This February British publisher Com.X releases a supernatural murder mystery in the midst of the Rastafarian movement in Jamaica, Duppy ‘78.

Ex-Vertigo editor Casey Seijas joins us to talk about Obeahman, reggae music, comics and writing for Com.X.

FOG!: Hi Casey, thanks for joining us today! What exactly is a Duppy Conqueror?

Casey Seijas: In Rastafarian culture, a Duppy is a ghost that can be benevolent, or more often than not, mischievous or even able to inflict bodily harm. A Duppy Conqueror — who’s also called anObeahman — has the ability to control Duppies, so they can defend against them, chase them away or set them upon people.

I come to this era in Jamaica by way of The Clash. Besides the obvious callout to Marley, what’s a good soundtrack for this comic?

Yes! I’ve been waiting for someone to ask me this!

I listened to a ton of old school dancehall, reggae and dub (not that Skrillex nonsense, I’m talking Lee Scratch Perry style here) while researching and writing this.


Here’s the unofficial soundtrack:

Sister Nancy “Bam Bam”

 

Lee Scratch Perry “Heads of Government”

 

Smiley Culture “Police Officer”

 

Bob Marley “Mr. Brown” & “Small Axe”

 

Ken Boothe “Live Good”

 

Jimmy Cliff “The Harder They Come”

 

Alton Ellis “Willow Tree”

 

Peter Tosh “Stepping Razor”

 

Ernie Smith “Duppy Gun Man”

 

Melodians “Rivers of Babylon”

 

Tron $tyler “Untitled” — this is the song that’s featured in the Duppy ‘78 trailer that went around a few weeks back that my friend made. You can download the full track and more of his music here: https://soundcloud.com/tronstyler

 

[READ MORE at FORCES OF GEEK]