Rodney Barnes, celebrated screenwriter, and Eisner Award-nominated author has just released his anticipated graphic novel “Blacula: Return of The King”, today as the first release through his new production company and publishing imprint, Zombie Love Studios. The graphic novel, illustrated by famed artist and “Killadelphia” collaborator Jason Shawn Alexander, was inspired by the cult-classic MGM film “Blacula” which was released in 1972 as one of the top blaxploitation films in history. Rodney has brought the Blacula character to the present-day, with a new storyline and modernized rendition.

Set in Los Angeles, two souls, one looking for vengeance and the other seeking the truth, share one thing in common; they are both searching for the legendary vampire Blacula. Tina Thomas is a reporter for the blog Dark Knights, which chronicles all things unnatural, uneasy, and undead. She meets a young man named Kross, who asked her to help him kill Blacula, after his family was forever changed by the vampire.

Alexander’s attention to detail and undeniable artistry depicts each scene of the graphic novel in a mesmerizing way, capturing readers into the alluring story through his imagery. Rodney’s rendition is both chilling and fascinating, and not only pays homage to the Blacula we know and love, but breathes new life into his character. The graphic novel, which is both available on Amazon or through your favorite bookstore or comic book shop, is the first of the Blacula series set to release this year for avid readers and fans of the genre.

Rodney has maintained his illustrious career in Hollywood for decades as a sought-after screenwriter for top television shows including his work with Fox’s “Everybody Hates Chris”, Adult Swim’s “The Boondocks”, Hulu’s “Wu Tang: An American Saga” and currently Executive Producer for HBO’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”. His emphatic voice has set him apart as one of the great writers of our time, whether on screen or on the page. Rodney is also the co-creator of the Eisner nominated series, “Killadelphia,” with four collections published and currently scoring perfect reviews in its fifth story arc.

“I’m excited for the world to finally see this labor of love. Jason Shawn Alexander and I, along with team Zombie Love Studios have poured our hearts into resurrecting Prince Mamuwalde aka “Blacula” for a new generation. I hope they enjoy it as much as we did putting it together“, Barnes stated.

With first looks with genre media and through Rodney’s own social media feeds, this graphic novel is already primed to be one of the year’s most talked about releases. Rodney will appear at The Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles on Saturday February 11 at 2PM, for exclusive insight into the ideation of the graphic novel, as well as the writer’s personal history with the character, and what he has planned next for Blacula.

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