He has only been in graphic storytelling for three years, but already the Czech-born writer has produced several influential series for the biggest publishers — and his latest is set to reinvent crime noir.
A t 28 years old, Ales Kot is at the forefront of a new generation of writers injecting fresh psychedelic and philosophical blood into American comics. His reality-bending, mind-expanding work, combining contemporary issues with pop cultural references, is a breath of fresh air rattling the windows of the comics establishment.
After only three years in the business, the Czech-born writer is currently juggling development of his experimental espionage series Zero for television with writing the successful Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier for Marvel. His latest work, launched today, 22 July, is Wolf — a crime noir-horror-fantasy set in present day Los Angeles, where Kot now lives.
And about myths, racism, the prison-industrial complex, and menstruation. In the first pages a burning man looks down upon the city while crooning Hellhound on My Trail, evoking the myth of singer songwriter Robert Johnson and his supposed pact with the devil: racial tensions boil close to the surface. In Zero he took an experimental approach, with different artists for each issue including rising British star Tula Lotay on the final instalment out this month, while Material and Wolf both have long-term creative teams: Will Tempest on the former, Matt Taylor and Lee Loughridge on the latter, with letterer Clayton Cowles and cover artist Tom Muller on both titles.
Will Wolf continue his experimental scripting approach? At the same time, I also like to leave empty spaces for synchronicities and whatever the universe sends my way. Most days, I feel like a hot mess, and I have to start from that and make a conscious choice to be kind and honest with myself and with the world. Working with themes of race, racism, militarisation of police, protest, gender … how could I not? An artist has a responsibility to the public. And I have a responsibility to myself and the people who live in this world with me.
