Creator of the Month: Daniel Kraus

The idea behind AWA is that by putting creators first, we all benefit. Our tagline says it all: “Where the best creators do their best work, for you.” We think the quality of our original stories backs that up, and our fans, critics, and the industry seem to agree with us.

Our “Creator of the Month” program lets us spotlight a different writer, artist, colorist, letterer or more each month, allowing you to get a glimpse into what makes them tick. (What’s more, you may ask? As you may know, AWA is venturing into film and TV, so you may just see a director or other movie auteur show up on these pages over time, too!)

Creator of the Month – October
Daniel Kraus
Writer
Year Zero Vol. 0

Follow Daniel on Socials:
Twitter: @DanielDKraus
Instagram: @kraus_author

What is your favorite comic character or fictional character of all time? Why?
Believe it or not, I grew up without comics! Only since releasing my first comic, THE AUTUMNAL, in 2020, have I really dove into them. I know this is bizarre, but what can I say? I simply had no comics and no way of getting them. The upside is now I’m gloriously overwhelmed with options. So—with the caveat that I’m only two years into reading them!—Alan Moore’s SWAMP THING has really lived up to its billing.

Who most influenced you in the world of comics?
Now I’m going to edge back from my first answer. As a kid, I actually owned exactly three comics: issues #10, #11, and #12 of Marvel’s Secret Wars. My mom had bought the three-pack at a store counter somewhere. Bizarre behavior — she never did it before or again. Of course, I had no freaking idea what was going on in those issues. But that almost made it better. I had so many questions, which just made my mind spin every time I re-read them.

Who most influenced you outside of the world of comics?
George A. Romero. I saw Night of the Living Dead around age six and never looked away from anything Romero did afterward. He meant everything to me, which is why it was such an honor to complete The Living Dead, the novel he was writing when he died. And of course that led directly to me writing Year Zero Volume 0 for AWA.

Do you have a favorite panel/ art from an AWA series you’ve worked on?
I adore the full-page panels that Goran is drawing for the end of each issue. So creepy.

What do you want fans to know about you?
I’m a novelist so I write all my comics issues all at once in the manner of a novel. I don’t know how writers write one issue per month without knowing how the whole thing is going to end!

If you were a comic book character, would you rather be the hero or the villain?
Villain

What’s your favorite comic book or graphic novel?
I don’t feel qualified to answer this but I went nuts for Eric Powell’s Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?

What’s your favorite comic book genre?
Horror, I suppose!

Would you rather be invisible or have the ability to fly?
Invisible. I get motion sick.

Do you think you could survive in a zombie apocalypse?
Yes. But the question is, would I want to?

Do you listen to music while you’re creating?
Always, 100% of the time.

What is your favorite song?
What kind of maniac has an answer for this question?!

Dog person, cat person, or?
Dog person

Where is your happy place?
At my desk, writing.

Tell us one of your guilty pleasures.
Lifetime movies!

If you were stranded in an elevator with any 3 people, real or fictional, living or dead, who would you pick?
A fireman, doctor, and a pharmacist with a lot of tranquilizers on them.

What is your favorite burger?
Anything at Kuma’s.

What is your favorite type of pizza/pizza topping?
Margherita pizza.

If you could have anything in the world for a last meal, what would it be?
Again, Margherita pizza.