Shannon Eric Denton is a renowned comics/games/animation writer-artist and the founder of Monster Forge Productions. They are the writer and co-creator of Monster Forge’s newest title SPECTORS published by Titan Comics. We caught up with them to find out more.
How would you pitch Spectors to someone who likes Hell Boy?
First off, I think you should know that I too love Hellboy. I was there at the San Diego Comic-Con where Dark Horse gave out the ashcan debuting the character so I’ve been on board the Mignola train for a while! I feel like Spectors is adjacent to the world that BPRD, Hellboy and Lobster Johnson reside in!
And how would you pitch to a fan of super hero movies?
As a longtime fan of Blade/SwampThing/ManThing/WerewolfByNight/GhostRider/TheDemon and all the superhero books on the monstrous side of the superhero universe, our trio of monster hunters fit right in. “In a shadow-soaked world of secret cults and nightmare creatures, monster hunters Reginald, Debby, and their newest ally—Ollie, a supernatural enforcer with the heart of a child—unravel a decades-old conspiracy born in the haunted 1930s and rekindled in the modern day. Armed with a mystical blade, a weaponized prosthetic, and Ollie’s otherworldly strength, they confront twisted science, cursed asylums, and an ancient evil rising once more, racing to stop a cult’s apocalyptic scheme before their deadliest case becomes humanity’s final reckoning.”
What’s your personal favourite thing about this genre?
The things that lurk in the dark allow us to confront fears in a cathartic way. Horror and action, when done right go together so well.
If you could have coffee with any one character from Spectors who would it be and why?
Our Filipina monster-hunter Debby. I’d ask her to take me out for her favorite lumpia! Plus she’s the charm of the team and despite having her arm town off by the forces of evil, her innate goodness always shines through.
And which character really needs to calm down?
Definitely, Reginald. He’s the mastermind but that means he’s even more aware of what is going on in terms of the dark forces conspiring to end humanity.
How long does it take you to get to a first draft?
As a professional writer I feel obligated to say it matches the deadline assigned. However, on stuff like Spectors where I’m having a blast it’s usually a very fast process. I’m a “share early, share often” writer from my film and gaming career so the sooner I can get a version to folks I trust to give me honest feedback I can incorporate, the better.
What’s your favourite funny thing about the genre?
These days I think it’s how over the top and preposterous some villains seemed only to see so many real world counterparts popping up all around us. So it’s a sad funny.
What does the first day working on a book like this look like compared to the last day?
Both are moments of excitement. The beginning is the excitement of the creation. The end is the excitement of getting to share it out with everyone!
Wolfman or Frankenstein?
That’s a hard one as I love both but I’m gonna go Frankenstein. I have a large Frankenstein collection so I’ll let my buying habits be the deciding factor on this excellent question.
Dr-acula or Dr Who?
Surprisingly I’m gonna go Dr. WHO because if I pick him/her I know I’ll eventually get some Dracula!
Truth or Beauty?
Ooo, I’ve never gotten this one before. Gotta go truth. There’s beauty in the truth and the world needs truth now more than ever….and monster comics.
Spectors is available to pre-order now.
