The iconic Weird Tales franchise is getting a graphic novel adaptation from Monstrous Books through Kickstarter. Cemetery Dance has some exclusive artwork to share, and can confirm first and exclusively that one of the stories in it will be “Shambleau” by C.L. Moore, adapted by writer Blake Northcott (best known for her work on Catwoman) and artist George Quadros (best known for his work on Sumerian). Northcott spoke to Cemetery Dance about her work on the comic adaptation of“Shambleau.”
(Interview conducted by Danica Davidson)
CEMETERY DANCE: How did you get involved with the Weird Tales graphic novel anthology?
BLAKE NORTHCOTT: I’ve been working with Weird Tales for a while now. I wrote the story “The World Breaker” for the 100 Years of Weird special anniversary hardcover book. So when the opportunity came to be involved with their first ever graphic novel, I couldn’t pass up the chance to be a part of history. It’s such an honor!
Were you familiar with the story “Shambleau” before this? What did you think when you first read it?
I had read the story years prior, but of course I re-read it before adapting it. It was so revolutionary at the time, harkening back to ancient mythology, and blending it with a space adventure set years in the future. Throughout pop culture, you can see how this story has resonated with sci-fi and fantasy writers, even to this day.
How did you approach adapting it into graphic novel form?
Sequential art is a visual medium, so the challenge is to maintain the flow and feel of the original, while at the same time letting the art tell some of the story. Graphic novels have an advantage over prose in that you don’t need to spell everything out. You can trust your artist to set the mood, and convey some of the emotion.
And of course, I wanted to adapt the story without changing any of the key elements that make it one of the most legendary Weird Tales stories of all time. Being a steward for a story of this magnitude is a big responsibility!
What do you think accounts for Weird Tales’ lasting appeal?
Before Weird Tales was published over a century ago, there was never a dedicated source where readers could get so many different flavors of sci-fi, horror and fantasy in one place. It carved out a niche in the literary world, and readers still revere it for its legacy.
The magazine has evolved throughout time, as everything does, but the mission statement has never changed: this is where you find the creepy, strange, “outside the box” stuff that other publications are scared to print. There’s something special about that.
Are you working on anything else right now?
I’m working on a book-to-film project for Weird Tales, which will first be released as a novel later in 2026. I think it’s going to shock everyone, in the best possible way. I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
And I also have a book in the works which will also be released later in 2026 called Bulletproof Angel, a spy thriller co-created by CJ Perry, the WWE wrestling legend formerly known as “Lana.”
