RV: How did you and Brent Schoonover get together on this project?

Brandon Terrell: Brent and I actually met at college. We both went to the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Both being avid fans of horror movies (both good and spectacularly bad - yeah, I'm talking The Gingerdead Man bad), classic films, and comics, we hit it off right away. We started Horrorwood back when Brent was about to graduate college, way back in 2002. So Horrorwood's been brewing for a good number of years.

RV: What is the story line in "Horrorwood"?

BT: It's set in Hollywood in the 1950s, and centers around a quartet of out of work Hollywood types - a B-movie actress, her special effects artist father, a stuntman, and a stage magician. They get caught up in a murder mystery involving a homicidal hypnotist and an underground cult. It's a four issue mini-series, and all four issues are now available.

RV: Why did you decide on making a horror comic?

BT: Horror is a fascinating genre, and fans are eating up anything horror these days. What we wanted to do was give fans something that came at them a little different. There's so much reliance on blood and gore to tell a horror story, and films are glorifying a side of horror that's more akin to 'torture porn' than the anticipation of horror. Brent's an enormous Vincent Price fan, and I eat up all things Hitchcock, so we love the suspenseful side of horror, where you invest yourself in character and story, and not try to shock fans with the overuse of blood and gore.

RV: How is working on this comic rewarding to you?

BT: Publishing a comic has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I think the most satisfying thing creatively I've ever done has been this book. Just seeing all four issues in print, knowing that no one can ever take that away, is the most rewarding aspect of it. That, and seeing how accessible the comics community is, in that you can go to a convention and actually meet Brian Michael Bendis or hand your book off to Ed Brubaker and have him say, "Oh yeah, I've seen this." (True story, by the way). I love how easy it is for the fans to tell the creators how much they like or dislike something, and it allows creators see the impact their book has, and instills a high level of passion in them to create the best book they can.

RV: Why would someone want to buy this comic?

BT: So I can eat lobster dinners? No? Well, like I said, Horrorwood offers horror fans something different, a character-based story that relies more on suspense than gore. And honestly, if you haven't seen Brent Schoonover's art for the book, that's worth the price of admission alone. The book is colored in black, white, and red tones, so it's a very stylized book.

RV: Where does your inspiration come from?

BT: Anywhere I can find it. When I was a kid, I had a hard time sleeping, and would tell myself stories to fall asleep. Now, I find inspiration from the things I do to make my wife laugh, to my family, to the stories my friends tell over beer and soda. Inspiration can come at you anytime, if you allow ideas to sit for a while, stew in your head. They'll tell you when they're ready to be told.

RV: Do you read horror books or watch horror movies?

BT: Totally. Filmmakers like Alfred Hitchcock, John Carpenter (the early Carp. Halloween, The Fog, etc.), Sam Raimi, the Coen Brothers, and Spielberg have always been part of my life. I'm a huge Stephen King fan, and devour anything by Michael Chabon, Ray Bradbury, and Tom DeHaven. I'm a big fan of pulp mysteries, heroes like The Shadow, Doc Savage, and The Spider. There's a great line of pulp books called Hard Case Crime, completely genius. And of course, I worship at the altar of Joss Whedon. The man changed my life.

RV: If you could work on any other comic which one would it be and why?

BT: Would it be ever so predictable of me to say Spider-Man? Ah, screw it. I love the web-head. If I had a chance, I'd pull a Brubaker on it, make it a darker book, and throw in all those old Spectacular characters I love: The Rose, Carrion, Tombstone, hell, even Razorback! Other than Spidey, I love the act of creating a world and characters of my own. It gives me a chance to explore things my own way, at my own pace.

RV: Do you have any future projects?

BT: Well, Brent and I have many stories to tell in the world of Horrorwood, it's simply a matter of time there. I'm working on a young adult mystery novel right now. I've got a number of comic pitches just looking for artists, and am working on a feature screenplay. I like to mix things up, see what changes from one art form to another when it comes to writing style.

RV: Have you worked on any other comics?

BT: Horrorwood is my only child as of now, and she will forever hold a place in my heart (though, if you ask me again after I have a few more books under my belt, I'll tell you I love all my children equally. Wouldn't want to hurt their feelings).

RV: What comics did you read as a child and do you read now? The first book out of my bag every time is Y: The Last Man. I revere Brian K. Vaughan. I pick up Spidey titles, the Ultimate line, Captain America and Daredevil, Astonishing X-Men, Runaways. I was born and raised a Marvel Man, so sorry to all the DC fans. When I was younger, I read a lot of the big guys like Batman and Superman, and Supes still has a special place for me. I pick up a lot of indie books, too. Local is fantastic, The Goon, and seriously, anything Ape Entertainment publishes is worth the money. They know quality books, and everything they've done has hit the mark with fans.

RV: Who has been the biggest influence on your life?

BT: Well, that's a loaded question. I've gotta go with the big three. No, not that Big Three. My wife and my parents. My wife is my moral compass, and every day I can make her laugh is a good day. My mother is my heart, in that she instilled me with a sense of right and wrong from day one. And my father is my personality.

Every bad joke, funny face, and character trait I have came from him.

RV: How can someone contact you?

BT: Our website is updated quite a bit, and you can check us out at www.horrorwoodcomic.com . If you're interested in knowing when the site is updated, or want to tell us what you love or don't love about the book (we went to art school. Trust me, you can critique the hell out of the book) we have an e-mail address: horrorwoodcomic@gmail.com . Or you can visit www.apecomics.com , the site for our publisher, Ape

Entertainment. They have a store where you can order all four issues of the book. We're also re-soliciting the series in February's Previews, and the pre-order code is: FEB07 3152.

RV: Any last words of wisdom?

BT: If you believe in what you're doing, keep doing it. It takes time, and even though that can be frustrating, the pay off is totally worth it. That, and always let the Wookie win. That's common knowledge, people.