Episode 364 with Writer/Artist Ben Bishop: Split Decisions.

After working in the book business for a decade people are sometimes shocked to hear I wasn't much of a reader growing up. I had my handful of favorite books: Hatchet, Maniac Magee, and Where The Red Fern Grows to name a few. But aside from the classics I really couldn't be bothered to read unless it was forced on me. That didn't stop my parents from buying me books now and then, especially during the Goosebumps craze of the early 90's. I had probably 6-10 different R.L. Stine titles including one unique one called Escape From the Carnival of Horrors. Unique, meaning it wasn't just your standard spooky story...it had a twist. As part of the "Give Yourself Goosebumps" series, it was advertised to have "over 20 different scary endings" and as the reader, you got to choose where you wanted to go next (usually ending in your untimely demise).

Admittedly, I never really "finished" Carnival of Horrors. I remember finding the end of a few stories but I can't say I ever completed every scary ending. We can probably blame my brother's Super Nintendo for that.

All of this rambling has a point, and I promise I'm getting to it. See, whether you were an avid reader or not, it's very likely that you've come across those "choose your own adventure" style of books at some point in your life. And for those currently nodding in agreement and longing for the days of your youth...we have something neat to show you.

Enter Ben Bishop. A comic artist and writer, Ben is the creator of the groundbreaking comic series The Aggregate. Billed as "A post-apocalyptic graphic novel with giant robots, organically engineered terrorists and spider-cats", The Aggregate is a split decision comic, meaning at certain points in the story you're going to be forced to make some decisions on where the story is going to go next. And it's rad.

Currently, Ben is Kickstarting volume 2 and within days he's already smashed his goal. Check out our chat as we learn more about these spider cats and the subtle art of wallpapering your house with comic art pages.

Enjoy!

-Jr.