to make my living doing books I’ve created myself or with collaborators. Creator-owned comics like Criminal Macabre, 30 Days of Night, Edge of Doom and Mystery Society.

As we are all aware, the comics business isn’t in the best shape. We can speculate and blame a million reasons from changing technology to a lack of interest in the mainstream, but blame to me is a waste of time. There are problems to be addressed of course, but that’s another topic. All I’m saying is, it’s tough out there right now.

I remember when I worked with Eclipse Comics back in the 1800’s. I got a call from the publisher saying we might have to cancel a series because orders came in at only 70 thousand. Today, those kinds of sales are reason for cartwheels. There are some great comics being published but they just aren’t selling the numbers they used to. That’s just a fact.

All I’m doing lately is attempting to call attention to creator-owned books.  I think plain and simple, things are going to get even tougher out there and we have to find our place. Personally I believe there is severe lack of cooperation among creators. There’s a very dog-eat-dog mentality in comics sometimes and I think all we harm in the end is ourselves. 

My simplistic solution right now is to support as many of my fellow creators as possible. We just don’t have access to publicity budgets, so simple grassroots networking can help us all a great deal. 

For example, on Twitter, every time I see a fellow creator who I’m following post a review, preview or sales information, I hit Re-Tweet. This isn’t anything revolutionary, but it is a simple, fast way to show support and maybe get the information in front of somebody who might be interested. At the same time let’s NOT do things like bombard creators Facebook pages with posts about our books or tag them in our art. That's like throwing a brick through somebody's window to meet them. There’s a fine line between shameless self-promotion and being really annoying. 

We can debate the shit out of every last point I’ve written. That’s just what we do these days. God knows I’ve jumped into a few myself online and every time I feel like crap afterwards no matter what the outcome. I’m just tired of all the fighting.

So yeah, that’s really all: support creator-owned comics. It’s that simple. As we bounce between print and digital over the next few years, helping each other when possible will only help solve the problems we’re facing. Comics and Hollywood have had a good relationship over the last decade, but we can’t just rely on the superheroes to save the day. The big 2 movies have been great, but there have also been an amazing amount of quality films made from creator-owned books.

Straight up, we have diversity on our side. Let’s use it. Let’s spread the word.

It’s not going to be easy. We have to figure out new ways to get material out to the public, learn new ways to reach and sell directly to fans. We’re going to have to be creative, supportive and very DIY sometimes, but I think it will be worth it. Things are changing. We can adapt or fade away. I think we can not only adapt but survive and thrive.

And one more thing since I’m being all preachy and shit.

Can I say something I’ve wanted to say for a long time? If you like something, tell your friends. If you love it, tell the world. But if you hate something, just throw it away, don’t buy it again and move on. We spend way too much time tearing shit down. I just want to try the other direction for a while.

There, happy? I sound like a fuckin’ hippie.

-Steve