Introducing The Tormented, A New Comic Book Series About a Ghost Hunting Reality TV Show

Writer, Producer, and Animator Chuck Austen and Artist Patrick Olliffe Reunite for The Tormented

A New Comic Book Series About a Fake Ghost Hunting “Reality” TV Show That Gets Way Too Real

Makes its First Appearance Digitally from Comixology Originals on March 19, 2024

Writer, producer, and animator Chuck Austen and artist Patrick Olliffe reunite for TheTormented, a new 5-issue comic book series about Ryan Auster, a young man with paranormal abilities starring on a new ghost hunting reality TV show. Featuring colors by Lee Loughridge, letters by Jodi Wynne, and edits by Greg Lockard, The Tormented makes its first appearance March 19, 2024, from Amazon’s Comixology Originals exclusive digital content line.

“Ryan Auster, our protagonist in The Tormented, sees ghosts, but kept it from his ghost-hunting family because he feared his family more than the ghosts, and because he’s been hiding it his whole life, now in his twenties, he still hasn’t quite learned how to deal with the unexpected spirits, demons, and otherworldly creatures that are constantly invading his life,” said Austen. “This series has been an absolute trip to create with Pat, and I hope readers have as much fun reading the story as we’ve had making it.”

Ryan Auster is the son of legendary ghost hunters Vera and Adam Austerhölle, but this is a fact he doesn’t share willingly. Unlike his father, mother, and sister, Ryan never had “the gift” to “see” the paranormal, so they’d leave him behind whenever they went out to investigate. But Ryan was hiding his abilities, terrified of the consequences of his supposed “gift,” and the parents who gave them to him. Then, one life-altering night, his entire family is brutally murdered. Instantly orphaned, Ryan was raised by various foster families—many of whom faced horrible fates of their own.

Now, as an adult, Ryan finds himself the charismatic host of a children’s online cooking show. But when that series suddenly ends, and his pushy producer discovers Ryan’s family history, Ryan is unexpectedly and unwillingly sold as the host of a brand-new ghost hunting reality TV series. Ryan desperately needs the money, but he knows that if he agrees to host “Restless Spirits,” and use his supernatural “gifts,” it will make him a beacon that draws—not only the beings that gruesomely butchered his family—but all the many horrors that hide in the darkness, marking him, and his newfound friends on the show, to suffer the same fate as his murdered family.

“Working with Chuck on The Tormented has been a blast!” says Olliffe. “He and I have developed a great give and take working relationship during our time creating Edgeworld so we hit the ground running with this new project. Once the concept was in place the designs for the characters came quickly, Ryan popping into my head immediately. I’ve changed my art style a bit for The Tormented to hopefully accommodate a darker story. Regardless, Lee always makes me look good! Very excited for The Tormented to enter the world and for people to see what Chuck, Lee, Jodi and I have come up with!”

About the Creators:

Chuck Austen began his career as a commercial illustrator and has always been a storyteller. He has worked on so many different things he feels the desperate need to lie down. Austen’s animation skills have been part of King of the Hill, Steven Universe, The Cleveland Show, and he co-created the hit series Tripping the Rift for SYFY. He has spent seven years as a producer for DreamWorks TV on Dawn of the Croods, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. He also wrote a lot of comics, including Uncanny X-Men, JLA, Superman, The Avengers, and the sci-fi space Western, Edgeworld with Patrick Olliffe for Comixology Originals.

Patrick Olliffe is a veteran comic book illustrator with over 32 years of experience, working for some of the largest publishers in the industry, including Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse and Disney Publishing. His long list of credits includes drawing characters such as Spider-Man, Thor, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Catwoman, Hawkman, plus for Disney’s Marvel Press, Captain America, The Fantastic Four, Hulk, The Avengers, The X-Men, and the sci-fi space Western, Edgeworld with Chuck Austen for Comixology Originals.

About Comixology Originals:

Amazon’s Comixology Originals exclusive digital content line is available at no additional cost for members of Amazon Prime, Kindle Unlimited, and Comixology Unlimited, and for purchase at amazon.com/comixology. Prime Reading offers all Amazon Prime members a rotating selection of more than 3,000 digital books, magazines, comics, and more – all at no additional cost to their Prime membership. Kindle Unlimited gives customers access to more than 4 million digital titles, including thousands of audio books and comics, plus current magazines for just $11.99 a month with a free trial period at amazon.com/kindleunlimited. Comixology Unlimited offers over 45,000 comics, graphic novels and manga for just $5.99 a month with a free trial at amazon.com/comixologyunlimited.

Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!