Nearly a century after Weird Tales first helped define horror and fantasy, the legendary pulp magazine is breaking new ground—this time in comics. Publisher Monstrous has announced that Killadelphia creator Rodney Barnes and Count Crowley artist Lukas Ketner will collaborate on an original story inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft as part of the first official Weird Tales graphic novel.
Get notified when the project launches here.
The anthology, a collaboration between Monstrous and Weird Tales Magazine, marks the “Unique Magazine’s” first foray into sequential storytelling in its 100-year history. The project features all-new adaptations and mythic reimaginings from horror’s most celebrated creators, with haunting covers by icons Kelley Jones (Batman: Red Rain, Sandman) and Eric Powell (The Goon).
A Century of the Strange, the Sinister, and the Sublime
First published in 1923, Weird Tales gave birth to genre titans like H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, C.L. Moore, and Ray Bradbury. The new graphic novel continues that legacy, reviving classic tales such as:
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“The Man Who Walked on Air” by Michael Avallone, adapted by Chilling Adventures of Sabrina artist Robert Hack and writer David Avallone.
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“The Scythe” by Ray Bradbury, adapted by J.K. Woodward and novelist Jonathan Maberry.
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“The Damp Man” by Allison V. Harding, reimagined by Marco Finnegan and Nancy A. Collins (Swamp Thing, Vampirella).
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“Skulls in the Stars” by Robert E. Howard, adapted by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night).
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“Ooze” by Anthony M. Rud — the first story ever published by Weird Tales — retold by John Harlacher with art by Zac Atkinson.
But at the center of the anthology lies a brand-new Lovecraft Mythos story from Rodney Barnes and Lukas Ketner, an original descent into cosmic dread that expands the magazine’s mythic DNA into modern psychological horror.
The Editor Speaks
In an exclusive statement to AIPT, Monstrous editor James Aquilone said:
“Weird Tales has a long and illustrious history, helping launch the careers of H.P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, and many others. It’s an incredible honor to be publishing the Unique Magazine’s first graphic novel — after 100 years, it’s long overdue. And as a longtime fan of both Kelley Jones and Eric Powell, I was blown away to be working with them on this project.
“Kelley Jones created an amazing Margaret Brundage–inspired cover for the graphic novel that perfectly evokes the classic pulp aesthetic of 1930s Weird Tales. As a bonus, I’m writing a story based on that image, titled ‘The Abominable Professor Gaius’ — and there will be a few twists and surprises.”
A New Era of the Macabre
Alongside Barnes and Ketner’s Lovecraftian original, the collection includes more new stories such as “Doctor Satan vs. Jules de Grandin” by Aquilone himself and “The Cthulhu Project” by Richard Krepit and EV Cantada, promising a blend of old-school pulp weirdness and cutting-edge horror sensibilities.
“For the first time,” Aquilone said, “the weird, the dark, and the wondrous stories that launched the careers of genre legends leap from the pages of the magazine into a stunning graphic novel experience.”
Fans can follow the project’s pre-launch page now to get notified when the crowdfunding campaign goes live — with exclusive early bird specials, limited edition covers, and collector’s tiers worthy of a century of Weird Tales mystique.
The cosmic horror that started it all is coming back — and it’s weirder, bloodier, and more beautiful than ever.
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