Rodney Barnes has rapidly turn into a particular and progressive voice in comics. Already having a storied profession as a producer and screenwriter on reveals reminiscent of The Boondocks and Everybody Hates Chris, Barnes exploded into the world of comics together with his and Jason Shawn Alexander’s Philadelphia vampire comedian Killadelphia, simply top-of-the-line ongoing sequence on the stands as we speak. He had written comics main as much as his megahit, but it surely was that one which elevated him within the comics work to being a author you wanted to concentrate to.
Barnes has parlayed his success with Killadelphia, in addition to on licensed titles like Star Wars and Army of Darkness and on different creator-owned books like Monarch with Alex Lins, into creating his personal firm, the aptly-named Zombie Love Studios. He kicked issues off with a e book that present in blaxploitation its resounding first shot: Blacula: Return of the King, additionally illustrated by Shawn Alexander. It’s based mostly on the fan-favorite 1972 vampire film of the identical identify directed by William Crain. In the movie, Prince Mamuwalde (the titular Blacula) meets with Dracula to strike a deal that may put a dent on the slave commerce, however is instantly betrayed and become a vampire. He’s finally stirred from his slumber after his coffin is bought and dropped at LA within the ’70s. Barnes up to date the long-lasting black vampire so it might exist inside the racial chaos of as we speak’s America, reflecting how society has reacted to police violence and predatory city politics.
Blacula: Return of the King was not solely an important e book, it was a mission assertion, a promise on the standard and depth of what’s to return. The story’s been envisioned as a trilogy, based on Barnes, with the opposite titles but to be formally revealed. Zombie Love is additionally making ready for the discharge of Florence and Normandie, written by Barnes and rapper Xzibit with artwork from Jon Wayshak and Mar Silvestre, which places the world’s first alien invasion proper in the midst of the 1992 LA Riots (which started after 4 law enforcement officials had been acquitted of extreme power expenses within the Rodney King case).
The Beat sat caught up with Barnes at San Diego Comic Con for a fast chat on Zombie Love, its horror coronary heart, and the place it’s going.
Ricardo Serrano: Zombie Love began off with Blacula, a personality with a peculiar place in horror historical past. Despite his recognition and devoted fan base, some nonetheless see him as a sort of cult-following kind character. What made you choose Prince Mamuwalde for Zombie Love’s first e book?
Rodney Barnes: I actually cherished the film once I was a child. As I received older and revisited it, you possibly can see a number of the issues that got here with it being a blaxploitation movie, together with a number of the extra problematic narrative parts that got here with it given the instances it was made in. Coming from a sentiment of nostalgia, I felt like I might replace it. It was one thing that may take me again to my authentic love of horror. I assumed it will be a worthy endeavor. So, I assumed about a mode and the way it will look after which Jason Sean Alexander, my associate, he had a tackle how the e book might take completely different route than Killadelphia’s and we went to work.
Serrano: I picked up on that want to replace the character. In the film, you sort of find yourself rooting for him for many of it, however then he reminds you he’s a vampire and that he’s, in essence, a predator. He finally ends up not even being an antihero.
Barnes: I believe it’s not his fault. For lack of a greater phrase, he is what he is. There’s the human a part of him that is still, however he is a predator. The antihero half, the combination of a scarcity of predictability as to who he’s going to be and of what he could be at any given second is all the time current. And but, he was a prince. His the Aristocracy is nonetheless there. There is an ethical throughline despite the fact that it’s tempered together with his vampiric features.
Serrano: There are hints of a shared universe inside Return of the King. Is that one thing you need Zombie Love to give attention to, or one thing you’re simply taking part in round with?
Barnes: Playing round with it for now. When you may have your personal firm, and you’re employed your personal tales, numerous the characters begin floating by way of a number of the different works. A whole lot of these works are nonetheless beneath my management, so that you by no means know when a personality can pop up in a single world from one other. It’s sort of like how Stephen King will put a reference to Cujo in newer books, a touch to let readers know the chance is there. Or like he does with Salem’s Lot, the place you may have one thing so historical it may well’t assist however be part of the bigger factor. With me, you by no means know when Blacula would possibly present up.
Serrano: Is there a particular fashion or signature that you just’re hoping carries by way of for the studio? Something that will get it acknowledged instantly as a Zombie Love manufacturing?
Barnes: I consider it extra about being a voice in horror. You know, locations like Blumhouse have executed a kind of film that looks like Blumhouse. I believe we wish to inform a narrative in a manner that looks like a Zombie Love story, within the sense that it has a extremely clear voice that has some social relevance, however to not the purpose the place it overwhelms the story. I would like human tales set in a horrific setting.
Serrano: What are you able to reveal about the way forward for Zombie Love?
Barnes: We’ll be having just a few bulletins developing, particularly main as much as New York Comic Con. We’re already gearing up for Florence and Normandie with rapper/actor Xzibit, which we’re actually excited about. We’ll be doing a preview of it at NYCC. It’s shaping as much as be an attention-grabbing yr for us.
Blacula: Return of the King is obtainable from Zombie Love Studios now.
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