Actor David Dastmalchian has appeared in several films comics fans probably recognize, including The Dark Knight and Ant-Man, and come October he’ll be writing a new comic for Dark Horse titled Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter. He’ll team with artist Lukas Ketner, who previously worked on Kill the Minotaur for Skybound and on Dark Horse’s Creepy title, and colorist Lauren Affe.
“Partnering with Dark Horse Comics has been one of the greatest experiences of my career. Since my childhood passion for comics and the Creature Feature in Kansas City, I have dreamt of conjuring the world of Count Crowley,” Dastmalchian said. “Personal themes of addiction shape my writing and I’m so grateful to present a terrifying tale about confronting dogmatism that’s lovingly reverent to classic horror and the power of myth. This may be 80s nostalgia but the importance of re-examining what we think we know is as timeless as ever.”
Here’s how Dark Horse describes the series: In Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter, Jerri Bartman, once a rising TV journalist, has returned to her small Midwest hometown TV station. Demoted to hosting the nightly Creature Feature, Jerri’s professional humiliation is eclipsed by the discovery that her new job comes with a secret, supernatural duty. Her missing predecessor, Count Crowley, was one of the last “Appointed” hunters of monsters. Yes. Monsters. They’re real, and they’re hell-bent on controlling the news and information consumed by humans. Everything we’ve ever been taught about monsters is a lie, and Jerri’s only possible advisor is a senile male chauvinist. It’s 1983, and the outlook for humanity is getting . . . gnarly. Our only hope is an alcoholic, acerbic horror host from Missouri.
Dastmalchian even made a promo video starring himself as the missing Count Crowley:
The new series debuts in October.