“The Story of a Devil, Straight from the Devil’s Own Mouth” — Q&A: Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones Discuss Their New Graphic Novel DRACULA: BOOK III—THE COUNT, Now on Kickstarter!

Throughout the perilous pages of Dracula—Book I: The Impaler and Dracula—Book II: The Brides, Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones have fleshed out Bram Stoker's classic novel like never before, showing readers what happened off the page that makes for a creepily compelling and heart-pumping story all its own. Now, Matt and Kelley invite readers to join them on a bloodthirsty journey through the fog-shrouded cobblestone streets of Victorian-era to witness "the story of a devil, straight from the devil's own mouth" in Dracula: Book III—The Count.

Telling the events of Bram Stoker's Dracula from the killer point of view of the titular character himself, Dracula: Book III—The Count is now on Kickstarter, and Daily Dead had the great pleasure of catching up with Matt and Kelley in a new Q&A feature to discuss their latest collaboration set within the world of Stoker's iconic novel, including their unique approach to Dracula, the extensive research of both Stoker's book and its historical setting, the ghoulish (and collectible) goodies that await supporters of the Kickstarter campaign, and they also share plans for a much-anticipated Book IV in their gorgeous and gruesome graphic novel series!

You can check out our full Q&A and chilling cover art below, and to learn more about Dracula: Book III—The Count, be sure to visit:

• https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/draculatheimpaler/dracula-book-3?ref=46mzv2

Matt and Kelley, thank you for taking the time to answer questions for us, and congratulations on Dracula: Book III—The Count, which continues your unique take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, sinking exploratory fangs into fleshed-out storylines that were left lurking in the shadows of the original classic novel. Following the events of The Impaler and The Brides, how important was it for you both to shine a spotlight on the mysterious Count Dracula and tell this third book from his point of view?

Matt Wagner: In many ways, this volume is the big one… the one we’ve been working towards from the very beginning. While our first two books dealt with Dracula’s origins and his development over the more than four hundred years since his undeath, Book III—The Count brings us into familiar territory since it takes place in conjunction with the events of the original novel. Any fan of Bran Stoker’s classic novel can agree that one of the book’s most frustrating aspects is the fact that once the action shifts from Transylvania to Victorian London, the charismatic title character is offstage for most of the rest of the narrative. And quite obviously… he’s doing something while he’s there; he came to England for specific reasons, reasons beyond his craving for a fresh bloodstream of victims.

So now Kelley and I are going to reveal to readers what he was up to during that time period. And, I want to say it again… this is not an adaptation of the novel per se. We’re showing you what the novel doesn’t show, based on the various clues and details that are there in the original text. During the time that the novel is set in London, Dracula is treated as more of a spectral presence rather than a tangible villain. And the novel is structured in an epistolary style, meaning it has no third-person narrator; it’s told entirely in the form of letters, journals and the like. This really works to lend a sense of immediacy, reality and intimacy to the story… but we felt that after so many years and so many other adaptations and variations of this tale, that it was important to hear Dracula’s side of his own story. Imagine if you got to hear Hannibal Lecter narrate his own history, complete with all his perversions, peculiarities and inevitable prevarications. That’s what we’ve been attempting to portray from the beginning of our series… the story of a devil, straight from the devil’s own mouth. But in addition to making sure all of our depictions fit seamlessly in the existing canon of the novel, we also had to present a tale that was engaging and entertaining enough for all those who have never read the original novel. And I feel like we’ve really hit the target on both those counts.

Kelley Jones: I feel I got to know Vlad since the very first few pages of Book I: The Impaler. His point of view has always been my way of portraying him. Every shot Dracula is in, he’s the focus or his reaction is. His story is the thing I'm concerned about.

Your version of Dracula is a real monster in every sense of the word—a creature driven by his own selfish desires for ego, power, and of course, blood. Was it difficult to get into the head of such a ruthless character for this latest book?

Matt Wagner: Well, I created Grendel and have been writing stories of unrepentant villains for over forty years so, in some ways, I’m swimming in familiar waters here.  But it was tremendous fun to play with an established character like this… especially a character that most people feel they already know. But I’d venture to guess that most of that familiarity that many readers feel about Dracula in fact comes from the many various screen and comics adaptations.  As you said… our version of Dracula is a monster and that’s consistent with Stoker’s canon; there’s absolutely nothing romantic about him in the original novel. He harbors no tender feelings for either Lucy Westenra or Mina Murray Harker, as he does in so many of the films, and he definitely doesn’t imagine one of them is the reincarnation of his long-lost true love. Jesus, that trope’s been done so many times at this point that people just assume it’s true to the character. But, again… there’s absolutely no mention of this in the book. He preys on Lucy because she’s convenient; she’s pretty much the first person he encounters after the wreck of the Demeter off the coast of Whitby in northeastern England. And he only attacks Mina out of the need to weaponize her against his opponents.

Dracula is a lustful creature, true… he lusts for power and he craves the drinking of blood. But it’s all megalomaniacal… he cares only for himself and his own wants and needs.   He feels he deserves to have what he craves, both the power over others and the right to consume them as he sees fit. As he says in our Book I—The Impaler… “I am such hunger, incarnate!” But he’s also smart and tactical and adventurous; this is quite the undertaking he’s embarked upon, emigrating to and trying to fit into a civilization that couldn’t be more opposite from the rugged rural existence he’s known for over four hundred years in the Carpathian highlands. All of which adds up to this sort of character being an absolute blast to write!

Kelley Jones: Dracula not once in all the horrors he causes thinks he is a villain or evil. Dracula believes his goals are justified. And the fact that you never know what he will do… that's frightening.

How much fun was it for you both to bring late 19th century London to life as the titular bloodsucker roams the cobblestone streets in Dracula: Book III—The Count?

Matt Wagner: I did quite a bit of research for this volume and we really tried to include a number of sights and scenes that would help establish life in Victorian-era London. And Kelley is absolutely knocking it all the way outta Hyde Park when it comes to the visual depiction of this world! As I mentioned, this world is all strange and new to Dracula and so we get to explore the city of this time period along with him. In addition to all the strange new sights and customs, there’s all sorts of practical matters we had to consider. Like… how does he get around? Most people have heard of Carfax, the dilapidated estate he acquires as his base of operations (which, contrary to popular belief, isn’t an abbey); Carfax is located in a suburb called Purfleet, some eighteen miles to the east of central London. So, how does Dracula travel to and from his lair to the hub of activity in the city? Another practical conundrum… most everyone knows about the trope of a vampire having to be invited in order to enter any dwelling. London is home to literally millions of thresholds through which Dracula must be invited. How does he deal with such a restriction in a modern metropolis? There’s a lot of reality that must be confronted in order for him to pursue his schemes… and, like I said, Kelley brings all the fog and cobblestones to glorious life like you’ve never seen before!

Kelley Jones: Having Dracula so firmly established in the prior volumes to the times he was born in created a great atmosphere in which to play. Now in a Victorian-era London, it gave me more range of emotions to show and made him actually more terrifying than in the first two volumes. I didn't plan that, it just came out as I drew it.

Do you each have a favorite moment in particular that you can’t wait for readers to experience when they first open the cover of The Count?

Matt Wagner: Jesus, there are almost too many to count!  But there is a historical thread running through the narrative that I feel particularly proud of… how it weaves into the story and how it then orbits around the edges of the action. There’s quite a bit of debate amongst scholars as to the year that the actual events of the novel took place. The novel was published in 1897 and it claims that seven years have elapsed since the heroes encountered and apparently defeated Dracula. That would place the events as having occurred in 1890… but there’s no indication as to when those journal entries featured in the narrative were written in relation to the publication date. I ended up choosing the year 1888, which aligns with Dracula scholar Leslie S. Klinger’s opinion. That year ties into the events I was referring to earlier. But again… there’s really a lot of stuff here that we both can’t wait for readers to see. In my opinion, Kelley’s doing the best work of his entire career and… holy shit!… that’s saying something!

Kelley Jones: I always think when reading Matt's scripts that certain scenes will be amazing, but what happens is that so many more then pop up… like it just happens as I'm drawing it and they can be small little moments or wonderfully grand awfulness, all arising from what I first imagined to be just a natural scene. I love it when it happens.

Following the smashing successes of the Kickstarter campaigns for your first two graphic novels in this series, The Count will fittingly launch on Kickstarter from October 1st–30th. What types of ghoulish goodies can supporters look forward to this time around?

Matt Wagner: Well, in addition to our standard three editions of Book III itself—first, with Kelley’s cover art, second with my variant cover art and third, a limited signed and numbered edition—we’ve also got something particularly special lined up for this campaign. Many of you might not know that Kelley doesn’t really sell his original art very often… and so art collectors are always hungry and eager for any piece of Kelley’s art that comes on the market. During the campaign for Book I—The Impaler, we offered 20 original B&W sketches by Kelley, all of which quickly sold out. For this campaign, we’re offering an even more exclusive tier that will feature ten pieces of original art by Kelley… in direct collaboration with me!

Kelley is drawing ten 8x10” original portraits of The Count that I am then painting in color. These are an incredibly cool and unique extension of our collaboration on this project and the results are spectacular (if I do say so myself)! Again… there will only be ten of these pieces rendered and made available for purchase from the campaign so, if you’re at all interested in obtaining one of these, make sure you get onboard as soon as the campaign goes live because they certainly won’t last long. Needless to say, these will be offered as a fairly pricey tier, but for those who can’t afford such original art, they can still enjoy the results as we’re also producing a color portfolio for sale featuring beautiful reproductions of all ten pieces. The folio will come in a decorative envelope and feature a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity. So, depending on your budget, all backers will have the opportunity to enjoy these handsome pieces of art. Additionally, buyers can still purchase any of the previous volumes as well as the various extras—prints, t-shirt merch, portfolios—that were offered in the first two campaigns.

Kelley Jones: I am very very happy to say Matt and I will collaborate on some art pieces featuring Dracula. I really am excited for that. Long overdue.

Looking back at your journey of creating these three graphic novels that dive deeper into the mythology and bleeding heart of Dracula, what are you each the proudest of from your detailed work on this trilogy?

Matt Wagner: I feel like we’re absolutely hitting the notes and striking the chords we want to realize, all of which were generated in our very first discussion about this project. We’ve spoken about this previously, but Kelley and I have known each other for decades and had also wanted to collaborate with each other on some really significant endeavor. And now, several years into the project, I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved or happier about our experiences working together. You see these perfect syntheses arise in comics from time-to-time… we all know the various writer/artist partnerships I’m talking about… and I really feel like we’re soaring at that level here. Kel claims every script I’ve given him is the best thing he’s ever gotten from a writer… and I can attest that every scene I write that I fully expect him to absolutely slay artistically, turns out even better than I dared hope. We’re a perfect team with a perfect project and, goddamn… what more could we ask for, right?

Kelley Jones: When you get to work with someone of Matt's standing, you don't want to screw things up. I simply trust his perspective. I respect the hell out of how much research, sweat and blood he poured into this story. So when that collaboration turns out even better than expected and you know you are making something special…nothing is so satisfying.

Do you have plans to tell any more stories in the world of Bram Stoker’s Dracula or any other classic horror stories?

Matt Wagner: Well, this is Book III… and it coincides with the events as depicted in the original novel. Now, in the novel, Professor Van Helsing spends some time talking about vampires… about their powers and limitations and about how to destroy them. And then, the end of the novel rolls around… and the heroes don’t really kill Dracula in the ways that Van Helsing had outlined. And they do so just as the sun is setting… which is when his vampiric powers are fully engaged. And… he disappears into dust… which is, in fact, one of his vampiric powers. So there will definitely be a Book IV… but the title and any more specifics about the story will have to wait until our next campaign.

Kelley Jones: I'm like everyone else, sitting by the campfire listening to Matt spin his tale. I'm just lucky I get to hear it first!

In addition to Dracula: Book III—The Count, do you have any other projects coming up that you can tease for our readers?

Matt Wagner: We had originally outlined four graphic novels for this series. But we’ve got a cool and classic follow-up that I think will both surprise and delight our readers. Beyond that… we’ll just have to wait to see what the nighttime brings about. Suffice it say… you’ll be seeing more projects from Orlok Press for some time to come.

Kelley Jones: Orlok Press will make more terrors. Orlok demands it!

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Press Release: (October 1, 2025) Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 novel of gothic horror created the most famous literary character of all time: the terrifying vampire lord, DRACULA. And now acclaimed comic-book creators Matt Wagner (Grendel, Mage) and Kelley Jones (Batman: Red Rain, The Sandman) are reuniting to produce an all-new chapter in their epic series of DRACULA graphic novels. DRACULA: BOOK III—THE COUNT takes place in the shadows of the original novel and tells the familiar and horrifying tale from Dracula’s own point of view. Fans can now follow the pre-launch page for the Kickstarter page to get an email when the project launches in just a few short weeks.

“Anyone who’s familiar with Stoker’s original novel knows that once the action shifts to England, the title character is basically all-but unseen for the remainder of the narrative,” says writer Wagner. “A sinister, charismatic and scheming vampire lord set loose on the streets of London… and it’s so frustrating because we never get to see him! Well, he’s definitely up to something most foul… and now Kelley and I are finally unveiling what he was doing during that terrifying period. We’ll see him exploring and planning to exploit his new home, this grand and modern British Empire, a vast realm on which, it was said, the sun never set.”

“From our very first discussions of this project, this was the part I thought would be the trickiest to pull off,” says artist Jones. “But it was also the part I was looking forward to the most! What Matt does so beautifully is to combine literary and historical accuracy with an utterly compelling story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Every time I read one of his scripts, I find myself so fully engaged in how the story unfolds… I almost forget that I’m the one who gets to draw this incredible tale!”

“One of the distinctive aspects of Stoker’s original novel is that it’s epistolary… told exclusively in the form of journal entries, letters of correspondence and news articles,” added Wagner. “The only voice missing from these various narrations is the most crucial one of all… Dracula himself! So our version of these events is narrated by Dracula himself… from inside the mind of an unrepentant monster. As Kelley said, this volume was the most challenging in regards to accuracy as the events of the original novel are well-recorded, analyzed and annotated. And Kelley has absolutely brought his A+ game to this narrative. If you thought his work of BOOKS I & II was spectacular, wait’ll you see how he brings Dracula to life (er…undeath) on the foggy streets of Victorian London! I’ll say it again… this is the story that Kelley Jones was born to draw! And I’m the lucky bastard who got to write it!”

The first two volumes of Wagner and Jones’s DRACULA saga were smash hits—Book 1 broke the Top 20 in Kickstarter’s all-time most successful graphic novel campaigns—and this newest chapter promises the same level of high quality. DRACULA: BOOK III—THE COUNT again presents 120 pages of sinister story and art in a beautiful, European-album sized hardcover edition. Wagner and Jones are once again joined for this macabre foray into the shadows of Dracula’s schemes by the stellar talents of José Villarrubia on colors and lettering by Rob Leigh.

Here’s what people are saying about Wagner and Jones’s DRACULA:

"Wagner, Jones, and Villarubia have done the impossible. They’ve found a way to take one of the most well-known and beloved horror icons and breathe glorious, terrifying new (undead) life into him and his whole mythology. This isn’t just the story of Dracula — this is the story of Vlad the Impaler and the shocking, twisted and gripping tale of how he becomes the vampire we all know and love and fear. This is the epic of Dracula told in all its glory, by two legends and masters, with incredible writing and art both. As someone who has read a lot of Dracula takes, believe me when l tell you that this stands up with some of the very best ever. A new favorite of mine. Prepare yourself for Vlad the f**king Impaler!"

— Scott Snyder (Absolute Batman, The Batman Who Laughs)

“It’s a perfect fit—Dracula is a preeminent character in the horror hall of fame and Kelley Jones is a preeminent artist in the comic book hall of fame. I have been a fan of Kelley’s and Dracula’s for years, and this third book is the apex of the Count’s legend, primarily told from Dracula’s point of view. The writing by Matt Wagner has been astonishing. This book is a horror lover’s delight. Enjoy!” — John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing, The Fog)

“You may think you know Dracula, but Wagner and Jones show us a whole new perspective on those fateful weeks in London and Transylvania! Brilliantly done—not to be missed!”

—Leslie S. Klinger, editor, New Annotated Dracula

“Wow—in a good way, and I’m a Dracula snob so that’s saying something. This is a wild ride that sails well beyond Whitby and the Borgo Pass—and I believe this may well be the book Kelley Jones was born to draw. Here is all the mood and horror I would expect from him, but also a level of crazy (good crazy) that I’ve never seen from him before. And a huge nod of the bloody severed head to Matt Wagner, because somebody has to come up with all that crazy in the first place. And a big thank you to both of these guys for showing impalement (in all its anatomical glory) done correctly.”

—Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy

“It is no easy thing to update the most famous horror story in history while staying totally true to the source material, but Wagner & Jones’ DRACULA does it in glorious, horrific, Lovecraftian style. The book evokes the classic elements and themes of Bram Stoker’s original while bringing an entirely new layer of eldritch terror to its most mysterious character, Vlad Dracula himself. I absolutely feasted upon the art and story alike.”

—Ryan Condal (co-creator/showrunner, THE HOUSE OF THE DRAGON)

“A horror icon gets a new origin story from two legendary comic creators.”—IGN

“With stunning otherworldly visuals, two vastly experienced creators, and an iconic character, Dracula is a must-have for any comic collector or horror enthusiast!”—COMICS BEAT

“A unique take on Stoker's legendary character… Writer Matt Wagner and artist Kelley Jones flesh out the iconic bloodsucker's story like never before.”—DAILY DEAD

“Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones doing Dracula? Take my money.”—NEWSARAMA

“It's the creator of Grendel exploring the formative corruptions of Vlad Dracula? Sign me up! … Jones' bone-chilling artwork the story, which looks like it could have yanked right out of that legendary 90s Vertigo Comics oeuvre. Warning: there will be blood!”—BOING BOING

“It’s Dracula like we’ve never seen him before and more familiar than ever — a character study of a creature who has terrified and tantalized audiences for decades.”—AIPT

“Wagner and Jones approach their version of Dracula with a classic sense of dark fantasy, not unlike the kind found in the pages of older horror magazines like Creepy and Eerie. It’s apt, and it creates a richly textured stage for Dracula to play in as he seeks Satan’s tutelage in the dark arts.”—COMICS BEAT

DRACULA—BOOK III: THE COUNT will be funded via Kickstarter. For updates, follow Matt Wagner on Facebook and X and Kelley Jones on Instagram and X.

Kelley Jones Cover:

Matt Wagner Cover: