Day 11 – Ghostly Hauntings
You’re speaking with your grandfather. It seems like forever since you have last seen him, but your conversation reminds you of being a child again. Then it dawns on you. Your grandfather has been dead for years. As you focus your eyes on him, he vanishes. His absence forces a feeling of dread as your hair stands on end.
#scrypthalloween continues with GHOSTLY HAUNTINGS. This spinoff of my novel Souls 4 Supper, was the last graphic novel we published at sCrypt. It is now available in short story text form as well, so for the rerelease you can grab a copy in print at lulu.com or on Amazon as part of the Pandora’s Chaos Trilogy download.
What’s your favorite ghost related item, story, or topic? Post on social media and hashtag #scrypthalloween for a chance to win one of my novels. The more posts the better.
Think, Sip, Write – Ep 7: sCrypt
For this episode I talk about what got us into sCrypt comics, the process of it all, and how it evolved. At the end I included a slideshow with samples of the art.
Special thanks to the artists. They are: Dan Pipito, Leanne Wiedmeyer, Asher Humm, Joe Parisi, Angela McQuillan, Fred Loeffler, Tiff Pugliese, TJB, Phillip Allie, J.C. Spence, Jacob Greenawalt, Sakura Jones, Ivy Duffy, Scott Modrzynski, Vince Pipito, Kelly Swann, Mike Coppolecchia, Ken Hensley, Michael Garard Jr, Kristie Vanderzee, Muhammad Nurul Islam, and Mao Estheim
Genetic Morsels trailer
GENETIC MORSELS takes my novels to a whole new level. The beginning of a new trilogy begins here. The trailer has arrived.
Day 6 of #authorlifemonth: fan art
Day 6 of #authorlifemonth is supposed to be #fanart, but I’d rather focus on some of the amazing artists who have worked with me on my comics over the years. There are too many to mention, so here’s a quick teaser. Of course you can always check out my artist of the month page to see more about those involved and their amazing works. Here are some samples of what’s in my graphic novels.
A Little Girl In: The Land Of The Hiccups
Follow the adventures of a little girl as she finds herself lost in a village of Eskimos. As she searches for her way home, she uses a bit of intuition to help the villagers rid themselves of annoying little creatures called “the hiccups.”
This is Rick Pipito’s first children’s book with all of the art done by Dan Pipito. It’s the perfect gift for any little girl or anyone who enjoys a timeless tale.
You can purchase a copy on Amazon or here: http://www.lulu.com/shop/rick-pipito/a-little-girl-in-the-land-of-the-hiccups/paperback/product-21910133.html
There are always discount codes available as well, so feel free to contact me for them.
Day 30: Pint Glasses, Bumper stickers and more
Did you know that besides the books written by Rick Pipito AND the comics, that there is also a sCrypt merchandise store? There are some custom T-Shirts for men and women sporting the sCrypt logo and some great sayings; There are a collection of pint glasses for your beer or beverage of choice with artwork from the book covers; To go with these, there are a set of coasters with the comic book covers designed on them; There are bumper/window stickers; and the list continues to grow.
They are great gifts for yourself or someone else, and each item purchased helps to support independent artists through sCrypt Comics. Check out the store here: http://www.cafepress.com/scrypt
Day 26: What’s the Deal with the Stick Figures
Back when we were working on the first sCrypt Comics spinoff, my brother and I had been having discussions about how everyone had those window sticker stick families on their cars. It was overkill and I made the comment of “you think they’d do something different.”
A week later, Dan had made sure to have some stickers of his own printed up. The zombie stick family began, and we threw it in the concept art pages as a joke. Now with each installment, we add to the theme another family. I did the ghost one, but still it was fun.
If you’d like your own window sticker, or other merchandise check out our online store at http://www.cafepress.com/scrypt
Day 23: On The Slate
After a little negotiating, I’m allowed to give some information about the upcoming projects in the works for my novels and comics. Here’s what’s going on:
Novels:
GENETIC MORSELS: In a not so distant future, the world has come to accept one world leader. Many believe he is just, but something sinister is in his plans. A small group of unlikely allies must come together to uncover the truth, but they have an obstacle… the next step in human evolution has begun. Homoevolutis are a group of humans that have extraordinary abilities, but unlike comic book heroes, these abilities apply to real world physics and can be more deadly than beneficial. (Look for Genetic Morsels in early 2015.)
UNTITLED Alien book: The government has held secrets from the public eye for years, but there is one secret that might shock all of mankind. As visitors from another world return from long ago, humanity must sort out the past and reveal the truth about our own history. What truly lies out there may be something that even the most inventive of minds has not forseen. (Coming late 2015)
NO, IT’S NOT. YES, IT IS: URBAN LEGENDS: Following the format of the argument book I did, this will share personal experiences and humor to address whether urban legends are real or not. It will take a look at these stories and present facts for and against it. Then you decide if it is real or not.
Children’s Books:
A LITTLE GIRL IN THE LAND OF THE HICCUPS: slated to be released on Black Friday of 2014, this children’s book illustrated by Dan Pipito in his amazing watercolor style, follows the adventures of a girl who must rescue a village from the annoying creatures known as the Hiccups.
A LITTLE BOY IN THE LAND OF SLEEPLESS KNIGHTS: A boy who decides to confront the “monster” in his closet finds himself swallowed into a world where shadowy knights keep children awake forever. Can he stop them before their sleep draining abilities make them unbeatable, and return in time to get some shut eye? (Late 2015)
UNTITLED children’s book: The little girl and boy get lost on a new adventure.
sCrypt Comics Graphic novels:
DEMONIC ENTITIES: This graphic spinoff of the novel DEVIL’S DESSERT focuses on what happened to the demons after the events in the novel.
FINAL UPGRADE: This graphic spinoff of the novel TECHNO FEAST shows more of what happens all over the globe during the events of the novel.
Audiobooks:
FLESH AND LEFTOVERS: The first in a series of audiobooks brings in talent to revisit the novel that started it all. (Coming December 2014)
There are other projects on the board, but at this time I can’t reveal much about them due to copyrights. Stay tuned.
Day 17: The Art Behind The Horror
Today I want to focus on the artists who I’ve had the pleasure and honor of working with. These people, featured in my Artist of The Month spotlights, are not just super talented, but take passion in what they do. What else is there to say other than this picture is only a small sample of how they brought my comic book spinoffs to life?
My novels are always my focus, but it is artists like these that make me enjoy doing the comics as well. Click here to see more from them. Of course, you can always purchase copies of the comics via the specified link on the right of the page.
Day 15: Mission sCrypt
In 2010 Rick Pipito’s novel FLESH AND LEFTOVERS was published. It was fan reaction to this novel that gave birth to sCrypt Comics. Rick began receiving hundreds of emails asking him to write more zombie stories. They’d loved what they had read. The problem was that Rick didn’t want to do the same thing twice. He was done with zombies at that point and the series would continue on, featuring a new threat with each new novel.
In order to appease the fans, Rick contacted his brother, Dan Pipito. Here’s how the conversation went over the phone:
RICK: Dan, you aren’t going to believe this, but people really want me to do more zombie stories.
DAN: That’s great. So do it then.
RICK: I think I will, but I’m done with writing it in novel form.
DAN: What did you have in mind?
RICK: Let’s do a comic book spinoff.
DAN: …………. Who?
RICK: You and I. We start a comic company. I don’t know what we’ll call it. But we aim to make horror comics. They will be spinoff stories and kind of fill in parts for my books.
DAN: Okay, but you do realize that there is no way we can do this just the two of us.
RICK: I know. So I’ve been thinking about it. You know what it is like to get your art out there and make a name for yourself… I know the same deal with music. What if we have other artists do the stories with us?
DAN: Um. Money is a major issue.
RICK: Tell me about it. That’s why we do it for exposure. Let’s get the artists to come in and we will promote their names in the comics and any press or social media we do. We can even do an artist of the month and start a site that I’ll run. Of course we also give them a copy of the final product.
DAN: Lots of artists will want pay, but I’m sure we can get people who will want to get exposure and add something to their portfolio.
So this is how the conversation went, and thus the idea was born. Rick went to work on writing the spinoffs, and Dan came up with the name and logo. sCrypt is a play on words. Rick writes the script and the crypt signifies the horror angle. Rick’s primary job is to find the talent and write the stories. Dan is art direction and design. Both of them lay out storyboards and discuss ideas to allow as much creative freedom for each artist involved. They want it to be their stories but through other people’s eyes, so each artist is allowed to use any medium or color format that they want for their individual task.
Each comic is a long tedious process for both Rick and Dan, but they’ve gotten to work with some amazing people. Many more ideas are being developed for future releases and the goal is to expand and learn with each new project. Check out the available comic books via the link on the right, and click on the artist of the month tab to see some of the great people they’ve worked with.
Day 5: Haunted Origins for SOULS 4 SUPPER
Now that we’ve covered the first trilogy, let’s take a peek at the beginning of the next one. Book 4, which can be read on its own or as part of the series is a great starting point for anyone who wants to just jump in. When I decided to write SOULS 4 SUPPER, I had personal experience and those of others as inspiration.
This book focuses on ghosts, spirits, hauntings and lost souls, and it can be a very controversial topic. I’m not saying I believe or disbelieve in any of the aforementioned, but I do feel that at the very least our minds connect us to a different plane of existence… you can call it a higher power, or the afterlife, or just a figment of our imagination, but something is there.
When I was in grade school, I remember as plain as day being tucked in to bed one night. About fifteen minutes after my parents turned out the lights my grandfather walked in to speak to me in his soft voice. He stood in my doorway at the foot of my bed and silhouetted by the hall light (which seemed very bright) he told me “Ricky, don’t worry about anything. It will all be okay, and I’m always going to be watching over you.”
I was very young, but this stands out in my mind today, even though his facial features seemed distant. The one thing that I thought was odd back then was that my pop-pop didn’t live with us. We saw him maybe once a week and for that hour it was strange but I thought nothing of it and went to sleep. The next day my dad picked me up at school halfway through the morning. I knew something was wrong because he’d never pull me out of school. He wouldn’t tell me why, and when we were halfway down my street I said, “Dad, it’s pop-pop isn’t it?”
His eyes began to tear, and my dad who almost never cries wanted to know why I said that. I noticed he had slowed the car to an almost stop in the middle of the road as he stared at me. When I told him about my visit the night before, he lost it. My grandfather had died around the same time I had the “dream” the night before.
Similar things happened afterwards with other family members, but not quite so distinct. When my other grandfather died I remember seeing his cancer ridden body lying in a coma. He’d been unconscious and we’d all known he was going to pass soon. When I kissed him on the forehead and said “Goodbye” I knew it was the last I’d see him. I felt something in my heart and I swore the corner of his mouth curled upward (almost smiling) but very faint. Minutes after I left he died.
Then there was my grandmother who had Alzheimer’s disease yet even though she was incoherent in her speech at the end, the last time I saw her she had a burst of coherent speech and knew who I was. It was the end and her body and mind reached out to me one final time.
Okay, so you’ve heard the depressing side of it all, but there is also a good side. When my daughter was 2 months old we went to Jim Thorpe, PA for my uncle’s annual Christmas party at his Bed and Breakfast. We slept in the attic, which is a small library room and my little Lana was smiling in her swing chair late at night. Normally this wouldn’t be strange, but she was doing so and staring in the corner in a way that it seemed she was interacting with someone. I got up to see what she was looking at, but saw nothing there. She stopped smiling when I stood where she was looking and I felt a sudden degree drop in the room. Now the attic is a cold place that time of year and maybe the nostalgia of the antique building, plus the glasses of wine I’d had, were messing with my mind. Who knows?
Later that night I’d woken to use the restroom a floor down and was surprised that there were still people awake. When I reached the bottom of the stairs there was no one there. The voices that I’d heard and the movement in the dim lighting that I’d seen must have been sleep in my eyes. I used one of the two bathrooms that were open, and when I’d exited to return to bed, the other door had closed. There were no drafts in the hall, and no one was in the restroom.
Now again, all of these experiences, and a few others I’ve had could have been tricks of the mind, or a mental state I was in. No matter what it was, the experience fascinated me. I was never freaked out until after I’d thought of it. (I still look forward to going to the bed and breakfast each chance I get). Those personal ties, plus ones of many others I’ve read over the years made me want to write a book about ghosts, hauntings etc. There are many different “stories”, and I wanted to include as many as I could and have it make sense in a larger setting.
Be sure to check out SOULS 4 SUPPER and its graphic comic spinoff, GHOSTLY HAUNTINGS in multiple formats through links on the right side of this page. Also, I highly recommend checking out my Uncle and aunt’s place http://www.timesjimthorpe.com. The bed and breakfast is romantic, the owners are amazingly awesome, and the whole town just has that old time feel.
Day 1: 12 Facts about FLESH AND LEFTOVERS
Cover art for “Flesh And Leftovers” The novel – Art by Dan Pipito
To start off my 31 days of Halloween, I figured I should begin with 12 facts about my first novel, FLESH AND LEFTOVERS.
1) FLESH AND LEFTOVERS is my one and only zombie novel. It is the only book I’ve written where I didn’t have an editor, but the fan feedback was amazing! People demanded more, and since I didn’t want to write any more full length books about zombies, it made me work with Dan Pipito to create sCrypt Comics for spinoff graphic novel stories.
2) The idea to write a zombie book came when the topic of “What would you do if there was an outbreak” scenarios would come up in many a work place conversation. The problem with these scenarios is that everyone had ideas of what a zombie was “supposed” to be like, based on the varying differences in books, movies, etc. So, I wanted to create a book where they could all be in the same story, but have legitimate reasons for them tying together.
3) Causes for zombies: Mutated strain of rabies virus that affects human and animal life, Viral outbreak, Demonic summoning and control, Radioactive meteor, Cannibals worshiping their “god”, Childhood vaccinations, alien parasite, sixth generation offspring of vampires, drug induced hallucinations, and voodoo (macumba).
4) The first chapter in F&L takes place in Jim Thorpe, PA. It is an annual tradition to visit my Uncle and Aunt’s bed and breakfast during Christmas time there. It was during the winter of 2008 that I knew I wanted to base part of my first published novel in that town. The peacefulness and solitude there brings a wide range of emotions that make a perfect setting.
5) Religion and history have always fascinated me, so when I decided to make Cain (from the Cain and Abel story) an antagonist for future books, his origin of what he becomes had to be researched. I found that despite the different beliefs, the Cain and Abel story remains almost completely the same throughout all religions.
6) It wasn’t until halfway through the book that I decided this could work as a series. My goal was to make it flow but to make each book stand on its own as well, and focus on something unique for each plot. (zombies being F&L).
7) My fascination with zombie lore can be blamed on the George A Romero “of the Dead” movies, and the Resident Evil Series of video games.
8) The characters I’ve created are not based on individual people, but rather personalities of people I’ve met. The only exceptions to this rule are Gordon Lightcap and Moira Donatelli. Gordon was based on my own experiences and the overall person I am, and Moira was created as an amalgamation of what I saw as my “perfect woman.”
Cover for the graphic novel (comic) spinoff, ZOMBIE INCIDENTS
9) Although cannibals are not zombies, I felt the need to place them into the story. How would a “normal” unifected human devour another person? Why would they do it? And What would they do with the parts of the corpse left over? All these questions are addressed in the book.
10) It took me over a year to write F&L because I began to flesh out (pun intended) the sequels that would follow it. I had to make sure my origin story for the characters was in place, and where I wanted to go with it. By the time I was finished writing FLESH AND LEFTOVERS, I had six books planned out in the series (each a stand alone installment).
11) Each “chapter” is called an “Incident.” This was done because I wanted people to be able to pick up the book and either read it straight through or just choose one story at a time. The overall plot can’t be followed by just one incident, but I wanted that option for the reader as they stand can work on their own.
12) When I approached Dan to to do the cover art, he instantly came up with the idea of teeth tearing into raw meat. It is still one of my favorite book covers for my novels to date.
There is my post for today. I welcome any questions or comments you may have. Stay tuned tommorrow for another installment in my 31 days of Halloween. FLESH AND LEFTOVERS as well as its graphic comic spinoff ZOMBIE INCIDENTS are available through links on the right side of this page. It will also be available in audiobook format soon.
Writing and Learning from your mistakes
Cover art for “Flesh And Leftovers” The novel – Art by Dan Pipito
I’ll be the first to admit, that while I’m extremely proud of the things I’ve done, I always look back and say, “Wow, I’m a better writer than I used to be.” That’s because I try to learn from my mistakes. I started off on this journey with writing, as a fan. I was a fan of other people’s works. I knew how good it felt to read stories, and I loved when people would enjoy my music. It made me want to transition from music and expand to fiction. If others enjoyed my songs, then why not let them enjoy the multitude of ideas I have in my head?
So my journey began. I looked into independent publishing for my first project FLESH AND LEFTOVERS and have stayed with it ever since. Would I like a major publishing deal? Of course. What passionate author wouldn’t, but I believe that things happen for a reason. The aforementioned novel began as a joke of sorts. I love zombies. I love the many takes on zombie lore. What I wanted to do was to combine them all, and that is why I went with multiple stories tying into one overall plot.
Cover art for “Blood The Second Helping” The novel
It wasn’t until halfway through the book that I decided to go on with vampires for the following novel. I decided right away that I didn’t want to be stereotyped into writing one thing. I didn’t want to be the “zombie guy”. It’s been done too many times. I knew that I could write sequels and make each one focus on something different, while continuing with the characters I love and keeping it something fresh and new.
Upon finishing the first novel, I began immediately writing BLOOD, THE SECOND HELPING, and mapping out more in the series. My mind was set. Then the reviews started coming in… There were an unbelieveable amount of outstanding reviews and feedback. It became overwhelming to the point of people wanting more zombie stories. I was adamant (still am) about doing more of the same in book form. This is where sCrypt comics came in with my brother. I could do spinoffs and appease that audience, while not
Cover art for “Bones At Breakfast” The novel
placing myself in a repetetive place.
Of course this is where my learning came in as well. I wrote book one hastily, and while it is certainly one of the best zombie novels out there (yes I’m biased haha), it has its flaws. Storywise it is fine, but I had no editor, so there are mistakes I made in writing. Plus, there is only so much that can be done creatively with a zombie story. I had a few messages telling me they found typos or that they didn’t like what I did in certain parts. The cool thing about the latter is that as you write a series, you can correct or attone for certain things. (I do want the audience to be happy too). The down side is that I now have six novels completed in the series, and while each one works as a stand alone device, my weakest book is the one that 
starts it all.
So what is a writer to do? Well, I realized this by the time I was finished writing BONES AT BREAKFAST (my werewolf novel). Then I decided, that if I write the series in trilogy format, I could have people really start with book 4 and then maybe want to go back and read the earlier novels.
Is this a good strategy? Part of me believes so. It makes marketing both easier and more complicated. As a series it becomes easier to sell the installments, but as a whole, the impression of amateur writing in my earlier installments compared to that of what I’d consider professional writing now can be difficult.
While writing novels has taken up much of my free time I have become limited to the amount of time I have to actually read. Now I’m hooked on books on tape of unabridged works. I tend to lean towards my influences on how to properly execute delivery of a concept. Anyone who has read my books can see the historical and mythical influences. I’m fascinated with legends and the unexplained. Writing allows me to curb this need to know by explaining it fictitiously. Point in case… the author, Bob Mayer, takes an amazing approach to explaining where things such as the Pyramids of Egypt came from and so much more. He’s been one of my influences who I feel has taught me (just through reading) what it truly takes to be a successful author.
Everyone mentions Dean Koontz or Stephen King, and while they are also major influences of mine, I tend to think they are oft referenced by too many authors. It is almost Cliche’. While I learn from these great people, I also learn from writers who I find are downright appaling. I could say names, but I won’t because I don’t condone trash talking, but there are 
writers who have had their books made into films, and honestly it seems as if a ninth grader has written their stories. I don’t care if a novel is geared towards a younger audience, literature shouldn’t be “dumbed down.”
In the end I strive for a few things. 1) I want to constantly evolve, and for my audience to see that. It’s not a pride thing. I do it for me sure, but I want to have people come back for more. If I don’t write on a level that I’m proud with, then how could the audience be entertained? 2) Helping others achieve their goals is important as well. Look, I may not be a NY Times bestseller (here’s to hoping one day), but I can guide others who are starting out or looking to learn. Artists, musicians, writers… I’ve been all three, and want to share my mistakes as to help others get past them. 3) I have a desire to entertain. While music will always do it for me, I don’t think it works on the same level. I have what I like to call “voices” in my head. These are my ideas. I literally have a dozen more books mapped out in my head. I just need the time to write, while juggling a full time job. 4) and finally, what this article is all about…. Learning. As much as my “pride” may be hurt by negative comments or reviews, I realize that there is no such thing as negative feedback. I’m a person who likes to take the negativity and turn it into something positive. So criticism is a wonderful thing, and having positive feedback with it is equal. They are the yin and yang of writing.
What are your thoughts? Are you a writer? If so, how do you approach your ideas? Please comment below. I’d love to hear how you work and learn. As always, I’d also like to throw a thank you out to my brother, Dan Pipito, for the artwork on the covers, as well as my wife, Roberta, who not only feeds my mind with amazing food, but also tells me when my ideas are good or bad.
The sCrypt Merchandise store
Rick and Dan Pipito are proud to announce the opening of our new cafepress store. While the store does not have our novels or comics for sale (those are available at the links on the right of this page), it does include a whole new batch of awesome goodies.
Available are collectible pint glasses with Dan Pipito’s cover art for the novels written by Rick Pipito. To accompany that are optional coasters for the tumblers, which have the cover art for our sCrypt comics on them. There is also an argument book shotglass, window/bumper stickers, and T-Shirts for men and women in different sizes.
Coming soon to the store will also be the most exciting of these. You will soon be able to purchase 16×20 inch canvases for your wall. The canvasses will be the amazing cover art Dan did for the novel covers with his signature on them, AND a few other designs that we scrapped in the process.
Help support our ongoing and ever expanding crusade of awesome storytelling by buying something for yourself or for a gift. We hope you like what we have, and are open to suggestions for future items. Please spread the word, and thank you for the support.
Check out the store here: http://www.cafepress.com/scrypt
Interview with sCrypt Comics about “S4S: Ghostly Hauntings”
The following is an interview that Rick and Dan Pipito of sCrypt Comics did back in November 2013 for the release of their 4th graphic novel. Feel free to comment and ask any additional questions.:
Q: “Ghostly Hauntings” is the 4th title from sCrypt Comics. Can you tell us what it is about?
Rick: It is a spinoff from my novel “Souls 4 Supper,” and centers around different ghost stories.
Dan: And a touch of other paranormal things.
Q: Who are the artists involved, and can you tell us a little bit about them?
Dan: There are nine artists in all. Mao Estheim is our first international artist. She lives in Japan and has a very classic Manga style. She brought her vision of our story about a haunting hoax, by incorporating heavy influences from Japanese horror films.
Rick: Jacob Greenawalt actually found her for us, and he came back to join us for another round on this one.
Dan: Yeah, Jake has a very crisp line and caricature style to his art. He was able to take characters that we’d already had done in our first comic, and make them his artwork while staying true to what the original design was. His story in this one is actually a direct sequel of the first story I did back in our first issue “Zombie Incidents,” and I was very happy with the outcome.
Rick: Michael A Garard Jr found us through Google Plus, and he has a very comic booky style. He was one of the few artists who did full color this time around, and you can tell he’s very passionate about the genre. He’s also our savior of this issue, and did two stories instead of just one. Both used differing ideas and styles that made them each unique, and entertaining.
Dan: He also did everything in half of the time as everyone else without sacrificing quality.
Rick: Next up we brought back Kelly Swann whose military style art is very realistic and accurate to the eras she portrays. Kelly’s story centered around a genie of the lamp, which I think expanded her area of expertise. As supernatural as it was, she was able to keep it grounded and still hold the magical feel we desired.
Dan: Muhammad Nurul Islam is another international artist. He was born in Indonesia and resides in Great Brittain, so his culture has influenced his talent. What he did was portray a ghost story in a way that was family friendly to begin with, but made it almost feel like you were reading a children’s book, which is what we wanted.
Rick: Joe Parisi is another veteran with us. He’s actually the only one aside from us that has been involved in all four of our sCrypt publications, and his art is ever evolving. I’ve never seen an artist who can stay true to themselves while portraying a wide range of work; until we met Joe. He’s really a pleasure to work with, and is passionate about taking on another of our stories. He even told me he feels like he has to continue stepping up his art because of the increasingly good talent we bring on board. The funny thing is that the story he drew in this one was perhaps the most difficult one to make work so far, and he managed to capture it well.
Dan: Then we have Asher Humm, who had scheduling conflicts and wasn’t able to do our last one, but he was more than eager to come back this time. It’s his third venture with us, and as a professional artist, he has complexities that can’t be easily mimicked. The detail he puts in really makes a six page story feel like a full novel at times, and we look forward to continue working with him.
Rick: Kristie Vanderzee had first choice of stories this time because she’d been our last minute saving grace with our previous publication. With a little more time to work on the art, she did some really cool things. I don’t know how, but she managed to juggle getting married in the process, and found a new job in the comic book world as well. With everything she had on her plate, I’m amazed at the quality and effort she put in. Her final product was outstanding.
Dan: Finally, there is me. I’m just trying to find a style to fit in, so I’m constantly trying new things. I’d like to take my art to a definitive style with comic books, and I feel I’m close to what I finally want to settle upon.
Rick: Dan’s got a lot on his plate with these comics. He not only does a story, but is a consultant to the stories I write, and brings my cover art ideas to life as well. It gets a little hectic at the end with trying to piece it all together, but we’ve been happy with the final outcome, and it gets better each time.
Q: A project of this magnitude often comes across obstacles. Did you guys run into any hurdles along the way?
Rick: Well, we won’t go into specifics, but this time around one of our artists had an unfortunate health issue, and he wasn’t able to complete the story he wanted to do. Thankfully, as we mentioned before, Michael Garard Jr was able to step in at the last minute and do it. Sometimes these things just happen that are out of our control, and for the artist who had the health issues, we only wish that person the best, and hope that we can one day work together again.
Dan: There was also some printing issues because of sizing and boundaries in post production. That was annoying, but we worked through it.
Q: How did the cover art idea come about? How does the cover differ from working on the rest of the comic?
Dan: Rick had the idea to have a kettle with boiling souls escaping in the steam. Luckily I worked in a kitchen at the time and I was able to get a good picture. If you look closely at the ghostly faces in the steam, you might see something recognizable. I incorporated some classic horror face poses into it as a sort of tribute, and fun Easter egg. I like the photographic covers as opposed to fully illustrated. It makes it more of a real item than just a collection of fiction stories. This is also a new trilogy in the novel forms, so being able to introduce a new color palette in the graphic novel counterparts is exciting.
Rick: We were really limited to mostly red colors with the vampires, zombies and werewolves, so now that we’re on to the next thing, it allows our color range to open. Ghosts, demons, and technology leave a lot of room with which to work, and it’ll help make our comics stand out as trilogies (just as the novels do).
Q: When can we expect the next entries in the novels and in the sCrypt Comics graphic novels?
Rick: “Techno Feast” is the next novel in the series, and comes out in March 2014. Then we are going to take some time to get reorganized. Instead of publishing another comic in 2014, we will work on the novel trilogy, which will have those stories in it plus extras. 2015 will be our next sCrypt release. We just want it to be right, and it takes our attention away from our normal projects greatly. Don’t worry though… they keep getting better, and the extra time will allow us to make it even more so.
Dan: “Demonic Entities” is the title right?
Rick: Yes. Our next comic will be about angels and demons, and the “Devil’s Dessert” spinoff will be called “Demonic Entities.”
Q: Do you have a particular favorite story in “Ghostly Hauntings” that stands out above all of the rest in your mind?
Rick: Being as I wrote them all, they each hold an equal place in my heart. I can’t really choose a particular favorite of them all. If I had to absolutely narrow it down, it would probably be the “Dreams” story because it has very important historical ties, and is a key element in the novel.
Dan: For me, I think it’s a three way tie. Rick had chaos as a common theme throughout the book and the comic, and he wanted to see how an artist would portray chaos. So, for those frames, we have Pandora’s Box opening, and each particular artist’s version of what would come out. It is really cool to see a total inventive translation like that, and gives insight into the artists’ minds. They look like they actually collaborated together in some aspects, when in reality they had no contact at all. The reason I chose the story that I did was because Rick based it on events from our childhood, and so it held a place in my mind that sits above the rest. I didn’t want anyone else drawing that story because I knew what I had envisioned it as.
Q: The tie ins you mentioned establish that continuity you mentioned. What really made you take this route?
Rick: I actually hadn’t thought to do it until the stories were already written. It was an afterthought in the storyboarding phase where I wondered how I could make them coexist better. It comes natural to me in novel form. Art is out of my jurisdiction, so I had to think on a different level. I figured that it would help to describe Pandora’s Box contents even better if I could emphasize that chaos in one person’s mind doesn’t necessarily mean it is the same in another’s. I’d like to do more of this with future installments as well.
Q: There is no concept art page this time. What made you decide to get rid of it, after it was present in the first three installments?
Rick: Timing really. The end was a lot of rushing around, and not many of the artists had concept submissions. It takes hours to put together something like that out of cutting, splicing, and finding the correct parts to fit like a glove. We didn’t have time to put together a jigsaw puzzle of scrap art.
Dan: It is unfortunate, but he’s right. We will definitely add that back in to future comics, but we had to skip it for now. The funny thing is that I don’t think we missed much. A lot of the time, concept art is often just pencils of what becomes the final product, so it isn’t like you would have seen a whole lot more.
Rick: The only thing I actually regret about this decision is that we didn’t get a ghost stick family, as Dan did with the previous three.
Dan: Yeah, they were fun. Maybe we will get one for the website though.
Rick: Or maybe we can work on a merchandizing idea for it in the future. I could see a custom sCrypt Comics bumper sticker with the creature family of your choice.
Q: Are there any hidden “Easter Eggs” in this issue?
Rick: Ha! Tons. Dan, did you put any in yours that I’m unaware of?
Dan: No. No hidden penises this time. It was straight cut and dry.
Rick: There are a few hidden items as tribute. The cover as Dan mentioned has some things in it. The sCrypt Comics logo was written into the story in a coffin scene. Slimer, The Wizard of Oz, Evil Dead, Aquaman, and even fitting in our last name, as well as one of the artists’ last names ended up in the final product. I love that kind of stuff for people to look at the detail closely. There are others too, but you have to look for them.
Q: I understand you now have a free online comic as well. Tell us about that.
Rick: When we were kids, we’d read the Sunday Funnies in the newspaper, and wanted to do something similar. So, I began writing “Munchies and Deedoos.” It’s a family friendly thing we post on our site that has a touch of humor and cuteness. A lot of it is inspired by my own kids, so it’s a lot of fun to do.
Dan: Rick told me about the characters and I began sketching the art for them right away. I think it’ll be interesting to see how each artist renders them. I like the smartness with which it was written, because it is relatable to everyone, even if you don’t have kids. We were all children at one point, which is why it is universal.
Rick: We also wanted to stick with what sCrypt is all about, so the two main characters are not human. Munchies is kind of like this slug like alien creature with hair that has a mind of its own, and Deedoos is a robot with a pajama like butt flap that displays gears instead of butt cheeks. The horror of it all comes into play with how the two characters perceive everyday things. Kids have wild imaginations, so you really get to see what a child might be thinking in a really disturbing and humorous way.
Dan: When I heard the name “Deedoos” I immediately thought of the beeps and boops that old computers made, and I knew he had to be a robot. Munchies was actually my niece’s (Rick’s daughter) idea. I asked her what kind of creature she might be, and she said “I think she’s a slug, but not really a slug, and her hair is just like mine.” Her really curly and long hair combined with a slug gave me the instant image of Medusa, but my niece has big bright eyes too, so I added cartoonishly large eyes. With that and how I find the old comic strip “Calvin and Hobbes” so simple, yet so intelligent, I eventually came up with what we have now.
Q: So will you work the other artists into “Munchies and Deedoos” the way that you do with the other comics?
Rick: Not exactly the same way, but yes. We’d like to have a different artist for each chapter. It’s a great way for people to get their names out there, and if someone doesn’t make the cut for one of our bigger productions, then they can still have a place here because it will probably fit their styles differently.
Q: One of my favorite features on your site is the “Artist of The Month” spot. Do you only spotlight artists with whom you’ve worked at sCrypt, or is it open to anyone?
Rick: So far, it’s only been people who’ve done work for sCrypt, and I think I want to keep it that way. It makes it a little more special. That being said, however, we are always open to more, so if someone were to send us fan art or wants to get involved to some capacity, that door is always open.
Q: Where can we get copies of sCrypt Comics graphic novels and the Rick Pipito novels?
Rick: The comics (Zombie Incidents, Legends of Vampire, In Case of Werewolf, and Ghostly Hauntings) can be found at www.indyplanet.com, and the novels (Flesh and Leftovers, Blood The Second Helping, Bones at Breakfast, Souls 4 Supper, & Devil’s Dessert) can be found in print at www.lulu.com or for the kindle at www.amazon.com
Five reviews in five minutes
I’ve fallen behind in my blogging duties, so I figured I’d play catch up by doing a quick set of reviews, and then get back to working on the other projects at hand. Warning, there will be some spoilers ahead.
Kick Ass 2
: While I thoroughly enjoyed the first Kick Ass movie, I was torn with this installment. Half of the movie, in my opinion, was atrocious, while the other half was exactly what the title says “Kick Ass.” I almost lost interest a few times, but then was surprised by a lot of what the first one had going for it. Acting wise, I think the cast was overall decent. I just think at this point that I’d rather see a Hit Girl movie, as she was really the focus of my interest. The character is so messed up and conflicted, but it works well. Don’t get me wrong, the other characters are great, but the whole thing with Kick Ass joining a group of wannabe heroes seemed too far fetched for me. I realize it is a comic book adaptation, but it seemed like they were stretching. I enjoyed the consequences of everyone’s actions. Police chasing down costumed vigilantes made it feel like a real setting, but the end battle with a warehouse of heroes and villains was more a color show of costumes than actually feeling like a realistic battle. It was very anti-climactic. Do I want a sequel? Yes. The end credit scene made me say “Okay, I want to see what’s next with Hit-Girl, Kick Ass, and the Mother-F$&#er. All in all not the worst comic book movie, but certainly not the best. I give it 4 out of 10 sCrypt coffins.
RED 2: A highly underrated film in my mind. RED 2 was an equivelant follow up to its predecessor. It actually gave me interest in picking up the graphic novel for which it’s based. It was campy in spots, but witty campy. John Malkovich had me laughing every time he was on screen, but it wasn’t just his show. The rest of the cast really had great screen chemistry with a good story. Anthony Hopkins stepped into a delusional type of role, which proves that even at his age, he is willing to try something new. I recommend both this and RED 1 for anyone who enjoys a good action movie, that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I give it 6 out of 10 sCrypt Coffins.
JLA Adventures: Trapped In Time: This is a last minute Target exclusive aimed toward younger comic audiences. It brought back some nostalgia of when I was a child, as it felt like an updated version of the old Super-Friends cartoons. (Coincidentally, there are 2 bonus Superfriends episodes with the special features). For the price, it was worth it if you have children. If you are a fan of the normal animated DC movies; however, I recommend skipping it. Here’s why. The story first of all, is a good concept, but there are too many loop holes opened. Granted, this is bound to happen with a time travel element, but the loop holes are so big that a lot of the movie doesn’t make sense. I did like seeing the Legion of Doom battle against the Justice league, as well as the addition of Karate Kid and Dawnstar. Voice acting was subpar, and the movie ended with a cliffhanger that will anger me if I don’t see what happens. This should not happen in a movie I don’t find entirely enjoyable. Maybe I’m being too picky. The good news is that my son (he is about to turn 4 years old) LOVED it. He set up his own Justice League vs Legion of Doom scenario afterwards. Look, the movie was obviously a tribute to the past (pun intended), but unless you are under the age of 12, I don’t think you’ll find it that great (because of the plotholes). I’ll give it 3 out of 10 sCrypt Coffins.
LEGO Marvel Superheroes (videogame): LEGO has continued to pump out video games that contain endless hours of amusement. Getting the rights to use Marvel characters instantly had me thinking…. They did DC, and now Marvel? Maybe we will get a crossover game (because let’s face it, that’s the only way we will see the two rival companies on screen together). Anyway, like LEGO Batman 2 DC Heroes, this game has a very open world environment where you travel to each of your mission points. The story involves SHIELD directing the heroes to stop Loki and Galactus. Even after the main plot, there are other sub stories around the map. I’ll tell you this… If you have never played a LEGO game, then it is worth unlocking EVERYTHING in the game. There are cheats that you can earn by going to Deadpool’s room in the Helicarrier, and while I don’t normally like to cheat in a game, it is the only way to earn money faster, which you need to unlock everything. Oh, so what do you get for 100% completion? Well aside from the over 150 selectable characters, you get Stan Lee himself (yes voiced by him too). He is as entertaining as Deadpool’s commentary, and his powers? well, it is worth you earning him to see just what he can do. The DLC for the game wasn’t worth the purchase in my mind, as I got everything I wanted and more. Now to wait for the sequel. Until then, it gets 10 out of 10 sCrypt Coffins.
Batman Arkham Origins: The Arkham games are probably the BEST comic book related games out there. Origins, while not surpassing the previously released titles, did a good job of keeping the feel. There is more detective work to be done, and Batman is fairly new to crime fighting, so his combat skills need to be utilized in ways to take down a group. Like Batman, this game forces you to think before acting. Running into a room full of guys with machine guns will not help you save the day. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill have been replaced as Batman and the Joker’s respective voices, but their replacements nail it spot on. Voice acting is perfect, the story is outstanding, and the choice of villains is wonderful. My only complaint is that even after defeating 100% of the game, you never actually capture some of the villains. Those that get away are obviously to set up the first game, but it leaves you wondering why Batman isn’t good enough of a detective to stop them. Riddler being my biggest complaint, as his puzzles just ended with not finding him. My other complaint is the use of Electrocutioner’s gloves. To me it felt like I was cheating when I used them, though there were times when they were needed. I have not played the online multiplayer games and honestly I have no desire to, but I did get the Deathstroke and the Bruce Wayne DLC. With the latter, it takes you even further back into the origin of Batman to when Bruce Wayne was training with Master Kirigi in the mountains. This DLC was a welcome addition, albeit extremely difficult. I can only hope the announced Mr. Freeze DLC comes soon. All in all, I give it 7 out of 10 sCrypt Coffins.
So what did you think of any or all of the above? Do you agree? Have anything to add? Disagree? comment below.
Artist of The Month December 2013: Rick Pipito
Although not a visual artist by trade, Philadelphia native, Rick Pipito, is talented in a variety of art forms. From a young age, he dipped his hand in the musical pool by learning classical and jazz saxophone. Over the years, he expanded his instrument ability to guitar, piano and harmonica, as well as singing lead in various rock bands and a choir. After writing lyrics for many original songs, he expanded even further by turning his writing toward stories.
In 2010, his dreams began to emerge. His series of horror novels focused each on a different scare, while vowing never to do the same thing twice. With a bachelor’s degree in communications from Temple University, Rick expanded his novels into comic book form, by writing several spinoff stories. sCrypt Comics became a partnership with his brother, Dan, with the goal to get other struggling artists’ names out there for the world to see.
Being in the arts can be difficult, and while Rick’s plans for the future are countless, his focus will always remain… that being to expose his own works and those of others to a broader audience. Rick’s novels can be bought on Amazon.com for the Kindle, or on www.lulu.com in print. The graphic novel comic books are available in print as well.
In addition to music and writing, Rick is also the co-host of a podcast called “Think About This” (which can be found here: www.thinkaboutthis.podbean.com), and has been a featured author on various other blogs. He also assists with www.homemadedelish.com as a part time mixologist and advisor.
Rick’s books include: FLESH AND LEFTOVERS; BLOOD THE SECOND HELPING; BONES AT BREAKFAST; SOULS 4 SUPPER; DEVIL’S DESSERT; TECHNO FEAST; NO IT’S NOT YES IT IS: ARGUMENTS
His Graphic novels include: FLESH AND LEFTOVERS: ZOMBIE INCIDENTS; BLOOD THE SECOND HELPING: LEGENDS OF VAMPIRE; BONES AT BREAKFAST: IN CASE OF WEREWOLF; SOULS 4 SUPPER: GHOSTLY HAUNTINGS
He also edited and designed Roberta Pipito’s Homemade Delish debut cookbook: CREATE IT, PLATE IT, STYLE IT, EAT IT, LOVE IT
Rick can be contacted by email at rickpipito@hotmail.com; He is on twitter @Rickpipito; Follow his author page on facebook at www.facebook.com/fleshandleftovers
short story – Ghostly Hauntings
These are stories that expand upon the novel “Souls 4 Supper.”
You’re speaking with your grandfather. It seems like forever since you have last seen him, but your conversation reminds you of being a child again. Then it dawns on you. Your grandfather has been dead for years. As you focus your eyes on him, he vanishes. His absence forces a feeling of dread as your hair stands on end.
**UPDATE: This is now available as a short story in text form in print at lulu.com and on amazon in digital as part of the Pandora’s chaos trilogy extras
Written by Rick Pipito, with featured art by: Dan Pipito, Joe Parisi, Kristie Vanderzee, Michael A Garard Jr, Jacob Greenawalt, Kelly Swann, Muhammad Nurul, Mao Estheim, and Asher Humm.
Artist Story Details:
Joe Parisi returns as a sCrypt veteran artist, and this time, he is illustrating a story about a haunted book where the pages tell the tale of its reader.
Dan Pipito goes back to his own childhood in this issue, and helps to tell the tale of old man Butsy, who murdered his wife. Her spirit will not be happy.
Kelly Swann brilliantly illustrates the story of Djinn, a spirit trapped within a lamp, whose magical wishes are not all that the wisher desires.
Michael A Garard Jr is a newcomer whose art is featured in two stories. The first of which tells about the lost souls and their connection to heaven and hell. The other story takes the main character to a graveyard to investigate why the spirits there are so angry.
Kristie Vanderzee returns by showing us the ghost town of Atlantis after it has risen from the depths of the ocean.
Jacob Greenawalt illustrates a sequel story from issue #1. Detective Hwong has had a near death experience leaving her with the ability to see the ghosts of the dead.
Asher Humm had a one issue hiatus, but is back to show just how close to the spirit realm we travel while sleeping.
Mao Estheim comes at us from Japan with her Mangaesque style in a haunting that may just be a hoax after all.
Muhammad Nurul resides in Great Britain, but this Indonesian native draws the story of a child whose imaginary friend is more than just in his mind.
Souls 4 Supper: Ghostly Hauntings is TM and © Rick Pipito. All rights reserved.
Artist of the month November 2013: Mao Estheim
Mao was born in Japan. She went to an art school from the age of 5 to 15 years old. The Japanese culture surrounded her with a lot of good arts, comics and animes, so it’s no wonder she dreamed of being a comic artist. Later she found pursuits elsewhere and stopped drawing, which didn’t resume until film school in Tokyo. Now her passion for working on comics has been reinstilled through her work with sCrypt Comics on their graphic novel “Souls 4 Supper: Ghostly Hauntings.” She plans to continue working in the comic realm in the future.
As a side note, Mao is also a professional cosplayer. She can be reached by email at ma.xoxo111@gmail.com
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- Art by Mao Estheim
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- Art by Mao Estheim
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- Art by Mao Estheim
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- Art by Mao Estheim for sCrypt Comics’ S4S Ghostly Hauntings
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- Art by Mao Estheim
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- Art by Mao Estheim
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- Art by Mao Estheim
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- Art by Mao Estheim
Halloween Spotlight: Ghosts
By Rick Pipito
My fourth novel, “Souls 4 Supper,” and its comic book spinoff, “Ghostly Hauntings” center around the topic of death and the afterlife. The stakes are upped for all of the protagonists as the deal with ghostly entities. What kind of ghosts are we talking? All kinds. As with my other novels, i attempted to incorporate all variations of lore and bring about something new, where it can all coexist.
My ghost and spirit world breakdown is as follows in my books…
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1) Seeing the dead: Some people with near death experiences survive only to be able to communicate with the lost souls of the dead. They are forever tormented unless they find a way to release each lost soul into the afterlife.
2) Ghost Towns: More than just myths and urban legends, if an entire city’s residents were to die from some tragic event, and their souls are unable to find their way to the afterlife, then their ghostly remnants are left behind to wander. Unfortunately over millennium, they begin to lose their minds, so while some ghosts have purpose, most wander aimlessly, unaware of their former existence or the need to find final rest.
3) Djinns (Genies): These are people who have done something so wrong, that their spirits are forced inside a magical object. The longer their spirits remain, the more powerful they become. However, their powers come at a cost, as it is unpredictable to how their final usage will appear.
4) Children: Up until the age of 5, most human children are able to see ghostly apparitions. They often giggle, and interact with what us adults perceive as them having imaginary friends. In reality, the children aren’t imagining anything.
5) Hoaxes: Many ghostly reports are false. Some people thrive on scaring others by creating spectres, photographs, and tall tales to create the urban haunting legends.
6) Ghosts trying to communicate: Some spirits are trapped here with a purpose. They will not rest until their murderer is discovered. Often these ghosts move objects in our world to try to leave clues for us to find. These spirits often become angered, and frustrated at our lack of perception.
7) Catching Ghosts: Ghosts can be captured by linking the four planes of existence. There is Heaven, Hell, Earth, and the spirit realm. By disrupting these planes with extreme emotion, it is possible to summon a spirit here or make it visible. Then it can be contained through certain uses of EMF (Electromagnetic Frequencies).
8) Dreaming: When we dream, our souls have the ability to leave our bodies. In this state, our spirits travel to different places, times, possible futures, and alternate realities. The reason that we cannot often recall these dreams is because the human brain can’t fully process this type of travel. Our souls are fully aware of what happens even though we may not.
9) Reincarnation: If you were to die, would you come back as someone else? Depending on whether you repent for your misdeeds or are honored for your heroism, tells how those can return. Not everyone is reincarnated. Only a few are given this chance.
10) Famous Encounters: Traveling spirits take a look closely at events throughout history. Veronica Beranice wiping Jesus’ face, Joan of Arc, JFK’s assassination, The Tower of Babel, The Rosetta Stone, Hua Mulan, Bonnie and Clyde, and Atlantis are some of these seen closer in Souls 4 Supper.
11) Pandora’s Box: This fabled box is in fact shaped like a pyramid. Its contents, if opened will spew forth chaotic realms. It acts as a gateway for souls to enter to the afterlife, or something more powerful to exit into our world. Chaos comes in many spiritual forms. It all depends on who opens it.
12) Book of Knowledge: This haunted book will be different for every reader. Its spiritual essence, born of the tree of Knowledge from the Garden of Eden, will gaze into one’s soul and biography their life.
13) Possession: Some spirits are friendly, while others are quite the opposite. When two souls inhabit the same body, an internal struggle begins. Only the most powerful and willing soul will become the dominant entity.
14) Ectoplasm: Ghosts powerful enough to exist in this world will leave behind a gooey residue. This residue will evaporate however in direct sunlight or bright light, which makes analyzing it a difficult task.
15) Wraiths: Wraiths are vampires that die and are unable to pass on to the afterlife. These immortal beings are strengthened and able to return to the real world if they consume enough powerful souls to empower them.
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Without going too far into detail, those are some of the ghostly entities in my books. For this round, we enjoyed the bottle of wine shown above. You’ll notice that the comic book cover is in a picture frame. That is because at this moment of posting this, I am still awaiting my final proof copy of the issue. It’s all the same. Here are some of our favorite ghostly things not related to our own creations…
Rick’s favorite video game involving ghosts is Silent Hill. His favorite ghost movie is the Sixth Sense. His favorite ghostly character is DC comics’ Deadman. One of his favorite ghostly books is Philadelphia Ghost Stories by Charles J Adams III.
Dan’s favorite video game involving ghosts is Soul Reaver. His favorite movie about ghosts is Ghostbusters. Lloyd the bartender from The Shining is Dan’s best ghost of the year. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is Dan’s favorite ghostly book.
What are your favorites? Are you a ghost story fan? Grab yourself a copy of “Souls 4 Supper” the novel. It is available at www.lulu.com in softback book and on www.amazon.com for the Kindle. Also, the spinoff comic book “Souls 4 Supper: Ghostly Hauntings” is available for purchase at www.indyplanet.com. Help support our soul sucking.
“Souls 4 Supper” and its spinoff are (C) 2012 by Rick Pipito. Stay tuned for our demon spotlight…
Halloween Spotlight: Werewolves
By Rick Pipito
Werewolves are creatures even more deadly than vampires. I knew from book 1 that my third novel would entail Werewolves. I am in constant need of upping the stakes with what my characters face. Keeping with the theme, I wanted all aspects of lycanthropy lore to fit in somehow. I took this and expanded upon it to give more depth.
Dan again was a very effective cohort with the comic book spinoff, and of course the cover art for the novel. Like zombies and vampires, werewolves are told in various ways. Whether it be a full moon, having the ability to change at will or something entirely different, there are countless cases of these tales. “Bones At Breakfast” the novel, and its comic book spinoff “In Case Of Werewolf” gather these varying accounts and bring it into the world I’ve established. Check out the breakdown of our werewolves…
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1) Cursed by a Gypsy: These are people who have done something to anger a gypsy. Once the curse is upon them, they lose all humanity during a full moon. Unaware of their primal instincts, they go on a killing spree, feasting on the bones of their victims. Once they awake in human form, covered in blood and viscera, they are horrified at their state, but have no recollection of what happened.
2) Legendary Creatures: Bigfoot, Yeti, Sasquatch, the Abominable snowman… these have all been names given to a unique and rare race of beings. Born as a wolf, their DNA alters throughout the years to become more human like. As an infant they are 100% wolf, but by the time they reach an elderly age, they are bipedal and appear as a crossbreed between human and lupine. They are extremely fast, which makes catching a glimpse of them very difficult.
3) Effect of the Moon: Very few people were born during a rare blue moon phenomenon. Those who survived grew into their teenage years as normal humans. Even in their youth they discovered that they had instincts and athletic ability beyond others their age. It is in their teenage years that they begin to experience something new. Each phase of the moon has a different effect on their DNA. A full moon changes them into a werewolf void of all reasoning, and blue moons, harvest moons, and other phases of lunar presence have different effects. One man even dared to make his way through school and by excelling as an astronaut, he was able to make it to the moon’s surface. Ever wonder what happens to a werewolf on the moon itself?
4) Mythological influence: Greeks and the Norse speak of two creatures. Cerberus and Fenrir stray from what is known to common man. In fact, they are abominations. Human male dna impregnating a female wolf created these wolf men. They are deadly and intelligent having the appearance of both parental traits as well as the instinct of an animal and thought/speech of a human. To anger them would be unwise.
5) Stories and Folklore: You may have heard of the fairy tales: The 3 Little Pigs, Little Red Riding Hood, Peter and The Wolf, The Strange Cast of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, and Sleeping Beauty, but they were more than just tales. They were true stories that happened quite differently than you’ve ever heard, and the werewolf is the center of them all.
6) Spirit Guide: Many native American Indians had the ability to channel a spirit guide. Those gifted with that of a wolf were able to summon all of a wolf’s abilities for their own use.
7) Changing at will: Some werewolves, bitten by the Experimental werewolf, can change form at will. They have a craving to feed on bone marrow that can sometimes take away their rationality.
8) Superior Werewolves: By experimenting on a vampire with various animal traits, the vampire takes in this super soldier purposed serum and is permanently changed into an Experimental werewolf. His height changes, he becomes androgenous, and exhibits many other enhanced abilities while fully comprehending his actions. His bite will turn any survivor into a werewolf. When a vampire drinks from this experimantal’s blood, they will exhibit a change. For example: a female vampire drinking the experimental’s blood will become a lycan queen. With six to eight breasts and a hideous look, this queen can telepathically communicate with anyone she changes into her minions.
9) Wargs: These are the Lycan queen’s minions. They were once human who are now oversized wolves. They obey her every command and can communicate telepathically with anyone in their army.
10) Historically: Werewolves have not just influenced tall tales. They have been prominent parts of our history on this planet. Charles Howard Bury chased them, The Garden of Eden was located by them, The Moonlight Battle during the Revolutionary war was won by them, and these are only some of the instances.
11) Latin Gang: Manada de Lobos is a Latino gang of murderers that killed those who disagreed with them in horrendous ways. The bodies of the victims were mutilated in such a way as to mimic that of a lupine attack. Each member of this gang bears at least one tattoo of a wolf, and they stay close to each other like a pack.
12) Silver: It is true that all werewolves can be killed by silver, however there are some types that can be killed my normal means as well.
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Now you have an insight into what my werewolves are all about. The books reveal much more. Dan and I kept with our tradition, and celebrated a bottle of wine upon release of our third comic. This time we chose one that captured not just our werewolf, but the fairy tale aspect as well (you know, since werewolves are such an influence on them). Here are our favorites…
Rick’s best pick for werewolf video game is Van Helsing. His movie pick is the classic Lon Cheney WolfMan. Lucian from the Underworld films is his favorite werewolf. When it comes to books, Stephen King’s Silver bullet is his first choice.
Dan’s best pick for werewolf video game is Altered Beast. His movie pick is Teen Wolf with Michael J Fox. Beast from the X-Men is Dan’s pick for best werewolf. For books, Dan enjoys Zenescope Comics’ The Hunger.
What are your favorites? Are you a werewolf fan? Grab yourself a copy of “Bones At Breakfast” the novel. It is available at www.lulu.com in softback book and on www.amazon.com for the Kindle. Also, the spinoff comic book “Bones At Breakfast: In Case Of Werewolf” is available for purchase at www.indyplanet.com. Help support our bone cracking madness.
“Bones At Breakfast” and its spinoff are (C) 2012 by Rick Pipito. Stay tuned for our ghostly spotlight…
Halloween Spotlight: Vampires
By Rick Pipito
Vampires are legendary. It’s that simple. There are tales throughout the ages of these creatures that have many different approaches to the lore. When I was halfway finished writing my zombie novel, I decided to slowly tie in the vampire aspect. I wanted something else to tackle. As I consulted Dan again with my ideas to expand the novels and a topic for our second comic book collaborative, I decided on a new approach.
Everything from vampire lore needed to exist in the same universe. Their weaknesses and strengths may not be universal among all blood suckers, but I didn’t want to discredit the varying kinds. And so, “Blood, The Second Helping” the novel was born, as well as its graphic spinoff “Legends of Vampire.” The characters involved in the first book needed to deal with something more dangerous than zombies this time, and vampires were the next logical choice. They are faster, smarter, and have abilities and influence throughout the ages, making them a powerful ally or lethal foe. Here’s a brief view of how it works in my created universe.
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1) Silver weakness – The reason for this vulnerability goes back to the dawn of man. When Cain, the first vampire, murdered his brother Abel, the rock that he used kill his kin contained high amounts of silver. Forever, Cain would be damned to walk with a blood thirst and weakened by the element he used for murder.
2) Sunlight weakness – Not all vampires are harmed by the sun’s rays. Upon being locked in a room void of any sunlight for thousands of years, and surviving on only insects and small rodents, a vampire will become harmed by the sun’s rays. The lack of nutrition and fresh blood causes their skin to develop a lupus like disease. Immediate exposure to sunlight will either severly burn their flesh or cause them to turn to ash.
3) Generational differences: Cain, being the first vampire, is immortal. Even being stabbed through the heart with silver will not keep him at bay forever. Even if his body were to be destroyed entirely, his soul would reside somewhere until it returns to life. The twelve that he turned into his first generation vampires can die much easier. They each have their own abilities based on their talents in life. With each generation down the line, vampires progressively get weaker as the cursed blood slowly phases out through genetics. It is when the sixth generation comes that these creatures no longer require blood. They have become mindless zombies at this point and need flesh to survive.
4) Crucifix deterrant: Do crucifixes actually harm a vampire? The answer is no. There are certain sects of vampires who may believe in darkness. The sight of a cross literally enrages or repulses them. This is not the case with all vampires though.
5) Memory: Vampires remember and gain knowledge of everyone they’ve ever consumed the blood of. One vampire in particular, Kristoff, has the ability to learn everything and recall that knowledge at will. His photographic mind is of genius level proportions, enabling him to go as far as researching an injectible cure for his bloodlust… a cure for the vampire curse.
6) Garlic weakness: Garlic is like any other food. Its powerful scent and taste does not actually repel a vampire. It does have an effect on one vampire however. Evelyn, is a wine connoseur. She has found that the effects of wine on the blood are beneficial to the amounts of times she needs to feed. Unfortunately for her, she had a severe allergy to garlic when she was once human. That allergy remains in her vampire years and will cause her airways to close or for her skin to break out in a rash if exposed to enough of it.
7) Mind Control: Two vampires have exhibited mental abilities beyond normal means. One of these vampires has the ability to control anyone’s mind, while the other can communicate with animals and insects. Either one of these abilities makes them a more deadly foe than the normal vampire.
8) Healing: Vampires heal at a much more rapid rate than usual. If they lose a limb it will grow back eventually, unless that limb was severed with something made of silver. Silver hinders their ability to heal wounds. Drinking fresh blood will cause them to heal even more rapidly. In the case of the vampire, Evelyn, she has an even greater gift of healing. She can cure the wounds and ailments of others by absorbing them into her by a mere touch. The downside is that for a time, these afflictions are fully experienced by her until her vampire DNA forces it out.
9) Disease: There are many blood diseases and ailments out there. If you think that these abnormalities don’t affect vampires, then you are wrong. The effects of drinking the blood of someone who may have H.I.V. for example, are just as deadly for a blood sucker as they are for a human.
10) Youth vampire: Although he is not a vampire like the others, one man is still considered as much. This man is not a descendant of Cain’s curse. Instead, he had an accident that causes him to age exponentially faster than normal humans. He’s got no enhanced abilities like vampires do, but he can make himself younger by absorbing the youth of others. For example: If he were to breathe in the essence of a 12 year old, that child would become as old as he was at that moment of absorbing, while he’d gain the difference in years back to his youth. Theoretically, he could live forever this way.
11) Wannabe: There are some goth teens that have the desire to be something more. Believing that they are either vampires or will become vampires through their actions, they go on a string of murders, consuming some of the blood of their victims, including family members and friends. These are in fact NOT true vampires.
12) Historical influence: The following events are just some of the events directly related to vampires or their influence throughout human history: Cain and Abel, The Fountain of Youth, Excalibur, King Arthur, The Great Sphinx, Vlad Tepes, Sampson and Delilah, Lilith, CIA controversies, Kennedy Assassination, Elizabeth Bathory, and much more.
13) Mirrors: Vampires DO in fact cast reflections in mirrors. One vampire was not happy with their appearance however and decided to smash any mirror they’d come into contact with.
14) Foresight: One vampire has the ability to foresee events to come. Of course these visions could always change depending on actions taken in the present, but this one has the sole ability to see the future through dreams/visions.
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Those are the vampires in our universe here. Notice there are no sparkles involved. Dan and I of course discussed the spinoff comic over another appropriate bottle of wine, pictured above. So what are our vampire influences? Below are just some of our favorites:
Rick’s favorite vampire Movie is Interview with The Vampire. His favorite Book on vampires is Bram Stoker’s Dracula. The Video Game series Legacy of Kain remains at the top of his list. Rick’s pick for vampire of the year is Selene from the Underworld series.
Dan’s favorite vampire Movie is 30 Days of Night. His favorite Book involving vampires is What if…Wolverine was Lord Of The Vampires. The Video Game series Castlevania remains at the top of his list. Dan’s pick for vampire of the year is the classic Nosferatu creature.
What are your favorites? Are you a vampire fan? Grab yourself a copy of “Blood, The Second Helping” the novel. It is available at www.lulu.com in softback book and on www.amazon.com for the Kindle. Also, the spinoff comic book “Blood The Second Helping: Legends of Vampire” is available for purchase at www.indyplanet.com. Help support our blood curling madness.
“Blood, The Second Helping” and its spinoff are (C) 2011 by Rick Pipito. Stay tuned for our werewolf spotlight…
Artist of the month October 2013: Muhammad Nurul Islam
Born in the Netherlands and later grew up in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, Muhammad Nurul Islam or “Roel” was always scribbling on the back of his school books and later making comics for his high school magazine. Failing the exam for Graphic Design university he went on to study Economics where he met his fellow ‘cast away comic artist’ and went forming Komik Karpet Biru (Blue Carpet Comics) publishing more than 14 indie compilation, taught comics in schools and joined dozens of exhibitions and comic Cons. Later his comic making experience brought him to designing book covers, illustrations and web design.
Currently Roel is a regular contributor for “Cns Magazine” in Jakarta, making comic strips explaining about English idioms also maintaining “Jampang & Eneng” a strip on Facebook. Roel is also taking his Master degree in Art and Design at the Bedfordshire University, UK where he has been residing for 4 years. He is one of the artists for sCrypt Comics’ fourth graphic novel spinoff entitled “Souls 4 Supper: Ghostly Hauntings”
More of Roel’s work can be find on http://roelworks.deviantart.com, http://igetitcomics.com, or his personal blog http://roelworks.wordpress.com
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- Excerpt from “Cold Friends” story in sCrypt Comics’ “S4S: Ghostly Hauntings” Artwork by Muhammad Nurul Islam
sCrypt Publishing 