I’ve had a love affair with comic books for most of my life, starting the hobby back in 1978. I even worked comics retail for a short time in the early 1990s. The women in my life have thankfully all been understanding of my need for comic books and even more so, my thirst to WRITE for comics.
Seven years ago, I came up with an idea while I was still writing in the music industry to collide my experiences as a metal and punk journalist with horror. The proposed four issue satire miniseries, Metalheads, reflected what I was seeing and feeling as I got older in the scene. I strove for sarcasm, dark humor and a b-slap of gory horror fun.
Joining my crusade was my dear friend from Kiel, Germany, Dominic Valecillo, who fleshed out my vision to such delight I felt like we were on to something through his imprint, Stealth Comics. We even struck up a small deal of promotional sharing with a wacky “nitro sexy” band calling themselves Granny 4 Barrel, who appears in a panel of Metalheads # 1.
Dominic took the debut issue of Metalheads and sold out his print run at the Germany Comic Con. We were fortunate to have a rep from Marvel check it out and offer glowing remarks on the story. Sadly, the money I had allocated to get my own print run domestically in the United States was needed for survival during a turbulent time. Dominic, a rising star in Germany, found himself in-demand, swamped with commissions and it’s been a great joy watching this brother evolve in his art.
This impromptu centerfold Dom came up with still cracks me up today…
I still have the dream of writing in comics and have been working on a new script for an upcoming project to pitch one of the indie presses. I have been rolling an oddball mash of John Wick 3, Tenebrae, Cobra Kai, Schindler’s List and Star Trek film scores, none of which have a thing to do with this new project, but hey, whatever keeps the dream in motion…
–Ray Van Horn, Jr.
Roads Lesser Traveled 
Do it. If I had a modicum of talent with art, I’d offer to draw it for you.
Sadly… I do not have even one tiny smidgen of talent as an artist. Kindergarteners laugh at my stick people and show me how to do it the *right* way. 😥
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate the sentiment, brother, and don’t worry about the stick people, LOL. You know, there’s something lurking in mind that if one was really that clever with the story a dialogue, a stick drawing format might work. For a short spell, anyway.
Yessir, I am plowing ahead and have an artist in mind whom I met at a Star Trek convention a year ago. Opening dialogue has been hopeful. We’ll see what we see. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so cool, Ray. Keep the dream alive!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank ya, VJ! The dream compels me. Life forces me into making a living before the dream chasing, but it will all happen. I feel it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds like a great idea Ray. I have a playlist that inspires my writing too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s funny, I like to do the writing with music on, total silence during the editing phases. Film scores and soundtracks are fundamental to my creative process, though I certainly play all different genres.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is awesome! I didn’t know about this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, sir! We should be grinding along in the deeper part of fall and I’ll keep everyone posted when there’s any kind of news to share.
LikeLike