So last moth or sometime this month I did an interview with Dean Kish writer of Tainted which has it's first kickstarter going. I gotta say I'm interested in it and hope it gets funded. I hope you guys enjoy the interview :).
1: What or who got you into comics?
Dean Kish: I got myself into comics when I was around 6 and I saw my first comic spinner rack at the local convenience store. What got me into TAINTED was it was a story that I need to tell and I never stopped trying to tell it. Over 2 years later I am still trying. It’s a story that need to be told I think. And when you read it I hope you think so too.
2: What is Tainted about and why should people go back it on kickstarter?
Dean Kish: Tainted is a fantasy story about a journey of self-discovery for a sixteen year old girl. Along this journey she will learn that she can see this secret society hiding among us for over 3000 years. She’ll learn how she is connected. She will learn to fight back against them but her depression and anxiety as well. Issue #1 begins Creek’s journey, it shows her ‘origin’ if you will, her struggles, her past and introduce her to someone who will help her find a new path.
You don’t have to be a comics fan to support TAINTED you can just donate if that is your preference. We have five backers who just did that. Also if you become a backer of TAINTED you will get access to special backer only updates including the creative process, SUPER SECRET SURVIVOR cover reveal, unused gatefold cover from previous artist George Agas, plus when the book hits $3000 I will be revealing all of the covers for TAINTED 1-5.
3: What exactly sparked the idea for Tainted?
Dean kish: My own mental illness. I wanted to help people become more aware of mental illness. I especially wanted to help young people because I think it’s harder for them. Their hormones are raging out of control sometimes and I know when I was a teen I didn’t know how to talk about my feelings properly.
4: Is this the first comic you've written or have you written other stuff?
Dean kish: TAINTED is the first comic series I have written professionally. I did write tons of stuff before. I created a comics universe called the Omega Collection when I was a kid. I have commissioned artist Mark Propst to do a mock of the Justice League #1 cover with my characters. He’s been working on it forever but maybe it will see the light of day sometime.
5: How much of the story do you have written? Like is it all written out but you're just going to fund each issue?
Dean kish: I have a series bible for TAINTED. It cover five volumes. Each volume will be 5-issues. Each will be a self-contained story but add-on to the mythos of the TAINTED WORLD. I overall series layouts for all 5 volumes. I am ½ done the script for issue two and I have issue layouts for the rest of this series. I learned a lot about script writing when I worked in television on a series so comics really aren’t much different just less pieces on the board.
6: Do you have a favorite character you've written in Tainted? If so can you tell me who and why?
Dean kish: That’s a hard one. That’s like asking do you have a favorite kid. For the first five-issue volume it’s always going to be Creek because her voice is my voice and so much of me is in her and her evolution. In the other volumes if I can do them I have one or two others that will quickly become favorites mainly because they will allow me to explore another side of the TAINTED world.
7: What has been your favorite part about writing this series?
Dean kish: Just see what I write come to life. There are a couple pages in the first issue that brought a tear to my eye because they hit me that close.
8: What made you decide to start writing comics?
Dean kish: I have been a fans since I was a kid. So to tell this rather personal story I wanted to use this medium I grew up with and loved. I also thought the message would reach a new audience this way.
9: Probably should've added this to question four but if this is the first comic series you've ever written do you have other stories in mind that you'd like to write?
Dean kish: Tainted is my first. My second will be CLUTCH AND PRAYER, coming in Feb on Kickstarter with an Argentina artist Jorge Gabotto. It is a sci-fi piece completely different from TAINTED. It’s bonkers. It’s about two intergalactic bounty hunters on an interstellar scavenger hunt that leads to a universal conspiracy. It’s inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy and the buddy cop movies of the 1980s. My third book will be CAT PEOPLE, which is about a female astronaut that crashes on a planet that is run by cats. And if I get a chance I have 4-5 other books in mind including a book I want to pitch to artist Bill Walko called ‘The Misadventures of Immortal Boy’.
10: What makes this series special to you?
Dean kish: Artists, writers and most creatives are introverted and use their art as expression. Some real special ones out there have the gift for sales too but unfortunately I don’t find a lot of them. Lots of the great artists have emotional and psychological issues. Would we really remember Van Gogh if he didn’t slice off his ear? Or Hemingway shooting himself? Their strange behavior adds to their mystique. Tainted is special for me because as a depressive introvert I can finally share my experience and struggle even if it is in a fantasy story. Maybe reading the first issue and then the issues after as Creek evolves it will help people see you are not alone and can go on. If it just inspires or helps one person I will be eternally grateful.
11: What lessons have you learned while writing?
Dean kish: I have been a writer most of my life. I have a Bachelor of Arts in English. I have been writing movie reviews online since 1999. I have been published in newspapers. Also worked as a series writer-producer in television. What have I learned from writing comics? Well, probably the language barrier when working with international artists. Not everything you say is exactly going to make it into the script so you have to be watchful if you want to keep your story on track.
12: What advice could you give to someone who wants to start writing comics?
Dean kish: Well, I am just starting out in comics. Best advice at this point I can give is you have to expect failure before the success. Or you gotta learn to walk before you can fly. Also marketing, you need to build an audience. My Kickstarter is very slow in getting to the goal mainly I think because I don’t have a huge audience like the Tom Hutchison’s or Marc Dupree’s or industry expert Russell Nohelty. Kickstarter also isn’t for everyone.
13: If you could date any fictional character be it comics, movies or other who would you date and why?
Dean kish: I think that would have to go with Irene Adler from Sherlock Holmes or Gwen Stacey from Spider-Man. They are both tragic figures but have so many more stories to tell if they didn’t meet their fate.
14: Finally, Where can people find you on the internet?
Dean kish: They can follow Creek’s World page on Facebook, @KishDean on Twitter or just drop me an email @dwkish@shaw.ca
The link to his kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1325856476/tainted-1-always-keep-fighting
