PREVIEW "Blood of the Taken," New OGN from Storm King Comic

In Writer and Illustrator Sian Mandrake’s Astonishing Debut, a 500-Year-Old Creature Seeks New Blood … and a New Family of Her Own

Vampires have been mainstays of literature, movies, games and comics for centuries, but horror fans have never met a creation quite like Theo, the 500-year-old undead with a maternal instinct at the center of John Carpenter’s Night Terrors: BLOOD OF THE TAKEN, writer-illustrator Sian Mandrake’s graphic novel that debuts this October from Storm King Comics as part of the John Carpenter’s Night Terrors imprint.

After losing her own brood, Theo spends her nights stalking a small town in Western Massachusetts in search of just the right humans who she can bring back to her nightmarish, rotting mansion. Theo may have found the perfect pair in lifelong best friends Ed and Liam. But when the two men are ensnared in Theo’s bloody and violent web of intrigue, they learn that running is not an option—and that Theo has intentions that run much deeper than simply keeping them as fellow undead.

Theo wants a family. Trouble is, Ed and Liam aren’t so sure they need this kind of family.

With a dazzling, inventive visual style that immediately grabs readers and refuses to let go, John Carpenter’s Night Terrors: BLOOD OF THE TAKEN is a graphically bold and narratively distinctive debut for writer and illustrator Sian Mandrake and their compelling new approach to telling a tale as old as time.

“The moment I discovered the work Sian had been doing on their own to create a crowdfunded version of this story, I knew that Storm King was the perfect place for this exquisite, fun and no-holds-barred approach,” said Storm King Comics founder and editor Sandy King. “Sian has done nothing less than breathe new life into a classic horror tale, and I can’t wait for the world to see this gorgeous and captivating book.”

John Carpenter’s Night Terrors: BLOOD OF THE TAKEN features lettering by Janice Chiang and will be available in September 18 directly from Storm King Comics at www.StormKingComics.com, at favorite comic book stores, and from book retailers beginning October 1.

John Carpenter’s Night Terrors: BLOOD OF THE TAKEN is the first graphic novel by Sian Mandrake, continuing a legacy of excellence in comics and storytelling begun by their parents, artists Tom Mandrake and Jan Duursema. This blood-curdling and surprising original graphic novel also continues an extraordinary year for Storm King Comics, which in July releases two new graphic novels from Steve Niles, The God List and The Killing Hole; and has published works by Cullen Bunn and Heath Amodio (Long Haul), Amanda Deibert and Cat Staggs (Death Mask) and released the Fetch Book Two: The Rescue, by Mike Sizemore with Dave and Pete Kennedy, the conclusion to the Fetch story, which was named the 2023 Gold Winner for Graphic Novels and Comics at the Foreword INDIE Awards.

John Carpenter’s Night Terrors: BLOOD OF THE TAKEN

Written and Illustrated by Sian Mandrake
Lettering by Janice Chiang
Edited by Sandy King
160 pp
MSRP: $24.99
ISBN: 979-8-9887285-3-5

About Storm King Comics

Storm King Comics, formed in 2012 as a division of Storm King Productions, is headed by writer/producer and editor Sandy King. Along with her husband, director John Carpenter, King focuses on bringing the best writers from the worlds of comics, movies and novels together to bring their special brand of horror and sci-fi entertainment to comics. Their flagship comic book title John Carpenter’s Asylum has become a global fan favorite, followed by the award-winning annual anthology, John Carpenter’s Tales for a HalloweeNight, and the monthly anthology series, John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction. More recent additions to the Storm King brand are Storm King Comics Dark & Twisted, John Carpenter’s Night Terrors, and John Carpenter Presents Storm Kids, introducing horror and sci-fi to younger audiences.