2001 Maniacs Comics Series

In 2005, Tim Sullivan and Chris Kobin introduced the world to the undead denizens of Pleasant Valley, Georgia, in their film "2001 Maniacs." The story goes that in 1874, a band of rogue Northern soldiers burnt Pleasant Valley to the ground along with everyone in it, and that every year since on the anniversary of the massacre, the ghosts of the townspeople who lost their lives return to lure unsuspecting Northerners to their deaths. Not only is "2001 Maniacs" the first of a film trilogy, but longtime comics fan Tim Sullivan is expanding the franchise into the world of comics with "2001 Maniacs Special" #1 coming later this year from Avatar Press. And with 140 years of hauntings, the series is not wanting for material. Sullivan sat down with CBR News to tell us what's in store for the Maniacs.

Sullivan, who directed and co-wrote "2001 Maniacs," had his heart set on bringing the Maniacs to comics from the moment the first film was greenlit. "In my head I always knew when we did 'Maniacs' that one day I really wanted there to be a 'Maniac' comic book," Sullivan said. "From the minute we started filming I was telling Lion's Gate, 'There's gonna be a 'Maniac' comic book.'" But the studio decided to take things one step at a time.

"I feel like in many ways I'm more of a rock band than a filmmaker, because when you're an independent filmmaker, you make your movie and then you gotta go tour with it," Sullivan said. "You do all these conventions from Comic-Con to Fangoria, and you're out there meeting the fans, and you bring your actors with you, and you put on the show, and you show scenes, and you meet and greet. And it's so much fun, because it really develops a personal relationship between the filmmaker and the audience." It was at one such convention that fate conspired to put the "2001 Maniacs" booth next to William Christensen's Avatar booth.

Download 2001 Maniacs Hornbook
Download 2001 Maniacs Special 01