Cullen Bunn Interview - Deluge

[00:00:00] Your ears do not deceive you. You have just entered the Cryptid Creator Corner brought to you by your friends at Comic Book Yeti. So without further ado, let's get on to the interview. The future is calling! 2000AD is the galaxy's greatest comic with new issues published every single week. Every 32-page issue of 2000AD brings you the best in sci-fi and horror featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and more.

[00:00:28] Get a print subscription to 2000AD and it'll arrive to your mailbox every week. And your first issue is free. Or subscribe digitally and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That's 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10. Head to 2000AD and click on subscribe now or download the 2000AD app and start reading today.

[00:00:54] Hello and welcome to Comic Book Yetis Cryptid Creator Corner. I'm one of your hosts, Jimmy Gasparo. And it is a very special day on the podcast today because it is this guest not first, second, even third or fourth appearance. It is the fifth appearance on the podcast of Cullen Bunn. He is back. We have so much to talk about. He has joined the Cryptid Creator Quarter 5 Timers Club.

[00:01:25] If you're a big Cullen Bunn fan like I am, you can go back. Cullen has been on once a year. Back in 2022, we talked Shock Shop. Him and Brian Hurt were on in 2023 to talk about the sixth gun Kickstarter that they did for the deluxe omnibus library editions. He was back in 2024 to talk Gotcha Man. And then he was on last year, right around the same time, actually, April 15th of 2025, almost a year ago.

[00:01:50] He was on to talk Arcana Royale and I'm sure a bunch of other stuff. Wow. But he's back. You say all those dates and I'm like, all of that stuff could have been compressed into six months from. I was like, oh, that was the last six months ago. That's when I was talking about Shock Shop. Obviously, maybe maybe a year years ago. Oh, I'm sorry. I was like, that was four years ago.

[00:02:17] I really I really would have said if you did if like you caught me unaware and you just asked and I didn't think about it. Oh, yeah. Year ago. Talk to my Shock Shop. Sure. Yeah. Well, sorry about that. No, thanks. Time is a yeah. Sorry to bum you out, but thanks for coming back. Thanks for having me. I really appreciate it. We have lots to talk about. I know this is a podcast, but we do sometimes get a chance to put these on YouTube as well.

[00:02:46] So for anyone watching this by video, I do have my copy of Deluge number one from Ignition Press, which we're hopefully going to talk about a little bit because you've been doing some stuff with Ignition Press. And I want to hear all about that because they're kind of a newer publisher to to the scene. And I like a lot of the stuff that they're doing. And I've picked up a couple of their books.

[00:03:11] And then also I hope to talk about you have I think your your first prose novel Bones of Our Stars, Blood of Our World is out. And I want to talk about that. And yeah, you also you've had like a podcast before The Colonoscopy, but now you're doing a video component to it. I didn't get a chance to I have a couple episodes out. I didn't get a chance to watch all of them, but I did see that you had Stephen Graham Jones on.

[00:03:39] And yeah, that I watched a little bit of it. I want to go back and finish and watching the rest of it because that's what I like. Just just to hear towards the end of it, the two of you kind of go back and forth and talk about different stuff that you're into and interested in. And I thought was like, that's the kind of stuff I like, like what not necessarily like directly inspires a creator, but stuff that they're enjoying and things that they're getting into. And so I want to talk about. Yeah, that that as well.

[00:04:08] And then anything else, anything else you got? You got going on. Let's do it. But let's start with the ignition press stuff. So kind of I know about Deluge with you and Marika Cresta. And I know I think you're also doing Ripcord with them. I am. And so kind of how did how did that relationship with with ignition press come along?

[00:04:33] Well, you know, I while ignition is a new publisher, I've known all the folks who were involved pretty much as long as I've been in comics. So I've known Eric Gitter and Jamie Rich and Jeremy Hahn and Philip Sadlick. I've known all of them for just forever. So it doesn't feel like a new company to me. And it feels like working with a very vetted group of professionals.

[00:05:01] And when they were putting it together, Eric called me early on in the process and kind of gave me a hint that this was coming and and talked to me a little bit about, you know, books I might want to do with them. And and then as it became more real and it kind of took shape, you know, there were more phone calls and more meetings. And I started, you know, I pitched them a bunch of different books, a bunch of different ideas. And we were off to the races.

[00:05:29] That's that's that was it. I deluge was one of the first books I pitched pitched to them. Ripcord was one of the first books I pitched to them. So it was just a just a matter of finding the right art art team and and getting the books going. And it was so far, you know, it's been it's been a blast to work with them.

[00:05:50] I think I don't think it's any secret to say that I've got several more projects in the works with ignition after after after after ripcord. They haven't I don't they haven't announced the next project yet, but I think it'll probably get announced relatively soon. And and and there's more beyond that. Oh, awesome. They have been very open to all of my dumb ideas.

[00:06:16] So, yeah, I mean, I like that, you know, going through and looking at like going on the website and looking through some of the books that they're either about to put out or have put out. I mean, there definitely is kind of a horror bent to it. But there there is like there's there's a bunch of different stuff that they're. Yeah.

[00:06:35] In terms of the stuff they're doing, like I just had Jim McCann and Joe Isma on the podcast talking about the other half, which is like a Nick and Nora Charles modern rom-com mystery, which is. And it's it's I don't know if you checked it out yet. It's delightful. Yeah, they're doing just so many different kinds of books.

[00:06:56] And they're really the they're working with just so many different creators and they're really dedicated to and they've made this they've made no bones about it. They want the creators doing the kind of books those creators want to do. And the books that that get those creators jazzed about working on creator on comics and and and they've they've not been shy about that. So. So, yeah, of course, most of mine are horror horror books.

[00:07:25] But but, yeah, I think they, you know, they are open to all sorts of books. And, yeah, I've seen tons of rom-coms and fantasies and everything else. Sci fi books coming down the coming down the pipe. And so just to talk about the two that you have with Deluge is basically set. It's like a hard rain at a women's prison. Yes. And, yeah, I'm not real.

[00:07:53] I'm not at least I don't think too familiar with Marika Cresta, but I love the art in the book. Yeah. Marika Marika is really great. And that book was that book's a deceptive challenge. Even I didn't realize it when I was scripting it initially. It's it was a deceptive challenge because all these characters are wearing the same clothes. You know, there's no they're all in prison, you know, prison garb or guard uniforms.

[00:08:20] So, you know, to differentiate characters was a challenge for there were there are a lot of characters in the book and they all have to be, you know, visual given a visual personality. But, yeah, she's she's great. She's done some Star Wars Star Wars books. She's done some Marvel stuff. But I think I think she's I think she's awesome in this in this title.

[00:08:43] Well, the work that she's doing artistically with the hairstyles for the different prisoners is doing a lot of heavy lifting to identify who they are. Only it's that's the way you do it in the comic. You have to use those hairstyles. And and she does. She does it well. Yeah, absolutely. And also you're, you know, dealing with a book where although there is a lot inside in terms of like as the flood starts, but like every exterior shot, it's raining.

[00:09:10] And I mean, that's that that can be a lot to try and and make that interesting and to like to pull that off. But yeah, she does a fantastic job. What was I thinking? I mean, she does a really great job of setting the prison scene. And then kind of when the the creature that we see on the cover that I that I showed when when they start popping up.

[00:09:37] I mean, the action, the expressiveness of all of that is really wonderful. Yeah. Now, yeah. Marika does such a good job with just the the monsters of it all and making the I mean, there's a there's a lot of monster activity in that book. So she she brings it to life. Yeah. Yeah, she really does. I mean, I think it's a great it's a really great first issue.

[00:10:02] I mean, I, I, I, I, I love, you know, you, I think are very good at taking like some familiar type of concepts or setting and then just tweaking them or turning them or twisting them in a way which I find very interesting and exciting.

[00:10:22] And you, you do something with it that I feel is, you know, is, is unexpected and, you know, talks about whatever particular issue that you're driving at with the particular type of horror story you're telling. Yeah. And I mean, that's the goal. It's the really it's kind of those are the kind of stories I like most. I love those. I love the stories that it's it's our world. It's a real place.

[00:10:49] And then some but then here's the one thing that makes it not not so real, you know, sets it apart. So I love those. I love those kind of stories. And and and that that book is inspired by a very real place and a real event. There's a there's a women's prison in ruins not far from where I live. I used to drive by all the time this massive ruined building.

[00:11:15] And and and the story behind it is it flooded and they had to it flooded so rapidly they had to evacuate prisoners on boats and put them on buses and 18 wheelers and ferry them off to other other prisons. So that part's all based in something that really did happen in the 90s.

[00:11:38] And and then I just took it and added something awful coming up in the water, which which is the fun, which is really the the fun of it. And and and so your other series with them, Ripcord, and I'm just looking at Ignition Press's website. The drug known as Ripcord has become the scourge of the world, extremely addictive. It fundamentally alters who you are.

[00:12:04] So instantly I thought instantly it made me think of Bone Parish. Right. Right away. Would you you're. Yeah. Just because I was thinking Cullen Bunn in a setting with illicit drugs. I was this drug a little worse than the drugs in in Bone Parish. It sounds like it. And listeners, for any listeners that have not read Bone Parish yet, I mean, do it.

[00:12:31] It's just it's absolutely it's it's tremendous. It's one of one of my favorite series. Thank you. So, yeah. So it sounds like Ripcord's a little worse, fundamentally alters who the person is. And it's it seems like it's set up more of a revenge tale. Is that fair? It's closer to that. You know, the the the drug aspect is it's important to ripcord. There there is a drug.

[00:13:00] So so but the story is about a woman named Dylan, who her sister goes camping in Australia and vanishes. And Dylan goes off, strikes out on her own to find her sister. So it's really a story about this character, Dylan, wandering the outback, trying to find

[00:13:22] her sister and yes, running afoul of these ripcord addicts, but also running into trouble with the drug dealers who created ripcord. And it's it's sort of like it is a grindhouse action adventure story. I mean, it's oh, wow. It's mean. It's mean and violent. And no one gets out without some bruises and broken bones.

[00:13:52] And and it's you know, and it starts out. It starts out with the search for the sister. And since the second issue, the second issue is out and I'm so it's not spoiling too much. And Dylan finds this this Gatling gun called the ogre that shoots railroad spikes. And if you can imagine what a Gatling gun that shoots railroad spikes would do to would do

[00:14:17] to someone, it's a it just it's it's a there's a lot. It's a flesh churning, a flesh churning, bone crunching action adventure story. That's that's a fantastic tagline. Why? Why the Australian outback? Is it just the the like the isolated nature of it or was there any particular reason that you said it there?

[00:14:44] You know, I I just liked the the the isolated nature of it. That was a big part of it. I liked that this isn't an apocalyptic story, but because of the setting, it kind of takes on a bit of an apocalyptic vibe. And I just felt like it was it was the right setting for this kind of grindhouse story.

[00:15:06] And I think of, you know, I think of some movies that I like, like like Revenge and and like Wolf Creek. And it's it's sort of a just it's a dangerous it's a dangerous story. And I wanted to set it in like the most dangerous place. You know, I could really kind of imagine for for something like this. Yeah. Yeah. Australia. I mean, there's things about it that seem great.

[00:15:32] No offense to any Australians listening, but I've I've seen the sizes, the size of your spiders and I'm not spider. Yeah. Right. Come on. I'm not. I have nine. I'm not coming. I mean, right. I'm not it. So I get that. I get that aspect of it. Yeah. Well, that sounds tremendous. And yeah, I ignition press. I really like what it is they're doing. And certainly everybody there has a really great pedigree in terms of the stuff they've done.

[00:16:00] You know, Jamie Rich in terms of the editing work that Jamie's done before. Jeremy Hahn has created some amazing comics. So, yeah, I'm really excited to see, you know, what ignition press is doing. And they have a bunch of great stuff that's already come out and that's still to come out. Yeah. And really, I mean, at the end of the day, their their support of creator owned comics and and and really, more importantly, the creators.

[00:16:28] It's it's kind of I mean, not to get into details with it, but it is it's a it's a startling approach to me and it's an exciting approach to comics. And and I really I hope people get on board with these books because they're doing some they're doing some really awesome things. And and we, you know, we always talk all creators and readers and publishers.

[00:16:57] Everybody's always come up. Publishers doing something. You know, how does a publisher work to improve the industry? How do how do they really make things better? Yeah. My opinion is ignition is walking that walk. And and if they're successful in doing it, other publishers are other publishers are going to be forced to to walk that walk as well. Yeah, I mean, that's that's true. And that's the type of thing you want to see.

[00:17:26] I was just having a conversation with someone the other day about I was on a on the fan base weekly podcast and we were talking about whether or not an article I think it was in Comics Beat or the about the rise of the superstar artist. And, you know, the article in particular was talking about Nick Drogota, Daniel Warren Johnson. And what does that mean for like the comics industry? And like the general consensus was, hey, great, you know, great for these artists.

[00:17:54] But, you know, we really want to see how if if things are doing great for some of the publishers, like the absolute line for D.C., like how that affects, you know, everybody else. Like, right. Is is people are people getting back into comic shops and people buying more stuff going to trickle down to writers and artists in particular, you know, page rates. But a big part of that change is not just sales.

[00:18:21] It's how I mean, it's a huge part of it, but also it's how publishers are are treating the creators that are, you know, that are making the stuff. So it's great to hear that Ignition Press is really hopefully one of the publishers that's kind of leading the way to make things better, you know, for creators in the industry. Yeah, I mean, I can't I mean, I can't say enough good things about the time I've spent working with them. So I think I think they're awesome.

[00:18:51] Well, that's great. And I'm glad to hear that there's going to be more to come with you and Ignition Press. I can't wait to hear hear what it gets announced. So much more. So much more. Awesome. Well, like I said, I have the first issue of Deluge. Thought it was great. And I'll definitely be checking out and getting Ripcord as well. But I also want to talk about, as I mentioned, your book, Bones of Our Stars, Blood of Our World, The Novel of Terror.

[00:19:19] You can get it, I think, wherever you can get your books. So this sounds like kind of a slasher, kind of masked killer situation that may be the portent of a far greater evil is kind of how the solicit sells the book. Yeah. I mean, that's a fair setup. It is. Okay.

[00:19:45] This novel is about the residents of a small town, coastal town called Wilson Island. And yes, there is a masked killer on the loose who is killing people and harvesting organs. And so there's an element of trying to figure out who this killer is and fighting for survival.

[00:20:10] And it is a novel that will start one way and will change completely before it's over. It's a, I set out with this book to write what I call a switcheroo story where you think you're reading one thing and then get ready. It's about to get really bonkers, really strange. And, and it's not, you are not reading the book you thought you were.

[00:20:37] That was, I mean, before I had a concept of what the story was going to be, I knew that's what I was going to do with this book. So, uh, I think it's a lot of fun. It's, uh, you know, it's a book with a big cast of characters, but I, I, I put a lot of work into, to making each of those characters feel real and be alive. Uh, and, uh, and, and it moves at a real clip.

[00:21:03] It's not a, it is a, it is not a book that, that drags it. It's, it, it's written in such a way that it's going to keep moving and keep you turning pages. Um, and, and yeah, I think it's, uh, I think it's fun. It's, it's, it's, there's a lot of action. There's a lot of horror and, uh, and it, it's got a big surprise waiting for the readers who started thinking they're reading one kind of book. Oh, I love that you, you, you set out like to do that.

[00:21:32] You know, that, that, that was your mission because I love stuff like that. I love when I think I'm reading one thing and it turns into something else and when it can happen, you know, unexpectedly where I don't see it coming is I think. Well, I'm sorry if I spoiled it. The problem with writing a book like that, as much fun as it was, is they're hard to market. It's hard for me to tell people what this book is going to be about without saying,

[00:21:59] yeah, there's a big, there's a, there's a big switch coming your way. Right. So that was the toughest part of, I think of this book is, is figuring out how to market it to folks. Well, I mean, you've, you know, as someone that has followed your career and your newsletter and you've, you've, you know, put out things where you've written short stories before, like, was this something that was in the works for a while?

[00:22:23] Um, is this a situation where you, you know, had started to write like a novel before? And it's one of those where every writer is like, yes, I wrote a novel when I was 23 and it'll never see the light of day or was kind of, how did this come about? Why did you want to do this now? Well, I did start in, I, you know, I got my start writing, trying to, to write professionally by writing prose, mainly because I didn't know how to, how to submit to comic publishers.

[00:22:53] I knew how to submit to book publishers and, and, you know, short story markets and things like that. So I started out writing prose really, and then moved into comics because I loved comics. Um, and I'd been there for a while. And if, you know, all things on the table, I wrote this novel because I was done with comics. I didn't want to be in the comic book industry anymore. Uh, and, and so back to the ignition press of it all without ignition press, I wouldn't

[00:23:22] be in the comic book industry anymore. I was, I went upstairs. I went up for my studio one day after having, uh, some kind of soul crushing conversations with publishers. And I asked my wife, I was like, Hey, uh, you know, 14 years ago, you let me take a chance and quit my job and do something besides, you know, do something besides a day job and be a comic book writer. Yeah. Are you ready to take that chance again? Because I can't do this anymore.

[00:23:49] I, I was checked out from the, the crappiness of the comic book industry. So that's really, and I was talking to my, my literary agent and he's like, it's time to write a novel, isn't it? So I sat down and came up with the idea and started writing. So it's not a, this isn't a book that's been around for a long time in my head. This is something that was in the last couple of years. I decided to tackle and, uh, and I love doing it.

[00:24:19] I, uh, I, I, I was both, uh, thrilled and terrified by the fact that this is all me. You know, this is, there's no, there's no artist who's going to save the day. If I write a bad scene, an artist will come in and draw it amazingly. That's not going to happen. It's all on me. So I was, I, I love that. I, I just, I, I really thought that was, uh, it was just invigorating. And, and really if, if ignition press hadn't come along, I probably wouldn't be doing comics right now.

[00:24:49] I just don't, I just, uh, that's, that's how much I believe in what ignition press is doing it and, and how they're handling things is it's rough out there. Right. And, uh, and to have a pump, a company that is kind of in your corner is a little different for me. Yeah. That said, look, uh, and I love comics. So it was, it was kind of heartbreaking to say I'm done. So I'm really glad I'm doing comics, you know, with, with ignition that said, I'm working on the next novel too.

[00:25:18] I'm not going to, I'm going to keep chasing that, that high because I enjoyed working on the novel so much. And, and I never, yeah, I just, I never wanted to be a writer who just did one thing. Yeah. So, you know, I've written comics and short stories and novels and, you know, screenplays and some really, really bad poetry.

[00:25:44] And, and I just, you know, I'm, I'm just, uh, I want to try, I want to try all the things. So, yeah, no, I mean, look, I, I think that makes sense. Hey, comics, you know, for, for folks that do it as like, it is their career. It is their, their job. It, it, it, it, it's a hard industry and, you know, I, and, and even for someone that,

[00:26:10] I mean, I, from an outsider looking in, I mean, I think you're one of the more prolific, you know, comic creators of the last decade. I mean, I would, I would look at in terms of the different series that you have put out, like over different publishers. I'm hard pressed to think of anybody else that I could list, you know, so many different titles of, of stuff that, that you've done.

[00:26:37] So Jimmy, what you need to imagine though. All right. So imagine I'm writing all of those, those comics, right? And let's just say I'm writing in longhand with a pencil and piece of paper. The pages are going and the pages are flying because a silverback gorilla is just throwing me around. And just, just throwing me around like a rag doll as I'm writing these stories. Right. That's how it felt for a little while. No, I, I totally get it.

[00:27:07] I, I, I bring that up though, to say that like, it's a tough business, even for someone that like from an outsider looking in has done a bunch of different titles at different publishers. Like you have the experience to know, I'm sure you've been treated decently by some publishers, poorly, poorly by other publishers. Like you have someone that has probably, uh, you know, I, I would say probably has seen it all.

[00:27:36] Um, you know, I, you hear it all the time, you know, Jack Kirby famously said comics will break your heart, right? That's his, that was his quote. And, uh, at the end of the day, I write stories about monsters and superheroes and, you know, talking animals or whatever else. It's not a bad gig. There are much worse jobs in this world to, to have. Um, but it, it's still a job.

[00:28:05] And I think for some folks and myself included, it can be tough when something you, especially if you come in as from a fan perspective where, you know, I've loved comics since I was a little kid. It's a little tough when something you love this much can treat you so brutally. Yeah. It's, it, it's, it can be tough, uh, on a professional level when you love it.

[00:28:29] And yet it's not, you know, it's not always, it's not always sunshine and roses. And sometimes it's just feeling like it's never sunshine and roses. Um, so, so I'm really excited right now coming, you know, coming out of that over the last few years is that, that I'm excited about comics again. You know, I'm, I'm, I'm excited by what I'm, by what I'm working on, what I'm creating. That's awesome.

[00:28:55] I mean, that's, that's fantastic that, um, you're still making comics. I'm also excited to write another novel too. You know, that's. Yeah. You know, I, I just, I don't, I don't like being bored. I don't like sitting and doing nothing. And, uh, and I, I like telling different kinds of stories and different mediums most of the time. Well, I, I'm excited. Like I said, I, to get your novel, um, I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

[00:29:25] I'm excited to do that. I, I think it's great that, you know, all the comics work you've done, that you're also doing novels now, um, to add to the list of things like, you know, RPG games and various and sundry other things that you've written. Well, yeah, I mean, you, that's, that's the, and see, there's the, the other side of it. I love role-playing games. So of course I want to write some role-playing game stuff.

[00:29:51] Marvel, Marvel contacted me to do this, uh, this book for the multiverse role-playing game. Uh, they wanted me to, they wanted me to write a short story, a short comic story for the Deadpool role-plays the Marvel universe adventure module. And I was like, I don't want to write the comic or I don't want to just write the comic. I want to write the whole thing. And they're like, wait, you like role-playing games? It's like, yep. Have you ever written role-playing games? Yeah, a little bit, you know, I can fake my way through it.

[00:30:21] And I, and I had so much fun writing that in that book. So even if you don't like, it's a, it's interesting to, to, to write a role-playing game module from the perspective of Deadpool, which was a lot of, you know, which was a lot of fun for me. Yeah. That's awesome. Jimmy is too humble to do this. So as his stalwart writer, I, I wanted to tell you about his new graphic novel, Penny and the Yeti with artist Amber Akin.

[00:30:47] What started as a comic short with his daughter that I've known about for ages now, and it's evolved and has become one of those annoying, can't talk about it in comics things for too damn long. Yes, I'm predisposed to be supportive, but after reading an advanced copy of it, I have to admit, it's way better than I anticipated. No shade, but it's really good. Remarkably so. Does it have a Yeti? Yeah. Is it cute and adorable? Yeah.

[00:31:13] But it straight flies in effectively tapping into the all too familiar family dynamics that we all are facing in 2026 and approaching it in a way that doesn't insult the book's target audience. Kids! Kids! They are way smarter and perceptive than we adults give them credit for. So I really appreciated Jimmy's narrative approach tapping into his own experiences as a dad and a spouse. I can hear his wife saying, Get off your phone, Jimmy, through the pages. She's going to kill me for saying that.

[00:31:41] It's hitting shelves on April 21st, and I dropped a link in the show notes where you can pre-order a copy today. Yeti or not, here we come with Penny, Perry, Fenton, Maxine, and the magical, mythical, magnificent Yeti. On behalf of us both, we appreciate your support. Woo-hoo-hoo-hoo! Yahoo-ah-wah-wah! And so I also, I know we're kind of bouncing around, but I wanted to make sure we covered everything.

[00:32:06] But I also wanted to talk about your video podcast that you have now, The Colonoscopy. Great title, by the way. But you've done that before with the podcast, but now you've added a video component with, I know some interviews. I think before we started recording, I was checking out the one. I didn't get a chance to finish it with Stephen Graham Jones, another fantastic horror writer. Yeah.

[00:32:34] So what made you want to do this in terms of the video series, and what is it you hope to do with it? Well, it's really, the goal is multifaceted.

[00:32:47] A few years ago, a couple of years ago, I sat down with five or six comic book creators, and we spent three or four days just talking about marketing and branding and how we're going to present ourselves. And the idea for doing a podcast like this came up, but didn't fully take shape. It was something that I thought about as a possibility for me.

[00:33:15] It didn't completely take shape. And then in recent, well, with working with Ignition, one of the things they wanted me to do was talk about my brand and how I wanted to promote myself, not promote Ignition books, but promote me as a creator. And there were some very uncomfortable conversations because I don't want to talk about myself.

[00:33:43] I don't want to think about branding. And I worked in marketing for years before I became a comic creator. And I don't want to do that. That's awful. But one of the things that I landed on was I love the horror genre. I love talking about it in a way that I don't want to be too cerebral about it. I just want to talk about the things I enjoy and the things I like.

[00:34:10] And over the years, having worked in horror for so long, and I've met just a ton of different people, you know, other creators, horror tastemakers, horror directors, you know, horror novelists. So I thought, wouldn't it be cool if I did this video series where every episode I talk about a different element of the horror genre? Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, haunted houses, whatever.

[00:34:38] And for each of those episodes, I am joined by a co-host, a rotating cast of co-hosts. So you mentioned Stephen Graham Jones, one of my favorite novelists. And Rebecca McKendry, one of the, you know, one of the, a great director, but also just a horror tastemaker and a horror expert. And just meeting with different people.

[00:35:05] And we don't discuss, so we discuss the, we don't have, we don't set it up in advance. We get on there and we talk about whatever, whatever subgenre. And then each of us offers five or six different recommendations. So every episode you're going to get 10, 12 recommendations and usually a lot more for movies, books, music, video games, comics. All of those things could be, you know, all tied into it.

[00:35:33] So if we're talking about vampires, you're going to hear about vampire role-playing games and vampire novels and vampire movies that you should check out. And, and it's just a lot of fun for me to sit and talk with people who are, who are just into the, into the genre, into the same things I am. And hopefully my goal with it is that the folks who watch it feel like they're there with us. It's, it's, it's there, there with us talking about these different elements of the horror genre.

[00:35:59] And the colonoscopy, I was just like, just to show that we're not going to take it too seriously. Let's call it the colonoscopy. So are there, who would be like, is there anybody that's like a dream guest for you that you would love to have on to chat horror stuff? Oh, for sure. Look, there's a, there's a number of, of directors and, and actors I wouldn't mind sitting down with. I mean, I feel lucky.

[00:36:27] Like I said, Stephen Graham Jones, one of our favorite novelists. Grady Hendrix is one of my favorite novelists and he's an upcoming guest. He, we just recorded an episode last week. Oh, awesome. So, but yeah, there's just, there's a ton. It's a, the thing is, it's a lot of work to put a video podcast together. It's not easy. It's, um, so there's, uh, but yeah, I'm gonna, uh,

[00:36:55] I'm going to keep expanding the, the lists of, uh, of people who, uh, who will sit down and talk about different, different things with. Well, that's, well, that's awesome. Uh, I think it's, I think it's a great idea. I love just two creators, just kind of like just chatting about stuff that they're into. Well, it's fun because every episode that I at least get a handful of recommendations that I wasn't expecting and that things I'm not familiar with.

[00:37:24] So I'm getting ideas for things I want to, you know, read and, and play and, and everything and listen to. So, yeah. And that, that is the great thing. Um, that's what I love about doing this sometimes when I ask folks like, Oh, what are you into right now? Or what are you checking out? Or what was your inspiration for this? And somebody mentioned something that I've, you know, never heard about. Yeah, that is a lot of fun. Uh, I also wanted to ask about you have, uh, a charity, the Midnight Lantern Foundation.

[00:37:54] Yeah. The, uh, the Midnight Lantern Foundation is something very new. We just, we just, uh, incorporated at the end of, uh, at the end of last year, we're, uh, a 501c3 charity organization. And, uh, our goal is to make sure, is to make sure, uh, children and families have a wonderful holiday or wonderful birthdays. Kids in need, families in need.

[00:38:23] Uh, we're gonna, we're gonna make, we're gonna put great, great holidays, great birthdays together for them. Um, but we're doing it all through an angle of the horror genre and the fan, you know, it's, it's all the things I love and we love. Horror, fantasy, dark fantasy, science fiction. So it's comic books, games, toys, video, all these things that, uh, that make, that, that get us excited. The members of the, the Midnight Lantern Foundation.

[00:38:52] And really it's all the things that geeks get excited about of in general. And we're putting together, you know, we're starting pretty small with just a smaller number of families this year. But, uh, we'll expand beyond that as, as we grow. But we're just gonna put together, uh, amazing holidays and, and birthdays for, for kids and families. And the important thing is we say kids all the time, but it's kids and families. We're trying to put together really awesome holiday packages for them.

[00:39:23] And, uh, that's great. It's, uh, it's been, I said we just, we kind of just had our, our sort of official debut, um, at Planet Comic Con in Kansas City. We put together just thousands of comic books in random three packs. And we just gave them out to anyone who needed, who wanted comics at that convention. They should have come and see, they, if they did come and, if they would show up at my table, they would get comics.

[00:39:50] Because we were passing out just thousands of comic books. And, uh, and our goal is to do that or something similar to that at every convention I go to. Or every convention that the Midnight Lantern, uh, sets up at. We're gonna be doing, you know, passing out comic books. Uh, we're gonna be, we're creating a zine, like a horror zine that's gonna be coming out soon at a, an upcoming convention, uh, called the Midnight Edition.

[00:40:18] And, uh, and yeah, and I, and so far it's been, it's been really cool to see, even, even at this point where we're not, where we're not out there where everyone knows about us. We're, you know, we've got comic creators who are sending us, you know, donation packages of things to give out to kids. Dark Horse just sent me a massive, just boxes and boxes of stuff that we were going through earlier tonight, uh, to, to work, to, to benefit the, the organization.

[00:40:48] So, uh, it's just, it's real exciting to see folks coming together on that. And, uh, and yeah, and, and it's, and it's really, it's, it's one of those things that's open, open to anyone can, can anyone can contribute. Anyone can, can offer a, you know, offer up some help and, uh, and you can see what we're, we're doing. Uh, we've got our, you know, it's the midnight lantern.org is our website. And, uh,

[00:41:15] I'll put a link in the, uh, show notes so folks can find it. It's just, it's, it's very exciting. It's something Cindy and I have wanted, my wife, Cindy and I have wanted to do something like this for years. And it just came about that, you know, we, we were talking about it recently and like, it's time to, to, to pull the trigger on this thing and start kind of doing something, you know, for the, for the betterment of other people. And, and something that, that makes us feel like we're, we're helping.

[00:41:44] No, that's great. And I'll put a link to the show notes. And is, is that the best way for folks to go to the website to find out if they have something to contribute or if they want to volunteer or help out? Yeah. They can, they can go to the website. They can get all that information. And really, if you go to any of my, you know, my website or my newsletter, you're going to be able to find it pretty easily. Pretty easily. Yeah. But I'll, I'll, I'll have links in the show notes for listeners. They can check all that out.

[00:42:10] Um, so one of the other things I, I wanted to, to ask, and if any listeners are also, you know, follow your, your newsletter. Um, I saw that your son, I think is going to be playing recently, as least as of your last newsletter at Carnegie hall and then college stuff. Byron, the current editor of a comic book, Yeti, and, uh, the other host of the podcast, his son is going to be graduating soon and heading off to college.

[00:42:40] And I, I think Byron's having, um, a bit of a difficult time, uh, with it much, uh, much love to you to Byron. And, uh, but I was curious, how, how are you, uh, and, and Cindy, Cindy handling all of this? Not well, it's no, it's not look, I, I sympathize with Byron.

[00:43:02] And this is a change that, you know, you know, when we started off, we were like, oh, this sounded like it was just a year ago that I was talking about shock shop. Well, yeah. You know, this is, this is the same thing to me. My kid has, was a, was a toddler, but feels like a year ago. And, uh, no, he's a full on adult. He's going to be, you know, going off to college and, uh, it's, it's tough.

[00:43:32] It's tough to, it's tough to, to, to realize you're not as needed as she once were. So, you know, in comedy, there's this thing called the callback. So here's my callback. I think about my kid and, and all of his, you know, his, uh, passing from one grade to the next and all his school photos. And I'm looking through all those school photos. And as I'm looking through them, a silverback gorilla is just throwing me around, flipping me around the room.

[00:44:02] Uh, that's how it feels. Uh, well, uh, good luck with the next. Couple of months. Um, it's good. Next couple of months. I feel like this is going to be a big adjustment for me for, for a long, I mean, it's going to take a while for this one to, to, to, for me to accept what's going on in my life. Yeah.

[00:44:27] I, I, I, I can imagine my, my kids are a little younger, so I have a few more years yet until I'm there. But, um, yeah, I can imagine, but good luck to him. Uh, that's awesome that he's getting to play with his youth, uh, orchestra or, you know, his group at, at Carnegie hall. That's amazing. And, and good luck as well to you and Cindy. Thank you. Thank you. We'll need it. We'll need it. Uh, um, uh, all right.

[00:44:56] Well, I, I don't want to keep you any longer. I really appreciate chatting about all this stuff. Listeners, there's Deluge, uh, at ignition press rip cord with ignition press. Uh, I'll put a link so you can, uh, go and pick up Cullen's book, bones of our stars, blood of our world. Uh, and I'll also, I'll have a link so you can check out the colonoscopy, the video series. And, uh, as well as the midnight lantern foundation. Yeah.

[00:45:25] Especially if you're somebody listening that thinks you have something that you can, uh, contribute or, uh, volunteer. I think that's awesome. And, uh, yeah, I, I, I look forward to, um, despite there not being any pictures in it, I I'm looking forward to bones of our stars, uh, blood of our world. Maybe I should, uh, I should maybe start drawing pictures in them. Like it's at conventions. I could draw panels very poorly. Yeah. I can draw art in these.

[00:45:51] Just like a little something, a little illustration on the inside cover or something, you know, something to consider. I'll keep it in mind. Uh, all right. Well, Cullen, thank you very much. I really appreciate you, uh, joining the, the five, the cryptid creator corners, five timers club. We're going to have a genuine, genuine honor, genuine honor. Well, I, I do appreciate it. Oh, and of course, shout out to my brother, Bobby, the cryptid creator corners, number one, most dedicated fan.

[00:46:18] Bobby listens to all my episodes, especially the Cullen bun ones. And I've definitely gotten a lot of mileage, uh, out of that story where I first met Cullen and my brother still gives me shit about it, but you know, it was worth it. It was worth it. So listeners, make sure you check out Cullen's work. Uh, you can find me on blue sky and tick tock. If you want to talk about any of Cullen's books, uh, cause I've, I've read a bunch of them and, um, yeah, we can just go through and, and talk.

[00:46:44] Um, maybe I'll start my own podcast where we just, uh, my, a second podcast where we just talk about the work of, uh, uh, of Cullen. I like this. I've come up with a new name. I like the idea. Um, and, uh, and I feel like you just don't have enough to do. So he should, I don't know. Another podcast. Yeah. Uh, I got to come up with a cool name though. You've already taken colonoscopy. Yeah. I gotta, I gotta come up with something else.

[00:47:13] Um, I'll think on it too. And I'll send you some ideas. Thank you. We'll workshop it. All right, listeners. Thank you so very much for listening. Please rate and review us. Do all the stuff they tell you to do for podcasts. It really does help you just leave like a quick little review. Like, Hey, I, I like, I like this. That would be nice. Um, so thank you very much. And I will see you next time. Uh, good night. This is Byron O'Neill. One of your hosts of the cryptic creator corner brought to you by comic book Yeti.

[00:47:41] We hope you've enjoyed this episode of our podcast. Please rate, review, subscribe, all that good stuff. It lets us know how we're doing and more importantly, how we can improve. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode of the cryptic creator corner, maybe you would enjoy our sister podcast into the comics cave. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Have a good day. Have a good day. Have a good day.