One of my favorite magazines that part of my Barnes & Noble viewing ritual is Cryptic Magazine. The Publisher, Chazz DeMoss, talks about the magazine and some of his other projects:

TheoFantastique: Chazz, thanks for agreeing to discuss some of your many horror activities. To begin, how did your imagination come to be captivated by all things horrorible, and how did this lead to your projects like Cryptic Magazine?
 
Chazz DeMoss: I was hooked on horror at birth, my rents took me to the drive in every weekend to see the latest horror features and I obviously became consumed by publications like Creepy, Eerie, Fangoria, Famous Monstersand more. I produce in film productions like a major budgeted horror feature titled “CYRUS” with Executive Producer Joel Castelberg and Director Mark Vadik. I am in the middle of producing this particular feature in Michigan and will be shooting throughout October 2008. I also play in a band called Wrecking Day and am being produced by Chad Banks of American Head Charge.  I also produce horror convention such as CRYPTICONMINNEAPOLIS.com and CRYPTICONSEATTLE.com or The Minneapolis Indy Horrorfest as well as currently producing comics for Image Comics and just finished producing a band called Hate Incorporated from Kansas City, MO on a label called Arkham Music Inc. So Cryptic Magazine is one of many things horror I am involved in and as to how I got here?  Pure passion for the genre I suppose. 
 
TheoFantastique: Can you share a little of the origins and history of Cryptic Magazine?

Chazz DeMoss: It started of as a comic book company called Dead Dog Comics that put out many horror titles of either original creations or licensed such as Night of the Living Dead, Day of The Dead, Tom Sullivan’s Books of the Dead or Curse of the Blood Clan to name just a few. Then evolved into this amazing and horror-driven publication that is made up of all the things horror I personally love… with a lot of influences that obviously show in its production. 
 
TheoFantastique: For those who may not be familiar with its content, what types of subjects do you tackle in the magazine?

Chazz DeMoss: New Releases; Indy films; Cult Classic Cinema; Tattoos; Interviews with writers, directors, famous monsters, custom bikes, scream queen hotties; convention info: interviews with top name rock, metal, industrial or punk bands; and the best part, six horrifying tales illustrated and written by some of the best names in the genre… I could go on forever on this topic, I suggest you read it and find out for youself, if you are a real horror fan then you owe it to yourself to check it out.

TheoFantastique: What are some of the influences that go into it for the artists and writers?
 
Chazz DeMoss: Some stories I drive myself from starting conception to finished pages working with some of my favorite artists, like Tim Seeley, Mark Kidwell, Nat Jones or the amazing Jay Fotos to name a few. So when real talent comes calling I just can’t seem to turn it away, I wish every artist could get in the mag but it has become something more than just a mag, it has evolved and will soon become an online publication and television station known as www.crypticTV.com and is already growing new wings, so as for what is influencing, the artist in the form of either me or their own sick and twisted imagination.
 
TheoFantastique: Let’s talk a little about Crypticon Minneapolis. In November you will hold your third annual convention. How did you move from horror zine to convention?

Chazz DeMoss: I have been to every consistent horror show across this great nation and even some out of it, but wanted to bring that same love to areas that don’t have it. Besides it is every horror fans dreamworld to be in a convention filled with all things horror as well as some of your favorite stars, the magazine was only a tool to help such things grow. We also put on CRYPTICONSEATTLE.COM as well. I must say though that behind each show is also a great promoter. For example with Minneapolis (it’s my brother from another mother) “Nick Kaufman”, he is the real brains behind the Minneapolis show and the brawn behind Seattle is all around promotor master Bill Berry of Random Acts & BBM&E. Also the agents who book the talent are great to work with and help bring new and fresh faces from the core of the industry, this will be our second show in Seattle and our third in Minneapolis and both are growing rapidly thanks to not only us the fans but the agents and promoters alike. 
 
TheoFantastique: What types of guests have you had in year’s past, and who are some highlights for 2008?
 
Chazz DeMoss: I have to say Sid Haig and Bill Moseley are my faves as far as past guest go (check out the links to past con guests right from the sites). But so far  this year Tom Savini, a man of many talents and skills who has made himself an icon to the genre, will be great at this years show, and of course Doug Jones from Pan’s Labyrith and the Hellboymovies is someone I have yet to meet in all my many years of con going and creating. Doing cons, film festivals, and even promoting concerts are a few more of my sick passions with horror in its many forms but the con after parties are my favorite pass time and I usually have way too much fun to remember all of those so called highlights. If its horror related, then to me, its a highlight. I suggest you attend the Cinema Wasteland Show, in Strongsville OH. It’ the best cult cinema show in the country and by far my favorite show to attend. This year’s is Oct. 3-5 right outside Cleveland OH. I will be there and ready for lots of horrorfying fun!

TheoFantastique: What other companies and projects might readers be interested in?
 
Chazz DeMoss: www.cryptictv.com, www.crypticmag.com, www.arkhammusic.com, www.crypticonseattle.com, www.crypticonminneapolis.com, www.myspace.com/wreckingday, www.myspace.com/hateincKC, www.byobmultimediaproductions.com are just a few of my many projects and there will be a site going up soon for www.cyrusthemovie.com we are also running a 24/7 horror station at cryptictv.com and more coming in 2009. You will be able to buy all back issues of magazine and or comics on the sites and we’ll soon be doing digital media as well. Thank you and your readers for your “terrorfying” interest in what crazy things I keep myself consumed with and I thank you CRYPTIC FANS for keeping me busy!
 
TheoFantastique: Thanks again for talking about your great work. I wish you the best, not only in this Halloween season, but in frights all year long.