James Stokoe’s next comic project is set to be an action-packed, kung-fu adventure epic called Orphan and the Five Beasts. The story will follow an adopted warrior who’s on a quest for vengeance, wanting to kill the five beasts, who were former disciples that have corrupted her home with demonic powers. Like Stokoe’s previous works, the series is packed with jaw-dropping detail and action that is inspired by some of the greatest films from Hong Kong.

Stokoe is one of the most talented creators in comics, whose work on the Eisner-nominated Sobek, Godzilla: Half-Century War, and Aliens: Dead Orbit are some of the best modern works today in the medium. The Canadian artist might be best known for his creator-owned works, but he’s also worked for both DC and Marvel Comics, including providing the art in Batman’s Clownhunter origin story in the Joker Warzone anthology.

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Screen Rant got the chance to chat with Stokoe about his upcoming Dark Horse project, Orphan and the Five Beasts. He revealed what inspired him for the series, how action has always been a huge part of his storytelling, and what readers can expect with the new series.

How did your work on other series prepare you for this one?

Most of my previous work has been pretty action-centric, so it’s been cumulative, I guess? There’s always been a huge influence of Hong Kong action choreography on my work, and this is the first time I’m addressing that influence directly.

The detail in this book is incredible – how long did it take to plot and draw? Was doing four-issues always the plan?

Four issues is just the first arc. We only meet two of the five Beasts by the end of this run, so there’s definitely more planned. As for how long it takes to write and draw, if you asked my wonderful and infinitely patient editor Daniel Chabon, the answer would likely be “too damn long!”.

Can you describe Mo (the titular orphan) and their journey in this book? Taking on demonic entities seems like a huge challenge.

Mo’s a bit of a mystery at the beginning, her skills and personality coming out more and more as the series progresses. She’s a bit of that lone wanderer character type I’m so fond of in my work, but I’ve got plans for her that I don’t want to give away.

Which Hong Kong action films inspired this series? The action is over the top and bombastic. There’s one kill, in particular, that is insane.

Oh, there’s tons. One of the most deliciously absurd and wonderful things about this job is that I got to buy a huge stack of Shaw Brothers films and write them off as research! It’s great! But, for the first issue, it’s impossible not to mention Chang Cheh’s Five Deadly Venoms. It’s a film that’s been so cannibalized over the years, and I feel a little guilty in adding to that, but it’s such a perfect launching point. As the issues go on, and the absurdity escalates, a lot of influence from the odder outlier Hong Kong action films starts to show, I think. Human Lanterns and Holy Flame of the Martial World are big ones.

What was your favorite thing to draw in this book?

Figuring out each of the Beast’s looks and moves has been really fun. Each has a style focused on a specific body part, so planning that out was a happy puzzle to work on.

How important is it for you to keep the action moving? The book seems to find a great balance between fast-paced action and important lore/storytelling.

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Orphan is most definitely an action-oriented book and that’s where my main focus lies, which is always a bit of a tightrope in comics. I’m always painfully aware that people are paying a chunk of change for 22 pages, and a lot of readers tend to blow right through action scenes and feel a bit cheated for what can be such a short read, but I’m hoping that this will be a book that people are happy to revisit. I figure if the world is interesting enough, or the visual jokes land, then that will be so.

What do you hope readers get out of this book?

Just to have a fun experience in these dismal times. And, if I can get one fan to talk to me at a convention about their favorite Liu Chia-liang film, I will consider this book a massive success.

The first issue of Orphan and the Five Beastswill be available in comic book stores and online on March 17, 2021.

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Liam McGuire
(2569 Articles Published)

Lead writer for Screen Rant’s comic team. [email protected]. Find me on Twitter @LiamRMcGuire for comic news and reporting.

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