Novelists Alex Segura and Rob Hart have come together to write Blood Oath, a new miniseries that debuts from Comixology Originals on Aug. 30. They’ll be joined by artist Joe Eisma, colorist Hilary Jenkins and letterer Jim Campbell, all under the watchful eye of editor Heather Antos.
Blood Oath is set during Prohibition in 1922 and will feature a woman who runs a “secret business” who crosses paths with the mafia and their “sinister partner.”
“Blood Oath is a blend of some of our favorite things, in terms of story and genre – historical fiction, the early days of organized crime, and horror – all things we wanted to explore, and they blended together perfectly to ask a key question: what if there was a secret, monstrous crime family that’s been part of the underworld for decades?” Segura said.
Segura, of course, is no stranger to comics, having worked in the industry for more than two decades and having written comics like The Dusk, The Black Ghost and many more. (He also has a Spider-Verse novel coming out, which was announced today). Hart’s new to comics, but has written several novels like The Paradox Hotel and The Warehouse. He and Segura have also collaborated before, teaming their two literary characters, Ash McKenna and Pete Fernandez, together in a short story called “Bad Beat.”
“It’s always been a dream of mine to write a comic book, but coming from novels, it’s like learning a whole new language,” said Hart. “I was incredibly lucky to work with Alex, Joe, and the rest of the team, who helped guide me through the process and learn the fundamentals. Alex and I first started working on this years ago, and it’s incredible watching it come together, piece by piece. I can’t wait for people to read it.”
Here’s the description from Comixology:
… combining their talents in their first comic series together, Hart and Segura introduce Hazel Crenshaw, a strong-willed, self-sufficient young woman making her way in 1922 during the height of Prohibition. Hazel just wants to be left alone to tend to her farm, care for her younger sister, and run her business, but her secret business becomes inescapably tangled up with the New York gangs that eventually coalesce into the mafia, and a new, unknown partner. When her farm on Staten Island is attacked, Hazel must not only defend her home, she must cope with the realization that her flirtation with the other side of the law might also put her in the crosshairs of something else—something much more sinister.
“I’m so excited for folks to read Blood Oath,” Eisma said. “This is a comic unlike anything I’ve ever drawn, and I’m so proud of the world Alex, Rob and I have created. I had a blast drawing this time period and the outfits and styles of that era for these characters. I hope readers will enjoy the book and see the excitement and love that went into creating it.”
Here’s a look at some of the interior pages:
The first issue comes out Aug. 30, which is also when the second season of The Black Ghost by Segura and another co-writer, Monica Gallagher, kicks off.