Art by David Acosta
Novelist and comic book author Saladin Ahmed does not suffer from writer’s block. “I have loads of ideas, snatches of dialogue, plot twists, bits of description, etc., floating about in my head,” he explains. “What I suffer from is worse that writer’s block: twin toddlers!”
Twin toddlers aside, Ahmed has had an award-winning and extensive career as a writer. He has received the Eisner Award, Locus Award, and John W. Campbell just to name a few. Additionally, Ahmed’s repertoire includes work with Marvel and BOOM! Studios.
For his latest project, Ahmed has created a Kickstarter campaign to publish Dragon. This full-length graphic novel has already reached three times its starting goal. Saladin and his partner on the project, illustrator David Acosta, plan to have the book completed by summer of 2021.
Saladin Ahmed wins awards for both novels and comics
Ahmed has had a prolific career as a writer, poet, and comic book author. He has multiple awards under his belt. His Throne of the Crescent Moon won the 2013 Hugo Award for Best Novel and a Locus Award for Best First Novel. Meanwhile Black Bolt won the prestigious 2018 Eisner Award for Best New Series. George R.R. Martin himself described Ahmed’s novel trilogy The Crescent Moon Kingdoms, as “a rollicking swashbuckler.” But in addition to novels and science fiction, Ahmed’s poetry has earned him multiple fellowships.
Ahmed currently works extensively with Marvel on multiple series. This includes Miles Morales: Spider-Man and the Magnificent Ms. Marvel. In 2017, Ahmed also took the helm of the The Black Bolt character, first created by Marvel’s Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965.
Saladin Ahmed draws on experience for his books and comics
Ahmed was born in Detroit. His father was a community organizer and factory worker, and his mother a political activist. He comes from a “mixed” Muslim background, a background he draws on for the upcoming Dragon graphic novel. The novel will take place in the 15th century in the Ottoman Empire.
“[People] think of diversity and cross-cultural connection as something very modern, but in fact, humans have been doing this forever,” he explains. Ahmed pronounced his appreciation of cross-culturalism when he tweeted, “as an American from a Mixed family I love commercial Christmas. But also as a Muslim I love Jesus’s message.”
The writer received his B.A. in American Studies, followed by both an MFA from Brooklyn College and an MA in English from Rutgers University. He first began publishing his poetry as early as 2000, and his short stories in 2009.
Dragon will feature an unlikely partnership, a historical setting, and a real monster
For Ahmed’s new project, Dragon, he has partnered with illustrator David Acosta. The graphic novel will feature “a fallen Muslim knight”, “a zealous young nun”, and Dracula himself.
“Dragon is the Dracula story I’ve wanted to tell for years, full of everything that matters to me – horrific creatures, rich history, wildly different characters coming together to confront evil,” writes Ahmed. “It’s a story centered on the sorts of heroes who are usually pushed to the margins – heroes who much reach across gulfs of culture and faith to face down the world’s most terrifying monster.”
The Kickstarter campaign for Dragon ended on August 6th. It had already reached 360% of the original goal.
The story deals heavily with religious themes, since the two main characters are of two different faiths. Ahmed aims to show Dracula not as the “misunderstood prince, sexy anti-hero” as he is often presented in modern media, but more as an unnatural evil being.
The decision to crowdsource, which paid off for Ahmed, was made because due to the pandemic, it’s considerably easier to self-publish than turn to a publisher at this moment in time.
Although the Kickstarter campaign is over, you can still follow the page for updates on publication and keep an eye out for Dragon to be out in approximately a year.
