Thursday, August 13, 2020

Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen

Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen Graphic Novel
Something strange has been unleashed in the North of England. A modern-day druid has been committing a series of ghastly murders in an attempt to unleash the awesome power of the ancient gods of Great Britain. But all hell really breaks loose when his latest would-be victim, rebellious teen Nicnevin “Nissy” Oswald, turns out to be more than she seems. In NICNEVIN AND THE BLOODY QUEEN, debut graphic novel writer Helen Mullane, acclaimed artists Dom Reardon and Matthew Dow Smith, and celebrated colorist Lee Loughridge have created a haunting and unsettling coming-of-age horror story for our times.

Humanoids, the publisher of some of the world’s most iconic and groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy graphic novels, will publish NICNEVIN AND THE BLOODY QUEEN in the UK on August 20, 2020. The book features a stunning cover by Jock, the co-creator of Wytches and one of the modern masters of comic book suspense.

This original graphic novel marks the literary debut of writer Helen Mullane, who collaborates with artists Dom Reardon and Matthew Dow Smith, letterer Robin Jones, and colorist Lee Loughridge for a different kind of horror and a different kind of heroine. In the story, London teen “Nissy” Oswald is stuck in the countryside for the entire summer with only her mother and little brother for company, but things start to look up when she meets Reggie, an attractive and mysterious older man to whom she feels inexorably drawn. As Nissy divides her time between feuding with her mother and lusting for Reggie, the small town is rocked by a grisly murder and everything changes. “I wanted to channel the feelings and attitudes that I remember so clearly from my own teenage years, the experiences of me and my friends,” said Mullane. “We weren’t wholesome or chaste, or bothered about saving the day--we weren’t the Famous Five or the Teen Titans! We just wanted to hang around, maybe get a bit wasted, get crushes on whoever was around… I feel like that sort of teen experience is rarely explored in mainstream comics.”

The original graphic novel received widespread acclaim upon its publication in the States this spring:

“Dredging its dread from the deep well of teenage anxieties and British folk horror, a new original graphic novel being published by Humanoids is an old-fashioned fright yarn that weaves a lasting spell on readers yearning for an intense murder mystery with a black magic flair….  A disturbing coming-of-age horror story perfect for these complicated digital age times.”—SYFY WIRE

“Helen Mullane’s debut graphic novel Nicnevin and the Bloody Queen carefully walks the line between realism and folk horror in a way that only the best horror stories do.  Mullane’s unique take on the folklore and mythology of Great Britain, told through the eyes of a disaffected teen, slowly works its way towards an explosive ending with many terrifying signposts along the way.”—HORROR NEWS NETWORK

“The artwork for this collection is gorgeous… It’s easy to fall under the spell of this book…. Highly entertaining story.”—FANGIRL NATION

“NICNEVIN & THE BLOODY QUEEN is a moody slice of folk horror that peels away the skin of modern Britain to reveal its wild and bloody heart.”—Andy Diggle (Losers)

“Reminiscent of some of Mike Mignola’s best work…. The art is fantastic and the atmosphere is perfect.”—FORCES OF GEEK

NICNEVIN AND THE BLOODY QUEEN is ripe with black magic, myth, and murder. The book comes alive with its honest depiction of family dysfunction and moments of quiet despair. It’s a spellbinding story, the kind that recalls the best horror stories of the past, while daring to unearth something entirely new. 

All the toy images you can handle! https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulnomad/albums

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