“A psychosexual thriller in the tradition of the films of Brian de Palma and David Cronenberg.” That is how Ignatz award winning creator Charles Forsman (“The End of the F*cking World,” “Revenger”) describes his newest series “Slasher.” Published by Floating World Comics, the five issue mini series centers on Christina, a data-entry specialist in her early twenties. Beneath Christina’s timid demeanor is a swell of sexual violent urges. The only outlet for Christina is a terminal boy named Joshua in a wheelchair that she talks with over the internet.
To learn more about the series we were able to talk to Charles about “Slasher,” as well as the tone, characters and goals for the series. You can preorder “Slasher” from your local store now and look for it on stands April 26.
Thanks so much for taking the time to talk about “Slasher.” What made this story the one you wanted to tell following “Revenger?”
Charles Forsman: HA. I just got asked this question elsewhere and I really don’t have an answer for this one. Maybe in 5 years I’ll be able to answer why I am doing this story. But I’ll give it a try: after doing “Revenger” for 2 years, I think I wanted to take a break from her and shift gears. Floating World asked me to do a project with them and “Slasher” was the story that came to mind.
In the announcement you touch on elements of a psycho-sexual thriller, a unique love interest, and murderous urges. What is the tone you are hoping to establish with this series?
CF: I think this is going to be my version of a Brian DePalma movie. Where “Revenger” was an action focused book, this one is more of a twisting of exploitation/horror story and a sexual thriller.
I know you are not just someone who creates comics but someone who actively consumes comics. What inspiration are you drawing from for “Slasher?”
CF: Well, like I said story-wise this one feels like a Brian DePalma movie to me. Like Dressed To Kill and Body Double. As for the art, I’ve been looking at a lot of Jose Munoz, the artist of “Sinner” and “Joe’s Bar.” He is the guy who heavily influenced Kieth Giffen and Frank Miller, especially with “Sin City.” Whenever I do a book I tend to fixate on a style that feels right for the book and use them to help me get the right mood for my book. I often feel like an artist with no style, so I’ve learned to kind of embrace that as an asset rather than a problem.
Was there any research you had to do into the mindset and activities of the series’ main characters?
CF: Not really. I mean, I’m not sitting down and researching. But I think I do that just from living life and consuming news and media.
In your work we often see people forced into situations with horrible people. In the previews so far for “Slasher” we have seen both Christina and Jack engage with less than stellar humans. Why are these relationships you want to explore and continue to explore with your comics?
CF: Hmm. That’s a good question. I think of all the bad things that happen in life, the shit that humans are capable of doing to each other is just…I don’t know. Hard to believe? I think maybe that’s where my fascination lies with it. I mean it’s all monster stories. We are all fascinated by monsters, whether they look like Frankenstein or your next door neighbor.
In the preview, we get a glimpse of a character with a differing internal and external narrative. How do explore and give voice to a character whose interactions are influenced by urges other characters don’t see or experience?
CF: I think that is one of comics’ strengths: being able to get dueling points of view at the same time, on the same page. I try not to do it too much because it can be frustrating to read after a while. I know I hate when it’s over used so I try not to use it a ton but I think it’s a really powerful tool when used in an interesting way.
Continued belowWith books like “The End of the F*cking World,” a full trade of “Revenger” and “Revenger and The Fog” under your belt, what do you bring to “Slasher” that you learned from your previous work?
CF: I think that “Slasher” may sort of bridge the gap between a more introspective work like “TThe End of the F*cking World” and a more fun action oriented comic like “Revenger.”
Revenger is a bad ass lead character and Christina seems to exude some of the same bad assness beneath he surface. So who would win in a fight? Nah, That would be an awful question right? What makes her a unique lead for a series?
CF: HAHA. No, seriously in my head these are very different characters. Christina is much more of a realistic character in my mind. She has a monster growing inside her that she has always held in and I wanted to show what happens when a person has these horrible urges start to come out and take over. Christina may do bad things but I see her as a much more fragile character than Revenger is.
What is your goal for “Slasher?” Will we still see “Revenger” continuing as well?
CF: Well, My goal is to successfully serialize a book through the direct market. I’m a big fan of serialization but my comics aren’t the usual type of thing you see on the Wednesday rack. So my goal as it had been with “Revenger” was to get folks to read my work who otherwise wouldn’t even be exposed to it. And yes, I do have plans to return to “Revenger.” I have a good amount of ideas for her but I think once I finish “Slasher” I’m going to do another double-sized once shot called “Revenger: The War on Christmas.” Obviously this would be out in time for Christmas 2017.
