Tokyopop Raises Stakes with Priest: Purgatory

Holy warrior keeps the faith by killing vamps.

Right now, hundreds of pilgrims are on a sacred, seemingly endless quest to find the mythic land known as ‘Hall B’ in the San Diego Convention Center.  The Grail they’re after is not just the panel for Priest, the upcoming film starring Paul Bettany and Karl Urban, but the free sneak-peak copies of Priest: Purgatory from Tokyopop.

The film is based on the critically acclaimed Priest manwha (Korean manga) and the new comic series bridges the worlds of the manwha and the film.  Before the panel spills the beans, GCD took a knee with co-writer Troy Lewter to get you the scoop on the pugilistic padre who lives to slay vampires.

GCD: What’s the story arc of Priest: Purgatory?
TL: On the surface, it’s a road story about four Priests and five soldiers that are sent on a mission by the church to retrieve a mysterious ancient relic called the Domas Porada--which happens to be smack-dab in the heart of the vampire wasteland.  In the film, Paul Bettany's character disobeys the church to track down the vampires who have kidnapped his niece. His choice to go against their orders not to pursue the vampires presents a crisis of faith for him.

GCD: How violent/gory is the comic book series?
TL: It’s pretty violent and gory, but it’s meaningful violence.  I didn’t want there to be gore just for the sake of gore (not that there’s anything wrong with that) but my approach is that this is a war comic. A war with vampires, but a war all the same.

GCD: Each vampire tale puts their own twist on vampires. What’s yours?
TL: The twist for the vampires in the film and comic is that they are definitely not the romanticized, “sparkly” type that your daughter wants to take to the prom.  These vampires are vicious, savage creatures more akin to insects in how they swarm and attack their prey. I think it’s safe to say these are vampires that have yet to be seen in film (or comics) before.  The only classic vampire rule is that sunlight can kill them. But beyond that--pick up an axe and get to swingin’!

Good advice for us all.  If you’re not at the Con, get the Priest App and download the entire series.   The original series, Priest: Genesis, hits comic shops this August.

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