Image Comics has officially announced Mirka Andolfo’s latest project, “Mercy,” after the comic miniseries was teased last week. Image will release the goth-inspired, Victorian monster series in 2020; it will first launch in Italy from Panini this November 2019, followed by a release in France by Glénat, also in 2020.
Set in the fictional small town of Woodsburgh during the Klondike Gold Rush, Mercy introduces main character Lady Hellaine—an “inhuman” woman—who is always seen with her butler, Mr. Goodwill…
Mercy explores topics of “otherness,” damnation and redemption, and what it means to be a monster in a horror tale perfect for fans of Penny Dreadful, Crimson Peak, The Alienist, Parasol Protectorate, and Dark Shadows.
According to Image, “Mercy” will be a darker story than fans were treated to in “Unnatural,” the first title from Andolfo released by the comics publisher. Announced at last year’s Image Expo, “Unnatural” was already a critical success in Andolfo’s native Italy (under the title “Contro Natura”) before the fantasy erotica series made its way to U.S. shelves in July 2018.
“As in any of my books, the element that immediately stands out is the presence of a strong female figure,” Mirka Andolfo stated on her website, “and indeed, the entire story sprung from Hellaine, a character that I created and immediately enjoyed drawing, so much so that the story formed in my mind day-after-day along with the character itself. I started sharing my sketches on social media and the reaction from the community has been stunning. I’m so happy I can finally share some details on this project.”
