ARCHIE’S DARK MAGIC UNIVERSE EXPANDS WITH KARDAK THE MYSTIC!
The Golden Age Archie Comics magician is revamped in an all-new one-shot comic this August!
Superheroics, magic, and cosmic horror converge in KARDAK THE MYSTIC, an all-new one-shot from Archie Comics in August! The new story by writer Joe Corallo (HAPPY HORRORDAYS) and artist Butch Mapa (STRANGE SCIENCE) reboots one of Archie’s oldest characters and adds to a burgeoning dark fantasy corner of the publisher’s rich fictional universe.
“One of my favorite projects is tasking creators with the ability to bring deep-cut characters from Archie’s lore to life,” said Archie Comics Senior Director of Editorial Jamie L. Rotante. “Kardak the Mystic is one Editorial was especially excited about, as we all have a deep love of magicians and were even more intrigued by the prospect of having a horror/sci-fi take on Kardak, where the magic can be a lot more ominous than your typical carnival fare.”
The new story relates the fateful misadventures of John Cardy, a failed stage magician looking for one last chance to make it big. When he’s offered a too-good-to-be-true magic talisman, his tricks become real, and he’s soon enmeshed in a dark alternate universe, slipping in and out to increasing fame and dread. The unsettling undertones place KARDAK THE MYSTIC squarely next to recent dark fantasy releases from Archie like THE WICKED TRINITY and DARKLING, as well as BOB PHANTOM, a twisted reimagination of another Golden Age crimefighter.
“Getting to revisit the character of Kardak, whom I had the opportunity to touch on in a short for JINX’S GRIM FAIRY TALES, has been an absolute thrill!” Corallo said. “Combining classic elements from his Golden Age TOP-NOTCH appearances with a fresh, updated look and perspective on these characters will excite both longtime and new Archie fans alike!”
Kardak debuted in a story by C. A. Winter and Harry Shorten in 1939’s TOP NOTCH COMICS #1 as a superhero magician, employing tricks and mystical powers to fight organized crime and supervillains alongside his fiancée Lorna. He frequently employed the power of imperceptibility, a talent that will feature in the updated story, for better or for worse.
“Kardak the Mystic was there at the dawn of the Golden Age of comics, predating even Archie and the Riverdale crew,” Mapa said. “It’s an honor to be able to bring the character back into the spotlight, and to redefine the character for a modern audience. Readers can expect a lot of spooky atmospheres, dark choices, and creepy monsters. Everyone should follow their dreams, but this issue warns us to be careful, because some of them can lead into nightmares!”
KARDAK THE MYSTIC releases August 14 in comic shops nationwide, with colors by Ellie Wright, letters by Jack Morelli, and an open-to-order variant cover by Skylar Patridge. It will be available for pre-order on May 24.
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