The iconic pulp magazine Weird Tales has been having something of a renaissance of sorts. The horror and fantasy publication first got its start in 1923, giving readers their taste of such wild and wonderful fare they had never before encountered. With names such as H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, Ray Bradbury, and C.L. Moore contributing some of their earliest works to the magazine, Weird Tales is one of the cornerstones of what we think of as the origins of modern horror.

Back in 2019, editor Jonathan Maberry and President John Harlacher brought Weird Tales Magazine back to life, giving a whole new generation a portal into the monstrous and the macabre. Now, Monstrous Books is partnering with Weird Tales Magazine for the first ever Weird Tales graphic novel! Now on Kickstarter–but just for a few more hours, so back now!–Weird Tales has hit its initial goal 70 times over! I was able to speak with Monstrous’ founder James Aquilone about the Kickstarter, reviving the magazine for graphic novel form, the creators involved, and how Monstrous is going “big and bold” with this project.

FreakSugar: For folks unfamiliar with the pulp magazine, what can you tell readers about Weird Tales?

James Aquilone: Weird Tales is one of the most iconic pulp magazines in speculative fiction history — first published in 1923. It became legendary for introducing readers to now-classic genre authors and characters, including H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, Ray Bradbury, C.L. Moore, and many others.

FS: You and Monstrous have already built a reputation for giving horror properties of the past and present their appropriate due. Weird Tales had its most recent revival in 2019. What prompted you to want to put Weird Tales in the graphic novel spotlight?

JA: I figured 100 years was enough time for Weird Tales to wait for its own graphic novel. The magazine has inspired some much speculative fiction and artwork, especially in comics, such as Tales from the Crypt and Creepy. This project is long overdue.

FS: The project boasts a murderers’ row of phenomenal creators. What was the process like of bringing them together and collaborating on which characters and mythos they’ll tackle?

JA: We’ve put together quite the lineup:

– David Avallone and Robert Hack adapted Michael Avallone’s “The Man Who Walked on Air”

– Jonathan Maberry and J.K. Woodward took on Ray Bradbury’s “The Scythe”

– Nancy A. Collins and Marco Finnegan reworked “The Damp Man”

– Steve Niles and Andrey Lunatik adapted Robert E. Howard’s “Skulls in the Stars.”

– Rodney Barnes and Lukas Ketner are contributing an original Lovecraft Mythos story.

– And Blake Northcott and George Quadros did C.L. Moore’s “Shambleau”

I tried to pair writers with works or authors they had a connection with, such as David Avallone adapting his father’s work and Jonathan Maberry adapting his mentor Ray Bradbury. In other cases, I asked the writers what they’d be interested in writing or I assigned a story.

FS: Following up on that, in the press release, you mention that you all decided to go big and bold. I’ve loved your past projects and you certainly do big and bold well. What does “big and bold” look like to you?

JA: One, we’re publishing the graphic novel in a prestige hardcover format at 8.5″×11″ — so we are literally going big on this one.

Two, we have covers from some of the biggest names in comics, such as Kelley Jones and Eric Powell.

And, three, as you said we have a murderers’ row of phenomenal creators.

This graphic novel is exactly what we mean by “big and bold.”

FS: What can you tell us about the Kickstarter itself?

JA: The hardcover, which should be at least 150 pages, is a Kickstarter exclusive as is the special Weird Tales / Cthulhu T-shirt and collector’s coin we’re offering. And as usual there will be a few surprises.

FS: If you had a final pitch for the Weird Tales Kickstarter, what would it be?

JA: Weird Tales: A Graphic Novel of Bizarre & Unusual Stories is a once-in-a-century celebration of the magazine that helped define horror and fantasy fiction. It brings together classic tales and fresh mythos from legendary writers and artists in a prestige hardcover. Backing this project means owning a piece of genre history.