Interview with Grave Robbers creator Mark Middleton

    ICU had the chance to talk to creator of Grave Robbers: Welcome To Hell Hole - now funding on IndieGogo

Your campaign for Grave Robbers: Welcome to Hell Hole is now funding on IndieGogo. What is Grave Robbers about?  
​   Grave Robbers is a story about three bounty hunters that use their unique powers to hunt strange, supernatural creatures for money. The story Welcome to Hell Hole is about the Grave Robbers following a bounty to a small mining town, only to find a demonic cult has taken root and may be doing a search of their own!

What inspired you to mix the western and horror genres?  
   I've always loved horror movies and westerns since my Dad used to pick up old VHS tapes from Blockbuster when I was a kid. But specifically for this book? Anything Sam Raimi. I love blood, guts, and gore. As far as Westerns, though, I'd have to say Tombstone and Once Upon a Time in the West. Throw in a little Cowboys From Hell from Pantera and you've got Grave Robbers!

I have to ask about the character names. Big Dick Murphy, Waylon Lauder, etc. What was the inspiration for the names? 
   Haha, I just like playing around. I do think there's something that makes names like that pop in people's minds, though. Anyone can name a character Steven Etherton. Or some other name, but I think that putting in a little extra effort makes them stick and keeps people thinking about them. Stan had Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, etc. It's just think it's kind of fun, though.

All of the characters have unique backstories and abilities. How did this eccentric group come together?  
   Big Dick is the crux of it all. I play with Jungian archetypes a lot (bet you didn't think I'd be busting out Carl Jung in a book with a character named 'Big Dick Murphy,' did you?) and BD is kind of the archetypal Father, in a lot of ways. That said, everything's been stripped of him. His parents, his home, his wife and child, everything. He's a stoic, tragic figure underneath a thick layer of tough-guy dick swagger (and fur).
​   So, people are sort of drawn to him. Amanda Lynn was trapped by a mob and Waylon was lost in a desert. Big Dick was a savior to them both, but he also represented hope. Hope that there was something better over the horizon.

What kind of creatures will our main characters have to deal with?  
   In Hell Hole #1, you'll be introduced in a big way to Richart, the 611 year old former Crusader and leader of a demonic cult. The cultists themselves are ugly and have powers of their own, but there's one thing in particular that everyone's going to absolutely LOVE to hate: The Rotting Golem!

​How did the team working on Grave Diggers come together?  
   I asked Rob (Passion4Drawing) to do some concept work for me about a year ago. After drawing them, he eventually just started sketching them and realized he really liked drawing them. I asked him if he'd be interested in drawing the book and he was hesitant at first, he just loved the story and liked the characters. Eugen Betiv, the colorist, was recommended by Rob and after I read Magic Cop by Zaid Comics, I was in. He did phenomenal work in the book!

What do you see as the future for Grave Robbers?  
   I would love to keep doing Grave Robbers. I have 10 or so issues already written and probably another 20-30 planned even after that! Like Stan Lee said, "You keep reading 'em, I'll keep writing 'em!"

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Back Grave Robbers on IndieGogo

Follow Mark Middleton on Twitter: @markmakescomix