Ezra Claytan Daniels is an American comic book and television writer and artist. He is notable for the graphic novels Upgrade Soul, which won the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics, and BTTM FDRS (with Ben Passmore), as well as his work on Doom Patrol, Night Sky, and Severance.
Career
Graphic novels
Upgrade Soul
Upgrade Soul was originally serialized digitally as an IOS app before being published as a graphic novel by Lion Forge in 2018. It follows Hank and Molly Nonnar, an elderly couple who undergo an experiment procedure intended to restore their youth. However, the experiment instead results in a pair of clones of Hank and Molly, who have substantial physical disfigurements but are smarter and healthier than the originals, who attempt to coexist who along with them. The book won the 2017 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics, and was nominated for the 2019 Harvey Award for Book of the Year and Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album — Reprint. The original app was designed by Eric Loyer.
In 2022, Upgrade Soul was adapted into a five-episode audio drama on Audible, starring Wendell Pierce, Marcia Gay Harden, and Phil LaMarr. The drama was named the 2022 Audible's Sci-Fi Audiobook of the Year.
A film based on Upgrade Soul is in development.
BTTM FDRS BTTM FDRS (pronounced “bottomfeeders”) is a 2018 graphic novel collaboration with Ben Passmore, published by Fantagraphics. An Afrofuturist work, it follows Darla, a young new resident in Bottomyards, a community who faces strange biological monsters in a satire of gentrification.
==== Mama Came Callin''' ====Mama Came Callin' is a 2026 graphic novel illustrated by Camilla Sucre. It follow Kirah, a biracial woman whose white father was accused of being the Gator Man, a serial killer wearing an alligator mask who murdered Kirah's Black mother. When the Gator Man returns, Kirah is forced to confront her past.
Screenwriting Daniels wrote the three episodes for Doom Patrol, including co-writing the series finale, "Done Patrol".
Daniels has upcoming writing credits for the third season of Severance and Shifter, a science fiction series by Hulu based on the graphic novel by Koren Shadmi. He is also the screenplay writer for Jordan Peele's in-development The People Under the Stairs reboot, having previously contributed to Peele's anthology Out There Screaming''.
Personal life Daniels previously worked at a trial graphics company.
Publications
Filmography YearTitleNotes2014The Gold ChainCo-written with Adebukola Bodunrin2021Horror Noire2022Night Sky"Dear Franklin", co-written with Anne-Marie Hess2021-2023Doom Patrol 3 episodesUpcomingSeveranceSeason 3UpcomingShifterUpcomingThe People Under the Stairs reboot
Accolades YearTitleAward/HonorResult2017Upgrade SoulDwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics2019Igntaz Award for Outstanding ArtistIgntaz Award for Outstanding Graphic NovelEisner Award for Best Graphic Album — ReprintHarvey Award for Book of the YearRingo Award for Best Original Graphic NovelBTTM FDRSHarvey Award for Book of the Year2020Ringo Award for Best Original Graphic NovelIgntaz Award for Outstanding Story
Notes
References