WEIRD TALES MAGAZINE
First published in 1923, the iconic pulp magazine Weird Tales defined the horror and fantasy genres and helped give rise to icons such as H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, Ray Bradbury, and C.L. Moore. A century later, Monstrous is teaming up with Weird Tales Magazine to publish the first-ever official Weird Tales graphic novel. — an ambitious adaptation and expansion of the legendary magazine — featuring covers by legendary artists Kelley Jones (Dracula, Sandman) and Eric Powell (The Goon, Dr. Werthless). Coming to Kickstarter February 16th, fans can follow the pre-launch page now to get an email when the campaign launches, to make sure that they don’t miss early bird specials and limited-edition tiers.
The Weird Tales graphic novel features adaptations of seminal stories by such writers as Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), and Blake Northcott (Catwoman) and more.
Ahead of its launch, we caught up with four members of the creative team behind this thrilling tribute to the Weird Tales legacy: writers Stephen Barnes, Steve Niles, Blake Northcutt, and Monstrous Book founder and editor James Aquilone. Let’s give a warm welcome to this talented quartet on GVN Talking Comics, starting with the writers:
RODNEY BARNES, STEVE NILES AND BLAKE NORTHCUTT
GVN: Thanks for giving us some of your time, Rodney, Steve, and Blake. Let’s dive in… Weird Tales has always been a home for boundary‑pushing storytelling from such luminaries as H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, H.G. Wells, and so many more. What does “weird fiction” mean to each of you personally, and how did that definition shape your contributions to this project?
Rodney: I see weird fiction as an opportunity to defy boundaries narratively. To go beyond conventional storytelling. To shock. Surprise.
Steve: It’s a way to break boundaries and face your fears at the same time. The Robert E Howard story I adapted is all about facing fear.
Blake: For me, “Weird Fiction” gives a greater opportunity for readers to experience more voices, coming from different perspectives. Back in the 1930s, that meant women getting a chance to write horror and sci-fi, which was rare in those days – and C.L. Moore, and her iconic story ‘Shambleau’, came out of that era. In modern times of course that’s not revolutionary, but Weird Tales definitely kicked open the door for people like myself to explore these different genres!
But in 2026, it also means simply, ‘outside the box’. Stories that are subversive and a little risky. Subjects that some writers, and publishers, might shy away from.
Basically, I feel Weird Fiction isn’t worried about being mainstream and easily digestible. And that’s very exciting for me as a fan of the genre, and a creator.
CHALLENGES
GVN: Since its inception, Weird Tales is known for short fiction that hits hard and fast. How did you adapt that tradition to the graphic novel format, and were there any specific challenges in doing so?
Rodney: Working exposition into the “action”. When you’re moving quickly there’s not a lot time to dilly dally lol. Stories like these require me to stay cognizant of pacing.
Steve: The biggest challenge was accuracy. I wanted to use as much of the original text and dialogue as possible.
Blake: Graphic novels give you a completely different canvas to paint on. You don’t need to paint your picture with words alone; you have sequential art to lean on.
The key is to trust your artist, and luckily mine was incredible. George Quadros did an unbelievable job. And Zac Atkinson was wonderful with colors, and the lettering by Taylor Esposito pulled it all together.
Just letting the illustrator tell some parts of the story through visual means and backing away with the prose. Letting the art speak for itself.
SIGNATURE STYLES
GVN: Throughout each of your careers, you have developed a kind of signature style — Rodney with grounded supernatural grit, Steve with atmospheric horror, and Blake with high‑energy genre blends. How important was it for you to lean into (or perhaps subvert) your usual storytelling instincts for this project?
Rodney: Great question. I look for projects like this. The sort that challenges me to try new things. To attack the story in a different fashion. I’m actually asking myself “can you do this?” While actually doing it. Makes me a better writer in the long run I think. While simultaneously raising my blood pressure lol.
Steve: I love adapting other writers’ work. I’ve adapted Matheson, Bloch, Barker, Ellison and now Howard. I don’t lean too heavy on my style. Instead, I feel it’s my job to best represent the writer and the story.
Blake: For me, it was more about amplifying C.L. Moore’s voice. I wanted to be very respectful of her iconic story, and help guide it into a new medium, and bring it to life for a whole new generation. This short story has almost a century of legacy, and that has to be respected. That was my priority, not putting my fingerprints all over it.
BRINGING “WEIRD TALES” TO GRAPHIC NOVEL FORMAT
GVN: What was the most challenging part of translating Weird Tales’ pulp roots into a modern graphic novel narrative?
Rodney: Trying not to do what’s already been done. Finding my voice in a story that’s not what I typically do.
Steve: The amount of text was a challenge. Howard’s story was very wordy so balancing the text and the action was a fun challenge.
Blake: Making sure that nothing gets lost in translation. The priority was to ensure that ‘Shambleau’ was as compelling in a sequential art format as it was in 1933 on the page, and I think our team accomplished that!
GVN: In considering the source material in this project’s development, were there any classic Weird Tales covers, stories, or creators that directly influenced the visual direction of your chapters?
Blake: This is more of a question for the artist, but I’ll say that I personally enjoyed the fusion of contemporary art with classic literature. We went in that direction, and having seen the final product, I think it was the right choice! I think readers are going to be blown away.
GVN: As is often the case with such stories, horror and the “weird” often reflect the anxieties of their era. As you considered your own tales, what contemporary fears or fascinations found their way into your stories?
Blake: I didn’t deviate from the original story, but I think the theme of addiction – and obsession – still resonates to this day. It’s a classic story, and that’s what classics do: they endure.
OTHER EXPLORATIONS
GVN: Finally, if you were invited back for another volume, what corner of the Weird Tales universe would you want to explore next?
Steve: I’d love to adapt a Ray Bradbury story. That would be amazing.
Blake: I delved into space exploration for the first time with my recent ‘Barbarella’ series at Dynamite Comics and then got to revisit sci-fi again on this book with ‘Shambleau’. My wheelhouse is usually thrillers, action, and adventure, so maybe return to that genre, but of course with a ‘weird’ twist!
Writer James Aquilone: Monstrous Founder and Publisher
GVN: Weird Tales boasts nearly a century of history, dating back to its first release in 1923. As you developed this project, how did you approach honoring that legacy while still pushing the brand into new creative territory?
James: Being that Weird Tales is one of the oldest pulp magazines of all time, honoring that legacy was very important. That’s why we wanted to adapt iconic stories published in the magazine. But, of course, we wanted to be something new to the graphic novel as well, so we’re including several original tales.
GVN: If pinned down, and you had to describe the “tone” of this graphic novel as a collective creation, what three words would you choose?
James: Bizarre, unusual, monstrous.
GVN: You are bringing Weird Tales to Kickstarter, a platform where you have already found success. Will this campaign offer anything new for fans, or do you believe that if something isn’t broken, there’s no need to fix it?
James: For the first time, we’re doing a prestige format hardcover, 8.5 by 11 inches.
GVN: Do you have any long‑term vision for Weird Tales as a brand — and how do these creators help shape that future?
James: As far as the graphic novel, we’re hoping to make this a series and do it on a regular basis. We’d also love to do separate series based on these characters.
WHAT NEW READERS WILL FIND
GVN: Finally, what do you hope new readers — especially those discovering Weird Tales for the first time — take away from this graphic novel?
James: I hope they get a sense of what made and still makes Weird Tales such an iconic publication, and of course I hope they’re entertained and maybe a little creeped out.
Weird Tales the Graphic Novel is now on Kickstarter, complete with all the bells and whistles that James and Monstrous Books and Weird Tales the Magazine can supply. This includes what has become a staple for a Monstrous Kickstarter campaign: a collectible coin. Check out the Kickstarter campaign here and the coin below.
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.
