Rob Williams, Patrick Goddard, and original series artist Steve Yeowell return to the world of Zenith for a brand new spin-off spotlighting Welsh superhero Red Dragon. The Red Dragon series will kick off in 2000 AD Prog 2451 releasing September 24 in the UK and online; and October 29 in the US Prog Pack.
Zenith is Grant Morrison’s most fondly remembered contribution to 2000 AD, and one of the few instances a superhero story proved a success for the British weekly science fiction anthology. Co-created by Grant Morrison and Steve Yeowell, it debuted in August 1987’s Prog 536 and ran for four series, concluding its run in late 2000.
The Red Dragon featured in the original (Phase One) 1987 Zenith series as Wales’ greatest superhero but didn’t live beyond that. The pyrokinetic character, whose civilian name was Siadwel Rhys, was a figure who rose to fame in the 1960s only to become disillusioned by the time he was recruited by Zenith in the 1980s. The new series written by Rob Williams promises to showcase Wales’ champion in a dual timeline story with art chores split between Patrick Goddard in the present day and Steve Yeowell (with colouring assistance from Dylan Teague) covering the swinging 1960s.
According to the Rebellion press release, the story itself will feature a documentary crew in present day, post-Brexit Wales exploring “the legacy left by their greatest hero”, interspersed with vibrant flashback sequences.
Speaking about the impetus for this new series, Rob Williams said:
“Reading Red Dragon’s story arc in Zenith in 1987 broke my heart, and I wasn’t alone in that. Grant and Steve created this vibrant, deeply flawed, extremely human character and, what’s more – he was a Welsh superhero. Red Dragon sounded and felt like quite a few people I’ve known over the years growing up in South Wales, just they didn’t have the ability to fly (although there were a few alcoholics and arsonists).”
He added:
“When I was asked if I would be interested in telling a Red Dragon story, I started to think about the idea of a Welsh superhero. Of where the UK and Wales was in the 1960s of Red Dragon’s heyday, of showing some of that optimism and bright colour, and then telling a story about where Wales, and Britain, is now.”
Red Dragon is not just beloved to Rob Williams but a fan-favourite that is still ever-present for co-creator Steve Yeowell on the British con circuit, stating that he is “one of the mainstays of my sketching repertoire”.
Yeowell goes on to say:
“My first encounter with him was when he appeared in Zenith phase one, more than thirty years ago: a broken and disillusioned figure, fated for a tragic end. So I’m really excited at the opportunity to work with 2000 AD writing veteran Rob Williams and fellow artist Patrick Goddard on this dual timeline story, to show him as a super hero in his 1960s prime – charismatic, confident and principled”
Supporting the new series, Rob Williams and Patrick Goddard will be doing a signing at the Forbidden Planet store in Wales’ capital city of Cardiff September 27 – alongside a signing by fellow Welshman, artist Neil Edwards in support of the new Rogue Trooper series Ghost Patrol.
