Heartbreak Manor combines the talents of Damien Worm, Steve Niles and Monica Richards!
Wicked Horror is excited to reveal character designs by Damien Worm of October Faction fame! It’s for a collaboration with 30 Days of Night co-creator Steve Niles called Heartbreak Manor, an all-new graphic novel with a haunted house, a holiday setting and plenty of gothic excitement.
The 100-page hardcover book is written by Niles, illustrated and colored by Worm, and edited and lettered by goth icon Monica Richards (Faith and the Muse), who is also working with darkwave artist Anthony Roumanis to create a 30-minute Heartbreak Manor Original Soundtrack.
It all makes for an exciting package for a tale that’s being called Crimson Peak meets The Orphanage. More on the story in a moment, let’s look at those characters!
That’s Sally Madison, an orphan. According to the official Heartbreak Manor synopsis her wealthy new parents appear eager to provide her with everything she could ever desire when she first moves in.
“Sally’s grateful for being rescued from the orphanage, but she’s having a hard time being able to trust her adoptive family. It doesn’t help that her new home is a mysterious mansion, full of secrets and rooms that are strictly off limits. As she tries to navigate the peculiar place and her new life, Sally takes it upon herself to find out why so many doors are locked and why her new parents disappear at night … and as Christmas approaches, she realizes she must uncover the deadly secret of Heartbreak Manor before it’s too late.”
In an official press release on the graphic novel, Niles noted: “I began writing Heartbreak Manor a few years ago and my first thought was Damien for the art. The story’s set in New York, 1912. It’s a time when the old and new worlds began to collide, and I wanted to go back in time, reduce the technology and make an old-fashioned ghost story. I’m working with Zoop as they’re a great alternative for comic creators to help raise money and crowdfund new books. We want to have fans who truly want a beautiful, hardcover artbook get involved and help us bring Heartbreak Manor to life.”
Here’s a look at the parents and the butler at Heartbreak Manor.
“Working with Steve is always a joy, because his scripts get straight to the point on every page and panel, and then he gives you total freedom to bring them to life in your own way,” Damien Worm said in the press release. “I’ve always loved the aesthetic of the early 1900s. I genuinely believe that, thanks to its atmosphere, artistic style, and stunning interior and exterior architecture, it’s one of the best periods for creating a horror story. For me, it will always have a certain magical stuff that the modern era simply doesn’t. That’s why I think Heartbreak Manor is my personal homage to everything I’ve always loved about the previous century — gothic ghost novels, a disturbing yet beautiful and captivating atmosphere. It will capture the complete look and feel of a period mansion, where ghosts are woven into the decor like another element of the setting.”
Here’s a look at the cover …
We’d be remiss if we didn’t give you a little taste of what’s waiting inside Heartbreak Manor …
Heartbreak Manor marks Steve Niles’ sixth collaboration with Damien Worm. In addition to co-creating Monster & Madman and October Faction (which was also released on Netflix) with Niles, Worm has drawn the comic adaptations of numerous fan-favorite video games, including Titan Comics’ Dark Souls: Legends of the Flame, and Bloodborne: Lady of the Lanterns.
The Zoop crowdfunding campaign is now live. To support the campaign, visit Zoop and be sure to follow Steve Niles on Bluesky, Instagram, and Facebook for more updates.