Lazy Bones... What’s in a Name? An interview with the US independent publisher.
LAZY BONES Bones Studios is a small independent US comic book publisher that has slowly grown in recent times, finding its niche markets and enjoying doing so. The man behind it is Ken Thomas, though hardly a lazy bones himself he’s fond of that nom de plume.
Here follows an interview with Ken, an extended transatlantic chat if you will, as Paul H Birch delves into the story of why and how he started, hopefully passing along some useful tips to others along the way, and naturally enough, letting you know a little more about some of the books due from Lazy Bones Studios.
Paul H Birch: Ken, tell me a little about your background as a reader of comics; when did you start picking them up and what kind of titles?
Ken Thomas: Like so many, my background as a reader of comics is well rooted in my youth. The time period was the early 1960s with twelve cent comics and giant annuals for a quarter, it was heaven for sure. No comic book stores back then, just the spinner rack at the local store, be it liquor, grocery or pharmacy.
When I was really young, say 6 or 7, it was Hot Stuff, Casper, and Donald Duck. Not much time passed and the flavour of the day was DC and Marvel. Mostly Marvel, anything Marvel,; Incredible Hulk, Doctor Strange, Thor, Captain America, Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer and more. It wasn’t long before I graduated to Warren Publishing, their pulps were amazing! Creepy, Eerie, Famous Monsters of Filmland and Vampirella. Life was good.
PHB: Where did the decision to get involved in publishing and trying your hand at writing comics come from and how did that evolve?
KT: All of my children are artistically inclined. My two youngest went on to art school to further their skills. One day talking with them about how hard and competitive the world is I pointed out how it wouldn’t hurt when seeking employment to have something in their portfolios that perhaps the competition did not.
The suggestion was self-publishing a comic book and that I would help them. The wheels were set in motion. Our first convention was in San Jose, selling off some of my old comics and toys to raise money for our adventure.
I wrote a miniseries, The Adventures of Sam and Freddy, they run the Cryptozoological Detective Agency. We released a preview issue that my youngest Jake, illustrated for WonderCon in San Francisco in 2010. Since then we have learned much; my writing, I hope, has greatly improved and I will correct the original script and release it properly sometime in the future.
PHB: Where did the name Lazy Bones come from?
KT: My youngest (Jake) was the most excited and involved in this process. We came up with scores upon scores of names. I would have been fine with just about any of them. Jake came up with Lazy Bones Studios - and so it was written.
The intent was always to self publish. With the money raised we purchased a used HP 5550DN wide format color laserjet printer with duplex capabilities, a pair of Swingline Long Reach Staplers and a paper cutter off of eBay that can cut 400 sheets at a time. With no experience or instructions for equipment or software, the task was at hand.
There are many pros and cons to literally printing, stapling, cutting, folding and packaging your own work. You have so much control; you can have 100 issues with a show specific cover ready over night. It is however, a lot of work. Equipment breaks, toner runs out and I’ll say it again, “It’s a lot of work." These days most of the printing is let out to others.
Until just recently all of my work has been through Lazy Bones Studios. The recent exception has been my Bumhunters & Bumpires story published by Acme Ink in their Creepy KOFY Movie Time Comic.
PHB: So what titles has Lazy Bones Studios published so far?
KT: Our very first printing was for Hayward-Con 2009. There were 3 issues of Tattoo Flash in a comic book format; Chinese Characters, Japanese Characters for Western Astrology, and Japanese Characters for Traditional Astrology. These gave me the opportunity to figure out the printer and software. Little things like how to get page two to come after page one and before page three. Two conventions later and The Adventures of Sam and Freddy and a Skullering Book; a colouring book based on skulls and skeletal pictures were added to the mix as well as many 11 x 17 prints of my work.
PHB: Which writers have influenced your own endeavours?
KT: Wow, excellent question! I know of writers I’ve enjoyed... But influenced? Funny, my favourite writers actually aren't comic book writers at all. Such as Anne McCaffrey, H.G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Margaret Weis, Tracy Hickman, Piers Anthony and Robert Asprin, to name a few.
PHB: The Tale of a Well Hung Man one-shot appears to have got a positive reaction with its wicked streak of humour. How did that evolve?
KT: The Tale of a Well Hung Man is a good example of my twisted humour. I was sitting behind my table at WonderCon 2010 with a pad and pencil at the ready to write. Was it that I grew up on westerns and/or we were but mere blocks away from the Castro district in San Francisco that led to the play on words? I’m not sure, however the title did come before the story. Having already picked the title it was just a matter of writing something fitting. Most of the story was written at that show, perhaps 90% or more. It needed something... a vehicle of events to make the story work.
About three months later on my morning commute it struck me. At last the story was finished. It was sometime later that I approached Gary Crutchley about illustrating it. Gary said he would think about it. A number of weeks had passed with no word from him. Then one day an email with the basis for the cover arrived. Gary was on board and the rest as they say is history.
PHB: From what I know of the projects you’ve got on the table, the main ingredients you seem to like to bring to the writing table are a chunk of humour, a side order of horror with a healthy gathering of historical research, am I correct?
KT: Paul, you are spot on with your analysis. Nonsense and Tom Foolery are good ingredients too. Having always enjoyed comic books, I have in recent years been disappointed with many where the good guys are fighting one another and for no apparent reason other than to have splash pages with as many characters as possible. Entertained I am not. I guess that is why I try not to travel that worn rode. I will build as much fact as I can to give the story life. A story is but a lie and the best lies are laced with bits and pieces of truth.
PHB: Abe Lincoln Vs Kris Kringles – if that’s the correct title – fills all the above in one weird bag, and it was the first project of yours I was made aware of, when I was told you were looking for an artist and was able to recommend Gary . I understand it is to be a four issue series, without giving the game away what is the gist of the story?
KT: I love this story. The finished title is not set in stone yet. Abe Lincoln vs Kris Kringle is the most likely choice. It starts near the end of the American Civil War. Abe Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant and James Wilkes Booth make a plan in which they stage the assassination of Lincoln so that his absence from public view will go without question. This allows them to travel north to free another race of people, the elves. The rest I will leave to your imagination...for now anyways.
PHB: You also have a number of books based on your Anne Frankenstein character in development.
KT: Anne Frankenstein is dear to my heart. Anne Frank has always been an inspiration as she just seemed to be such an amazing individual, especially given her age. We were attending a toy show in San Jose that fell on the day or day after the anniversary of Anne Frank’s death. I was walking down an aisle and there was this huge resin Frankenstein statue. Upon viewing it I remember smiling and thinking “Anne Frankenstein”. That night I started writing a rough version of the story.
It takes place in the future; the 6th Reich has taken over most of the world. The resistance and underground meet, organise and pool their resources, as the people need someone or something to bring them hope, to make them willing to rise, to fight, to believe they can once again be free. The plan is put into action, and robbing Anne Frank’s grave was just the beginning. Anne is now 9 feet tall to the top of her holographic head. She is trained and wrecks havoc upon the Nazis. The Nazis being the occult bump reading thugs that they are, strike a deal with the devil so to speak, to bring back their own champion...
Anne’s story was to be a three part miniseries it has grown and will now be a four part miniseries.
Beyond that, there is a crossover story in the works which is currently being illustrated by Jon Christopher Ledford. There are also companion pieces being made. One of which is The Annethology which will be three or four short stories and the Art of Anne Frankenstein with pin-ups by artists like Nathan Watson, James O’Barr, Tim Vigil, Mel Smith, Jake Thomas, Randall Vogel, Manuel Martinez, Ernie Chan, Steve Mannion, Shelly InSpace (aka Original Nick), Jon Christopher Ledford, Richard Becker, Steevin Love, Paul Allen, Raoul Robles, Sean Dietrich, Emo Gonzales, Trevor Von Eeden, Mark Badger, Patrick Bussey, Alex Nino and more.
PHB: Bum Hunters & Bumpires written by your good self and drawn by Edbon Sevillino has just appeared in the anthology comic Creepy Kofy Movietime, published by Acme Ink. How did that come about and develop?
KT: This might sound corny, but when I was very young my father taught me that when given an opportunity; seize it as it may never be offered again. He went on that even if it was something I didn’t know how to do yet, accept it and get to knowing it before the task need t be done (thanks, pop). Well I was offered an opportunity to write a story for the horror anthology. History dictates my response. I keep a list of story ideas, a very large list.
In reviewing the list I came across two of my ideas. One idea was about a street gang named Bum Hunters that preyed on the homeless, transients, or as they used to be called, bums. The other idea was about Bumpires. It was much different than how I used it which keeps the doors opened to the old idea being used in the future with a different name. Mel Smith liked the story and got Edbon to draw it.
PHB: It sounds like you and Edbon intend the characters to continue, is that the case?
KT: I would love to continue this story line and have seen posts from Edbon suggesting he too would like to do more. If he really and truly wants to, then I am totally on board. The next leg in the story would start with an earthquake. The rest I will leave to your imagination.
PHB: You have a career elsewhere and you appear to bring that professional work ethic to bear on the company. What is it that you think Lazy Bones Studios brings to the table as a publisher that makes the company unique?
KT: I think as a publisher what we bring to the table is fun. What makes us unique? Again, I think the answer is fun. In my experience publishing and doing conventions I feel like we're having a lot more fun than many of those around us, and that energy and joy not only goes into our work but also helps to pull people in. A big part in being professional is loving what you do; living up to commitments, and for god sake be on time.
PHB: Do you think the trend towards digital publishing will affect you?
KT: I think digital publishing is a pro in that it makes self-publishing infinitely easier (printing/distribution). I hope I’m correct in thinking the real comic book fans won’t let the paper and ink completely disappear; the reduced numbers in printing could bring about truly limited collectable pieces again. The con being that since anyone can now self-publish for virtually nothing your work can more easily get lost in all the crap.
PHB: How do you perceive Lazy Bones Studios developing?
KT: For books, we are gradually getting more and more out which is really great. Regarding character properties? We have a whole universe of stories and characters that are just waiting to get drawn and enjoyed.
PHB: Many thanks for your time, Ken!
For more about Lazy Bones Studios visit their website by clicking here.
Sponsored by Target Media.
