David (CROSSED) Lapham returns to his Stray Bullets roots with a brutal supernatural crime drama that features the grueling horror of a new type of werewolf! Officer Dale Chesnutt has a big bloody problem - slaughtered civilians are turning up in the sleepy town of Cypress and now it's on him to figure it out. But while he is discovering more carnage, and his violent passions for a sexy mysterious woman, a vicious creature strikes again, this time at Dale's own family. The horrific mystery begins to unfold with Gabriel (LADY DEATH) Andrade illustrating the on-going Ferals epic.

We caught up with writer, David Lapham, to talk about the werewolf comic, FERALS.

Horror News Network: How did you come up with the concept for FERALS?

David Lapham: I was approached to do this book by Avatar publisher, William Christensen. He wanted to do a new take on werewolves, wanted to do a book of scope. We talked about it a bit and then I went and came up with how I thought it could work. And here we are talking about it, so I guess it worked!



Horror News Network: Were you influenced by any movies or books to create FERALS? (The Howling, The Wolf Man, etc.)

David Lapham: Well, to do werewolves, even a new take on werewolves, you have to start with the classic werewolf. Even though I take the story different places, I still think there’s a feel of the classic monster. The vicious inner workings of that feral creature. As far as specifically influenced, like my take on the concept from this book or that movie, no.

I can tell you this. There was no influence of the modern trend of touchy feely monsters. Unless your idea of touchy feely is touchy your intestines and feely your spleen.



Horror News Network: Can you tell us a bit about the werewolves in FERALS? How they change, when they change, etc.?

David Lapham: First and foremost, I knew I wanted to approach the Ferals like it was a state of mind. You don’t have to grow fur and claws to be a vicious animal. So there’s a concept that Ferals are people first. So are there monsters? Yes! Of course, there are. I wouldn’t do a whole series about werewolves with no werewolves. I can’t tell you about the change because it’s a reveal of the story, but it happens. Change happens! I think we have our bumper sticker slogan there.



Horror News Network: Tell us about the main character, Dale Chesnutt.

David Lapham: Dale’s a sheriff’s deputy in a town of hundreds with three cops. He drinks a lot, uses the lord’s name in vain constantly, and sleeps with a lot of women, and he’s pretty much an a**hole. That’s his starting point anyway, then he gets infected with something that’s supposed to make you into a super a**hole, and through that he turns warm and fuzzy. Well, not warm and fuzzy, but he gets thrusts into a position where he’s singularly alone in the world between two worlds. He has to take control of things because only he can. He’s insanely fun to write.



Horror News Network: What can we expect form this book in terms of scares, blood, and guts?

David Lapham: We’re still in extreme horror territory. Plenty of blood and guts. On the walls. On the floor. Just open page one of issue one.



Horror News Network: With tons of zombies and vampire comics on the market now, do you think this book will help open some eyes about other supernatural creatures?

David Lapham: Oh, sure. Everybody will be doing werewolves soon. Then mash ups. Vampire werewolves. Zombie werewolves. Zombie werewolves with deep feelings and unrequited love. Seriously though, the classic monsters are classic because they’re such archetypes, the basic concepts can be reinterpreted constantly.



Horror News Network: Can you talk a bit about working with series artist, Gabriel Andrade?

David Lapham: I can’t say enough good things about Gabriel. He draws really well, and more importantly than that, he tells the story. Over the years, I’ve found with my writing that things fall flat if an artist can’t tell a story, can’t make the characters act and deliver lines. Gabriel can do all of that. He pays off the little moments that make you care about the characters. His characters come to life in the way you need to engage and keep coming back in an ongoing book, and he’s fast enough to keep up a monthly schedule.



Horror News Network: Where can our readers find out more about FERALS?

David Lapham: You can follow me on Twitter (@DavidALapham), Avatar on Twitter (@AvatarPress), or go to Avatar’s website: Avatarpress.com.



Horror News Network: In closing, what would you like to say about FERALS?

David Lapham: That’s always the open-ended question, isn’t it? I could tell you the plots of the first year. But then I might blow your mind and your mind would melt, and you would become a zombie and probably buy only zombie books and not my book, so I can’t do that. I could tell you that we’re crafting an epic here. Get on board or risk eternal damnation. I think that’s a not real possibility, but you never know...

Horror News Network: Thank you for your time, David. Best of luck with FERALS! Comment on this interview here.

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Published on: 2011-11-23 (1220 reads)