Behind The Scenes: Writing The Serpent's Shadow

The Serpent's Shadow represented a unique opportunity to merge two worlds that have long fascinated me: the realm of superhero fiction and the dark history of World War II. As someone who grew up immersed in comic books, I've always been drawn to stories of heroes facing moral challenges bigger than themselves. But parallel to this, my deep interest in the World Wars—particularly how the complex interplay of nations and ideologies could spawn such twisted beliefs—pulled me in another direction.

The challenge was clear: how could I bring these elements together without diminishing the gravity of real historical events? Time travel felt too convenient, too easy. Instead, I chose to explore how these dangerous ideologies might persist and evolve in the modern world, manifesting through organizations like the Brotherhood of the Snake.

When I first approached writing about neo-Nazi characters, I expected to feel nothing but revulsion. What surprised me was how the process forced me to understand their situation—not to sympathize, but to comprehend how such beliefs could survive and adapt in our modern era. The hidden town of Freiburg, tucked away in the Brazilian jungle, became more than just a setting; it became a symbol of how dangerous ideologies can fester in isolation, combining old hatreds with modern technologies like genetic engineering and bioweapons.

<spoiler>Dave's journey through this story revealed something crucial about his character. As he infiltrated the Brotherhood under the identity of Karl Müller, we see him confronting not just physical challenges, but profound moral ones. His powers might make him nearly invincible, but they don't shield him from the psychological weight of witnessing humanity at its worst. The discovery of Project Purification—a bioweapon targeting specific genetic markers—forces Dave to face the ultimate perversion of scientific advancement.</spoiler>

What's particularly fascinating is how Dave's character has evolved throughout the series. In The Serpent's Shadow, we see him operating not just as a physical force, but as someone who must maintain his moral compass while swimming in very dark waters. His interaction with complex characters like Dr. Fischer, who straddles the line between ally and manipulator, showcases this growth. Dave's powers might be superhuman, but it's his humanity—his ability to maintain his values while confronting evil—that truly defines him.

The Brotherhood's combination of occult ceremonies and cutting-edge genetic engineering offered a perfect mirror to Dave's own mysterious origins. The Stahlkrieger soldiers represent a dark reflection of what Dave might have become under different circumstances—power without conscience, strength without compassion.

Looking back, The Serpent's Shadow became more than just another instalment in Dave's story. It evolved into an exploration of how past horrors can echo into the present, and how the true measure of a hero lies not in their powers, but in their choices. Dave's physical evolution throughout the series is impressive, but it's his moral and psychological growth that truly stands out in this story.

As we see Dave shed the identity of Karl Müller at the end, we're reminded that while we can infiltrate darkness, we must never let it infiltrate us. In a world where old hatreds can find new expressions, perhaps that's the most important lesson of all.