Written and illustrated by Patrick Zircher, Solomon Kane: The Serpent Ring #1 will be released by Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures on March 26th. It's Solomon Kane's first solo series in fifteen years, and we recently caught up with Zircher, who told us all about the new series, his love Solomon Kane and the world of Robert E. Howard, and much more. We also have a preview of the first issue you can check out below!
What was your first exposure to Solomon Kane and the world of Robert E. Howard?
Patrick Zircher: The very first Howard-inspired stories? Mom would grab issues of Kull and bring them home. After reading those, I picked up the Conan the Barbarian comic. Then one day, practically exploding from the school library shelf, I saw the Conan paperbacks with the Frank Frazetta covers. The stories are great fun but also made me feel, when I was young, that, like Conan, I could control my own destiny. With the success of Conan came new releases of Solomon Kane's stories. As soon as I saw "by Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan" and that mysterious black-garbed swordsman on the cover, I was in.
For our readers that may be more casually familiar with Conan and less aware of Solomon Kane, why is this character special to you?
Patrick Zircher: While Conan and Kane are both adventurers, and both find peace away from civilization, they are distinctly different. Kane is from the era of pirates and musketeers, of flintlocks and steel. He has a code of honor and a spirituality that make him more of a wandering knight than a rogue. He's more concerned with making the world a better place than making his own way in the world.
You've written for The Savage Sword of Conan and now you're back with Solomon Kane: The Serpent Ring! What excites you most about the new series?
Patrick Zircher: Foremost, that it's Solomon Kane and I have a chance to expand on the character. I could write a thousand pages of Kane. By focusing on the Serpent Ring, once possessed by Conan's nemesis, the wizard Thoth-Amon, the series shows us the connections Howard alluded to between his characters. And l enjoy living vicariously in Kane's world. The age of the Renaissance and Reformation. I think the reader will too.
As both the writer and artist for this series, can you give us some insight into your creative process?
Patrick Zircher: It begins very much as it would if I were only doing one or the other. I consider several story ideas and move forward on the idea I can't let go of. Focus on it. Write a complete script. When it's finished, I turn it over to the artist side of what I do. Though one does inform the other. I have a good sense of what works on the page, visually, when writing-- and when drawing I can open the script and adjust it without emailing someone else and stating my case for making a change.
Can you give us a tease of what dangers await Solomon Kane over the course of The Serpent Ring?
Patrick Zircher: Where there's a Serpent Ring, the Serpent Men aren't far behind. But Kane's biggest threat on this adventure may come from those closest to him.
What movies, books, or comics would you recommend to our readers to get them excited for the latest adventure of Solomon Kane?
Patrick Zircher: With movies, there's an engaging Solomon Kane feature starring James Purefoy. While no preparatory reading is required to enjoy our new Solomon Kane series, those who want to dig deep can find many tales; the Del Rey collection has all of the original Solomon Kane stories between its covers. For those looking for specific mentions of the Serpent Ring or the Serpent Men, there's Howard's The Shadow Kingdom and Delcarde's Cat (both Kull), Worms of the Earth (a Bran Mak Morn story), The Haunter of the Ring (featuring Professor Kirowan), The Phoenix on the Sword (Conan). Lovecraft also wrote of the Serpent Men in The Nameless City, Haunter of the Dark, and The Curse of Yig. Comics, likewise offer a host of related stories, beginning with the second issue of Kull the Conqueror. The Serpent Men also make many appearances, through the years, in Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword. You can also introduce yourself to Solomon Kane through the new Savage Sword of Conan trade. Just remember, if you suspect someone is a Serpent Man, to say "Ka Nama Kaa Lajerama!". But have a sword handy when you do.
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The 'Sword of Vengeance' slashes into his own new series, SOLOMON KANE: THE SERPENT RING! Kane battles from the Barbary Coast; across Southern Europe, to the canals of Venice, as a band of rogues forms around him in their quest for the fabled Serpent Ring of Set!
IT'S THE MUCH-ANTICIPATED RETURN OF SOLOMON KANE FROM PATRICK ZIRCHER (SUPERMAN, IRON MAN, SAVAGE AVENGERS, MOON KNIGHT)!
THE FIRST SOLOMON KANE SOLO SERIES IN 15 YEARS!
SPINNING OUT OF THE PAGES OF THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN
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