This is an early interview I did with Ricky of Grand Facade in about the middle of 2001. This interview was featured in Brainscab Zine as well as the Metal Union Website, before it got tragically deleted and overlooked in the printed text of the zine. Luckily, after months of despair, this got dug up from the archives of the underground. Now for the first time, you can read this thing in its rawest form.
Lots of things have changed since the interview. I am working on Bug-Slayer 2 without the help of any major comic book company. I am not doing shows anymore (unless the right one comes along and I get the proper billing). I am doing more websites now then ever before dedicated to visual imagery. And more importantly, I am keeping true to myself. Regardless of what some may or may not think about me. More importantly yet, there are some dicks out there regardless of what you do. Some of which you have to weed out to get to the really cool people in this small world. It can be hard on me sometimes. But sometimes it just comes with the terrain.
Then sometimes I don�t thing people realise that I am not making a great deal of money off of my art, but that is not the primary reason I do this. I do this because I want to stay true to my heart and I want some respect. I am very haunted by bad memories of the past. They come about as dark visions of flashback. I have constant nightmares of things and it is not always an easy thing to live with. So the art is a way of dealing with the madness of continual darkness.
Enjoy the readings of this interview.....hope you like it.
Mickmo 2002
1.� How's it going Mickmo? What's the latest with you?
Well not to much, I have been relaxing at my new place with my metal music at
hand and stuff. I am also away from much of the scrutiny that surrounded me
from Planet Comicon 3 and a really bad promoter. After being banned from that
show it was really disheartening to say the least. I mean, here I was, the
best selling comic book guy in Planet Comicon 1, then getting banned from a
show I helped build to begin with. All I was doing was plugging my book.
The underground comic scene is very hard and murky, but some of us are
staying afloat. It was in this time period after the ban that I started to
get in touch with the best scene in the world, the underground metal scene.
It helped me through a lot of the crap I dealt with emotionally. I was in a
dark depression till I met Kim. He is an instructor at Longview College and
an old Kansas City art institute hippie who taught me a LOT about computer
design and art. If it wasn't for him, and his massive intelligence, I don't
know where my art would be right now. It gave me the confidence to redefine
myself as an artist. It helped me reinvent myself.
2.� You've been doing a lot more computer art. Is this going to carry over
into your comic books?
Oh yes, the computer has helped me a lot. I have got an Imac G3 with some
really good programs that were indirectly from a card place.... So this way
you know the stuff I do will kick some ass! With the Photoshop 5.0 stuff I
have been doing, it almost has to carry on into my new work in the future.
3. When can we expect another comic book from you?
It's touch and go at this point, but I do have an idea for this one comic I
have been wanting to work on for a good 10 years. It's called Bug-Slayer.
It's about a man in the post-apocalyptic world who is among 13 or so
survivors and having to watch a city crumble to the hordes of bugs who over
run the cities. It is from a working class point of view and I want it to be
published by a bigger publisher if I can, perhaps Image Comics. It is just
one of those things that has to feel right. I had this vivid dream about it
like I do with all my comics and projects. Even the Tales of Retribution
stuff started from dreams I had. That is what propells my best images.
4.� Will "Tales of Retribution" continue to number three?
Tales of Retribution was origanally meant to be a 2 issue series from the
start, much like a darker Twilight Zone. I got� it published by the same guys
who do Grimoire of Exalted Deeds and was self published. It was never meant
to go beyond 2 issues. The Tales of Retribution series was about reality,
stuff like suicide and betrayal.
5.� You've also done CD artwork for bands. Are you accepting requests right
now?
Well I recently did do a cover for Grand Facade and Exhumed and Shadows Fall
have had some interest in my stuff being possibly used for their cds. Even my nephew,
from the alternative band Large, wanted my stuff at one point. Also I did a
flyer for the band Hatred. I would do cover art for anybody who needed it. I
am cheap and wouldn't mind at all. So anybody can get in touch with me
including bands and record labels or anybody else who wants to get with me.
6.� What are some other publications that we may find some of your work?
The Maxx, number 18, 20, 22, 24 and if you can find it, an icelandic comic
called Blek. You can go to www.theglobe.com and find it. Some old college
papers and articles from Longview College and who the hell knows what else.
7.� What are some of your favorite bands?
Exhumed, Shadows Fall, Pandemia, Cephalic Carnage, Emperor, Hypocrisy,
Withered Earth, Origin, Incantation, Immortal, Vital Remains, Mayhem, Hatred,
Mortician, Esoteric, In Flames, Dying Fetus, Reballiun, Impaled, Meshuggah,
Death, Grand Facade, Nevermore, Flotsam & Jetsam, and anyone who's
practically in the metal world.
8.� What comic books are still available for purchase? How do we get them?
You can still get Tales of Retributions from just sending off for them. Just email me for more info.
email: [email protected]
Ambiance: http://go.to/mickmo2001
Bug-Slayer: http://www.bugslayer.homepagehere.com
Continuum: http://www.continuum.pagehere.com
Thanks Mickmo!
