Indie Sci-Fi Horror Comic That Gets Inside Your Mind… | Artifacts (AHA Finale)

Concise summary

• This is the AHA anthology finale conversation on the United States Department of Nerds (USDN/USDM) podcast, spotlighting Evan Johnston and his short sci‑fi horror comic “Artifacts.”
• Artifacts blends cosmic isolation, psychological dread, and survival on a remote sand planet (Thralka) where scavengers risk everything to retrieve valuable “artifacts” (vessels) in a ship graveyard.
• Central themes: survival, desperation, greed, obsession, and the consequences of choices.
• The interview covers Evan’s influences, his creative process for Artifacts, the tone and mechanics of the anthology AHA (published/edited by Chris & Chris at CHK), how indie comics work (Kickstarter, creator rights), and wider reflections on horror and sci‑fi storytelling.

A short sci‑fi horror piece driven by mood and a single striking image, exploring how desperation and obsession change people on a haunted, resource‑scarce world.

Artistic techniques, concepts, and creative processes

Inspiration & concept development

• Start from a single striking image or panel (Evan began Artifacts with a visual of Val walking in the wind).
• Pull together influences (Forbidden Planet, Planet of the Vampires, Alien, EC comics, classic horror radio) to build atmosphere and tone.
• Build the story around mood and a central idea (for example: “what if artifacts are looking back at you?”).

Visual storytelling & craft

• Let the art tell the story; use words to amplify the visuals rather than to over‑explain.
• Use color palettes like a soundtrack — color choices set mood and emotional tone (e.g., lurid/nightmarish palettes, purple skies).
• Lighting used as a narrative tool (Squids’ lighting work was highlighted as particularly effective).
• Composition and single powerful panels can pitch a concept and set tone.
• Storyboarding is fundamental — comics function as visual storyboards; plan visuals to guide pacing and “camera” angles.
• Matte painting and atmosphere (classic film techniques) inform cinematic worldbuilding in comics.

Narrative choices

• Keep exposition minimal to preserve mystery; short form can be highly effective.
• Avoid cluttering the story with too many disparate sci‑fi elements; focus on a cohesive central idea.
• Use extremes in horror (heightened stakes, desperation) to create emotional impact.

Research & craft dedication

• Do deep, targeted research when details matter (example: Minaj researched asexual reproduction for an eight‑page piece).
• Backgrounds in freelance work or book‑cover design can inform comics composition and layout.

Production & publishing process (practical)

• Anthology model used: CHK assembled teams and gave creators freedom (no strict theme/restrictions; full color option available).
• Kickstarter was used to fund publication; creators retain rights after a set period (which enables follow‑ups).
• Physical print remains important to many creators (preference for floppy/printed comics), although digital distribution plays a role.
• Secure project files and control access (passworded/locked archives) for unpublished work.

Practical advice & lessons

• Show, don’t tell: rely on visuals to carry atmosphere and plot beats; keep text lean.
• Start with a strong visual idea or panel when pitching or building a short comic.
• Use color and lighting deliberately — they function like a soundtrack for mood.
• Keep the story focused; don’t overload with too many sci‑fi concepts at once.
• Short comics are powerful — you don’t always need to expand to a long form.
• Pitch with art whenever possible; one crisp visual often outperforms a single‑sentence logline.
• Do research where details matter — even short stories benefit from accuracy.
• Build community and collaborations (anthologies are opportunities to meet new creators).
• Protect your unpublished work (secure files, backups).

Key creative and conceptual themes in Artifacts

• Survival vs. consequence: high‑stakes survival under extreme scarcity (no water, sand planet) shows how desperation influences choices.
• Greed and obsession: characters risk lives for rare artifacts; obsession becomes the real horror.
• Cosmic/planetary dread: a haunted planet or ship graveyard extends inescapable threat beyond a single building.
• Ambiguous mystery: withholding full explanations maintains dread and lets readers imagine the unknown.

Production and context notes

• AHA anthology emphasized creator freedom (full color allowed, no tight theme), pairing experienced and newer creators.
• Funded and organized via Kickstarter.
• Creators get rights back after a year, opening possibilities for follow‑ups and continued use of their work.

Creators, contributors, and notable references

• Evan Johnston — creator of Artifacts; illustrator/designer
• Chris Mendoza / “Chris and Chris” — CHK editors/publishers behind AHA
• CHK — publisher/editors of the anthology
• Travis James — inker (“Inker Supreme”)
• Jasmine — creator/writer featured in AHA
• Minaj — creator/writer (noted for research on their story)
• Squids — artist (noted for lighting)
• Duke / Duke Electric — contributor referenced
• Migs — contributor referenced
• Francisco — storyboard artist (noted for Vitilarium storyboards)
• Chairman / United States Department of Nerds / USDM podcast — host of the interview

Referenced creators, influences, and works:

• Matt Fraction; Eastman & Laird; Alan Moore; Frank Miller; Denny O’Neil; Neil Gaiman; Ryan North
• Film and genre influences: Forbidden Planet; Planet of the Vampires; Alien; Event Horizon
• Comics references: EC comics; The Sandman; Swamp Thing; Hellblazer
• Cultural reference: actor Peter Cushing (mentioned in relation to a quote)

End of summary.