Top Five: Helm Greycastle's Henry Barajas Shares His Favorite Fantasy Tales
May 25, 2021
Top 5 by Henry Barajas
Interview by Troy-Jeffrey Allen
Originally launched on Kickstarter, Helm Graycastle (JUN210134) is actively making the jump to comic shops, courtesy of Image Comics and Top Cow. If you're a fan of RPGs in general then this particular series offers an undeniably unique spin. To be specific, Helm Greycastle uses aspects of Meso-American culture to build a Latinx fantasy that readers can become immersed in.
Helm Graycastle's co-creator, Henry Barajas, is at the (ahem) helm. And while the inspiration for this series is very much part of his cultural identity, he's definitely a well-rounded nerd. And he's here to prove it! Below, Henry gives us his five favorite fantasy stories that sparked his enjoyment of the genre in the first place. Keep reading...
STAR WARS:
KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC
"Star Wars Knights of The Old Republic. Admittedly, I was not a fan of Star Wars Episode I. What kept me engaged with the franchise was Knights of the Old Republic. This RPG showed me so much more potential and it didn't involve the Skywalkers. Final Fantasy was too difficult for me, so this was much easier and fun to play."
THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY
"My parents took us to watch The Fellowship of The Rings and we were all hooked. We cried when Boromir was riddled with arrows, felt the weight of the world on Frodo's shoulders, gasped when Aragorn looked at Legolas, and swooned when Arwen did anything. OK, maybe that was all just me. Two Towers is the best. I will throw hands with anyone who disagrees."
THE HOBBIT (1977)
"Growing up we got all our movies at the swapmeet, Blockbuster, or Avon. The 1977 Hobbit animated movie was whimsical, gritty, and enjoyable like the book. This is the only adaptation I will accept."
RAVINE
"The amazing duo that is Ron Marz and Stjepan Sejic working together after their iconic Witchblade run. Ravine doesn't get enough respect. I hope they get a chance to revisit it because Sejic's art is lightyears better than it has ever been."
LABYRINTH
"I think in another life I would've been a puppeteer. I was a huge Jim Henson fan growing up—and I was in love with Jennifer Connelly. Davie Bowie's performance was mesmerizing. My mother was a child of the 80s, so I watched everything she loved growing up."
About Helm Greycastle (JUN210134): New Latinx fantasy by HENRY BARAJAS, author of the critically acclaimed (LA VOZ DE M.A.Y.O.: TATA RAMBO). The last dragon prince has been abducted - kept prisoner by an unknown threat: AZTEC MEXICA! Helm Greycastle and his outsider comrades are here to save the prince - but are recruited by a resistance plotting to overthrow Montezuma. Will Greycastle help save the people of MEXICA or save the dragon prince and flee? BONUS! HELM GREYCASTLE includes role-playing games (5E compatible) written by TRISTAN J. TARWATER (Rolled & Told), GEOFFREY GOLDEN (Wet Hot American Summer: Fantasy Camp), MATT HAWKINS (THINK TANK), and art by JEN VAUGHN (Goosebumps: Download and Die)!
Helm Graycastle (JUN210134) is available now at your local comic shop The collected edition is available to pre-order now using PREVIEWSworld Pullbox.
Keep an eye on PREVIEWSworld.com's Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram for more insight into your favorite comics!
BONUS! HELM GREYCASTLE includes role-playing games (5E compatible) written by TRISTAN J. TARWATER (Rolled & Told), GEOFFREY GOLDEN (Wet Hot American Summer: Fantasy Camp), MATT HAWKINS (THINK TANK), and art by JEN VAUGHN (Goosebumps: Download and Die)!
Collects HELM GREYCASTLE #1-4.
****
Troy-Jeffrey Allen is the producer and co-host of PREVIEWSworld Weekly. His comics work includes BAMN, Fight of the Century, the Harvey Award-nominated District Comics, and the Ringo Awards-nominated Magic Bullet.
