Just four months ago, Monstrous Books launched an overwhelmingly successful Kickstarter to bring a new edition of writer Jeff Rice’s novel based on the Kolchak: The Night Stalker television series, just in time for the book’s 50th anniversary. But the Kolchak fun doesn’t end there. Just in time for spooky season, Monstrous Books has launched a new Kickstarter featuring Carl Kolchak, a reporter who investigates mysteries involving the supernatural and macabre—but this time with a twist. The newsman of the night will encounter ghouls that we’ve known for decades in Kolchak Meets the Classic Monsters, featuring classic characters such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Werewolf—and maybe a newer character along the way. Featuring a stacked array of creators—including Rodney Barnes, Steve Niles, and David Dastmalchian (whose character Count Crowley appears in an issue)—this is the perfect project to give a gander as we approach Halloween.
I recently spoke with Monstrous Books owner and editor James Aquilone about the Kolchak Meets the Classic Monsters Kickstarter, the creative team handling the issue installments of the project, and what the project has meant to him. And be sure to check out the covers for each Kolchak Meets Classic Monsters issue and a preview of George Quadros’ art for Kolchak Meets Frankenstein!
FreakSugar: Your last Kolchak-related Kickstarter was a huge success. How long has this Classic Monsters campaign been in the works?
James Aquilone: I had the idea for the Classic Monsters for a couple of years. It just made sense for Carl to meet Frankenstein and Dracula and other classic monsters. But the actual work on the project didn’t begin until earlier this year. We’re already well on our way with Steve Niles’ Kolchak Meets Frankenstein almost fully illustrated.
FS: The meet-ups between Kolchak and all these characters seems natural. What was the process of deciding who Kolchak should encounter?
JA: I figured he should meet the Big Three first, and then we could tackle other monsters like the Phantom of the Opera and Invisible Man in later volumes.
FS: David Dastmalchian returns to the world of Kolchak. He’s on record saying Count Crowley was influenced, in part, by Kolchak. What’s it been like seeing the development of the story of the two characters encountering one another?
JA: When I saw Lukas Ketner’s page of Kolchak meeting Count Crowley, I was blown away. It was something I never thought would happen, but David was all for it. I can’t wait to see the rest of the story.
FS: You have a stacked array of creators working on the project, from Steve Niles to Rodney Barnes and so many more. What’s the collaboration process been like with these writers and artists?
JA: I’ve worked with Steve and Rodney before and they’re incredible to collaborate with. They’re Kolchak superfans.
FS: What sorts of rewards are available for backers of the campaign?
JA: We have three individual comics — Kolchak Meets the Werewolf and Count Crowley, Kolchak Meets Frankenstein, and Kolchak Meets Dracula — plus a deluxe hardcover collecting the three stories and adding a bonus story and other extra material. We also have a Kolchak trading card set, Kolchak Challenge Coin, and original artwork.
FS: As a fan, what has been the best part of working on the Classic Monsters campaign and project?
JA: It’s been incredible to be working with all these amazing writers and artists. They’re the best in the business and I’m very happy they’re all Kolchak fans.
The Kickstarter for Kolchak Meets the Classic Monsters has already hit its initial goal 20 TIMES OVER, with 17 days to go in the campaign. Check out this fantabulous compilation with a unique mashup of the macabre and monsters unlike any you’ve ever seen!
From the official press release about the Kickstarter:
Throughout the course of the fan-favorite 1970s TV show, legendary reporter Carl Kolchak went toe-to-toe with all manner of otherworldly fiends. Now, he will take on his most fearsome foes yet — Dracula, Frankenstein and the Werewolf! Monstrous Books presents a three-issue series of stand-alone comics as well as a deluxe hardcover collection from an all-star lineup of creators coming to Kickstarter this October.
Actor and Writer David Dastmalchian (Count Crowley) will team-up with Count Crowley artist Lukas Ketner, and colorist Zac Atkinson, for a Kolchak – Count Crowley 22-page comic book crossover in “Kolchak Meets the Werewolf and Count Crowley,” featuring a cover by Ketner and a variant from superstar artist Matt Wagner (Grendel). Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia) will be writing a 22-page comic book thriller titled “Kolchak Meets Dracula,” with art by Eisner-award nominated artist Alex Lins (Plastic Man No More) with a cover by Colton Worley (Jennifer Blood). And Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) will be collaborating with artist George Quadros (Avatar: The High Ground), and colorist Zac Atkinson on a 22-page comic book called “Kolchak Meets Frankenstein” with a cover from Russ Braun (The Boys). Monstrous Book will publish a deluxe, hardcover edition of KOLCHAK MEETS THE CLASSIC MONSTERS, featuring all three stories and an all-new cover by Dave Acosta (Elvira, Terrorwar).
David Dastmalchian says, “One of the biggest inspirations for my character, Jerri Bartman aka Count Crowley is Kolchak. I love nontraditional heroes who are thrust into harrowing and thrilling circumstances because of fate. I always hoped there would be a world in which these two monster-hunting journalists could cross paths and I’m over the full moon that it’s happening here on the pages of a comic drawn by none other than Lukas Ketner. Prepare, monster kids! The werewolf is loose in Chicago and Kolchak’s going to need some help if his hat isn’t going to be shredded to pieces.”
Steve Niles says, “I am thrilled to be working with Monstrous Books on the new Kolchak: The Night Stalker comic line. With writers as great as David Dastmachian and Rodney Barnes also involved, this will be a very special release. I grew up on Kolchak and I have Frankenstein on the brain. Getting the chance to write both has been an amazing experience.”
Rodney Barnes says, “It’s an honor to once again enter the terrifying world of Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Never feels like work!”
The Kickstarter campaign for Kolchak: The Night Stalker Meets the Classic Monsters features comics, graphic novels, and for the first-ever officially licensed Kolchak trading cards and a limited-edition challenge coin.
Here’s what people are saying about Kolchak:
“Kolchak is as much a part of my horror-writer DNA as Frankenstein’s monster, Stephen King, or The Twilight Zone. Monstrous Books is doing us a great service by presenting this fully restored original manuscript the way Kolchak creator Jeff Rice intended. If you’ve never heard of Kolchak, or if you’ve seen the TV series but never read the original story behind it, you need this one!” – Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and The House of Last Resort
“Carl Kolchak isn’t brave. He does brave things despite being scared out of his wits. He’s also a monster hunter who’s more interesting than his prey. Carl Kolchak is my spirit animal.” – Dana Gould, creator of Stan Against Evil.
Based on the novel by Jeff Rice, with a screenplay from horror legend and novelist Richard Matheson (I Am Legend), 1972’s KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER transfixed audiences. The movie became the highest-rated TV movie in U.S. history and spawned the cult TV series starring Darren McGavin. The intrepid reporter’s supernatural adventures have entertained and influenced generations of horror creators. Monstrous Books’ last Kolchak campaign, a deluxe reprint of the original Kolchak novel by Jeff Rice, earlier this year was a smash, raising more than $100,000 from 2100 backers. And the 50th anniversary Kolchak graphic novel, which was Kickstarted in 2022, won a Bram Stoker Award and Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award.
The KOLCHAK MEETS THE CLASSIC MONSTERS Kickstarter is now live. For updates, follow Monstrous Books on Facebook, Instagram and X.