LIKE A BAT OUT OF HELL!
11 days ago
– Tue, Mar 17, 2026 at 09:20:44 AM
Hey gang!
We’re bringing you a brand new update about the latest chilling volume in our ongoing series about the infamous vampire lord, DRACULA: BOOK III—THE COUNT!
The book is headed out to the printers and…WOW…it looks incredible! We know from your enthusiastic feedback and support that you all loved our first two forays into the bloodthirsty Count’s shadowy history. But, as fantastic as the visuals were for BOOK I—THE IMPALER and BOOK II—THE BRIDES, artist Kelley Jones has absolutely outdone himself this time around. I even said as much to him more than once during the production of this latest volume—“Dude…what are you ON for this one?!” There’s a level of focus and intimacy with this story arc that exceeds even his most fantastic efforts in the previous books. I’ll say it again…our DRACULA series will ultimately be known as Kelley’s Magnum Opus.
As we’ve mentioned previously, in many ways this volume was the one we’d been aiming for from the very beginning…the narrative that takes place at the same time as Bram Stoker’s classic novel. As most of you know, once the novel’s action shifts to the fog-enshrouded streets of Victorian London, the infamous title character is basically off-stage for the remainder of the tale. For the first time ever, we’re unveiling what Dracula was up to during those dreadful days, how he learns to navigate the customs and byways of the world’s largest city at the time…and how this master tactician plans to eventually dominate the entire British Empire.
And here’s an exclusive peek at some of Dracula’s most sinister moments from BOOK III—THE COUNT…colored, as always, by the phenomenal talents of José Villarrubia and featuring the equally evocative lettering of Rob Leigh.
As always, Kelley and I want to express our deepest honor and appreciation to you, our backers, whose ardent and unwavering patronage have made this a true dream project for the both of us.
For those who wonder what comes next, how can we possibly extend Dracula’s story beyond the novel’s fateful conclusion…rest assured that there is more to come! Several months ago, I gave Kelley the finished script for our next volume and now he’s hard at work on DRACULA: BOOK IV! And Kelley and I both agree…this one’s the most evil one yet.
As per usual, we’d like to end this update with an endorsement for another Kickstarter campaign.
Our dear friend and campaign manager, James Aquilone of Monstrous Books has a new project that we hope you’ll consider backing as well—a graphic novel of stories befitting of the classic pulp title, WEIRD TALES!
And, in fact, one of this gorgeous book’s editions bears a spectacularly pulpy cover by Dracula’s favorite artist…KELLEY JONES!
This project is in its final hours so, if you love classic weird fiction in all its finest bizarreness, please lend your support and secure your copy ASAP!
Until the wolves howl and the dead rise again…stay spooky, oh Children of the Night!
MATT WAGNER~
NEW YEAR'S greetings!
3 months ago
– Thu, Jan 08, 2026 at 07:34:15 PM
Hey gang…we’re just coming at you with a brief update to wish each and every one of our gracious backers a healthy and HAPPY NEW YEAR from all of us here at Orlok Press!
The holiday season is always a bit frantic and emotionally draining so we’re definitely ready to reset and proceed into 2026, full steam ahead! On our end of the holiday scene, Orlok gifted a special ornament to all the incredible people on our team that help make this series of books not only possible, but also looking so damn good! Hopefully, a little batty cheer helped liven up a few trees of the Dracula crew!
We’re also greeting the new year with a special honor; Brad and Lisa Gullickson from the Comic Book Couples Counseling podcast have chosen DRACULA: BOOK II—THE BRIDES as the Best Adaptation for their Best Of 2025 list of comics! Here’s the link where you can listen to their entire run-down…or you can skip ahead to around the 37:30 mark if you just wanna hear what they have to say about THE BRIDES.
As 2026 kicks off, production continues apace on DRACULA: BOOK III—THE COUNT and, ohhhhh MAN…does it look amazing! It seems impossible but the phenomenal Kelley Jones just seems to get better and better with every volume of this spine-tingling epic! Again, this next book was our most intricately researched tale so far and Kelley’s portrayal of the creepy, fog-enshrouded streets of Victorian London is so immersive, you’ll feel like you’re actually there—always glancing nervously over your shoulder for whatever horror might emerge from the darkness.
Lastly…in the middle of December, I delivered the finished script for BOOK IV to Kelley, who claims he loved it even more than the previous three—and that’s saying something! We both feel that this volumes is the most evil chapter of them all and, as with every book in our DRACULA saga, we can’t wait for you all to read the final product!
We’re still absolutely on schedule to have BOOK III in your eager hands at the end of the summer/beginning of fall…and, as per usual, to launch the next KS campaign for BOOK IV starting in October, 2026 and wrapping up for Halloween.
As always, Kelley and I can’t thank all of you enough for making our epic series of DRACULA graphic novels such a smash critical and financial success. We always write and draw the sort of comics that we want to enjoy ourselves…but it’s so intensely gratifying to receive such avid and gracious support from our readers.
“The blood is the life!”
MATT WAGNER~
Happy Holidays!
3 months ago
– Wed, Dec 24, 2025 at 06:52:28 AM
SIGNATURE art!
4 months ago
– Sun, Nov 23, 2025 at 07:21:13 PM
Hey gang…it’s time for another update, hot the heels of our last post.
This time, we’re thrilled to bring you the unveiling of Kelley’s incredible art for the signature page of the limited, signed and numbered edition of DRACULA: BOOK III—THE COUNT!
As per usual, our resident Maestro of the Macabre delivers an evocative slice of sinisterness that will look fantastic in the limited edition. Congrats and many thanks to those of you who backed this edition!
And, also as per usual, we want to give a shout out to another Kickstarted campaign that we hope you'll find worthy of your support.
This project holds a special place in my heart since the creator is one of my son Brennan’s dearest friends and I’ve known Morgan Hickman since he was in kindergarten.
The campaign will fund publication of the colored and collected edition of a book he’s been producing as a mini-comic for the past ten years. It’s a sprawling fantasy epic and there’s already enough material ready to follow up with a second edition as well!
For my money (yes…I’m a backer!), Morgan and THE NEW AGE exemplify indy comics in the best ways possible. Morgan’s the sort of creator you can actually see improving his drawing and writing skills with every page he produces…much like I myself evolved through the chapters of MAGE: THE HERO DISCOVERED. He’s telling a tale that’s very special to him, one that obviously fills a burning narrative need deep in his soul. He’s not getting rich weaving this epic (yet…hopefully that’ll change), but it’s something he takes great pride and delight in presenting to his readers, born from his sheer love of comics.. We need these kinds of creators!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/545183135/the-new-age-0?ref=discovery_category&term=new age&total_hits=24&category_id=252
If you’ve ever had a desire to support independent comics creators…hell, if you took a chance on MY early work at some point…I hope you’ll consider backing THE NEW AGE. This is kind of comics and creators that deserve our support and that help make the art form stronger and more thriving.
Thanks, everyone! Until the bats return to the castle…stay spooky!
MATT WAGNER~
Revisiting INVITATION ONLY
4 months ago
– Tue, Nov 18, 2025 at 07:31:00 PM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
