Interview: Only The Heaviest Metal At Opus Comics

PreviewsWorld: So, 2022 is the beginning of Opus’ official debut. Off the bat, if there is one thing that you want people to know about you as a publisher, what would it be?

Llexi Leon: Opus Comics is the publishing arm of Incendium. We’ve been around for 15 years focusing on heavy music and related lifestyle properties, making toys, games, collectibles, and comics. This is the first time we’re bringing our comics to the direct market under our own banner, and our areas of focus are simple—Myths, Monsters, and Metal!

Denton J. Tipton: I joined Incendium last year after more than a decade at IDW Publishing, and it reignited my love of the medium. It has also allowed me to make the most of the experience I’ve accumulated and the relationships I’ve forged over that time. Over the past several years, the market has undergone major shifts, and we’ve been paying close attention to the pain points felt by collectors, readers, and retailers. Our publishing strategy aims to ease the pain and entertain.

PW: Let's talk about your flagship title, Death Dealer. This is based on the iconic Frazetta piece, right?

LL: Exactly, there’s a series of incredible Frazetta paintings featuring the Death Dealer, so a number of the locations and themes in the books are derived from the source material of the same name, but we’re bringing in elements and characters from many other Frazetta works, and building that out into a more cohesive universe. The Death Dealer will meet the Sea Witch, the Sorcerer, and so on. We have grand plans for the FrazettaVerse, and this series is just the beginning of our journey.

PW: The Death Dealer story has been toyed with before. What is the angle that writer Mitch Iverson and artist Stefano Martino are taking?

DT: Mitch took his natural storytelling talents and applied his experience in the writer's rooms of Voltron and Dota: Dragon’s Blood to cover all angles of building this world and its characters. His thoughtful approach informs the action, giving it meaning and consequence. The story is bold, bloody, and beautiful, and Stefano illustrates all those aspects to perfection.

LL:  The Death Dealer may be the most iconic of Frazetta’s works, but his paintings feature an incredible cast of creations and they all deserve the spotlight. Stefano is a remarkable talent, able to deftly capture the power and movement of Frazetta’s illustrations, whether it’s a forest maiden or warring barbarian, and breathe new life into them. It’s an unenviable challenge to be compared to one of the greats, but Stefano is absolutely holding his own!

PW: Can you tell us anything about this potential universe Opus is spawning from Death Dealer?

LL: The Death Dealer is the central figure of this initial series, but he’s by no means the only character we’re exploring. We’re also looking at distinct themes of Frazetta’s work to explore not only the iconic high-fantasy images, but also his contributions to science fiction and horror. Our collaboration doesn’t end with the comics either, we have toys, collectibles, apparel, and digital offerings coming to compliment the comics and bolster the community.

PW: Is your overall focus Frazetta? Or will you be exploring other concepts?

LL: We felt that Death Dealer in particular had a natural overlap for us. It doesn’t really get more mythical, monstrous, or metal than Frazetta’s fantasy artwork, but it also opened the door to a whole other world outside of the music fandom. This is one of the first “non-music” IPs we’re building out, though it certainly feels right at home alongside Cradle Of Filth, Disturbed, Exodus, HammerFall, and so on!

DT: We’ll be turning some heads with the announcement of our second licensed series, which will launch in June. You’ll be hearing much more about that most triumphant return very soon.

PW: Looking forward, what can readers expect from Opus?

LL: Incredible artwork, top-notch storytelling, fresh spins on iconic properties, and plenty of the heaviest bands out there making their debut in the comics medium. We take a different tact with licensing, and build out long-term, highly collaborative partnerships to support our titles for many years. If there’s something coming from OPUS that’s exciting to you, rest assured this is just the beginning!

DT: I think Llexi touched on something very important to us that I want to put a fine point on. We’re here for the long haul. We’re building a sustainable program that readers (and retailers) can come to depend on. We have your attention thanks to Frazetta and the bands we work with, but next comes earning your trust.

PW: In terms of audience, who is Opus for?

DT: Anyone who enjoys myths, monsters, or metal!

LL: Yup, very few restrictions as long as it ties back to those three pillars. We’re passionate about storytelling and artistry, we want to be true to the source material and let great talent do their thing. The slate features horror, action, adventure, comedy, even the occasional gothic romance, and there’s more to come.