Raven Gregory on The Waking

[Stephanie]

Raven Gregory is no stranger to fairy tales, myths, and the realm of horror. His work at Zenescope Entertainment has allowed him to transform classic tales such as Alice in Wonderland and Grimm's Fairy Tales and redefine countless fable characters in between. Now the writer/creator is putting his zombie survival instincts to the test with a comic series called The Waking. Recently he sat down with us at Impulse Creations to discuss the book and what makes it different from the standard zombie fare.

Impulse Creations: Thanks so much for taking the time to chat, Raven, and for giving us an advanced look at February's The Waking. I can now vouch for its quality—it's absolutely chilling. But since you're the writer, why don't you explain a little bit about the story for our readers? Vic Drujiniu is on board with you as artist. What's the comic about, and how long will it run?

Raven Gregory: The story follows four detectives, in New York City, investigating two random murders as they begin to discover clues that the victims of these heinous crimes may actually be returning to avenge their own deaths. Now, in a race against time they must discover those responsible for the murders and uncover the supernatural source behind the “wakings.” The series is four issues long and both issue one and two will be in stores in February 2010.

The Waking #4 - cover art by Benitez

Impulse: One of the things that really sticks out, especially with the first issue, is the narrator. He basically talks to the reader and cautions him/her to pay close attention. Most narration simply describes the scene and what the main characters are thinking. Why take this approach?

Gregory: A lot of it is because whether we see it or not, the story really is told from the perspective of the narrator who is also Vanessa's partner. He is our everyday man, and while there are many characters in the series, it is really his story. Another big reason is that the issue is laced with clues that will play into the the "who done it" aspect of the story that becomes more and more apparent as the series progresses.

Impulse: The Waking is a zombie tale, I think it's safe to say. They've been done so many times before, but you handle the subject in much different, visceral way. Did the wealth of zombie fiction out there intimidate you at all when you sat down to pen the comic?

Gregory: I think if I had written the series now it might have, but since I wrote it six years back I was able to look at the mythos with a clear and easy eye and not allow myself to be influenced by the current trend that seems to be running rampant.

Impulse: What gave you the idea for the story, and why tell it through the everyday perspective of detectives?

Gregory: It was a mix between my love for the old zombie stories told years ago, the ones you found in EC comics, Frankenstein, and The Monkey's Paw, where the zombies weren't mindless flesh-craving beasts, but more so restless beings brought back from the dead with a purpose ... either revenge on those who wronged them or brought back by someone with the power to use them as an end to their own means. The news also played a part in the germination of the idea. Every once in a while the media fixates on some horrible piece of news that really makes you doubt humanity in general. The "how could someone do something like that" news. I wanted to take that and find a way to deal with it in my own head as well as play out how something like that could affect a person, a group of people, and eventually the society as whole.

Impulse: One of my favorite lines comes from the first issue, when Vanessa admits that she loves the rain because it's the only time the city really smells clean. It's easy to push to the back of your mind until things come full circle later on, when we learn what the walking dead are after.

Gregory: I like that line, too. Especially considering what awaits her as the story progresses. It's a very revealing moment for the character.

Impulse: The protagonist has certain, well ... complaints about his wife at the beginning. But by the end, he has his own family. Considering the nature of his alleged problem, why did you choose to include that turn of events?

Gregory: Part of it was having worked with people in the past and seeing how what's normal for your life isn't necessarily the norm for other people and vice versa. I thought it made for a neat little characteristic for that character. It also helped to show a level of growth in the character in that he's at one place at the beginning of the story and by the end you see that the character has grown and changed. Which is something we all do, so it felt right that the characters should, also.

Impulse: There's a lot regarding life and death in the comic, and in a way it's almost a story of mourning. Is there one thing in particular you want readers to take away from The Waking, or is it more of an open book? There definitely seems to be a lot going on, either way.

Gregory: I can't really say. Like you said, there's a lot to be taken in, a lot of ways to interpret the story. Maybe in a few years I can step back and answer that, but for now I just hope people enjoy the story and the characters.

Impulse: The ending, with the empty streets, almost makes the comic feel like a fable. Is that all the Zenescope comics like Wonderland rubbing off on you? Fairy tales offer potentially endless allure—otherwise they wouldn't be so imaginative even today. What makes these kinds of stories appealing to you?

Gregory: It does have a fairy tale vibe to it, but again, I wrote it many years ago. But there is something safe about the atmosphere the fairy tale story format offers to writers that is quite appealing.

Impulse: Is there anything else you'd like to say or let readers know about The Waking?

Gregory: I hope you all get a chance to check out the series and for those who do, thank you for reading.

The Waking #1 - cover art by Finch

Look for The Waking available in the Impulse Creations shop this upcoming February 2010. Watch the trailer here!