Steph Dumais is a Canadian artist and publisher working under the name ‘Raisinlove’ who also runs the internationally loved indie publishing company ‘Bloody Gore Comix’. Indeed’BGC’ was originally set up to publish Steph’s own creations after some frustrating experiences having his work under the control of other companies.
Almost immediately after delving into the world of self publishing Steph gained renown for his talents as an artist, collaborator and publisher. As a result Steph and ‘BGC’ soon came to start showcasing the works of a sleuth of artists from all over the globe – and continues to do so today.
Uniquely, Steph himself has been working in the comics scene since he was a child – from winning a nation-wide Canadian illustration contest for an anti-drug campaign when at elementary school, to having his debut zine Raisinlove Comix being sold out of a local head-shop at 15. A clear example of the changes we all undertake through childhood and teen years if ever there was one!
Remembering those pivotal moments, Steph states:
“As I finished elementary school, I won a national illustration contest for an anti-drug campaign (ironic considering later years) and got a brief moment of celebrity.
I had even created some crime fighting comics for my own pleasure around this time…
The first time I set foot in an actual comic shop, as opposed to the corner store where I usually bought them, I discovered an entire world of alternative comics. That’s when I discovered Faust and Deadworld comics along with other “dark” books.
I started creating a zine called Raisinlove Comix, which I sold from my locker in high school. It featured typical angst teen scato humour. This expanded into buying blank white tshirts onto which I would draw severed heads or the school burning down and I would sell these to fellow students as well.
Of course, at this point my parents were not as impressed lol.
But I enjoyed this and one day I attended my first comic book convention. This is where I met Mike Foster from Ottawa’s first headshop Crosstown Traffic. He noticed my tshirt and we got to talking about my zine. He offered to sell them in his shop and this was a major event for me, which got me into drawing comics ALL THE TIME.“
(Some art by Steph below)
With Steph constantly on the art grind both for his self driven creations and in his status as a publisher now is the perfect time to get to know the man himself by reading the interview below…
Basics/Getting to Know
Name + D.O.B?
Steph Dumais
27 December 1976
City, State n Country you currently call home?
Saint-Lambert, a suburb of Montreal in Canada.
City, State n Country you’re from?
I was born in Windsor, Ontario right next to Detroit but grew up in Gatineau, Quebec.
(Some comics below published by Bloody Gore Comix)
Describe a memory from some stages of your life ….basically trying to piece together pivotal moments. Concerts, art, action-figures, romance, school, politics, crime… ANYTHING really!
* age 5 – beginnings:
As a young kid I already loved spending most of my time drawing and my family (and extended family) noticed so they kept signing me up for contests and getting me art supplies for Christmas and my birthday.
At age 6 I moved to Quebec where my family is from.
(Photo below of Steph as a kid)
* age 10 – continuations:
As I finished elementary school, I won a national illustration contest for an anti-drug campaign (ironic considering later years) and got a brief moment of celebrity.
I had even created some crime fighting comics for my own pleasure around this time.
(An old newspaper clipping below of Steph winning a national anti-drug art campaign.)
* age 15 – getting serious:
As a teenager, I started getting into comics like most of my friends, reading anything from franco-belge bande-dessinées to Archie to Marvel comics.
But the first time I set foot in an actual comic shop, as opposed to the corner store where I usually bought them, I discovered an entire world of alternative comics. That’s when I discovered Faust and Deadworld comics along with other “dark” books.
I started creating a zine called Raisinlove Comix, which I sold from my locker in high school. It featured typical angst teen scato humour. This expanded into buying blank white tshirts onto which I would draw severed heads or the school burning down and I would sell these to fellow students as well.
Of course, at this point my parents were not as impressed lol. But I enjoyed this and one day I attended my first comic book convention. This is where I met Mike Foster from Ottawa’s first headshop Crosstown Traffic. He noticed my tshirt and we got to talking about my zine. He offered to sell them in his shop and this was a major event for me, which got me into drawing comics ALL THE TIME.
* age 20 – young adult:
After high school I moved to Montreal to study 3D animation, which I realized I hated. But the move opened up a new world for me. I met Montreal’s underground comics community. I would attend zine launches and partied with some of these like minded weirdos.
I produced a lot more zines during these years and would often cross paths with other creators at the copy center where we mass produced our art.
This is also when I started getting online and I eventually hooked up with Jason (Jake) Karns, around 1999. I forget exactly how this went about but we got started on a comics jam which we called Zombie Commandos From Hell! We each drew a page inspired by the other’s previous page and a story emerged. He got bored of it but I decided to get it printed. It got picked up by Boneyard Press, who encouraged me to keep it going. But they ended up ripping me off by not forwarding the payments from Diamond Distribution. Years later I found out I wasn’t they only one they ripped off.
It was also during these years that I was obsessed with music. I had discovered the local industrial gothic scene and spent one or two nights a week in local clubs. I wasn’t a goth myself but I did have the typical shaved head, all dressed in black look that I still have today. I hooked up with some labels I loved and started doing flyers for show and album covers for various industrial bands like Assemblage 23 and Negative Format and a lot of compilations. I traveled to the US for some of these shows.
* age 25 – adult mode:
In 2002 I was given the opportunity to work as a graphic designer for an aerospace company which in turn gave me the chance to work in Europe. I packed everything up and settled in Rreszow, Poland for two years with my girlfriend. While making new friends there, discovering a whole new culture and traveling around Europe, I matured and widened my taste in art and music.
My relationship didn’t survive so we returned to Quebec where I started working for an ad agency. During these years I did work for Mirage Publishing, fulfilling a long time dream of being hired to draw official TMNT comics. That didn’t last as Laird eventually sold to Nickelodeon.
* age 35 – meanderings:
By this time I was a regular in small press exhibitions in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City as well as tabling in larger events like Comiccon or Horror conventions.
I met my future wife around this time through the rave scene that I briefly explored during my short celibacy and we had a daughter together. We moved out of our trashy neighbourhood to a nicer subburb of Montreal where we still live today.
I kept producing issues of Zombie Commandos as best as I could given my now highly regimented schedule and had the crazy idea of starting up my own publishing house along with collaborators.
* age 40 – midde age creeping:
New job, new ambitions, new projects!
(A recent photo below of Steph)
Personal motto?
Perfectionism is a waste of time.
Art Scene Questions
If you had to give a dictionary-type definition of various culture-world terms… what would they be…
– Good art?
I always say art is subjective so good art depends on my own tastes.
But a more universal criteria for good art probably has to do with the passion that goes into it.
– Bad art?
Good art might be subjective but objectively, bad art is lazy art.
I don’t mean a drawing that takes 5 seconds because you’re fast, I mean art where no effort was ever put into it regardless of the time spent on it.
Bad art is made when the artist doesn’t care about it.
Of course, one can still be successful with bad art as we see it all around us.
– A curator?
The term curator makes me think of a friend of mine who attends most comic related events in Montreal and probably owns art from *every* artist in the city.
He has a great knowledge of the local history of comics and is also a sharp critic.
– A critic?
Of course there are different types of critics and some can give constructive criticism while others might revel in their hatred of some art and go out of their way to entertain with their vitriol.
The former is obviously more useful for creators.
(Some art below by Steph)
– An artist?
Well that’s easy, an artist is a creator, and artist makes emotions tangible.
– Art itself?
Art can be anything you call art if you throw in some explanations I suppose. But concretely, art is the product of a creative process meant to express a message or emotions.
Or make a quick buck.
– Freedom of Speech / Freedom of Artistic Expression?
This is highly dependent of culture and morals.
Ultimately, censorship is meant to protect people but different cultures don’t agree on what people need protection from.
I tend to see myself as very open minded but I do see a use in restriction of freedom when dangerous propaganda (dangerous according to my values of course) is involved.
At the other end of the spectrum, I see freedom of speech as a powerful weapon against real life evil.
(Some platform toys from Kid Robot customed by Steph below)
Favorite artist(s)?
Robert Crumb, Josan Gonzales, Juan Jose Ryp, Frank Miller, Alex Horley, Simon Bisley, Jack Kirby, Tim Tyler, Tim Vigil, Mike Bauman, John Buscema, Eric Stanton, Nik Guerra, Raulo Cáceres, Greenway, Riddick, Mark Texeira, Patrick Nagel, Vince Locke, Kevin Eastman, Jeff Gaither…
So many. I won’t even start naming musicians and writers lol
Are there any shared aspects in art you love, and if so – what are they man?
I love the whole underground comix aesthetic, gritty comics from the 80s and 90s, trashy over the top ultra violence with a lot going on, intensely detailed busy city scenes or battles featuring huge crowds, hard edges and smooth curves, buxom dominant ladies in towering heels, bright neon colours, the synthwave aesthetic, cyberpunk, wires everywhere, mutants and zombies full of dripping pus, blood and disease, exploding brains, guts and eyeballs, atomic explosions and rusty spikes.
Great art comes before the story in my choice of comics and even movies.
Amazing visuals can make up for terrible writing for me but a great story is an appreciated bonus.
Your Art Questions
When and why did you first start making art of any type!?
I’ve been drawing since childhood but specifically comics, I would say around 10 years old?
I think I started drawing my stories as a natural next step after I’d been acting them out with my action figures. I was way into monsters fighting soldiers back then.
I guess that never left me…
Any pivotal artistic moment(s) / influence(s)?
A big moment in my life was when I first self published my first zine. I was impressed by the first comic zine I ever bought which was called Cur Comix by Greg Kerr in Ottawa. He left a lasting impression.
And earlier on, my father had introduced me to Tristan Demers’ self published comics as an example to strive for.
(Some art below by Steph)
Do you consider what you are making to be art, design, re-hashed crap?
Well I consider it art.
It might not be the most original subject matter but I like to think I set myself apart with my graphic style.
Worst aspect of the contemporary art hustle?
Artists still don’t get enough respect.
Everyone enjoys consuming art but no one wants to pay for it.
I don’t know what the solutions are but things could definitely be better.
Best aspect of the contemporary art hustle?
The internet.
Access to art we would never have discovered otherwise. Being able to reach niche audiences.
There are downsides such as the culture of everything free and the danger of privatization of the internet but so far, it has been good for art.
Favorite other artist(s)?
I exhausted myself with the comic artists I already mentioned lol
Describe the process of producing your art? – Dot point all o.k!
– Jot down my ideas on paper or emailing myself. Quick sketches. Rough scripts. Drunk rants. Dreams I don’t remember the next morning.
– Page thumbnails for an idea of my layouts. Sometimes I skip this step and go right at it.
– Pencils on 11 x 17 in paper. I use a blue pencil so I can ink right over it. My pencils aren’t that detailed.
– The good stuff, the inks, where I do all my details, line widths, area fills and such. I mainly use Pilot Fineliners and india ink markers for the larger areas.
– I scan it in and clean up the contrasts in Photoshop. Sometimes I tidy up some lines and make edits with my Wacom.
– Colours are usually done in Photoshop as well. That’s a whole process onto itself involving lots of layers and screwing around with blending.
– For comic pages, the last step involves the text and sound fx overlays. I created a font based on my hand lettering to keep the look consistent.
‘Bloody Gore Comix’ Questions
For those reading at home who may be unaware – please explain the who, what and why of ‘Bloody Gore Comix’ ?
I had been fucked over by the first Zombie Commandos publisher and the second one closed up shop and I realized I could just keep self publishing it. I threw some ideas around for a publishing house with Adam Geyer and we came up with Bloody Gore Comix.
More creators came onboard and eventually we started doing the anthologies.
I really wanted to set myself apart from other horror publishers by focusing on the underground style and graphic violence.
What is your role at ‘Bloody Gore Comix’ + what is the process for releasing your comics?
This is pretty much a one man operation so my role is simply “publisher”.
I initially used print on demand services which allowed me to release more titles at once but these companies started censoring what they printed.
I now use a local printer who delivers a high quality product and doesn’t shy away from my material. But this also means bigger and less frequent print runs.
As far as sales, promotion and distribution goes, it’s mostly done online and through conventions. Our last anthology was released as a Kickstarter campaign and that worked out great!
(Some photos below of Steph slinging that Bloody Gore Comix crack)
Thoughts on the current status of the Canadian indie comics scene man?
I’m seeing an explosion of creativity these days and my own city’s scene is crazy productive. There are plenty of annual small press events here.
Horror and splatter is still not as big as I would like but I think these are great times for comics.
… and what about internationally?
I see more and more diversity everywhere else but I have been into a lot of Spanish productions lately.
Odds n Ends
What role did toys play in your childhood?
They were my world! Transformers, GI Joe, Sectaurs, Lego, Masters of the Universe.
I spent hours living adventures with these warriors.
Who was your 1st crush and why?
In kindergarten at Ste-Therese Elementary in Windsor, Ontario, I had my first crush, she was called Mélanie.
Does sex change everything?
There are a lot more women in my art since sex became enjoyable.
My first experiences were terrible lol
Please describe what you think the Canadian psyche / zeitgeist is today?
Well I’m in a particular situation. In Quebec, we have a different culture, language and values than the rest of Canada so I can’t speak for Canada in general. But we face the same contemporary problems as our neighbors.
That being said, I think we are generally more open-minded and liberal here than anywhere else in North-America. Some would say “more european”. Having traveled in other parts of Canada, the US and Europe, I tend to agree. But we are not exempt from political correctness. I certainly haven’t made things any easier with my brand of art focusing on violence and gore. Constant criticism and disdain for my choice of subjects wears me down sometimes. But the people who appreciate it make up for it. Fans of this kind of art are dedicated for sure.
I sometimes joke around that I probably have some psychopaths among the fans of BGC. Since Trump became president, it seems like a lot of scum have become more vocal and it is sometimes depressing. But it doesn’t keep me from being productive. To the contrary.
(Some covers below of Zombie Commandos From Hell! from Steph and ‘BGC’)
Which cartoon character, would you most like to see in a tribute sex toy, and why?
I have a thing for Nik Guerra’s Magenta character!
Who would win in a fight and why: Pikachu Vs. Bubbles (from ‘Trailer Park Boys’)?
(Please draw the battle in all it’s violent beauty!)
Bubbles is full of surprises.
He would probably come up with a secret weapon like a cat launcher or something.
(Art by Steph below of the battle in all it’s violent glory!)
What are the top 3 items you own?
This is a tough one to answer…
Let’s say my entire comics and magazines collection as the single one thing I own that I am very proud of. This includes comics from my childhood, my favorites series such as Deadworld and comics from different countries I have visited over the years.
(Photo below of Steph’s comic and magazine collection.)
Drugs – waste of time or gateway to the universe?
I used to wake & bake for a little while but for some reason I lost tolerance for it. It wasn’t enjoyable anymore.
Later on I had a crazy pill phase where I could go to raves a lot and that was fun but then I settled down and started a family… with a raver lol.
These days I enjoy a good drink.
Please describe your latest dream in detail…
My dreams are horribly banal. Maybe it’s because my daydreaming is so much more interesting.
In my last dream, I was arguing with a cop over a parking ticket.
(Some cheesecake style art below by Steph)
Of everything you have done what would you most like to be remembered for and why?
I would like to be remembered for a great comic book I have yet to create. The ones I have done so far are fine but I know my opus is yet to come.
I consider most of my work so far as original takes on classic sub genres but I aspire to come up with something truly original at some point. That would be a great thing to be remembered for, igniting a new trend or sub genre in comics.
If people wanted to collaborate and / or work with you – how should they get in touch?
That’s easy, they can reach me through www.bloodygorecomix.com or email me at satan@bloodygorecomix.com or steph@raisinlove.com
The Future
Any collaborations on the horizon?
Many collaborations are under way: My next BGC publication will be “Kill of the Spyderwoman”, an anthology by SCAR, who are the creators of Spore Whores.
Another upcoming book is “Conquests of the First Colony”, which is a second prequel/origin story spinoff of Zombie Commandos From Hell!. Written by me but completely illustrated by BGC regular Mike Bauman!
But my main personal project at the moment is a sci-fi cyborg story I have co-created with writer Alex Gemme. He handles the script while I handle the illustrations. The first issue is set to be published in early 2019.
The final issue of Zombie Commandos will probably come after this, unless I get dragged into a third BGC anthology lol
Any major projects you want to hype?
Another ongoing project I am working on is a Zombie Commandos From Hell! combat & survival card game.
I have a lot of illustrations to do for this and the game mechanics have been developed by my friend Jason Mulligan. We will be launching a crowdfunding campaign for this!
(Some art below by Steph)
Links
- Bloody Gore Comix – Site
- Bloody Gore Comix – Instagram
- Bloody Gore Comix – Facebook
- Bloody Gore Comix – twitter
