In his first exclusive interview about the project, Eisner-nominated writer Rodney Barnes is sharing the details behind Crownsville #1, a grim supernatural thriller launching from Oni Press on November 5, 2025. Teaming with artist Elia Bonetti, Barnes has crafted a five-part series inspired by the real-life history of Maryland’s Crownsville Hospital, once known as the “Hospital for the Negro Insane of Maryland.” The psychiatric institution, which operated during the Jim Crow era, became infamous for its segregation, overcrowding, neglect, and persistent rumors of abuse and illegal medical experiments before closing in 2004.
For Barnes, Crownsville is not just a work of fiction but a deeply personal project. “My grandmother was a nurse at the hospital,” he says. “As well, a few family members were held there. Crownsville was sort of like the boogeyman. If you’re bad, that’s where they’ll send you.” The story, which he describes as “cathartic,” uses a supernatural lens to explore a painful history that is tied to his own family.
“I’ve always felt that thrillers were great ways to convey tricky historical tales,” Barnes explains. “To go straight with ‘facts’ can feel like medicine. Entertainment with a purpose resonated more for me.” By blending historical truth with ghost story elements, Barnes sought to let the past guide the narrative. “There’s so much history it almost writes itself. I allowed the spirit of the ghosts (no pun intended) to speak to pain. Their motivations in death mirror the pain they suffered in life.”
Barnes says Oni Press was the right home for this kind of story because “they do dope stuff. They got it. That’s 90% of the battle. Finding publishers that understand what’s under a project. Then apply passion to the process.”
At the center of the series are Detective Mike Simms and journalist Paul Blair, who begin investigating an unexplained death inside the abandoned hospital. Their dynamic reflects both shared history and a struggle to adapt to the present. “They’re both from a different time,” Barnes says. “They remember the good old days while struggling to accept a world they don’t completely understand. This case speaks to both of those ideas.”
The visuals from Bonetti elevate the mood and intensity of the series. “You don’t just look at Elia’s work. You feel it. He put his heart into this book. And it shows. It’s been an honor working with him.”
The debut issue is oversized, giving Barnes the space to expand both the present-day mystery and the haunting history of the hospital. “It gives the reader a better opportunity to immerse themselves in the story from the start. You’re not racing to get to a cliffhanger. You’re connecting the audience to the world.”
Although Barnes has built acclaimed horror worlds with titles like Killadelphia and Blacula, he sees Crownsville as a distinct experience. “It’s more introspective. Blacula was in your face. Crownsville begs for your heart as much as it does your imagination. The pacing is more methodical. And the scope is more intimate.”
As for what he hopes readers will carry with them beyond the scares, Barnes says, “I hope they see that history matters. There are so many stories begging to be told. Allowing them into our minds and hearts makes us better human beings.”
Crownsville #1 will arrive in comic shops on November 5, 2025, with covers by Jason Shawn Alexander, Elia Bonetti, Szymon Kudranski, and Andrea Sorrentino.
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