Comic book luminaries Matt Wagner and Kelley Jones continue to unravel the enigmatic legacy of Vlad Dracula through their esteemed graphic novel series. The initial installment, **Dracula: The Impaler**, is celebrated as one of the most successful comic book Kickstarter campaigns to date. Now, Wagner and Jones are poised to release the third—and not final—volume of their trilogy, titled **Dracula: The Count**. This latest edition offers a fascinating twist by recounting the iconic narrative of Bram Stoker’s classic from Dracula’s own perspective.
At present, the crowdfunding campaign for Dracula: Book III – The Count is live, with IGN providing an exclusive preview of the graphic novel. Explore the intriguing visuals in the gallery below:
As with the previous volumes, **Dracula: The Count** is penned by Wagner and illustrated by Jones, who also contribute cover art. The project is published through Orlok Press.
Wagner commented on this unique storytelling approach, stating, “Anyone who’s familiar with Stoker’s original novel knows that once the action shifts to England, the title character is basically absent for the remainder of the narrative. A sinister, charismatic, and scheming vampire lord unleashed upon the streets of London… and yet we never see him! It’s infuriating because he was certainly up to something nefarious. Now, Kelley and I are unveiling what Dracula was engaged in during this ominous period, as he contemplates his new territory within the vast and modern British Empire, a realm where, it was said, the sun never set.”
Jones remarked on the narrative’s complexity, stating, “From our initial discussions about this project, this aspect struck me as the most challenging to execute. However, it’s precisely what I was most excited for! Matt has a remarkable ability to fuse literary and historical accuracy with an utterly gripping tale that keeps readers enthralled from start to finish. Each time I delve into one of his scripts, I’m so absorbed in the unfolding story that I almost forget I have the privilege of bringing this incredible narrative to life!”
Wagner added, “A unique element of Stoker’s original novel is its epistolary form, consisting solely of journal entries, letters, and news articles. Remarkably, the most critical voice is absent—Dracula himself! Therefore, our retelling is narrated from the standpoint of Dracula, offering insights from the mind of an unapologetic monster. As Kelley noted, the accuracy of events has been a considerable challenge due to the well-documented nature of the original novel, yet Kelley has truly excelled in this endeavor. If you thought his artwork in Books I & II was stunning, wait until you witness how he portrays Dracula amidst the fog-laden streets of Victorian London! This is undoubtedly the tale that Kelley Jones was born to illustrate, and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to write it!”
The duo previously collaborated on **Dracula: Book I – The Impaler** in 2023 and **Dracula: Book II – The Brides** in 2024.
The crowdfunding campaign for Dracula: The Count is currently active.
Based on reporting by Jesse Schedeen. Read the full story at IGN.