AVALON - MY INTERVIEW WITH BRANDON STAROCCI

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, 'Avalon' is an ongoing comic book series about a dysfunctional family forced to confront a deadly zombie infection contaminating the environment. It was co-written by Brandon Starocci and Alan Dingfelder, with illustrations provided by Dimitris Nastos. What now follows is my Q and A with the creator and one of the writers of the aforementioned series, Brandon Starocci. Please enjoy.





1) Name three words that best describe who you are.   I'd say, dreamer, ambitious, and sponge.

2) What inspired you to create, 'Avalon'?   Being a zombie fan, I've often asked myself, "How would I survive the zombie apocalypse?". To me, this is a very relevant question as it embodies all the struggles - both mental and physical - some people have to face on a daily basis. I also wanted to create a zombie story that felt authentic and raw.

3) In your own words, how would you describe your story?   'Avalon' is a real and authentic story that has a little bit of something for everybody, whether it be action, adventure, drama, or other things of that nature.

4) What song would you say best represents your comic book series and why?   I'd like to select 'Hurt' by Johnny Cash, as it's a reflective song about regret - two components prominently featured in 'Avalon'. The song also conveys an emotional numbness and chronicles a fight with humanity. In the story, the emotional numbness stems from the characters being forced to deal with a world crumbling around them. Their fight with humanity, on the other hand, derives from some of them being compelled to look inward and question who they are.

5) If you could get a celebrity - either living or dead - to promote your wares, who would you choose, and why would you want to choose this particular person?   Two celebrities come to mind, starting with Quentin Tarantino, one of my favorite directors, known for making such films as 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Inglourious Basterds'. The other is Robert Kirkman, one of my favorite comic book writers, known for creating 'The Walking Dead', whose early journey into the entertainment industry makes for a truly inspirational story.

6) What's the one thing about 'Avalon' that might surprise people?   The obvious answer would be the visuals, because our artist, Dimitris Nastos, brings an original style to the zombie subgenre that's uniquely his own. The story is also relatable as it consists of a cast of identifiable characters who each face everyday obstacles that many readers will be able to recognize.

'Avalon' is an ongoing comic book series co-written by Brandon Starocci and Alan Dingfelder, illustrated by Dimitris Nastos, and available in both digital and physical formats. For further information, please feel free to click here to check out the official website.