Richard: How do you make a vampire look vampiric?

Christian Gossett: Depends on the Vampire, really. Nosferatu type vamps are the easiest, being all pointy, poor-postured and fully fanged. :)

But I prefer the 'classic' vampire. The 'tragi-romantic' vampire, if you will. Every vampire that I've ever read about or seen on-screen was once a human being, a human being who has gained a particularly horrible form of immortality and in return lost everything they once held dear. I was drawn to Jennifer Quintenz's vampires because her story reminds us of that in a very effective and dramatic way. As monstrous as they must be in order to 'survive' there is still a shadow of humanity bound to them. Some hold onto this sense of self, some deny it, some use it to fuel their hatred against humankind, but none of them can escape it.

The story is told so well that much of the visualization of the vampires is in the eyes; a matter of making sure that their eyes are haunted by all that they've lost, all of the horrible moments they've lived. I've drawn their bodies with a regal, ancient presence, similar to how I might draw a dragon or the ghost of a king. But they are also heavy in the limbs; weighed down with the jagged, screaming memories of the countless lives they've ended; as if each murderous feed must remind them of the night their mortality was stolen from them, their souls taken into the realms of the damned.

Richard: What qualities will your art bring out in Catherine Johnstone?

Christian: Fortunately Jennifer Quintenz is a friend of mine, so I'll be asking her directly for the kinds of qualities Katherine should portray visually. From the work we've done so far, Kat is a classic adventure heroine—young, defiant of obligation, and very much wanting to live a life that is defined by her own choices. Visually, she'll need a great smirk and a genuine wide-eyed belief in herself, among other things.

Richard: Why is this comic "The Bond of Saint Marcel" considered a mature title?

Christian: I suppose because our culture still believes itself too immature to read about sex? Seriously, though, it's just to protect the retailers from those kinds of weirdo's that think Harry Potter is satanic.

Richard: Will there be any other monsters besides vampires here?

Christian: If you don't mind, I'll let Q[uintenz] handle that one in another interview...

Richard: What do you find easiest and hardest about drawing?

Christian: The hardest thing about drawing? Not having enough time to draw as much as I want. Sounds crazy, I know, but the more successful you are as an artist, the less time you have to do your art. It's a crazy paradox, but it’s absolutely true.

The easiest thing is everything about it. Seeing something in your mind and being able to recreate it on a page. Having a story unfold and telling it in pictures. Crazy ideas pop in your head and you're lucky enough to be able to capture them with a combination of lines working together? I'm very happy that I can draw; and I'm grateful that there are people who are willing to give me their hard-earned money so that I can continue to create stories with my drawings.

Richard: How did you create "The Red Star" series?

Christian: This sounds simple, but I'm not being a smartass. I just wanna keep the answer focused. If you want to create a series of your own, this is all it takes:

Focus that idea you've had in your head that you've been wanting to write about; do some sketches of it with notes. If it's a character, sketch them. If it's an environment, sketch that. Draw everything and write notes. Whatever you don't know, research it. Your research will give you more ideas. Draw those and write notes. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.

Richard: What did you contribute to Peter Jackson's new movie "King Kong"?

Christian: Very, very, very little. Again, sorry for sounding like a smartass, but that production was an army of brilliant, hard-working people, and I was just another very loyal soldier. I worked as a conceptual designer and as an art department standby with the wardrobe and weaponry team. That was an amazing set. The professionalism and team spirit of the Wellington filmmakers was an inspiration I carry with me still.

Richard: What inspires and excites you about your writing?

Christian: The fact that writers are always telling society exactly how they are screwing themselves. That's a proud tradition to be a part of. But not just that. Writers are also the ones who inspire society. Writers see the future. They always have and always will. Writers tell the world how much better the world can be. Writers identify the world's true villains, and show them for what they really are. Writers put spotlights on the kinds of qualities that really make someone a hero. The greatest of which are almost imperceptible.

Most heroic qualities are so difficult to identify that we constantly elect sinners and crucify saints. Even in the case of epic fiction, with characters that have supernatural abilities, those imaginary powers are just metaphors of human courage. No superpower ever dreamed up is worth a damn compared to the kinds of things human beings can accomplish when they've summoned within themselves the desire to improve their world. At their best, writers remind us of that fact.

Richard: What future projects do you have?

Christian: Jennifer and I are collaborating on The Bond of St. Marcel and The Red Star: Sword of Lies.

Richard: What do you think of the comic book industry today?

Christian: It's been great to see the industry redefine itself in the face of the challenges that it has faced in the last decade. We take things for granted now that a lot of people once thought impossible. Frank Miller's RONIN in development as a film? I remember reading interviews wherein Frank had to defend the chances he took in that series. Independent publishers making film and licensing deals? Those were once reserved for the Big Two. There are lots of opportunities and lots of potential for people working in comics today.

Richard: How can someone contact you?

Christian: The best place is at www.theredstar.com on the Forums. I've been busy learning to be a father this year, so I've been doing more lurking than posting, but I do check 'em.

Richard: Any last words of wisdom?

If you are the kind of person who believes they have it in them to create a world for others to enjoy, please check out Mark Smiley's ARTESIA: ADVENTURES IN THE KNOWN WORLD. On its face it’s a tabletop RPG, but it is so much more than that. The only other world I know that is so uniquely its own, and to such a level of detail, is the one created by that Tolkien fellow. Honestly. It's an inspiring book.