PREVIEWS Exclusive: Sam Sarkar Unlocks The Vault

In this interview by Gianluca Glazer, we find out that Sam Sarkar is no stranger to incorporating mythologies in order to create a thrilling story. For his first comic, the action/adventure epic Caliber: First Canon of Justice, Sam took the legend of King Arthur and placed it within the setting of cowboys and shamans from the American Pacific Northwest. Edited by Radical Publishing’s co-founder Dave Elliott and drawn by Garrie Gastonny, Caliber received plenty of praise from both fans and critics alike. While his new comic, The Vault, greatly differs from Caliber by being in the horror/suspense genre, mythology still plays an important role. However, this isn’t the only similarity readers will find when The Vault is released by Image Comics on July 27th. Creator/writer Sam Sarkar reunites with editor Dave Elliott and artist Garrie Gastonny, in what promises to be the ultimate Deep Sea treasure hunt gone terribly wrong.

Tucked away in the back of Los Angeles’ swanky The Edison, Sam provided an exclusive interview with yet another face from his past, Gianluca Glazer, former Director of Marketing for Radical Publishing.

Gianluca Glazer (GG): Can you tell us a quick synopsis of what is The Vault about?

Sam Sarkar (SS):  A small team of treasure hunters struggles to excavate a dangerous and legendary treasure pit before a massive storm hits Sable Island, the "Graveyard of the North Atlantic." Equipped with all the latest technology, the scientists believe they are prepared against all of nature's fury, but nothing can prepare them for what they are about to unleash.

(GG): Sounds scary. Since The Vault is a horror story, are you a fan of the genre? Any particular horror movies or stories that you would consider your favorite?

(SS): Sure, I have always been a huge fan of the genre. I can name a bunch that I love, in no particular order.  Trilogy of Terror, The Changeling (Peter Medak’s), The Thing (John Carpenter’s), Don’t Look Now, Alien, The Sentinel, The Exorcist, The Exorcist III, The Omen, The Shining, Storm of the Century, Carrie, Scanners, Psycho (uh, sorry Mr.Van Sant, but there really is only one), Halloween, Friday the 13^th  (not the one I died in), Orphan, The Ring, The Others, Hellraiser, Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter, Nosferatu, recently Daybreakers was a good one…OK, I’m stopping for now. I love all of those for lots of different reasons.

(GG): You’ve worked with Dave Elliott before, but this is your first comic released through Image Comics. How is the experience of working with Image?

(SS): It is pretty great to have it come out through Image Comics.  Aside from being in great company with the other titles coming out this year, it’s always been a publisher that I’ve admired.  They have an ethos and an aesthetic that is really solid. 

(GG): Any chance you can tell us what exactly is lurking inside The Vault?

(SS):  Well…in the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, there is a painting by the artist, William Bouguereau that depicts something that might be found down there. As a matter of fact, what is lurking in The Vault is often depicted in art from almost every corner and culture in the world.  Check out Evelyn De Morgan.  I’m quite confident that savvy readers of the previews will have a pretty good clue. 

(GG): The artwork by Garrie Gastonny is amazing. You’ve worked with him on Caliber: First Canon of Justice previously. Did you immediately think of him when writing The Vault or did fate bring you both together again.

(SS): I immediately thought of Garrie and the team from Imaginary Friends Studios.  Garrie is going to be huge in this business.  I hope our collaborations will continue for a long time.  It was nice to do something with a different look from Caliber but that was equally striking.  Garrie is classy.

(GG): In your own words, why should comic readers run out and buy The Vault?

(SS): It’s a page-turner from the very first line to the last image. Each issue is like that. I think when you see the cover and then open the book, you will not be disappointed. The art and story are pretty solid. The characters have depth and mystery. Though it references a lot of real things that you could look up, read about and discover on your own, people will find each of the characters interesting to follow through a series of perilous choices. Then again, when you see what they bring up, you may wish that we had all left The Vault, undisturbed.

The Vault #1 (JUN110501) kicks off a 3-issue series that was solicited in the June issue of the PREVIEWS catalog. Issue #1 goes on sale July 27^th, 2011.

Check out these advance interior pages!