Podtalk: Actor David Dastmalchian Creates Comic Book 'Count Crowley'

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CHICAGO – Back in 2007, actor David Dastmalchian got the call that he has secured a role in “The Dark Knight,” as one of the Joker’s henchmen. He was living in Chicago at the time, and from then on his world broke open. Today, David is a vital part of the Marvel (“Ant-Man”) AND DC universes (“Suicide Squad”), and has created his own comic, “Count Crowley.”

The self-professed “comic book nerd” took the opportunity to create (with Lukas Ketner, Lauren Affe and Frank Cvetkovic) his debut “Count Crowley,” a wild and symbolic tale published by Dark Horse Comics. The comic follows Jerri Bartman, a once rising TV journalist who has returned to her small Midwest hometown TV station in 1983. Demoted to hosting the nightly Creature Feature, Jerri’s professional humiliation is eclipsed by the discovery that her new job comes with a supernatural duty. Her missing predecessor, Count Crowley, was one of the last “appointed” hunters of monsters. It turns out that monsters are real, and they’re hell-bent on controlling the news and information consumed by humans. The book hit the stands on October 23rd, and is available now.

Actor and Comic Book Creator David Dastmalchian at Graham Crackers Comics in Chicago
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

David Dastmalchian has come a long way since that call to “The Dark Knight.” He has forged both an independent film career, with his award winning “Animals” (2014), directed by his creative partner Collin Schiffli, and mainstream notoriety as Russian Kurt, part of the “Antourage” in the Marvel Universe “Ant-Man” films. On TV, he’s had memorable parts on the new “Macgyver” as Murdoc, and the villain Abra Kadabra on DC’s “The Flash.” He will be part of a new Hulu original series, “Reprisal,” premiering on December 6th, and has roles in two high-profile films in 2020, “Dune” and “The Suicide Squad.” David is one of the humblest, kindest and hippest of rising young stars, and has deep gratitude for all of his wild ride.

In a Podtalk with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, David Dastmalchian talks his comic book “Count Crowley,” his upcoming roles, and from an insider’s perspective, the zeitgeist of the Marvel and DC universes.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com