Comic Book Resources SDCC Exclusive: Pak Merges Magic With The Old West In "Kingsway West"
By Steve Morris
Writer Greg Pak, artist Mirko Colak and colorist Wil Quintana head out to the Wild West this November for a new, ongoing Dark Horse Comics series. "Kingsway West" tells the story of Chinese gunslinger Kingsway Law who, upon release from prison, tries to track down his missing wife. But this is no ordinary Wild West, and he's faced not only with the grit and racism of the era, but with the threat of magic as well. It's an explosive mix of guns, magic and fantasy, as genres clash and Kingsway deals out justice the only way he can: hard.
As part of the launch later this year, Pak will also be debuting a new system for pre-ordering comics which he hopes becomes a true game-changer for the pre-order system as a whole. CBR News spoke exclusively with the writer to learn more about his plans to change the pre-order system, and to get an even more firm idea of just what kind of a series this will be.
Writer Greg Pak, artist Mirko Colak and colorist Wil Quintana head out to the Wild West this November for a new, ongoing Dark Horse Comics series. "Kingsway West" tells the story of Chinese gunslinger Kingsway Law who, upon release from prison, tries to track down his missing wife. But this is no ordinary Wild West, and he's faced not only with the grit and racism of the era, but with the threat of magic as well. It's an explosive mix of guns, magic and fantasy, as genres clash and Kingsway deals out justice the only way he can: hard.
As part of the launch later this year, Pak will also be debuting a new system for pre-ordering comics which he hopes becomes a true game-changer for the pre-order system as a whole. CBR News spoke exclusively with the writer to learn more about his plans to change the pre-order system, and to get an even more firm idea of just what kind of a series this will be.
CBR News: Who is Kingsway Law?
Greg Pak: Kingsway Law is a Chinese gunslinger fresh out of prison, searching for his wife in an Old West overrun by magic. This is a story I've been dreaming about for literally two decades in one form or another, and artist Mirko Colak and colorist Wil Quintana are breathing such life into the characters and story I can barely contain myself. Please do pre-order the book today at www.KingswayWest.com -- it's gonna be a blast!
There's an idealized version of the West from film, but the reality was a lot dirtier, harder, and with continual social upheaval. What kind of a Wild West does he live in?
I grew up as a half-Korean kid in Texas who spent a ton of time in the woods as a Boy Scout, and I've always loved Westerns. That fantasy of an individual making his or her way through a vast frontier just took hold of me from a very young age -- it's probably also behind my early love of "Dungeons and Dragons" and "Lord of the Rings."
But when it comes to Westerns, I think all the lights really came on when I learned about the diversity of the West -- the Chinese miners and railroad workers, the Buffalo Soldiers, the Native Americans, the vaqueros and Californios. America has always been astoundingly diverse. Much of the actual history of the West is driven by terrible conflicts among those groups, of course. And yet the American Dream I grew up with says we all belong. So the idea of telling diverse stories exploring those kinds of characters and themes in the Old West has been under my skin since childhood.
So the Old West of "Kingsway West" reflects all of the social, economic and racial conflicts and tensions of the actual Old West -- but it's also a world in which magic rather than technology drives much of the upheaval. The whole scenario gives us a chance to think about the actual West in a new way -- and maybe imagine entirely new ways for America to be born.
And, of course, it's about heroes following their hearts as they make their way through a vast and dangerous frontier.
Official Dark Horse Press Release:
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PAK’S FIRST ORIGINAL SERIES FEATURES REVOLUTIONARY PREORDER SYSTEM
This November, award-winning writer Greg Pak makes his Dark Horse debut with Kingsway West, his first creator-driven original series!
After thirteen years in prison, a Chinese gunslinger named Kingsway Law just wants to find his wife. But in a fantastical American Old West crackling with magic, monsters, and racist vigilantes, trouble just won’t leave him be. And in this case, trouble is a woman with a magic sword who needs his help.
“The Old West of Kingsway West reflects all of the social, economic and racial conflicts and tensions of the actual Old West—but it's also a world in which magic rather than technology drives much of the upheaval,” Pak told Comic Book Resources. “The whole scenario gives us a chance to think about the actual West in a new way—and maybe imagine entirely new ways for America to be born. And, of course, it's about heroes following their hearts as they make their way through a vast and dangerous frontier.”
A four-issue miniseries, Kingsway West features the illustrations of Mirko Colak (Red Skull: Incarnate, Turok) and a revolutionary preorder system built from the ground up by Pak. Readers can easily preorder the entire series by heading to KingswayWest.com or contact their local comic shop directly.
Interested retailers can also find out how to participate on the official Kingsway West website.
For more information on Kingsway West, check out the announcement at Comic Book Resources!
Kingsway West #1
Greg Pak (W), Mirko Colak (A/Cover), Wil Quintana (C), Simon Bowland (Letters)
$3.99
On sale Nov. 11, FOC Oct. 19
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