FOG! Chats With Writer/Editor Shannon Eric Denton About His Latest Project, ‘Forge of Monsters’

“Get ready to meet the monsters who fight back. Monster Forge is proud to announce the launch of its highly anticipated anthology comic book, Forge of Monsters — a bold new series introducing an original lineup of horror-fueled heroes set to carve out their legend in the ever-expanding Monster Forge Universe.

“Millennia gone by, an ancient society existed. In the dominion of Hypothrexia, a ruling class of sorcerers communed with powerful, otherworldly, chaotic powers. In an effort to control these forces, the sorcerers created a terrible artifact that could summon and harness the ungodly essence of these entities—a MONSTER FORGE! Such energies, though, are not meant to be controlled. The frenzied, berserk backlash that ripped their world apart, killed the dinosaurs, brought about the Ice Age, shifted the continents, and birthed a new world. Over countless eons, the Monster Forge was forgotten, but it is still out there, hidden, buried, hemorrhaging dark energies that have influenced the world ever since. Over countless eons, the Monster Forge was forgotten by all but the most sinister of cults, …until now.”

This project is one of many in the works from Monster Forge, the transmedia company founded by Shannon Eric Denton, who’s had a behind-the-scenes thumb in virtually every form of mass entertainment over the past forty years.

He’s had roles working in film, TV, games, comics, books, and new media. Other roles he’s taken on include writer, director, executive producer, storyboard artist, illustrator, editor, toy designer, book packager, creative consultant, and publisher.

Shannon took some time to discuss Monster Forge’s latest project currently being crowdfunded on Zoop, Forge of Monsters, an anthology comic that functions as a launchpad for a number of future projects.

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FOG!: Your experience in storytelling has taken you from comics, to illustration, to editor, to producer to film to animation to writing and conceptualizing to company owner.  Growing up, where did your love of storytelling begin and was there a career path that you envisioned and where did that journey begin?

SHANNON ERIC DENTON: Growing up a military kid has lots of advantages but long-lasting childhood friendships isn’t one of them when you’re moving all the time. So I got good at reading stories (comics and prose), watching anime other kids brought back from overseas, watching Creature Double Features and just generally escaped any loneliness by creating my own stories while consuming as much content as I could.

Somewhere in high school I saw an article in USA Today that John Byrne was taking over Superman and something about seeing that in mainstream media was the lightbulb moment where it dawned on me this was an actual career path. The reason I’ve worked in games, film/TV, toys and comics has always been me chasing story and just exploring at the AAA level how to craft story in as many different ways as possible. How to learn from those around me.

FOG!: Several years ago you founded Monster Forge Productions and recruited a small group to run it with you.  What was the genesis of Monster Forge?

SHANNON ERIC DENTON: I was directing on several shows that all wrapped on the same day.  So one day you’re killing it and the next you’re unemployed. I think I was just finally ready to not go back to work for someone else. Getting paid to work on IP you love is great but on the flip side I’ve also made these studios so much money making their stories. I was ready to make my own and in that moment I kind of figured out what loves have remained a constant in my life and just went after this.

FOG!: You have a Zoop campaign starting this week for Forge of Monsters (with Atlantean and Hunters), a comic anthology, based on a number of characters you created, who have been developed further by other talents and will appear in this book in many short stories.  How do you go about matching talent with creator and has there ever been a choice that simply is a bad fit?

SHANNON ERIC DENTON: This is where experience really helped out.  A big part of Monster Forge has been working with creators I like and focusing on finding/creating projects we can collaborate on versus simply chasing projects. Of course, in the early years there were some misfires but after a while you realize if it’s not clicking just be civil and amicably walk away, don’t force it. Keep it fun and find others who enjoy the process as much as the product.

FOG!: Can you tell us about some of the characters and which writers and artists are appearing in the book and how do you match talent with character?

SHANNON ERIC DENTON: David Hartman, Jeff Mariotte, Kristen Fitzner Denton work with Monster Forge a lot so shout out to them. For these books we’re working with Bret Blevins, E.J. Su, Mike Manly, Rick Hoberg, Roger Robinson, Jok, Mike Dubisch, Steven E. Gordon, Roy Burdine, and Ryan Liebe.  Almost all of these artists I’ve storyboarded in animation with or alongside so I know how great of a storyteller they all are in both comics and animation.  The two careers are definitely different but this time it has made working very easy because I know almost all of these artists thrive at both. A lot of the fun of this has been knowing everyone and knowing what they like, so we can craft stories out of our mutual likes and make a thing we’re both amped about (that thing being new monster heroes)!

FOG!: Have you ever attached someone that’s simply a bad fit?

SHANNON ERIC DENTON: Not on this. Again, early on I did because I didn’t find the right fit for the project.  That was on me as much as the other person.  I’m better about asking more questions up front now, which has certainly made everything much easier.

FOG!: It seems like you’re bypassing traditional publishing and distribution by crowd funding or going digital on GlobalComix. With Diamond’s bankruptcy and Lunar limited by sheer size, do you think there’s hope for the comic industry as it once was, or do you think essentially it needs to be completely overhauled?

SHANNON ERIC DENTON: While I’m still happily collaborating with traditional publishers like Titan Comics, MadCave, Panick Entertainment, StormKing and more, so I definitely believe comics are just growing and shifting. When we started Komikwerks in 2000 we were a bit too early for the digital route.  Not enough people were on the internet, now everyone is.  Market’s change and I’m a big believer in getting your story out in as many ways as one can. GlobalComix has been great. Crowdfunding is great. Traditional publishing is great.  Again, I’m the most interested in putting out our stuff with people who love it as much as we do. So while we’re definitely experiencing a disruption at the moment in terms of Diamond, I’m very excited more people worldwide are aware of comics as a medium than ever before!

FOG!: Who or what has been the biggest influences on your work?

SHANNON ERIC DENTON: Rod Serling, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, Keith Giffen, Bernie Wrightson and Stan Lee (worked with all but Rod and Walt). Bernie, Keith, and Stan most of all because they just didn’t inspire me as a kid but as a grown man…as friends and as guides on how to navigate not just my career but my life. I miss all three every day.

FOG!: Finally, in keeping with the theme of your book, what are your ten favorite movie monsters?

SHANNON ERIC DENTON: Oh wow!  OK, in no particular order…Godzilla, King Kong, Tyrannosaurus Rex, the trash-compactor monster, everyone in that cantina in a galaxy far far away, Tiamat and Venger, Frankenstein, Dracula, the Wolfman, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Mumm-Ra!  There’s a lot more and this could get really long so I’ll leave at that but if you see me at a Con let me know your favorites!  I’m hoping after Forge of Monsters debuts I’ll have new monsters to add to that list!

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