Today’s guests are the creative duo Shannon Eric Denton and David Hartman — two multi-hyphenate storytellers whose work spans the worlds of comics, animation, film, and beyond.

Shannon Eric Denton is a veteran writer, artist, and transmedia creator with a career that cuts across comics, animation, television, and gaming. He’s worked with major studios including Cartoon Network, Warner Bros., Disney, Marvel, DC Comics, and Riot Games. Shannon is also the co-founder of Monster Forge Productions, alongside horror legend Steve Niles, where they specialize in developing monster-centric IP for film, TV, games, and merchandise.

Joining him is David Hartman — an Emmy-nominated director, illustrator, and producer with over 25 years in the animation and horror industries. In addition to directing Phantasm: Ravager, the final chapter in Don Coscarelli’s iconic franchise, David has worked as a visual effects supervisor and animator on cult favorites like Bubba Ho-Tep and John Dies at the End. His background also includes extensive work in animation as a showrunner, storyboard artist, and Spectrum Award-winning illustrator.

In addition to their individual accomplishments, Shannon and David have teamed up on several projects, most notably through their work with Titan Comics. Their graphic novel Kraken blends supernatural horror with historical adventure. Their upcoming title Spectors, set for release in May 2026, continues this trajectory — a supernatural adventure featuring a team of eccentric heroes battling monsters and cults, combining pulpy thrills with cinematic visuals.

Together, Shannon and David bring a wealth of experience in genre storytelling, and today they’re here to talk monsters, collaboration, and navigating the creative process across mediums.

• Kraken (Titan Comics, Sept. 2025)

- A pulp adventure set in the 1930s that follows a transformed explorer back from the sea, determined to stop a supernatural apocalypse. Think The Shadow or The Rocketeer—but with monsters.

• Spectres

- Starts in the 1930s and leaps to present day, following a monster-hunting team through a time-hopping, lore-rich narrative.

• Return of the Monsters

- A passion project from Monster Forge Productions, this is a reimagining of classic monsters like Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Creature, brought to life in premium comic form.

- Back it on Kickstarter

• Indiana Jones
• Return of the Living Dead
• Evil Dead
• The Goon (Eric Powell)
• Tales from the Crypt
• House of Secrets, The Unexpected, and other 70s–80s horror comics
• Mad Magazine, Cracked, Crazy
• Transformers: Prime (David Hartman directed)
• Phantasm: Ravager (David Hartman directed)
• Bubba Ho-Tep
• Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas (Netflix animated series)
• Rob Zombie music videos & concept art

• IMBd: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003015/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shannonericdenton/
• X (Twitter): https://x.com/ShannonDenton
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonericdenton/
• Website: https://shannondenton.com/

• IMBd: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0366935/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_1
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidhartmanart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artofdavidhartman/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sideshowmonkey/
• Website: https://www.sideshowmonkey.com/