Stephen King Plans a Vampire Comic

[mae]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/books/26arts-STEPHENKINGP_BRF.html


In March, Vertigo, an imprint of DC Comics, will release the first issue of “American Vampire.” The new series, illustrated by Rafael Albuquerque, will open with a five-issue arc that contains two 16-page stories: one by Scott Snyder and one by a rather more well-known name, Stephen King. The series will focus on a new breed of vampire through the lens of different eras in American history, above. Mr. Snyder will tell the story of Pearl, who is seeking fame in the jazz age, while Mr. King will focus on Skinner Sweet, the first American vampire who does not fear the sun. Mr. King’s involvement began when Mr. Snyder sent him the series pitch in the hopes of getting a blurb. “He wrote back saying he really liked it and would do a couple of issues if anyone would let him,” Mr. Snyder said.

[Nerak]

sweet!

[mae]

More info: http://www.stephenking.com/promo/american_vampire/press_release/

[turtlex]

Hey All - We already have a thread on this ...
... come join us over at the Comic Tower (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?t=9472) to discuss.

[Patrick]

Sweet. Sounds like he'll do a few issues as a one-off basis (vs. this being a new ongoing SK series).

Looking forward to it.

[mae]

I'm not sure. The information thus far is a tad ambiguous as to the extent of King's involvement.

[Bev Vincent]

Here's a long article at Newsarama (http://www.newsarama.com/comics/091026-american-vampire.html)

King decided to work on the comic when Snyder sent him a description of the story and asked if he could provide a quote for promotional purposes. "He wrote back and said he really liked it and he'd be willing to do a blurb. But he said he'd also be willing to do a couple issues," Snyder explained. "Obviously, I said yes."

Karen Berger, senior vice president at Vertigo, said it was a pleasant surprise to get a writer like Stephen King involved in "American Vampire." "Stephen King is the master of modern horror," she said. "He put modern horror on the map. The fact that the first comic story that he's actually written, and the fact that he's choosing to write his first comic based on the strength and the power of Scott's concept, and the fact that it's for us, is just a huge, huge thing."

And what was originally supposed to be just two issues by King quickly turned into more. "He kept saying, 'Do you mind if I expand this a little bit?'" Snyder said with a laugh. "And he ended up doing five issues. He had such an exciting direction after the second or third issue. At that point, it's totally his imaginative baby. And the series is so much better for that. He added so many great things to the character and the storyline and the relationships. He brought an incredible A-game. It was awe-inspiring to watch him do it."

[...]

But although Snyder invented the character, he said King's direction adds a whole new layer to the story.

"I provided him direction for the first couple issues, but when he ended up doing his own thing, the story actually got better," Snyder said. "He had this whole theme of fact vs. fiction, and legend vs. history He added characters, and severed heads being sent via Pony Express, and all kinds of crazy stuff.

"It was funny because I told Steve that I thought of Skinner being like Joker in some ways and that he was just such a bad-ass and was terrible. And he said, 'OK, I think I've got it,'" Snyder said. "And I was wondering if he would make him bad enough. But then it was like, wow, I didn't even realize the bottomless pit of evil in this character until he took him over."

[mae]

So it'll be just five issues and that it for King?

[Brainslinger]

So it'll be just five issues and that it for King?

Apparently so. Then again he asked if he could do just two issues originally, so who knows? It does seem to be very much Snyder's baby though. Not that that's a bad thing, I haven't read any of his stuff to judge. Judging by his response to King's involvement, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd open more stories up to King if he was interested. Just my speculation though.

[herbertwest]

sounds cool!

[Bev Vincent]

Interview with the artist (http://www.newsarama.com/comics/091029-Rafael-Albuquerque-american-vampire.html)