It’s been more than half a decade since I was first introduced to Justin Zimmerman, and not in the comic book world, but in the film world. Specifically, the Stephen King Dollar Baby Program. After he finished a feature length commercial King script, he decided to direct his own King short. I interviewed Justin for his personal Dollar Baby version of The Man Who Loved Flowers.

I reviewed and featured his film, along with other Dollar Baby projects, at the 2nd Annual Stephen King Dollar Baby Film Fest at Crypticon Horror Con Minnesota in 2015. I hosted the event and was able to share Justin’s film to a whole new batch of Stephen King fans who had never seen Dollar Baby films before.

Fast forward, and now Justin has a new project he is sharing with the world, his graphic novel: THE KILLING JAR.

When I was a kid, comic book collecting was more for fun and entertainment. We’d run to the corner store, lay our money down, and read adventures ranging from action to science fiction to horror to superheroes. In these more modern times comics are more of a business, and collecting is taken very seriously. Many comics end up on the big screen, like MARVEL or DC films, or on the small screen, like the mega-hit THE WALKING DEAD.

Justin Zimmerman’s THE KILLING JAR is a new form of apocalyptic / zombie genre I have never seen before. This black and white story takes place in a middle of nowhere small town in Colorado. It is a quick stop to nowhere type of town. Since it is so empty, it is used as a stop for drug runners making their deliveries and deals. However, this latest trip is not what anyone expected. As the drug dealers make their drop, something goes terribly wrong, and it’s up to a couple of small town cops, a little boy, and a strong female lead, Anna, whose wits and quick thinking are just as fast as her shooting.

When a drug deal goes “bad,” you know it’s not going to end well. However, in this case, things go way past that! Apparently, this particular batch has gone…REALLY bad! It turns the crazed townsfolks into something worse than any nightmare…they become zombified! Will Anna and her small group of survivors live to escape this nightmare? To find out, I highly recommend…THE KILLING JAR.

Justin Zimmerman’s story is gripping, action-packed, and nightmarish. Reminiscent of that familiar feeling of horror reading THE WALKING DEAD. With black and white art amazingly drawn by Russell Brown that flashes right off the page and pulls you in, this new level of apocalyptic / zombie genre is sure to please.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Justin about THE KILLING JAR, and here is what he had to say.

Tony Northrup – Being a filmmaker, what inspired you to write a graphic novel? What were some of your comic book inspirations?

Justin Zimmerman – What’s interesting about THE KILLING JAR is how it ultimately connected the worlds of comics and films together in my life. I’m now the COO of comic publisher A Wave Blue World (www.AWBW.com) while continuing to produce and direct films, and TKJ kicked all that off. This is the mid-2000’s we’re going back to here. I’d just wrapped a feature length commercial script Stephen King adaption for The Man Who Loved Flowers (I eventually directed my own version of the short story) and was trying to figure out what my next horror project should be. I was a professor in Colorado at the time, and everything just started clicking. I’ve always loved comics, and the project just seemed too big for the screen at that time. So, I started the graphic novel – my first – in 2008… and finally finished the project in 2012. My single greatest comic inspiration is Warren Ellis (there’s a pretty big shout-out to him on a TKJ action page), but the inspirations for the graphic novel came from the screen. I wanted a rough, black and white, 16mm horror feel for the art a la Romero, and rugged, neowestern landscapes a la Miller. I got both working with Russ Brown.

TN – How did you discover the artist for the book and what was it like working together?

JZ – Russ and I met through a mutual acquaintance, and he immediately got the tone, look and feel I was after. Being from rural Idaho helped out a ton on that front, I think. But Russ was also a tight enough penciler that I could shoot the book from his pencils, doing digital inks and tones where necessary. I also lettered the entire book myself. I wouldn’t recommend someone take on a 220+ page graphic novel as their first comic project, but I learn by doing, I had a vision… and I ultimately had a blast. Russ and I continued to work together after THE KILLING JAR, most recently on THE 27 RUN, one of my newer graphic novels.

TN – Would you say this is the next level of zombie comics?

JZ – If YOU say that I’ll take it as a real compliment, though the townspeople aren’t zombies, of course. I wanted to take some of the visual fixtures of that horror mainstay and mix ‘em up for the modern world. But I also wanted to create a legitimate character in our lead, Anna, and surround her with a truly compelling cast of characters. It was important to me to turn preconceived notions on their heads anywhere I could.  In the end, I wanted to give the reader one hell of a ride. I’m so glad THE KILLING JAR is about to find an entirely new audience in the comic world.

TN – How long was the process from writing to print?

JZ – What’s cool about the fact that the book is finally coming to comic stores nationwide is that it truly culminates over a decade of work. I am so grateful to editor and co-publisher Tyler Chin-Tanner for bringing THE KILLING JAR to the direct market for the first time in an astounding package. Check out the book trailer, preview pages and more here: https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/JUN200976

TN – When will we see a sequel to this book?

JZ – I would love it… and I have big plans. We’ll just have to see how THE KILLING JAR does in the direct market! In the meantime, feel free to check out my other comic projects: THE 27 RUN, BROKEN FRONTIER and ALL WE EVER WANTED!

TN – Thank You Justin for taking the time to speak with us today and we wish you great success with your new graphic novel, THE KILLING JAR.

Trends come and go, but one of the most recent seems to be sticking around and is popular among adults. I’m talking about coloring books… for adults! Yes, that childhood pastime has returned, but this time it’s with themes that appeal to the nature of us grownups, and with a vast variety of subjects, this new market has opened the door for many artists and illustrators, allowing them as well, the opportunity to do something fun and whimsical with their art.

Glenn Chadbourne, who is well known for his “extraordinary horror art”, has also illustrated several Stephen King novels. Those of us who are avid readers of the author, know and recognize Glenn’s trademark illustrations immediately. However, it’s not the illustration of yet another great novel I am talking about here, rather Glenn’s latest endeavor. ZOMBIES are everywhere… movies, television series, collectibles, Zombie conventions, you name it, and Glenn Chadbourne has made his own mark in this ever popular genre with … UNCLE GLENNY’S ZOMBIE ‘POCALYPSE!

Yes, and adult themed coloring book! What better way to have fun than with Zombies when you are already a noted horror artist? This coloring book is a lot of fun! There are all sorts of characters, scenarios, and themes throughout the book. The art is so detailed it is amazing to look at even before you start coloring. It’s funny, creepy, and gross at times. Once you begin coloring, the pictures really come to life…no pun intended!

There is a nice intro from Glenn Chadbourne himself, and a short bio on the back. If you love Glenn’s art, have enjoyed his illustrations in Stephen King’s novels, and are a fan of the zombie genre in general, this is a must have for you! Your inner child will thank you. You can find…UNCLE GLENNY’S ZOMBIE ‘POCALYPSE … adult coloring book, at the OVERLOOK CONNECTION webpage.

Now, here is my exclusive interview with, Mr. Glenn Chadbourne!

TN: What was it like for you growing up in Maine, and how old were you when you discovered you loved drawing?
GC: I grew up in the 60s/70s and Maine was a very different place than it is today. In ways it was a more innocent place, with a sort of Norman Rockwell feel … but thinly veiled beneath that exterior it had a grizzled edge. There was a lot of abuse that went on and never got reported or brought into the light of day. A lot of alcoholism, a lot of commonplace violence … actually a shitload of violence. You could see it on the faces … a rough edge. It was more isolated back then and folks dealt with their own situations as best they could. In short, it WAS like a Stephen King novel! As for my artwork, I just drew things from the time I could hold a crayon pretty much. I was an only child so that’s how I amused myself.

TN: Who were some of your inspirations?
GC: Two of my heroes as a kid: my inspirations you might say, were Bernie Wrightson and R Crumb. I think my style morphed into a sort of hybrid of those styles, and then it stitched its own footing as time crept along. Another fav’ of mine was Richard Corben. I was big into underground comics as a kid. Zap, the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers, Tales From The Leather Nun. Also all the Warren magazines and the Ec comics–into their third of forth reprints in those days. Warlock Magazine, Web of Horror, the Witching Hour etc etc. You get the picture.

TN: Some of your art reminds me of the artists from MAD Magazine, were any of the artists for that publication inspirations as well?
GC: Oops, shame on me–of course MAD makes the list!

TN: What was your first professional job as an artist?
GC: My first pro nibble was when I won a contest in Cerebus comics. They hosted an armature style “submit some comic art” contest. I sent a comic in called Closing Time. It showed two people hooking up at a bar. They were both hammered. The final panel showed them waking up the next morning looking like monsters as they pried their eyes open and saw each other in the light of day.

TN: You have done a lot of work for special limited editions of Stephen King’s books, as well as books about the author himself. Have you met him?
GC: I’ve been very lucky to have worked on numerous things for King projects, but I’ve never physically met him. I’ve received some nice emails over the years, but never had the opportunity of meeting up with him. I deal mostly with his PA, who’s a sweetheart and a good pal.

TN: You’ve done some work for writer Bev Vincent as well, what was it like meeting him, and how did you get involved in his ROAD TO THE DARK TOWER book?
GC: I’ve known Bev for ages. Another real sweetheart of a fela. I’m thinking I first met him at NECON, a horror con I try to attend in Rhode Island. Bev is the “go to” guy for any and all SK trivia. If ever I need a question answered for something I’m working on, I belt Bev an email and he rockets back an answer in a nanosecond!

TN: A couple more names I’d like to drop on you, Dave Hinchberger, of The Overlook Connection, and Richard Chizmar, of Cemetery Dance Publications, how do you know them?
GC: Dave and I met through a mutual friend, Rick Hautala … I’m thinking … nearly twenty years ago. I do a slew of projects for Dave. We talk on the phone all the time; might as well be an old married couple. As for Richard Chizmar, and Cemetery Dance, they really put me on the map with some incredible projects over the years, and they too are like family. In all, this specially spooky book bizz is a fairly small stable of characters. We all pretty much know each other, and we’re all in it because we love it.

TN: You’ve now published your first themed coloring book, and it’s great fun! How is it you decided upon … Zombies?
GC: Uncle Glenny’s was the joint brainchild of Dave Hinchberger and m’self. Why zombies? Why not–HA!! Zombies are uber hot these days, plus they’re a frigging blast to draw.

TN: There’s quite a variety of zombie drawings in the book … zombies camping, kissing, under water, in a band, even at a strip club, just to name a few. How did you choose which made the book?
GC: In all honesty, I just let things drip out of my head onto the page. I get an idea, think it would make a fun drawing, and go for it. It helps to have a twisted sense of humor in this line of work. Actually a twisted sense of humor helps with most avenues of life these days.

TN: From start to finish, how long did it take you to do each drawing?
GC: The zombie drawings take me on average three to five hours, depending on detail.

TN: I have colored some of mine already and I’ve enjoyed it very much, but I noticed some pictures were meant to “save” than color, is this on purpose for collectors of your work?
GC: I just got carried away with a few detail-wise. I actually had to hold myself back from a lot of detail so there’d be space to color. Detail stuff just comes natural to me.

TN: Where can collectors purchase this book?
GC: THE OVERLOOK CONNECTION … is the spot where you can snap those up!

TN: Your art is truly amazing, would you ever do a comic book now that you have done a coloring book?
GC: Oh sure. I’m doing some stuff for Cemetery Dance’s comic line GRAVE TALES now, and I’ve done a couple comic style entries over the past year. Comics were how I got my start.

TN: Will you be doing any other adult coloring books in the near future, say, a Stephen King coloring book?
GC: I’d LOVE to do another coloring book–stay tuned!

TN: Final question: What’s next for Glenn Chadbourne?
GC: As for what’s next, I’m involved with Brian Freeman doing a series of really cool spooky children’s books. The first “The Zombie Who Cried Human”, will be out in the spring, and we have two more volumes slated. I’m also working on a series of books for Ramsey Campbell, for PS Publishing (owned and operated by yet another fine gent Pete Crowther). There are other projects, but I can’t really talk about those til they’re announced.

TN: Thank you so much Glenn for taking time to do this interview with me, it is greatly appreciated, and I’ve enjoyed reading all your answers to my questions. I know others will as well. I am looking forward to what’s coming our way from you in the future.
GC: Soooo, nice talking with you. Peace ‘n love. Glenn

]]> http://www.throughtheblackhole.com/en/uncle-glennys-zombie-pocalypse-glenn-chadbourne/feed/ 0 http://www.throughtheblackhole.com/en/english-the-dark-tower-the-way-station-stephen-king/ http://www.throughtheblackhole.com/en/english-the-dark-tower-the-way-station-stephen-king/#comments Mon, 28 May 2012 08:48:27 +0000 Tony Northrup http://www.throughtheblackhole.com/?p=5969

Every writer has one book that is concidered their Masterpiece, for Stephen King fans, its hard to chose, but in the end they will all pick the same; The Dark Tower series. The Dark Tower was first written in the 70′s with many books to follow in the 80′, 90′s, 00′s, and as of recently the latest edition; The wind through the keyhole, has been released and takes place between books 4 and 5.

Marvel comics has worked with King for a few years now bringing his epic series to the colorful pages of comics. It has become a huge hit amoung fans and new fans growing everyday. For me, as a diehard Tower fan, it is great to finally see these stories and characters come to life for the first time ever and soon to be made into a film in the near future. But for now we have plenty of comics to come because this is a very long series.

The Dark Tower is about Roland of Gilead, the last Gunslinger in a apocalptic time where “the world has moved on”. Roland is told he must follow and catch the Man in Black and find the Dark Tower to save the world and all worlds. The Tower represents the time space continuum and there are Beams that come from all over that lead to this Tower. Along the way, Roland makes Ka-Tet (friends or family), but also enemies, for they don’t want Roland to reach his precious Tower thanks to the Man in Black. Over the last few years, MARVEL has brought “parts” of the Dark Tower series to the comic book world. And right now the current 5 issue series on newsstands is; The way station, which takes place in the first novel; Gunslinger.

In this 5 issue set, Roland has crossed the desert and has met the fan favorite character, Jake Chambers, a little boy that becomes almost like Rolands son, but as Roland and Jake almost catch up to the Man in Black, they run into a stone structure in the mountains that puts Roland to the test and he must decide to save Jake or save his precious Tower. As a fan of the series, I can tell you this is a very important moment in the story and it changes Roland in many ways and is very important.

This series is brought to us by Robin Furth, a long time friend and assistant of King’s, King himself is Director Consultator on the comic, and the Art is by Laurence Campbell which is truly some of the best art I’ve ever seen in a comic book. It’s very cutting edge and dark. This is a “must buy” for all King fan’s and if you’ve never heard of The Dark Tower series, I highly recommend you start if you enjoy good vs. evil, fantasy, and magical type of stories based in an apocalyptic world.

This comic is written by Stephen King and his son, Joe Hill, and is “inspired by” the 1970′s film, Duel, which in that film was about a truck chasing a salesman on the empty desert highways. In this story, King & Hill introduce us to The Tribe, a very scary and hardcore biker gang that you do not want to mess with! The story is basically about the gang and a drug deal gone wrong.

With a little arguing amoung the gang, someone double crossed somebody in this deal and they are gonna pay…all of them! How? A big, mean, hell on wheels oil tanker truck chases the gang down the desert highways one by one. None of the bikers knows who or what is behind that wheel, but its not friendly and it wants revenge! We think…..

It is a story based on a short story called, Throttle. This is an exciting and fast moving of adrenaline that doesn’t slow down. It reminded me of a cross between the television shows Son’s of anarchy and Breaking bad. It is dirty, gritty, hardcore, and bad-ass! King & Hill work great together and it shows here for their first time. Hill is very much like his dad’s writing and is right now getting praise for his novel, Horns which is about to become a Major Motion Picture. The Art of the comic is by Nelson Daniel and adapted by Chris Ryall and brought to by IDW Comics. I recommend Road Rage.

This was a time when comic books had a completely different look, feel, and art design. The days of the old newspaper style, chessey art, and simple comics of yesterday were over. It was all about style, violence, and sex. Well, maybe not in those two titles, but in comics in general. Dark Horse stopped the Indiana Jones series by early 2000′s and Star Wars continue’s today. I, personally, don’t collect them anymore because I don’t find them very interesting in any way and it’s mostly the Clone Wars time frame. Since then, I have collected a new set of comic books that started back in 2007. A series of comics that could be drawn to my attention by only one man: Stephen King.

For those who know me, they know I am one of the biggest Stephen King fans you’ll ever meet. I even have tattoo’s representing his work. King is known world-wide as the Master of Horror, the King of Terror, and Master of his Craft. He has scared us out of our pants for over 40 years! Everything from possessed car’s, rapid dogs, back from the dead cat’s, aliens, ghosts, and every other kind of thing you could think of that can scare you. However, King also has written non-horror as well such as; The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redeption, and Stand By Me (The Body). What King is best known for is; The Dark Tower series. This is an epic on-going story of Roland of Gilead who chases the Dark Man across the desert and strange worlds and times in search of the almighty & powerful Dark Tower. The Tower has the answers Roland seeks, the end of the Dark Man, and becomes the obsession of this gunslinger through 7 books and soon a 4.5 (Wind Through the Keyhole) which is being released in April 2012. There were rumors of a Dark Tower film, but that has fallen to the wayside. For now, we have a comic book series based on this franchise.

In 2007, Stephen King clearly saw how popular comics were getting again. This wasn’t a little boys past time anymore. It was being taken seriously by Conventions like Comic-Con in San Diego, CA, Hollywood grabbing the rights of all comic titles after the success of Batman, SpiderMan, Iron Man, Hulk, and Superman movies, and collectors took better care of their comics because they learned the value of them. King went to MARVEL and with the help of Robin Furth who helped bring the Tower franchise to the glossy artisic pages of comics -decided to give fans after all these years a sneek-peek of what Roland looked like and his adventures in Mid-World.

In 2007, I was EXTREMELY excited to FINALLY see a comic version of the Dark Tower books. However, MARVEL didn’t start them out that way. Instead of Book One: The Gunslinger, MARVEL released, THE GUNSLINER BORN – a 7 issue set that told the story of Roland’s early years in Gilead. With creators Robin Furth, Peter David, Jae Lee, Richard Isanove, and Stephen King himself as the Creative Director and Executive Director of the series. It was a smash hit and fans ran to the nearest comic store for the latest issue. With HUGE success of it’s first run, MARVEL signed a deal with King and the story or Roland’s early years were told. By Spring of 2008- THE LONG ROAD HOME, Fall of 2008-TEACHERY, June of 2009-THE SORCERER (a one-shot about the Crimson King himself), July of 2009-THE FALL OF GILEAD, Feb. of 2010-BATTLE OF JERICHO HILL, Fall of 2010-THE JOURNEY BEGINS (this was the TRUE beginning of the Dark Tower books themselves), Feb. of 2011-THE LITTLE SISTERS OF ELURIA(this story is told by Roland in BOOK 4 WIZARDS & GLASS and is also told in Stephen King’s other book; EVERYTHINGS EVENTUAL), Fall of 2011-THE BATTLE OF TULL(this is a very good storyline, very violent, and is in the first book of the DT series), and Jan. of 2012-THE WAY STATION (this is a very exciting 5 issue storyline because this is when Roland FINALLY meets Jake Chambers, a very popular character in the DT book series.

Although the Dark Tower comics will continue on till the long journey is told through 8 books, King decided to put other stories to comic form. One of his most famous books; THE TALISMAN, was adapted in 2009 by Del Ray comics. However, after only 5 issues, the company filed bankruptcy and all titles under that was gone with the company and the series was never picked up by anyone else (so if you have those, hold on to them, they are collectibles now). In 2010, King’s Short Story, “N”, which was a story only available on the Net upon it’s release, was adapted in a four issue set (very hard to find). Also in 2010, King partnered with Scott Snyder and Rafael Alburquerque to work together on AMERICAN VAMPIRE. This is a comic with 2 different storylines going on and is very hip and stylish for a vampire comic. Stephen only help write the first 5 issues, however, it is a very popular title that is still on-going today.

And finally, there is only one other book that fans around the world would agree is King’s best work and is the most popular of all his work: THE STAND. It was in the Winter of 2008 that this very popular series was taken by storm and told King’s classic tale of a killer flu that wipes out 99% of the population and then becomes a Good vs. Evil story of survival. It started with 5 issues called CAPTAIN TRIPS, Summer of 2009-AMERICAN NIGHMARES, Winter of 2009-SOUL SURVIVORS, Summer of 2010-HARDCASES, Spring of 2011-NO MAN’S LAND,and concluding in Fall of 2011-THE NIGHT HAS COME. It’s 31st and final issue was released in Jan. of 2012 and the whole series didn’t disappoint. Even tho we have read the book, seen the mini-series film in 1994 directed by Mick Garris- this comic adaptation goes into more detail, backstories, and added scenes not seen before. A very worth-while collection.

I think these titles are just the beginning for Stephen King. With his growing success and now in the comic world, more titles will be grabbed and we will be able to see finally adaptations of his greatest work. As of this writing, King has a new comic book coming out this month called, ROAD RAGE which he co-wrote with his son, Joe Hill who is also a writer. And rumor is that King’s classic novel; SALEM’S LOT is the next comic book to be adapted later this year. But for now, you can enjoy Roland and his friends on their quest to find the Dark Tower at your local comic book store, I think for ANY comic book fan and especially Stephen King fan, this is a MUST. Enjoy and Happy Reading!