First Comics News: Who is The Peregrine?
Barry Reese: The Peregrine is Max Davies, a man who witnessed the brutal murder of his father when he was a young boy. Shortly thereafter, he began to experience painful visions of future events – crimes that would later take place. Realizing that he could stop those crimes from taking place, Max dedicated himself to becoming an instrument of justice. Eventually, he learned that these visions were, in fact, coming from beyond the grave — from his father. In the tradition of The Shadow, Doc Savage, the Avenger, and other pulp-style heroes, the Peregrine’s adventures have spanned nearly a century: he’s fought crime from the 1930s up into the modern day.
1st: Who are a few of the villains he faces?
Barry: The Peregrine has been around for about twenty years now, so he’s faced a lot of enemies. Some of the ones that have made multiple appearances are The Warlike Manchu, Doctor York, the Occult Forces Project, and Corvus. During the Thirties and Forties, he clashed with Nazis pretty frequently.
1st: Will the Peregrine team up with other heroes, such as…?
Barry: Over the years, he’s crossed paths with several other characters. Some of those were from my own universe, such as Lazarus Gray, Gravedigger, and The Dark Society. He even fronted his own team for a time, known as the Claws of the Peregrine. He’s also occasionally met heroes from other authors.
1st: How is “Kingdom of Blood” different than your normal vampire story?
Barry: This isn’t just a solitary vampire lord invading Atlanta… this is an attempt to literally invert the natural world’s order. The vampires are no longer content to hunt and feed in the shadows – they plan to establish a kingdom of their own in which humans are treated as slaves and cattle.
1st: What is it about your writing that draws the reader in?
Barry: Like a lot of writers, I write what I’d like to read… and I grew up on pulp adventure. While there are other authors out there today writing these kinds of stories, there are not as many as I’d like, and I think that there are lots of readers out there who agree with me. So when people read my work, they enjoy being taken along on a journey of excitement and adventure. While I occasionally touch upon politics and such, it’s actually pretty rare. Most of the time, I’m dealing with classic good vs. evil, right vs. wrong. It’s pure escapism, and I think that a lot of folks need that in these troubled times.
1st: Are there any Pulp Heroes that you have not worked on that you would like to?
Barry: I’ve been lucky enough to write stories featuring The Avenger, the Moon Man, I.V. Frost, G-8 and his Battle Aces, plus quite a few more… but I’d still like to write The Shadow, Seekay, and Norgil the Magician. Those are three that I think I could do wonderful things with.
1st: Which Pulp Hero of yours would you most like to meet if they were real?
Barry: That’s an interesting question and not one that I’ve ever really considered before. Of my golden age characters, I’d probably choose Lazarus Gray. I think he’d be an interesting person to talk to, especially given the incredible highs and lows of his life. In the modern era, I’d definitely pick Catalyst (Logan Jenkins). She’s extremely down-to-earth despite her incredible power.
1st: Has being a teacher helped you to write better comic books, and how so?
Barry: Only in the sense that I teach literature every da,y and so I’m used to reading some of the literary greats. I certainly don’t think that I deserve tbe o in the same discussion as those writers, and I tend to write in very different genres from the likes of Poe, Shelley, O’Connor, or Fitzgerald, but it has helped me learn about pacing, how to build suspense, and how to use imagery.
1st: What about Pulp Heroes attracts people to them?
Barry: Escapism! It’s fun to escape the real world and to see good guys vs. bad guys… and to know that, more often than not, the bad guys will be punished. Plus, it’s just exciting to read stories that are adrenaline-laced, with quick pacing and adventure.
1st: Your sixth Straw-Man novel is done, so how has this series progressed over the six novels?
Barry: In the beginning, there was a lot of mystery about who the major players were, a nd those were slowly answered as we moved forward. The characters’ relationships certainly evolved, as well. The series as a whole was set up to be an homage to the 1970s Marvel supernatural books, and I’d say by the end, it had evolved into more folk-horror.
1st: How was the “Reese Unlimited Universe” formed?
Barry: It sort of just came together. I didn’t initially set out to create a huge shared uni, but as I kept writing and introducing new characters, my natural inclination to tie things together took over. I’m a big fan of comic book-style continuity, and I enjoy tying together histories and then bringing characters into conflict with one another.
1st: What does the future hold for your career?
Barry: My long-time publisher, Pro Se Productions, went out of business earlier this year, forcing me to re-issue my books in new editions, and I’ll be continuing that over the next year. In addition, I’ve been releasing at least one new book a month since April. Needless to say, my production has not slowed down. Next year I’ll be introducing some new characters into my shared universe… ones that you will definitely recognize. I can’t say much more than that.
1st: How do you feel about those who read what you write?
Barry: I’m very grateful to the people who have supported me through the years. When I started writing, I had no idea if anyone would be interested in reading what I produced… but over the years, I’ve met people who were really invested in my universe, and some of them have produced cosplays, fan art, and more. It really encourages me on those days when it’s hard to sit down at the keyboard and put the work in.
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