Allen: Brent what is the title going to be for your Vincent Price Presents story?

Brent: DEAD AIR

Allen: How did you find your way to Bluewater Productions for this project?

Brent: I had gotten a copy of Comic Shop News with the cover story about the new Vincent Price Presents comic coming out through them and knew it was something I wanted to be involved in. So I simply emailed them and attached some of my work to see if it was something they thought would work for the book.

Allen: What is it about working on this story that sparks your creativity?

Brent: Well I just wanted to be involved in a project that had something to do with Vincent. Since there are such few opportunities for that these days my mind kind of went overboard on I what I could do with it. I think I ended up writing about 23 short little story outlines and sent Darren at Bluewater about 5 of them.

Allen: Tell me how you developed the idea for Vincent Price story? Is this original or from Vincent Price movie?

Brent: This is an original story developed by myself. Basically I wanted to tell a story that paid tribute to Vincent’s old radio show work. I often listen to old radio shows while working in the studio and the body of work he did in that medium was rather incredible. So I decided to come up with a story that centered on a radio program and add a very macabre twist that I think would work for a Vincent Price story.

Allen: Are you a fan of Vincent Price movies?

Brent: Of course I am a fan. He had such a great career. It’s hard to single any certain film out. He had his run with William Castle with great movies like The Tingler. His great Poe adaptations with Roger Corman like The Masque of the Red Death, and even some really awesome films in the seventies like Theatre Of Blood and Madhouse. If I had to pick one I’d probably go with House of Wax simply cause the scenes of the melting wax figures is a pretty creepy visual that still holds up.

Allen: Tell me about the characters and setting in issue # 14?

Brent: The story takes place at a radio station in the late 1950’s as many radio shows were struggling with the popularity of television. The main characters are Benny Goodwill and Betty Barker. They are the stars of the Benny and Betty show and were a couple on and off air until recently. Benny is trying to patch things up until Sammy Swell; a loud boisterous comedian who is very popular comes on the show to spike the ratings. He also has plans for Betty, and that sends Benny into a deep inner turmoil that unfolds in the worst possible ways.

Allen: How hard has it been for you to handle both writing and art chores on issue # 14?

Brent: It wasn’t hard at all. I felt like having been a fan of Vincent’s work for so long that there was a comfort there with the material. Not to say I wasn’t nervous about doing it justice. I’d just say the excitement was rather high to be working on my first writing project and it also happened that my favorite actor has some involvement. So I think those emotions carried me through.

Allen: Do you write and draw most of your stories?

Brent: This is my first time writing a comic. I have been very fortunate to work with some great writers in the past. Getting comfortable with their scripts and taking bits from each one and trying to make it my own. Also knowing that I’d be the artist on it help a lot as well.

Allen: Do you read many horror novels?

Brent: Off and on, working 12-15 hours and day and having a family life I don’t read as much as I’d like. I try to do audio books while I work. I really loved the audio book of World War Z by Max Brooks. I also just read Dark Harvest by Norman Partridge that I really enjoyed.

Allen: Did you read many comic books from horror genre in your youth?

Brent: Oh yes. I still think the old EC comics are some of, if not the best comics ever. The quality of artwork produced was nothing short of amazing. I probably pick up back issues of those about once a month. I remember watching the HBO show when it came out and then being able to go to the local book store and pick up the reprints.

Allen: What attracted you to want to work on Vincent Price Presents story?

Brent: I simply just wanted to be involved with something about Vincent Price and always thought a comic series with him as a horror host would be a great idea. The guys at Bluewater had the same idea and they went ahead and did it. It was all just a matter of getting in touch after that.

Allen: How long before your issue is sold in stores?

Brent: Great question, it’s pretty much done being inked, has a few pages left. It’s also being colored right now as well. So soon hopefully.

Allen: Are you also the cover artist?

Brent: Nope, Bluewater uses Joel Robinson as the series cover artist.

Allen: Are Vincent Price Presents stories collected into graphic trades?

Brent: I think the fist trade is coming out soon.

Allen: Are you presently planning to work on any other Vincent Price Presents comics?

Brent: I’d love to do more VPP stories. Like I said I came up with just about two years worth of concepts when I originally started thinking about doing the first one. So I’d like to see the others ones get told as well.

Allen: What is it that impressed you most about Vincent Price?

Brent: I just think he really really interesting guy. Yeah he made these great ( and not so great) scary movies but he was also an art lover and a wonderful cook. He even had his own books on both subjects. Pack all that in and add the most melodic voice you’ve ever heard and what’s not to love?

Allen: Do you have any other comic book projects in works with other companies?

Brent: I am currently working on Boom! Studios Pixar book Toy Story. Doing covers for now. I can already picture have these two books at my table at a convention and the different types of fans they will both bring. Talk about total opposites!

Allen: Do you have any convention appearances planned for future?

Brent: I will be in Chicago for the Windy City Comic Con September 19th and the Fallcon in Minnesota October 10th &11th.

Allen: How’s your family life? Where do you live?

Brent: Family life is great. I live with my wife Nicole in St. Paul, Mn. We are excited it’s summer. Which goes so fast here that you really got to try and use your time wisely before it’s goes away.

Allen: How long have you worked in comic book industry?

Brent: My first published work was 2004’s "Dead @ 17: Rough Cut volume 2. So I’ve been doing it for about 5 years now. Still a young pup.

Allen: What are your favorite tools like to use when writing and drawing?

Brent: Writing, I use Microsoft word and for drawing I use a variety of different pencils. Some mechanical and some not. Usually around a 2h grade of lead.

Allen: Do you sell commissions or original art?

Brent: yup, you can find those on my website.

Allen: What would you like to say to Vincent Price if you could go back in time machine and meet him?

Brent: I’d like to think I’d tell him how his work really molded my interests in life but really we’d probably end up talking about the better ways to make a beef brisket.

Allen: What are your favorite types of stories like to write? Are there any characters you really hope to some day draw?

Brent: I think my favorite stories I like to tell are more character based. The internal struggle within. I think characters like The Hulk and Spider-man have that. Any of the classic Universal Monsters have that. Those are all characters I’d love to work on someday but I’d also like to create my own characters as well.

Allen: Do you work in other fields outside of comic book industry?

Brent: Yup, I am a commercial artist and work with many different companies. Anything from editorial cartoons for magazines to product design.

Allen: What are some of your goals when creating art and story for comic books?

Brent: I’d like the person who bought it to feel like they got their money’s worth. That they got a good story with decent art. Hopefully they’ll want to keep an eye out for what I do next.

Allen: What do you like doing with your free time?

Brent: Not be in my studio?

I enjoy sports so I like playing a little softball and football. I watch movies a lot so we sometimes get together for bad movie nights. The pretty basic boring Midwestern living really.

Allen: What is best way for someone to contact you?

Brent: From my website you can email from there. www.brentschoonover.com .

Allen: Any news on new Astronaut Dad graphic novel?

Brent: Yeah we are pretty much done with the second volume and we are currently looking for a new publisher. Silent Devil was great to us but Christian Beranek got offered an amazing chance to work with Disney on their new Kingdom Comics line so we are in the process of figuring that out. We want to have the second volume totally done before we try and shop it around. I suspect over the next few months we will have an announcement on that.

Allen: Thank you Brent for working with me on this new interview. Would you like to lead us out with any final thoughts?

Brent: Just thanks for giving me another interview. I really appreciate it and for anyone out there interested in my work. Check out my website. I’d really appreciate any feedback.