Halloween Man creator Drew Edwards on “monsters and misfits” trying to figure out who they are
For fans of Universal Monsters, Jack Kirby, and late-night horror TV.
Our interview with the creator of indie comic book Halloween Man, starring a misunderstood monster fighting zombies, the Headless Horseman, and a criminal mastermind—in a city with superheroes, flying cars, and robots…
In this article:
About the new Halloween Man Omnibus
Meet series creator Drew Edwards
The exclusive Monster Complex® interview: Drew Edwards on Halloween Man
The new Halloween Man Omnibus
The brand-new comic book collection Halloween Man Omnibus (Red 5 Premium) stars the indie monster superhero series written by Drew Edwards with art from several artists. This book celebrates some of the earliest work of the long-running, award-winning web comic series.
Slain by a vampire, but brought back to life by arcane magic, Solomon Hitch is Halloween Man, a flesh-eating zombie with the power of the horror movie sequel! Join Halloween Man and his glamorous super-scientist girlfriend Lucy as they battle man-eating zombies and the Headless Horseman in a city with superheroes, flying cars, and robots. Join them for weird adventures into the occult to smash evil and possibly save their own souls!
The Halloween Man Omnibus also includes the ultra-rare crossover with Hack/Slash featuring art by Marvel fan-favorite David Baldeon, plus some work by DC Comics superstar Nicola Scott.
In our exclusive interview below, Edwards talks to Monster Complex® about the origins behind the indie comics series, why it’s chock-full of so many genre fun at the same time, his “haunted laboratory” for experimenting with his comics, and more!
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Meet Halloween Man creator Drew Edwards
Halloween Man comic books are spearheaded by writer/creator Drew Edwards, winner of the “Best of Austin” Award and nominee of the Ringo Awards for comic book creators. With more than 20 years publishing experience, Edwards isn’t just a comic book writer, he’s also a horror film historian, music journalist, and rock promoter.
Thousands tune in each week to hear him as a cast member of the horror movie podcast Castle of Horror. Known as “Howlin’” Drew Edwards to many musicians, he’s helped bridge the horror and comic culture worlds with Austin’s legendary music scene with Halloween Man Productions annual “Punk vs. Rockabilly” showcase during SXSW, and as a contributing writer for Rockabilly Online.
Find Drew Edwards online:
The Monster Complex® interview: Drew Edwards on Halloween Man
Halloween Man origins
1) What inspired you to mash-up these various monster and comics influences in the first place?
“When I first started Halloween Man, I wasn’t trying to make a ‘genre mash-up’—I was just throwing everything I loved into the same blender and seeing what came out. I grew up on Universal Monsters, Jack Kirby, Elvira, Joe Bob Briggs, Sam Raimi, and a steady diet of weird late-night horror TV. To me, that stuff all lived in the same neighborhood—monsters and misfits trying to figure out who they were.
“At first, it was very instinctive. I didn’t overthink the mix; I just wrote what felt true to me. Over time, though, I’ve learned to refine it. I’ve gotten better at knowing when to lean into the absurd and when to let something be emotional or spooky. The balance comes from trusting the characters—especially Solomon and Lucy—to carry the tone instead of the other way around.
“My overall goal has always been to show that monsters can be heroes, that outsiders have stories worth telling. Horror has always been the language of the marginalized, and Halloween Man is my way of saying that being weird isn’t a curse—it’s a kind of superpower.”
2) I’m intrigued by how these stories first appeared. What has been your overall goal in making these stories available?
“When I started out, Halloween Man was just a scrappy little webcomic—a big experiment that somehow grew legs and started walking. I didn’t have some grand plan or marketing strategy; I just wanted to tell the best monster stories I could and hope they found their people.”
Halloween Man Omnibus questions
3) This book celebrates 25 years of Halloween Man. Are these in their original order, or is this a scrapbook? What’s the best way for readers to meet Halloween Man?
“It’s very much a ‘Best Of’ collection. I had to dig through all the older comics and weigh a few key things. The first question was, What do fans want to see? But just as important was, What makes the best introduction to this universe?”
4) How much of his stories are represented in this omnibus? In another interview, you recommended a couple of stories that I didn’t find by flipping through this book.
“The stories in this collection come from a very specific era—what I like to call the webcomic era of Halloween Man. In other words, these are the pre-Comixology and pre-GlobalComix stories, back when we were completely DIY.
“Because of that, this volume feels especially true to the original spirit of the series—it’s an entry point into where it all began. If we get the chance to do Halloween Man Vol. 2, the plan is to dig deeper into our massive back catalog and showcase material from other eras. That’s the long-term goal, to give readers the full haunted history.”
AKA also worth checking out:
Halloween Man: Hallowtide
Halloween Man vs. the Invisible Man
Halloween Man distribution questions
5) How did this omnibus come about? How much was this created for current fans and how much intended for new readers?
“The Halloween Man Omnibus came out of conversations between Red 5 and me. I’ve got a ton of material, and the goal was simple: figure out the best way to showcase it.
“I’ve always believed comics should be user-friendly. You shouldn’t need a PhD in back issues or a crossover cheat sheet to enjoy a story. I didn’t want this book to only appeal to longtime fans who’ve been along for the ride since the early webcomic days—I wanted it to be a doorway for newcomers, too.
“The Omnibus serves as a true primer for the series: an introduction to the world, its rules, and, most importantly, its wonderfully weird cast of characters. From Solomon Hitch’s blue-collar charm to Lucy Chaplin’s brainy brilliance, each story was selected to highlight the personality and heart that define the series.
“I wanted readers to feel instantly at home, even if it’s their very first step into the strange, spooky, and sometimes hilarious universe of Halloween Man.
“Ideally, new fans will fall in love with the characters, while longtime readers get a fresh, cohesive trip down memory lane—without needing a map.”
6) How did you get involved with publisher Red 5?
“Since both Red 5 and I are based in Texas, we’d crossed paths at conventions enough times to know a collaboration made sense. Head Honcho Scott Chitwood was looking to beef up Red 5’s horror output, and I was looking for ways to grow the Halloween Man brand—so teaming up felt completely natural.
“Right now, this is our first project together, but if it’s a hit, you can bet we’ll be cooking up more. That, of course, depends entirely on the fans letting us know they want more chaos, monsters, and spooky fun.”
7) What are the best ways to keep track of new Halloween Man?
“If you want the newest stories right away, the digital version on GlobalComix is your best bet. But I’ve also got a soft spot for the tangible—there’s definitely room on your shelf for the Red 5 physical editions. After all, nothing beats holding a book in your hands.”
8) What are the best ways to keep track of you and your new work?
“The easiest way to keep up with everything Halloween Man—and my other projects—is my Instagram. I post daily, usually with links, sneak peeks, and the occasional behind-the-scenes chaos, so it’s the fastest way to know what’s happening in the world of monsters and misfits.
9) Searching for more Halloween Man info online, I came across GlobalComix—how much are they part of what you’re doing now?
“Digital comics have always been our sweet spot—after all, Halloween Man started out as a webcomic. Growing organically online helped us build a fanbase that not only supports physical releases but also spreads the word to new readers.
“Honestly, I don’t think we’d be anywhere near this point without the digital side of things. It’s been like our haunted laboratory for experimenting, connecting with fans, and testing out stories before they make the leap into print.”
More Halloween Man interviews with Drew Edwards
Halloween Man Creator Drew Edwards [Interview] (Kabooooom!)
Ep. 44: Halloween Man, Interview with Writer Drew Edwards (Graphic Novel Apostle)
DREW EDWARDS returns with HALLOWEEN MAN (Comic Book Yeti)
Castle Talk: Drew Edwards, creator of HALLOWEEN MAN (Castle Bridge Media)
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Exclusive interview with the creator of indie comic book Halloween Man, starring a misunderstood monster superhero dealing with zombies, the Headless Horseman, and a criminal mastermind!