Dracula: An Interview with Matt Wagner & Kelley Jones

Key Takeaways

Comic legends Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones discussed their extensive careers and creative processes.
Their new multi-volume graphic novel explores Dracula's story from his unique perspective.
The creators detailed artistic choices for horror depiction, including character-driven gore.
Dracula is portrayed as an unrepentant villain, distinct from romanticized adaptations.
Wagner and Jones shared insights into upcoming projects and past collaborations.

Guests Matt Wagner, creator of Grendel and Mage, and Kelley Jones, known for Batman, were introduced.
Wagner discussed his co-creation of the Dead Boy Detectives character and receiving income from its TV adaptation.
Jones recounted his early work on Marvel's 'Dino Riders' comic, which he quit for DC Comics, later receiving a substantial unexpected payment.
This situation indirectly led to positive career developments for Jones, including work on 'Deadman'.

Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones introduced their new multi-volume graphic novel on Dracula, uniquely told from Dracula's perspective.
The first volume, 'The Impaler,' explores Dracula's time at a mythical seminary for dark arts.
The second volume, 'The Brides,' details the origins of Dracula's three vampire consorts.
A Kickstarter campaign for the third volume, covering Dracula's time in Victorian London, is scheduled for October 1st.

Kelley Jones expressed a preference for drawing small, relatable instances of pain and anguish, citing a scene with a bat plucking an eyeball.
He noted that horror tropes allow for more evocative and character-driven depictions compared to superhero genres.
Matt Wagner described his writing style as unapologetic and direct, focusing on impactful sequences to build atmosphere.
This approach aims to elicit a stronger reaction from readers than generic depictions of violence.

Creators explored the appeal of villain perspectives in storytelling, comparing their Dracula to characters like Hannibal Lecter.
They distinguished between the historical Vlad the Impaler and the literary Dracula, noting differences in impalement methods.
The graphic novel's Dracula is portrayed as an unrepentant villain without romantic inclinations, contrasting with romantic interpretations like Coppola's film.
He is described as a warlord acting according to his nature, aware of the terror he inspires.

Guests discussed favorite vampire portrayals including 'Let the Right One In' and 'Rosemary's Baby'.
New vampire literature like Keith Rosenberg's 'Coffin Moon' and Stephen Graham Jones's work were mentioned.
They contrasted sunlight's effect on Dracula in 'Blade' and Coppola's film with the original novel, where Dracula moves in daylight but is less powerful.
The discussion included enjoyment for the movie 'Blade,' particularly the visual of vampires exploding, and 'John Carpenter's Vampires'.

One creator detailed his drawing process as highly emotional and spontaneous, often influenced by re-reading the script and emphasizing key moments.
This collaboration results in unexpected gory scenes that enhance the material.
Narrative choices for the graphic novel include using the original 1897 logo and portraying Satan as a young boy for subversion.
This choice visually represents Dracula's cruelty and the unexpected nature of evil, drawing parallels to historical and ongoing atrocities.

Dracula's interactions in London involve tasting and describing the social status and essence of his victims, from 'liniment and broken dreams' to variations based on class and gender.
Creators deliberately avoid existing adaptations, such as 'Tomb of Dracula,' to maintain originality and prevent unconscious influence.
This approach is compared to their past work on Batman.
Discussion touched on Dracula lore, specifically the absence of garlic in early depictions and the nature of his powers, suggesting abilities beyond mist transformation are from necromancy learned at the Scolomance.

Guests discussed a forthcoming Z2 graphic novel: a 22-page gory retelling of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen, co-created by a guest and host.
The project, described as extreme and punk rock, will feature art by Matt Wagner and coloring by Brennan.
A past collaboration on a Jay and Silent Bob short story for Kevin Smith, featuring a dog named Tripod, was also highlighted.
The third Dracula graphic novel campaign launches on Kickstarter on Wednesday, October 1st, offering hardcovers of the first two volumes and original art rewards.