With Halloween right around the corner, we have a handful of surprises and announcements for Daily Dead readers and we're excited to exclusively share the first details on HOUND, the upcoming historical fiction horror graphic novel, co-written by Sam Romesburg and Sam Freeman, with art by Rodrigo Vázquez and letters from Justin Birch. We also have a look at the cover art and preview pages you can read right now!

Synopsis: "During World War I, a young soldier is assigned to one of the most deadly areas along the western front. However, he finds the greatest threat to his life lies not with the enemy, but with a cult formed by his own men.

Found nestled and protected within a den of wolves, the journal of Private Barrow, a fresh young soldier drafted into Britain’s royal army during the height of World War I, meticulously and explicitly recounts the events that lead to his death. However, where most men are sent to the trenches, Barrow was sent to a place known only to him as the “gas quarter” — a patch along the western front known for incessant mustard gas attacks. Our story and the journal both begin with Barrow’s introduction to the unit occupying the quarter — a group referred to by the top brass as “The Hounds,” a nickname earned by the appearance of their long-snouted gas masks. Immediately, Barrow is shaken by the sight of them and is soon pulled into a hell that can only come from the savage horror of war."

“For Sam, Rodrigo and I, Hound is the culmination of over a year's worth of planning, historical research and work, and we could not be more thrilled to see it finally taking physical form,” said Sam Romesburg. We cannot wait for readers to take in this world Rodrigo has so masterfully produced on the page, and we could not be more thankful to be doing this with the incredible team at Mad Cave.” 

“I can’t be more excited to finally put Hound out into the world, I love this book and am so proud of the world Sam, Rodrigo, and myself put into it,” said Sam Freeman. “Rodrigo in particular is such a powerhouse and I feel so lucky to have anything I’m a part of to be represented by his work.”

Hound is my first step into American comics, I couldn't be more excited!” said Rodrigo Vázquez. “Thanks to the entire Mad Cave team and especially to the Sams for their sympathy, their great work and their trust.”

HOUND will be released on February 20th, 2024, but you can pre-order it right now from the Mad Cave Studios website! Check out the official cover art and preview pages below:

Howl at the moon because in the purview of war, there is no line between man and beast…