Interview: Magic Goes Extinct in David Hazan's 'Monomyth

Let’s get into Monomyth. Catch us up to speed. What is the story about?

Magic is dying…and so the last wizard uses what’s left of his life to cast a spell summoning the descendants of six ancient bloodlines to his long-since abandoned school of sorcery. What they find isn’t an enchanting adventure…instead it’s going to terrify them to their very cores and set them against each other in a deadly game that will reveal their deepest flaws and long-buried secrets.

Expect magic and horror and mystery and mayhem and so much more…

What can you tell us about these descendants? Are some of these familiar “magic school” archetypes?

You’ll see some familiar archetypes, alongside some that might surprise you. We’re going to deliver all different flavors of ‘Chosen One’ and have them enter into the fight of their lives to be the heir to all magic.

What made you want to subvert the magic school subgenre? 

I wanted to dispel the wish-fulfillment aspect of it. When you think about it…what we as writers put our characters through is terrifying enough to make me not want to be the protagonist of such a story. Beyond that, the idea that magic can send thought into action…it’s a really terrifying prospect to put that power and instability in the hands of a human being.

Also, to a certain extent, I’ve excised all of my feelings about she-who-must-not-be-named and poured them into this book. I felt like it would be disingenuous to ignore that aspect in a story which is fundamentally about the magic of storytelling.

Is this more of a send-up or something much darker?

It is absolutely something darker. It’s a deconstruction…but not satirical or a send-up. Primarily, Monomyth is a horror book, so there’s going to be blood, gore, hauntings and scares around every corner of the Castle.

What made you team up with artist Cecelia Lo Valvo?

That was actually Mad Cave! Cecilia had previously worked with them on a short story in Grimm Tales from the Cave, and my then-editor Chris Sanchez shared the story with me. As soon as I saw the lineart, I was all in.

Tell us about the rest of the collaborators on the book. Who are the art teams?

Our colorist is Marissa Louise, she’s absolutely fantastic and has done a bunch of work for DC. I don’t recall having given her a note this entire time. Every page just looks vibrant and stunning. 

Lucas Gattoni is a long-time collaborator of mine (and currently also lettering Death Drop: Drag Assassin from me and Alex Moore over at Scout Comics). I knew when we were going to get really metatextual with this book that I needed someone with an artistic bent to their lettering…and Lucas was the first person who popped into my head. He continues to be an exemplary letterer and I couldn’t be more grateful for his work in really nailing the tone of the book.

Chas Pangburn is our fantastic editor, with Chris Sanchez and WWAC Editor-in-Chief Nola Pfau consulting as well.

In terms of audience, who is Monomyth for?

Monomyth is for lovers of the fantasy genre who are looking for something a little darker, a little more layered and complex. Lovers of Harry Potter, the Magicians will undoubtedly find something they like here, but this time with a bent of horror and darkness to their fantasy.