Vault Comics To Publish ‘Deathstalker’ As Single-Issue Series
by Olly MacNamee
Deathstalker, the recent highly successful crowdfunded graphic novel from Vault Comics, in partnership with Slash of Guns N’ Roses, Shout! Studios, and Raven Banner Entertainment, is to be released as a single-issue mini-series in 2024.
“The cult-classic warrior-hero Deathstalker bursts into the comics scene from an all-star lineup of creators including Slash (Guns N’ Roses) and writer-director-creature-FX-wizard Steven Kostanski (Psycho Goreman, The Void)!
Deathstalker finds himself once again caught between forces larger than himself — a virgin worshiping cult, a sorcerer hell-bent on saving the world through mad science, and the pissed-off army of the Abraxeon kingdom…not to mention his ex-lover, Princess Evie. Monsters, magic, and mayhem abound…can’t a guy just swing his sword anymore?”
Presented by guitar legend Slash, and based on a story by writer, director, and legendary creature effects artist Steven Kostanski (Psycho Goreman, The Void), Deathstalker is scripted by bestselling writer Tim Seeley (Grayson, Hack/Slash, Money Shot), artist Jim Terry (Come Home, Indio), and colourist Kurt Michael Russell (Brandon Sanderson’s Dark One, Money Shot).
“I’m excited to be kicking off a new era of Deathstalker. From Tim Seeley, artist Jim Terry, writer-director-creature FX-wizard Steven Kostanski, and myself, our Deathstalker is a reimagining of that fine specimen of ’80s sword and sorcery. With fantasy, you get a little of everything: horror, magic, sex, thrills, blood, guts, swords and weirdness. You know—all those things you can’t look away from. And that’s what we’re bringing. So—please—if you share my love of all things wicked, check it out!”
“I’m a child of the ’80s. I remember when my dad bought our first VCR in 1982. And I remember the slew of weird and imaginative sword and sorcery VHS tapes that followed. Deathstalker has been near and dear to my heart since I was completely disturbed and aroused by it at a far-too-young-age. And as a fan of the films of Steve Kostanski, I was thrilled to contribute to this project and the ongoing mythology of Deathstalker with my good friend and frequent collaborator, Jim Terry at Vault!”
“Some went to church, some had friends, I had the video store. Being young at the birth of the VHS explosion was magic, and it felt like a time when folks were telling incredibly imaginative stories with limited resources – that charm and creativity would be hard to recreate today but it’s a thrill to bask in that energy with Deathstalker. I’m already enjoying myself, and very much looking forward to wandering in a world I’m very familiar with and making something that we hope will be an absolute blast to read. Thanks to all the folks involved and to my pal Tim Seeley for inviting me along to hang out in this universe for a while.”
Deathstalker #1 will be available in March, 2024. The debut issue will feature variant covers including the original Deathstalker movie poster artist Boris Vallejo, Barbaric co-creator Nathan Gooden, series artist Jim Terry (Barbaric), Conor Boyle, Patrick Gañas, Angela Wu, and more.
