I am happy here to present some quick looks at many Steve Niles titles, and hope that you will seek out his work, and realize how fabulous a writer he is. Following the briefs is a short interview with Steve. I hope to talk to him again for print, and appreciate your stopping in to read this.

ALEISTER ARCANE :: IDW

A tribute to late night horror TV shows that would spook you into not sleeping this title was generally well received and made for adaptation to film. Aleister Arcane is a horror TV show host who is fired due to protests. And then, odd, even horrible things begin to happen.

BIGFOOT :: IDW

The American tradition of a picnic on a holiday is shattered by the appearance of Bigfoot. The big hairy bastich is blamed and one wonders where the story is to go. Niles writes this one with only the slightest edge and he infuses broad doses of horror and comedy equally throughout the work.

HAIRBALL :: DARK HORSE/IDW

This Cal McDonald Mystery was a forerunner of the later works listed below. As such it is an interesting book but more for seeing an early attempt upon the character. It is not beautiful, it is not fabulous, but still there are story ideas here that are clearly interesting and worth reading.

CRIMINAL MACABRE :: DARK HORSE

Cal McDonald is a private investigator, a hunter of the dead, the undead, the living and unliving. When he is called upon to investigate some strange doings, he takes along his undead friend Mo'lock, a ghoul who is not a bad fellow, and who takes much of Cal's abuse. They clear out the evil, and score some money.

LAST TRAIN TO DEADSVILLE :: DARK HORSE

Cal McDonald makes enemies with some nasty beings of enormous power, and a new love has come into Cal's life. Niles really has fun here, and beyond just a dark sense of humor, he shows that he can write non traditional stories utilizing all aspects of characterization.

WAKE THE DEAD :: IDW

Victor Frankenstein created a misshapen life out of the stray parts and bits of humanity, from corpses. In Wake the Dead Niles creates a new take from the template of Mary Shelly and Universal's Frankenstein, but rather than a shot by shot remake, Niles and cast write a modern, sympathetic book.

30 DAYS OF NIGHT :: IDW

The world wide community of vampires have decided to gather for a feast. In isolated Barrow Alaska there is a period of time where the community is left dark for 30 days, and the vampires can act with impunity. The war between humans and vampires begins, and the only thing between the vampires and the humans being annihilated are two police officers.

DARK DAYS :: IDW

Survivors of the first battle of the war continue to fight as the humans try to take the battle to the vampires, and drive them into the public eye. People make bad decisions with tragic consequences. And old foes and old friend are reunited.

RETURN TO BARROW :: IDW

The final battle is begun. The humans once again face the onslaught, some ready for action and the others not. Strange partners and allies must join forces . In final battle the warriors on both sides find out that some live on the margin of danger, all the time, and that if you fight a race war, human versus vampire, the cost is immeasurably huge.

FREAKS OF THE HEARTLAND :: DARK HORSE

The Children of a small town are the victims of hate, ... from their parents. When the hatred escalates to the point of murder and rage, only the loyalty of brothers and love between them point to a way out. And once out, where will they go? I chose this book as the best of 2004. I think that it is proof of life in a fabulous medium. Reading it is like when I first saw Star Wars, or saw the Shuttle lift off, or heard Puccini. It is an epiphany for what a great medium can do.

REMAINS :: IDW

The Dead walk, they outnumber the living, and they want to eat the living. But these are not normal zombies, some of them are intelligent. And with every dinner of human or other zombie, they grow more intelligent. Some humans band together, but most are destroyed quickly. Three people fight for survival in Reno.

SECRET SKULL :: IDW

The Secret Skull is about a hunter, in city streets, of criminals. Beyond the norm of a vigilante or revenge fantasy, the Skull has little sympathy for the criminals, and worse. The Skull kills without mercy but only evil doers. Should the police stop the killings, or should they turn a blind eye?

HYDE :: IDW

Jekyll and Hyde comes to the comic medium when Niles joins forces with an artist who uses the page rather uniquely to depict rage, pain and other emotions. It is an experiment into the reader's mind, for the subtle changes of color, and images do tell a straight forward story, but it works upon many emotive levels.

FUSED :: IMAGE/DARK HORSE

A genius researcher, of robotics and android research seeks to address his missing arm through advanced technology. He becomes "fused" with the technological suit and through two series he is chased, caught, abandoned and attacked. It is as good a series as there is. This is one of my favorite all time series.

Steve Niles and I have had an interesting number of conversations. Some last long enough to call an interview, others, well others can be like the conversation here, fun and interesting. I love Steve's work .

ALEX NESS: What aspects about writing frustrate you?