Despite the solitary nature of creating comics (or perhaps because of it), it's very easy for writers and artists to become fast friends with one another -- be it at conventions, in-store signings or even just online. Over the years editor-turned-writer Jamie S. Rich has accumulated countless friends and connections in the industry through his time at Dark Horse, Oni Press, writing books like 12 Reasons Why I Love Her and living in the comics mecca of Portland, Oregon. And after moderating numerous panels at conventions and even hosting his own "Evening with Jamie S. Rich" movie night at a Portland theater, the writer is taking things even further with a new comics interview webseries called From the Gutters.

"My friend and collaborator Joëlle Jones had been joking for a while that I needed to do a podcast or some kind of history about comic-book creators," Rich said in a statement. "It was kind of a no-brainer when Ryan [McClusky] and Martin [Vavra] approached me. I had grown tired of the treadmill of comics press. It's all too often a hype machine: Promote this one book that you're doing right now. It got so impersonal -- most interviewers wouldn't even ask me how my day was going. At the same time, most readers and curious laymen I'd run into had very little idea of how a comic book was made. From the Gutters was a chance to change that."

Launching Oct. 4 on YouTube, From the Gutters will feature in-depth video interviews with comics pros as varied as Mike Allred, Becky Cloonan, Matt Wagner, Bob Schreck, Eric Stephenson, Ming Doyle, Michael Avon Oeming, Ted Naifeh and Dave Stewart. According to Rich, the show will go into detail about the inspirations for each creator as well as showcasing the art process each goes through.

Attendees of Rose City Comic Con, held Sept. 21-22 in Portland, are promised a sneak peek at the show.