“Some Toys Were Never Meant To Be Played With…” – Exclusive Reveal of Surreal Folk Horror Comic Book Series GRYMSTONE: SOIL & ASH

2026/09/03 15:58:44 +00:00 | Jonathan James

"Summit Comics brings surreal folk horror to Kickstarter with its first villain-centered series by Scott Alan Gregory"

GrymStone: Soil & Ash is coming to Kickstarter courtesy of Summit Comics. A five-part surreal folk-horror series written, colored, and lettered by Scott Alan Gregory, with art by Thiago Motta, the project came out of Gregory winning the 2025 Summit Comics Writer Talent Search and is the publisher's first villain-centered series. Along with details on the upcoming series and Kickstarter, we also have an exclusive look at all four covers from the first issue!

Synopsis: "A seven-inch-tall ’80s action figure possessed by the ancient spirit of a wicked woodland entity binds three troubled families across three different eras. As GrymStone’s influence takes shape, a Chicago man seeks help for his brother, who believes the talking action figure hidden in his basement is compelling him to commit violent acts."

From the Press Release: "GrymStone: Soil & Ash draws from the unsettling atmosphere of ’90s Vertigo horror to explore mental illness, inherited damage, and the evil that takes root beneath it all through the surreal, dangerous, and tragicomic storytelling that defined the era’s alternative comics landscape.

Reflecting on the creative freedom that followed his Writer Talent Search win, Gregory said:

"Winning the Summit Comics Writer Talent Search came with no roadmap. They welcomed me aboard, gave me the run of the kitchen, and let me cook. Artist Thiago Motta and I came back with GrymStone: Soil & Ash, a weird, personal, and uncomfortable story rooted in what draws me to folk horror: the discord between ontological dread and human fallibility. Ritual, dark symbolism, and sacrifice collide with ego, personal baggage, and hidden intention, inevitably giving way to desperation and violence. Creating this book has been both cathartic and revelatory, permitting me to be weird and wild while obliging me to dig into personal shortcomings and deep-seated trauma. ‘Write what you know,’ they say. With folk horror, it’s ‘Write what you don’t want to know.’"

Kickstarter backers can choose from rewards including signed scripts, original sketch cards and covers, and the opportunity to appear in the comic in a featured speaking role. A limited number of backers can also become the star of a customized two-page GrymStone story created for the Summit Comics Substack.

Drawing from the same surreal, psychologically charged horror as Swamp Thing, Doom Patrol, Hellblazer, and Shade, the Changing Man, GrymStone: Soil & Ash follows a villain whose influence spans three families and generations."

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The Kickstarter campaign for GrymStone: Soil & Ash is set to go live on September 8th and runs through October 8th. To learn more about the title and Summit Comics, visit: https://readsumm.it/

To keep up with the Kickstarter campaign and to be notified when it launches, visit:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/apostrophecomics/grymstone-1-summit-comics

Cover A: Scott Alan Gregory

Cover B: Damian Connelly

Cover C: Pete Collins

Cover D: Juan Angel

  • Jonathan James
    About the Author - Jonathan James

    After more than a decade as a consultant in the entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who passionately explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.

    Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He is also consulted with as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, film festivals, and conventions.

  • Jonathan James
    About the Author : Jonathan James

    After more than a decade as a consultant in the entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who passionately explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.

    Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He is also consulted with as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, film festivals, and conventions.