Exclusive Interview: Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad and Abdallah Jasim Discuss Crestar and the Knight Stallion

Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad and Abdallah Jasim are the creative geniuses behind Crestar and the Knight Stallion.

In a Detroit teetering on the edge of destruction – Crestar – a battle-worn vigilante discovers a young man with superhuman abilities. Coming to be known as the Knight Stallion, this new hero fears only one thing – his Arab mother.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Ajmal and Abdallah about Crestar and the Knight Stallion.

PC: How did this partnership initially form and at what point did you both realize you wanted to bring Crestar and the Knight Stallion to life as a live-action format and a comic book series?
Ajmal: Abdallah and I and our other partner Najam Syed were looking for a project to make during the lockdown. With the inability to film overseas, we thought creating an idea that could be made closer to home would be smart. I initially pitched an idea for a sketch-type comedy show incorporating the idea of superheroes that come back to their secret hideout and just discuss the mundane and humorous aspects of their daily lives. Kind of like Seinfeld meets superheroes. We all gravitated towards that one particular sketch and then the idea began to blossom. We had seen some of Abdallah’s performances and comedic sketches and knew he had the perfect all-around vibe to create and be one of the heroes. The collaboration really turned out amazing. Creatively, myself and Abdallah are very much on the same page about everything but offer completely different, but very symbiotic, styles of both humor and story.

Abdallah: When we had our first meetings about creating a new idea, the concept of superheroes and their daily lives really got me excited. I realized that I could harness all the ideas I had as a comedian, as well as all of the humorous cultural anecdotes I had been making videos about for years—the stuff that really brought me a global audience through social media. The collaboration between Ajmal and myself was really effortless. I had so many ideas about family, culture, heritage, and heart, and he had so many ideas about cool characters, villains, epic storylines, and heart as well. When we figured out we could combine these concepts using the glue of humor, the stage was set for what you see today. We immediately realized this story could be much bigger than just a sketch comedy idea. It could be an epic storyline that merges culture, humanity, and humor, and that’s the spirit we have tried to capture in the comic book. Keep up with each issue because trust me, it gets better.

PC: Crestar and the Knight Stallion is one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. What can fans and audiences expect?
Ajmal: Expect to see and feel the things that made you excited and touched your heart growing up. We’ve gone back to the basics with this one and want to make you feel like a kid again. I’ve drawn on all the things that still make my heart beat to this day. Superman, Batman, Star Wars, Transformers, Robotech, Voltron, Thundercats, MOTU…the list goes on and on. There’s a bit of all that stardust magic in this fresh new take on the superhero story. I hope you like it.

Abdallah: You can also expect to feel real sincerity and integrity in the family, cultural, and community aspects of this story, from how the heroes defend their home turf of Detroit to how the character of Ali interacts with his mom. Know that we spent a lot of time trying to make sure every detail was right. From making sure how Detroit is laid out in the comic books matches real life to how an Arab mom might get her son married, it’s all in there. We really want people to feel the love and passion that went into this story. You also should be ready for some pretty groundbreaking villains as well…but we’ll leave that to the comics.

PC: These are characters/superheroes who are near and dear to your heart. How were you able to incorporate elements of yourself, your culture, and your heritage into each of them?
Ajmal: If I were ever to be a superhero, I think Crestar would definitely be my alter ego. He dresses in black. He loves weapons, gadgets, and cars. And he loves toys. He’s basically me but with an almost psychopathic desire to brutally harm bad guys. He’s the type of friend you want when everyone else leaves your side. He’ll sacrifice himself for the greater good, something all men should have in their blood. One thing about him is dissimilar though…he has no family to speak of. He never knew the love of a mother or father, so it’s a big hole in his life. One that he constantly tries to fill but just doesn’t know how.

Abdallah: Ali is very much me. From his relationship with his mom to his love for being an Arab and an American. He doesn’t make any excuses for his love for his family and will do anything to protect them. Sometimes he makes mistakes and maybe goes a bit too far, but he always makes things right. I feel that this character is just a cartoony version of me and that’s why I’m so invested in him. We say that Crestar never had a family, and Ali could never live without one. I feel that’s me too.

PC: As you’ve both made your way into the comic book world, has anything surprised you about this project? What’s been the biggest takeaway thus far?
Ajmal: I’m a motion picture and commercial director by trade and do all of my own production design and storyboarding. The biggest surprise to me is how incredibly similar comics are to making a motion picture. It’s uncanny. All the same issues and problems and all the same passion and hard work! The result is a collaboration between many talented people and a product that is greater than the sum of its parts.

PC: You’ve assembled the dream team with Darick Robertson and Paul Allor. What was it like collaborating with them both as you brought this comic book series to life?
Abdallah: Paul Allor has really been a huge benefit to this project. His reputation of being an amazing and prolific comic book writer is well deserved as he’s taken this idea and really honed it down into the perfect beats for a comic book. He’s also perfectly suited for this genre in that it’s got humor, action, and a little bit of a quirky vibe. His work and his personality really fit just right.

Ajmal: Darick Robertson is one of the most all-around talented people we’ve ever collaborated with. If I could sum it up, it was like he understood this idea without us having to tell him anything. He just got it. We knew within minutes that we needed him to be part of this team. To add to that, he’s also just an incredibly nice, humble, and easy-to-work-with guy. He has no ego, no insecurity, and no limit to how much he’ll help an idea flourish. He also loves Star Wars action figures like I do. So that’s why I used a Boba Fett action figure to bribe him and his agent to come on board.

PC: There are three villains that are part of this initial arc. What can you tease about what readers can expect from each of them? Which has been each of your favorites to write for?
Abdallah: We’re really proud of our villains. We’ve actually spent more time crafting their stories than the stories of our heroes. Ajmal and I firmly believe that the hero can only be as good as his worst villain.

The first bad guy, Devil’s Knight, was awesome to create because he really feels like he’s jumped out of the news and into the comic book. He could truly be a real person in this day and age, and we feel that’s why he was the right choice to start the comic off with. I can’t tell you the names of villains two and three because that would give them away, but trust me, they’re going to be some of the best bad guys you’ve ever read about…and they’re going to kick the s—t out of Crestar and the Knight Stallion many times over.

Ajmal: Without going into too much detail, villain number two was based on an idea I had many years ago. I wanted to make a Batman horror movie one day. The bad guy in the movie would’ve been called the Boogeyman. Interestingly, the concept was so compelling that we translated the Boogeyman into our villain number two (I can’t reveal his new name just yet). The only hint I can give you on villain three is that he has something to do with Demon Prime, a subordinate henchman from our first arc of books. We hope you guys love the villains as much as the heroes.

PC: Abdallah, the relationship between Ali and his mother is going to resonate with so many readers. You’ve said in previous interviews that this project exists because of your mother and is a way to keep her memory alive. What do you hope readers take away from this dynamic?
Abdallah: We feel that the heart of a lot of projects nowadays can get lost in the wonderous imagery and earth-shattering battles. The universe we’re trying to make is a little closer to home. There’s probably not going to be any multiverses or alternate dimensions or time travel. What we hope to accomplish by limiting the scope of this comic is to introduce a truly heartfelt family dynamic and it all starts with Ali’s mother. She is modeled after my own mom, a loving and wonderful woman who passed away a few years ago. As a family, we have kept her charitable spirit alive through the Iman Jasim Foundation. We also hope to keep her vibrant personality alive via this comic book. I can only hope that we’ve done her proud and wish that readers might catch a glimpse of her love, humor, and kindness. Maybe a few might even send her a prayer or a happy thought. I’d appreciate it.

Make sure to follow Ajmal (Instagram) and Abdallah (Instagram). Order your copy of Crestar and the Knight Stallion today.