Exclusive Interview – Alex De Luca, writer and letterer of Enigmatown

      Brad Cook speaks with Enigmatown writer and letterer Alex De Luca.

      The last time I spoke with Alex De Luca, he was occupied with promoting his steampunk adventure comic book series, Dragon Whisperer. Its four-issue debut was later followed by a six-part sequel titled The Search for Obsidian.

      Now, he has shifted focus while remaining with his publisher, Red 5 Comics, to work on the graphic novel Enigmatown, which was showcased during Free Comic Book Day earlier this year. (You can grab the free comic Red 5 Comic Adventures to sample Enigmatown along with other Red 5 titles.)

      Enigmatown brings together an unlikely trio of heroes: 15-year-old Luzmarie, known as “Luzy”; 90-year-old Frankie; and a ghost named Joey. Their hometown’s eerie mansion is the setting for horrific events that have tormented its residents for generations, and it’s their responsibility to rescue the souls of many children before it’s too late.

      I caught up with Alex while he was traveling across Europe with his family to learn more about this captivating concept.

      How does this compare to your previous comic book series, Dragon Whisperer?

      Well, the writer and letterer of both series look quite similar. 😀

      On one hand, they couldn't be more different. Dragon Whisperer is set in its own world, a steampunk fantasy realm filled with otherworldly creatures from land, air, and sea. It features magic, floating islands, sky cities, airships, and, naturally, a dragon.

      In contrast, Enigmatown is set in our grounded reality. It traverses different eras but always remains rooted here. While it does include ghosts and magic, it does so in a haunted mansion context rather than a fantasy setting.

      However, they share similarities in that the main characters are young individuals (ages 13 to 15) embarking on adventures that challenge their limits. Despite their youth, they carry some emotional baggage from their pasts. They find themselves in frightening situations but are driven by a pure sense of honor to address the crises they encounter. They stumble at times, yet they stand up and try again.

      All of them also have older, seasoned mentors to guide them, who themselves are flawed and human with intriguing backstories.

      Like me, none of these young characters are superheroes. They are relatable.

      Both series revolve around the theme of correcting past mistakes. We’ve all made errors and have our share of regrets.

      What inspired this story? I’m sensing an 80s Spielberg movie vibe with the premise, but feel free to correct me if I’m mistaken.

      Absolutely! I LOVE the early ’80s Spielberg vibe. It captures the fresh outlook of naive youth untainted by the jaded perspective of older generations. For these characters, everything may seem frightening and perilous, but above all, it’s an adventure that they must seize.

      The renowned Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, California, significantly influenced this story. I’m fascinated by that hauntingly beautiful Victorian mansion. I took an element from the legend of the Winchester Mystery House, modified it considerably, and created the legend of the mansion and its dark secret for Enigmatown.

      Equally important were my beloved series of books by the late John Bellairs (and expertly continued by Brad Strickland). These Gothic young adult horror novels predate many modern series like Goosebumps and A Series of Unfortunate Events. They established the formula that later works emulate. I absolutely ADORE these books and wanted to craft a similar cozy, delightfully eerie “warm drink on a cold night in your slippers” setting.

      Did this start as a series of single issues that were later compiled into a trade paperback, or did Red 5 publish it all in one volume?

      Good question. I initially planned for it to be a series of single issues, but as I wrote, I found the pressure to provide closure or a cliffhanger every 22 pages to be limiting. I wished for the story and chapters to flow naturally.

      If a chapter (issue) required 17 pages to fully express something, I wanted that. If it took 29 pages, that was fine too. I didn’t want to add unnecessary content or cut essential story elements, so I opted for a graphic novel/trade paperback format instead. That turned out to be the right decision.

      How have sales and fan reactions been?

      Sales at conventions have been fantastic. People are really enjoying the cozy scare factor. It’s somewhat of a blend between The Haunted Mansion and Toy Story, and audiences are responding well to that.

      As is often the case with indie comics in this unpredictable distribution landscape, direct market sales have been modest. Online sales through my marketing efforts and word of mouth have been decent, but conventions have overwhelmingly been the biggest revenue sources