Interview: Jonathan Chance treats readers with NEVER BY NIGHT horror anthology

For me, horror comics are an all-year-round endeavor. Still, this Halloween is extra special as The Beat got a chance to talk to independent creator Jonathan Chance about his spooky anthology Never by Night. There are two volumes out now, with a third on the way, each featuring haunting tales that keep you wanting the following story. Chance was able to give The Beat some insight into his very personal journey into comics, what makes a scary story good, and what it is like to be an independent creator.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Never By Night Volume 1

Javier Perez: What makes a good scary story to you?

Jonathan Chance: Something that grips you immediately. The audience needs to care about the characters; this is what I look for in movies, and I make sure it’s an essential element I exercise in my work too. Once you care about the characters, you care about what happens to them and their journey. Second, the steady or winding build to a climactic conclusion. Similarly, a looming dread throughout is effective as well.

Javier Perez: Why did you choose horror anthologies and further, why comic books?

Jonathan Chance: Without sounding sombre, the birth of my jumping headfirst into comic books came out of the passing of my wife. I came to the United States as a writer and director, and I grew up loving comic books and saw it as another possible medium to tell my stories. So after the tragedy happened, I concentrated on my son, and I paused filmmaking for the unforeseen future. Comic book creating was, in a way, my therapy.

For me, it was powerfully cathartic. I understood that creativity feeds my very being. Always has. I think some things are like this for people. I don’t think I fully knew how much until such a thing happened, but I knew I needed to keep creating stories and I found a way. With feedback from supporters, an award here, a nomination there, I want to continue to give people original stories and a reassurance of quality control each time so they keep coming back. Standing apart is important and being seen that you are is perhaps a bit of an endurance process but also maybe determination is survival transitioning into the transformation of success.

Never By Night Volume 2

Javier Perez: Being an independent creator must be scary, what kind of obstacles do you face and how do you deal with it? 

Jonathan Chance: Maybe it comes natural to me but it isn’t too scary thankfully. I love the idea of the freedom to produce what I want, to find incredible artists and creating some magic and hopefully something memorable. Out of pocket, Kickstarter you do whatever it takes. Finding the right artist, colorist etc for a project just takes a keen eye. Who will create the movie in your head? Perhaps going to art college you tend to have an idea of what you like. Different stories need different artists depending on the mood and atmosphere the story is telling you it needs. When you gather a team and there’s a collective spirit to produce something great – it’s one of best feelings. With each team member inspired to bring their best maybe even raise the bar is so exciting to observe. I write and storyboard and I’m hands on in communication of the vision being clear as I can and the creatives I’m working with often champion together to produce a great piece of work. That’s something we all want! 

Never By Night Volume 2
Video Van Man

Javier Perez: I wanted to ask about your approach to storytelling. You make a choice of being dropped in the middle of the story. No host or mascot or obvious exposition. Why did you go about it that way? 

Jonathan Chance: I chose for the Never By Night Horror anthology series to not take the usual host route. I wouldn’t be opposed to writing for anthologies that use them and I’ve working on quite a few but I do feel mine is isn’t that. An intro and outro, words of danger foreboding caution said in a way to excite the reader before launching into the first story I find is just as effective. It’s not unlike I suppose the TV show Tales from the Darkside or like some comics I enjoyed reading as a kid like Tales of Terror from Eclipse comics. Call it dark poetry or seasonal cautionary nursery rhymes, it gives the stories the opportunity to stand on their own feet and not try to be like another Creep or Cryptkeeper – its just its own thing. It comes back to that standing apart thing, who wants to copy when you can choose something original? The stories engage immediately and the reader is firmly locked in for the ride.

Never By Night Volume 2 Now All is Silver Blue

Javier Perez: what is your relation to Halloween and how this anthology is a Halloween treat for readers?

Jonathan Chance: I love Halloween. I’m from England the literal place of haunted houses, witches, and scary stories. But the U.S celebrates it better. I love the scare mazes at theme parks, horror movie marathons, cosplays and enthusiasm of people lighting up their houses for this season. Never By Night is my love letter to the season. I want it to be a haven for for the horror lover or Halloween enthusiast and give them a book of frightful delights to read in the holiday season. I write all the stories and I choose different creative groups per story for whichever period and/or mood the story requires. This is my second year making Never By Night and I’m so happy that readers are enjoying the stories and equally excited yearly about who I bring onboard as I want it to be a platform for up-and-coming artists and seasoned professionals together. 

Never By Night Volume 2 Collect Them All

Never By Night Volume 2 Collect Them All

Javier Perez: Would you mind if I ask about the artist you work with? The art style is so diverse and it gives such a nice pace from story to story.

Jonathan Chance: There are! Last year Never By Night had Dell Barras a storyboard artist for X-Men, GI Joe, Transformers and an illustrator for a string of Marvel and DC comic books, another volume 1 amazing talent is Ron Joseph from IDW, and one tale even has early coloring by none other than Roman Stevens… This year we have an artist from Spawn, Rodel Noora and another from Bloodshot named João Azeitona and these are just illustrators – colorists like Damian Felitte and Ren Spiller they bring so much to a story – great talents. So you can imagine each year along with incredible breakthrough artists, good stories, this is what they can expect from Never By Night volumes to look forward to ever Halloween.

Never By Night Volume 2 Late Night Host

Never By Night Volume 2 Late Night Host

Javier Perez: Do you have any events coming up? May I ask about the next thing you are working on?

Jonathan Chance: It’s the new comic book day before Halloween and we’ll be signing NBN volume 1 and 2. I’m really excited. It would be amazing if folks will come out and support true independent horror comics and creators! It’s an honor to sign at Golden Apple and who knows maybe they’ll ask me back haha. I’m also happy to announce the legend Dell Barras will be joining me signing his contribution to Never By Night Volume 1. He also illustrated another story of mine in Permadeath from Dead Sky Publishing, so we’ll bring some of those too. They’ll be all kinds of horror reads. I’ll be also signing soon at Coffee and a Comic and We Could Be Heroes but the dates need to be confirmed. I’ll also be at the “Revenge Of” Block Party on November 8th.

Perez: Anything you’d like to add?

Chance: New work; I am working on Never By Night Volume 3. I have a one-shot big book comic story I’m doing for Critical Entertainment called Moonlit Palms that will have a kickstarter soon. So look out for that. The great Damian Felitte is illustrating, coloring. I’m also looking for a grant to produce a mini-series on the Ohlone people. A good friend, writer, and Ohlone tribesman Henry Munoz and I have some tales we feel the world needs to read. I also have another series potential title called America Hysteria – illustrated by the incredible Rodel Noora  and the first issue is already complete so I’m open to seeing new offers with publishers. Lastly, Cover the Dead With Lime our award-winning horror mini-series never finished it’s run and people often ask about it online and at cons – so to the best bidder there too.

Order Never by Night Vol 1 and Vol 2 here!