INTERVIEW: Dracula is reborn artistically thanks to Kelley Jones
Image courtesy of Orlok Press / Provided by Superfan Promotions with permission.
Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones have teamed up for a new four-volume work that reinterprets the story of Dracula, made famous more than 120 years ago by original scribe Bram Stoker. This graphic novel project aims to fill in the blanks on some of the details that are only suggested at in the novel and offer a visual compendium to the most famous vampire story in history.
Right now, there are little more than 24 hours left in the project’s Kickstarter campaign, which promises some cool incentives for genre fans, including various versions of the first book, Dracula — Book One: The Impaler, plus sketches, folios and variant covers. As of press time, the book had far exceeded its modest goal of $666, racking up pledges of more than $236,000.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Wagner and Jones. For the interview with Wagner, click here.
Jones is a prolific comic book artist, having worked on Deadman and Sandman. He was also responsible for the art on the Batman graphic novel Red Rain; this book actually gave him his first taste of drawing Dracula (spoiler alert: Drac and Bat go head to head in the story). Here’s what the artist had to say on the new project. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
Was there any particular inspiration that you drew upon to bring this world to life?
Since a kid I have loved Dracula in films and books, first because he scared me, Christopher Lee’s portrayal in particular. As I got older I was fascinated because I discovered the character was based upon a real man, Vlad Dracula — a Romanian warlord from the 15th century. I wanted to bring about this powerful and terrible character in a way that captured the idea that his force of personality is what makes him Lord of the Undead not just his fangs! I wanted a flesh-and-blood living man who is already a brutal compelling persona, so that when his vampiric curse is laid upon him it simply adds fuel to the fire.
Was any of your art inspired by the real Vlad the Impaler and his castle?
I had already read a lot about Vlad and the period of history of his country, so I had that percolating for some time — the concept about how he’d look. Bram Stoker was pretty clear in his description as well, and Matt crystalized it with his vivid script. I had been to Belgium recently and had the good fortune to tour an authentic medieval castle. That visit helped get across how dark and ominous those places could be!
When did you first encounter the Dracula story? Was it a movie adaptation? The original novel?
When I was in kindergarten, I saw a Halloween costume but really didn’t know what that was, and I was told that he was a vampire. When it was also explain[ed] that the vampire drank blood, I was totally grossed out! I first saw the 1931 Lugosi Dracula when 6 years old, and it terrified me due to Bela’s intense stare and haunting accent. Not long after that, Horror of Dracula with Christopher Lee was on a late -night movie, and my dad let me watch it as long as I didn’t burst into his room from nightmares. And I didn’t because I didn’t go to sleep at all that night! I also made sure to take the trash out while the sun was still up! I read the novel first in a Classics Illustrated version in middle school and then bought a copy when in high school, and it knocked me out. So much good stuff in it!
How long did it take you to draw Book One?
About five months to draw and similar to ink it. Since it was a passion project the time flew though.
How many books do you feel this project could go?
It’s planned out as four graphic novels to tell the story. Each volume is a stand-alone narrative, but when all collected and read together it will be our Lord of the Rings — Dracula, the untold epic of his life and unlife!
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Dracula — Book One: The Impaler, written by Matt Wagner with art by Kelley Jones, is currently being funded through Kickstarter. Click here for more information.
