Aaron Mahnke’s Lore podcast has spawned books and an Amazon series, and starting in December he’s making the jump to comics. Mahnke will collaborate with co-writer Delilah S. Dawson, artist Piotr Kowalski and colorist Brad Simpson on Wellington.
“History and folklore are deep wells, and they are honestly a fiction writer’s dream come true,” said Mahnke. “With an amazing cast of characters just waiting to be called upon, and centuries of belief in the supernatural setting the stage, I’m excited to share these powerful stories in a brand-new way!”
The comic will delve “even deeper into Lore’s dark side of history.” It will introduce the Duke of Wellington, who investigates the mysteries and monsters discussed on the podcast.
“The most interesting characters in comics are those who battle with their own demons whilst trying to fix the world however they can,” says Kowalski. “The Duke of Wellington certainly has all the qualities of a perfect horror tale hero. He is driven, experienced, and tormented by nightmares. He is a hunter, avenger, and tireless seeker of the ultimate truth. And, ultimately, the strength of this character guarantees a captivating and entertaining comic book.”
Each episode of the Lore podcast “examines a new dark historical tale in a modern campfire experience,” and has covered such topics as the Gloucester Spectres, medicinal cannibalism, sea monsters and ghost towns.
“As a huge fan of the pop culture phenomenon that is Lore, I jumped at the chance to work with Aaron Mahnke and the Wellington team to merge history with dark supernatural adventures,” Dawson said. “Add in the atmospheric art by Piotr and Brad, and you’re going to see the spirit of Lore resurrected in an entirely new way. This is a book you’re going to want!”
The five-issue series will debut from IDW Publishing in December.