Following the success of The Exorcism at 1600 Penn and its upcoming film adaptation from Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, writer Hannah Rose May is returning to IDW Dark with a brand-new horror series titled Fatal Fest.
The publisher has revealed a first look at the upcoming comic, which features artwork by Andrea Scalmazzi and centers on a mysterious horror film festival with deadly stakes.
The series follows six up-and-coming horror filmmakers invited to compete at Fatal Fest, an exclusive event run by legendary horror producer Frank Finch and his company, Fatal Films. What initially appears to be a career-making opportunity quickly becomes something far more dangerous. Finch operates under one guiding principle: true fear can only be created by experiencing it firsthand. To survive the competition and claim victory, the contestants may be forced to do the unthinkable.
According to IDW, Fatal Fest combines survival horror with commentary on Hollywood, intellectual property, and the pursuit of fame. The story explores the pressures surrounding creative success and the entertainment industry’s relationship with art and commercialism.
“I’ve wanted to tell this story for years. It lives at the intersection of everything I love: horror, Hollywood and our cultural obsession with IP,” said May. “I’ve been dying to explore what happens when obsession collides with violent ambition and with FATAL FEST we get to dial that all the way up to the most terrifying degree. This is my third original series with IDW and I’m so grateful for their continued trust and for letting me run wild with my most twisted story yet.”
Senior Group Editor Heather Antos said the project stood out immediately when it was first pitched.
“Every now and then, a pitch lands on your desk that reminds you why you love comics in the first place. FATAL FEST was one of those projects for us,” commented Antos. “It’s bold, bloody, incredibly clever, and completely unapologetic in its vision. From the first page, we knew readers were in for something unforgettable. Hannah and Andrea have created a world that feels equal parts Hollywood Horror satire, psychological thriller, and pure nightmare fuel. This is the kind of series readers discover in issue #1 and never stop talking about.”
IDW CEO Davidi Jonas also praised the project and May’s approach to horror storytelling.
“Hannah is a visionary creator and an incredible creative partner, delivering a horror story that feels both terrifyingly modern and razor-sharp in its commentary on fame, entertainment, and the commodification of art,” stated Jonas. “FATAL FEST is bold, cinematic, and deeply unsettling in all the right ways and we couldn’t be more thrilled to continue building the future of IDW Dark alongside a talent like Hannah.”
Additional details on Fatal Fest, including release information, will be announced at a later date. In the meantime, readers can find Smile: For the Camera and The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace in comic shops now, while the collected edition of The Exorcism at 1600 Penn is currently available wherever graphic novels are sold.
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