Kade seemed to come out of nowhere, and brought Arcana Studio with it. Appearing on the scene in a time where a new publisher making a dent in the depressed and overcrowded comics marketplace seemed less likely than ever, Arcana has blossomed, and added a new sword & sorcery hero to the genre:

The enigmatic warrior that doesn't feel, but always hurts:

Kade's presence grew as his ability with a sword became legendary. There were also rumours whispered in the realm that Kade was the lost Lord. It didn't take long for the current Dark Lord to hear of these rumours and to act. Apollyon had conquered everything in his way to become the Dark Lord, and he was not going to let his people believe this 'pretender'. He attacked Kade's monastery and village with the intent of destroying everything... but in a baptism of fire Apollyon gave birth to KADE!

I caught up with Kade-creator and Arcana Editor-In-Chief Sean O'Reilly to talk about how Kade came to be, where he's going, and just why his adventures are so damned fun.

What is your background experience with sword-and-sorcery media and literature? What in the genre inspired you?

I've always loved the notion of fate by your own hand. In a day and age where it truly is survival of the fittest, one's potential was boundless. Kade is no different. I love the fact that one man can stand against so many and continue to fight. As far as inspirations, Conan and Lord of the Rings would be the most obvious sources. I loved the dark brooding nature of Conan, and the epic tale of LotR. I believe Kade has the dark tones, and when we've completed the second story arc, people will understand his epic tale.

"He cannot feel, but he always hurts. From steel separating flesh, to a warm embrace, Kade is unable to feel any physical touch. Kade's gift... his curse... has allowed him to push his body to its limits."
Could you say a few words about the central metaphor here? It seems to me the idea of an S&S hero who can't feel physical pain -- and the emotional pain this causes him -- is nearly as fundamental and iconic a central tension as Spider-Man's "With great power comes great responsibility." How does Kade's condition drive the story, and do you think it's a condition readers relate to, in an emotional or metaphoric sense?

The parallel I really wanted to create was to have a character that was impervious to physical pain, and then to create a world of emotional torment and anguish for him. Kade's pain is internal and deeply rooted with his entire character; from his tragic beginnings to the acceptance that he is an eternal being who must watch everyone he loves die.

In response to my first question, you said: "I've always loved the notion of fate by your own hand." Could you say something about the role of prophecy/destiny/fate in Kade's world, and how it limits and/or enables free will?

Great question. Kade's fate is to endlessly roam the earth searching for demons. It was during his first adventure that he began to realize that although his destiny is forced, his will and the decisions he makes are still his. He has to accept that while this freedom is limited, it is all he has. As a result, the endurance and hardships he must overcome are not physical, but mental. All the loved ones he has ever known, every person he has ever known, has aged and died before him. As he journeys, his mental fatigue begins to culminate and slowly he begins to lose reason to fight... and to live.

Do you see a bright future for sword and sorcery in the comics industry?

It is definitely a tough genre, but with Lord of the Rings, Conan, Red Sonja, and Kade, there are a lot of great stories that are definitely worth reading. Having said that, Kade's next adventure will not be set in the Sword and Sorcery genre. Because the reader follows Kade's endless journey, we get to have fun and dabble in all the various areas and eras of the world. The next Kade series, Sun of Perdition, is set during the Dark Ages and is more historically based. The series after that will be set in feudal Japan and will be called Rising Sun where Kade will battle The Oni. The artwork for Sun of Perdition is almost complete and it is incredible. We hope you pick it up!

Si vales, gaudeo!