Talking ‘Misty 2024 Special’ With Writer Gail Simone

Barmaid. Nurse. Horror host. For those wondering if there’s anything Misty can’t do, the answer is no and the proof is in the Misty 2024 Special, out now in the UK and the US. Gail Simone (another person for whom it could be asked is there anything she can’t do?) wrote three of the four stories (the fourth is written, drawn, and lettered by Letty Wilson) and still made time to answer a few questions about the special:

Rachel Bellwoar: How did your interest in Misty begin and what do you think sets Misty apart from other horror hosts?

Gail Simone: This is a fun question, I thought about this a lot. It didn’t seem appropriate to have her telling horror puns like the Cryptkeeper, and it seemed cheesy to have her do saucy Elvira-style comments (I love Elvira, but she’s the queen of that).

They always wrote Misty as reserved and sober and intelligent. I wanted to keep that vibe.

And it sounds silly, but I think her fashion choices make a big difference on how each story feels. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the clothes she wears, the hairstyles she has. These things matter a lot more than many people might think.

Misty knows there’s darkness in the work. I think that comes out in her intros.

And also, of course, our Misty is in every story in some way.

Bellwoar: As a creator, do you enjoy the anthology format and creating shorter, one-shot stories?

Simone: Absolutely, I think I have done some of my best work, my very favorite stories, with fewer pages. Something about that format is inspiring. I think it’s because each word and panel is so crucial, you have to really Tetris the elements to get the punch you hoped for.

It’s a big part of why I wanted to do the Misty stories!

Bellwoar: What was it like seeing pages come in from the artistic team for this special?

Simone: Just impossible. You know, as a writer, you are always hoping for someone who is not just talented, but simpatico, you know? Someone who gets what you are hoping to accomplish.

We got Tula Lotay, just the best there is, on the cover. Then we have very gorgeous modern takes by Carola Borelli and Marianna Ignazzi, then an incredible classic take by Aly Fell, and a bonus story written and drawn by the wonderful Letty Wilson.

I could not love this book more if it came with tea and scones.

Bellwoar: Of the three Misty stories you wrote, was there an idea that came to you first?

Simone: Yeah, the story for “Eleven Lonely Deaths” hit me first. I am a follower of a lot of true crime shows and podcasts, and you can’t help but notice that there is sometimes a creepy, voyeuristic element to it. So that story came first. Then I wanted the other stories to be as far from that one as possible.

In the new mini-series, we have stories in many horror sub-genres, and eras. All with Misty.

It’s my favorite thing to write right now.

Bellwoar: While some of the stories are set in the present, others are set in the past. What appealed most to you about switching up the timeframes and settings for each story?

Simone: I think horror, particularly gothic horror, has so much to explore, I think it’d be kind of a drag to make every story happen at the same time in the same genre.  We get to explore further than that.

How Misty manages to be there every time, that’s another story.

But I also admit that that stuff is just fun to write, and the artists are loving having that kind of scope.

Bellwoar: “Eleven Lonely Deaths” and “Happy Birthday, Mrs. Parker” take place in the same town. Did you always want to create a shared universe, not unlike Stephen King and Castle Rock or Derry?

Simone: Well, no one replaces the king. It’s just not possible.

But the more you read each issue, the more connections become apparent. You can read each issue and feel perfectly happy, you’ll get complete stories every time.

But the true Bird Watcher will see some connections between the trees.

I hope people try Misty. It’s beautiful women in spooky stories, with fantastic artists and all sorts of hidden things in the dark.

I couldn’t love it more and I am thankful to Rebellion for letting me work on this surprise hit book!

Four more issues on the way, and let’s hope there’s a lot more Misty to come!

Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Gail!

Misty 2024 Special in on sale now and is available to purchase from the Treasury of British Comics’ website.