Q&A 16: monsters (Patreon)

Joanna Castellon writes:

"You dabble a lot in the quasi-paranormal across all your comics over the years where characters just kind of acknowledge it as a thing. On that point: 

1) Have you decided that a monster of the volume was just too much paranormal for your comics and  

2) How do you come up with your ideas for what the monsters will be/do, so essentially how are you influenced on them?"

"Monster of the volume" was my plan for Bad Machinery, and I think volumes 1, 2, 3, arguably 4 & 5, 6 and 10 ended up following the original blueprint. In each case, the monster (perhaps "creature" is a more accurate word) is a manifestation of some social issue that the volume deals with.  

Introducing these elements (to make the change from Bobbins to Scary Go Round) was a way to drive story when I was an inexperienced writer with five pages to draw a week. It has never felt particularly natural to me. My creatures were never more than a way to make something, anything happen. In Scary Go Round, they were introduced without much planning. As Bad Machinery progressed, I became more careful. The first two stories are a transition to a more thought-out process. 

In Steeple, I have pushed myself to work harder at the paranormal side of things, thinking stories through carefully and designing supernatural elements with care, but I still find myself drawn more towards the more human side of storytelling. 

I'm not grounded in monster fiction, or horror, or RPGs, beyond a surface interest in them when I was in my early teens that was soon replaced by other things. Deciding to work in the supernatural area was not a carefully made decision. And I think the fact that Giant Days, a series with no supernatural elements, is my most successful, says it all.

But I did dabble a lot in the quasi-paranormal and though I never felt able to draw it as well as I wanted to, I tried to think through the reasons for each creature. If I wasn't able to deliver the ultimate creatures visually, I tried to compensate with stories that had some emotional weight, that asked some questions beyond "what is scary/cool looking". I think my shortcomings as an artist have always forced me to work harder at my character writing.

I tried very hard, within the limits of my ability, particularly with Bad Machinery 6. A supernatural element is working against my cheerful, cartoony style - this is one instance where I feel like the two things work together.

In Steeple, the best monster I've come up with is the tully monster, based on a real prehistoric creature. After I'd drawn this story, I found out that the real tully monster was tiny. 

I'm still proud of this creature - it's is some of my best ever art, because I had a lot of time to concentrate on drawing things well during the pandemic. It's very possible that I won't hit these heights again. I've definitely deteriorated since. But If it takes another pandemic lockdown to get me this good, I don't want to draw this well ever again.

I'm not sure I've answered the questions very well. Quick answers:

1) Basically yes.

2) First thought, best thought.