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How Ben Wickey and Patrick Horvath Use History and Horror in Comics | CreatorXCreator Podcast E01
Welcome to the first episode of the CreatorXCreator Podcast from IDW Publishing, an award-winning comic book publisher known for creator-owned storytelling, bold graphic novels, and acclaimed licensed titles across horror, science fiction, fantasy, and literary comics.
In this debut episode, cartoonists Ben Wickey and Patrick Horvath discuss witch trials and anthropomorphic animals through the lens of history, research, and visual narrative.
The conversation centres on Wickey’s deeply researched graphic novel More Weight: A Salem Story, inspired in part by his real-life ancestry tracing back to defendants in the Salem witch trials, and Horvath’s unsettling crime comic Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, which uses talking animals to explore violence, morality, and American fear.
Together, they explore moral panic, historical repetition, and the ethics of depicting violence in comics without glorifying it. Topics include Salem’s cultural legacy, American obsession with punishment, the emotional power of “cute” imagery paired with horror, and the responsibility creators carry when telling violent stories. Wickey also reflects on his creative process, historical research, and his friendship with legendary comics writer Alan Moore, while Horvath discusses world-building, reader discomfort, and resisting aestheticised brutality.
About the Authors
Ben Wickey is a cartoonist and writer whose work blends meticulous historical research with personal storytelling. His graphic novel More Weight: A Salem Story examines the Salem witch trials through both documented history and lived ancestry, drawing connections between past moral panics and modern American culture. He has a longstanding creative relationship with Alan Moore and is known for his thoughtful, research-driven approach to comics.
Patrick Horvath is a cartoonist and filmmaker whose work often pairs deceptively gentle visuals with disturbing subject matter. His crime comic Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees uses anthropomorphic animals to explore violence, denial, and moral ambiguity. Horvath’s work is recognised for challenging reader expectations and interrogating how stories frame harm and responsibility.
For more on IDW Publishing: https://idwpublishing.com/
Follow IDW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idwpublishing/
Connect with Ben Wickey: https://www.instagram.com/ben_wickey/
Connect with Patrick Horvath: https://www.instagram.com/catbirdplanet/
Produced by Reina Strauss and edited by Sam Williams.
