Dark Horse Comics is launching a new horror series that imagines a world where humanity has lost its place at the top of the food chain. Kingdom of Earth comes from writers David Dastmalchian and Leah Kilpatrick, with art by Soo Lee and lettering by Frank Cvetkovic. The four-issue series features Lee on covers as well.
Set in a landscape overrun by monsters, the series explores a fragile human resistance trying to survive in a world ruled by creatures of every kind. The creative team leans into a wide range of horror influences, pulling from folklore, myth, and classic monster traditions to build a chaotic and dangerous setting.
“It’s tempting to abandon hope when the world is dominated by monsters… right?! But thanks to the incredible passion of my creative partners on this book,” said Dastmalchian, “we created a terrifying world where a small flicker of hope burns amidst an apocalyptic landscape. I love mash-ups and this series is the ultimate mash-up. Every monster you’ve ever seen, read or studied battles for supremacy while a small movement of humans plot survival and rebellion.”
So what’s Kingdom of Earth about?
2036. Two years ago, hordes of monsters rose from the earth and sea, devouring everything in sight. Much of mankind was massacred before the monsters realized they needed humans. In this new world, humans have two options: service or slaughter. When a young child named Frankie narrowly escapes their fate as livestock, they soon realize that their fight for survival has only just begun.
Soo Lee shared her excitement about diving into darker material. “I love being able to draw monsters and creatures that go bump in the night,” she said. “It’s so much more different than what I’ve been working on lately and thanks to my collaborators, I’m able to test myself by making this dark and terrible world beautiful in my own way. I hope everyone is captivated by the world we have developed in Kingdom of Earth.“
Kilpatrick emphasized the breadth of inspiration behind the project. “I love monsters. Every culture has its own folklore, fables, and ghost stories that terrify people in their own unique way,” she said. “Kingdom of Earth gives us the chance to mine from all of it. I’ve never seen a story, aside from one of my favorites, Cabin in the Woods, where every monster imaginable collides in one world of horror, chaos, and ambition. In KOE, nothing is off-limits. The fun is getting to know these creatures and giving them personality, fears, and motives of their own.”
Kingdom of Earth #1 arrives in comic shops on July 15, 2026, priced at $4.99.
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