Busy Geek Breakdown (TL;DR):

“Iron Nail Afternoon” by LJ Phillips is a must-read fantasy webcomic set in a world filled with monsters and misfits. Follow Sed Stonehaven, the charismatic sheriff, along with his allies Rachel, a strategic witch, and Little Chuck, a naive monster-hunter, as they navigate supernatural threats and personal challenges. With its blend of dark humor, intricate storytelling, and stunning artwork, this series is sure to captivate. Check it Out and support this amazing webcomic!

---

Synopsis:

“Iron Nail Afternoon” by LJ Phillips is a fantasy series that transports readers to a world inhabited by monsters and misfits. The story centers on Sed Stonehaven, the charismatic Sheriff of Iron Nail county, who is tasked with maintaining order amidst dragons, beasts, and other supernatural entities. Sed is joined by Rachel, a strategic and elegant witch, and Little Chuck, a naive monster-hunter with animal-like traits.

The narrative explores their efforts to protect the county from various threats while delving into their personal lives and relationships. As they navigate this complex world, they face challenges that test their moral compasses and their loyalty to one another.

Review:

“Iron Nail Afternoon” offers a masterful mix of dark humor, intricate storytelling, and stunning visuals. LJ Phillips crafts a compelling narrative that captivates readers from the start. The plot is multifaceted, striking a perfect balance between supernatural intrigue and character-driven drama. Key events, such as investigating the haunting of the Montgomery Mansion and uncovering a cursed artifact, keep readers engaged with well-timed reveals and twists.

Each character in “Iron Nail Afternoon” is meticulously developed, with backstories adding depth and complexity. Sed, the anti-hero, is both charming and intelligent, yet his morality is constantly tested. For example, in the prototype issue, he cripples a drinking buddy for elder abuse, though partly due to having a bad day. In the Soft Reboot, Sed emerges as a more moral character.

Rachel, the strategic witch and Governor of Iron Nail, manipulates her district and people with smooth efficiency, moving her staff and friends like pieces on a chessboard. Little Chuck, a beast man with fangs, cat-like eyes, and digitigrade legs, adds innocence and animalistic charm to the story. His exile from his home island for not fitting in adds emotional depth to his character.

Supporting characters like Valjo, a rugged action girl, and Big Chuck, a loud, dangerous beast man with a soft center, further enrich the narrative. Skollina, who switches between male and female forms, adds a unique twist, embodying themes of gender fluidity and intersex experiences.

Phillips’ artwork is breathtaking, with detailed illustrations and a moody, atmospheric color palette that enhances the supernatural vibe. The use of shadows and highlights creates depth and tension, perfectly complementing the dark humor and eerie elements. Memorable scenes, such as Julian’s séance in the candlelit basement and Edith’s confrontation with a vengeful spirit in an abandoned warehouse, are visually stunning and leave a lasting impression.

One standout feature of “Iron Nail Afternoon” is its dark humor. Phillips skillfully uses wit and sarcasm to lighten the mood, even in the most chilling scenes. For instance, when Sed finds Jekkel and Rachel having sex in his living room, he promptly deputizes Jekkel before telling him to put on some pants. This balance of horror and humor adds unique charm, making it an enjoyable read even for those who might shy away from traditional horror stories.

“Iron Nail Afternoon” stands out for its unique blend of supernatural intrigue, complex characters, and stunning art. LJ Phillips has created a world that is both eerie and endearing, drawing readers in with its rich narrative and keeping them hooked with its dark humor and beautifully crafted visuals. Whether you’re a fan of the supernatural, a lover of intricate storytelling, or simply looking for a comic that offers something different, “Iron Nail Afternoon” is definitely worth your time.

LJ Phillips is an award winning artist- a Shortbox grant recipient, on the Otherwise Honours List, and an Ambassador of the Word for by the César Egido Serrano Foundation. And now on to the interview!

Damon: Have you had a big presence at Conventions (ie. Flame Con.)? Either way, how has it been interacting with your fans, whether in person or online? 

LJ: Unfortunately, since I’m based in South Africa, I haven’t had the opportunity to go to many comic conventions, most of which take place overseas. However, I’d love to attend some in the future, especially Flame Con. My interactions with fans and readers online has been positive and I’m very grateful to my loyal reader base. Some of them have been with me for more than 10 years!

Damon: How does your personal identity and experiences as an LGBT individual influence your creative process and the stories you choose to tell? 

LJ: My main comics are Iron Nail Afternoon and Coven Days. Both have same-sex romances as a central theme but it’s bigger than that. I think that many of us have felt isolated for being different or cast in the role of “other” because of who we love or who we are. Most of my characters tend to be monsters or witches, characters traditionally condemned in fiction but recast as misunderstood protagonists with their own stories in my work.

As an intersex individual, someone who lives with certain biological differences and who has experienced medical abuse because of it, my comics have a lot of characters who play with gender –  from Rabbit (a high-femme vampire) to Jordan (a butch witch) to Skollina (who magically switches between genders.)

Being intersex in a developing country, I’ve had government hospitals and bureaucrats try to reclassify my gender on several occasions, leading to me living as different genders at different times in my life and I try to reflect that experience in my work.

Damon: Can you walk us through your typical creative process? How do you develop ideas, create characters, and bring your stories to life on the page? 

LJ: Well, I’m fueled by lots of coffee! I’m lucky because my characters have very clear and insistent voices so figuring out how they interact is easy. But there’s still the grunt work of plotting out stories, sketching out pages and then doing the final art and writing.

Generally, I write down the dialogue first and then sketch out a page. As I work into the artwork, I might tweak the dialogue. It’s an organic process but one that still takes a fair amount of work. And caffeine!

Damon: Are there any specific comic book artists or writers who have influenced your style or storytelling approach? How have they inspired you?

LJ: What a great question! Sarah Waters is a huge influence – her books opened my eyes to the fact that you can write fascinating stories about relatable LGBTQ+ characters and still have the characters be deeply flawed. Her works lifted the burden of having to write good, bland LGBTQ+ characters to appeal to the mainstream. Nowadays, I just focus on writing characters who feel real, even if they exist in a fantasy world.

Iron Dragon’s Daughter was another huge influence. It was such a novel approach to urban fantasy. And of course, the early works of Robin Hobb and David Gemmel are among my favourite reads.

Graphic novels like Sandman (very groundbreaking and diverse, especially for its time), Moore’s run on Swamp Thing, Cry Havoc by Spurrier, The Dreaming: Waking Hours by G. Willow Wilson and Black’s run on Lucifer continue to inspire. As do mangas such as Berserk and Lone Wolf and Cub (despite some dated elements.) A lot of my more “macho” characters like Big Chuck or Sed are definitely a nod to the lone warrior motif, albeit with a queer twist.

Damon: How do you envision your work impacting readers, particularly those who identify as LGBTQ+? What messages or emotions do you hope to convey through your stories? 

LJ: My stories are first and foremost about people, even if those people can turn into werewolves or cast spells. Just people trying to navigate their lives in a world that sometimes feels hostile for no reason.

For those of us who are different, there’s often this unspoken message that we have to earn acceptance. It’s exhausting. I hope that my stories show that acceptance and value as a person is a basic right. We shouldn’t have to prove ourselves day-after-day, we shouldn’t have to earn acceptance. Our right to exist isn’t a matter of debate.

Damon: Who is your favorite Federation Captain, and why?

LJ: Jean-Luc Picard