AMANDA DEIBERT and CAT SCAGGS get Dark & Twisted with DEATH MASK: ICHOR AZURE

Hernando Diaz welcomes Amanda Deibert and Cat Staggs to discuss Death Mask: Ichor Azure, Vol. 2, available now through Storm King Comics.

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COMIC BOOK YETI: Amanda and Cat, thank you for joining us in the Yeti Cave today! First of all, ladies, I want to say that you both are really talented. I liked every single page of this amazing project. It was a great experience for me to read this. After that, I want to know, what was your inspiration to become a writer and artist, respectively? How did you two first meet and decide to work together on this project? 

AMANDA DEIBERT: I have been a storyteller my entire life. As a little girl I wrote and told stories to my younger sisters and cousins. I was also a major bookworm. It was always a huge part of who I am and I feel incredibly lucky that I get to do it for a living.

I met Cat about 18 years ago and we started dating, and making a webcomic together. We’ve collaborated on many projects since then (including our daughter). We also get to work with a ton of other talented artists and writers but it is always wonderful to work with Cat. We have a shorthand that is great and she obviously does beautiful art. 

CAT STAGGS: I have always wanted to be an artist. There was never anything else that captivated me so much. My grandmother had a giant coffee table book of the work of Norman Rockwell. And every time I would visit I would spend hours looking through it again and again. I was so fascinated by how much story he got in one shot. I knew I wanted to do that. 

Getting to work on projects with Amanda is one of my favorite things about my job. We have such a shorthand and know what each other is wanting to convey. 

CBY: This is the second volume of Death Mask, and we’re excited to have a compelling story once again. Amanda, how does it feel to return to this intriguing world? And Cat, could you share your experience working as an artist on this incredible project?

AD: I am thrilled to be coming back to this world. I love this story. Volume one set the stage for everything that happens in volume two and I am so very happy to get to come back to this dark and twisted world. It is nice to play with characters who are so deeply flawed and dark. 

CS: Funny thing, when I finished volume one, the script for volume two was ready to go, so I never really left them. I have been having it out with these two the whole time. They feel like a very dark side of my family, lol.

CBY: Cat, I was truly captivated by the artistry in each panel. Could you take us through your creative process when developing a new page, from initial concept to final details?

Amanda, how do you and Cat collaborate throughout the creation process? Can you share how your roles complement each other to bring the story to life? When you and Cat have differing opinions on the story or artwork, how do you navigate those creative disagreements to reach a shared vision?

AD: For Death Mask, I’ve had each volume completely written before Cat got started on the art which is great, because then she can read the entire thing and get a feel for the world and the characters before she starts creating the visuals. When working on serialized comics that is not always the case, so I think it adds such an advantage. I generally just step back and let Cat do her thing, but if I notice something is missing or needs to be more prominent, I let her know. She sends me the pencils and I try to make any notes I might have before she gets to the coloring stage, but honestly with Cat there aren’t usually many notes. 

CS: My process is pretty basic, I think. I get the script and read through it (and bonus point for having the whole arc). Then I will read it again and work out thumbnails for panels layouts. With projects like Death Mask, which are creator-owned, I will take some time to design the characters and their worlds, homes, cars, clothing style, etc., then it’s on to the pencils, inks, and colors. 

CBY: Regarding the overall project, how do you maintain consistency between your storytelling vision and visual direction to ensure they remain aligned throughout the development process? 

AD: Like I said, having the entire script is really helpful because then Cat knows when something that seems like a minor detail might become really important later in the story so she should highlight it visually. With a detective thriller like this, the little things become pretty big and also in volume two there are a LOT more characters for her to keep straight. So we communicate about it all the time time. 

CS: Yeah, I will make notes when I read through something as involved as Death Mask. There are a lot of characters to keep straight and I want to make sure I can convey any clues subtly without giving anything away. 

CBY: Amanda, I noticed that the main character has a compelling backstory. Could you tell us more about her and her relationship? What inspired you to craft these particular moments in her story, motivated by interaction with other characters?

AD: Well, both of our leads have a lot they are dealing with and their backstories get very intertwined in ways neither of them would like. Sandy King found an incredible true story about a woman who tracked down people who had harmed her daughter and used that information to give to the police. Obviously this fictional story is a lot darker; a mother hunting down and getting gruesome revenge on those who wronged her child, and then in volume two, working together with one person who she felt betrayed by to help save another young woman. As for Detective Maza, the issue is dealing with the trauma of working with a person who almost killed you… and still might, but both women are deeply driven to get justice for the young women who are being captured and killed, and that overrides all the VERY INTENSE personal reasons they have to avoid each other… even if one wants to work within the law and the other will do anything, no matter how horrific. 

CBY: Amanda, you've worked on a variety of intriguing projects. What themes or topics do you find most inspiring to explore in your stories? Could you walk me through your typical process for scripting a new issue? How do you approach the development from initial idea to final draft? How vital is research in shaping your stories? Can you share how it influences your creative process and storytelling decisions?

AD: It depends on the genre. In horror, I am inspired by vengeance and the things that scare me in real life: how utterly horrific humanity can be. In the kid stuff I do, I tend to be more inspirational and write stories that center around being true to yourself. Ultimately, I think that might be a throughline in all the things I write for adults and kids. Be true to yourself (even if that means vigilante murder sprees? Haha, I jest… or do I?) 

As far as scripting, I usually have an initial concept and then I play around with it in my mind until I have a pretty decent idea of where I want it to end up, then I do a fairly detailed outline and finally I jump into the fun of writing it all. Research is huge from beginning to end. If I am working on IP that is part of a TV show or beloved comic book franchise, then I am researching that to make sure I am good on voice and tone. I also do a lot of research for original IP like this… I have had a wonderful time with all the creative kills in both volumes of Death Mask. I come up with interesting ways that suit the characters and then I research how that death would work… and then poor Cat has to draw it, mwahahahah. 

CBY: Cat, I'm curious about your various projects. Have you ever had to adapt your artistic style to suit a specific story or genre? If so, how did you approach that challenge? What do you find to be the most rewarding aspect of illustrating a comic book?

CS: I have. Last year I worked on both Darkwing Duck and The Powerpuff Girls. Neither of which are anywhere near my usual art style. Not something I ever felt like I could do well. They were a real challenge, in a good way. I learned a lot and feel way more confidence should something like that come around again. I had an absolute blast. 

CBY: Having seen the graphic novel, I believe it’s a fantastic team achievement. Could you share the most memorable moment you experienced during this collaboration? Is a third volume planned, and what are your aspirations and goals for your future work in the comics industry?

AD: Every part of the collaboration has been fun and great. I think maybe something I am most amused by is the way that Cat managed to work a unicorn floaty we have in our pool into both of the volumes of the graphic novel in a hilariously gruesome way. I do have an idea for volume three, so please buy and read the first two so we can continue this dive into darkness! 

CS: Ha. Yes. I try to put little things in these books that make me laugh because it is such heavy storytelling. I need to break it up for myself somehow. 

Yes, please buy volume two so I can return to this world. 

CBY: Amanda, could you share some valuable tips for aspiring comic book writers looking to break into the industry? And Cat, what advice would you give to aspiring comic book artists aiming to develop their skills and unique style?

AD: First and foremost, write your own stuff. Find an artist who will work with you and create content you can show people. Put it online, contribute to anthologies. You learn so much by doing the actual writing and it is a lot easier to get someone to take a chance on you if you have something to show them. 

CS: The best advice I can give is to draw every day. Draw what you love but also challenge yourself with things that are intimidating or things that seem boring.  You need all of these things to tell a compelling story. 

CBY: Amanda and Cat, thank you for joining us in the Yeti Cave today! For our readers at home, please feel free to include any portfolio, publication, or social media links below where they can further engage with you and your work. We look forward to seeing what you come up with next! 

AD: Thank you so much! You can find me at www.amandadeibert.com and @amandadeibert on X, TikTok, and Bluesky and @amandadeibertofficial on IG. 

CS: Thank you so much. You can find me at www.catstaggs.com and @catstaggs on blue sky and X, @catstaggsofficial on Instagram 

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