By Christopher Wink
He is a rising star in graphic novels and comics, but like too many people, Duane Swierczynski saw a neighborhood he loved make a change for the worse.
The Frankford-native discovered in 2005 that a pack of heroin dealers had taken over his peaceful childhood home on the 4700-block of Darrah Street, just east of the Margaret Orthodox El stop.
“[Growing up] my daily commute was a stroll down Frankford Avenue, right under the El,” he says. ” Which was an education in itself.”
And Swierczynski, 37, who made stops in Center City, Pennypack, New York City and elsewhere after leaving Frankford and before moving to Rhawnhurst in 2002, has come a long way from those roots playing underneath the El.
Using social media, a wicked pen and a wild imagination, he has developed something of a legend — a proud son of Northeast Philadelphia.
He has written five graphic novels, been anthologized in a half-dozen published collections, and has movie producers nipping at his heels. His latest novel out is the acclaimed Severance Package, and he’s been getting attention for bringing Punisher to Philly, as author of Marvel Comics’ monthly series Cable and The Immortal Iron Fist.
But, his native and bubbling neighborhood that is often at odds with Northwood, Wissinoming and Oxford Circle has been the inspiration of his writing before, and it seems like it will be again.
“Frankford’s going to play a huge role in my next novel, which should be out next year,” the former editor of CityPaper says. “It’s a murder mystery that plays out over 50 years. I don’t want to say more than that, but it’ll definitely be my most Northeast-centric book.”
After the jump, see a childhood photo and read where the Northeast shows up in his novels, when his kids will finally be able to know what daddy does and more.
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