Steven Prince talks Monster Matador: Once Upon Some Monsters in Mexico
Plus SDCC minus Hollywood, mainstream comics marketing (or the lack thereof), crowdfunding, Argentinian comics, European comics, then Malbec wine, Palomino wine, and Ruche wine. Buckle up, buttercups!
New Episode + Giveaway - First 10 Physical backers to Share this episode or Substack gets a free Monster Matador bottle opener!
Where to back? Why, here, gelflings.
Once you’ve backed, you’ll be able to message Steven on Kickstarter to let him know you’ve backed and shared his guest spot here on your socials. And we’ll help to confirm with him who the first 10 were.
But what IS “Monster Matador” and why would you “back” it? Watch the show, Joe!
We of course already talked up previous issues of Monster Matador in our previous episode:
But this time we had creator/writer Steven Prince join us to ramble on about the series, the new issue, and just about everything to do with indie comics and being a comics fan. Steven and myself bonded over being fans of Eddie Campbell’s BACCHUS, a comic book opus that nearly no one else we know has ever read, but is without question one of the great works of comics literature. I even opened this whole Wine and Comics show thing with Bacchus - he’s the god of wine, of COURSE I opened with him!
The episode was our very first, and very rough. The sound quality is atrocious. Be warned!
The Wines We Paired With Monster Matador
The thinking here is that this “Orange” wine made from 100% Palomino - orange wine is white wine grapes but with skin contact, so the green-yellow-muddled pigment in the grape skins leaks into the juice over the course of a many-week soak and turns it amber/orange, with plenty of tannins and spice added to what would otherwise be a fresh and acidic white wine - has a very dusty/dusky flavor.
Strong tannins, with an unfiltered “dusty” mouthfeel
Juicy flavors of dried apricot and bittersweet white chocolate
Aromas of butterscotch and wild sunflower
It gave me all the feels of a Mad Max post-apocalyptic desert landscape. Perfect for the setting and tone of Monster Matador!
Ruchè (also spelled “Rouchet” or “Roche”) is a rare grape varietal - some argue originally from Bordeaux, but all we know for sure is that it’s currently a local secret in Piedmont, Italy. Dallas talked about the wild history of the monk who roped in his whole parish to cultivate the grape for winemaking (monks are such lushes!) but what should also be mentioned is that ruchè has only been drunk by locals for a very long time. It finally was given its own DOCG (Italian official designation) in 2011 - Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato.
The saying goes: “If someone in Castagnole Monferrato offers you Ruché, it’s because he wants to spend time with you.”
If I hand you an issue of Monster Matador, it’s because I want to spend time with you.
Are you listening, ladies?!?
The Comic Steven Loves
This is a book I’ve already ordered a copy of. It must be mine.
The Wine Steven Paired With It
The 2014 isn’t all that prevalent anymore, but a few are floating around online, and still cheap. 2015 - 2019’s are everywhere. Norton is very much a “big brand” in Argentinian wines. You should be able to spot them at grocery stores, possibly Target or convenience stores, and definitely BevMo, Total Wine, Total Beverage, etc.
Other Things Discussed on the Show
Bad Idea’s first digital comic! The company we gave all the praise to for marketing like fucking idiot savants - constantly doing “bad ideas” that always seem to somehow work like gangbusters. One of their rules to this day has been: no digital. Ever. Until now. Sign up to be notified and/or (depending on when you’re reading this) become a backer if you care to.
The MEGARACHA HOODIE! Steven had the T-shirt up on the Kickstarter when we filmed, but has since added the Hoodie officially!
Only Large and X-Large sizes are available. You have to pick any other pledge level first, then add the hoodie to your pledge as an “Add-On”:
Go get you some!
And that’s all for this show. Steven is always a pleasure to talk to, and I absolutely have to go get another drink with him here in LA once he’s recovered from SDCC and this Kickstarter campaign. Are any of our readers also in the LA area? If so, shout out in the comments!
And one last time, GO BACK MONSTER MATADOR: ONCE UPON SOME MONSTERS IN MEXICO.