#AuthorInterview with Wes Al-Dhaher
Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Diana Coyle is talking with Wes Al-Dhaher, author of Brotherhood of the Wolf: The Lesser Evil.
FQ: One of the first things I do when I read a book by an author I'm unfamiliar with is read the author's bio to get to know them better. Would you please tell us a few things about yourself so that new readers, like myself, can learn about you?
AL-DHAHER: When I was in high school, I read a story that, while I didn't know it at the time, would eventually change my life. It was about Dracula—not the Dracula you've seen in movies, but the real story. It started with an article titled "How the Muslims Killed Dracula" by Shibli Zaman.
The article revealed how the real story of Vlad the Impaler and his brother Radu had been distorted over time. Radu was a loyal Muslim and key ally to Sultan Mehmet II, playing a crucial role in the conquest of Constantinople and battling Dracula's brutal reign. However, Radu's heroic contributions have been overshadowed by exaggerated tales of Dracula. The article criticized Hollywood for making Dracula a tragic hero and the Ottomans the villains.
That's when it hit me: why are there no stories involving Muslims? Why are we always portrayed as the bad guys?
I had that thought in the back of my mind while building a successful career in tech. Years later, I decided it was time to do something about it. I researched and initially wanted to write a novel, but realized that the younger people in my community weren't reading novels anymore. I wasn't ready to make a movie, but comics and manga remained popular. So I attended the Emerald City Comic Con and connected with artists who could create the high-quality comic art I envisioned.
That's how Tales of Khayr and the Brotherhood of the Wolf series was born—a mission to fill a storytelling gap with authentic Muslim representation in dark fantasy settings.
 |
| Author Wes Al-Dhaher |
FQ: Can you please tell our readers a brief synopsis of your graphic novella, Brotherhood of the Wolf: The Lesser Evil, and what specifically makes your novella unique?
AL-DHAHER: Brotherhood of the Wolf: The Lesser Evil is a dark origin story that reveals why one of our main characters, Koja, wears his iconic mask. Set in 15th-century Byzantine Constantinople, it follows a young Eastern Roman boy who faces an unimaginable fate when confronted with the choice between two evils—a decision that transforms him from a pampered youth into a hardened Janissary warrior.
What makes this novella unique is its blend of historical authenticity, dark fantasy elements, and complex plot. The graphic novel portion of the story unfolds without words, allowing the stunning artwork by Professor Aurelio Mazzara to convey powerful emotions through meticulous pencil and ink illustrations. Each panel is crafted to immerse readers in the raw emotional journey of our protagonist.
Most importantly, it's the first installment in a larger universe we're building that serves as a cultural bridge, appealing to both Muslim readers hungry for realistic depictions and non-Muslim readers fascinated by a fresh perspective on dark fantasy.
FQ: I loved how well-written and detailed the Brotherhood of the Wolf: The Lesser Evil was and how you wrapped the storyline around historical events with uniquely written paranormal inferences throughout. What made you want to create a storyline like this?
AL-DHAHER: Thank you for that observation! The inspiration came from recognizing a significant gap in fantasy literature and comics. While researching historical accounts of the 15th century Ottoman Empire, I discovered the real history was already filled with drama, complex characters, and high stakes—perfect foundations for compelling storytelling.
The paranormal elements grew organically from exploring alchemy and regional folklore. These traditions contain rich mythologies about jinns, magical practices, and supernatural beings that have rarely been utilized in mainstream fantasy. I wanted to showcase these elements rather than recycling the same Lord of the Rings-lite fantasy tropes we've seen countless times.
FQ: When can your readers expect your next graphic novella to be available and can you give us any insider information about it?
AL-DHAHER: Issue #1 is complete and Issue #2 is in active production right now. We intend to sell both issues together as a special 2-for-1 offer to our fans. These should be ready for release in summer 2025.
As for insider information, the next issues will dramatically expand the Brotherhood of the Wolf universe. While The Lesser Evil focused on Koja's origin, the upcoming issues will follow Tahsin, Koja, and their companions as they're sent to capture slave soldiers for the Ottoman Empire. What begins as a straightforward mission quickly transforms into a confrontation with unholy forces when they discover that a remote Serbian village's young men have already been taken by Wallachian forces.
Readers will be introduced to fascinating new characters, including Munir, a wandering alchemist searching for tears of sorrow to create the philosopher's stone, and the terrifying Zacchaeus Butcher, a monstrous creation of dark magic. We'll also explore Tahsin's struggle with cowardice—a theme that echoes through much of the series.
FQ: Where do you look upon for inspiration for what you write?
AL-DHAHER: My inspiration comes from multiple sources that converge to create something unique. There's history itself—particularly overlooked or historical events and figures. The Ottoman Empire, the fall of Constantinople, and the complex politics of that era provide rich soil for storytelling.
I also draw deeply from esoteric and regional folklore, which contains fascinating supernatural traditions, entities, and concepts that have been largely untapped in typical fantasy.
The work of pioneering fantasy writers like Robert E. Howard (creator of Conan) influences my approach to dark fantasy storytelling—creating worlds that feel dangerous, mysterious, and alive. Similarly, I admire the artistic vision of manga like Berserk and Attack on Titan, which fearlessly explore darkness while maintaining emotional depth.
Film is another major inspiration. I'm influenced by how directors use visual language to tell stories efficiently, build tension, and create memorable moments. This cinematic approach informs how we structure scenes and pace our narrative.
FQ: What made you want to be a graphic book author?
AL-DHAHER: The decision to create graphic books emerged from a practical assessment of what would best serve the story I wanted to tell. While I initially considered writing a novel, I observed that many younger readers in my community were increasingly drawn to visual storytelling formats like comics, manga, and graphic novels.
Comics offer a unique storytelling advantage: the ability to show rather than tell. This medium allows us to immerse readers in the richly detailed historical settings of Ottoman and Byzantine worlds through visuals, making these unfamiliar environments immediately accessible. The visual medium also creates powerful opportunities for emotional storytelling—a glance, a shadow, or a wordless sequence can convey volumes of meaning.
FQ: Please tell us what your writing routine is like?
AL-DHAHER: At Tales of Khayr, we utilize development and production workflows found in film and TV production. The first step consists of developing a treatment for any arc of the Brotherhood of the Wolf series. Then, we write each issue of an arc as a screenplay based on the treatment. This way, our writing room operates much in the same way as a typical writing room found in Hollywood.
The core difference is the conversion rate. While a standard-formatted screenplay page equals roughly one minute of screen time, it does not equal one full comic page. With our conversion rate, we know how long the final draft of any issue script needs to be to meet market and production demands.
Afterward, our creative director performs a directorial analysis based on the final draft of the screenplay. But instead of generating a shot list, we end up with a panel list. Only then does our storyboarding process begin.
This workflow allows us to craft cinematic experiences with tight story arcs devoid of any filler. It also enables us to plan ahead and lay out multiple future arcs while keeping up with production demands. We can efficiently map out character development, plot points, and thematic elements across multiple issues while ensuring visual consistency and narrative flow.
FQ: To wrap up our interview, is there anything you would like to add to tell our readers?
AL-DHAHER: I'd like to emphasize that while Brotherhood of the Wolf was created to fill a storytelling gap for Muslim readers, these stories are for everyone. I firmly believe that the most specific stories often become the most universal—when you create something authentic and true to a particular experience, it paradoxically connects with people from all backgrounds.
We've worked hard to create a dark fantasy world that offers something fresh and exciting for all readers. Whether you're drawn to the historical setting, the supernatural elements, the character-driven narrative, or simply appreciate meticulously crafted artwork, there's something in Brotherhood of the Wolf for you.
Our comics are exclusively available to our free newsletter subscribers through our website (https://talesofkhayr.com/). By joining our community, readers not only get access to our publications but also become part of a growing movement to diversify fantasy storytelling.
