Author: JK Parkin

Smash Pages Q&A | Adam Cesare and David Stoll on ‘Dead Mall’

The two creators discuss their love for malls, their approach to ‘mall horror,’ the potential for a sequel and more.

Horror novelist Adam Cesare‘s signature novel has a title that contains the two scariest words in the English language, Clown in a Cornfield, so right from the get-go you know that he gets horror. He’s also been adding comics to his resume over the last few years, having worked on Power Rangers comics, Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and more.

David Stoll, meanwhile, was the artist for Pantomime, a Mad Cave title with writer Christopher Sebela from a few years back. The story featured students at a school for the deaf who become thieves, and I still remember how clever the visuals were in communicating what was being said and heard by the deaf characters.

The two of them more recently united on Dead Mall, a four-issue miniseries from Dark Horse Comics. Along with letterer Justin Birch, they told a complete story that combined horror and mall culture. The story takes place in — and is narrated by — the Penn Mills Galleria, a former mall that’s about to be demolished when a group of kids decide to visit it one last time. Only they find it isn’t quite so empty.

The miniseries was recently collected into a trade paperback by Dark Horse Comics, and it’s available now in comic shops and bookstores everywhere. I spoke with Both Cesare and Stoll about the story, abandoned malls and more.

Continue reading “Smash Pages Q&A | Adam Cesare and David Stoll on ‘Dead Mall’”

Bunn + Hervás reunite for ‘Invasive’ from Oni Press

The medical horror miniseries will debut in December.

Cullen Bunn and Jesús Hervás, the creative team for The Empty Man: Manifestation, will team up again on Invasive, a new miniseries from Oni Press.

“Invasive is a thing of nightmare. For me, literally,” said Bunn. “The initial seed of the idea sprang from a terrifying nightmare that startled me awake in the dark. While developing the idea, I was beset by even more nightmares. And while writing it? You guessed it. Nightmares. It’s a book that worries and haunts me, and I think it represents a bit of a signpost in the road of my approach to horror in general. I believe that in the years to come, it will be thought of as one of my most disturbing stories.”

Continue reading “Bunn + Hervás reunite for ‘Invasive’ from Oni Press”

Arcancia Studio will adapt one of Fellini’s final film scripts into a graphic novel

Jean-David Morvan and Ste Tirasso will adapt the script to the comic page next year.

French comics writer Jean-David Morvan and Italian artist Ste Tirasso will adapt Napoli-New York, a film manuscript by Italian director Federico Fellini, into a graphic novel for Arcancia Studio.

Napoli-New York hasn’t been made into a film (yet), but was one of the last works from Fellini. It was co-written by Opium Den writer Tullio Pinelli.

“During my life as a scriptwriter, I invented stories and universes, worked on biographies and adaptations, but there’s one thing I’ve never done before: adapt a manuscript meant for a movie into a graphic novel, especially from such a master,” Morvan said. “The story takes place in  two cities: New York City, which I know very well, and Naples, which I don’t know yet. I plan to take time to visit and really feel the spirit of the city, so that everything I learn can become part of my script.” 

Continue reading “Arcancia Studio will adapt one of Fellini’s final film scripts into a graphic novel”

Snyder + Sherman return to ‘Dark Spaces’ for ‘Dungeon’

IDW will unleash the miniseries in October.

Scott Snyder will return to his Dark Spaces line at IDW for a new series he’ll write with artist Hayden Sherman rejoining him — Dark Spaces: Dungeon might be “the darkest story I’ve ever written,” the writer said.

Snyder and Sherman previously worked together on the first Dark Spaces title, Wildfire, which came out in 2022. Then earlier this year Dark Spaces: Good Deeds by writer Che Grayson and artist Kelsey Ramsay launched, which is currently on its second issue. Snyder intends for Dark Spaces to not only showcase his own work, but also the comics of up-and-coming talent. The titles are part of the IDW originals line, which is spearheaded by editor Mark Doyle.

“Getting to explore the worlds of Dark Spaces has been a career highlight without question, and doing so alongside my dear friend and trusted editor Mark Doyle just makes it all the better,” Snyder said. “The ability to forgo supernatural elements in favor of highlighting the true light and darkness of our reality has been able to take me back to basics in a truly exciting fashion. I’ll say this – if Dark Spaces: Wildfire was modeled after noir, then Dark Spaces: Dungeon is a stone-cold thriller. It might be the darkest story I’ve ever written, while at the same time some of the most fun it’s ever been developing a new series.”

Continue reading “Snyder + Sherman return to ‘Dark Spaces’ for ‘Dungeon’”

‘Covenant’ will debut in print from Oni Press next year

Look for the first volume in stores next April.

Covenant, the popular Webtoon comic by LySandra Vuong, will come to print next year courtesy of Oni Press.

The webcomic has topped 21 million views on the site, and features a Catholic exorcist who has lost his faith and must protect a “seemingly normal” human from rising demonic forces.

“Covenant combines classic shounen manga tropes with fantasy Catholicism to tell an action-packed story in which angels talk to us and demons walk among us,” said Vuong. “Covenant is an unconventional comic. It’s supernatural, a little blasphemous, a little sexy and unapologetically queer.”

Continue reading “‘Covenant’ will debut in print from Oni Press next year”

‘Abbott: 1979’ wraps up the trilogy by Ahmed + Kivelä

Elena Abbott’s battle against the forces of darkness in 1970s Detroit will continue in October.

Writer Saladin Ahmed and artist Sami Kivelä will wrap up their Abbott trilogy this fall with Abbott: 1979, which will arrive in stores from BOOM! Studios in October.

The story started back in 2018 with Abbott, which was followed in 2021 with Abbott: 1973, which jumped ahead a year. This new series will jump six years into the future, as reporter Elena Abbott continues to defend Detroit against the forces of darkness, both real and supernatural.

“I couldn’t be more excited to bring you the next (and final!) chapter in the saga of hard-nosed reporter Elena Abbott, sorcerous savior of the city of Detroit,” said Ahmed. “Abbott: 1973 left Elena in a grim place, and things have only gotten worse since — for her and her beloved city. Now Detroit itself is being consumed — eaten alive by the Umbra. And it will take all Elena’s got to keep her own spark from being snuffed out. From the beginning I’ve imagined Abbott as a three-act story, and I’m positively thrilled to team with the awe-inspiring Sami to bring this story to its epic conclusion.” 

Continue reading “‘Abbott: 1979’ wraps up the trilogy by Ahmed + Kivelä”

Tynion + Simmonds resurrect ‘Dracula’ at Skybound

The Universal Monsters version comes to comics in October.

Count Dracula returns to comics as part of a partnership between Skybound and Universal Products & Experiences, which manages the Universal Monsters license. James Tynion IV and Martin Simmonds will bring Dracula, R.M. Renfield, Mina Seward, Doctor John Seward, Van Helsing and more to the comics page in the four-issue Universal Monsters: Dracula miniseries.

“A few times in my life I’ve had the pleasure of writing about one of the great pop culture icons, but there is something singular about Dracula that made this opportunity too good to pass up,” Tynion said. “The challenge in front of Martin and I is to take the bloody heart of the Universal Pictures classic and find a bold new way to bring the character to life. It’s been one of the most exciting creative challenges of my life, and I am phenomenally excited for you to see the horrors we have in store for you.” 

Continue reading “Tynion + Simmonds resurrect ‘Dracula’ at Skybound”

Bunn + Hurtt + Crabtree reunite for ‘The Midnite Show’

The miniseries from the team behind ‘The Sixth Gun’ features silver screen monsters coming to life at a film festival.

The The Sixth Gun team of Cullen Bunn, Brian Hurtt and Bill Crabtree are reuniting — not only on more The Sixth Gun, but on a new horror miniseries from Dark Horse titled The Midnite Show.

Letterer Jim Campbell will join them for the story of a cursed movie that was never finished, but when found footage pops up at a festival, so do real-life versions of the silver screen monsters.

“I’ve been calling this book ‘popcorn horror.’ It’s a book that’s full of chills and thrills. Our heroes are in terrible danger,” said Bunn. “The monsters they are facing are terrifying. But this story is also a lot of fun! A horror romp with action, humor, heart and a lot of bloodshed. These monsters mean bloody business!”

Continue reading “Bunn + Hurtt + Crabtree reunite for ‘The Midnite Show’”

Mad Cave teams with Tatsunoko Production for ‘Gatchaman’ comics

The anime that inspired ‘Battle of the Planets’ will return to comics in the U.S. next year.

Mad Cave Studios and Tatsunoko Production have announced that Mad Cave will bring Gatchaman back to the United States for a new Gatchaman series.

Science Ninja Team Gatchaman, or just Gatchaman for short, is a popular Japanese anime that first debuted in the early 1970s and was created by Tatsuo Yoshida. Those of a certain generation may remember Battle of the Planets, the American adaptation that was syndicated in the late 1970s and featured the same team, dubbed G-Force.

“Gatchaman has entertained and influenced fans around the world for over 50 years, and it could not be a better time to introduce their futuristic world to a new generation of readers,” said Kaz Haruna, Tatsunoko Production director of international business. “Tatsunoko is absolutely excited to work with the team at Mad Cave Studios.”

Continue reading “Mad Cave teams with Tatsunoko Production for ‘Gatchaman’ comics”

Ms. Marvel will return as a mutant in a new miniseries

‘Ms. Marvel’ actress Iman Vellani will co-write the series with Sabir Pirzada, with art by Carlos Gómez and Adam Gorham.

As I think we all had already guessed, the recently deceased Ms. Marvel will return to comics in August, thanks to the resurrection protocols used in Marvel’s X-Men comics — meaning yes, she’s a mutant.

The four-issue Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant miniseries will be co-written by actress Iman Vellani and Dark Web: Ms. Marvel writer Sabir Pirzada. Vellani plays Ms. Marvel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They’re joined by artists Carlos Gomez and Adam Gorham.

“This was way scarier than joining the MCU for me,” Vellani told Entertainment Weekly. “Those projects feel like they live in their own dimension, so I guess I can separate myself easier. But you can hold a comic book! I’ve never written anything before in my entire life, but I have read many comics, so I just wrote what I would want to read. I was given a very professional tool to write what is essentially my own fan fiction.”

Continue reading “Ms. Marvel will return as a mutant in a new miniseries”

Ethan Sacks teams with his daughter to write Syzygy’s ‘Haunted Girl’

Ethan and Naomi Sacks will work with artist Marco Lorenzana on the paranormal thriller.

Syzygy, the comics imprint started by Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood back in 2021, have announced Haunted Girl, a four-issue miniseries written by Ethan and Naomi Sacks and drawn by Incredible Hulk artist Marco Lorenzana.

Described as a paranormal thriller, the inspirational story will also detail a teenage girl’s struggles with anxiety and depression, which is something Ethan and his daughter Naomi also experienced.

“Four years ago, while my daughter was hospitalized, I came up with the idea of a story about a girl who’s battling depression and finds out she’s the sole hope to save the world,” said Ethan Sacks.“That she would find a way to endure and to save everyone she loves. It was meant to be uplifting and cathartic. Now four years later, my daughter is in a place where she could help write that story. To inspire others going through similar struggles. As a father, I’m proud.  As a comic book writer, I’m inspired. As a human being, I’m moved.”

The first issue features a cover by Joe Quesada:

Continue reading “Ethan Sacks teams with his daughter to write Syzygy’s ‘Haunted Girl’”

Three new titles written by Curt Pires will debut on Comixology next week

‘Money,’ ‘Simulation. Theory’ and a second season of ‘Lost Falls’ will arrive next Tuesday.

Curt Pires’ relationship with Comixology Originals will continue to bear fruit next week, as the prolific writer has three new titles that will debut on the digital comics platform on July 18.

Pires’ run with Comixology started back in 2020 with the release of Youth, which has since been collected by Dark Horse and is being developed by Amazon for their streaming service. Since then we’ve seen a second season of Youth, as well as three other series — Memoria, New American and Lost Falls. That third one’s second season debuts next week, along with two new comics:

  • Money, a “white-knuckle conspiracy thriller that follows five powerful families.” Money is illustrated by Luca Casalanguida, with colors by Mark Dale and lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
  • Simulation. Theory, a “sci-fi thrill ride into a simulated reality where one can live a new life.” Simulation. Theory is illustrated by Darryl Knickrehm, with colors by Mark Dale and lettering by Micah Myers.
  • Lost Falls Season 2, which features art by Pierluigi Minotti, colors by Emilio Lecce and lettering by Micah Myers. The “mind-bending season of the socially minded mystery thriller” follows the recent release of Dark Horse’s print publication of Lost Falls Volume 1.

“I’m excited to be debuting Money, Simulation Theory and Lost Falls S2 with my world class collaborators on these projects and my friends at Comixology,” said Pires. “These books run the gamut subject and genre-wise and tackle some of the most prescient topics of the day. I think there’s something for everyone in these three books and am delighted by the accessibility that Kindle Unlimited and Comixology Unlimited provide in making them widely available.” 

Here’s a look at Money:

Continue reading “Three new titles written by Curt Pires will debut on Comixology next week”