Some praise from Justin Lin, Patton Oswalt, Geof Darrow, and Brian Michael Bendis for my new graphic novel...

"Zahler continues to amaze me. I got goosebumps." - Justin Lin, director Fast Five and Star Trek Beyond

"Mr. Zahler first started painting images with words. Then he used his words with a camera to thrill, intimidate, and scare. Now he has turned his attention to the medium of comics and I am now filled with intimidation, trepidation, and realized expectations. Yikes, what scary talent!" - Geof Darrow

"What a fantastic read!" -Patton Oswalt

My second graphic novel is a huge scale sci-fi work entitled Organisms from an Ancient Cosmos, which has been released by Dark Horse Comics as an oversized hardback. Blurbs and ordering info below...

"I had the best time reading this graphic novel. I never knew where it was going or how." -Brian Michael Bendis

Pre-order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1506733077/...

Article on Screenrant:
https://screenrant.com/bone-tomahawk-...

My first artistic interest was illustration, and after writing eight novels, recording nine albums, and directing three movies, it was a pleasure to draw once more. In this graphic novel, which is my second, I explore morally complex characters, intimate human drama, large-scale world building, and speculative science.
I began working on the piece at the very beginning of lockdown and finished more than a year later when I received my first vaccine. Creating ‘Organisms from an Ancient Cosmos’ was an incredibly gratifying experience, and I’m thrilled to have it published by Dark Horse Comics, whose books I’ve read since the eighties.

“Organisms from an Ancient Cosmos is a hefty dose of world-spanning, relationship-spanning, time-spanning, galaxy-spanning weirdness with the perfect amount of alienism and humanism. S. Craig Zahler has created a tale of cosmic terror, heartbreak, and hope unlike anything else you’ll read anytime soon.”–Cullen Bunn
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Published on September 06, 2022 02:13
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message 1: by Fred (new)

Fred I'm trying to think off the top of my head what other film directors wrote and drew their own comics and I know of David Lynch had the World's Angriest Dog, Robert Rodrigues had a comic strip in his college paper (before he was a director), and Alejandro Jodorowsky had The Panic Fables (he's written other comics, but I'm not sure if he drew any of them).

Many directors draw their own storyboards that look like outsider comics (like Sam Rami, James Gunn, Scorsese) but I don't think those have been officially published.

Are there any other film directors that wrote and drew their own comics?


message 2: by S. (new)

S. Zahler I can't name any, though I would assume a number of less well-known filmmakers have done so, and it seems like Tim Burton might have. And I know Dash Shaw had done both things.
I didn't realize Jodorowsky had drawn any of his own comics. I will check those out---I like Santa Sangre and El Topo and I ADORE The Holy Mountain


message 3: by Fred (new)

Fred S. wrote: "I can't name any, though I would assume a number of less well-known filmmakers have done so, and it seems like Tim Burton might have. And I know Dash Shaw had done both things.
I didn't realize Jo..."


I really liked Santa Sangre and David Lynch's Eraserhead and Wild at Heart.


message 4: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Eraserhead and Lost Highway are two of favorite movies ever. Both are incredible.


message 5: by Kjetil (new)

Kjetil I have my own countdown for your new graphic novel and I love that the time is almost here. When I click on the Screenrant link it says that the link is dead, but maybe the problem is with my connection. I’m really clumsy when it comes to computers and have a love/hate relationship with them. The Slanted Gutter was such a crazy good book, I was wondering If you are working on any other regular novels?


message 6: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Kjetil. The link should work now. Thanks for the kind words regarding The Slanted Gutter and your interest in my upcoming graphic novel--I really look forward to getting it out there soon!
And yes, I have been writing a new prose novel. I've been at it 25 days a month since the Monday after Thanksgiving 2021, and I will finish before September ends. This is fantasy novel and quite different from my other books.


message 7: by Kjetil (last edited Sep 12, 2022 04:04PM) (new)

Kjetil Thank you. The link does work now. That is super exiting news about your new novel. I did not expect that at all since I knew you were working hard on Cosmos. I like that it will be different. The Slanted Gutter and Hug C. are also very different but I love them both. Or maybe you meant that the wrting style is quite different on the new one.

I heard on an podcast you did some time ago that you were trying to push forward 5 or 6 different movie projects and one tv-show If I remember correctly. Hopefully one or two will land soon. I was especially interested in a low budget horror you mentioned you might do. And I would naturally love to see the Hug film. But I also understand that the movie business can be frustrating in terms of planning, budgets and so on.

I also heard you mention that you are very interested in food. Could you name a few dishes that you really like? And is there food from a spesific country that you especially like?


message 8: by Byron (new)

Byron It's over fifty dollars on Amazon.ca for us Canadians, but I will buy it anyway--though I am hoping for the price to drop a bit before I preorder, but I'll still get it if it doesn't. I'm very keen to see how your art has grown since Forbidden Surgeries, which I loved.


message 9: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Thanks for the support up north! The book is a bit pricier than I had hoped it would be, but the various formatting and printing choices I made all added up.


message 10: by Zach (new)

Zach Solberg Zahler, as an artist you are absolutely a Maverick!
You are in a league of your own!
I tell everyone I know and respect about you and your work.
Your novels are the greatest I've ever read!
"Mean Business at North Ganson Street" is my favorite novel of all time! (I was not glued to a novel like that since I was a child reading Tolkien)
All your novels are mind blowing to say the least.
Now to your films,
"Dragged Across Concrete" is a "The Godfather"-level Masterpiece!
The first time viewing the film, I was profusely sweating the last hour from pure suspense.
I spent the next year showing that film to every single person I know!
Bravo for making a film that Masterful!

After reading all your novels and seeing your films, I try to recommend them to as many people as possible. I hope the whole world knows your name soon! You are one of the most prolific artist of all time and there are many people who know that is true.

I eagerly await your new graphic novel!
"The Slanted Gutter" and "Dr. Divinus" were beyond mind-blowing! Counting down the days until your next game changing work is released!


message 11: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Zach,

Thank you so much for all the kind things that you wrote. I'm glad you enjoyed Mean Business on North Ganson Street, Dragged Across Concrete, and the others to the extent that you did. I appreciate your support!


message 12: by [deleted user] (new)

Hello, Mr. Zahler. Today I read this fantastic news: S. Craig Zahler's Next Film is Shot in Black and White and 3-Hours Long (Hug Chickenpenny). I would pass the link but I can't, Goodreads doesn't allow it. In any case, the news is from the World of Reel website.

That's true?


message 13: by S. (last edited Nov 15, 2022 06:14PM) (new)

S. Zahler That news is outdated. I had a fantastic cast for that picture and the Jim Henson company involved, but could not get proper financing and now have several other movies and a show that are more likely to be my next directorial effort.


message 14: by [deleted user] (new)

Oh, that's great. I prefer that you tell us new stories and not adaptations.

Best regards, Zahler


message 15: by Phil (new)

Phil Just opened Netflix and saw Dragged across concrete is the no.1 movie on there today! (in the US). Good to see more people are discovering it, and maybe Netflix will take notice? ;)


message 16: by S. (new)

S. Zahler This is cool--I'm happy more folks are getting to see the picture.


message 17: by Tom (new)

Tom Davidson Got the Cosmos hardcover and thoroughly enjoyed it on multiple levels, loved the character I.Q. And it inspired me to make my own little 3-page comic and give it to my wife as a birthday card. The Slanted Gutter and Dragged were so compelling to me that they have changed the design of my brain. I love driving at night listening to the Dragged soundtrack. Can't for whatever you do next Zahler.


message 18: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Thanks for the support. I'm happy to have inspired your mini-comic and glad that you dig my music as well as my crime and sci-fi stories.


message 19: by Jim (new)

Jim Bonomo Zahler,

It’s been years since I’ve had a favorite new author or filmmaker and you, sir, have hastily become both. I’ve even become an accidental fan of chicken salad sandwiches with bacon. I’d like to tell you the same thing I never got to tell Elmore Leonard- keep being true to yourself, there are many diehards out there like myself who appreciate your dedication to your vision despite it not being the most digestible material. I’ll continue to support your work and dream of a Slanted miniseries. Keep up the good reads! -JB


message 20: by S. (last edited Apr 06, 2023 03:28PM) (new)

S. Zahler JB,

Thanks for the kinds words--I'm glad you enjoy my material!


message 21: by Maxim (new)

Maxim Knyazev Hello, Mr. Zahler.

When can we expect your new book to be released?

Thank you,


message 22: by S. (new)

S. Zahler Maxim wrote: "Hello, Mr. Zahler.

When can we expect your new book to be released?

Thank you,"


I'm still looking for the right publisher for my new fantasy novel.
Thanks for your inquiry.


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