Interview: John Arcudi on Dark Horse’s Dead Inside

Dead Inside #1 Dave Johnson cover

Dead Inside #1 Dave Johnson cover


John Arcudi has written Rumble, Aliens, The Mask, and much more including co-writing many B.P.R.D. series. Now he turns his attention to crime in prison in Dark Horse’s Dead Inside. Arcudi tells Westfield’s Roger Ash more about this intriguing new series.

Dead Inside #1 Faith Erin Hicks cover

Dead Inside #1 Faith Erin Hicks cover


Westfield: What is the genesis of the series?

John Arcudi: I found out about Jail Crime Investigations some time ago and I had always hoped I’d get around to writing a story involving this aspect of law enforcement in one way or another. Things just kept getting delayed, but here we are.

Dead Inside #1 preview page 1. Art by Toni Fejzula.

Dead Inside #1 preview page 1. Art by Toni Fejzula.


Westfield: There is a very real feel to the series. How much research did you do prior to writing?

Arcudi: I’ve been researching this sort of thing for years. Not so much for the purposes of this story in particular, but just because it’s always interested me.

Dead Inside #1 preview page 2. Art by Toni Fejzula.

Dead Inside #1 preview page 2. Art by Toni Fejzula.


Westfield: What can you tell reader about the story and who are some of the characters involved?

Arcudi: The Jail Crime Investigations arm of law enforcement is not so well known, but just like on the “outside,” crimes committed within jail and prison walls need to be investigated. That’s what this story is all about. The principal character is Detective Linda Caruso, the primary investigator of what appears to be an open and shut case. It isn’t that at all. Her lieutenant, Eleanor Payton, isn’t much help, but Linda gets unlikely aid from a prison social worker, a sheriff’s deputy, and even an inmate or two.

Dead Inside #1 preview page 3. Art by Toni Fejzula.

Dead Inside #1 preview page 3. Art by Toni Fejzula.


Westfield: Det. Caruso is a very well rounded character. That said, there are obviously things about her that the reader doesn’t know. Will you be revealing more of her past as the series goes on?

Arcudi: In issue #2 we really learn a lot about who Linda Caruso is and how she ended up where she did. Her entire emotional landscape informs the way this investigation proceeds.

Dead Inside #1 preview page 4. Art by Toni Fejzula.

Dead Inside #1 preview page 4. Art by Toni Fejzula.


Westfield: I really enjoy Toni Fejzula’s art on the book. He can switch between a gruesome scene to an office setting with ease. What can you say about your collaboration?

Arcudi: What is there to say? He’s awesome! He can draw anything he wants to, and that’s about as high praise as I can give any artist.

Westfield: If this series does well, do you have more plans for Det. Caruso?

Arcudi: That’s been my intention from the very start.

Dead Inside #2 Dave Johnson cover

Dead Inside #2 Dave Johnson cover


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Dead Inside #1 & 2

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