Vampires have been mainstays of literature, movies, games, and comics for centuries, but horror fans have never met a creation quite like Theo, the 500-year-old undead with a maternal instinct at the center of “Blood of the Taken,” a new graphic novel from writer-illustrator Sian Mandrake’s graphic arriving from Storm King Comics this October as part of the “John Carpenter’s Night Terrors” imprint.
After losing her own brood, Theo spends her nights stalking a small town in Western Massachusetts in search of just the right humans who she can bring back to her nightmarish, rotting mansion. Theo may have found the perfect pair in lifelong best friends Ed and Liam. But when the two men are ensnared in Theo’s bloody and violent web of intrigue, they learn that running is not an option—and that Theo has intentions that run much deeper than simply keeping them as fellow undead. Theo wants a family. The trouble is, Ed and Liam aren’t so sure they need this kind of family.
With a dazzling, inventive visual style that immediately grabs readers and refuses to let go, “Blood of the Taken” is a graphically bold and narratively distinctive debut for writer and illustrator Sian Mandrake and their compelling new approach to telling a tale as old as time.
“The moment I discovered the work Sian had been doing on their own to create a crowdfunded version of this story, I knew that Storm King was the perfect place for this exquisite, fun, and no-holds-barred approach,” said Storm King Comics founder and editor Sandy King. “Sian has done nothing less than breathe new life into a classic horror tale, and I can’t wait for the world to see this gorgeous and captivating book.”
“Blood of the Taken” features lettering by Janice Chiang and will be available on September 18 directly from Storm King Comics at www.StormKingComics.com, at favorite comic book stores, and from book retailers beginning October 1.
“Blood of the Taken” is the first graphic novel by Sian Mandrake, continuing a legacy of excellence in comics and storytelling begun by their parents, artists Tom Mandrake and Jan Duursema. This blood-curdling and surprising original graphic novel also continues an extraordinary year for Storm King Comics, which in July releases two new graphic novels from Steve Niles, “The God List” and “The Killing Hole;” and has published works by Cullen Bunn and Heath Amodio (“Long Haul“), Amanda Deibert and Cat Staggs (“Death Mask”) and released the Fetch Book Two: The Rescue, by Mike Sizemore with Dave and Pete Kennedy, the conclusion to the Fetch story, which was named the 2023 Gold Winner for Graphic Novels and Comics at the Foreword INDIE Awards.
The latest Storm King Comics titles will all be featured at the Storm King Comics booth at San Diego Comic-Con this July.
