Comics
EXCLUSIVE: First Look At Monsterverse Entertainments’ Upcoming Star-Studded Bela Lugosi Comic Project!
Why does this remind me of a “ROBOT CHICKEN” skit? Inside you can find all the details on Monsterverse Entertainment’s upcoming comic book series centered around none other than the legendary Bela Lugosi. The series boasts some very high brow genre names such as John Landis (“AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON”), Mick Garris (“THE STAND”, “MASTERS OF HORROR”), Bruce Timm (“BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES”, “VAMPIRELLA”), James Farr (“XOMBIE”) and more! Plus we have an exclusive capture from the series courtesy of Monsterverse. Read on for the skinny.
Here Is The Official Press Release…
“ASTOUNDING ARRAY OF MAJOR TALENT LINING UP FOR BELA LUGOSI’S TALES FROM THE GRAVE!
Celebrated writers, comic book professionals and Hollywood horror veterans offer their imagination for the highly anticipated terror anthology series
Dallas, TX August 1, 2009 — Comic book and horror fans are ecstatic over the incredible talent lining up for Bela Lugosi’s Tales from the Grave, which is scheduled to premiere in early 2010.
The new full-color anthology to be done in the classic EC and Warren tradition will have each fantastic tale hosted by iconic horror film star Bela Lugosi. The book will be the premier publication from Monsterverse Comics, which will launch other horror and monster related titles in the months ahead. Editors Kerry Gammill (Powerman and Iron Fist, Deadly Foes of Spider-Man, Superman, THE OUTER LIMITS) and Kez Wilson (Hammerlocke, Scarlett, Power of the Atom, SPACE JAM) will be adding their artistic talents throughout the series, along with associate editor and writer Sam F. Park (Horror films: HALFWAY HOUSE, DEATH’S DOOR and the upcoming “The Need” for screenwriter turned producer Stiles White of BOOGEYMAN and KNOWING).
In addition to leading comic professionals, several famous horror filmmakers will also be contributing to help celebrate Bela Lugosi’s new role as presenter of these weird tales of terror.
The stellar roster of artists and writers includes two major names among comic book fans.
Premier horror writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night, Gotham After Midnight, Dead, She Said) will be crafting a new story to make readers’ skin crawl.
Top artist John Cassaday (Planetary, Astonishing X-Men, Captain America) will be writing and drawing a story as well as providing an alternate cover for the first issue.
The cover will be a portrait of Bela Lugosi by legendary horror magazine cover artist Basil Gogos (Famous Monsters of Filmland, Monsterscene).
Other writers, artists and filmmakers that readers can expect to see in future issues of the series include:
John Landis, film director (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, MASTERS OF HORROR)…
Rick Baker, make-up artist/sculptor (AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, THE RING, HELLBOY, THE WOLF MAN)…
Mick Garris, film director/writer/producer (MASTERS OF HORROR, THE STAND, TALES FROM THE CRYPT)…
Bruce Timm, artist/producer (BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, Vampirella)…
Stiles White, screenwriter (KNOWING, BOOGEYMAN, POLTERGEIST remake)…
James Farr, creator of XOMBIE, the highly successful online animated series and comic book. Soon to be a major live-action feature film from DreamWorks…
Brian Denham, artist (Iron Man, The X-Files, Nova, The Avengers)…
Rick Klaw, writer (Weird Business)…
Joe R. Lansdale, writer (Weird Business, Savage Season)…
John Lucas, artist (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Star Trek, Weird Business)…
Rob Brown, artist (Bane of the Werewolf, Marvel Comics Presents, Spiderman, Conan)…
Erik Gist, painter (Upper Deck, DC Comics, Boom! Studios)…
Neil Vokes, artist (The Black Forest, Superman Adventures, Untold Tales of Spider-Man)…
Robert Tinnell, film director/writer (FRANKENSTEIN AND ME, The Black Forest, The Wicked West)…
Martin Powell, writer (Moonstone Comics’ The Spider, Scarlet in Gaslight, Frankenstein)…
Larry Blamire, film director/artist (THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA, Tales from the Pub, Steam Wars)…
Frank Dietz, cartoonist/animator (Sketchy Things, Disney’s TARZAN, TREASURE PLANET)…
Terry Beatty, artist (Ms. Tree, Scary Monsters).
The interest in honoring Bela Lugosi has been overwhelming, so look for more great contributors to sign on in the coming weeks.”
The supernatural world of Korean folk horror movie Exhuma grows larger with the arrival of prequel spinoff webtoon Maengjong this weekend, Variety reports today.
Naver Webtoon debuts Maengjong on May 30.
The series hails from Haemuri (Olgami) and will trace the high school origins of how shaman duo Hwarim and Bonggil, played by Kim Go-eun and Lee Do-hyun in the 2024 film, came together to face occultish threats.
The story is set to begin when “Hwarim, who has been concealing her identity following a childhood encounter with a snake spirit called Jin, crosses paths with Bonggil at their school.”
Variety notes that Exhuma director Jang Jae-hyun participated in the project’s early concept stage.
“We are presenting ‘Maengjong,’ a new series capturing the appeal of the horror-occult genre, ahead of the full summer season,” said Lee Jeong-geun, Naver Webtoon’s Korea webtoon content leader. “With the high school story of Hwarim and Bonggil, who left a strong impression in the film ‘Exhuma,’ enhanced by Haemuri’s characteristic tense direction, we expect it will be a welcome work for genre fans.”
“It is meaningful that the spin-off story of ‘Exhuma,’ loved by many audiences, expands by meeting the new grammar of webtoon,” said Lee Hyeon-jeong, managing director of the film business division at Showbox, which distributed the film. “We hope it will be a fresh experience for both film fans and webtoon readers.”
Exhuma was a breakout hit in 2024, becoming the first Korean occult film to surpass 10 million ticket buyers and the country’s highest-grossing film of the year. I wrote in my review that “the intricately woven Exhuma delivers one of the year’s biggest surprises in horror so far.”
The bond between Hwarim and Bonggil was one of the film’s highlights, making this prequel webtoon a must for fans.
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