I've been writing my own comics for a few years now and guys like Steve Niles keep me doing it when nobody else seems to care. He wrote a little vampire comic called 30 Days Of Night, maybe you've heard of it? Steve was just another struggling comic geek before he made it big and now he's able to write his own ticket. Even being a big deal in Hollywood and on the comic scene Steve was kind enough to sit down with CraveOnline and do an interview!!

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CraveOnline: So what's going on in the world of Steve Niles?

Steve Niles: Work, work and more work. This weekend I'm working of Batman: Gotham After Midnight, Criminal Macabre: Cellblock 666 and a new Bernie Wrightson series for IDW called Dead She Said.

CraveOnline: This many years later does is still surprise you the impact of 30 Days Of Night? Why do you think that is?

Steve Niles: I'm constantly shocked. It was just a little vampire comic and then it exploded. I think people were just looking for a fresh approach and I guess they see that in 30 Days of Night. Works for me and Ben.

CraveOnline: So much of the book was cut out of the movie, why? Did it bum you out at all?

Steve Niles: Yeah, I was bummed at first, but then I learned that it's all about compromise so I (and Slade) gave up some stuff like the opening of the comic to make sure we got the ending we wanted. In the end I know we got the best movie we could. There were a couple producers, one in particular, who wanted to change everything. I know you didn't like the movie, but believe me, it took a lot of fighting to get what was up there.

CraveOnline: With all of the sequels and continuations, did you ever reach a point where you just wanted to put an end to the 30 Days story?

Steve Niles: I know the ending but I doubt I'll ever reach it. In my mind the first three books 30 Days, Dark days and Return to Barrow are main stories. After that it's more like the 30 Days soap opera which can go on forever as long as the excitement is there.

CraveOnline: How did Simon Dark come about?

Steve Niles: DC asked if I wanted to create something and I did. I came up with this weird Franken-kid who doesn't have a clue who he is and lives in Gotham.

CraveOnline: Where did you get the idea for Simon Dark's interesting look?

Steve Niles: The main sources were masked used to buffer the pian of burn victims. Everything else Scott came up with.

CraveOnline: As an old school Batman fan I must know, With Simon Dark existing in Gotham City, will he ever cross paths with the Dark Knight?

Steve Niles: Maybe, maybe not. The only way Simon Dark can survive on the book is by sales and sales are good for Simon (great in my mind) but DC wants it to do better or Simon Dark will be canceled. I'm sure if we chucked Bats in there, we'd sell more but I want to avoid that if I can. Batman is such a strong character. He tends to take over books. I put him in a Creeper series I did and he almost took that one over.

CraveOnline: Top 5 Desert Island Records?

Steve Niles:
Bad Brains: First Roir Cassette/CD
Motorhead: No Sleep Till Hammersmith
Fu Manchu: In Search of
Beatles: White Album
Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street

CraveOnline: The debate rages over paper comics vs online comics, where do you fall on the subject?

Steve Niles: I like holding a comic in my hand and I know I won't pay to read a stinkin' comic online, so my vote is no. Online is great for something. Reading a comic is not one of them. With that said, I'm sure we'll wind up there because we are heading towards becoming a paperless, non-reading, illiterate society and online comics will fit right in. I hope I can have my food directly inserting into my stomach soon too. All this chewing is tiring me out.

CraveOnline: Name one comic book character you wish you had created.

Steve Niles: Create? Batman. Hands down.

CraveOnline: What titles are you reading now? Why those?

Steve Niles: Not a lot of titles I follow but I do follow creators like Charles Burns and Dan Clowes. I read anything my Mark Millar (he knows how to stir shit up) and Ed Brubaker (Best Crime Writer right now). I will also pick up the occasional Grant Morrison book.

CraveOnline: Tell us something about Steve Niles that would surprise people.

Steve Niles: I've answered this question many times before. No? Not a surprise? Okay, let me see…I'll eat just about anything. I love Sushi and I'll even eat the Sea Urchin.

CraveOnline: One literary character you'd like to have dinner with. Why?

Steve Niles: Tarzan, because he's tear the shit out of the restaurant and I would laugh and laugh.

CraveOnline: Are you scripting any original films? Is that something that interests you?

Steve Niles: Working on one right now. With the writers strike over I can start hitting the bricks again so I might have something to announce soon.

CraveOnline: People are really pissed about Marvel's decision with Spider-Man and the whole erasing of his history. What's your feeling on it?

Steve Niles: I feel the only way Marvel can get press is to make trouble in lieu of actually putting out good books. Spiderman unmasking, Captain America dying, now Cap with a gun, and so on. The only time we hear about Marvel is when they are "controversial". How about just telling a good story? Marvel has some of the best talent in the industry in Bendis, Millar, Brubaker and don't even get me started on the artists. So much great talent being used on cheap gimmicks. It's really sad. Corporate and sad. As far as the Peter and Mary Jane thing….if you can't tell a good story with them married, then you probably won't be able to with them single.

CraveOnline: Top 5 movies of all time.

Steve Niles:
Night of the Living Dead
The Exorcist
The Thing (both)
Frankenstein
The Maltese Falcon.

CraveOnline: Name one pop culture trend you really hate!!

Steve Niles: Our steady reliance on technology.

CraveOnline: Do you ever worry about being pigeon hold into horror comics?

Steve Niles: Nope. I love them.

CraveOnline: As somebody who's made it, whats the best advice you can give somebody trying to make it?

Steve Niles: I always say the same thing, because it's the only thing I did that seemed to have payed off…never give up. Just never, ever give up.

CraveOnline: When you pass on, what do you want your legacy to be?

Steve Niles: Even if it's just a tiny bit, I'd like to think I had an effect on comics and horror. We'll see. I still have a lot of time to do something crazy and blow the whole legacy thing completely.

Thanks again Steve, for everything. If you want to check out more about Steve Niles, check out his personal site.
www.steveniles.com