Snowblind's Psycho Circus Reveiw's:
Exclusive interveiw with Brian
Holguin
On May 8, 1998 I had the chance to interveiw Brian
Holguin the writer for Psycho Circus Comics. Well
here it is:
Snowblind- Originaly Psycho Circus was going to be
writen by some one named Beau Smith, how did you come
to be the writer?
Brian- Actually, it was originally
supposed to be
written by a gentleman named Steve Gerber, a fine
writer who dropped out of the project due to
conflicting schedules. I belive Beau Smith (who is
P.R. Director for TMP, as well as a veterain writer)
was kind of stepping in to get the book out (orders
for the first issue were already placed), but was
never on as a permanent writer. Anyway, a good freind
and frequent collaborator Brian Haberlin was doing
coloring for Psycho Circus and I was at his studio
and saw some promo art Angel and Kevin did and I just
flipped over it. I could tell this was'nt going to be
some cheesy approach, but rather a serious, cool
comic. Haberlin told me that Gerber had dropped out
and I called Todd Mcfarlane every day for something
like two weeks, trying to convince him that I was the
guy to write this book. He fell for it and the rest
is history.
Snowblind- Will an Eric Carr like character ever
appear inPsycho Circus?
Brian- Honestly, I do not know.
This is a licensed
book and my understanding is that TMP has licensed
the rights to the four original members' likenesses
and the kiss logo. I dont belive such an agreement
exists that would allow us to use the Eric Carr
make-up design and likeness. It would be cool to do,
but only if all the legal issues are in the clear.
Also I would want to make it a real cool story,
something to do his memory proud. So, I guess the
answer is that, there are no immediate plans, but
anything is possible in the future.
Snowblind- The character Kismet is starting to be a
regular character in the comic, will we be seeing a
lot from her in future issues?
Brian- As I was writting the"Smoke
and Mirrors"
storyline, wich introduced Kismet, I really got
attached to the character. I also realized she makes
a very good veiw point character-- that is someone
who can raise questions and provide information to
the reader. So yes we will see more of her. By the
way her resurrected look was "inspired" by the women
on the "love Gun" album cover.
Snowblind- One of my favorite things about the comic
is finding
all the hidden Kiss references that are hiden in
there. How do you come up with all of them?
Brian- Early on, when I started
working on the
project, I quickly began to realize how much
mythology could be pulled from KISStory. A lot of
titles, phrases, etc.. that had a nice dramatic ring
to them. Most of them just seemed really organic and
I just placed them into the story where it seemed
natural. However, I really made an intentional
decision that these things would be kind of
subliminal. For instance, one story centers around a
criminal named "Duece". Now if a reader had never
heard of the song "Duece" he or she could still read
the story and understand it. The references are more
like a tip of the hat to the kiss fans out there, to
give them something extra. Also, Angel just draws a
lot of stuff in the background pulled from Kiss
titles and lore. At the circus, if you look at the
signs in the background theres the Rocket Ride, The
Ladies Room, etc.. the Like it up liquor store having
a special on Cold Gin, etc.. . I think it all just
adds to the fun, without taking awa anything from
those who arent in on the joke. There are still a lot
of Kiss-isms we have'nt used, 100,000 years, Mr.
Makebelive, Almost Human, Goin blind, World Without
Heroes, etc..., so expect them to keep popping
up.
Snowblind- I hear you are a big kiss fan, do you have
any kiss memorabilia, and if so, what is your most
prized kiss item?
Brian- A lot of cool stuff I had as
a kid, I kick
myself now for not keeping--- the trash can,
pendants, belt buckles, the makeup kit. I do have my
Paul and Gene picture discs, a pick of Aces from the
Dynasty tour show at the L.A. Forum and I have all my
ticket stubs and concert books. I have all the
classic albums on real actual vinyl and a couple of
guitar song books. Also, though it is not exactly a
kiss collectible, when I was seventeen I got an
Ibanez Iceman guitar, because Paul played one and it
looked so cool (this was before they came out with
the slightly modified Pau stanley special.) That
guitar is still one of my most prized, favorite
toys.
Snowblind- I have heard from several different
sources that kiss will be wearing costumes based on
the new Psycho Circus action figures for their next
tour, have you heard anything about that?
Brian- Thats what I hear, the album
is supposed to be
called Psycho Circus and I belive even the set design
and effects might borrow from the comic. It would be
cool to see something I had a hand in creating become
part of rock-n-roll history. 20 years ago(damn I
sound old!) the coolest things in the world to me
were kiss and comic books. Its funny how things have
come full circle!
Snowblind- Will there be a news stand edition of
Psycho Circus comming our way soon(something to the
effect of the first couple isues together in one
magazine, with interveiws with the band and photos
and things)?
Brian- This is something I have no
controll over, but
as I understand the collections should be scheduled
to coincide with the bands new album and tour. i
belive each volume would have three issues collected,
plus photos, band interveiws and maybee a making of
section. I heard something about the Psycho circus
tour having a "Midway" section where fans can buy the
books along with other kiss memorabilia at each tour
stop, I dont know if that is true or not but it would
be cool.
Snowblind- Can you give us some insight to future
storylines for Psycho Circus, and do you see kiss'
next world tour being fit into the comic book in
some form?
Brian- Basically the early issues
have focused on
various people who come to the circus. Starting with
issue ten, we're doing a four part story called (of
course) "Destroyer" that focuses on the kiss beings
themselves-- the four who are one. Its going to be
this big, epic, mythic Ragnarok kind of story. The
four issues of the destroyer storyline each feature a
single band member on the cover and will link
together to form a very cool tapestry image (way
cooler than those posters from the solo albums, but
of the same premis) after that we will continue to
alternate between circus visitor storylines and
dweller storylines. I dont really know enough about
the tour to work it into the book at this point, but
if i do, i will certanly do it. i think we are all
just getting our stride, and it is only going to get
better. I think it would have been very easy to come
out with a weak product and sell them by the
truckloads to the hordes of kiss fans, but I think
Todd Mcfarlane deserves a lot of credit for wanting
to do something that had a lot of quality and we are
all very proud to be part of this project, and I am
very grateful to be part of such a talented,
dedicated team.
( interveiw done by Chris Cook of Snowblinds Psycho
Circus Reveiw 5/8/98)
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Email: snowblind4@webtv.net
