This January, Oni Press launched the first issue of the Cruel Kingdom anthology, a new series in EC’s long-storied history of dark fantasy publications. Each issue contains takes from an age of barbarians, sorcery, and terror from some of the best creators in comics, including Chris Condon, Al Ewing, Greg Pak, and Steve Niles, who offered his own story in issue #2.
I caught up with Steve Niles to have a quick chat about his contribution to Cruel Kingdom and his hopes to work with the anthology again. Cruel Kingdom has been an incredibly fun read so far, including Niles’ story, and picking up past and future issues is well worth your time.
FreakSugar: “Hammer of Witches” was quite the fun read! What can you tell us about the tale?
Steve Niles: Thanks! It started as a longer story, a beginning really, but then I liked how it worked as a short so I went in that direction. Luckily the new EC exists now so creators have an outlet for short stories.
FS: You have 10 pages to tell the story and it feels so lean and quickly paced. What kind of challenges and fun does writing a short story for a comic anthology present?
SN: It’s tough. I’m not going to lie. You have to trim all the fat while still telling a fully realized story. It’s a challenge but a fun challenge.
FS: It’s a blessing to see Andrea Mutti’s art in a comic! What was that collaboration like?
SN: I have never met a more enthusiastic artist. He is an absolute blast to work with and I think the story came out beautifully.
FS: Do you have more stories for Cruel Kingdom coming in future issues?
SN: I sure hope so. I’ve written one so far and I’m working on others. The folks at EC and Oni are really great to work with.
Cruel Kingdom #2 is one sale now from Oni Press and EC Comics. Issue #3 goes on sale March 5, 2025.
From the official issue description for #2:
ONCE UPON A TIME . . . BLOOD WILL BE SPILLED! Enter the lost aeon of brave knights, foreboding wizards, and gloriously skull-crushing brutality as EC Comics’ first-ever dark fantasy title unleashes its next full-throated battle cry of all-out terror with spellbinding writers Corinna Bechko (Green Lantern: Earth One) and Chris Condon (Ultimate Wolverine) alongside enchanting artists PJ Holden (2000 AD), Andrea Mutti (Rebels), and more enthralling talents! No, this is no ordinary storybook—this is CRUEL KINGDOM!
And from the official issue description for #3:
Yes, fair reader: The terrible wonders of this CRUEL KINGDOM are far from over! Steel thy wits for more tales of sadistic sorcery as forged in the foundries of the immortal EC tradition! To be revealed in the pages of this forbidden text: All-new, dread-drenched spells of magic and myth summoned from the cauldron via mad wizard by the vaingloriously violent writers Corinna Bechko (Green Lantern: Earth One), Christopher Cantwell (Out of Alcatraz), among others and etched into uncanny reality by by sword-swinging artists Kano (Gotham Central), and many more!