G.R.A.V.E. Grrls and their boy toys.

or

"Buffy, watch out. There are ...."

Our guests today are the founders of Midnight Show and G. R. A. V. E. GRRRLS Comics, Scott Licina and Ken Wolak. Hello guys. Wait for the applause to die down and we can get to some questions.

1) Tell me about your company, Midnight Show…

LICINA-
We're a new company that sprang out of a production house consisting of Ken Wolak (artist/ colorist) and myself, Scott Licina (composer/ writer). We actually had a deal with another publisher, but were
forced out because of a hostile work environment caused by one of their employees and started up our own sweatshop. As to our "house style" we've dubbed our line 'Super-Horror', which reflects both the genre splicing elements as well as the production- our books are penciled and colored in a more "super-heroish" style, yet are horror-based. We were honored to be called "Image chic meets EC ghoulishness" by Newsarama, and hope we live up to that comparison in the reader's opinions.

2) Who else is involved- artists, writers, etc?

LICINA-
Ollie Nome is an incredibly talented fellow Ken & I discovered at Wizard World Chicago in 2004. He handled the art chores on the PROJECT: BORN AGAIN 32 page companion to the G.R.A.V.E. GRRRLS: DESTROYERS OF THE DEAD three issue mini-series. He's now hard at work on a mini-series of his own which we'll be producing and releasing. We also have coloration assistants Dawn Groszewski, Maree Cassidy and Wally Lowe on board as well as our copy editor Tracey Hill. Guest covers on GG: DOTD were provided by our good friends Alex Ross, Justiniano and Joseph Michael Linsner. Basically as good a team of collaborators as you can get, I'm very proud to say. Ken and I are
extremely lucky to have this group supporting us in our labor of love.

3) What prompted G.R.A.V.E. Grrrls?

LICINA-
Ken's crush on Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Are you listening, Gellar??? Ken Wolak WILL have you!!!). When it went off the air in it's prime, we got the bright idea to write a script and storyboard a replacement show (Buffy on steroids and 'shrooms), which than grew into a larger scale version for the big screen, and yada yada yada yada yada yada.
Well, let's just say we took our sweet time and the years went on. We had all these killer storyboards and sequel proposals ready, so one day last year we switched gears and adapted it into a comic. Seeing as we both work in the comics industry and comics are basically storyboards, it was a natural progression. Should have thought of that in the first place…. DOH!

WOLAK-
I was a great fan of the Buffy the Vampire show and when it went off the air both Scott and myself saw an opportunity to come up with a new concept to fill the void left by Buffy. The fans didn't just go off and die somewhere; they were just waiting to find a good replacement. We started to kick
ideas back and forth and BOOM! There you have it.

4) How did you pick the creative team?

LICINA-
Seeing as Ken & I created the property, it wasn't hard! Well, I did have second thoughts about hiring myself, but I ended up talking myself into it. Getting work is hard for a first time writer, so I must be one hell of a salesman!

WOLAK-
We put our names on a dart board and I blindfolded Scott and let him throw a dart to see who was going to be the artist. No. Just kidding, we had wanted to work on something together for a while and this was a project that we both felt was perfect for the two of us.

5) Any plans for a sequel or even a set of stories based on the same
premise?

LICINA-
Two more mini-series are planned for the Grrrls, the next carrying a working title of G.R.A.V.E. GRRRLS: WEREWOLVES OF SCOTLAND. It's actually a prequel to GG: DOTD and finds Suzi Sioux, Boom Boom and Kamikazee trying for a little R&R on a hiking trip through Scotland.
Problem is, instead of relaxation they find a clan of werewolves. And it 'taint no small nor friendly clan, neither! The third series is tentatively titled G.R.A.V.E. GRRRLS: THE VAMPIRE SYNDICATE and is a sequel to DESTROYERS OF THE DEAD. In addition to dealing with the ramifications of the DOTD storyline, the GG's have to stop the world's vampire cartel from eliminating the human race by turning everyone into the enslaved undead.

WOLAK-
Werewolves are my favorite monster icon, so you know the fur will defiantly fly in WEREWOLVES OF SCOTLAND!.

6) What else is Midnight Show working on?

LICINA-
'06 brings VOODOO DOLLY, a mini-series that again springs out of the GG universe. More of that project's premise is revealed in GG: DOTD Issue Three out next month, so I don't want to say anymore and blow the surprise. It's written by myself, with Ken producing the magic once again. The aforementioned Ollie Nome MAXDALE horror series will be released in 2006 as well.

WOLAK-
We have many books and ideas in the works for the near future. From the response we've received from our first story arc we are sure we'll have something for every monster fan out there.

7) How is the reading public reacting to both the books and to the
company?

LICINA-
Fantastic. Mind blowing. Unbelievable. We love the readers, and their response has been beyond our wildest dreams. Thank you all for giving us a try- we couldn't do any of this without you.

WOLAK-
They love us! They really love us! Sorry, I had an Academy Award moment there. Truth be told, we have not heard anything but positive things from people and critics. Even some who say Zombies are not their thing have picked up the books just because they have heard good things about it.

8) What is the future of Midnight Show & the G.R.A.V.E. Grrrls?

LICINA-
So bright we're gonna have to wear shades at night, baby! And grateful for every precious minute.

9) If you had to pick influences, who would they be?

LICINA-
In no particular order- Prince, Quentin Tarantino, Ray Garton, Brian Keene, Mark Millar, Stan Lee, George Romero, Dario Argento, Alex Ross, H.R. Giger, Anne Rice, Butch Vig, Jimi Hendrix and a host of others.

WOLAK-
All the greats that had a hand in doing the old EC books, George A. Romero, all the original Universal Monsters, Neal Adams, and Bernie Wrightson.

10) What else do you read?

LICINA-
Several Spidey titles, Gloomcookie, Justice, The Black Bastard, Rue Morgue magazine, Wanted, Red Scream, Dawn, The Walking Dead, Fangoria and lots of novels- the favorites of the last couple years have been THE RISING and CITY OF THE DEAD by Brian Keene and VAMPED by David
Sosnowski. There are tons more comics and novels I read each month, so these are just a sampling.

WOLAK-
I don't have a lot of time these days to read much, but I am a big Batman fan and pick up all the comics.

11) If you had to say the one thing that was a problem in the Comic's
world today, what would it be?

LICINA-
The 21st Century. Competing with video games, satellite TV, DVDs and the Internet is next to impossible. When the readership of the modern age dies off, we're pretty much f'ed. That's why we're trying unconventional marketing and product strategies like the comic scores- you have to get the attention of people who never read a comic and pique their interest. If we all don't start dragging more non-readers in now then our days are surely numbered.

WOLAK-
Getting people to try something new. The old fans are set in their ways and rarely pick up a book if they have never heard of the creative team or the characters. The dwindling new fans are afraid to plop down their limited funds for a new company because they feel you might not be here next week.

Well there you have it folks, the creators themselves talking about their books. If your shop is not carrying G. R. A. V. E. GRRRLS, ask them why? Then contact everyone you know that likes women, Zombies and good Comics and have them tell the retailer "GIVE US G. R. A. V. E. GRRRLS!!"

For more information, feel free to contact
SCOTT LICINA
KEN WOLAK
Publishers
MIDNIGHT SHOW
P.O. Box 611
Oswego, IL 60543

These guys will be happy to answer any questions and try to set you up with a Comic shop near you.