In October of 2023, writer Matt Wagner and artist Kelley Jones brought their book ‘Dracula Book 1: The Impaler’ to Kickstarter. They started with a modest goal which was soon outdistanced due to fan enthusiasm and the excellence of the product. Fast-forward a year and the creative duo are at it again with their 2nd book in the series: ‘Dracula Book 2: The Brides.’ Once again being brought to Kickstarter.
In advance of the campaign’s opening, we had the opportunity to sit down with both Matt and Kelley to discuss their beginnings, the first Dracula Book and what fans can expect from Book 2. Starting today, we share artist Kelley Jones thoughts on the project and follow-up with writer Matt Wagner’s tomorrow. So, let’s welcome talented artist Kelley Jones to GVN Talking Comics.
Beginnings
GVN: Thank you for giving us a little of your time, Kelley. Since we have not had the pleasure of chatting with you before, let us start with your creative beginnings. When did you take an interest in drawing comics and whose work inspired you to consider that profession?
KJ: I have drawn ever since I can remember and when I drew it was always monsters. But since one of my first influences were the old monster movies on tv that wasn’t so strange. At that age I was lucky because I had parents who didn’t mind if I watched horror movies.
It wasn’t until my older brother came home from school with a stack of comic books at the beginning of a summer vacation that I discovered comics. His teacher cleaned out his class room for the end of the year and gave them all to my brother. I was mesmerized and took them for myself!
I spent that summer reading over and over the 40 or so comics all seemingly drawn by Jack Kirby. And yet I still didn’t go out and buy any. A few years later a friend of my father loaned out his cabin near Tahoe to my family for a weekend. There again was a stack of comics in my bedroom and he told my dad to give them to me as he “didn’t want his own boy to rot his brain”
Those stacks were the usual fare but in them was Swamp Thing #2. It blew my mind and it was the first comic wherein I went to read the credits to see who drew it—Bernie Wrightson. Now I wanted to draw my own comics, just like Kirby and Wrightson and I started buying all the comics I could find and afford!
And my Dad’s friend was right…comics did rot my brain.
Mainstream Characters VS. Creator Owned
GVN: As a comic artist, you (like your creative partner Matt Wagner) have worked on both creator-owned projects and mainstream characters like Batman and Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. Is there more pressure working on such iconic characters than working on your own and which do you prefer?
KJ: I never felt too much pressure about the characters I was working on but I did feel it from the creators I was working alongside. For example, on Red Rain I was fans of both those guys (Denny O’Neil and Doug Moench) and it was surreal actually making books with them. But once you get into the rhythm of the project that feeling evaporates and it’s just the fun of a good story that takes over and the jitters are gone.
Working with the great Len Wein
GVN: I noticed that you had the opportunity to work with the late great Len Wein on some projects (Conan: The Book of Thoth and Convergence: Swamp Thing). What was that experience like and what did you take away from the collaboration?
KJ: I had a great time with Len! He put up with my fanboy questions with such patience (Denny O’Neil did as well). Len was always about the magic moments that can happen when making comics so he would give me the chance to do something that maybe he could riff on. Len wrote a complete story, but it wasn’t something set in stone to him. If one of those moments popped up in the art he’d run with it. He would pivot and expand or focus on those things that struck his fancy. Funny, I never could predict those moments with him though. He was always wanting my input and would love talking out the plot so as to find those nuggets of inspiration. Len said at the end of every phone call “Remember to have fun, making comics is fun!”
Of course he was right. I miss him.
Dracula Book Two: The Brides
GVN: Your latest work is a follow-up to your highly successful first book “Dracula Book I: The Impaler,” along with the aforementioned Matt Wagner, entitled “Dracula Book II: The Brides.” The first book was loved by both critics and fans alike, as proven by the $262,498 raised in its Kickstarter campaign. With that kind of success, did you feel any pressure for this follow-up book to measure up art-wise to your first one?
KJ: To be honest, yes. I knew BOOK I—THE IMPALER would be good because I’d never read anything like it. When that happens, you know good things will follow. Matt kept building this epic story with scene after great scene all leading to the incredibly satisfying climax. I pride myself on knowing how movies or books will end but with Matt’s script I had no idea of where it was going…and it’s Dracula right?! I should know that! Horror is my wheelhouse! When I asked him what a second book be about, he said simply “The Brides, Kel.” In a few sentences of explaining what he had in mind I was euphoric. I later told my wife I love Matt Wagner. She rolled her eyes but didn’t object.
As far as matching the first book, I think of how the ‘Bride of Frankenstein’ or ‘Godfather 2’ or ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ dealt with it. Story…it’s always story. And Matt wrote one that was even better. Matt has surpassed BOOK I and that is saying something as I think BOOK I is the best thing I’ve done. Honestly, I can say my enthusiasm is in every panel of ‘THE BRIDES.’
The Challenge of ‘The Brides’
GVN: You have led me right to my next question and partially answered it. But let’s do this anyway. What was your reaction when Matt informed you that this story would focus on the Brides of Dracula? It is a very intriguing subject since it is proven in Book 1 that Vlad didn’t hold much loyalty to anyone, especially the woman (or women) in his life. No doubt, it takes a special type of woman to capture and hold Dracula’s attention. And you got to bring them to life.
KJ: I see the theme of THE BRIDES as the challenge of immortality. Is it a thing you’d really want once you, have it? How does that figure into Vlad’s existence? Does it in a way make him confront his own humanity in ways he never calculated?
Matt has Dracula having to deal with these women and that’s a reason why I love Matt’s writing so much. It’s feral and bloody and oh so poignant. And very erotic at the same time…just shocking. And as with BOOK I, I could not see where it was going but damn if it wasn’t so, so satisfying.
Well, I know a great closing line when I hear it. You can check out the campaign for Dracula Book Two: The Brides here. Already the book is getting great word of mouth. Such as this one from Ryan Condal: Co-Creator and Showrunner for HBO’s House of the Dragon.
Be sure to look for writer Matt Wagner’s interview tomorrow.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
