Courtesy of Dark Horse Comics, AIPT can exclusively reveal Jason McNamara’s new neo-noir thriller Past Tense. The futuristic tale explores evolving the technological world and the struggles to maintain personal privacy. Joining McNamara is artists Alberto Massaggia and Paul Little on colors with a cover by Alberto and Sonia Harris.
“To me, horror works best when it reflects real-world concerns,” says Jason McNamara, “if we have a modern bogeyman, it is our loss of privacy. I wanted to couple that with my fascination with unsolved mysteries. What if we could send a hidden camera back through time, not to change history, but to view it as it truly occurred?
So what’s Past Tense about?
Ashley is a tour guide at PAST TENSE, a company that sends camera drones into the past to view history’s most depraved events. When Ashley discovers Silas Green, an unknown serial killer working in the past, she begins hosting “exclusive” tours of his murders. The only problem? Silas is still alive in the present. And when he learns of his newfound infamy, he is inspired to come out of retirement to make Ashley his final victim, now and forever.
“Ashley is just that kind of character that I love to work on,” Alberto Massaggia says, “She’s strong and stubborn, with a hint of cynicism because, a bit like all of us, she has to go through the challenges of life that become more complicated day by day.
For more on this news, read the official press release below.
MILWAUKIE, Ore.—Dark Horse Books proudly teams up with writer Jason McNamara (The Rattler) to bring you the neo-noir thriller, Past Tense. A chilling futuristic tale exploring our ever-evolving technological world and the struggles of maintaining personal privacy. McNamara is joined by esteemed indie comic veterans Alberto Massaggia (Hotline Miami: Wildlife), who did the ink and pencil work for the graphic novel, and colorist Paul Little (Bomb Queen), with cover art by Alberto and Sonia Harris (The Bounce).
Ashley is a tour guide at PAST TENSE, a company that sends camera drones into the past to view history’s most depraved events. When Ashley discovers Silas Green, an unknown serial killer working in the past, she begins hosting “exclusive” tours of his murders. The only problem? Silas is still alive in the present. And when he learns of his
newfound infamy, he is inspired to come out of retirement to make Ashley his final victim, now and forever.
“To me, horror works best when it reflects real-world concerns,” says Jason McNamara, “if we have a modern bogeyman, it is our loss of privacy. I wanted to couple that with my fascination with unsolved mysteries. What if we could send a hidden camera back through time, not to change history, but to view it as it truly occurred?
I believe that we, like Ashley, would eventually stumble across a secret best left undiscovered. “
“Ashley is just that kind of character that I love to work on,” Alberto Massaggia says, “She’s strong and stubborn, with a hint of cynicism because, a bit like all of us, she has to go through the challenges of life that become more complicated day by day.
And when everything will be against her another time, she has to use just these features to face the distress and the pain that stands out in front of her.”
The Past Tense trade paperback will be in comic shops June 7, 2023 and bookstores June 20, 2023. It is available for pre-order for $19.99 on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and at your local comic shop and bookstore.
Praise for The Rattler
“A dark and compelling mystery that holds a horrible and psychologically charged secret at its core, “The Rattler” is a fantastic effort in giving me flop sweat while I read a comic.”
— Multiversity Comics
“I’m thankful to know that a graphic novel can still keep me on the edge of my seat with every panel.”
–Nerdlocker
“McNamara hauntingly explores just how easy it is for good people to go bad.”
— Publishers Weekly
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