@@@@ What the #$%! is AICN COMICS: Q&@? @@@@
@’s by Zenescope’s Raven Gregory!
Hey all, Ambush Bug here. I was able to check back in with Raven Gregory of Zenescope about the new “The Dream Eater Saga” crossover that runs through most of Zenescope’s core titles and some other upcoming projects. Here’s what Raven had to say…AMBUSH BUG (BUG): Last year at NYCC, I had a chance to talk with you and Joe Brusha at Zenescope and you guys hinted at a crossover between GRIMM FAIRY TALES, SINBAD, and WONDERLAND. Now it looks like that's happening. What's bringing these three properties together?
RAVEN GREGORY (RG): There's a horrifying entity that gets unleashed; a shared threat called the Dream Eater whose mission is to kill all of the beings who exist within the Zenescope Universe.
BUG: So are the properties all going to be interacting with each other or will they all be interacting individually with the Dream Eater?
RG: Both. Not only will you see the effects of the Dream Eater on each individual series but you'll also see them drive the various characters to begin to interact with each other. It's cool how all of this is playing out because it opens the doors for so many interactions that would have never happened under other circumstances.
BUG: What's the scope of this series? How many issues will it run?
RG: Twelve issues total. It runs through our regular on going series (GRIMM FAIRY TALES, and MYTHS & LEGENDS) as well as the mini-series properties such as WONDERLAND, NEVERLAND, SALEM’S DAUGHTER, THE PIPER, SINBAD and INFERNO.BUG: That's a lot of characters! Having worked with these characters before in their individual titles, was it difficult to incorporate them into one large storyline?
RG: While the idea of the story came about pretty organically, trying to make sure we weren't forcing any of these characters into the story just for the sake of a crossover was important to us. It's very much like putting together an extremely large jigsaw puzzle. All the pieces are there. It just took time to put it together and have it fit perfectly.
BUG: So will there be ramifications after these events? Will characters from WONDERLAND end up in GRIMM FAIRY TALES land and stuff like that?RG: There's a lot of what we have planned for later this year and next that are spinning out directly from the events of this story. As for the series itself, readers will definitely be seeing characters cross into each other’s worlds as they all search for a way to stop the Dream Eater.
BUG: Who's going to be handling the art for this crossover?
RG: Schedules are really tight right now with making this work so I don't want to name any names yet and jinx it. But there might be some very familiar "Wonderful" creators returning to art on various issues of the series along with some brand new names that are going to blow people socks off.
BUG: Let's talk a bit about some of your other projects at Zenescope. I hear you have a new creator owned series called FLY. What's that one about?
RG: Oh man, FLY. That puppy has been in development for a good long while. Glad to say it'll finally be seeing the light of day this year. Eric J (Rex Mundi, and JSA) is handling the art chores and is finishing up the pencils on the fourth issue as we speak and the art is seriously incredible. The extremely talented Nei Ruffino (SUPERGIRL, GREEN LANTERN CORPS, WONDERLAND trilogy) is coloring and her work is nothing short of amazing. Every time I think I've seen her at her best she raises the bar. As for the series, it's sort of in the super hero genre but with a darker twist. It’s ultimately about how these teens become literally addicted to a drug that gives them an ability to fly. Think BREAKING BAD meets THE CROW.
BUG: Sounds like a cool combination. When is FLY set to come out?RG: June 2011.
BUG: So is it safe to assume, given your previous work on THE GIFT and WONDERLAND, that your take on superheroes is going to have a horror slant to it?
RG: No matter how hard I try to get away, horror always seems to pull me back in. But with this series it's going to be dealing with a lot of real world horrors versus supernatural monsters in the dark.
BUG: Will this be a miniseries or an ongoing?
RG: It'll be ongoing. The first arc is five issues. We may take a break between arcs to recharge but this is definitely a book I plan on doing for some time.
BUG: What else is going on with Zenescope these days that you'd like to tell the readers of AICN?
RG: We just recently debuted a new ongoing spin off of GRIMM FAIRY TALES called GRIMM MYTHS & LEGENDS which hit shelves in January. It revisits many of the characters from the Grimm Fairy Tales series and really fleshes out their stories in a present day horror/thriller tone. CHARMED has just finished up with its first story arc and we have a few big surprises coming up in store for long time fans of the show. It's the kind of stuff you know will get people talking so I can't wait to see that all come to fruition.BUG: Sounds like there's a lot of cool stuff from Zenescope on the way and out now. Well, last chance why folks should check out the Zenescope crossover and remind folks when it kicks off?
RG: This is the event everyone has been waiting for. Huge moments, main character deaths and a pay off that will be felt for a long time. The fun kicks off this April so don't miss it!
BUG: Thanks a lot for the interview. Look for “The Dream Eater Saga” beginning this April from Zenescope!
Ambush Bug is Mark L. Miller, original @$$Hole / wordslinger / reviewer / co-editor of AICN Comics for over nine years. Support a Bug by checking out his comics (click on the names to purchase)!
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