A few weeks ago, I stumbled across an inspiring article about a guy who decided he wasn’t going to let real life obligations prevent him from making a dream come true. That man is Gavin McCumiskey and that dream is making comics!
I had a chance to interview him recently, so read on, be inspired and get to know Green Monkey Comics!
Hello Gavin! Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi David, it’s real nice to talk to you. Well, I have been collecting comics since I was about twelve years of age, with only a small break when I was about 19. Thankfully I stumbled across a comic shop in Dublin not long after and started collecting again, I picked up some back issues to catch up and get everything back on track. I now live in Tullamore with my wife Jill and three kids, Scott, Isabelle and Jake. I am 35 years of age and in full time employment, so all I do with comics is in my spare time.
Tell us about Green Monkey Comics.
Green Monkey Comics came about for several reasons. In February of this year, I listened to a radio interview with Will Sliney and it sparked a fire in me to write my own comic (unlike Will, my artistic skills are non existant). After getting a lot of advice and direction from all quarters, I sat down and wrote a few scripts. I decided to go for short stories with no capes or zombies in sight. I also decided that I would undertake the publishing process myself and needed a label, hence Green Monkey Comics was born. The first publication would be the collection of the short stories, under the title Innocent Tales – probably because they are not so innocent…
So ‘Innocent Tales’ is the first book published from Green Monkey Comics. Can you tell us the idea behind the book?
Innocent Tales was indeed the first book published and I picked it up from the printers about three weeks ago. The idea was to tell a story. I know comics are a visual medium and I wanted that to be great, but I didn’t want to solely really on it. So each of the stories I have written are what I like to call, stories for the thoughtful. On the first read, they will delivery a certain idea or thought, on the second reading, you will definitely get more from the story, and that was my intention with each of them.
Sounds awesome! Where can readers get their hands on a copy?
So far, it is only on sale in shops in Ireland, however, people can buy online through http://www.greenmonkeycomics.com/ – hopefully, at some stage in the future, I will have my comics stocked in American shops.
What inspires you to write? Is there anything in particular that get the creative juices flowing?
I have always been creative, however I think my biggest inspiration has come from not wanting to let this life pass me by without doing something that I wanted to do, for myself.
What artists have you worked with since founding ‘Green Monkey Comics’?
The artists I have worked with are Anthony O’Neill from Ennis, Ger Hankey from Dublin and Steven Richardson (S. Rhoades) from the US of A – great guys and very talented. For issue 2 I am working with Anthony again, also, Ruairí Coleman, Chris O’Halloran and Eoin Hurrell. It is great to work with people of such talent.
What comics are you reading these days?
I am reading a lot of Image, Garth Ennis, Batman and Hickman – my tastes have changed a lot over the last couple of years. My first comics to read every month are Red Team, the new Judge Dredd from IDW, The Wake, Jennifer Blood, Batman, and Half Past Danger from Stephen Mooney and IDW.
What are your plans for the future?
Plans for the future are, Innocent Tales #2 and #3, The Woodsman which is a three issue mini series, SIX, which is a pitch to some of the big boys, and a couple of other top secret projetcs!!
Thanks, Gavin! Tell everyone where they can get more information on ‘Green Monkey Comics’!
People can look me up through http://www.greenmonkeycomics.com/, the facebook page of the same name, twitter @gmccumiskey or e-mail on gavin@greenmonkeycomics.com – thanks for the time mate!
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A big thanks to Gavin for taking time out to give us a quick interview! I hope you guys will check out Green Monkey Comics, the guy has truly got his shit together and I can’t wait to see what’s next! My copy of ‘Innocent Tales’ is on the way to me and I’ll post up a full review after I give it a few reads.
Also, don’t forget ‘The Wisdom of Fools’ Kickstarter launched today! I’m glad to say that it hasn’t even been a full day and we are up to almost $600! Thanks to all who’ve pledged…if you are yet to pledge, I hope you’ll consider it. The book you’ll be getting is top notch work from some of the greatest Indie writers and artists in the world! Together we can make this happen! Thank you all!
Fifth Dimension Comics 