Indie Edge Creator Spotlight: Jonathan Maberry

PREVIEWSworld: Please, tell us about yourself.

Jonathan Maberry: Well, I'm a New York Times best-selling author, a 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, and comic book writer. My vampire apocalypse book series, V-WARS (Vol. 1: The Crimson Queen / AUG140442), is in production as a Netflix original series, starring Ian Somerhalder (LOST, Vampire Diaries) and will debut in 2019.

PREVIEWSworld: What are your favorite projects you’ve contributed to over the past decade?

Jonathan Maberry: This is the hardest question for me to answer because the last decade covers just about everything I’ve done in terms of fiction (novels and short stories) and comics. My favorite comics are an even tie between V-Wars (IDW) and Black Panther: Doomwar (NOV160983). Both of those mean a lot to me. It was the appearance of the Black Panther in early issues of Fantastic Four that I learned about racism from a broader perspective, which helped me break away from the ugly bias of my racist father. The fact that decades later I became the writer of the Black Panther book is the universe having some wonderful fun with me. And V-Wars was only my second creator-owned comic, and has become my first TV show! Pretty big events, both of them. Other favorite projects for me is the ongoing “Joe Ledger” series of weird science thrillers, the tenth novel of which, Deep Silence, debuts in October; and the Rot & Ruin series of post-apocalyptic zombie thrillers for teens, which have become required reading in hundreds of schools. But really, I love all my weird little children!

PREVIEWSworld: What are you currently working on?

Jonathan Maberry: I’m currently writing, INK, my 34^th novel, and the third I’ve written this year. It’s a horror/suspense story about a kind of human parasite that steals tattoos tied to the most precious memories people have. It’s creepy as hell and wickedly fun to write. And I’m in advanced discussions to start a new political/horror/weird science comic that I’m very excited about!

PREVIEWSworld: What fun titles are you reading?

Jonathan Maberry: I’ve been following some long runs of indie books that I think are among the best out there. John Layman and Rob Guillory’s Chew (Omnivore Ed. Vol. 1 / MAY100435) is one of my favorites, from issue #1. It’s insane, funny and beautifully told. Southern Bastards (Vol. 1 HC / JUL150641) by Jason Aaron and Jason Latour, never disappoints. Rick Remender’s Black Science (Vol. 1 Remastered HC / JAN180711) hits that perfect spot between retro ’50s sci-fi and contemporary storytelling. And there are books that are, weirdly, flying well under the public radar that are amazing! And Harrow County (Vol. 1 Library Ed. HC / JUN180372), written by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by my road dog, Tyler Crook, is easily one of the best horror comics around. Tyler and I did Bad Blood (JUL140086) for Dark Horse a few years ago, which won a Bram Stoker Award for “Best Graphic Novel”. I’d like to say it was all about my writing, but let’s face it… Tyler brings serious, serious game to any book he’s on.

EDGE ESSENTIALS

Pick up these books to learn more about Jonathan Maberry's Indie Edge style!

• V-Wars Vol. 2: : All of Us Monsters TP (MAR150446)
• Black Panther: Doomwar TP (NOV160983)
• Glimpse (Mayberry’s Latest Novel, out now from St. Martins Press!)