Ghost Machine, the Image Comics imprint led by Geoff Johns, has announced more details on Hyde Street, the upcoming line of horror comics involving Johns, artist Ivan Reis and others.
As a quick reminder, Johns and several of his frequent collaborators announced Ghost Machine last year, built on the idea that the creators involved will co-own all the characters and universes developed within Ghost Machine. And yes, that’s “universes,” plural with the horror-themed Hyde Street joining Johns’ The Unnamed universe, which features his Geiger and Junkyard Joe comics, and a science fiction-themed universe featuring Johns and Jason Fabok’s Rook.
Johns and Reis have worked together in the past on Aquaman and Green Lantern, including the Blackest Night crossover. So it’s no surprise to see them teaming up again on this new Hyde Street initiative.
“Everyone at Ghost Machine is incredibly excited for fans to discover the Hyde Street universe,” Johns said at a panel at FanExpo Denver this past weekend. “Ivan and I have wanted to collaborate on something new and original for a long time, and Hyde Street was the perfect avenue for us to let a darker side of our imagination run wild. The characters will lure you into this world each in their own unnerving way and walking down any ‘Hyde Street’ in your town will never feel the same again.”
Hyde Street with introduce several horror-themed characters, including Mr. X-Ray and Pranky, the World’s Most Dangerous Scout. Here are a few more details on it from Ghost Machine:
In every city and town, off every country road and metropolis avenue, if you make a wrong turn in your soul… you might find yourself on Hyde Street. But be careful who you talk to and what you do because the consequences make death itself seem like the easy way out. Introducing MR. X-RAY, PRANKY THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS SCOUT, MISS GOODBODY, and many more… Out to delight, fright and say good night. What is their secret and that of Hyde Street? Only they know. For now. HYDE STREET is colored by Brad Anderson, inked by Danny Miki and lettered by Rob Leigh.
The first issue of Hyde Street will arrive on Oct. 2, with a cover by Reis and variants by Gary Frank and Mike Deodato Jr.:
Also arriving in October is a one-shot that will focus on one of the Hyde Street characters, Miss Goodbody. It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour is by TV writer Maytal Zchut and The Last Book You’ll Ever Read artist Leila Leiz. They’re joined by colorist Alex Sinclair and letterer Rob Leigh.
Here are more details on the story:
With an impending wedding, Lily needs to lose weight in order to fit into her wedding dress, and struggles to shed some pounds. And what’s worse, her super-thin grandmother relentlessly disparages Lily’s approach, instead lavishing praise upon a quick-fix miracle supplement called DEVOUR, as hawked by the mysterious health guru Miss Goodbody. Her motto? Get thin… or die trying! In this weight-loss nightmare, when it comes to Devour…all you need is one.
“Devour speaks to the cycle of relentless self-criticism and insecurity many of us experience in relation to our bodies,” Zchut said. “Told through the horror lens, I explore the pressure to constantly strive for physical perfection that passes from one generation to the next.”
“When I read Devour for the first time, I immediately knew that it was a story that I wanted to draw, not only because it’s a horror story, but because the theme of obsessive dieting is something that every woman can relate to on some level. Thinner is my favorite horror film,” Leiz said. “Maytal’s rich and diverse writing style treats this complex subject matter with great maturity and sensitivity, which made me rediscover the joy of drawing all over again – and Alex Sinclair’s coloring is the cherry on the top. We are surrounded by an amazing team at Ghost Machine, full of talent and passion. That is what makes make this adventure an absolute delight. This is a funny, captivating and really intense story and readers will want to devour the book leaving them with bittersweet taste.”
Reis drew the main cover, shown above, with Leiz and Frank providing variants, shown below.
It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour will arrive in stores Oct. 30.