DC Comics have announced the launch of DC Horror, a new imprint aimed at readers aged 17 and above, as well as its first title: “The Conjuring: The Lover,” a five-issue prequel to the upcoming film The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
Written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick (the film’s screenwriter) with bestselling author Rex Ogle (Free Lunch), and illustrated by Garry Brown (“Black Road”), the comic will expand on the story of Jessica, a college freshman struggling with “the anxieties of last semester’s poor grades, the awkwardness of facing a boy she wishes she’d never slept with, and an undeniably unnerving feeling of being watched.”
Each issue will also contain back-ups about the artifact room owned by Ed and Lorraine Warren (the real-life paranormal investigators at the center of The Conjuring films.) Writer Scott Snyder and artist Denys Cowan (“The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage”) will lift the lid on one of the artifacts’ backstory in the first issue’s back-up, while issue #2’s bonus tale will be penned by Che Grayson (“Bitch Planet: Triple Feature”), with art by Juan Ferreyra (“Green Arrow”).
DC Horror is the second horror imprint from DC in as many years, following “Locke & Key” writer Joe Hill’s imprint Hill House. DC editor-in-chief Marie Javins said, “From early titles like ‘House of Mystery’ and ‘House of Secrets’ to current series featuring ‘Swamp Thing’ and ‘John Constantine: Hellblazer,’ DC has always been the home of great horror comics and characters. DC Horror continues this tradition with new frightening tales from both well-known and new storytellers that will keep fans spooked and entertained.” More titles, intended for a Halloween release, will be announced in July.
“The Conjuring: The Lover” #1 will be released on June 4, the same day The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It releases in theaters and on HBO Max.
