PURGATORY - IT ISN'T EASY BEING DEAD

Now how do you think you would feel if you were still conscious when you eventually passed away? I mean, would you be happy, because you wouldn't have to pay any more taxes? Would you be sad, because you'd miss your favorite TV show? Or would you be inquisitive enough to check out a comic book about dead people dealing with being dead? Want to know more? Then please check out the following interview I did with Don Juan Mancha III, the creator of the death-defying 'Purgatory' webcomic.





1) What are your own origins, Don?   I’ve lived in California for my entire life and took an interest in writing while at high school. Eventually anubisazp, who is a phenomenal illustrator, and I teamed up to produce this series.

2) What inspired you to create, ‘Purgatory’?   Scott Pilgrim and Gorillaz definitely played a part in 'Purgatory’s' creation, because both properties blended the bizarre and macabre with some level of indifference to the people living within it. The abnormal has normally been featured in both properties and I wanted to make something like that. My aim has changed since its initial inception, but to keep myself focused I go back to that idea on a regular basis.

3) In your own words, how would you describe this story?   Dead people dealing with being dead, and if I do everything correctly, that will basically be the whole story right there. Essentially it's an easy story to propose: How can this particular person deal with this particular situation surrounding their death? Then I answer it in the most entertaining or meaningful way possible... and move on.

4) What song would you say best represents this webcomic and why?   Well, it's either 'Sheep Go to Heaven' by Cake, or 'Some Kind of Nature' by Gorillaz.

'Sheep Go To Heaven' strikes me as a song of civil disobedience, in such a way that those who are different from everyone else are punished for their distinction. It’s unfair and purgatory is unfair. Whereas 'Some Kind of Nature' speaks to the ultimate weakness festering inside people's souls, be it their mortality or their vices, as there's something about being human that we can’t supplant, or shake off. Not to mention that it's a pretty awesome sounding song.

5) If you could get a celebrity – either living or dead – to promote your wares, who would you choose, and why would you want to choose this particular person?   Bryan Lee O'Malley, because he’s my hero.

6) What have you learned about yourself through this endeavor?   I learned that mistakes are inevitable and that it’s up to me to make sure that they happen less and less.

7) During your time in this field, what is the one thing that has kept you in good stead?   The fans, because without them, there would be no 'Purgatory'.

8) If ‘Purgatory’ had a motto, what would it be?   Deal with your garbage now or it’ll come back to bite you later.

And on that note, I'd like to thank Don for telling us about his webcomic, 'Purgatory', before directing you towards his website, facebook, twitter, and instagram pages.