“Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse #1 stands out in a sea of horror comics…looks as good as any comic from the Big 2 (maybe even better).” – ComicalOpinions.com
“5 out of 5” – Kabooooom.com
“With the raw, relentless energy of a Rodriguez Grindhouse flick, Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse this high-octane, genre-bending comic smashes the boundaries of storytelling, delivering a full-throttle ride that’ll have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about comics. It’s not an apocalypse we need to prepare for—it’s a six-string, vampiric rockabilly revolution!” – Frederick Luis Aldama, Eisner award-winning scholar, comic book creator, publisher, and author of The Cinema of Robert Rodriguez
“Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse is raw, full-on, blue-collar pulp culture madness! It’s action, rock and roll folklore with a mythic guitarist–and like all strangers who come to town, Vampiro‘s got a secret. Crack that open and it’s AMERICAN VAMPIRE meets LUCHA UNDERGROUND in the best possible way! For horror fans, for wrestling fans, for midnight movie connoisseurs–don’t miss out!” – Steve Orlando (Batman, Avengers Assemble, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter)
“This story rocks…perfect mix of From Dusk Till Dawn meets Lobo in this action packed first issue.” “The art in this book is clean and smooth. It makes you feel like you’re watching a 90’s Saturday morning cartoon, only with gratuitous violence.” – NerdInitiative.com
Legendary luchador Vampiro stars in his own comic series launching today as Masked Republic Comics and Massive Publishing debut Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse with a SUPER SIZED 48-PAGE premiere!
“The character of Vampiro is truly one of legend,” Masked Republic President and series co-creator Kevin Kleinrock said, “The too-slick-not-to-be-dangerous, charismatic, silver-tongued devil that Vampiro is in real life was absolutely meant to transcend the lucha libre industry. Michael Kingston has brilliantly captured his personality of dark humor, quick quips and a rock-and-roll lifestyle and crafted one of the most fun comic stories I have ever read.”
Cover B by Diego Simone
Every guitarist knows his name. His performances are the stuff of legend. He’s played all over the world, but his face has never graced a single concert poster.
He’s never advertised. He just…appears!
In this action-packed, double-sized first issue, we meet Everitt Holden, an Austin music vlogger who sets out to discover the truth behind the urban legend known only as Vampiro, an underground guitarist that’s seemingly existed for over a century. Instead, he finds himself dragged into the middle of a shadowy conflict of biblical proportions!
Join Vampiro, luchadora Estrella Nocturna, and Everitt as they hurtle down Route 66 in a 1955 Pontiac Bonneville on a quest to save the world! It’s a tale filled with monsters, muscle cars, luchadores, cops, clowns, nuns, guns, demons, blood and plenty of BBQ as our heroes race against time -and a whole host of enemies- to try and thwart a secret plan to jumpstart the apocalypse!
PreviewsWorld.com has a look inside the issue here
WHO IS CREATING THIS MADNESS?
While this is certainly not a wrestling comic, writer Michael Kingston is considered “the architect of the modern wrestling comics scene” and the top collaborator for bringing wrestler’s voices to comic pages. He as been producing the critically-acclaimed graphic novel series Headlocked since 2008. Additionally, Kingston has collaborated with over fifty wrestlers on stories and art for Headlocked’s companion anthology series, Tales from the Road which finds wrestlers co-creating stories and adventures in a variety of genres. Notable collaborators include cover artist Jerry “The King” Lawler, Mick Foley, Cody Rhodes, Lita, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Danhausen, and Trish Stratus. Kingston has also penned several issues of the WWE comic from Boom Studios.
Martin Pouso, also known as El Terrorifico Dr. Napalm, is a cartoonist, illustrator, musician and tattoo artist in his hometown of Montevideo, Uruguay. A long time fan of both lucha libre and Vampiro himself, Napalm’s art style, which he defines as “fusing the most punk underground with the vibrant and neonic admiration for pop culture” is perfect for the series. He has illustrated dozens of independent press series internationally along with the upcoming NacelleVerse series Biker Mice From Mars: Toxic Earth.
Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse #1 cover artist Rafael Gallur is considered by many to be the greatest cover artist in the modern Mexican comic book industry. A master of color, composition and anatomy, he was influenced by legends such as Hal Foster, Alex Raymond and Frank Frazetta, from whom he learned how to tell stories using images. This learning led him to create unforgettable covers for titles such as Sensacional de Luchas, La Leyenda de Blue Demon, Posesión y Demoníaca, and Pistolero for over 50 years now. Outside of Mexico, he is perhaps best known for his work on Topps’ Mars Attacks painted trading cards.
Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse #1 is available at your local comic now. The 5-part first arc will be released monthly in comic stores from Massive Publishing. Select covers are also available for home delivery through the MaskedRepublicComics.com and MassivePublishing.com websites.
WHAT EVEN MORE PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT VAMPIRO: ROCKABILLY APOCALYPSE #1
“VAMPIRO: ROCKABILLY APOCALYPSE is a high-octane action, adventure story chock full of comedy, horror and over-the-top twists. If you like your comics cranked up to eleven, this book is for you.” – Brian Pulido (Publisher Coffin Comics, Writer/Creator Lady Death, Evil Ernie)
“VAMPIRO: ROCKABILLY APOCALYPSE is the very exhilarating, very evil comic book tale of horrors and rock and or rolls that Danhausen was looking for. Cars and flames and vampires and blood oh my. And Danhauusen won’t spoil the end. (That’s good). Danhausen favorite part is this helps bridge the gap further between wrestling, horror, music and comic fans alike. 7 thumbs up. Read this book or be cursed. (That’s bad)” – Danhausen (Professional Wrestler super popular with the human people)
“Mix sharp writing and electric art and add in the unique style that only a legend can bring and you have the ingredients for a one of a kind experience for your pull list” – Ken (ODPH Podcast/Nerd Initiative)
“Vampiro Rockabilly is the perfect blend of comedic grindhouse horror filled with blood-wrenching action and kick ass characters sure to please fans of the supernatural” – Matt (Hops Geek News/Nerd Initiative)
“An unconventional hero who can handle business in a bloody way. I LOVE IT” – Brett “Leatherface” Wagner (Leatherface in Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
“How can one say no to rock and roll, vampires, demons, luchadores, axes that shred AND chop, and the impending apocalypse? Vampiro has all the ingredients that I want in my sequential art – it’s thrilling, rocking, “ghoulash” or hip horror and action. Delicious.” – Trent Haaga (Killjoy in the Killjoy franchise of films)
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RELATED NOTE: Vampiro & Michael Kingston Double-Shot For Masked Republic Comics and Massive Publishing’s Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse #1 Debut