GVN Talking Comics: Peter Bune On Deathgasm 1.5: Director’s Cut Graphic Novel (Now on Kickstarter)

Yesterday, we released our interview with Josh Viola, the founder of Bit Bot, regarding their Kickstarter campaign for the graphic novel “Deathgasm 1.5: Director’s Cut” and the “Deathgasm” video game. During our discussion, we talked about how Deathgasm creator Jason Howden and writer Peter Bune had already begun preliminary work on the graphic novel. Eventually, it came together with the creative contributions of artist Industrias Lamonicana (Fierro), colorist Zac Atkinson (Farscape, Star Trek), letterer Jeremiah Lambert, and Josh Viola.

Keeping that in mind, we spoke with the talented Mr. Bune to discuss his early career and the opportunity he had to co-write this prelude for Jason’s highly anticipated film sequel, Deathgasm II: Goremageddon.  So, let’s welcome Peter Bune to GVN Talking Comics!

Sketch Comedy and Filmmaking with a Dose of Horror

GVN: Thank you, Peter, for sharing just a bit of your day with us. Since this is our first opportunity to chat, let’s start with your creative beginnings. When did you first take an interest in writing, and whose work inspired you to pursue that possibility?

Peter: My background is in sketch comedy and micro-budget filmmaking, with a strong dose of horror influence. For ten years, I worked on a collaborative show called The Ghouligans, where I really cut my teeth writing sketches, especially pun-heavy horror comedy. But even before that, I was reading movie scripts just for fun. I’d download my favorite ones online or buy collections by Tarantino, Wes Anderson, and the Coen Brothers.

When I got into comics, I gravitated toward writers like Garth Ennis, Brian Michael Bendis, and Brian K. Vaughan. Their work felt cinematic, sometimes outrageous, and always compelling. Between those writers and my love of Mad Magazine, I couldn’t help but want to try it myself.

Squatch Watch

GVN: In preparation for this interview, I checked out “Squatch Watch,” which you co-created with T.W. Conklin. I freely admit that I was not familiar with this series. My mistake; it’s a lot of fun, and I quite enjoy what I’ve read so far. How did that idea come to fruition, and how did you find artist Industrias Lamonicana to illustrate it?

Peter: I’m glad you got your hands on it! It hasn’t officially been released yet. Squatch Watch is actually the first comic I’ve ever worked on, and I’ve been using it as something of a calling card. I was lucky to be mentored by writer T.W. Conklin, who really showed me the ropes, not just in writing, but in assembling a full creative team, including inkers, colorists, and letterers.

The idea for Squatch Watch started with a title T.W. had come up with. My pitch ended up being completely different from what he originally envisioned. I saw it as a commentary on fame and celebrity, and how it affects the people around them, especially if you’re the security detail in charge of protecting a Bigfoot who craves the spotlight. T.W. told me to run with it, and we focused on assembling a strong art team. That’s how I first connected with the Argentine artist Industrious Lamonicana.

GVN: Your latest work is a graphic novel which serves as a prelude to Jason Howden’s highly anticipated upcoming film sequel, Deathgasm II: Goremageddon! For Deathgasm 1.5: Director’s Cut, you are co-writing with the aforementioned Mr. Howden and once again partnering with the talented Industrias Lamonicana. How did this project come to your attention, and did YOU recommend Industrias for the art duties?

Peter: Yes, I’m super stoked for this release! When I first saw the original Deathgasm trailer back in 2015, I knew I had to immediately illegally download it and share it with all my horror-loving friends. It came out of New Zealand, the same breeding ground that gave us Peter Jackson’s early splatter classics like Bad Taste and Dead Alive.

When Jason Howden started promoting his second feature, Guns Akimbo, I jumped at the chance to meet the man behind Deathgasm and have him on my podcast to bond over our shared love for ’80s and ’90s VHS-era splatter films.

A few years later, Jason saw some Squatch Watch art I’d been posting and mentioned that he’d always wanted to make a Deathgasm comic, something that would continue Brodie and Medina’s story and bridge into a sequel film called Deathgasm 2: Goremageddon.

As a fan, I was like, “This has to happen!” As a friend, I said, “You can do this, and I’ll show you how.”

I commissioned Industrious Lamonicana to mock up a Bad Taste Aliens vs. Deathgasm piece in his comic style to show what it could look like, and it looked awesome! From there, Jason shared his story outlines, and we got to work. Eventually, Josh Viola and Bit Bot Media came on board, pulled all 80 pages together, and made it real!

Working with Jason Howden

GVN: As this project progressed, how did you and Jason structure how this story would be told? Did he have an outline for the narrative he envisioned, and how much input did you and Industrias have as you worked?

Peter: Oh yeah, Jason’s always had an outline in his back pocket, for both the comic and the sequel film. From the beginning, we structured the story to be released as three issues, and that’s exactly how we wrote it. I brought in a lot of my comedy-nerd sensibilities and love for referencing horror, while Jason infused it with his signature New Zealand charm and Kiwiploitation flair. And with the art, Industrious Lamonicana blew us away. His creativity and twisted imagination took everything to the next level.

GVN: With this book under your belt, what did you learn from this experience, and would you like to try other stories in the horror genre?

Peter: I learned a lot about collaboration and patience. Sure, it takes a village, but that village moves at its own pace. I’m still pretty new to the world of comics, so I had to relate it back to what I knew: micro-budget filmmaking. I started thinking of my art team like department heads – inkers as the DPs, colorists as the gaffers, and letterers as sound. That mindset really helped everything click for me.

And I’ve always loved working in the horror-comedy genre. I’ve got a few new projects currently in the fire, hopefully you’ll be seeing them soon!

The Kickstarter Campaign

GVN: Thank you again, Peter, for your time. Before I let you go, please share with our readers once more about this exciting book and any other new projects you might have in the works.

Peter: Yes, the Deathgasm 1.5: Director’s Cut graphic novel will be available through Bit Bot Media. Be sure to support the Kickstarter campaign, it also serves as the official Deathgasm merch store! There, you’ll be able to grab the 80-page hardcopy limited and deluxe editions, featuring variant artwork and covers. You can also score the Deathgasm video game, soundtrack, t-shirts, and high-quality latex monster masks. It’s a full-on smorgasbord of horror-metal, demon-smashing fun!

The Kickstarter Campaign for both the Deathgasm 1.5: Director’s Cut graphic novel and Deathgasm: The Video game is now open. Check it out here.