The legendary comic duo of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello–better known as Abbott and Costello–made their film debut in 1940 in the hilarious classic One Night in the Tropics. Known for their hilarious “Who’s on First?” routine–a comedic legend in its own right–along with so many more performances in standup and radio, the duo followed up their initial film debut with movies such as Buck Privates and In the Navy.
However, one film in particular, Hold That Ghost, introduced the public to their stylings in comedic horror, which led to performances in such famous hilarious horror romps as Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man, and so many more classics.
Now the pair will encounter the paranormal again in Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters, a new comics series from independent publisher Monstrous, now funding on Kickstarter! Written by Monstrous owner James Aquilone, the series will feature art from a bevy of talented professionals as Dave Acosta, Robert Hack, Russ Braun, and so many more. This new series will see the comedy duo once again encountering from some of the ghouls from the aforementioned comedic horror classics. The campaign also offers a bevy of backer rewards available for preorder.
I spoke with James Aquilone recently about the idea behind Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters, the creatures the comedic duo will encounter, the Kickstarter itself, and what surprised him as he crafted the comics’ stories.
FreakSugar: For folks considering preordering the comic, what can you tell us about Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters?
James Aquilone: It’s a three-issue comic book series that brings Abbott and Costello back to comics for the first time in more than 50 years. In the first issue, they meet Carl Kolchak and the vampire from The Night Stalker. In the second, they encounter the Morlocks from H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine. And in the third, they come face-to-face with H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu. Each issue is a standalone adventure, but they’re all connected. We’re really trying to capture the spirit of those classic Abbott and Costello monster movies while doing something new with the characters.
FS: What is it about Abbott and Costello that makes you want to work with the characters?
JA: I’ve been a fan of Abbott and Costello for as long as I can remember. They were my introduction to both comedy and horror, particularly Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. What I love about them is that their comedy is timeless. You can put Bud and Lou in just about any situation, and their personalities immediately create comedy. And getting the chance to write characters I grew up watching is pretty incredible.
FS: What can you tell us about the collaborators and the process of bringing these stories to life?
JA: We’ve assembled a talented group of artists. Dave Acosta is drawing the first issue, George Quadros is handling the second, and Zac Atkinson is drawing the third. I’m writing all three issues. We’ve also got some fantastic cover artists, including J.K. Woodward, Russ Braun, Robert Hack, Zac Atkinson and EV Cantada.
FS: What is something that surprised you as you paired the duo with the classic horror characters that they encounter?
JA: How naturally they fit into these different worlds. You wouldn’t necessarily think Abbott and Costello belong in a Lovecraft story, but once you start imagining Lou trying to comprehend cosmic horror, the possibilities are endless. And the Morlocks are practically made for an Abbott and Costello adventure. They’re creepy, they live underground, and they’re exactly the sort of creatures Lou would be terrified of. What surprised me was how little we had to force the comedy. A lot of it just comes from putting these two guys in situations where they clearly don’t belong.
FS: What has been the most rewarding part of working on the comic?
JA: Seeing the artwork come in. There’s something surreal about opening an email and seeing Abbott and Costello starring in a brand-new adventure that you helped create. I’ve worked with a lot of iconic characters over the years, but these two are special to me. And it’s been great seeing the enthusiasm from fans. There’s clearly still a tremendous amount of affection for Bud and Lou, and knowing that we’re helping introduce them to a new generation is really gratifying.
FS: Do you envision more Abbott and Costello Meet comics in the future?
JA: Absolutely. I’ve already got plenty of ideas for other monsters and characters I’d love to see them encounter. That’s one of the great things about the concept. The possibilities are practically endless. There are so many classic horror characters and situations that would be perfect for Bud and Lou. I’d love to keep the series going, and hopefully the response to these first three issues will make that possible.
FS: If you had a final pitch for the comic, what would it be?
JA: If you love Abbott and Costello, classic monsters, horror comics, or just a good laugh, this is for you. We’re bringing back one of the greatest comedy teams of all time and putting them up against creatures they’ve never faced before. We’ve got vampires, Morlocks, Cthulhu, and two guys who have absolutely no business dealing with any of them.
The Kickstarter for Abbott and Costello Meet the Monsters is fully funded and has just over two days left in the campaign as of press time. Fans of comedic capers and hilarious horror as only Abbott and Costello can do it should definitely give this campaign a look!
