A press release has unveiled “Oberon,” a new series from writer Ryan Parrott (“Volition”) and artist Milos Slavkovic (“Fantastika”) from publisher AfterShock Comics, which is scheduled to begin in February. “Oberon” is the tale of the titular fairy king’s betrayal and exile to Earth. After being double-crossed by his wife, Queen Titania, Lord Oberon seeks Bonnie Blair, a “promise child.” To harness her power, “Oberon proceeds to lie and manipulate her into using her gifts to help reclaim his throne and get some good old fashion revenge.” Blair’s abilities give her the power to become the “ultimate weapon” he needs to overthrow his spouse and regain his kingdom.
Parrott is inspired by Shakespeare, specifically A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and goes on to allude to “many of Shakespeare’s most famous characters mak[ing] appearances in one way or another.” The writer hopes to subvert the cliche storytelling formulas of fantasy classics by having the protagonist who leads and explains this world to the readers be “completely unreliable and serving [his] own devious motives.” By letting the narrative unfold from this inverted perspective, Parrott hopes the story will “more accurately mirror our modern world — where heroes and villains are sometimes interchangeable.”
The full announcement, which you can read below, summarizes the story as a “supernatural adventure proving once and for all that fairies should never be trusted.”
OBERON #1 / $3.99 / 32 pages / Full Color / ON SALE 2.06.2019
Writer: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Milos Slavkovic
Letterer: Charles Pritchett
Cover A: Milos Slavkovic
Incentive 1:10 Cover: Marco RudyBetrayed by his people and exiled to Earth, Lord Oberon, the former king of the fairies, seeks out an innocent prophesied child in order to manipulate her into becoming his ultimate weapon so that he can reclaim his rightful throne.
From writer Ryan Parrot (VOLITION) and artist Milos Slavkovic, Oberon is a new supernatural adventure proving once and for all that fairies should never be trusted.
WHAT IS THE BOOK ABOUT AND WHY ARE YOU EXCITED FOR COMIC READERS TO CHECK IT OUT?
“Oberon tells the story of the legendary King of the Fairies who, after being betrayed by his wife, Queen Titania, loses his crown and is banished to Earth. He obviously doesn’t take it well, so he seeks Bonnie Blair, a ten-year-old “promise child” who is destined to one day save the universe from some ancient evil and, instead of protecting her like any good fairy might — Oberon proceeds to lie and manipulate her into using her gifts to help reclaim his throne and get some good old fashion revenge.
I grew up on classic fantasy and fairy tales so I’ve always been on the lookout for a story that could subvert some of the standard settings and characters — and more accurately mirror our modern world — where heroes and villains are sometimes interchangeable.”
OBERON COMES FROM THE SHAKESPEARE PLAY ‘ A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM’ – WHICH OF THE ROWDY TEENS IN THAT PLAY IS YOUR FAVORITE?“Robin Goodfellow is an honest puck, and I’ll have words with anyone who says otherwise. But seriously, because magic and portents are featured prominently in so many of Shakespeare’s plays, I always loved the idea that The Tempest’s Prospero, Macbeth’s Three Witches and the fairies of Mid-Summer were all part of the same shared magical universe. Many of Shakespeare’s most famous characters make appearances in one way or another — even the rowdy teens.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE FAIRY TALE AND WHY?
“All the original Grimm Brother’s fairy tales are splendidly dark and twisted. In fact, Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother actually plays a prominent role in the first arc of Oberon. I mean… she is a fairy… so who is she and why was she watching over the special young girl? That’s part of the draw of the series for me — taking some of the pieces from ancient lore and connecting them in unexpected ways.”
IF YOU HAD TO GIVE ADVICE TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO KEEP FAIRIES AWAY, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?
“In some cultures, it’s actually considered good fortune to encounter a fairy because they’re so rare. However, their magic is based in barter so, buyer beware, because — the only thing a fairy likes more than getting what they want in a deal is making sure the other party doesn’t.”
WHAT SETS APART THIS BOOK FROM OTHER FANTASY/ MAGICAL STORIES?
“If you look at some hallmarks of popular fantasy — Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, for example — it’s traditional for a guide to sorta lead naive characters (and the audience) through new magical worlds, explain the rules and give insight. Well, I personally love villains. I can’t get enough of characters that are gleefully self-serving, so I thought — what if the guide that was leading you was completely unreliable and serving their own devious motives? How would you even know? That’s the black little heart at the center of “Oberon.”
YOU’VE WORKED ON SUCH TV SHOWS AS CHANCE AND REVOLUTION, WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE TV PROGRAMS YOU’RE WATCHING, AND WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATRE?
“I really enjoyed The Haunting of Hill House and am currently watching the folksy craziness of the second season of Patriot. The last film I saw was “A Star is Born”. Apparently… I’m a sucker for musicals.”
