After taking time to work as an animator and collaborating with small presses, Jay Stephens is finally returning to Oni Press to release a new horror series, Dwellings. Originally released as a six-issue series from Black Eye Books, Dwellings is an unnerving collection of interconnected short stories set in the town of Elwich. Each story combines the aesthetics of classic all-ages comics with horror tropes to create a unique, unforgettable reading experience.
Dwellings #1, due out Aug. 9, features two stories that pit the citizens of Elwich against frightening, otherworldly forces that are sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. In an interview with CBR, Stephens discussed the comics that influenced the series, his decision to return to Oni, and what he hopes readers will discover as they read the series.
What can you tell fans about Elwich and what you have planned for its citizens?
Elwich is a fictional, haunted version of the Southern Ontario towns I grew up in. Cute, comfortable places like these often harbor ugly, uncomfortable secrets, and Elwich certainly has some bloody ones. Like the townsfolk in Dwellings, I've become increasingly aware as I get older of those terrible adult mysteries that my childhood self always suspected but never comprehended. [That] is why these stories are presented as horrible truths revealed through the kaleidoscope of vintage kids' comics.
What appeals to you about blending the classic Harvey Comics aesthetic with elements of horror?
I watch a LOT of horror movies. And I still hunt for old comics at antique markets. These two very personal and disparate passions of mine finally bled into each other, creating something unexpected. The nostalgic visual style is familiar and comforting, making the visceral and psychological horror elements all the more shocking and disturbing. Nostalgia is a terrible kind of curse -- an infinite, inescapable possession. Instead of dwelling on these terrors alone, I decided to put them to paper.
Were there any particular comics you looked to for inspiration while working on the series?
I've been a fan of Harvey's cute ghosts, witches, and demons since I was a kid. John Stanley's Melvin Monster is a big favorite, and I always marveled at cute-looking comic strips, like Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse or Harold Gray's Little Orphan Annie, that contained elements of real danger and horror... Murder, even. But I am obsessed with the incredibly inspiring mid-century horror manga by Kazuo Umezu, Shigeru Mizuki, Hideshi Hino, and the darker works of Osamu Tezuka.
How did your previous work, like Land of Nod and Atomic City Tales inform your work on Dwellings?
Everything we do creatively leads directly to the next idea, I think. My previous works have always dabbled in an old-school comic book style but with a subversive kind of irreverent reverence. Dwellings just cranks that up to 11.
What made Oni the right home for the series after your original run with Black Eye Books?
Both of these publishers are old friends and are family reunions of sorts. The last comic book series I did before my side career in animation was Jetcat Clubhouse at Oni, so it feels like the perfect comeback. And if the definition of nostalgia is a kind of sentimental homesickness for the long-lost past, this does seem rather perfect.
How do you think releasing the stories two at a time impacts the reading experience?
If one shocking tale of terror is good, two are better! This is like a late-night double-feature -- a grindhouse drive-in theatre vibe. And it perfectly invokes those old "giant-size" Harvey Comics I so adore.
What are you most excited for fans to discover as they read Dwellings?
Both comedy and horror require the element of shock to work properly, and I can't wait for newcomers to Dwellings to be properly shocked! I think, once you scratch the surface of what seems like a "Saturday morning meets stroke of midnight" gimmick, there is so much more depth to the town of Elwich. [It's] a true character in its own right. These stories are not what you expect. I promise you that.
Dwellings #1 is due out on Aug. 9.