Addressing Concerns About 'ED GEIN: DEMON HUNTER'

Since working on and promoting my forthcoming Outlaw Comic Mini-Series 'ED GEIN: DEMON HUNTER' it's only natural that some readers have concerns about the subject matter contained within the book. I mean, we are dealing with a real serial killer (even though there is still much debate as to whether or not Ed can be classified as a serial killer) playing the role of the protagonist of the story. And considering the crimes he committed, the main concern is how this would affect the memory of the people he killed and harmed and how this would affect the descendants of those who were killed and/or harmed by Ed Gein.

In all honesty, I think people's concerns are valid. Especially as it would be easy for anyone to look at the book and come to the conclusion that this might be a redemption story. So I would like to address those concerns that some people have and I hope this eases people's apprehensions when it comes to 'ED GEIN: DEMON HUNTER'.

One thing to note is that the book has been submitted to a few publishers and while all of the publishers involved have stated that they like what Kristian Rossi and myself are producing, they are unwilling to publish the book because it involves a real-life serial killer. It has been suggested that maybe we change Ed Gein for a fictional serial killer who is loosely based on Ed Gein (I.E. 'The Silence Of The Lambs').

This is something that many storytellers have done in the past. One example that comes to mind is 'Dexter Morgan' in the book/TV series 'Dexter'. For those of you who don't know, Dexter Morgan is based on a real-life serial killer who while in prison has killed many other serial killers and serious offenders. And many characters in film have been based on Ed Gein. That list includes Norman Bates in 'Psycho', Leatherface in 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' and Ezra in the pseudo biopic 'Deranged'.

So, why have I chosen to NOT go down this route?... There are a few reasons. One of which is Ed's relationship with his mother and that Ed was suffering not only from a lifetime of abuse from his mother but also from serious mental illnesses. This in turn makes Ed a character that is more complex than people like to admit and brings an interesting dynamic to any story about him, including a fantasy/horror story like 'ED GEIN: DEMON HUNTER'.

But let's focus on the main issue that potential readers may or may not have: The memory of Ed's victims and the potential for there to be redemption.

This book, whether you choose to believe it or not, does NOT glorify what Ed did.

Ed himself in the book makes it clear that what he did was despicable and that he does not deserve a chance at redemption. At no point is Ed forgiven for his past crimes and a part of the subplot of the book focuses on Ed coming to terms with what he did, especially to Bernice Worden. It doesn't justify what he did whatsoever. However, it does try to understand why he did it. Which for some people is going to be a tough pill to swallow. Especially if you do not have a background in the long-term damaging effects to the mental health of those who have been raised by abusive parents.

Things in life are not black or white. There is a lot of grey area that needs to be addressed and examined closely. Doing so means that we can start looking out for the signs that will let us know that someone is going down a dark path and gives us the potential to prevent anyone from committing such heinous crimes again.

Another aspect to keep in mind is that it's easy for anyone to say 'I would never do what Ed did, no matter what'. But the fact of the matter is none of us has been through what Ed has been through. Some people have been through similar things but they have not been through the same things as Ed. And if any of us had, there is nothing to say that we wouldn't have done what Ed did or maybe even worse.

I know that reading that may not be easy and I'm sure some people will dismiss it straight away as poppycock (that's right, I'm bringing the word 'poppycock' back) but it is a fact nonetheless. Regardless of if anyone wants to acknowledge it or not.

Now here's the bit that might make you happy or it might make you angry with me...The abduction and murder of Bernice Worden IS covered in the book. And when it is, Ed feels guilty and ashamed for what he did. It is an emotional moment. We do not shy away from it and we do not sugarcoat it. We present the murder as being horrible and grotesque. We also show the anguish and pain that Ed was feeling at the time having undiagnosed schizophrenia and hearing his mother's voice telling him to do something that he did not want to do.

In the story, it is clear that Ed does not suffer from his mental illness anymore as he is dead and in Hell. Even when he lands in Plainfield he is not suffering the same way that he did when he was alive and because of that he is riddled with remorse and guilt for what he did and he believes that he should NOT be forgiven.

While there are plenty of comical moments in the story as well as heroic moments, we do not make light of Bernice Worden and her untimely demise. We do not try to dress it up as anything it wasn't. But we don't make things one-sided either. We let the reader decide for themselves how they feel about that tragic event before we move the story and plot forward into a scene that is dark and funny and takes place in Worden's Hardware. In the same respect, we present some of the abuse that Ed received from the hands of his mother accurately (or as close to accurate as possible) and we let the reader decide how they feel about it. The only difference is, when we show the abuse, we show how Ed is negatively affected as an adult who is on a very important mission before showing you the abuse he received as a child.

'ED GEIN: DEMON HUNTER' is not a book for the faint of heart. It was important to me to cover the three H's in this story (Humour, Heroics and Heart). It was also important to me to challenge myself as a writer and storyteller. And one of the best ways to do that is to imagine the most despicable kind of person you can and make them the lead of your story.

Notice how I have not used the word 'hero' concerning 'ED GEIN: DEMON HUNTER'. Which is how a lot of people are perceiving him in this story even though the first issue has not been published yet (the official release date will be coming soon). There is a reason for that...He's not a hero in this story. He is a lead character who grows.

But it's also important to note that I have not used the word 'monster' to describe him either, even though a lot of people have. That's because even the most heinous of people out there who have committed atrocities are (whether we like it or not) human. Once again, this doesn't mean that we approve of what they have done. It just means that we are acknowledging a fact that is often overlooked for the sake of protecting our ego's and that fact is that we are all human and no human is perfect.

It's easy to judge others, especially those whom we do not know personally when they do something despicable. But if we are all honest with ourselves, we know deep down that we have all done something horrible once in our lives. Maybe not to the extent of someone like Ed, but there's a reason why everyone on this planet, not one person excluded, has a deep dark secret that they will take to the grave with them.

There is so much more that I could say on the subject. However, I feel that I have provided enough to put some people's concerns to bed. If there is any reason that I haven't, I have no doubt people will let me know and I'm more than happy to address these concerns civilly. I believe that discussions like these are important and need to happen. So I want to thank everyone who has had a concern about this book and has approached me with respect when talking about these concerns.

I sincerely hope that you're still willing to give the book a chance. Both Kristian and I are proud of what we have been able to accomplish with this book. We cannot wait to get it out there for you and many other readers to enjoy.

Before I leave you, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind taking a moment to sign up for my mailing list. Just scroll to the bottom of this page, fill out the form and hit the submit button. If you do, then as a token of my appreciation, you’ll receive a FREE PDF of the first issue of ‘ED GEIN: DEMON HUNTER’. A four-part mini-series that sees the infamous Butcher Of Plainfield tackling his inner demons seven years after his death so that he can return a deranged demon back to Hell before it’s too late!

I hope to see you again soon. Until then, take care of yourselves and remember: Don’t be afraid of the shadows. That’s where the unusual resides!