Here’s what you get in every issue of Into the Storymaze: writing insights or a work-in-progress; something creative I’m digging; a highlight from my comics-writing credits; plus a quote that’s got me thinking — both about right now and what’s next.
Twisty Little Passages
The Storymaze is both wandering and wondering. In the case of the audio play below, “What’s happened to the world’s mystique?” The global rush seems to have shushed the sense/possibility that there is still something hiding in the dark corners of the world. The mysteries of the unknown that used to saturate the pop-culture consciousness seemed…less real. What better way to answer that than with make-believe?
Inspiration: the seventies, especially, were delicious with documentaries crackling with grainy footage and fab possibility: aliens among us, ancient civilizations fueled by lost technology, hauntings, psychic phenomena, cryptobeasts just past the trees. “Yes, please, tell me more!” I dog-eared the pages of Erich von Däniken paperbacks, and wondered aloud at the dinner table, “Maybe a great family activity would be to go see that new movie about Bigfoot?”
But the most steady drip-drip-drip of paranormal morphine came in the form of “In Search Of…”: a half-hour “What If…?” on all those arcane topics and more. Catering to and exciting fans of the weird by way of the sci-fi cred of host Leonard Nimoy,(sporting a seventies pornstache and supernaturally wide-lapels), the show never answered questions, but established an eerie wonder of possibility.
“Maybe you, yes *you* out there in TV land would be the one to find the downed flying saucer on your next hike. Or snap a photo that would finally confirm the existence of that lake’s deep water monster.” All of which is to say, the hooks were set deep! “The Cryptic” is my homage to those “In Search Of…” interviews and speculations. Although I’m just as much channeling hero Rod Serling as I am Nimoy. Further episodes (and nonsensical numbering) to come…
Treasure Seekers
Combining two great joys, The Comic Book Story of Video Games accomplishes just what its title promises: an ambitious tale of circuits and scientists, hackers and warfare, the space program and science fiction. Giving the spotlight to key players (that is, creators) mostly unknown outside video game development is both a well-deserved recognition for these pioneers, and also a secret pass for readers.
I personally loved the rich detail, as well as how video game characters get woven into the visual moments to become part of the story. (For example, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney showing up in a courtroom scene. ) As much as you’ll enjoy being carried along in the history, you may find yourself putting a bookmark in the pages to go play a game.
The Comics Labyrinth
Back when, every publisher wanted their own universe of characters. It was thought to help with imprint identity, and was certainly a hook with selling a stable of characters beyond the two covers. Dark Horse’s first take didn’t fully take, so they retooled some of their ideas, and I was asked to help bring to life the 2.0 of Motorhead.
Infected/affected/cojoined with an alien entity/power he knows as “the motor”, Frank Fletcher’s a big tough guy with unpredictable access to bigger, tougher telekinesis. All that carried over from his first set of adventures. But in this later incarnation I contributed the ideas that he hit the road, hook up with a carnival as his supporting cast, and tried to make more sense of the “voice in his head” — turning that into a literal character, at least as far as Frank perceived things.
I felt pretty jazzed and empowered working on this one, and I think it shows in a comfortable, off-the-hook storytelling style, and some real heart connecting together a whack job cast of very human freaks. Most importantly for selfish lil’ me: it’s where I got to first collaborate with and become friends with Karl Waller, the hugely talented but oddly under-represented artist in a field he dearly loves. We’re working together, again, on a new concept that we initially cooked up 20 years ago — and is moving forward now to become a reality. More on those underworld adventures soon…I believe it will also feature whack jobs.
Web of Intrigue
“Life is no straight and easy corridor along which we travel free and unhampered, but a maze of passages, through which we must seek our way, lost and confused, now and again checked in a blind alley. But always, if we have faith, a door will open for us, not perhaps one that we ourselves would ever have thought of, but one that will ultimately prove good for us.” — A.J. Cronin
Amazing Times
How’d we end up here together? Maybe a detour off the dark web! But I’m hoping it’s because you subscribed to this share-out of projects I’m working on plus things that have me jazzed. I’m D.G. Chichester. Which sounds very pretentious, and tweed jacket and pipe — so feel free to just call me “Dan”, and have a go at the last name as Chai (like the tea) Chester (just like it looks). I earned my word-cred writing comic book titles like Daredevil, Terror Inc., Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD and Clive Barker’s Hellraiser, along with all manner of digital widgets and websites in the world wide web of advertising. I keep my storytelling cred by trying new things — this is one of ‘em, with more on the way. I like weird and sometimes creepy tales, so if things here bend that way — now you know why!
Folks seem to like the comic book adventures I’ve written, so if you haven’t checked one out — please do. Many are now available in fab collected editions.
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