Tag Archive: independent comic books

Forget the “Twisted” part when describing Jen and Sylvia Soska, you can now add sexy geeks as well when describing these two awesome women. Fresh after their first appearance at the San Diego Comic Con where they talked about their film “American Mary“, plus showed off their cosplaying skills for the first time at the con as well. Comic Book Divas talks with Jen and Sylvia Soska about movies, comics and cosplay.

Q: Before we start, tell us something bout yourselves; what do we need to know about Jen and Sylvia?

S: We’re identical twins from Canada. Since childhood, we have shared a deep love of horror and comics – which often led to ridicule from other children growing up. Funny how in vogue nerdism is today. There being popularity in using twins on set for young actors we used that to start in the industry, but as we grew up, the roles changed from childish and of little substance to overtly sexualized and of little substance.

Frustrated by the roles available to us, we decided to use our extensive martial arts training to try our hand at stunt work which led us to a fantastic outsourced stunt program at a film school – however, anything else that even resembled a place a learning did not exist at that school. Disappointed again, the final straw was when the budget to our final project – a measly $200 – was cut and we were told to join with another group. Highly inspired by the mufti-collaborative Grindhouse which was playing in the theaters at the time, we decide to make our own fake trailer for a movie we would like to see, it was called “Dead Hooker In A Truck”.

The school had a list of all things too inappropriate to put into the films, but since we were writing, directing, producing, acting in, and doing the stunt work on our own – we didn’t feel we should adhere to that list, including everything and even adding the strangely forgotten ‘bestiality’ and ‘necrophilia’. When we screened it at graduation, half the audience walked out while the other half was laughing so hard that you could barely hear the offensive dialogue. We were asked when the actual feature would be done, so we lied and said we were already starting on it.

We wrote the script immediately, got together a group of Vancouver artists that wanted to do something different, maxed out our credit cards, and followed in Robert Rodriguez and Carlos Gallardo’s El Mariachi, ‘Rebel Without a Crew’ steps. A lot of people thought we were crazy and I think on some level, they were right.

J: We’re horror fans and well-rounded nerds. Our parents never encouraged us to be anything but ourselves and our love of horror, video games, and comics and being identical twins landed us as usual outcasts and none to popular with the in-crowd. We had each other and didn’t let it dissuade us from what we loved. We’ve, as a result, always stood up for our fellow outcasts and underdogs. We began to read Stephen King novels in Elementary school much to the dismay of our teachers and principal. Our mother was brought into talk to the principal when the other kids began to complain to their parents that they weren’t allowed to read Stephen King.

Much to the principal’s surprise, my mom stood her ground and told them if we’re reading at that level at this age, why the hell would she discourage us? As a result, we began to form our dark senses of humor due to Stephen King’s brand of horror mixed with humor.

We never remember a time where we didn’t love horror. When our mother told us about the artists behind the scares and monsters when we were terrified after watching POLTERGEIST, we were amazed to discover that scaring people could be a profession. We’ve been madly in love with prosthetics and the artists who create them ever since. I collect weapons and Sylv collects tarantulas.

Q: Have both of you always had an interest in acting and filming making, or was this something that you both fell into?

S: The way that acting was put on this deity level fascinated me as a child. I didn’t think I would be allowed to try until there was a school play and the teacher asked me if I wanted to participate. I couldn’t believe that I could be part of the group – I think this is in great part due to being outcast so much by the other kids and wanting to fit in. When we made DEAD HOOKER, we never thought, I’ll be a director and writer now, it just came from necessity. We wanted to have a different story, we wanted to play roles that interested us, and we had ideas, so maybe Jen and I try doing that. Hearing how Alice Guy Blanche – the first director of non-fiction cinema – started in a similar, just wanting to make something different approach makes me feel better about how I got started.

J: I love fantasy and story telling. The idea of getting to be someone else or play like you’re someone else was very attractive to me. People have scolded me about it saying that I’m just not happy being myself, but nothing could be further from the truth. Acting and dressing up and playing characters IS very much a part of who I am as well as story telling.

Q: As actresses, what actors and actresses do you admire and who would you like to work with and why?

S: I like actors and actresses that work hard, that put a lot of themselves into a role, that don’t treat it as a favor to the production that they are on set, that actually do the work to bring the level of film up. I have been a fan of Katharine Isabelle for those reasons and felt very privileged to have her cast as the title character in our new film, “American Mary”.

J: I really admire Meryl Streep and Sigourney Weaver. I remember seeing “Alien” as a child and being so scared for Ripley. My mom told me how I shouldn’t be scared because Ripley always wins and that blew my mind. She was so strong and so cool. In my youth I didn’t realize the full significance of that role and how I was witnessing the evolution of the final girl. I did have that feeling of “I want to be her.” It had a massive impact on who I’ve become. There are so many people I’d love to work with. We very rarely write for a particular actor.

We put the focus on the character and give them a life of their own in the script and then look to see who we can see breathing further life into that character. We write a particular with our dialogue needing to be delivered a certain way. We mainly look for actors who can deliver the dialogue right as well as get and embody the character.

Q: This is a bit of a follow-up question, as directors who do you admire and who would you like to work with and why?

S: Robert Rodriguez is who Jen and I grew up watching and we just love his work. If it wasn’t for “GrindHouse”, the way he gives back with his ‘Ten Minute Film Schools’, his first hand account of no budget/DIY film-making book – ‘Rebel Without A Crew’, and watching his work – we would have never gotten the inspiration to be where we are today. I have so much respect for the man. Jason Eisner was a huge inspiration, especially seeing a fellow Canadian make something so original and biting as “Hobo With A Shotgun”.

It’s cool because, you don’t see films like that coming out of Canada enough – our country tends to be a service location for other productions to get great crew and good rates. I read a lot of Garry Marshall since I got into this level of film-making, the man is brilliant and has some invaluable experience to share on working in the industry. I’m not sure about who I would work with as Jen and I are taking a step back from acting to focus on writing and directing with a guest cameo in the last film.

J: ha ha, obviously everyone Sylv’s mentioned. I would really love the opportunity to make a Stephen King adaptation. I really love the man and have so much admiration for what he’s done. He is horror royalty if I’ve ever seen it. I’ve been dying to make an epic horror musical. It’s a passion project. I’d love to collaborate with Matt Stone and Trey Parker who are just geniuses in their own right. I adore them. My hero in so many ways is Joss Whedon and it would be such an honor and privilege to work with the man. Like most girls my age, Buffy had a huge impact on me. I was a year younger than Buffy and often bullied and made fun of for a variety of reasons, but being thin and little was one of them. Joss’ Buffy made me feel like I could be strong even if no one else thought so. It had a profound effect on the woman I am today.

I would love to meet him and talk to him. Working with him would probably be more happiness than I could handle. I’d like to thank him for inspiring a generation and for writing Buffy and countless other strong female characters, and making the world just that much better a place to live in. I wonder if he ever gets tired of hearing it. I bet it’s a daily occurrence for him.

Q: You both wear multiple hats, you act, write, produce, direct; which is the most difficult and why, and which is the most satisfying?

S: It is challenging to wear that many hats. I think what bothers me, and just because I do like to be involved in so many aspects of film-making, is jumping in front of and behind the camera. I don’t like not being able to see my shots, I want to watch every scene play out so I know what I have. We are still indie film-making brats, so we never have enough time or money; we don’t have the luxury of going through take after take or doing multiples, we need to get it fast and get it right then move on. Writing is very satisfying because it is limitlessness creative. It’s just me and Jen and our laptop. One of us plays video games while the other writes, then we switch, check each others scenes, or swap in if one us gets blocked.

J: I love the intimacy of writing. It probably has a lot to do with Stephen King and the intimacy he created with his readers in his forewords where he’d address the reader like a dear, old friend. When we write, it’s not like we’re struggling to create. We just see the whole world unfold in front of us and being of like mind, we see the same thing. I love creating the characters and writing their story. They become just as real as any person to us and we really get attached to us. Anytime one of them dies, it’s incredibly emotional for us. We get depressed and have to cope with their deaths. It’s funny to say, given we’re the ones killing them. They’re our martyrs. They die for the story and for the right emotional reaction from our audience. It’s a regrettable necessity. I find acting added to the mix is the greatest challenge.

Acting is very personal and everything else we do is very much about everything else. When I act, it’s just like sitting down into the character. I can easily drop in and out of it, but when it’s a cut the first thing I want to see if the take and make sure that all the elements are there. You can’t do both at the same time.

Q: We all know you are twins, as twins do you both like the same kind of movies, or are there movies that one likes and the other leaves the room? If so what movies are they and why?

S: I don’t think I would ever leave the room while Jen is watching something, we’re best friends and that would seem like too much of an asshole move. We will complain throughout the viewing to the other, though. We do have very different tastes in films in many ways – Jen has this brilliant optimism and heroic nature about her. I tend to be a little darker and unforgiving. We can’t agree on Lars Von Trier’s Anti-Christ, I love it; she thinks it’s ok.

We both appreciate good story telling, great performances, and excellent camera work.

J: We never leave the room. Usually we’ll both hate plot holes in the same thing and joyfully tear it apart together, but keep watching. We did that with American Horror Story and did with “Glee” when we could stand watching it. Great concept, lazy execution. Sylv has darker taste than me. She doesn’t give a crap if something is unforgiving and brutal. It’s kind of her outlook on life. Sometimes it’s just crappy and that’s all there is to it. We call her the Lars Von Trier and I’m the Joss Whedon. Even in the darkness, I like some hope. Even when there isn’t any. I guess that makes her Erik Lensherr and me Charles Xavier, too.

Q: You guys recently went to the San Diego Comic Con to promote “American Mary”, what is the movie about and how was it received at SDCC?

S: “American Mary” follows the story of medical student, Mary Mason, as she grows increasingly broke and disenchanted by medical school and the surgeons she once admired. The allure of easy money and notoriety sends her into the messy world of underground surgeries and body modification that leaves more marks on Mary’s psyche than her so-called ‘freakish’ clientele. It’s film that focuses highly on appearances. You wouldn’t think that a fashion-conscious young woman and a elite body modification enthusiast would have too much in common, but they do because so much of who they are is judged on appearance over what is actually there. I was thrilled to have a panel at Comic Con – a place we dreamed of going since we were little girls – to promote the film and release the first trailer. We had a room that sat 500 people,

I didn’t think it would have too many in attendance and the room was packed and people had to be turned away. The crowd was very cool and into the film – I’m looking forward to the reactions when people start seeing the entire feature.

J: It has been a long time dream to attend the San Diego Comic Con. I have to preface it with “San Diego” as it’s spawned similar conventions and fan expos to pop up all over the world, but to us it’s known as THE Comic Con. That and E3 we’ve been dying to go to. It was overwhelming to not only attend the convention for the first time, but to be there to do a panel and promote “American Mary”. That was a dream come true like none other. I was overwhelmed by the support of the fans, many who told us that they’ve been following us since our DEAD HOOKER days. When we took the panel and looked across the packed 500 seat room filled with smiling faces, I had to choke back tears. Firstly because it’s hard to talk as much and as fast as I like to when I’m crying and secondly to maintain my bad-ass image, ha ha. There’s no crying in baseball.

Q: We talked a little bit about San Diego Comic Con; this was your first time attending the huge event, what did you think about the convention?

S: This was our first Comic Con experience. I’ve creeped on the event online through pictures, reviews, blogs, and videos on the event, but absolutely nothing could prepare me for what the event actually was. It was so incredibly happy and people were just wearing their love of the genres on their sleeve. I’m a big comic, film, and gaming nerd – so having the opportunity to hang out with so many people with the same interests is remarkable. I actually felt withdrawal when it was over. I also caught the ‘nerd flu’ but it’s a small price to pay for what was one of the best times of my life.

J: It was so much more than we expected. We had dreamed of attending for years. We had expectations. High ones, but it blew us away. We stepped into the exhibition hall on preview night and were just floored with the massiveness of it all. Kevin Smith said it best in the Comic Con documentary, “A Fan’s Hope”, Comic Con is where you find everything you’ve ever loved and thought you lost.” It’s like dying and coming back and trying to describe what Heaven was like. There are no words. It’s too much everything. And the people are just so warm and kind. It’s unlike anything. I can say we’ll never miss another.

Q: You both did a bit of cosplay at SDCC as Catwoman and Black Cat, was this your first time cosplaying at a convention, and did you create your own costumes?

S: First time cosplaying. Our friend and one of the stars of “American Mary”, Tristan Risk, was describing the difference between Jen and me to a friend and she said that Jen is Catwoman and Sylv is Black Cat. They are similar but also different in those ways. I thought it was perfect, we love those characters, so it only seemed appropriate to dress up like them. I had gotten Jen’s costume made years ago as a present because she loved the Colleen Atwood rendition of Catwoman so much. I had my Black Cat suit designed and made by our designer from AMERICAN MARY, Jayne Mabbott of Enigma Arcana. It turned out so great, I’m definitely bringing more costumes next year.

J: It was our first time! Actually, come to think of it, it was my second time cosplaying Catwoman. I was totally enamored with the costumed characters on Hollywood Boulevard the first time we went to Hollywood. i was upset that I didn’t bring my catsuit, so I did the next time we went down. I didn’t know how it all worked, but I’m the kind of girl to jump right into something. I showed up in my catsuit and quickly got the run down from my fellow costumed crusaders. Lemme just tell you some intense stuff happens in that group. Sex scandals, drugs and alcohol abuse, prison time…. it was wild. Everyone was busking hard to get their buck a photo, but I didn’t give a shit. i was just happy to be Catwoman. I skipped up and down the block using my whip as a rope.

It was pretty cool. Hitting the Con with the suit was epic. I had it for 11 years and, yup, it still totally fit. Snug as a bug, but it looked damn good. I’m happy I took it there because, sadly, the suit died at the Convention. The plastic came apart irreparably. It was heartbreaking, but much like the suit and Selina Kyle in the Tim Burton film, it had been coming apart at the seams for ages. I felt it wanted to die there. It was an honorable death. I gave one to the Con.

Q: Would you describe yourselves as being geeks?

S: Yeah, I would say that is a solid description.

J: Oh, absolutely. First and foremost. And proud of it.

Q: What comic book characters would you like to cosplay as in the future?

S: Being Canadian, and we have Wolverine which would be cool enough, I really want to do Deadpool next year. Jen and I are the same size, so I was thinking we can get a Deadpool and a Bob costume, then switch for the next day. I’m a big Spidey fan, so a Spidey suit would be killer. And I really dig Dan Schaffer’s DOGWITCH, so I’m thinking we’ll do twin Violet Grimms too.

J: Yeah!! Deadpool and Bob!! ha ha, that’s going to be so hilarious. For us. I love Rogue. I’d love to be her. She’s a character I’ve loved forever. I have so many Rogue coats as it is. I’ll have to do her next year. I was gonna do Elektra, but I thought they wouldn’t let me bring in my sais in. I was wrong. I saw other girls with sais. Sais are kind of my specialty. I wanted to spin them around and show the fuck off. I will next year. Love  “DogWitch”. Violet is just so cool. We’ll be cosplaying “American Mary” next year, too. Our characters in the film and Mary herself. Oh, man, I hope people cosplay our films. That would be such a point of pride. I’d die to see a couple little girls dressed as me and Sylv.

Q: Did you read and collect comic books growing up; if so what comics did you read?

S: My first comic series was Classic X-Men which my grandmother got me started on. She called them ‘funny books’ and we would go on walks to the store just to pick them up. Then we would go home, she would make lunch, and we would read our comics. Later, I moved onto Spider-man. I loved spiders and really dug Batman, then someone said I must just love Spider-man. I had no idea who he was, I got a comic and, yeah, I am a big Spidey fan. I collect anything and everything Spidey from Amazing, to Sensational, to Peter Parker (which is still my favorite series), to Ultimate (not a big fan), to India, to the Japanese Spideys, to Web of Spidey, to Tangled Web (I love that series), to whatever team up or mini-series popped up.

This whole film-making thing is just a way to afford my comic addiction. I am a huge Garth Ennis fan also, I love what he’s done with the Punisher (Frankie Castle is just awesome) and his Preacher series is my favourite series of all time. It had a big impact on me.

J: We collected comics before we even began reading them. We would flip through the pages and picked the ones with female heroes. We had a lot of Marvel for that very reason. X-men was our first love. The story arcs were so fucking good! I hate how much they dumb them down these days. Kids aren’t stupid. I was reading about the complexities of Kitty Pryde’s love for the much older Colossus as a kid and totally digging it. People really seem to underestimate the intelligence of our youth. We’re not protecting them by dumbing down the content or censoring it. That just insults their intelligence and you’re crazy to think they don’t have easy access to it online anyways.

Ha ha, back on topic…. I loved Venom and Daredevil and got the limited Rogue series. I loved Catwoman: Her Sister’s Keeper. That’s the Catwoman film I’d make. Man, I loved Daredevil so much. I even learned braille for him.

Q: Did you both have the same tastes in comics, or was there a comic that you couldn’t believe the other was reading?

S: No, we had a big shared love of what we were reading. A lot of Marvel. We would share comics a lot, we still do. Daredevil is her more personal favourite whereas Punisher was mine. It’s not that we didn’t read each others’ issues of either, it just wasn’t a huge race to get into them.

J: Oh, we shared. We’d switch back and forth. We still have a massive collection. Sylv’s Spidey comics are insane. The Peter Parker Spider-man series was absolute brilliance. It should have never ended.

Q: Do you read and/or collect comics now, if so what titles are you reading and why?

S: When we started film-making, just over five years ago now, we put all our money into getting the films made and out there. It has put us in a pretty bad finical state – one of the worst moments of my life having to pawn my video games and comic books so we could afford our bills and food. I haven’t collected since then, but as soon as things settle out, we’re getting back into them, full throttle. I picked up my first Deadpool comic – usually I just borrow friends’ – at Comic Con. I try to be really careful with money because it’s so tight, but what Deadpool fan doesn’t own at least one comic – it was nearing in on sacrilege.

J: “Dead Hooker” left us starving at times, so we didn’t get to collect for way too long. It’s been regrettable. There’s this amazing store here called “Big Pete’s Comics And Collectibles. We’ve been going there since we were kids. We’ve been away from there for far too long mostly because it really weighed on our hearts to not be able to collect the comics we loved so much. I quit reading Daredevil when that one writer wrote him into a corner. Some asshole was getting fired, so he revealed his identity to the world, killed Foggy, and threw Matt in jail. It was such a piece and crap. I have so much nerd rage over it. I love Matt Murdock like the one who got away. Like a real living human being.

To see someone do something so unforgivable to a man I loved really pissed me off. I read some updates, but I’m largely disappointed with where his story’s gone. Give him to me. I can make it better. He deserves so much better. It’s been a long time since Guardian Devil or Born Again. That’s what he needs. To be born again.

Q: If you could portray any comic book character (Super-Hero or Villain) who would you want to be in a comic book, and why would you want to that particular character?

S: Jen and I have been working on our own comic-style character and television series script since we were fifteen. It’s called “Stray” and it’s a massive love letter to everything we love about comic books and anti-heroes. I would love to get into that. I really respect the work that other people do with their characters, but it’s still their character and you can only digress from what pre-exists so much. That being said, I grew up wanting very badly to be Classic X-Men Storm, with the Mohawk and the bad-ass attitude. I still look back at those comics and admire her strength. I found a lot of strength from those stories and female characters like Storm growing up.

J: Yes, we have a very special project we’ve been developing for years. I can’t wait to work on “Stray”. People are going to lose their shit over it. It’s very dark and unforgiving and unlike anything ever made before. It’s gonna really shake things up. I’d love to be in a comic book. “The Brainmachine Comix Series”, “The Unforgivable“, has made two characters based off us and our image, two characters called Kold Blood (Sylv) and Shades Blood (me). They’re damn cool looking. If I could be an existing character, it would have to be Catwoman. The character has be re imagined by everyone who’s handled her, but my Cat Woman is spontaneous, and dangerous, and deadly, and impulsive, and utterly conflicted, and crazy. I can relate to that.

Q: Have either of you been in a comic book?

S: Yes and it’s so freaking cool! We’re depicted as Kold Blood (Sylvia) and Shades Blood (Jen) in “The Unforgivable Series”. The story takes place where there is an ongoing war between heaven and hell where angels and demons are facing their own extinction. Our girls get up to quite a bit of trouble, issue #4 introduces our ladies and, even though I can’t give too much away, it’s a pretty killer intro.

J: Yeah! We can’t freaking wait for it!

Q: Have the Soska sisters ever thought about appearing in their own comic book?

S: It would be a nerd dream come true and it actually has come true. Jen and I will be working with the sensational team at “First Comics” to take our stories into graphic novel adaptations. The company has prided itself on uncensored, mature material that remains in the artists control. Co-Founder of “First Comics” and good friend, Ken F Levin, made the announcement at their panel at Comic Con. We have some really fun plans for what we’re going to get up to. I can’t wait to share the comics with everyone.

J: It’s a true privilege to be working with “First Comics“. They’ve really welcomed us into their family and it just feels like home. It’s no secret that we’ve always wanted to get into comics and video games.

Q: Women are now coming to the forefront of the comic book and pop culture industry, do you think this is new or do you think women have always been in the genre but they just were either embarrassed or because it was more of a male dominated community?

S: Entertainment is a difficult industry to get into, whatever your gender may be. While some people don’t want to hire women based on outdated sexist stereotypes, others don’t want to hire men because they already have a number of men already working for them. I have known men and women that love comics – Brea Grant is an incredible artist and her series ‘We Will Bury You’ kicks the stereotype of the content women create in comics squarely in the balls. Because the industry is so competitive and difficult, I can see why a lot of female artists aren’t better known. When I look at the industry and my work ethic, I base it on a series of panel from Ennis’ Preacher series.

It starts with the antagonist Herr Starr stating ‘Kill the women first.’ He is talking to his superiors about what to do in a terrorist situation and why you kill the women first is because for a woman to be in the terrorist faction, not only does she have to be at their level, she has to be so extremely above the others that her and her gender are not taken into account – which makes them the deadliest and why you take them out first. You face a lot of rejection in this industry, whether it be because of your work or something as trivial as gender, but if you work your ass off and dedicate yourself to your career, you will find success.

J: I think women are repressed in general. There’s this idea of what a woman can or can’t do. It’s not like that for men. No one asks a man if he feels intimidated to be doing something. There’s this pressure on women to be sweet and nice and not cause conflict. I think that’s breaking down. You ever hear a man swear and have someone scold him for not conducting himself as a gentleman? No. But women are scolded all the time for being unladylike. Truth be told, I cuss like a sailor to even the scales. I think it’s ridiculous to say a woman can’t swear. It’s just language. You ever see someone cut off Quentin Tarantino and say, “mister Tarantino, it’s not nice to swear”. No. The day no one gives a damn if I’m female and dropping f~bombs like they’re going out of style is the day I stop.

The same is similar in comics. I love them. I always have. Being female doesn’t make me any more predisposed to like them or not. But I’ve never had difficulty expressing myself. Maybe women care more about being accepted. I have Sylv and I don’t really care if people like me or not. I won’t be what I’m not to please anyone and everyone should embrace that.

Q: Like the male geeks/nerds that were stereotyped for wearing the glasses and the pocket protectors, do you think that female geek/nerds have the same stereotype?

S: Definitely. It’s funny because there are sites that feature ‘hot nerds’ which is silly. We all know that all nerds are hot.

J: ha ha, I love you, Sylv. Preach, sister. Preach.

Q: I have met a few women that say female comic book characters are portrayed or drawn to sexy and they don’t represent the true female form, what are your thoughts on those comments?

S: I wonder if they have the same opinions about how the male characters are depicted. It’s such a weak double standard. I’ve met comic book artists and they love the female form. At Comic Con, I was at panels where artists were being asked if they would draw male lead series and the answer was no because they said they didn’t want to be drawing men all day when it could be women. Is there sexual interest in those depictions? Absolutely. But it exists in both genders. Look at any comic series and look at the men, my apologies for the crudeness, but look at their packages and butts in their clingy uniforms. I very rarely hear men complaining about these things. It stems from the notion that women don’t like sex and shouldn’t be comfortable in being comfortable sexually. In a series, Emma Frost, the White Queen, is asked about her ‘degrading’ attire and she retorts with ‘this is my war armor’.

Women can find strength in their sexuality, I know I do. I think the context is important. I saw a depiction of Cat Woman running out to fight crime and she jumps out her window with her tits out and costume undone. It offended me because it wasn’t true to the character. Maybe Felicia Hardy would do that, but not Selina Kyle. Also, Alex Ross’s work is a great place to look if you’re looking for more realistic depictions of people in costume. Probably avoid the Dodson’s work, if curvy sexpots bug you.

J: I totally agree with Sylv. Why do women get so hung up on it? The packages and asses on men are every bit as sexualized and in your face as their female counter parts. Men never bitch about the “unrealistic depictions” of male body types. Look at just about any male super hero. Let’s just pull out Wolverine for a heart beat. He has an AMAZING body. Every single muscle is perfectly defined and in peek form. He has an ass to die for and an always defined package.

Chicks fantasize about being with him and guys dream about being him. It’s fantasy. Maybe guys on some level want to be Wolverine just as much as some girls want to be Black Cat. Maybe some girls who feel repressed want to be a muscular bombshell. Why does one represent an unhealthy body image and one fantasy is perfectly acceptable? I think that whole thing is overly sensitive.

Q: Why do you think over the years more and more women have embraced comic books and the whole pop culture craze?

S: It’s part of breaking down the stereotype of what women are and what women’s interested are. There was a time when you couldn’t say ‘pregnant’ on television, now you have shots like in “Children Of Men” where you see the entire, explicit birth scenario. We’re getting in touch with reality and not what we are told reality should be. I was made to feel ashamed about my love of comics as a young girl, as I grew up, I realized I didn’t care if my interests made me different – it was ok to be myself. A message that you see more in comic books than a lot of mainstream entertainment. It’s like when Kathryn Bigelow won an Oscar for Best Director, all of a sudden people started to realize, hey, women direct movies too.

More and more women are speaking about their interests, their love of comics and video games which for too long have the had the misrepresentation as something only men enjoyed. Also, geek has become chic, a lot of men and women are getting drawn to comic books and their stories because they are the basis of the mega blockbusters we are seeing on the screens today.

J: I think we always have. I didn’t play with dolls growing up. Sure, Sylv and I would play as She-ra and Catra, but our interests were comics and video games and horror movies and I know there were a hell of a lot more girls out there like us. Maybe because it’s more accepted these days to be a nerd. I know both boys and girls when I was growing up were made fun of for their Magic Card collections and comic books.

We are living in a time where geek is chic and we have the comic book movie boom to thank for that and Peter Jackson’s perfect execution of The Lord Of The Rings series. Also, video games are now being marketed differently. They’re for everyone, not just kids anymore. I think everyone is starting to be a little more okay with who they are and expressing that.

Q: You are both involved in blood drives and blood donations, why do you feel its so important and how did you get involved?

S: In 2010, Hannah Neurotica, of Ax Wound Zine, brainchild February to celebrate Women in Horror Recognition Month. Women and horror both have been misunderstood and stereotyped so strongly that it was an important event to get the focus on the artists that have been the pioneers to get the industry where it is today. The blood drive was actually Jen’s idea. We have unfortunately spent far too much time in the hospital with loved ones and it started the idea of how to give back and where attention was needed – blood donation. It’s scary, people avoid it because of that. You can’t have horror with out blood, so what if we made PSAs every year to raise awareness of the need to donate to help people. It’s been going on for three years now and we will do whatever we can to promote donation.

I find if you educate people on something, you take the fear away – I used to really be afraid of donation, especially because I hate needles, but when you realize the good that you are doing – it’s impossible to not forgo a small prick for the better good.

J: There is no substitute for human blood. Without donors, people who need blood won’t get it. Some people rely on regular blood transfusions just to live. The largest group of donors were World War two veterans who believed that donating blood was part of their civil duty and we relied on that blood pool for a generation. But they’re dying out and new donors aren’t coming forth to replace them. People never think anything bad can ever happen to them until it does. The burden of donating blood falls on all of us. We owe it to each other to give. Who are we to accept blood of we refuse to give? And not everyone is a candidate to donate.

Those of us who can give have the responsibility to give. I’ve always wanted to be a hero. Blame it on all the comic books, but it’s true. Blood donors are true heroes. It’s just about the most selfless thing you can do.

Every donation can be used to save up to three lives. Or the lives of six babies. Just think of it. Every time you donate, you’re saving lives. And you even get a cookie and juice for your kindness. I want to be a part of changing the way people think about donating blood.

Q: Where can fans follow the Soska’s and what do you have planned coming up in the future?

S: You can follow us on our Twitter Page , you can follow our Tumblr Page , you of course on  Facebook Group Page, and you can visit and contact us on our official Twisted Twins Production Website  where you can see all our projects and get updates on our “Penny Dreadful Diary”.

We are just going through the last steps on “American Mary”  and getting ready for our special screening in London on August 27th at Fright Fest. It’s a 1400 seater theater with an audience of genre aficionados, so no pressure. I actually live for screenings – seeing the film play out in front of an audience is like nothing else. Then we’re onto more festival screenings with dates and appearances still to be announced. But if you’re in London, come to the screening and meet Jen, Katie, and me. It’s going to be a hell of a show.

J: We also write monthly for Haunted Digital Magazine where we have four uncensored pages to write about whatever the hell we like and we’re loving it. We have a weekly radio show on RadioAmpifire.com thanks to the wonderful people at 430 Productions. They were responsible for bringing you “American Mary” and I can’t say enough good things about them. You can chat live to us on the site. The show is called “Mondays Suck” and it’s on every Monday night, 7pm to 10pm PST. We are, again, completely uncensored and play music we dig. We love to connect with our fans, so we’d love to have everyone tune in