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Just in time for the holidays! We’re excited to introduce computer keyboards and mice featuring your favorite Marvel characters! Our Keyscaper keyboards and mice will add some flair to your desk and sufficiently solidify your geek cred.

The keyboards are available in wired and wireless versions and the mice are wireless to boot! All are PC and Mac compatible and feature a super simple plug and play connection.

One of the most exciting things about these products is that they’ll be in stock on December 16th! So if you’ve been looking for the perfect holiday gift for the comic book fan in your life, look no further.

Just in case that’s not geeky enough for you, we’ve also got two styles for the Star Trek fan at TFAW.com.

These keyboards and mice will go pretty quickly, so you’ll want to get your pre-order in soon to ensure you get your choice of these great products.

What do you think of these products? Got any questions about them? Go ahead and let us know below.

While fairytales are eternal, passed down for thousands of years, the popular notion is that these classic fables are just for kids. Well, not anymore. Artist and writer Nick Percival has created a dark, steampunk wonderland: Legends: The Enchanted, an upcoming graphic novel from Radical Publishing. However, you can get a sneak peek of this epic with issue #0, out January 27, with a cover price of just $1 ($0.80 if you pre-order from TFAW.com now). Read on to learn more about Percival’s vision and to get a glimpse of his haunting, twisted world!

TFAW.com: Hi Nick, thanks for talking with us.

Nick Percival: No problem–thanks for the opportunity.

TFAW.com: What can you tell us about Legends: The Enchanted’s premise?

NP: The book is set in a violent and decayed creature-infested world where strange technology, nature, and dark magic are in constant conflict. The story runs with the premise that many of the classic characters from folklore and fairytales have always existed. Known as the Enchanted, these people are now well into adulthood.

Feared and loathed by many, they spend their fractured existence as outlaws, vigilantes, bounty hunters and such, living their lives independently in an increasingly hostile world. The majority of these Enchanted have a mystic protective “charm” that allows them to sustain vast amounts of deadly physical damage yet still fully recover–they are virtually impossible to kill.

When the mutilated body of Pinocchio, (a huge supernatural “warrior man” made from bionics and wood) is discovered, they realize something or someone has found a way to break their charm and is now after them.

I really wanted the book to be a hard-as-nails, urban action-fantasy tale starting with a murder mystery and escalating into an ongoing battle for the very survival of the whole Enchanted.

Goldilocks and Bear

TFAW.com: What inspired you to create this graphic novel?

NP: Well, I’ve always been a massive fan of traditional folklore, and I originally came up with the story late 2002, all the time since then creating prototype character paintings and fleshing out the world and storyline as I worked on other projects. I loved how these characters’ origins and classic tales are dripping with dark subtext, violence, horror, dubious moral themes and bizarre conclusions.

Visually, it’s a genre that I’ve wanted to explore and felt I could bring a fresh spin on these well-known characters, giving them a gritty edge and emphasizing the conflicts they have between each other. They don’t all get on, and the idea of an action tale, set in this weird world along with the themes of warped technology and magic, are what inspired me to finally get stuck in and fully commit to the project.

As Radical became involved later down the line, we were looking at various formats for the story and decided an original graphic novel would be best, but with a preview issue #0 first, so people can get a good idea of what it’s all about and see the style of the book, the characters, and their world.

TFAW.com: What differentiates Legends from other series that center on similar subject matter, like Fables?

NP: It’s a good question, and one I’m sure will constantly come up. To be honest with you, I’ve never actually read Fables. Obviously, I’m aware of the series, and from what I have seen in various comic book mags and websites, on a purely visual level at least, Legends is massively different. I’m fully painting the whole story with very detailed artwork–my background is in painted comic books and cover artwork (2000 AD, Judge Dredd, Slaine, Marvel’s Dead of Night, etc.), and I also worked as a computer animation director for video games and TV, so I wanted to create a unique high-end slick look to Legends with the artwork, very cinematic in lighting but also taking advantage of what is unique to the comic book medium with certain storytelling devices, and so on.

Hansel

TFAW.com: Why did you choose a steampunk look for this book?

NP: There are certain steampunk elements to the look but mainly an urban post-apocalyptic feel with nature now starting to reclaim some of the environments. So we get ruined cities, weird science labs, strange vehicles and places, with a mix of heavy-duty industrial and gothic influences. One of my favorite locations is the Bionic Woodlands where Red Hood lives with her daughter. It’s a weird mix of twisted bio-mechanical trees and bizarre organic vines and living foliage–a very harsh-looking place.

TFAW.com: What are some of your favorite characters in this book?

NP: Wow. Probably too many to mention. The cast ranges from my version of Rapunzel, who can control her long unbreakable hair to strangle her enemies and in some cases rip their damn heads off. Hansel and Gretel are Paranormal Exterminators, Jack the Giantkiller is a kind of hero for hire–only works at dispatching Ogres, etc. for the right price. He swallows Magic Beans that each give him different powers for a limited amount of time. He’s a bit of a rogue and rides a souped-up motorcycle that uses Giant’s blood for fuel, so he’s quite cool. Humpty Dumpty is a crime gang lord who runs a seedy nightclub. We have the wolf creature hunter, Red Hood, whose relationship with her young daughter is a major, major part of the story.

TFAW.com: Which aspects of Legends do you think will surprise readers the most?

NP: I don’t think it looks like any other comic book on the market, so I’m quite pleased about that and I think readers will be pleasantly surprised at the take on these classic fairytale characters we’re all familiar with. I felt there was a lot of room to take the characters and really go to the extremes of what they could be, using their well-known back stories as great source material and weave some of that into the big plot of Legends but twisting those tales, ripping them apart and then stitching them back together again with a rusty needle and an added dose of visual steroids.

Jack the Giant Killer

TFAW.com: What are some of the major storylines you’ll pursue?

NP: We have the threat to the Enchanted, and the fact that they realize they can now be killed, which is obviously a very big deal for them and the result in that they have to work together for the first time as team, resolving any past conflicts and disputes they have. We’ll also see the larger picture and structure of their world and how it changes as a result of what is happening around them. Add to that a healthy mix of punk-rock Giants, twisted science, dark magic, big guns, cool motorcycles, super-powered magic beans, trolls, love, violence, tragedy, chainsaws, wild nature, booze, horror, telepathy, werewolves, strange nightclubs, beanstalks, cyber-witches, dumb monsters, explosions and bio-mechanical fairies. Hopefully, it’s like no fairytale you’ve ever seen.

TFAW.com: What will readers see in the #0 issue?

NP: It basically amounts to what would be the first chapter. We see the murder of Pinocchio and will be introduced to about two thirds of the cast. It also gives you a good look at the world they inhabit and the dangers they face. I’m hoping folks will at least give it a shot (hey, it’s only a buck!) and feel excited and intrigued enough to then pick up the graphic novel to get the full story.

TFAW.com: Is this a stand-alone graphic novel, or do you anticipate telling more Legends stories in the future?

NP: The graphic novel is a complete story, but it sets the scene for many future tales, which I’ve started to map out. Relationships change, and not every character makes it to the end of the book, while some evil elements still remain, so there are areas that would be ready for a sequel and more further down the line.

Pinocchio

TFAW.com: Where does Legends fit into your body of work?

NP: I started the book while I was still working on various comic book covers, collectible card artwork, and film concept and production art, but now that I’m in the later stages of the project, I’m working on it full time to get it finished. It’s definitely the best body of work I’ve done and the first thing I’ve solely created, written, and illustrated, which is great.

TFAW.com: What other projects are you excited about right now?

NP: After Legends, I’m developing a project with a very established Hollywood screenwriter and will see where that leads, as well as dabbling in another original project I’ve got cooking, and–hopefully, if all does well–more Legends material. I’ll probably continue with cover work and film stuff alongside that, but if I did return to non-creator-owned comics, I have a cool idea for a very dark, horror-themed Hulk story, so who knows . . . ?

TFAW.com: Thanks again!

NP: Cheers!

What do you think about incorporating steampunk, fairytales, and comics? Are you curious enough to check out Legends: The Enchanted #0? Post your comments and opinions below!

There’s has been such a huge groundswell of interest in Jericho Season 3: Civil War, the upcoming comics series from Devil’s Due Publishing, that when TFAW.com got a chance to interview part of the creative team, we jumped at the chance! As you may already know, Jericho Season 3: Civil War is the official continuation of the much-loved Jericho CBS television show starring Skeet Ulrich, Lennie James, and Ashley Scott.

From the very beginning, Jericho has had dedicated, active fans–so much so that they convinced CBS to bring the canceled show back for a second season! Now Jericho’s beloved Rangers are back for a third season in comic book form. Read on to learn more!

TFAW.com: We are here with show writer/producer Dan Shotz and series editor Cody DeMatteis–thanks for taking the time to answer some questions, guys!

Dan Shotz: Our pleasure . . . we are so thrilled that Jericho Season 3: Civil War is finally here. We love seeing the Jericho story continue in comic book form, and we have a feeling the fans will be very pleased with what we’ve put out. The whole Jericho team from the show is involved in the creation of this comic book series and we are having a blast working with Devil’s Due Publishing to give the fans something truly special.

TFAW.com: Jericho was much loved by fans–so much so that they were able to bring it back to CBS for a second season after cancellation. What made you decide to bring it back as a comic?

DS: This has always been about the fans. They are so passionate and have inspired us to keep the story going. They made history when they brought the show back for a second season and we, the writers and producers of the series, wanted to continue the story for them in different ways. This story is very close to our hearts and we feel like we have so much more to tell.

TFAW.com: Where does Jericho Season 3 pick up, storywise? Of course, this series has “Civil War” right in the title. Can you tell us about that?

DS: We left Season 2 with a Civil War looming between the East and the West. And now we have the opportunity to show it. The first group of books will deal with the Civil War on the verge of breaking out and the repercussions of living in a potential war zone. Jake and Hawkins will be directly involved with the outcome of the war itself, while the Jericho citizens will be fighting a resistance from within the new Allied States.

TFAW.com: Dan, what was it like adapting Jericho from television to comics? Were there any particular challenges?

DS: As the writers of the first issue, Robert Levine and I found it very freeing. The comic book form allows us to go big without restrictions. When you are working on a TV series, we are limited by budget and time concerns. When you want a tank to arrive on set, it costs serious money. With a great artist, we can fill a base with a dozen tanks free of charge.

TFAW.com: Cody, were you a fan of Jericho before you started editing the comics? What things do you keep in mind to make sure the comics have the same “feel” of the series?

Cody DeMatties: I had been a fan of the series, right up until the cancellation. Given that the cliffhanger we were left with I was more than excited to be involved with this project. There are plenty of factors to making sure that the comic retains the same overall feel of the original show, but Dan has been a massive help in guiding the voice of the comic. He’s the one that ensures when fans pick up a copy of Jericho #1, they’re going to be more than satisfied.

TFAW.com: How well do you think this comic has recreated the characters and world of the TV series? For fans, will this be like getting a “real” Season 3?

CDe: As Dan noted earlier, with the comics, fans are going to be getting a bigger story. The scope of the Jericho world isn’t tied to budget anymore . . . the sky is the limit for where this can go. I feel that people are going to find the same dynamic, character-driven stories they’ve come to expect from Jericho, but with the freedom of the comics medium allowing for the exploration of aspects not possible on screen.

TFAW.com: How would you describe this comic to readers who’ve never seen the show?

DS: Jericho is a story about a world turned upside down by a coordinated terrorist attack that wiped out 23 American cities. As America is slowly trying to rebuild itself, the country we once knew is now split into different factions and they are each vying for control. But at the heart of the story, Jericho is about the citizens of a small town, who are making a difference on a grand scale. They are fighting back for what is true and right and will risk their lives to save their home.

TFAW.com: How did you choose the artist, Alejandro Giralbo? In the preview pages I’ve seen, it looks like he’s captured the likenesses of the actors really well.

CDe: I connected with Alejandro through Nutopia Agency. We got samples from a variety of artists, but he really nailed the feel we were going for with an added sense of realism. He’s a very talented guy . . . I feel we’ll be seeing more from him in the future.

TFAW.com: Are there going to be any relationship developments in Jericho Season 3, or is this mostly an action tale?

DS: When the writers of the series got together to break the story, we made sure that the book would feel like the show. While the show had high-quality action set pieces, it also had rich characters with strong emotional beats. We didn’t want to lose that multi-layered texture of the Jericho story. I think we found a good mix of exciting adventure with the deeply personal.

TFAW.com: Are there any surprises in store for fans that you can reveal?

DS: We have so many juicy pieces of candy in there for the fans. Don’t want to reveal too much. But I will say that all of the Jericho characters, the fan-favorites, make their way into the book.

TFAW.com: Jericho has such a committed, passionate fanbase–why do you think they relate to the show so strongly?

DS: While the show started with an enormous premise, a post-apocalyptic devastation, it’s connected with audiences because of the individual characters who were forced to realize who they were under the most extreme circumstances. The “what if?” scenario can be very powerful and emotional when you try to see yourself in that position. That concept is where this whole ride began . . . to create a community of citizens that would face adversity on every level and continue to survive. This idea continues to inspire us.

TFAW.com: After this six-issue miniseries has ended, are more story arcs planned?

CDe: We are in the process of discussing what is up next for DDP & Jericho . . . a few exciting ideas being passed around. We should have details soon. We want to keep telling stories in the Jericho universe as long as the fans will allow!

TFAW.com: Thanks again for you time–I’m looking forward to reading the comic!

Dan and Cody: Thank you very much.

Jericho Season 3: Civil War premieres today–make sure to pick up issue #1 now and pre-order issues #2-4 right now!

What do you think of the latest comic book adaptations of television series? Which others would you like to see? Post now or forever hold your peace!

One of the most exciting new offerings this month is Logan’s Run: Last Day, a 24-issue limited series from the folks at Bluewater Studios.

Having discovered the Logan’s Run novel by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson back in high school, I was pretty psyched to hear about this adaptation. It looks like this adaptation will stay true to the novel, rather than the 1976 movie starring Michael York.

I had the chance to interview William F. Nolan about the new adaptation, his plans for other series with Bluewater, and the state of a new Logan’s Run movie:

TFAW.com: It is nice to (virtually) meet you, Mr. Nolan.

William F. Nolan: Thanks, glad to (virtually) be here!

TFAW.com: We were really excited to hear about Logan’s Run: Last Day, the new comic book adaptation of your novel. How did the comic come about?

Nolan: My good friend and author/filmmaker Jason V. Brock (Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone’s Magic Man) and his wife Sunni saw an article about Bluewater in the local Vancouver, WA paper. Jason does some agenting on my behalf and contacted Darren G. Davis, the president of Bluewater.

We scheduled a meeting at their offices in Vancouver, and they were very excited about the Logan property. Jason (who is also an artist and the Art Director/Managing Editor of Dark Discoveries magazine) and I assisted in working on the designs and costumes for some of the characters, which they are using in the final comic. Also, Jason had come up with a great storyline for a new Logan book we are outlining that uses the original book and expands on the backstory, updating it significantly.

That’s where Paul J. Salamoff comes in: he was chosen to adapt the novels into comic format, but none of us really wanted a “straight” adaptation of the books–it’s been done by MGM, Marvel, Malibu Graphics, and so on. It was time for a fresh take on Logan. Paul was perfect for the job. Not to mention that the four of us–Darren, Paul, Jason, and myself–all work well together and have gotten to be friends.

TFAW.com: Logan’s Run isn’t a stranger to comics. Other publishers have done mini-series adaptations over the years. Is there something special in today’s world that prompted you to move forward with an adaptation?

Nolan: I was not happy with Marvel or Malibu’s versions. I very much disliked the art in the Malibu edition, though they were faithful to the books. As far as the Marvel version, it was just too “superhero”: Logan is a real character, not a superheroic one, and I was never that pleased with it. In addition, they were really adapting the MGM movie, which is flawed, not the book that I wrote with George Clayton Johnson.

Given the current trend of Hollywood getting interested in comic book works, I feel that this is the perfect time to get a really great version of Logan out there . . . and this is the one.

TFAW.com: To what degree are you involved with the Bluewater Productions adaptation of Logan’s Run?

Nolan: I have final creative say-so over the artwork and storyline, as well as writing for some of the other titles we have planned.

TFAW.com: Will Paul Salamoff be staying pretty close to the original story or have you given him some freedom to move about in the world you’ve created?

Nolan: Paul is working off the outline that we provided, but has added a couple of elements. He is actually being faithful to the first two books (Logan’s Run and Logan’s World) at the start of the series. All of us are excited about the directions that we could go after these first six or so issues.

TFAW.com: What has Daniel Gete brought to the table in terms of art for Last Day?

Nolan: His work is very good. Jason and I both like his rendering and layouts a lot. His vision is in concert with ours: strong and direct–perfect for Logan.

TFAW.com: For someone who might only be familiar with the 1976 film version of Logan’s Run, what differences can they expect to see in the comic?

Nolan: We wanted as many things as possible to be different from the film, for legal and artistic reasons. We went back to the source material as much as possible, and built on that. You’ll see very soon!

TFAW.com: Awhile back, I heard that the series was scheduled for 24 issues. Is that still the case?

Nolan: Yes, 24 issues is correct. We have a lot planned for the series.

TFAW.com: Are you planning on working with Bluewater Productions on any other series?

Nolan: Yes. I signed on to do have an adaptation done of Sam Space, my future-noir character, for a run of four to six issues, and Dark Universe, a run of six issues utilizing my horror stories as source material. I am slated to adapt at least two of these, and Jason Brock has been tapped to adapt three of my stories.

TFAW.com: There have been whispers of a remake of the Logan’s Run movie. Are there any plans to move forward on a film project?

Nolan: It’s more than a whisper–it’s been in “pre-production” for 13 years! Joel Silver is involved, as well as Bryan Singer, among others. They still plan on making it, but when . . . that is the question. We’re hoping that the direction that we plan on taking the comics will light a little fire under Hollywood, as well as give them a bit of direction for a possible way of doing justice to the spirit of the books. It is a great candidate for a remake, as the technology has improved dramatically since 1976 and they could really do a lot with it.

TFAW.com: One last question: At TFAW.com, we’re always looking for ways to go above and beyond for our customers . . .

Nolan: I think I know what you mean . . . would you like some signed copies of the comics? I’m sure Darren would be happy to supply some for you guys, and I love to sign for fans! How about 15 or so copies for you guys?

TFAW.com: Absolutely. I think our readers would like that very much. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us about Logan’s Run: Last Day, and thanks for signing some books for us!

Nolan: No problem: any time!

—————-

You heard what the man said, we’re getting 15 signed books, and we’re offering them up to 15 random people who pre-order any Logan’s Run: Last Day issue by 1/24/10. Winners will be announced in the TFAW.com Newsletter on 1/28/10!

In the meantime, check out the four-page first look and whet your appetite. ;0)

Because you demanded it! An exciting new series focusing on the Horde from the World of Warcraft MMORPG begins in January.

The orc Malgar is content to hunt alone with his wolf Remnes. When a band of raiding Kolkar Clan centaurs lay waste to a small orc farm, he has no choice but to return to the violent life he left behind.

Aided by a new ally known as Ironhoof, Malgar succeeds in defending the farm–but at great cost. The new World of Warcraft: Horde series explores the harsher side of Kalimdor and the challenges facing the Horde, by Doug Wagner (The Ride) and Pop Mhan (Batgirl, Spy Boy)!

We’re also stoked to see two Warcraft Steins in our list of upcoming offerings. The residents of Azeroth look forward to the late-September festival of BrewFest, where the produce of summer yields fermented fruits of the harvest: pretzels, cheese, and booze!

The Tankard O’ Terror Replica Stein recreates the massive stoneware tankard used by many Azerotheans. Crafted in an Old-World style by the artisans of Ceramarte, the tankard stands 9 3/4″ tall, weighs 4 pounds, and has a nearly 2-liter capacity. Perfect for late-night guild missions!

Then we’ve got the limited-edition Lich King Stein. Handcrafted in an Old-World style from fine-grain stoneware, the limited-edition piece features a panoramic image of the Lich King and his undead minions, illustrated by Alex Horley and rendered in bas-relief sculpting. Standing over 10″ tall, the stein weighs 3 pounds and is topped by a sculpted pewter lid.

PRE-ORDER WORLD OF WARCRAFT: HORDE #1

LOG IN & SET UP A WOW: HORDE SUBSCRIPTION

CHECK OUT OUR WARCRAFT STEINS!

Okay, I saw this and couldn’t wait until Monday to get in to the office and blog about it. The Great Fables Crossover has been collected in one volume and we’re now taking pre-orders for Fables TPB Vol. 13!

If you’ve been reading Fables, you know what’s up, but for those of you who are uninitiated, the title is tremendous. Bill Willingham brings us a new take on our favorite bedtime fable characters, and in this volume, he threatens to undo existence with the introduction of The Literals. It’s a great jumping-on point for new readers and I really can’t sing enough praises for Willingham’s writing. The art is pretty stellar to boot! ;0)

This volume collects all nine issues of the Great Fables Crossover story arc: Fables #83-85, Jack of Fables #33-35 and the three-issue Literals miniseries. It’s worth it, even at the cover price, but as with all pre-orders at TFAW.com, you’ll save 20% off the cover price–just $14.39.

Did you read all nine of the Great Fables Crossover floppies? Did you dig it as much as I did? Let us know below!

Part man. Part machine. All cop. The future of law enforcement returns!

Dynamite Entertainment presents the dynamic debut of their Robocop series written by Rob Williams (Cla$$war) with art by Fabiano Neves (Marvel Zombies vs. the Army of Darkness)!

Dynamite goes back to basics as it unveils the dystopian, deeply satirical, and all-out violent world of Robocop.

This Robocop series picks up where the first movie left off and boasts high action and extreme violence with a touch of conspiracy theory.

Plus: the return of ED-209!

We couldn’t be more excited to see our favorite crime fighting future policeman back in print, so we put our noggins together at TFAW Headquarters to give him an appropriate send-up.

While supplies last, you can pick up the first issue of Dynamite’s new Robocop series and get a FREE mini Robocop figure complete with busted ED-209!

The Robocop #1 Book and Figure Set is the same price as the the comic by itself (just $2.80 when you pre-order), but most customers will see $0.50-$1.00 difference in shipping (since we can’t send the figure in a flat mailer).

Stay tuned to future TFAW.com Newsletters to learn about the next Robocop Book & Figure set! Click here to sign up for the TFAW.com Newsletter.

Okay, I saw this and couldn’t wait until Monday to get in to the office and blog about it. The Great Fables Crossover has been collected in one volume and we’re now taking pre-orders for Fables TPB Vol. 13!

If you’ve been reading Fables, you know what’s up, but for those of you who are uninitiated, the title is tremendous. Bill Willingham brings us a new take on our favorite bedtime fable characters, and in this volume, he threatens to undo existence with the introduction of The Literals. It’s a great jumping-on point for new readers and I really can’t sing enough praises for Willingham’s writing. The art is pretty stellar to boot! ;0)

This volume collects all nine issues of the Great Fables Crossover story arc: Fables #83-85, Jack of Fables #33-35 and the three-issue Literals miniseries. It’s worth it, even at the cover price, but as with all pre-orders at TFAW.com, you’ll save 20% off the cover price–just $14.39.

Did you read all nine of the Great Fables Crossover floppies? Did you dig it as much as I did? Let us know below!

Okay, I saw this and couldn’t wait until Monday to get in to the office and blog about it. The Great Fables Crossover has been collected in one volume and we’re now taking pre-orders for Fables TPB Vol. 13!

If you’ve been reading Fables, you know what’s up, but for those of you who are uninitiated, the title is tremendous. Bill Willingham brings us a new take on our favorite bedtime fable characters, and in this volume, he threatens to undo existence with the introduction of The Literals. It’s a great jumping-on point for new readers and I really can’t sing enough praises for Willingham’s writing. The art is pretty stellar to boot! ;0)

This volume collects all nine issues of the Great Fables Crossover story arc: Fables #83-85, Jack of Fables #33-35 and the three-issue Literals miniseries. It’s worth it, even at the cover price, but as with all pre-orders at TFAW.com, you’ll save 20% off the cover price–just $14.39.

Did you read all nine of the Great Fables Crossover floppies? Did you dig it as much as I did? Let us know below!

Okay, I saw this and couldn’t wait until Monday to get in to the office and blog about it. The Great Fables Crossover has been collected in one volume and we’re now taking pre-orders for Fables TPB Vol. 13!

If you’ve been reading Fables, you know what’s up, but for those of you who are uninitiated, the title is tremendous. Bill Willingham brings us a new take on our favorite bedtime fable characters, and in this volume, he threatens to undo existence with the introduction of The Literals. It’s a great jumping-on point for new readers and I really can’t sing enough praises for Willingham’s writing. The art is pretty stellar to boot! ;0)

This volume collects all nine issues of the Great Fables Crossover story arc: Fables #83-85, Jack of Fables #33-35 and the three-issue Literals miniseries. It’s worth it, even at the cover price, but as with all pre-orders at TFAW.com, you’ll save 20% off the cover price–just $14.39.

Did you read all nine of the Great Fables Crossover floppies? Did you dig it as much as I did? Let us know below!

Via Marvel
As the buzz surrounding the upcoming Iron Man 2 film heats up, the House of Ideas preps an exciting new limited series to usher the brand-new Whiplash – one of the film’s villains – into the Marvel Universe.

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One of the most exciting new series of horror comics is Locke & Key, from Joe Hill, a relative newcomer to comics who also has a successful career as a novelist (Heart-Shaped Box) and short-story writer (The Living Dead). Locke & Key focuses on a family that, after a horrific tragedy, moves to an old family manse in New England and tries to start over. However, the kids, Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode, keep stumbling over magical keys–keys a malevolent being, Dodge, is determined to get. Dodge transforms himself into a seemingly normal American teenager named Zach and befriends the family, but he also appears to be the reincarnation of a high school friend of their father’s named Lucas Caravaggio.

Full of humor, pathos, and a truly unique supernatural elements, Locke & Key has been nominated for an Eisner, and two story arcs, Welcome to Lovecraft and Head Games, are available as graphic novels. The first issue of the third arc, Crown of Shadows, will be released from IDW on November 25. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to be able to speak with the very enthusiastic Joe Hill and pick his brains about where Locke & Key is headed, and what he’s liking from the horror genre in general:

TFAW.com: Where did the genesis of Locke & Key come from? What inspired it?

Joe Hill: Basically, the long-form genesis of Locke & Key is, I had written three or four novels that I was never able to sell, including one that I had spent three years on, and it was a total heartbreaker. I sent it to every publisher in the US and Canada and England, big press and small press, and everyone turned it down. So I was a really unsuccessful writer, and the only thing I had had any luck with was my short stories, and there wasn’t any money in short stories, and it’s not like many people read them. But there are some passionate short story fans, and I had written some good ones and had won a couple prizes, and got in a year’s best collection.

A talent scout at Marvel Comics had spotted one of these stories and had got in touch with me and asked if I had any interest in writing about men in tights hitting each other, and I thought it sounded pretty great to me. So I wound up writing a one-shot, an 11-page Spider-Man story, that’s easily the most horrendous thing I’ve ever had published, it’s just a terrible piece of writing. Basically, I choked. I blew it. I really wanted to do well, and wound up not doing a very good job. And the funny thing is, it sold pretty well, because it was saved by the art. The late Seth Fisher did the illustrations, and he made what wasn’t funny very funny, and what wasn’t tense very suspenseful, and so he kind of saved my ass on it.

It was a strange experience, because I knew I hadn’t done a very good job, but I found the act of writing a comic script strangely addictive, and I had always had a comic book imagination. Most of my favorite writers were writers who had come out of comic books. Alan Moore, and Neil Gaiman. And a lot of my most important reading experiences had been in comic books, whether it was Watchmen, or Swamp Thing, or Dark Knight Returns, or Sandman. Like a lot of men of my age, I think for a whole generation of writers, the Vertigo imprint loomed large in our imaginations. So I didn’t do a very good job with the Spider-Man story, but the hook was in, and I wanted to redeem myself and do something better and keep writing in comics, so I came up with all these pitches, and I sent them around, and nothing ever happened with them. No one was much interested.

One of the concepts was for a kind of off-kilter haunted house story called Locke & Key, which involved this family settling into an old New England home, which was full of keys with unnatural powers attached to them. And that idea wouldn’t leave me alone for years afterward. I would keep thinking about it, sometimes having new ideas about characters, and keys, and events that could happen, and eventually I had some good luck, and my first book of stories came out, and I sold my first novel, and around that time, Chris Ryall at IDW got in touch with me about maybe adapting some of my short stories into comic books, and I came back to him and said, “Wait, I think I have something better.” And that was Locke & Key.

TFAW.com: One thing that really sets Locke & Key apart from other horror comics is it’s as much a family drama as it is a horror tale. What attracted you to that combination?

JH: One thing that often happens, when people do a horror movie, or a frightening TV show, or a horror comic, one mistake which often gets made is, there’s a big focus on the supernatural element and on the bad guy, but there’s no effort made to make the main characters likeable and unique and sympathetic. A lot of times they’re just types, and this is why so many of the slasher films are such a joke, why everyone laughs at them. Cause, you know, the teenagers in a Friday the 13th movie have all the emotional power of a paper target in a shooting gallery. No one really cares about them, they’re just there to be struck down by Jason.

For me, the first step to making a successful horror story is making sure the characters matter and are emotionally real and unique. You want the reader to invest in those characters and care about them, because then, when the guy shows up in the hockey mask, they’re really frightened for the main character, as opposed to just waiting to see how they get cut down.

So my intention was always to slow the pace down a little bit and focus on character as best as possible, and try to get the reader engaged in who these people are and see them as unique human beings, as opposed to types. But I think that’s true not just in horror–that’s true in every sort of storytelling. The first key element of telling a story that people care about is engaging them, making sure that they invest emotionally in the characters in the story. Because if you don’t have that, you don’t have anything.

TFAW.com: So Dodge is the ghost or the demon form of teenager Lucas Caravaggio. What was Lucas like? Was he always evil, and was he ever actually a teenager?

JH: In one sense, Dodge is the resurrection of Lucas Caravaggio. In another sense, he’s something quite a bit more, and quite a bit different. And we’re sort of revealing his true nature in the very first issue of Crown of Shadows.

You know, I was a big X-Files fan. Loved the X-Files, and I loved the first couple of seasons of Lost, but I think one problem with ongoing series, one way they sometimes go bad is they keep piling on the mystery. They keep piling on the questions. And after awhile there’s too much mystery. They raise more questions than they could ever possibly hope to answer. And so one thing I’m committed to with Locke & Key is making sure that when I raise a question, I have an answer, instead of continuously heaping on mystery after mystery. In each arc, some of the major questions get answered, so hopefully when we come to the end of this thing, the very final page of the very final issue, it will be about tying up the story for a final emotional resolution, as opposed to cleaning up messes. That would be terrible. No one wants to be in that kind of situation.

So in the very first issue of Crown of Shadows, one of the things that will be revealed is why Dodge is the way he is, and why he’s capable of such terrible things. Especially considering that once upon a time, Lucas Caravaggio was actually a heroic figure. Not a bad guy at all, but one of the best of the good guys, which is pretty strange to think about, considering how we met him and what he’s done since we’ve got to know him. In many ways, Dodge was as likable as Kinsey or Tyler.

TFAW.com: Speaking of Kinsey, in Head Games, she literally removed her fear and her ability to cry from her brain. Would that essentially lead her down the same road that Lucas went?

JH: I’m not gonna say anything about where Kinsey’s headed as a character, looking ahead. I will say that, one of the things that I think is important when you’re telling a fantasy story or a horror story, is that it’s more satisfying for readers if that element of fantasy somehow raises bigger questions about real life.

So in the case of Kinsey losing her fear and her ability to cry, it’s an exaggerated look at what happens anyway to a lot of teenagers. At some point in high school, kids will often become very reckless, and develop a willingness to engage in very dangerous behavior, and take risks that they should probably know better about. So now we have that with Kinsey in exaggerated form, and it’s just an interesting way to look at a very common passage for most teenagers–a very common life passage.

TFAW.com: Can you tell us more about the questions that will be answered in Crown of Shadows?

JH: Let’s see. Well, we’re going to see a lot more of what makes Dodge tick. And we’re going to find out a little bit more about Sam Lesser. And we’re going to learn a little bit more about the Omega Key, which opens the black door. I don’t want to give it away–I want to avoid saying too much and telegraphing what we’re going to do. What I will say is there’s a big reveal on the last page of the last issue, and we’ll get an answer to one of the big questions that has been hanging around the story.

TFAW.com: Can you tell us whether Sam is there as an agent of Dodge or if he has his own agenda?

JH: Well, I’ll say this. When we first met Sam, Sam was being sort of manipulated by Dodge, and Sam is sort of a pathetic, frightening character, although I like to think it’s possible to have some sympathy for him, even though he’s committed terrible acts. But when we meet him again, his relationship with Dodge is going to be radically changed.

TFAW.com: I’ve heard that Locke & Key is going to be six miniseries. Do you think it could continue past that, or is that the end?

JH: Well, once I tell the story of Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode, I’ll be done with that. That doesn’t necessarily mean there will never be any more Locke & Key stories, but I will have told the story I want to tell. It’s important to remember that when I started Locke & Key, I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. I was still very green with this, I had only written three 11-page comic book stories, and when I did it, I had two notions. One was that it could be a continuing thing that would run somewhere between 36 and 48 issues. And I had a lot of the story plotted out. But I also wasn’t sure it would succeed–it could have tanked, or been a big bomb–so I also had a plan for six issues, and then if this thing had completely tanked, I had an escape hatch where I could finish the story in another six issues. And it wouldn’t have been very good, but it wouldn’t have been shameful, either.

Fortunately the comic did well, it’s been well received, it’s continued to build its readership, so I get to do the daydream, and I get to explore these stories in a very full kind of way. It’s taken me a little bit of thinking to figure out how many issues it’s going to take to tell the story, but I don’t like it when things are stretched out. So it’s possible that the series could go as many as 48 issues, but I’m aiming for 36, and I think it’s possible. I think I can tell everything I need to tell in 36. We’re going to see, though.

TFAW.com: What was it like switching from writing prose to scripting comics?

JH: I find writing comic book scripts incredibly addictive. I think it’s because the comic book form really plays to my strengths as a writer, while sort of hiding my weaknesses. It allows me to play with big, weird concepts and to build stories around dialogue and action, and I don’t have to worry about the stuff that really makes me sweat, stuff I really fret over as a novelist and short story writer–the sound of my prose, and finding a balance between description and forward motion. Because comic books are all about forward motion. Every comic book has the gas pedal pushed to the floor. As a writer and as a reader, I love that.

Another thing that attracted me to comics is I felt it would be an extension to something I had already figured out. I had already figured out how to write a pretty good short story, so I felt that comic books would offer me a chance to expand on that, maybe with a larger audience. I feel like the first really successful script I wrote was the first issue to Welcome to Lovecraft.

TFAW.com: Do you think you will stick with horror in the future, or will you branch out to other genres?

JH: I don’t know, exactly, that’s a hard one to answer. One thing is, because I do do other kinds of writing, I’ve always got a novel, I’ve always got a couple short stories I want to work on, so I try to strike a balance. I don’t think I’ll ever be carrying four or five comics at once. I’ve never been a guy who’s really hung up on cape stories. It’s been years and years since I followed the continuing adventures of super anything. I read a lot of comics–I generally read about a comic a day. But the comics I tend to read are Ed Brubaker’s Criminal and Darwyn Cooke’s Parker, Wormwood. It’s very rarely the superhero stuff. So I don’t know. But I love to write stories that have a big engine in them. I like to write stories that are suspenseful. I like the keep the gas pedal down, so I don’t know. I don’t know if I’ll always write horror comics, but it’s important that there always be an element of suspense.

TFAW.com: This interview is for horror month, and there’s been a big upswing in horror lately, in movies, and TV, and things like that. What are you attracted to in horror stories in general?

JH: I like when there’s something fresh. I like going and seeing something new and unexpected. I think that what makes Zombieland such a blast of a film, is that the suspense and the action are tense and very well paced, but it also takes the audience in very startling and unexpected directions. I don’t need a rehash of something I’ve already had. So that’s one thing I look for.

And you know, it returns us to where we started our conversation: I also look for a character I can latch into. If I really care about that main character, I will read almost anything. So Zombieland was great. The remake of The Last House on the Left was pretty awesome. It’s brilliant, and very upsetting. It was cool because no one called it in. No one treated it like they were making trash. They all acted like they were in a straight drama, and it made it much more intense. So that was good.

In terms of what’s going on in comics, I like a lot of the crime stuff that’s going on right now. I really like what Ed Brubaker is doing. I think Criminal is great, and I liked Incognito a lot. He’s put together a great body of work.

TFAW.com: Well, thanks so much Joe!

JH: Bye!

If you haven’t checked out Locke & Key yet, be sure to browse Welcome to Lovecraft and Head Games, and make sure to pre-order Crown of Shadows now to get 20% off!

What’s your take on the horror genre? Any other questions we should have asked Joe Hill? Post them below!

Via Vertigo

Celebrated short story writer Scott Snyder and artist Rafael Albuquerque will launch a new monthly comic book series from Vertigo in March 2010 with a unique contribution from New York Times bestselling novelist Stephen King.

The new ongoing series, American Vampire, will introduce readers to a new breed of vampire—a more muscular and vicious species of vampire with distinctly American characteristics. The series’ first story arc, to be told over the course of five issues, will feature two different stories, one written by Snyder, the other by King.

Snyder’s storyline is one of decadence and deception and Jazz Age glamour. Pearl is an ambitious modern woman with starlet dreams. She frequents Hollywood’s speakeasies and dance-halls searching for her first big break, only to find something far more sinister waiting for her.

King’s story provides the origin of the very first American vampire: Skinner Sweet, a bank robbing, murdering cowboy of the 1880s. Skinner is stronger and faster than previous vampires; he has rattlesnake fangs and is powered by…. the sun?

Following the conclusion of the first story arc, Snyder and Albuquerque will trace Skinner’s bloodline through various decades of American history.

“Getting the chance to re-imagine a classic monster—to invent a whole new mythology and secret history—nothing could be more exciting for me . . . except getting the chance to do it with Stephen King at Vertigo. I honestly can’t think of any influences more crucial or enduring for me than Vertigo and Stephen King. To have them both involved in AMERICAN VAMPIRE, along with the amazing Rafael Albuquerque—this all a dream come true for me!” —Scott Snyder

“I love vampire stories, and the idea of following the dark exploits of a uniquely American vampire really lit up my imagination. The chance to do the origin story—to be “present at the creation” —was a thrill. I owe big thanks to Scott Snyder for letting me share his vision, and sip from his bucket of blood.” —Stephen King

“In a time where vampires are everywhere, Scott and Stephen seem to have done the impossible: An original, inventive and detailed new series. It’s a challenging and exciting project I’m proud to be working on.” —Rafael Albuquerque

“Publishing a series with a fresh take on the vampire mythos would be incredible enough, but adding the talents of Scott Snyder, an exciting new voice in fiction, and Stephen King, the master of horror himself, is beyond awesome. We are thrilled that Vertigo is the home for this special new work, which we’re certain will be a major addition to the timeless and popular appeal of vampire lore everywhere.” —Karen Berger

About the creators:

Scott Snyder is best known for his first collection of stories, Voodoo Heart (Dial Press). Stephen King picked two of the included stories—“Wreck” and “Dumpster Tuesday”—for the 2007 Best American Short Stories anthology shortlist. Snyder teaches writing at Columbia University, NYU and Sarah Lawrence College and is working on a novel called The Goodbye Suit, to be published by Dial in 2011. He lives in New York City. This is his first comic book series.

Stephen King is the bestselling author of The Stand, The Shining, The Dark Tower books and multitudes of other works, most recently Under the Dome. American Vampire marks Stephen King’s debut with Vertigo/DC Comics; it is the first comic book writing he’s done, based on original material, as opposed to existing characters.

Rafael Albuquerque is best known for his work on Superman/Batman and Crimeland.
——

Want to know when the first issue is up for grabs at TFAW.com? Sign up for the Product Announcements Newsletter and we’ll let you know when you can pre-order it!

A new series from a new publisher is coming down the pike: The Untamed: A Sinner’s Prayer, from Stranger Comics! Written by Sebastian Jones with lush, painted art by Peter Bergting, it’s a cross between a horror comic and a Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western. A killer who was betrayed an killed a decade ago has made a deal with the devil: he has a week to return to his hometown and claim the souls of the seven men who slaughtered him and his family. In return, he can leave Hell forever.

Not only do we have a five-page First Look for this exciting new comic, we’ve received some issues of The Untamed signed by the writer and the artist! Here’s the deal: three random people who pre-order The Untamed #1 by November 30, 2009 will win a special prize package: both the regular and variant issues of #1, plus #2–all signed by Sebastian Jones and Peter Bergting! You can read all of the details here.

What do you think of The Untamed: A Sinner’s Prayer? Have you check out our First Look? Post your questions and comments below!

Arriving just in time for Christmas bedtime stories, the new book by David Hutchison and the folks at Anarctic Press, A Very Zombie Christmas, will certainly provide an unforgettable holiday!

Remember that classic holiday film about what the world would’ve been like if someone had never been alive? Well, this isn’t quite the same… This winter, the weather outside isn’t the only thing that’s frightful!

The wrong sort of holidays spirits are on the loose as zombies roam the streets, spreading their own gift that keeps on giving. You’d better watch out…

We couldn’t pass on this one, and since it’s a pre-order you’ll save 20% off the retail price–just $2.80!

Check out other cool horror stuff on our Horror Month page.

Marvel, in collaboration with Stephen King, is proud to announce a new chapter in the Dark Tower graphic fiction adaptation-DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER. Beginning in 2010, The New York Times Best-Selling creative team of Peter David, Robin Furth and Richard Isanove return for a new arc exploring the life of Roland Deschain, revealing how and why he began his pursuit of the man in black across Mid-World’s Mohaine Desert!

Beginning another epic tale, told over multiple limited series, DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER marks another milestone for the graphic fiction sensation that’s captivated fans worldwide. The Dark Tower collaboration between Marvel and Stephen King has drawn accolades from all corners, revolutionizing the comic book industry with previously unprecedented mainstream media coverage and the first worldwide midnight openings for a graphic fiction series.

“We are extremely excited to continue our epic journey into the DARK TOWER universe with THE GUNSLINGER,” says Ruwan Jayatilleke, Senior Vice President, Strategic Development-Acquisitions & Licensing. “And we are equally ecstatic to continue our collaboration with Stephen King as well as keeping comic book fans on their toes!”

Following the climactic Battle of Jericho Hill, Roland Deschain now begins the most important journey of his young life in DARK TOWER: THE GUNSLINGER.

The first 100 people to pre-order the first issue of the adaptation will save 30%! Make sure to log in to your account and sign up for the Product Announcements Newsletter. We’ll send an email out as soon as the first issue goes up for sale. Don’t miss out on the savings, sign up for Product Announcements today.

Arriving just in time for Christmas bedtime stories, the new book by David Hutchison and the folks at Anarctic Press, A Very Zombie Christmas, will certainly provide an unforgettable holiday!

Remember that classic holiday film about what the world would’ve been like if someone had never been alive? Well, this isn’t quite the same… This winter, the weather outside isn’t the only thing that’s frightful!

The wrong sort of holidays spirits are on the loose as zombies roam the streets, spreading their own gift that keeps on giving. You’d better watch out…

We couldn’t pass on this one, and since it’s a pre-order you’ll save 20% off the retail price–just $2.80!

Check out other cool horror stuff on our Horror Month page.

Lovecraft aficionados have really been enjoying Boom! Studios’ Fall of Cthulhu miniseries. These new Lovecraftian tales are written by Michael Alan Nelson (Hexed) and feature artists such as Mateus Santolouco, Todd Herman, and Jeffrey Spokes. Here’s the skinny on Fall of Cthulhu TPB Vol. 05 Apocalypse:

The Apocalypse is upon us! Since the beginning of the Fall of Cthulhu storyline, readers have been anxiously awaiting the moment when all the tale’s threads begin to tie together into the ultimate war between gods and men. As of now, they wait no longer. Let the Apocalypse begin!

These comics and graphic novels are selling out fast, so make sure to check out our entire stock of Fall of Cthulhu titles. While you’re at it, check out Fall of Cthulhu TPB Vol. 06 Nemesis, currently in pre-order at 20% off:

Michael Alan Nelson concludes his Fall of Cthulhu maxi-series with Nemesis, an epic origin story revealing the secret history behind Nyarlathotep’s favorite companion. Who is Nemesis you ask? Be prepared for the shock of your life, as BOOM!’s best-selling horror title comes to its shocking conclusion!

White you’re here, be sure to check out our other horror titles!

The EC Comics classic, Creepy, has been “remastered” and collected into a series of Creepy Archives by Dark Horse Comics! We’ve got Creepy Archives #1-4 in stock, and you can pre-order #5 and #6 and get 20% off!

Pulpy, smart, and scary, the stories in Creepy constituted some of the best short-form horror fiction ever told in comics. With legendary comics writer/editor Archie Goodwin both editing the magazine and crafting most of its storytelling, Creepy was at once a newsstand favorite with fright fans and a vaunted showcase of fine comics art for serious fans of the art form.

For decades, the only sources for these stories were the expensive collectible original issues. Now Dark Horse is collecting all of the original material from the history of Creepy magazine into a hardcover archive library that is garnering rave reviews from fans and critics alike!

Don’t forget to pre-order Creepy Comics #2. This all-new comics series features a cover by Eric Powell and the talents of Jason Shawn Alexander, Dan Braun, and Greg Ruth!

Check out our Horror Month page for more gory goodness. Questions or comments? Leave them below!

If there’s anything TFAW.com has learned about our visitors, it’s that they love the Whedonverse. So when we heard that Eisner Award-winning writer Bill Willingham–who happens to write one of our favorite series, Fables–was taking over IDW’s Angel, we called him up for a little chat.

The always-entertaining Willingham took us through his journey to Angel, why he thought the TV series ended perfectly, and what’s coming up for Fabletown. Read on!

TFAW.com: Hi Bill, thanks for talking to us. What attracted you to Angel at IDW?

Bill Willingham: Well, he’s a handsome man! No, at this point in my career, it’s more about finding people I want to work with, and there are some decent blokes over there, including Mariah Huehner, who used to be Shelly Bond’s assistant when we started Fables. So I’d worked with Mariah before in the past and I found out a couple of years ago that she’d gone out to San Diego and was now at IDW, and we’d spoken about, “Someday let’s do something together again,” and with her and with IDW and with some other publishers, those “Somedays” kept piling up, to where I thought that maybe I should let my DC exclusive go for a year or so, and start to retire some of those “Someday we’ll do something” obligations that had been hanging over my head forever. And so when I got my freedom back from DC, she and Chris Ryall called up, and they said, “Why don’t you write Angel for awhile?”

Now I love some of the work that Joss Whedon had done–Buffy and Angel, and Firefly in particular–and the idea of coming to play in his sandbox for awhile, courtesy of folks I’d wanted to work with anyway, was a nice combination. Too nice a combination to pass up.

TFAW.com: Had you been a fan of the Angel TV show before you took the job?

BW: Yeah, and that was actually a conflict, because Buffy was good, and it ended well, but the Angel series ended as perfectly as any of that kind of show should end. They’ve finally finished off the big baddie, at some great sacrifice, and they meet in an alley, and they find an entire army of ghoulies that they’re going to have to deal with that they couldn’t possibly survive.

And the implication is, of course, that these guys went out fighting. Kind of a Viking-esque tone to it, in the sense of, “Let me die with a sword in my hand.” And that was it; that was the end of the series: “Okay, let’s get to work.” And I thought that was just a marvelous, marvelous way to end it. So there was a part of me that was conflicted, because after a moment like that, you can puncture it by trying to tell what happened next.

Had I been offered the Angel book right from that moment, I would have turned it down. There was just no way to tell that story in any kind of satisfying way. But someone else had done it, some time had passed, and now you kind of take it with, “Okay the characters have gotten to this point, it’s done, regardless, so why not go ahead and pick it up?”

TFAW.com: Now that Angel and company are back from Hell, the book and the team seem to be in a period of rebuilding. What’s going to happen with “The Crown Prince Syndrome”?

BW: Well, for one thing, that’s the title of just that first issue only. It’s titled “The Crown Prince Syndrome” because one of the unreasonable demands I made, in return for considering doing this, was there were certain things to stay away from. One of the things that I was determined not to do was have the character of Connor betray his dad again, because he just did it so often. Maybe we should have him finally start growing up, say, “Okay, I keep doing things, I keep dropping my dad to the bottom of the sea, or turning him over to his worst enemy, or having an affair with the demon goddess who’s trying to destroy the world just to spite my dad.”

At some point in the growing-up process, you go through a time of acting out, but eventually, you want to grow up and become a more wise and contributing member of society, or you continue to be that kind of tantrum-y fellow–in which case, you’re a psychopath who belongs in prison, or worse. I wanted to go the other way, in that he’s wised up.

The whole idea of “The Crown Prince Syndrome” is, Connor is the crown prince of Angel Enterprises. Angel is the guy, and if he were to disappear, Connor is the next guy in line. So that’s what I did. The story arc in which this takes place is called “Immortality for Dummies.” It’s all about how in the wake of this whole return from Hell thing, in which the universe was kind of reset, but everyone still has their memories: everyone knows what they did in an alternate reality. They know that their next-door neighbor turned out to be a complete s#!t who sold his own children to the devil, or all of these bad things that happened.

So, what you have is a paranoid and suspicious city. I mean, imagine, if you will, being able to look at anyone you know, and know what their deepest, darkest thoughts were–what they’re capable of. When the chips are down, here’s what their character will reveal. And everyone knows this about everyone! And so that’s an interesting place to set the story.

I think LA, with that as a premise, is much more hellish than actually being in Hell. If you’re actually in Hell, you can say, “This is really bad, but let’s band together and make the most of it, and try to get out of it.” But if you have this sort of situation, where no one has actually done anything, but you know what everyone can, or will, or under certain circumstances would have done, that’s a pretty dire setting. So that appealed to me. And Angel is famous now; everyone knows that he’s a vampire.

The “Immortality for Dummies” thing comes from the fact that this is also LA/Hollywood land: a vampire is immortal, and his looks are never going to fade. LA is full of stars and starlets that want 300-year movie careers, and so someone kidnaps Angel to have him work for them as a living immortality factory, producing vampires. Now this story has kind of been done before, but we’re doing a new twist on it, and I don’t want to give it all away, but the company that does this, Immortality Incorporated, is cognizant of that fact that if you just make a vampire out of someone, then they have no soul and they turn into a monster-demon.

One of the benefits of knowing all this stuff about Hell is they know how all of this works. So they set up a situation where they’re going to recreate the whole Angel thing and create vampires with guaranteed, bonafide souls. And there’s a lot of gobbledegook, but the upshot is, that’s why they specifically need Angel to do the turning; no other vampire would quite work. And so, they kidnap him, and they do it in such a way that the rest of Angel Investigations, the team, doesn’t know it happened. Being Angel, they assume that he just met some new girl and he’s off with her for a week or so, being all typically morose and pouty, and, “We can never be together because of this tragic person I am,” so they’re not worried.

But Connor steps up, and says, “Okay, it’s my Dad’s company, he’s away, and I’m going to run the business,” and we’re going to see how that works out. So we have to two storylines: how’s Angel going to get out of his little problem of creating a world of rich and celebrity vampires, and how is Connor going to do running the show.

TFAW.com: Are Kate, Dez, and Gwen still part of the team?

BW: I think I’ve got the whole team there. We have Gunn, we have Illyria, not Fred–that’s the other thing. You might as well let the readers know, because this is sort of burned in, that we are not having the return of Fred. Illyria the demon is in that shape, but Fred’s gone and not coming back.

But yeah, it’s Gunn, it’s Illyria, it’s Spike, it’s Dez, James–the sort of half-fallen angel–and Kate, and George, the telepathic fish. I think I’ve got them all in there. Pretty much the whole gang. We’ll have it shake out. They’ve got a lot of Angel projects going, so in the main series I wanted to keep the cast as big as possible, so when characters are leached off for various miniseries and solo adventures, it doesn’t completely gut the core cast for the regular book.

TFAW.com: Are you going to deal with the fractured relationship between Gwen and Connor?

BW: Right out of the box, no, because Gwen is off doing something else, but she will probably get folded back into the cast. But there is going to be a little thing between Angel’s son and possibly everyone else, that they realize that Connor has this problem of picking up dad’s girls.

It may just be a running joke: when Angel gets involved with someone, asking Connor, “Can you leave this one alone, son?” We’re going to have a little fun with stuff like that. If it was all just going out and fighting monsters, that would get a little bit tedious, so you have the fun and personal relationships, and hopefully in the kind of quirky, acerbic, slightly distorted worldview that the Whedonverse is so capable of doing.

TFAW.com: With Gunn back on the team, does that mean he’s redeemed? What’s his relationship going to be like with the other members?

BW: Strained. If there’s a theme behind the whole group, it’s that they’re all broken, fallen characters. And there was this lovely, funny story arc in the Drew Carey Show, where it was done as a complete comedy and farce, where Drew and his misfit friends were actually sentenced by a judge to only be friends with each other, because the rest of society is protected, because those guys are a thing unto their own. That’s almost how I look at it, in that these people only deserve each other, in the sense that they’re all broken, they’re all, in many ways, a reflection of Angel himself: trying to be a decent person with lots and lots of baggage to overcome. So yes, Gunn fits in just perfectly on that point, doesn’t he?

TFAW.com: Yes! So, is Joss himself involved in this story arc?

BW: No. I mean, I don’t speak to him at all after that incident that one time . . .

TFAW.com: What incident?

BW: I’m making it up. I assume at some point he becomes aware of this, and if I’m going too far off the beaten track, that he might mention something, but so far, it seems to be smooth sailing.

TFAW.com: What’s it like working with Brian Denham? I haven’t seen any of his artwork for Angel yet.

BW: Brian and I have known each other since our respective careers began, when we were both just wannabe hot young turks breaking into the business. I have wanted to work with him for as long as I’ve known him, and I knew him from just when he started getting work, when he was working in a comic shop, and after 20-plus years, it’s finally worked out that we get to.

He draws like a dream and he does the one thing that in a comic like this is essential: he’s drawing Angel and the various characters on model, so you can recognize the likenesses that they came from, but he doesn’t do that thing where you’re working from publicity photos, where there’s this very cartoony style, and then there’s this very well-rendered, real person’s head stuck on these bodies. That’s always a story-disengagement problem when you have it.

What he does is with a few deft lines, he gets the essence of the character, but it fits right into his style, so there aren’t these glaring instances of, “Oh, there’s David Boreanaz’s head on that body!” He’s just note-perfect at that. So I’ll call attention to that. The readers are going to find various other reasons to just love his work when they start seeing it. I’m pretty happy with how the first issues we’re doing are turning out.

TFAW.com: Moving on to Fables, that has also taken a horror bent, with the recent story arc, “The Dark Ages,” and Mister Dark. What’s going to be happening with Mister Dark?

BW: Well, Mister Dark is not a nice fellow, I think we’ve established that. Boy, I sure hope so. If not, my skills in this funnybook busines