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Interview: Frank Frazetta's 'Dawn Attack' Comics Goes Planetary

Interview by Nicki Faust

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Beyond fantasy worlds, master artist Frank Frazetta also explored the far reaches of science fiction, and now his epic painting "Dawn Attack" springs to life courtesy of Opus Publishing!

Writer Jody Houser (Stranger Things vs. Dungeons & Dragons) with Eric Campbell (Geek & Sundry) and artist  Diego Yapur (X-O Manowar) expands The "FrazettaVerse" into the far reaches of space with this story of planetary exploration. PREVIEWSworld caught up with the Dawn Attack writing team for a few questions...

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PREVIEWSworld:  Do you have a memory of seeing Frank Frazetta’s art for the first time?

Jody Houser:  I can't say I'm 100% sure, but I think it was in the library at a school friend’s house. Her dad was a science fiction writer and just had tons of fantasy and sci-fi, art books, and comic collections on floor-to-ceiling shelves. Years of fantasy art calendars too. It was almost like visiting a museum, getting to see so much cool stuff.

Eric Campbell: I do! I was in my local comic book shop when I was a kid. and I had just seen Conan the Barbarian for the very first time the night before. So I was digging through the stacks looking for Conan comics. And at the counter, they were selling cards of Frazetta's art. I skipped out on buying the comics and bought a bunch of cards instead! I still have them to this day.

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PREVIEWSworld: What aspects of his art will we see reflected in this story?

Jody:  I feel like so many of Frazetta's paintings feel like you're getting a peek of this integral or climactic moment of an epic story you haven't heard yet. So I feel like it's our job to make those moments as important to the story as his art made them feel.

Eric:  There's a darkness to the art, but the darkness doesn't always have a sinister feel. The characters are powerful and feel like legends made real. I want to capture those quiet moments of ferocity and defiance, rage and stillness.

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PREVIEWSworld: Who is the central character of this sci-fi entry into the FrazettaVerse?

Jody:  Our protagonist is Dawn, taking the name from the painting Dawn Attack. She's a warrior and a reluctant leader of a people who were driven out of their kingdom when she was a child. Her father disappeared to another world years ago as part of a quest to restore their people to their former home. So now, she's their only hope, which is a position she never really wanted.

Eric:  Woe to those who stand in her way.

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PREVIEWSworld: What sets this apart from other sci-fi epics?

Jody:  This is definitely a sci-fi story with a strong fantasy bent. Why just have a laser pistol when you can have a laser pistol AND a sword?

Eric:  Yeah! When I first saw Frank's art, I was a child of Star Wars and Star Trek. Science fiction had a look and tone that all seemed to agree with the same conceits. But when Frazetta did sci-fi, it always kept that epic sword and sorcery feel.

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PREVIEWSworld: Can you speak to Diego Yapur’s art for this series?

Jody:  I think the amount of beautiful detail in Diego's art is perfect to help these worlds we're building feel real.

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Frank Frazetta’s Dawn Attack #1 rises November 30th with covers by Santi Casas and Frank Frazetta. Ask your retailer about variant covers by Dan Panosian and Dave Dorman. Available to preorder now with PREVIEWSworld Pullbox!  

Keep an eye on PREVIEWSworld.com's TwitterFacebookYouTube, or Instagram for more artist spotlights!

OPUS COMICS
FRANK FRAZETTAS DAWN ATTACK #1 (OF 5) CVR A CASAS
(W) Jody Houser, Eric Campbell (A) Diego Yapur (CA) Santi Casas
Beyond the fantasy worlds of Death Dealer, Conan, and the rest, master artist Frank Frazetta also explored the far reaches of science fiction with Buck Rogers and John Carter of Mars. Now, Frazetta's epic painting Dawn Attack springs to life in collaboration with Frazetta Girls! New York Times-bestselling writer Jody Houser (Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins) and professional gamemaster and writer Eric Campbell (Geek & Sundry) joins world renowned artist Diego Yapur (Death Dealer, X-O Manowar) to bring you the next expansion of the FrazettaVerse!
In Shops: Dec 14, 2022
SRP: $4.99
PREVIEWS Page #371

OPUS COMICS
FRANK FRAZETTAS DAWN ATTACK #1 (OF 5) CVR B FRAZETTA
(W) Jody Houser, Eric Campbell (A) Diego Yapur (CA) Frank Frazetta
Beyond the fantasy worlds of Death Dealer, Conan and the rest, master artist Frank Frazetta also explored the far reaches of science fiction with Buck Rogers and John Carter of Mars. Now, Frazetta's epic painting DAWN ATTACK springs to life in collaboration with Frazetta Girls!

New York Times Bestselling writer Jody Houser (Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins) and professional gamemaster and writer Eric Campbell (Geek & Sundry) joins world renowned artist Diego Yapur (Death Dealer, X-O Manowar) to bring you the next expansion of the FrazettaVerse!
In Shops: Dec 14, 2022
SRP: $4.99
PREVIEWS Page #371

OPUS COMICS
FRANK FRAZETTAS DAWN ATTACK #2 (OF 5) CVR A CASAS
(W) Jody Houser, Eric Campbell (A/CA) Diego Yapur
Beyond fantasy worlds, master artist Frank Frazetta also explored the far reaches of science fiction, and now his epic painting "Dawn Attack" springs to life! Princess Dawn has carried on leading her displaced people in her father's stead, but now she must take to the stars and find the king, who holds the key to defeating the Cave Demons and restoring their kingdom.
In Shops: Feb 01, 2023
SRP: $4.99
PREVIEWS Page #348

OPUS COMICS
FRANK FRAZETTAS DAWN ATTACK #2 (OF 5) CVR B FRAZETTA
(W) Jody Houser, Eric Campbell (A) Diego Yapur (CA) Frank Frazetta
Beyond fantasy worlds, master artist Frank Frazetta also explored the far reaches of science fiction, and now his epic painting DAWN ATTACK springs to life! Princess Dawn has carried on leading her displaced people in her father's stead, but now she must take to the stars and find the king, who holds the key to defeating the Cave Demons and restoring their kingdom.
In Shops: Feb 01, 2023
SRP: $4.99
PREVIEWS Page #348

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Nicki Faust's heart is as cold as concrete in the Chicago winter. When not writing for PREVIEWSworld, Nicki is busy playing Limbo on Twitch, writing about the great robot uprising on Medium, and completing the untitled follow-up to her 2012 best-seller, Sue Storm: A Nude Photobook.   


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