DARK POND CREATIONS - TAKE A DIP INTO A NEW TYPE OF COMIC
Are you feeling low, my friend? Are you feeling so very low that you want to crawl down into a pit and then bury yourself underneath a rock? If so, then please remember that you can channel your energies in a more positive direction. So instead to crawling and burying, why don't you try writing and drawing? My mate Patrick did. He told me as such during the following interview I did with him about his new brand of comic books.
1) What are your own origins, Patrick? Plus what path did you take in life prior to getting to where you are today? My origins? Well, when a mummy and daddy love each other very much... err... you know the old story, I'm sure.
And as for my path? That is a very long and varied story as well. I got into comics at quite an early age thanks to my late father bringing home a stack of comics starring such iconic characters as The Punisher and Batman. Granted, these got him a sound telling off from my mother as they were pretty violent for my age, yet it didn't stop me from wanting to read more and more of them. From there I started to get into loads of varied titles such as the iconic and tragic 'The Crow' -- written by James O'Barr. To this day it's still my favorite story ever written.
After reading those and more, I decided that I wanted to turn my hand to writing myself. But sadly, thanks to a series of bad decisions on my part that never came to pass. I worked hard at sorting my demons and now I'm back on the horse -- so to speak -- and writing my own stuff as collaborations with artists. I'm also learning illustration and computer techniques in order to be able to do my own art as well.
2) What inspired you to form, ‘Dark Pond Creations’? Strangely it was through working on a project that sadly didn't come to pass. I sat there waiting to take more of a guiding hand on a project, when I started chatting with Dan Charnley, one of the artists from the first issue of 'Flesh Tones'. We decided to throw caution to the wind and try to get our own stuff out there. That's when the artist that came to illustrate 'The Meek', Carlos Moreno, came to me with the project that would turn in to that series. We had the thought that if we were going to work together on various projects -- as well as my working with other artists -- that maybe we should have an umbrella to publish it under, and hence... Dark Pond Creations was born.
And as for my path? That is a very long and varied story as well. I got into comics at quite an early age thanks to my late father bringing home a stack of comics starring such iconic characters as The Punisher and Batman. Granted, these got him a sound telling off from my mother as they were pretty violent for my age, yet it didn't stop me from wanting to read more and more of them. From there I started to get into loads of varied titles such as the iconic and tragic 'The Crow' -- written by James O'Barr. To this day it's still my favorite story ever written.
After reading those and more, I decided that I wanted to turn my hand to writing myself. But sadly, thanks to a series of bad decisions on my part that never came to pass. I worked hard at sorting my demons and now I'm back on the horse -- so to speak -- and writing my own stuff as collaborations with artists. I'm also learning illustration and computer techniques in order to be able to do my own art as well.
2) What inspired you to form, ‘Dark Pond Creations’? Strangely it was through working on a project that sadly didn't come to pass. I sat there waiting to take more of a guiding hand on a project, when I started chatting with Dan Charnley, one of the artists from the first issue of 'Flesh Tones'. We decided to throw caution to the wind and try to get our own stuff out there. That's when the artist that came to illustrate 'The Meek', Carlos Moreno, came to me with the project that would turn in to that series. We had the thought that if we were going to work together on various projects -- as well as my working with other artists -- that maybe we should have an umbrella to publish it under, and hence... Dark Pond Creations was born.
3) Can you briefly tell us about some of your projects? I'm one of those annoying writers that always seem to have a lot of projects going on at the same time. That's maybe down to me falling to the pressures of depression, that sometimes make my head become a little hectic. As a form of what may be called catharsis by some, I write certain stories depending on how dark or draining my moods are.
At the moment, I'm working on a couple of short stories for issue two of 'Flesh Tones'. This issue is going to deal with the polar opposites of how a persons mind can work. In one story, an intensely personal one, I explore the moments where my mood can be the most dark. The story itself, while based on some personal experiences, is one that I wanted to tell in order to show people that you can get out the other side of the black hole you can sometimes find yourself in.
The second story is going to be a more positive one, in order to be the yang to the first stories ying, about a Mexican Lucha Libre wrestler looking back on his career with fondness despite it being full of ups and downs.
I'm also working on the second issue of 'The Meek', a title that while set during a post apocalyptic world full of flesh eating creatures, explores the idea of trying to work out who is more human. On the one hand you have the creatures that -- while horrid versions of human -- are just trying to survive. Where as on the other hand you have Edward -- a man that cuts down these creatures without a second thought. In that case, just who is the more human of the two?
I'm also working on a one-off story called 'Freak Show: The Ballad of Cassandra', a tragic murder story set in the world of the dust bowl carnivals that were so popular in the early 1900's America. It explores the clash of the need for faith and the need for revenge that the characters encounter amidst the bigotry and mistrust of the era.
4) What song would you say best represents your independent publishing house? I would choose any song by the late, great, Johnny Cash. His songs always seemed to have the perfect blend of heart break, hope, and a little menace -- and that always interested me so hopefully we can put that across in our stories.
At the moment, I'm working on a couple of short stories for issue two of 'Flesh Tones'. This issue is going to deal with the polar opposites of how a persons mind can work. In one story, an intensely personal one, I explore the moments where my mood can be the most dark. The story itself, while based on some personal experiences, is one that I wanted to tell in order to show people that you can get out the other side of the black hole you can sometimes find yourself in.
The second story is going to be a more positive one, in order to be the yang to the first stories ying, about a Mexican Lucha Libre wrestler looking back on his career with fondness despite it being full of ups and downs.
I'm also working on the second issue of 'The Meek', a title that while set during a post apocalyptic world full of flesh eating creatures, explores the idea of trying to work out who is more human. On the one hand you have the creatures that -- while horrid versions of human -- are just trying to survive. Where as on the other hand you have Edward -- a man that cuts down these creatures without a second thought. In that case, just who is the more human of the two?
I'm also working on a one-off story called 'Freak Show: The Ballad of Cassandra', a tragic murder story set in the world of the dust bowl carnivals that were so popular in the early 1900's America. It explores the clash of the need for faith and the need for revenge that the characters encounter amidst the bigotry and mistrust of the era.
4) What song would you say best represents your independent publishing house? I would choose any song by the late, great, Johnny Cash. His songs always seemed to have the perfect blend of heart break, hope, and a little menace -- and that always interested me so hopefully we can put that across in our stories.
5) If you could get a celebrity – either living or dead – to promote your wares, who would you choose, and why would you want to choose this particular person? Once again, Johnny Cash. That weathered, world weary voice talking about our stories? Yes please!
6) What have you learnt about yourself through this endeavour? And were their any unforeseen obstacles you had to contend with along the way? One of the things I have learnt about myself is that despite being painfully shy, I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of networking, making new contacts and the such. I'm also finding that I can pull some really messed up stories out of my relatively quiet head.
The unforseen circumstances have been the sheer amount of promo work and requests you have to put in only to find that you get maybe one reply in twenty. Sometimes it can be a bit disheartening but I'm thick skinned and will keep plugging away.
7) During your time in this field, what is the one thing that has kept you in good stead? Quite simply the support of fellow indie creators. I've had so many different writers and artists band together to give me advice, share contacts, and much more, that I know I can turn to them at any point in the process and one of them will know something that will get the wheels moving.
6) What have you learnt about yourself through this endeavour? And were their any unforeseen obstacles you had to contend with along the way? One of the things I have learnt about myself is that despite being painfully shy, I'm slowly but surely getting the hang of networking, making new contacts and the such. I'm also finding that I can pull some really messed up stories out of my relatively quiet head.
The unforseen circumstances have been the sheer amount of promo work and requests you have to put in only to find that you get maybe one reply in twenty. Sometimes it can be a bit disheartening but I'm thick skinned and will keep plugging away.
7) During your time in this field, what is the one thing that has kept you in good stead? Quite simply the support of fellow indie creators. I've had so many different writers and artists band together to give me advice, share contacts, and much more, that I know I can turn to them at any point in the process and one of them will know something that will get the wheels moving.
I've had some amazing advice from people such as Gary Crutchley from Accent UK, Victor Wright from Geeky Kid Comics, David McCluskey from Dammaged Comics, Steve Tanner from Time Bomb Comics, Sam Johnson from Actuality Comics, and I was even lucky enough to have the majorly talented Dan Barnes from Dead Bride Comics work on the cover for The Meek: Issue One. That's a pretty good mix, wouldn't you say?
8) If ‘Dark Pond’ had a motto, what would it be? People will die, empires will fall, but give them a scare and the flesh will crawl.
Now for any more information on my pal Patrick and Dark Pond Creations, please check out their Facebook page and selly page when you can. Cause with one click, you'll be dying for more.
8) If ‘Dark Pond’ had a motto, what would it be? People will die, empires will fall, but give them a scare and the flesh will crawl.
Now for any more information on my pal Patrick and Dark Pond Creations, please check out their Facebook page and selly page when you can. Cause with one click, you'll be dying for more.
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