Bestselling Novelist Stephen Graham Jones, Acclaimed Writer Joshua Viola, and Artist Ben Matsuya Present A Cosplay Slasher Comic Book Set at the Colorado Festival of Horror

(April 2, 2024) Some of the biggest names in horror — iconic actress Jamie Lee Curtis, the band GWAR, bestselling novelist R.L. Stine, screenwriter and film director Jeffrey Reddick (Final Destination), musician Matthew Kiichi Heafy, actor Devon Sawa, and the characters from the cult horror film Deathgasm — will make cameo appearances in TRUE BELIEVERS, a gripping and grisly new comic book mini-series co-written by bestselling Bram Stoker Award-winner Stephen Graham Jones and Denver Post bestselling writer Joshua Viola, featuring artwork by Ben Matsuya. The three-issue series, which delves into the world of cosplay and fan conventions, is set at the Colorado Festival of Horror. A Kickstarter campaign for the second issue features lettering by Jeremiah Lambert and variant covers by Matthew Therrien, Skinner, GWAR’s Matt Maguire, Luigi Scarcella of Half Sumo, and Ben Matsuya, as well as all-new, limited edition variant covers featuring Jamie Lee Curtis and R.L. Stine and Deathgasm by Therrien.

In TRUE BELIEVERS #2, a year has passed since the harrowing events of issue 1, which introduced readers to the bone-chilling slasher character, Killr™. Now a mysterious new figure emerges, adopting the enigmatic Killr™ persona—but is it just another obsessive fan or a new threat on the horizon? Brace yourself for a rollercoaster of suspense and humor with a fresh ensemble of characters. With new mysteries, hilarious gags, and an extra dose of blood, issue 2 promises a thrilling ride for both seasoned fans and newcomers alike.

“We’re incredibly honored to have iconic Scream Queen — Jamie Lee Curtis — featured in our slasher tale,” said Joshua Viola. “As a special treat for fans, we’re offering limited Jamie Lee Curtis variant covers by Matthew Therrien. But it’s more than just a cool cover. For every purchase of her variant, I will personally match that amount and donate it to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, in support of Jamie’s charity, My Hand In Yours. Your contribution to the campaign will make a significant difference in the lives of critically ill & injured children.”

“Nothing better than being at a horror convention, and the Colorado Festival of Horror does it right,” Stephen Graham Jones says. “Only thing better might be . . . I don’t know. Maybe being there and feeling like you’re walking through the panels of a slasher comic book?”

Rewards for the project include a 30 minute original score crafted by lead vocalist and guitarist of the Grammy-nominated band Trivium, Matthew Kiichi Heafy (available in limited blood-red saw-blade vinyls and cassette tapes), a Friday the 13th-inspired samurai latex mask donned by Heafy in the comic, Killr™ prop shears by Oktober Studios, a signed Matt Heafy Les Paul™ custom guitar, signed GWAR skate deck and drumsticks, and more.

For updates, follow Hex Publishers on X and Facebook. To support the project, visit Kickstarter.

Hex Publishers is an independent publishing house proudly specializing in genre fiction: horror, science fiction, crime, dark fantasy, comics, and any other form that explores the imagination. Founded by writers, Hex values both the author and the reader, with an emphasis on quality, diversity, and voices often overlooked by the mainstream. Visit hexpublishers.com

About the Creators:

Stephen Graham Jones is the NYT bestselling author of some thirty novels and collections, and there’s some novellas and comic books in there as well. Most recent are Don’t Fear the Reaper and the ongoing Earthdivers. Up before too long are The Angel of Indian Lake, and I Was a Teenage Slasher. Stephen lives and teaches in Boulder, Colorado. Twitter • Instagram • Website

Joshua Viola worked on video games like Pirates of the Caribbean, Target: Terror, and The Smurfs. In 2014, he founded Hex Publishers, reaching #1 Denver Post bestseller status with Nightmares Unhinged, later licensed to AMC for Fear the Walking Dead TV promotions. His book Cyber World was named one of the best science fiction anthologies of 2016 by Barnes & Noble. Joining Random Games in 2023 for the Unioverse franchise, he co-wrote and published a 6-book comic series and prose anthology expanding the game’s lore. He’s also ventured into executive producing films, first on Skinner’s Shrine of Abominations (featuring Phil Tippett), as well as teaming up with Raven Banner Entertainment on films like Deathgasm II: Goremageddon and a reboot of Roger Corman’s Deathstalker series alongside producer Slash from Guns N’ Roses. Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Website

Ben Matsuya illustrated the comic Jupiter Jet—co-created by Jason Inman and Ashley Victoria Robinson—which was successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2017. His follow-up was the horror-comedy graphic novel Midnight Massacre. He recently illustrated a 6-issue comic book miniseries for the Unioverse videogame tie-in. Twitter • Instagram • Website

Jeremiah Lambert, from full time mechanical engineer turned full time comic and art man. Doing gigs for Hasbro for both Transformers (Movie versions, Rescue Bots and Robots in Disguise) and Tonka Truck (Tonka Chuck) promotional art, as well as He-man and the Masters of the Universe exclusives for Mattel / MVCreations / Super 7 Toys. Comic and design work for GenSeven Comics, Viper Comics, Hex Publishers, ActionLab Comics, plus dozens of various other independent comic companies and comic writers. Jeremiah also has enjoyed internet viral exposure with his parody art. Facebook • Twitter • Instagram • Website