Claus Daniel Herrmann’s Pink Monsters doesn’t just arrive in the U.S.—it bursts through the door with a blaze of personal courage. Published by Oni Press, this powerful story is an uplifting tale about shedding negativity and confidently embracing one’s LGBTQIA+ identity. Herrmann encapsulates this emotional journey in a vibrant, yet warm style filled with unique characters, creating a visual narrative that feels like liberation in pencil.
I caught up with Herrmann to talk about the deeply personal themes that power their story and why this U.S. debut feels like the perfect moment for a story about choosing authenticity over fear. So, let’s welcome talented creator Claus Daniel Herrmann to GVN Talking Comics.
Creative Origins
GVN: Thanks for sharing some of your time with us, Claus. Since this is our first opportunity to chat, let’s start with some of your creative origins. When did you first develop your love of drawing and writing, and whose work inspired that motivation in you?
CLAUS: I’ve loved drawing ever since I was a child, and fortunately, the people around me have always supported me. Comics have also been a part of my life since my teenage years—my father had a few classics and I was fascinated by all the different styles and stories. At a drawing festival I came into contact with comic artists and my first publisher, Jaja-Verlag—and that’s when the idea struck me to give it a try. The book “This One Summer” by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki was a huge inspiration for me. “Pink Monsters” is my first book with a longer storyline, and I learned a lot about writing while working on it.
GVN: So, let’s get into your upcoming book through Oni Press, “Pink Monsters.” It feels deeply personal, especially in how it tackles negativity, self‑doubt, and the journey toward self‑acceptance. What moment or experience first ignited this story for you?
CLAUS: “Pink Monsters” tells the story of Frank, a gay boy who is completely unsettled by a spiritual healer Thea. The central event in “Pink Monsters” is how Frank’s drawings of monsters are painted over in pink, supposedly to protect his depressed father from “negative energies.” Something similar happened to me as well, and at the beginning of the writing process, I mainly wanted to get that frustration off my chest. But as I was writing, I wondered why my parents went along with all that nonsense, so I explored that question in Pink Monsters.
GVN: The book resonates strongly as a coming‑out narrative. As you created this story, how did you decide how to shape the emotional arc of the story and the way your characters confront fear, shame, or transformation?
CLAUS: The compelling question that runs throughout the book is how we build and justify trust. The way society treats Frank’s homosexuality requires him to carefully consider whom he can trust. It was important to me that we build trust in Thea alongside him and that we later question this process. That’s why we start with Frank in a lonely place, find hope, and later feel isolated again—but Frank builds bridges, and things get better!
GVN: One of the elements in the book that resonates with me is young Frank’s use of his artistic skills to build relationships and acceptance with some of his peers. As an introverted youth who had trouble looking people in the eye, I also used my artistic talents to connect. Was this part of the narrative from a personal perspective, or did it come from observation?
CLAUS: Yes, that’s 100% based on my own experience. I’ve always gotten admiration for my drawing—even from the cool guys—and for a long time I held onto the hope that drawing for them would lead to a connection or even friendship in return—but at some point, you just want to be liked for who you are. I still appreciate the praise, though!
GVN: The book swings between humor, surrealism, and raw vulnerability. How did you find the right tonal balance to keep the story heartfelt without losing its playful edge?
CLAUS: The first draft I submitted to publishers had a much more caustic sense of humor at the expense of the esoteric Thea. My German publisher, Reprodukt, gave me feedback that Thea came across as too unsympathetic, and that readers couldn’t understand why Frank trusted her. So, with the help of freelance editor Wiebke Helmchen, I rewrote the story extensively. The humor now comes across much more naturally from the characters or arises from the absurdity of Thea’s ideas.
GVN: Pink Monsters is making its US debut. How did your cultural background influence the themes, pacing, or emotional honesty of Pink Monsters, if at all?
CLAUS: I don’t know to what extent this is a German or a European peculiarity, but my parents’ home was filled with books, classical instruments, and opportunities for creative self-expression. Education and individuality were valued, and there was a desire to look “behind the scenes”—though, unfortunately, this often led to simplistic answers. My school education, on the other hand, was focused on the sciences. A careful examination of the tension between the measurable world and human perception has shaped both me and Pink Monsters.
GVN: Oni Press has a strong history of championing queer and creator‑driven work. What was that collaboration like in bringing “Pink Monsters” through them?
CLAUS: It was clear that my editor at Oni Press, Chris Cerasi, felt a personal commitment to ensuring that my book reached its audience in the best possible form. And the letterer and translator, Thomas Mauer, struck just the right note in everything he did. That’s why I had a good feeling about it from the start. We had a very appreciative exchange, for which I am very grateful!
GVN: Thank you once again, Claus, for your kind attention. Finally, for readers—especially queer readers—who may be wrestling with their own identity or internal “monsters,” what do you hope they carry with them after finishing the book?
CLAUS: I hope that my book will help illustrate how ideologues have an easy time of it in situations of despair, especially when there is a lack of open communication. And I hope that a sense of self-evidence remains—namely, that every person is inherently lovable, regardless of their sexuality. It’s worth forming alliances with people who accept you for who you are!
Oni Press’ “Pink Monsters,” by Claus Daniel Herrmann
Huge thanks to Claus for diving into the emotional engine behind his story and for bringing this vibrant, affirming world to U.S. readers at exactly the right moment. If you’re ready for something bold, expressive, and beautifully honest, Pink Monsters is waiting for you, hitting stands on May 26th from Oni Press.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
