Following up last year's acclaimed original graphic novel The Secret Spiral of Swamp Kid, comic book creator Kirk Scroggs is back with a new all-age friendly tale from DC in We Found a Monster. Following teenage misfit Casey Clive and his friend Zandra as they try to survive all the trials and tribulations of middle school while contending with a whole host of classic monsters, the original graphic novel is presented as Casey's private journal as he reacts to the world around him where the most deadly thing isn't necessarily dealing with an algebra test but rather some of his new, undead friends.
In an exclusive interview with Scroggs explains the origins of the new story, the appeal to blend middle school drama with fan-favorite monsters and how Casey compares to Swamp Kid's protagonist Russell Weinwright. Also included are preview pages from We Found a Monster, written and illustrated by Scroggs, with lettering by Steve Wands.
CBR: Kirk, how did We Found a Monster come about?
Kirk Scroggs: I had such an amazing experience writing and drawing Swamp Kid, and I was especially surprised at the wave of nostalgia that swept over me as I doodled in the same way I doodled back in middle school. Same tools, Same spiral binder. Same mix of styles. I had totally regressed to 4th period, Mrs. Grumbles’ class! With We Found a Monster, I wanted to complete the regression and fold in my total obsession with gothic monsters. There were plenty of monsters in Swamp Kid, but here I’ve indulged in every dark corner. This is a complete retro midnight horror host monster mash! Kid-friendly, of course. And the most fun aspect about was pulling different creatures from the DC vaults to add to the mix.
Casey Clive has a lot in common with Swamp Kid's Russell. How do you see the two characters?
Scroggs: Casey and Russell both share a love of drawing and they both qualify as outcasts. With Swamp Kid’s Russell, I feel like his outsider status was forced upon him by his condition. He just wanted to fit in but was deemed a “freak of nature” by the rest of society. We Found a Monster’s Casey is more of a proud outcast. He’s super particular, you might call him a Monster Snob, and feels the rest of the world just doesn’t get him so “to heck with them!” Of course, deep down, like Russell, he really does crave friendship and acceptance.
What makes middle school such a ripe time to revisit as a storyteller?
Scroggs: I think it’s because it’s really the first time in our lives we’re forced to fend for ourselves. There’s no security of being in one classroom with one teacher, with every trip to the lunchroom or the playground chaperoned. Suddenly, we’re on our own, oftentimes torn away from our friends and stuck in a new class every hour with total strangers, forced to seek out new friends, deal with older kids, and juggle the confusing issues of popularity, bullies, acceptance and our crazy hormones. It’s a dramatic time, ripe with possibilities.
I love the use of color in this and I feel like as Casey finds himself and his place among the monsters, more color gradually makes its way into the visuals. How was it developing that visual sensibility?
Scroggs: I definitely tried to visually tie Casey to the type of monster movies he enjoys—classic black and white creature features. He’s an old soul and sees the world in black and white terms. Certain characters, like the exuberant squid monster, Topo, the humongous color-shifting hominid, Spot, and the eclectic new kid, Zandra, bring color into his life and into the artwork. As he reluctantly becomes friends with Zandra, color invades his dark world more and more.
A lot of Casey's adventure is informed by his fledgling friendship with Zandra. How was it developing her and their complementary dynamic?
Scroggs: Zandra and Casey’s relationship starts out as the old Odd Couple or buddy cop cliche. He’s grumpy, wears black, and likes old school monsters. She’s peppy, colorful and likes fantasy creatures. As the story progresses, however, her colorful demeanor starts to take on its own loopy darkness. She’s got some wild secrets lurking behind those rainbow friendship bracelets!
What monster in particular were you happy to bring into the proceedings?
Scroggs: I think my favorite is one of the classics—actually, a few of the classics. Frankenstein happens to live in Casey’s basement. But, he’s not the same old Frankenstein we’ve come to know. This Franky is made up of parts of other classic creatures. This the only Frankenstein you’ll meet with an invisible arm, werewolf legs, and a USB charging port!
Jim Lee named Swamp Kid as one of his favorite comics of last year; that's a strong vote of confidence. How has it been working with DC since then?
Scroggs: To get a shout out like that from Jim Lee is just so humbling and amazing. I could stare at just one of his pieces of art and get lost in it for hours. Everyone at DC has been so great. They’ve allowed me to really let loose with my style and fly outside of the traditional norms of comics. To get to play with these iconic characters and add a few new ones into the mix is a dream come true.
Written and illustrated by Kirk Scroggs, We Found a Monster goes on sale Jan. 12 from DC.