Horror Comics

‘Spawn’ Artist Jason Shawn Alexander: The Horror News Network Interview

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Not many people in May of 1992 would have believed that a character that debuted as one of the cornerstones of an upstart comic book company, Image Comics, would make it all the way to 2019 with 300 issues of his flagship title alone.  Spawn (and his creator Todd McFarlane) became synonymous with Image Comics and fans have continued to support the title due to their love for the dark character that straddled the line between super hero and horror film conventions.

The intricate, instantly recognizable artwork of Todd McFarlane and Greg Capulo immediately captured fans’ attention since the comic’s beginnings, and many accomplished artists have followed in their stead.  Since 2017, Eisner-nominated illustrator Jason Shawn Alexander has handled the art duties, and as we near the 300th issue of Spawn, Horror News Network reached out to Alexander to get his take on the milestone, as well as his contributions to the Spawn legacy. read more

DC Universe Cancels ‘Swamp Thing’ After Airing One Episode

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After just premiering on DC Universe last Friday, Swamp Thing is dead in the water. Variety has just reported the series’ cancellation, with no additional details on the abrupt announcement. The news immediately follows generally positive reviews of the first episode, and healthy buzz over the series in general.

The official Twitter page for the series has not yet been updated with the news, and its latest post is business as usual:

Strange things are happening around town… #DCUSWAMPTHING pic.twitter.com/Llscie73qo read more

‘Hellboy vs Lobster Johnson: The Ring of Death’ Artist Mike Norton: The Horror News Network Interview

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Ever since 2010’s Hellboy in Mexico, the series has incorporated elements of lucha libre, Aztec mummies, and other classic influences from “South of the Border” (and south of Heaven, for that matter).  Most of these adventures also imagine “Big Red” in Mexico during the heyday of wrestlers vs monsters on screen, so why not share a lost tale from this bygone era and thrown in Lobster Johnson to boot!

Mike Norton tackled the artistic duties on the new one-shot entitled Hellboy vs. Lobster Johnson: The Ring of Death and he shared some of his ideas about returning to Hellboy, as well as his critically acclaimed new series from Albatross Funnybooks, Grumble. read more

Frank Frazetta’s ‘Egyptian Queen’ Painting Sells for $5.4 Million; Sets New World Record For Heritage Auctions

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Frank Frazetta’s 1969 fantasy painting entitled Egyptian Queen sold for $5.4 million on Thursday May 16th at a public auction of vintage comic books and comic art held by Heritage Auctions in Chicago, Illinois, setting a new record for any piece of comic-related art.

The Egyptian Queen originally appeared as the cover for Eerie #23 (1969) and the artist subsequently reprinted the painting as a poster and print (and it has been hanging on comic shop walls and dorm rooms ever since).  The painting’s price beat Frazetta’s previous record holder, the $1.79 million dollar painting, Death Dealer 6, 1990, which was sold by Heritage in May of 2018. read more

Dark Horse Comics Signs Exclusive ‘First Look’ Deal with Netflix

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According to the official Dark Horse Comics press release, the innovative comic publisher has just signed an exclusive agreement with Netflix, giving the streaming giant “…a first look at its IP for both film and TV and has started exploring future projects.

In recent history, Netflix and Dark Horse collaborated on the adaptation of Gabriel Ba and Gerard Way’s The Umbrella Academy, (which was recently renewed for a second season) as well as Jonas Åkerlund’s webcomic-turned-graphic novel-turned-feature-film Polar. read more

Production on ‘Swamp Thing’ Series Unexpectedly Halted; Teaser Trailer Debuts

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Swamp Thing fans received some good new and bad news today about DC Universe’s upcoming adaptation of the classic Alan Moore stories.

The good news is that a teaser for the upcoming series launched like an alligator snapping up a heron in the Okefenokee wetlands, featuring a first look at the comic-accurate costume.   The bad news is that “ole’ Swampy” may not be long for the streaming world as (according to the Hollywood Reporter) “…the original 13-episode order for the project has been cut to 10 after experiencing creative differences with its home at Warners-backed streaming platform DC Universe.”  Despite this news, the series will still premiere on May 31. read more

‘House of Fear’ Writer James Powell: The Horror News Network Interview

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The entry into the horror genre usually happens at a young age, even if we are unaware of the dark path that we are embarking on. Whether it is watching classic Scooby Doo episodes, taking your first doom buggy ride through Disney’s Haunted Mansion, or finding a tattered copy of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark at your school library, the seed has been planted for the journey.

Children in the 1940’s and 50’s, found their way into horror stories through the numerous comic anthologies from EC Comics (which would go on to inspire many other forms of the horror anthology tale in film and television), before being targeted by civic groups and disappearing for a brief time.  Luckily, these four color scares became even more popular (and infamous) over the years, allowing other fans and creators to pick up the torch and place it firmly on the dungeon wall. read more

‘Hellboy’ Burned at Weekend Box Office

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Much to the chagrin of Hellboy fans, Neil Marshall, David Harbour, and Mike Mignola (to say nothing about the financial stake holders at Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment), the much-hyped Hellboy reboot failed to deliver at the box office, or in the eyes of critics and fans.

Expectations were gauged as cautiously optimistic for the latest adventures of Dark Horse Comics “Big Red” (especially when it was clear that Hellboy would be entering a crowded scene with the continued success of Shazam, Us, Captain Marvel, and last week’s Pet Sematary remake), but no one involved could have prepared for the anemic box office returns, as the film earned only an estimated $12 million in its first weekend of release. read more

Horror News Network’s Spring 2019 Movie Preview

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Spring brings warmer weather, longer days, and seasonal allergies to one and all, but it is also brings a healthy amount of horror films in the season of rebirth.  While the fall is the traditional season for all things that go bump in the night, there are enough horror films in April and May to satisfy fans of all persuasions, whether you are in the mood for some highly anticipated remakes and reboots (Pet Sematary, Hellboy), ghostly women (The Curse of La Llorona), super-powered, evil children (Brightburn), stalkers (The Intruder, Ma), or giant lizards (Godzilla: King of the Monsters). read more

Adrienne Barbeau, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tobin Bell Cast in Shudder’s ‘Creepshow’ Adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Grey Matter’

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Shudder, the king of streaming horror, announced the initial casting today for its upcoming horror anthology series, Creepshow (based on George Romero and Stephen King’s 1982 film of the same name) and the list will certainly please horror fans.  Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog), Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul), and Tobin Bell (Saw) will star in an adaptation of the Stephen King story “Gray Matter,” as adapted by Byron Willinger and Philip de Blasi (The Commuter) and directed by series showrunner Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead). read more