AfterShock Comics have announced “Dark Red: Where Roads Lead,” a ‘One-Shock’ sequel to the vampire series by writer Tim Seely and artist Corin M. Howell. Seely and Howell will return for the comic with letterer Carlos M. Mangual, which picks up with blue-collar vampire Chip after the defeat of the Order of the Eventide. Chip is trying to resume his quiet life as a late-night convenience store worker in a rural, isolated area, but when he has to travel to New Orleans to visit a dying veteran, “what starts as a trip of noble intent becomes a quest through a hell of wars to retrieve a stolen soul and escape an old enemy.”
“Dark Red” previously ran for ten issues from 2019 to 2020. The creative team commented, “We’ve crafted a perfectly self-contained story that widens the scope of our universe, but is totally accessible for new readers.” The 48-page follow-up will retail for $6.99, and will be published on January 12, 2022, with a regular cover by Howell, and an incentive cover by Andy Clarke with colorist Jose Villarrubia. You can check out a preview, and a full creator Q&A, below:
FOR THOSE THAT DON’T KNOW DARK RED, CAN YOU SUMMARIZE THE SERIES FROM ISSUE #1 TO NOW?
“DARK RED is the story of a bitter rural vampire who works at an all-night convenience store, trying to navigate a world that has left him behind.”
WHY DO YOU THINK IT WORKS FOR THIS ONE-SHOCK FORMAT?
“We’ve crafted a perfectly self-contained story that widens the scope of our universe, but is totally accessible for new readers.”
WITH SUCH SUCCESSFUL VAMPIRE FILMS AND TV SHOWS, SUCH AS INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE, TRUE BLOOD AND MOST RECENTLY, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, WHY DO YOU THINK VAMPIRES ARE SO POPULAR ACROSS ALL MODES OF ENTERTAINMENT?
“I mean, besides the whole violence and sex thing, which, let’s face it, is the real appeal, vampire stories are flexible and adaptable to every era. To some degree, a vampire story is always about assets, about haves and have nots, and about the race to do something with your life before you’re dead.”
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VAMPIRE FILM/TV SHOW OF ALL TIME?
“DRACULA overall, because it’s the big daddy, but I’m still a huge fan of LOST BOYS and FRIGHT NIGHT. In fact, our hero, Charles “Chip” Ipswich is named after Charlie in FRIGHT NIGHT!”
