THE GRAPHIC HEADSTONE: MITCH ROGERS, COMIC CREATOR!

MITCH ROGERS, creator of the independent comic series “The Bogre.”

Deadwest: Howdy there, Scream Freaks! Welcome to our newest blog, the Graphic Headstone, where we’ll be showcasing some of today’s hottest creative talent your side of the grave. Our first guest rising out of the cemetery is a jack of all trades, whose love for monsters spilled over into his love for comics, Mitch Rogers.

Mitch Rogers: That was awkward. You know there’s someone in that grave I had to climb out of, right?

DW: Did they help you up?

MR: I think they fondled my ass more than anything.

DW: Now, you’re best known for your funny book which mixes crime drama with horror as a mob family goes to war with a booger monster-

MR: Bogre (Bo+ger). Not booger.

DW: Whatever that is.

MR: He’s more or less the demigod of vengeance. If you feel like you’ve been wronged or hurt by someone or abused in any way, you can summon him via a spell to exact revenge for you. Think of Pumpkinhead with pieces of Pinhead thrown in.

DW: He looks like a monster with chicken wings on his back. Does he have some dark backstory where he was assaulted at a KFC?

MR: (Laughs) No, it’s just a cool design. When I did the first drawing I wanted something to break the visual arc of his back. The semicircle was just too bland, and I wanted something to give his overall shape some pizzazz. I’ve since decided to make them deformed angel wings.

DW: Going with the fallen angel thing, huh? I like it! Not the usual origin for a monster, though. Was that inspired by anything in particular?

MR: A lot of things inspired the Bogre, but mainly my love of monsters and ghost stories. I read a lot of works by H.P. Lovecraft and Clive Barker, and some of my favorite movies are Alien, the Thing, and Pumpkinhead.

DW: Most comics with a monster as the star tend to portray them as (tragic) heroes (ex. Swampthing, Hulk, Thing, etc.). Would you consider the Bogre a hero since he’s taking out criminals most the time?

MR: Not really a superhero, maybe an anti-hero. The point of the story isn’t really good vs evil, but things from the past coming back to haunt us. Evil being punished more so than good winning.

DW: Well, aside from its unique mixture of “Pulp Fiction” meets “Pumpkinhead,” why should anyone be interested in checking out your series?

MR: Most stories that have a monster as the centerpiece don’t really focus on the monster itself as a character much. I’ve really given the Bogre a personality. He’s basically an anti-social Goth kid in the body of a hulking monster. He’s vain, self-centered, and a complete psychopath. I’m planning future stories that deal less with blood and guts and more with the human condition. Stories that have depth tend to stay in people’s minds like “Into the Mist,” the Bogre short story I released earlier this year. That’s an example of me moving more into mood and atmosphere.

DW: You mean the Bogre crucifying a man after ripping his arms, legs, and face off in issue#4 won’t stay with people?

MR: (Laughs) The first series was a basic intro into the Bogre’s world. That’s why he narrates it and why gore was more of a centerpiece. He views himself as an artist and what he does to people are like his own paintings and sculptures.

DW: People are interested in how independent artists strike it out on their own and try to find their audience outside the mainstream. Is it more difficult to sale a comic that’s more horror genre than superhero?

MR: Yes, and that’s ironic, because most of the mainstream audience complains about the superhero stereotype. But horror’s always been a difficult genre as well. It’s been stereotyped as “all style and no substance” for years which a lot of the audience is turned off by. Comics is a hard medium overall, but especially with the abundance of self-publishers putting out work. It’s harder now to get noticed.

DW: You said you used to publish your Bogre comics through Comixpress, a print-on-demand company, but became frustrated with how they were pushing your print jobs back to meet orders from independent comic legend Dave Sim for his long running Cerebus comics?

MR: Yes! Comixpress put all their eggs in one basket with that decision which really put them in a bind with everything else since Dave Sim isn’t as popular as he once was. The ironic thing about that situation, however, is I’ve always been a fan of Dave Sim and Cerebus. Without him, we would not only have the Bogre, but Ninja Turtles, Bone, Scud, etc.

DW: What’s been your most successful means of reaching people with your art and comics, and what’s been the biggest waste of time for promoting yourself?

MR: I’ve found that small conventions are the way to go. If there isn’t much big name competition, it’s easier to get your books noticed. Social networking works also. Probably the biggest waste of time is advertising. Our generation doesn’t pay attention to ads as much anymore.

DW: Have anything else in the works we should know about?

MR: I just finished working as a concept/storyboard artist on the short film “Siphon” by Henry Moulder which should be hitting the film festival circuit sometime next year. It’s based on the phantom anesthetists cases.

DW: Making the leap from comics to film there, huh?

MR: Films are always fun to do, but I’m still working on new Bogre comics. My deranged, inhuman Mickey Mouse will be seen in a new story called “Southern Gothik” which will plunge Bogre in the swamps of Mississippi.

DW: What’s the best way to reach you? Are you open to commissions?

MR: People can reach me via email at bogermitch@gmail.com. I’m always open for commissions, especially those involving comics and film.

DW: Well, it’s been nice having you stop by, but it’s time to say adios!

MR: Oh, okay. Where do I go?

DW: Back in the ground. I’m sure that corpse will help you back through the other side.

MR: Oh . . . great.

DW: For anyone interested in checking out this superb series of violent black and white independence, you can now purchase the first collected volume of “The Bogre” straight from Mitch via email for $19.99. Plans are in motion to get the graphic novel available through Amazon in the near future. I’ll see ya later, Scream Freaks!