29 Sept 2026
Danny Trejo, the Four Horsemen, and an Obsidian Sword
Danny Trejo stopped in the middle of a video game recording session to tell Keith Arem he wanted to make a comic together, and that moment became Year of the Devil, a five-issue supernatural action-horror graphic novel starring Trejo as Diego, a warrior bound to the Devil. Keith Arem (Call of Duty, The Exiled) and Chris Yates (Marcus Walker: Kingslayer Protocol) join Frank to talk about building the story from Trejo's family history, his tattoos, and his lifelong love of history.
The conversation covers how Diego stays himself across five historical eras, why Etzel is more than a plot device, and how the team approached the Toxcatl massacre with help from historian Matt Torres. Keith and Chris also talk about Frank Mazzoli's interior art, the macuahuitl they plan to build and test on conquistador helmets, and why publishing through PCB Entertainment lets them run riddle contests with the Devil and surprise fan meetups at Trejo's Cantina in Hollywood.
Chapters
0:00 Meet Keith Arem and Chris Yates
0:47 How Year of the Devil Came Together
4:10 Where Danny Ends and Diego Begins
7:31 Etzel, the Devil, and the Heart of the Story
15:00 Five Eras and the Four Horsemen
20:37 Built for Games, Film, and Beyond
23:11 Aztec History and Cultural Authenticity
29:08 Frank Mazzoli's Artwork
31:07 PCB, BackerKit, and Trejo's Cantina Surprises
Key Takeaways
Year of the Devil started when Danny Trejo, recording for the Like a Dragon games, saw Keith's graphic novel The Exiled with Wesley Snipes and asked to make one of his own.
Diego carries Trejo's tattoos and attitude, and the Devil's mark on his body changes each time he kills one of the Four Horsemen.
Diego dies and returns younger in each issue, landing in a new real-world era, while Etzel and Death act as his conscience between lives.
Every cover artist on the book is of Latino descent, and historian Matt Torres consulted on the Aztec weapons, language, and relationships.
PCB builds every property with games, animation, and film in mind, and Keith says they are already fielding those calls but refuse to treat the book as a cash grab.
Publishing independently through BackerKit lets the team run fan experiences like the Devil riddle contest at San Diego Comic-Con and exclusive drops at Trejo's Tacos, Trejo's Donuts, and Trejo's Cantina.
Pull Quotes
"We really felt like it had to have something like some dirt under the fingernails." (Chris Yates)
"He's not really a clean superhero. He's super violent. He's flawed, and he's haunted, and he's also searching for this redemption path." (Keith Arem)
"What's interesting about a comic book is that the story doesn't progress unless you turn the page." (Keith Arem)
"Sometimes a story is better told when you read it, and sometimes it's better when you watch it, and sometimes it's better when you play through it." (Keith Arem)
"He made Diego feel like a part of this world. It felt like it was seamless, instead of just insert Danny Trejo." (Chris Yates, on artist Frank Mazzoli)
Links and Resources
GeekFreaksPodcast.com is the source for all news discussed on the podcast.
Back Danny Trejo's Year of the Devil on BackerKit: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/pcb-entertainment/danny-trejo-s-year-of-the-devil
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