Richard: How did you become involved with Boom Studios?

Sam: I was connected to Boom through the good graces of my pal and future collaborator Shane Oakley (http://shaneoakley.blogspot.com/). He's done a number of covers for Boom titles, including Cthulhu Tales, and he introduced me to Mark Waid, Boom's editor-in-chief. From there, I pitched Mark some ideas and was fortunate that he liked one enough to buy it. It's now appearing in Cthulhu Tales #9.

Richard: What is "It Must Have Been Something You Ate" about?

Sam: It's about a rich man who loves to eat well and has made his life's pursuit to experience the rarest and most wonderful delicacies. In this story, he's found a source for a new delicacy - monsters. But, when he eats the monster's meat, he begins to have terrible visions and realizes that he may have bitten off more than he can chew.

The story takes place, of course, in a world where H.P. Lovecraft's Old Gods - Cthulhu and his pals - exist.

Richard: Why will this tale attract readers to it?

Sam: I say this humbly, but I think people who like horror comics with new takes on established ideas will like this story. It's got some fun ideas and a pretty gross punch at the end that folks who already like these sorts of things will dig. I hope they will, at least!

Richard: Have you read any H.P. Lovecraft?

Sam: Absolutely! I've read quite a lot of Lovecraft - I couldn't say for sure how much, but I'd wager I've read dozens of his short stories - I've got 4 or 5 of his books on my bookshelf right now. While I'm not completely sold on the quality of his prose style, his imagination was second-to-none and the peculiarities of his work are a lot of fun.

Richard: How did you come up with the idea for "Split Lip"?

Sam: There's no single idea, really. It's an anthology of horror stories - not breaking any new ground in that way, really. I just wanted a forum to tell my stories in and Split Lip is the one where that happens the most.

Richard: What is the storyline of "Split Lip"?

Sam: There's no single storyline to Split Lip. Instead, since it's an anthology, it's more like a collection of short stories. I write all the stories and then find artists from around the world to draw them. Some of the stories are more about dark moods and tones, others are violent and intense action. In terms of themes, the stories are about the essential unknowability of other people and the idea that the world is a very strange place indeed - much stranger than the characters in the stories realize until it's far too late. All of the stories are primarily concerned with scaring the reader and leaving them unsettled after the experience.

Richard: Who are its main characters and what are they like?

Sam: Since it's a collection of short stories, there are no recurring main characters - each story has its own set of main characters. Most of the characters are just regular people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Some of them have done bad things in their lives, others are struggling to do the right thing, while others still have done good things but find that that doesn't protect them.

Richard: Do you prefer paper or web comics?

Sam: For me, it's not really a question of liking one or the other more. They're both useful for different things. I love having a book to hold and read, but having the immediacy of a website to post new stories on and get quick feedback from is great, too. For someone like me, who's trying to get established in comics, posting comics on the web is great - it's much cheaper than publishing and exposes my work to a much larger audience than I get in print. So, while I want to get my work into print more, too, I also think I'll have comics on the web for the foreseeable future - maybe forever.

Richard: What is Web Comics Nation?

Sam: It's a webcomics hosting service which is now part of the new Comicspace network. People can learn more about it at www.webcomicsnation.com/

Richard: Why do you enjoy writing?

Sam: It's a great chance to tell stories that have an effect on people. Whether your goal is to make them think, make them cry, make them smile, or make them scared, writing is a great means to do it and it's satisfying creatively as well. Plus, I'm a terrible artist!

Richard: What do you have planned for the future?

Sam: For one thing, more Split Lip of course. I'm working on new stories now, with new artists, and expect to keep publishing stories there for the next few years at least. I also hope to be self-publishing collections of Split Lip in 2009. Beyond that, two stories I wrote will appear in the Work! Anthology of comics about folk songs, which will debut in 2009. Otherwise, I'm working on lots of new ideas - horror and otherwise.

Richard: Are you a fan of horror movies?

Sam: Absolutely - have been since I was a little kid. I watch a lot of horror movies - and a lot of other kinds of movies, too. Some of my favorite horror movies include Audition and Session 9. I've recently been remembering why I love the first Nightmare on Elm St. so much. Great movie!

Richard: How can someone contact you?

Sam: They can email me at sam_costello@yahoo.com , if they'd like.

Richard: Any last words of advice?

Sam: Keep watching the skies!