SLOTH, THE DEADLIEST OF THE SINS, AN INTERVIEW WITH STEVE URENA THE CREATOR OF SLOW POKES A KILLER SLOTH COMIC BOOK

Today we welcome Steve Urena to the site to talk about his new comic book creations Slow Pokes.

Written by Steve Urena, Drawn by Juan Romera (IDW, Monkeybrain, Comics Experience) and lettered by Sean Rinehart, (Grief, The V-Card, Dead End Kids) this sloth horror-comedy is a bloody thrill ride you won’t be able to take your eyes off of.

​London James is a rebellious high-school teenager ready to move on to the next phase of his life. The only thing standing in his way is a request from his best friend Karate Carlos…oh and a bio engineered sloth who is now freakishly fast and out for blood.

 Hey Steve, how are things with you?

Hey Jim! Considering what’s going on in the world, I’m feeling good. Just been working and hanging out with the people I love the most when I can. Just trying to stay positive and stay busy.

Could you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?

Sure. My name is Steve Urena and I am a 31-year-old comic book writer publishing my first original comic book this Halloween. I’ve been a writer for over 15 years dabbling in journalism, copywriting, sports writing, and other writing endeavors. I love horror, I love comics, and I love making people laugh whenever I can.

Out of all of the creative mediums, why comics, what is it about them that appeals to you over say straight prose writing or movies?

I have always wanted to write a comic book since I was a kid. I was sick in the hospital and my dad brought me an entire stack of comics. I loved the cartoons on TV, so I quickly flocked to them. Comics provided an escape and I just fell in love with it. The art, the storytelling, the pageantry, it just has everything you could ever want. I remember making my own comics as a kid and just getting lost in them.

The first job I ever wanted was to be a comic book artist, but when I put pen to paper it was not to be. My drawings are horrible ha!  I did not get the artist gene, however once I found out I could write, I always had in my mind that I wanted to write a comic. I have written commercials and jingles and articles, so I thought if I could write those things, I can probably write a comic book. It is scary to go after something you want, but getting over that fear and giving it a try has been nothing but an exhilarating experience.

How does an independent comic book writer get started? Are there many outlets that publish indie comics, or is the do it yourself approach a more common option?

I was incredibly lucky in finding Andy Schmidt’s Comic Experience. I’m from New Jersey and I looked for a comic book writing school but couldn’t find any. A lot of schools are mostly about the art, so I gave up on my search. Last year I got the itch to write a comic and searched online to see if there were any online courses. I found Comic Experience, took a few courses and here I am.

In terms of publishing Slow Pokes myself, I just knew that I wanted to do this my way. I felt like self-publishing was the way to go because It’s all on me. If it’s a success its on me. If it’s a failure its on me. Regardless of the outcome, it sounded like a challenge and an outlet where I can be creative, and I can be me. I’m sure there are tons of great outlets that publish indie comics, but I just wanted to get Slow Pokes out into the world and go from there. This is my first time, so I don’t really know if any publishers would have entertained this idea. I think they would have looked at me like I had two heads.

There is still some snobbery in the book world about self-publishing writers, is this something that exists in the comic world?

I was prepared for snobbery ha, but I have not come across any so far. I figured real comic book writers who have been doing this for decades would think I’m not taking this seriously. Luckily, everyone has been supportive. The horror community, the comics community, friends and even strangers! The whole experience has been positive, and I hope that continues.

I used to be addicted to comics, and I mean addicted, to the point where I haven't bought one for close to 30 years, has there been much change over the years, is it still bloated with massive crossovers and huge breasted women?

I think comics have changed a lot since I was kid because there’s so much to choose from. There’s something for everybody in the comic medium and I think that’s cool. There are problems in any medium of course, but I think the good stuff always stands out.

Which comic book artists and writers do you admire, and who would you kill to work with?

I want to work with anyone who wants to work with me. There are so many talented writers and artists out there. Writers I’ve always loved that would be a dream to work with include the likes of Neil Gaiman, Garth Ennis, Tom King, Sean Murphy, just to name a few. In terms of the art side, I need to do a deeper dive into who’s out there, but I remember loving Alex Ross and Frank Miller growing up.

Comics more than any other form of writing allow for a massive suspension of belief, why do you think that is?

Comics are a beautiful medium. You got art, you got writing and when both works well, it’s magic. So many things could go wrong, but instead they go right. I love long term storytelling and comics are the perfect place for that. Anything can happen in a comic book and I love that feeling.

Which brings us to Slows Pokes, is this your first published comic?

Technically, it is my second. I did a biography comic years ago about John Wayne, but I knew nothing about writing comics. Slow Pokes is my first original comic. It is the first time I’m self-publishing something and I hope everyone enjoys it.

Slow Pokes is based on the notion of a Bio-engineered Sloth; now I mean this with the utmost respect WTF? Why did you decide on sloths?

If people are saying WTF, then I did what I set out to do. The idea comes from a lunch with friends at work talking about Syfy channel movies. They had been promoting a sequel to Sharknado and I was like what’s next, Sloths become fast and kill everyone? I always had that idea in my head and when I found Comics Experience, I thought why not? I workshopped the concept throughout the class and it got good reviews. I saw the opportunity to get it produced and here we are.

They are nasty evil creatures aren't they?

Sloths are nightmare fuel. They look weird, they move weird, they have sharp claws. So I thought if they were fast, maybe they would just fuck everyone up.

(note from Jim Mcleod ,  my sister in law spent six months working at a sloth refuge, I know longer allow her in the house on the off chance that she is now a sloth in skin suit) 

Every comic book villain needs a nemesis, who or what would be the natural enemy of a super-powered sloth?

I am currently exploring that idea for a future installment of Slow Pokes, so stay tuned!

And what would make for a perfect sidekick? It's an eye-eye isn't it, they are the only other creature that comes close to a sloth's natural creepiness?

I’d love to do giraffes. Giraffes are my favorite animal and if they used their necks for harm, all bets are off!

What can we expect from Slow Pokes?

Slow Pokes is a vulgar fun-filled filled horror-comedy thrill ride that’s filled with sloths, slaughter, and slapstick. It is bloody, but most of all Slow Pokes is fun. I hope people who read it feel the same way.

Comics have traditionally been an avenue where creators can tackle important issues, is this something that you tackle in the comic, or do you keep this as a straightforward comic romp?

Without the sloths, Slow Pokes is a story about friendship, overcoming your fears, and accepting the unknown. I want to go deeper with it in future installments, but a lot of the characters and moments are drawn from my own experiences.

How collaborative was creating the comic, did you, the artist and the letterer bounce ideas off each other?

I was lucky that Juan Romera and the Sean Rinehart had the same vision I had. I sent them my script and they did their thing and there really wasn’t a lot of changes. I want talented people to just go. I don’t want to stifle creativity and they did an excellent job.

How did you come to work with the artist Juan Romera (IDW, Monkeybrain, Comics Experience) and the letterer Sean Rinehart, (Grief, The V-Card, Dead End Kids)?

I went through Comics Experience and they paired me up with Juan and Sean. I used their Creative Services program and they made sure everything went smoothly.

The comic is finished, but is still awaiting its publication, what are you doing in the final stages before it is unleashed?

I just got the cover finished and that was the final piece. Since that is done, I will be sending it to the printer for it to be mailed out once the Kickstarter is complete.

There is a Kickstarter page for Slow Pokes, how did you decide on the perks?

I have seen a lot of successful Kickstarter’s and thought this is the platform I can be really creative with. I thought about things that I would want if I were buying this and what is doable.

I'm really interested in the theme song written by Blake Raines, I haven't seen this before in a Kickstarter, how did this come about?

Blake and I have been friends for a long time, and he is incredibly talented. I knew a song would make the comic stand out and it was an easy decision to make. I messaged Blake and he was on board from day one and we got it. He did the instrumental and wrote most of the lyrics and I wrote a few lines myself. He produced it in his stuido, and it is a fucking bop (as the kids say)! How many comics have a theme song? I just wanted to stand out and do something different.

How can the readers of Ginger Nuts of Horror help to spread the word for Slow Pokes?

This interview helps, but please share on your social media channels. Tweet, post, call your friends, text them, go out in the streets and yell about Slow Pokes. Shake your parents if you must and tell them all about Slow Pokes!

And where can we buy Slow Pokes from once it is released?

I’m still thinking about that. Once the Kickstarter is over I may make an etsy or a gumroad or a site, so people can get a copy.

 What's next for you?

 Due to my Kickstarter being successful, it means more crazy ideas can come to life. I am working on another comic with hopes of releasing next year and then Slow Pokes II. Eventually, I would like to do a serious comic or something with more of a serious tone, but I’m just having  so much fun doing this.

Thanks, Steve, this has been a blast do you have any final words of the readers?

Thank you to everyone for reading this and thank you to whoever purchased Slow Pokes. This is a dream come true and it is extremely exciting. Please add me on social channels (Twitter and Instagram) at @TheSteveUrena and @SlowPokescomic and feel free to reach out.

I also want to shout out everyone who helped me with this project. From Juan Romera and Sean Rinehart to Vertebrae 33 who made the poster, to Kristin Greco who made the trailer, to Brian Dinonno who made the logo, to Blake Raines who made the theme song.
Can’t wait to share this with the world. Hopefully people like it.

Thank you, Ginger Horror Nuts,!

Click here for Slow Poke's Kickstarter page, where you can get full details of the perks on offer.  I've gone for the T-shirt option