Interview: J.T. Krul Returns With New Stories of "Soulfire"
Jun 13, 2019
Aspen Comics' Soulfire is returning for it's eigth volume and promises to bringing the greatest challenges to their heroes.
PREVIEWSworld talked to longtime Soulfire writer J.T. Krul about what readers can expect in his latest iteration of the fantasy epic.
Soulfire Vol. 8 #1 arrives at comic shops June 26.
PREVIEWSworld: Soulfire is back! For fans unfamiliar with series, can you give us the lowdown on what this story is about?
J.T. Krul: Soulfire is an epic, fantasy sci-fi story about a world of the future dominated by technology that experiences a re-awakening of magic. It centers on a boy named Malikai whose unique spirit sparked a new age of magic and the ancient magical beings who have been fighting for power for centuries.
PREVIEWSworld: You’re back for another volume of Soulfire… How do you approach bringing another exciting story to readers?
J.T. Krul: I’ve been writing Soulfire almost since its inception fifteen years ago, and we’ve done some huge stories before, but this is a very exciting time in the Soulfire universe as we are pushing the boundaries of the world and the characters like never before. That’s one of the most thrilling aspects of writing this book - expanding the world and the mythology of the magic, while also allowing our characters to grow and evolve as they deal with the threats and opportunities presented to them.
PREVIEWSworld: You’ve teamed with a new creative team of Raffaele Forte and Valentina Taddeo this time… What is their art going to bring to this series?
J.T. Krul: At Aspen, we often branch out in terms of the art team for each volume of our books. We like the new energy and different vibes it can bring to the book, allowing for each story to exist in its own space, while being part of the overall tapestry of the world itself. This time around, Raffaele and Valentina are bringing us back to a more fantastical flair and flow for the book. Raffaele’s layouts and character work have a certain fluidity to them. A grace, to use the pun. And, Valentina is doing some really interesting work, helping to complement a lighter, almost pastel effect with the fantastical elements, but keeping the futuristic world more stark and almost sterile. So much of the book is about that dichotomy between the magic and the technology, and the art plays into that as well.
PREVIEWSworld: Give us a sneak peek at what the story is about for Volume 8… What is the challenge to our heroes?
J.T. Krul: Volume 8 is perhaps our biggest volume yet, and one that will see the power dynamic of the Soulfire universe completely upended. Grace has spent centuries trying to protect what little magic energy remained and foster the return of a new age of its power. But now that is has happened, she is seeing that the world around may not be worthy of that magic. She doesn’t know if her world of the past can exist without destroying the world of the future. This results in a shifting of alliances as the magic and the technology collide in full force. And, stuck in the middle is Malikai, as he struggles to keep everything from falling apart.
PREVIEWSworld: What can fans expect the rest of the series?
J.T. Krul: Everything. Honestly. All the great characters from the previous volumes of Soulfire. Grace. Rainier. Malikai. Onyx. Benoist. Some brand new characters that will make quite the splash onto the scene. New and uncharted aspects of the world of magic in the Soulfire universe, and a conflict that could change the very nature of the world moving forward. Like I said, it’s got everything!
Grace and Malikai have fought together to bring magic back to a world of technology, but now Grace is convinced that there is only room for one all-powerful source of energy. Magic. New battle lines are drawn. New enemies. New Allies. Fighting for the very future of the world itself. Behold The Battle of the Light!
Veteran Soulfire scribe J.T. Krul (Soulfire, Jirni) returns and teams up with rising star Raffaele Forté and colorist Valentina Taddeo (Aspen Visions: Soulfire) in this magical world-shattering new volume that will change the face of everything you know about the Soulfire Universe!
Grace and Malikai have fought together to bring magic back to a world of technology, but now Grace is convinced that there is only room for one all-powerful source of energy. Magic. New battle lines are drawn. New enemies. New Allies. Fighting for the very future of the world itself. Behold The Battle of the Light!
Veteran Soulfire scribe J.T. Krul (Soulfire, Jirni) returns and teams up with rising star Raffaele Forté and colorist Valentina Taddeo (Aspen Visions: Soulfire) in this magical world-shattering new volume that will change the face of everything you know about the Soulfire Universe!
Grace and Malikai have fought together to bring magic back to a world of technology, but now Grace is convinced that there is only room for one all-powerful source of energy. Magic. New battle lines are drawn. New enemies. New Allies. Fighting for the very future of the world itself. Behold The Battle of the Light!
Veteran Soulfire scribe J.T. Krul (Soulfire, Jirni) returns and teams up with rising star Raffaele Forté and colorist Valentina Taddeo (Aspen Visions: Soulfire) in this magical world-shattering new volume that will change the face of everything you know about the Soulfire Universe!
Grace and Malikai have fought together to bring magic back to a world of technology, but now Grace is convinced that there is only room for one all-powerful source of energy. Magic. New battle lines are drawn. New enemies. New Allies. Fighting for the very future of the world itself. Behold The Battle of the Light!
Veteran Soulfire scribe J.T. Krul (Soulfire, Jirni) returns and teams up with rising star Raffaele Forté and colorist Valentina Taddeo (Aspen Visions: Soulfire) in this magical world-shattering new volume that will change the face of everything you know about the Soulfire Universe!
