As part of a major deal between the global publisher Andrews UK Limited ( AUK ) and Stoker & McAuley Productions, a new comic book range featuring characters from the original Dracula novel is being produced for 2021 and beyond, with stories by Dacre Stoker and Chris McAuley, with art from Jessica Martin and others.
AUK will be announcing all new calls for magazine contributors, comic book writers, artists, audio content and much more in early 2021.
Dacre and Chris are bringing origin stories of your favourite Dracula characters to life for the first time, a unique series that will feature background stories on the tortured servant Renfield, vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing, and the truth behind the Count himself!
The new stories will be released in both physical and digital versions and as part of this multiyear deal, the writing team are also bringing new versions of Bram Stoker‘s original horror stories to graphic novel format, as well as penning original horror narratives featuring favourite creatures.
Comic readers are being assured of a horrific time with mummies, werewolves and even vengeful cats over the coming months!
Stoker & McAuley recently penned a futuristic version of Dracula’s adventures entitled “Dracula: Lord of the Future”, a five page comic strip featured in the crowdfunded anthology 13th Moon published by 123Go! Publications. So far, the short story has met with critical acclaim – even catching the eye of comic book alumni Neil Gaiman.
Dacre Stoker is the great grandnephew of Bram Stoker, the international bestselling co-author of several titles in the fiction and non-fiction range, as well as being a lecturer and presenter on things pertaining to his great grand uncle. In 2009, he penned the best seller Dracula the Un-dead with Ian Holt. A sequel to Bram Stoker’s original novel, it was widely praised for its authenticity and contribution to the on-going lore of the character.
In 2018, he released a prequel to Dracula with J.D. Barker, Dracul, which went on to become the Number One bestselling hardcover novel in Horror and Supernatural in the UK and was a Finalist for “Superior Achievement for a novel” by the Horror Writers Association, Paramount Studios has also purchased the option for film rights.
Chris McAuley rose to comic book fame through his colouring work on 2000AD‘s “Judge Dredd” (assisting John Charles) and “Roy of the Rovers”. He has worked on on over 20 comics as lead colourist in the last two years, including the acclaimed independent title Lang Walk Hame (featured in the Glasgow Museum of Art) as well as working with actor William Shatner on his Man O War series.
He is also involved with Disney and DC, having created an exclusive Batman comic book which was illustrated by legendary Disney imagineer Terri Hardin. Terri has also mentored Chris over the last 12 months, well known for her work on films such as Ghostbusters (1984), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1- 3, The Men in Black Series and the Dinosaurs TV Show.
Actor and comic creator Jessica Martin is the first signed lead artist to the Stoker & McAuley comic and graphic novel range and should need little introduction to longtime downthetubes readers. She’s well known to cult TV fans for her portrayal as Mags, the punk alien werewolf in the Doctor Who story The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, a setting she revisited for Titan Comics in “Hill of Beans”, written by Richard Dinnick, which features as part of Doctor Who: The Seventh Doctor collection released in 2018.
Jessica emerged on the comics scene in 2013 with a one-page strip for the 2013 Thought Bubble anthology written by her and illustrated by her mentor, DC artist Mark Buckingham. This was followed by her first self-published comic, It Girl, about the life of silent movie star Clara Bow, and selected as one of the Ten Must Own Comics of 2013 by Broken Frontier, the brilliant website highlighting the work of independent creators.
Her recognition in the world of graphic novels continued for her work on Vivacity, a stunning comic about the enigmatic film star Vivien Leigh. This work was again selected in 2014, by Broken Frontier, as one of the Ten Must Own Comics. She has also been double Eisner award nominated, and her graphic novel Elsie Harris Picture Palace, which was shortlisted for the Myriad Editions First Graphic Novel prize in 2014.
In addition to “Hill of Beans'” Jessica was also chosen to illustrate the Thirteenth Doctor cover for Titan Comics Forbidden Planet, Free Comic Book Day edition, and she and Chris McAuley recently contributed to a Doctor Who annual, illustrating story featuring Mags, coloured by Chris, who wrote an origin story featuring Jessica’s character, with the blessing of Stephen Wyatt, the author of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.
Jessica is very excited to be joining forces with writers Chris McAuley and Dacre Stoker as well as publisher AUK to bring the works of Bram Stoker to a new audience thirsting for multi-layered tales of suspense.
The Dracula project is just the start of new comics and from AUK next year, a company that’s has been at the cutting edge of indie digital and physical book publishing both in the UK and globally for over 20 years.
AUK, which will be announcing all new calls for magazine contributors, comic book writers, artists, audio content and much more in early 2021, has worked hand in hand with publishing company partners and authors for a long time, to convert and distribute their work globally.
With a complete AUK brand relaunch pending in January 2021, there has been a huge raft of new content invested in by AUK to be partly announced the first quarter of 2021, both generated internally, and with multiple media third party partners.
Examples of these being the audio drama version being created for AUK by B7 Media of Robin Evans Venna’s Planet, and the AUK/Spiteful Puppet co-funded The Barren Author audio production starring Richard O’Brien (Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Crystal Maze) and Sophie Aldred (Doctor Who).
The company says the new content releases, and many more to be announced, will expand and strengthen the already wide range from AUK, to include eBook, print on demand physical books, audio books, audio drama, pod casts and audio shows, games, all new film and documentary releases, and a wide new exciting range of comics and magazines in both digital and physical formats to be released moving forward.
• AUK Official Site: www.andrewsuk.com
• Dacre Stoker Official Biography | Find Dacre Stoker on Facebook | Twitter
• For more about Jessica Martin’s comics projects visit www.artymisspublishing.com
• Check out Jessica Martin books on AmazonUK (Affiliate link – help support downthetubes, thank you)
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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