Review Fix chats with author Rob Hart, who discusses his comic book Blood Oath and much more.
Review Fix: How did you know a career in comics was for you?
Rob Hart: I grew up reading comics: my first was Superman 75, where he died. My dad got it for me for Christmas the year it came out so I must have been 9. Since then I was hooked. I wanted to be a comic artist my whole childhood and as I got over I moved over to writing, and then to novels, but I’ve always wanted to get back to comic books.
Review Fix: Who inspires you creatively?
Hart: Pretty much anything. I once got an idea for a short story after I walked by a bakery that had a bouncer and a velvet rope. Just living life gives me enough material to keep writing.
Review Fix: How are your comics different or special?
Hart: I’d like to think Blood Oath has a really good hook: Boardwalk Empire with vampires.
Review Fix: What about this comic? Sell us. Sell us hard.
Hart: See above! It’s fun, it’s gory, and puts a fun spin on both the vampire and the mob mythos; the two of them are at war over the booze trade, because the mob used it to make money, and vampires used it to preserve blood. Plus, I set part of it on Staten Island.
Review Fix: Who do you think will dig it the most?
Hart: Anyone who isn’t afraid of a little violence, and wants to see a new spin on some old storytelling tropes. It ain’t for kids!
Review Fix: How do you want your books to be remembered?
Hart: I just hope people like the stuff I wrote. If people are still reading me in a few decades I would be very happy.
Review Fix: What are your long-term goals for your work?
Hart: I’d love to get more regular comic book work, and get up to the big two. I have a dream Superman pitch. I’m also hoping to get into TV and film. But I’ll write anything. I want to write a play someday. I like stretching my muscles and learning new things.
Review Fix: Why should someone support your work?
Hart: Because I have a kid and I need to send her to college!
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Hart: I am really excited to hang out at Jim Hanley’s on Saturday signing books (Saturday April 20, from 1 to 5 p.m.!).
Review Fix: What’s next?
Hart: My next novel, Assassins Anonymous—about a John Wick level hitman who gets into a recovery program for killers—comes out June 11. Then Dark Space, a sci-fi novel I co-wrote with Alex Segura (my co-writer on Blood Oath), comes out in October. I’ve got some cool projects cooking, too, that I just can’t talk about yet…
Review Fix: Where can people find out more?
Hart: On the web, www.robwhart.com. On Instagram, @robwhart1. Or my newsletter: https://robwhart.substack.com/
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