About Shocktrauma Studios
02/28/2006 03:56 PM

THE SECRET ORIGIN OF SHOCKTRAUMA STUDIOS
by Jason Caskey.

AS I REMEMBER IT…we’d all been having our various solo adventures when we first banded together to fight Starro, the villianous giant starfish that was trying to destroy the world…no, wait. That was the Justice League of America…..

Actually, I seem to remember that Phil Hester knew Colin Wales and Paul Tobin from their time together in college. I first met Phil when I was a high school student attending a young writer’s conference that Phil was giving a seminar on comic books at, (bearing a rather nice mullet and 120 lb. body). I began to write to Phil after that initial meeting, bugging him for advice about writing for comics, ( going on 14 years now..). When Phil moved to Knoxville, Iowa, we began to hang out together, and through him I met Paul and Colin.

Somewhere along the way we crossed paths with Jim Woodyard, who lead us to a con in Kansas City, ran by some guy named Mike Worley. As we began to attend these cons on a regular basis,(hooking up with Jim’s brother John Warren), we met up with Fredd Gorham and Ande Parks.

(The 1st “Shocktrauma” Comic was most likely Fringe, a book created and written by Paul, with Phil on pencils, Jim and Ande on inks, Colin on letters, and Fredd, John, and me doing stuff here and there.)

Along the way we met up with Andrew Walls, and I started bringing the little punk from Milo who dug comics with me named Aaron Gillespie. Not to be outdone, Fredd brought in his ringer, Brook Turner. We each had a Batman/Robin, Captain America/Bucky dynamic going with these two, only it would be like if Bats and Robin enjoyed being assholes, and Cap and Bucky fought over black and white movies.

The latest addition has been Mike, who we brought into the fold as a goof, but soon proved to be an endless source of advice, encouragement, and tasteless humor.

Unlike a traditonal “studio”, we don’t all work in a big room together. Some of us are seperated by 100’s of miles. We just share a love of comic books, video games, pro wrestling, action figures, and eating. We do work together on various comics ( Green Arrow, Holy Terror), gaming projects (Society of Shadows), and other stuff from time to time. We get together for signings, conventions, jam sessions, and whenever we get a chance.
Over the years we’ve had a ton of talented people join us for our hijinks; Colleen Coover, Andy Kuhn, Chris Spicer, Jai Nitz, Steve Miller, Brian Dunn, Ron Johansen, and Mike Huddleston are just a few of our honorary Shocktraumanauts.

We don’t have secret handshakes, bylaws, or even funny hats, but since we’re all too cheap to pay dues to a real group, here we are!

( Little known fact: there were 2 Shocktraumanauts that have disappeared. John Carr was a guy who just disappeared and Marc Ericson moved out west, and still talks to Phil from time to time. If you guys are reading this, contact us!!)