Sword & Sorcery Film to Get Kickstarter Comic Thanks to Slash of Guns N’ Roses

Another day, another nostalgic property finds new life. Deathstalker, one of the iconic sword and sorcery movies of the 80’s, is gearing up for a comic book revival! The titular barbarian character will go on an all-new quest in Kickstarter-funded comic form, and the project is being helmed by none other than Slash! Yes, THAT Slash! Slash is teaming up with director Steven Kostanski (Leprechaun Returns) along with acclaimed comic writers Tim Seeley and Jim Terry to bring Deathstalker back from the void. The Kickstarter page describes the upcoming graphic novel as “an official fifth installment” to be published by Vault Comics, in partnership with Shout Factory and Raven Banner. You can check out a trailer for the Deathstalker Kickstarter below:

The synopsis for the Deathstalker comic can be read below:

“Deathstalker finds himself once again caught between forces larger than himself—a virgin worshiping cult, a sorcerer hell-bent on saving the world through mad science, and the pissed-off army of the Abraxeon kingdom…not to mention his ex-lover, Princess Evie. Monsters, magic, and mayhem abound…can’t a guy just swing his sword anymore?”

The comic will also be bringing a veteran of the series back into the franchis as legendary fantasy artist, Boris Vallejo, will be making original art for the comics. Vallejo previously worked on all four previous installments in the Deathstalker series as the poster artist.

The Kickstarter’s lowest tier is at a softcover release, but will go up in quality depending on how well the campaign goes. Such tiers include a hardcover release, a deluxe release, merchandise, and even a gold edition that includes a cast steel replica of the Deathstalker sword! The Kickstarter page states that only 50 copies of the gold edition will be produced.

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The Legacy of Deathstalker

Deathstalker premiered in September, 1983. The film starred Rick Hill as the Deathstalker himself, who was set on a quest to take down the evil king Munkar. Along the way, he must battle other barbarians, monsters, and much more.

The film was a modest success, riding off the coat tails of Conan the Barbarian’s popularity. Deathstalker’s success led to executive producer, Roger Corman, to invest in sequels. There was Deathstalker II (1987), Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell (1988), and Deathstalker IV: March of Titans. While Deathstalker was another title in the massive sword and sorcery craze in the 80’s, the film earned its fans over time. The film was praised for pulling off big stunts with a tighter budget than its competitors, as well as carrying more shocking imagery.

With 80’s nostalgia coming back full force, the sword and sorcery fandom is growing every day, and companies are keeping an eye out. Fire and Ice, the animated collaboration between Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta, is also getting a comic book sequel of its own.

So long as there are fans, there will continue to be stories for these characters. Steven Kostanski knows this full well, and shared his excitement for working on the Deathstalker comics on the Kickstarter page.

When I found out that I’d be teaming up with Slash and Vault Comics to expand the wild fantasy universe of Deathstalker, I hugged my VHS box of “Deathstalker 4: Match of the Titans” and whispered that I would do everything in my power to honor the legacy of the series. I’m very excited to be working with such a talented team to deliver the next sword-and-sorcery filled chapter of this classic franchise.

As of the writing of this article, the Kickstarter project has just crossed the $18,000 mark of its $25,000 goal. And we still have thirty days left! If you’re a fan of all things swords and barbarians, this is a project for you. Check out the Deathstalker trailer below: