Moving to a new town can be hard. Being a half-vampire/half-werewolf hybrid only makes things more complicated. But that’s what confronts teenage Angela, the protagonist of the Alpha Wolf series of books by horror and paranormal author Jennifer Maimone. Making matters more interesting is the fact that Angela’s best friends are all pure werewolves. Then a local werewolf brings them shocking news: Something powerful and demonic has been slaughtering local witches… and may soon turn its attention to werewolves. That’s the start of Demon’s Prize, the first book in the series, with the sequel A Cursed Soul coming out next year. The author’s web site has links to several places you can check out or purchase her books.
Horror
Dark Fantasy
We stumbled across a new on-line graphic story created by Rose Morgan. “Nails & Teeth follows the story of a detective on Earth, who is tasked with solving a number of apparent murders- the perpetrators appear to be wild animals, but the mystery lies in which species. The damage is far greater than she or humanity realizes, however; Two worlds have collided, and they must now work together to inhibit the destruction.” The brand-new official web page features profiles of the characters and a link to Patreon page — where subscribers can see the newest comic pages before anyone else.
Freddy’s Back! (The OTHER One!)
After what can only be called a very successful year in 2014, Five Nights at Freddy’s creator Scott Cawthon has announced that Part 3 is in development and will be released very soon for computers and a variety of mobile devices. According to an article at Cinema Blend, this new chapter takes place 30 years after the horrific events of Five Nights at Freddy’s 1 and 2 have resulted in Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza being shut down and demolished. But now, someone has come up with the bright idea of building a brand new theme park attraction based on Freddy Fazbear’s! Even better, they decide to use some of the old parts from the original animatronic characters for this new dark ride. As you can imagine, things don’t go as planned… No word yet on a precise release date, but the article does feature a very creepy teaser trailer for the new game.
Beware the Wolf Bearing Gifts
Next month, Yen Press will premier a new hardcover black & white graphic novel based on The Wolf Gift, author Anne Rice’s new take on werewolves in the modern world. “When reporter Reuben Golding arrives at a secluded mansion at the request of the home’s mysterious female owner, he doesn’t expect this assignment will lead to him being inexplicably attacked-bitten-by a beast shadowed in darkness. This single event prompts a terrifying but seductive transformation that both opens Reuben’s eyes to what was previously unseen and unknown, and leads to even more questions. Why was he given this wolf gift? Is its nature good or evil? And is he now all alone in this mysterious new world?” The Wolf Gift was adapted and illustrated by Ashley Marie Witter. You can order it over at Barnes & Noble.
Centurions of Fur and Claw
We’ll finish up our werewolf triple-play with this one. Later this month Alterna Comics will release Empire of the Wolf issues #1 through #4 as a singe graphic novel in trade paperback. From Previews: “During the Roman conquest of Britain, a werewolf’s bite re-ignites the legendary feud between Romulus and Remus, pitting two centurions against each other in an epic war of werewolves that will decide the fate of Roman Empire itself. Empire of the Wolf is the saga that reveals the myth behind the history of ancient Rome. ” It’s written by Michael Kogge and illustrated by Dan Parsons.
A Werewolf with Regrets
Action Lab must be on a werewolf kick lately. This one is from their Danger Zone imprint: “Pearl City is full of vampires, zombies, werewolves, and more. In a futuristic world where supernatural beings live among humans in peace, Jack Crimson finds his life as a werewolf frustrating and wants nothing more than a cure. Desperate to free himself from this curse, he makes a series of decisions leading him down a path that will change his life forever.” Crimson Society is written by Mike Hunau and illustrated in full color by Carlos Trigo. You can go have a look-see over at Comixology.
Howling Dixie
The power of Nature (for good and bad) runs headlong into The Evil That Men Do in Southern Dog, a new full-color 4-issue comic miniseries from Jeremy Holt (writing) and Alex Diotto (art). “When awkward high school teen Jasper Dixon conceals an injury sustained during a hunting excursion with his family, his infected wolf bite combined with the hormonal changes of puberty triggers a disturbing physical transformation. Now he’s forced to confront his Deep South upbringing and monsters far worse than what he’s become!” It’s out now from Action Lab, and you can get a preview over at Comic Book Resources.
Don’t Let the Dead Bugs Bite!
We couldn’t do any better than the actual title here. “Did you enjoy stepping on bugs as a child? Have you ever lit one on fire with a magnifying glass? What if all those bugs could come back from the dead? Don’t Let the Dead Bugs Bite! is the tale of a community struggling to rid itself of troublesome bugs that have come back to haunt their once peaceful town. This exciting story will capture children’s imaginations and may make them think twice before stepping on that next bug.” This new full-color book was written and illustrated by Stephen Zmina. As you can see from the official web site, there’s quite a roster of well-known celebrities who’ve read and endorsed the book! Be sure to check out the horror-movie-style book trailer too.
Death Is For The Birds
Sorry. After a successful Kickstarter campaign last year, Rachele Aragno (and her associates, Dave Ryan and Robert J. Sodaro) announced that Owl Girls will soon be available from Red Anvil Comics — you can check it out at their web site. “Not everything is as it seems, especially in the SoHo district of 1940’s New York City. No, in fact, things are not always quite what they seem. There are shadows and alleyways of the world that are not normally traversed by mortal men, and in those shadowy realms, there exist things that must be dealt with by those that can divine their presence and root out that evil. This is the world of the Owl Girls, a trio of sisters who for reasons that pass understanding have the heads of Owls and the bodies of human women. Virtually every culture in the world offers up myths and legends about the nature of Owls, and we here in America are no different. These three women (Magda, Martha, and Maggie) are attempting to live normal lives, only they have mystical abilities, oh yes, and they talk to Death; an old woman who visits them at odd moments during the day, and whose bidding they sometimes do.” Got all that?