Timed to the release of the 55th anniversary of Woodstock, the cleverly-named Woodstake is a "brilliant horror/comedy about three days of peace, music, and blood!" Ahead of the issue #0 release this August, we have a preview you can read right now that takes you back to where it all started.
Along with the preview, which you can read below, we have details on the team behind SHP Comics, Woodstake, and The Killing Machine:
"With a soft launch via limited crowdfunded editions and limited convention experiences, SHP Comics and the work of their in-house writer Darin S. Cape first emerged quietly in 2023. The publisher has built a robust fanbase via social media, and an award-winning film based on one of their first releases, which has swept the festival circuit over the past six months. Now, this exciting new upstart brings their groundswell of interest to the pages of the Diamond’s PREVIEWS catalog, with two titles to debut on shelves in August.
First up, and timed to release on the 55th anniversary of the Woodstock music festival, Woodstake is a brilliant horror/comedy about three days of peace, music, and blood! In the summer of 1969, an old and deadly vampire awakens as the flower children unknowingly gather for the historic Woodstock Festival. Amidst the backdrop of peace signs and protest anthems, festival-goers are hunted in a chilling but hilarious adventure filled with music, mayhem, and vampires tripping hard on bohemian blood. Woodstake masterfully blends the iconic psychedelic imagery of the 60s with vampire mythology, and biting humor into something truly special.
Woodstake will first premier with this special prologue, in a gripping saga of desire, fear, and fangs as the New World trembles under the stirrings of an ancient, sinister force. Thirsting for sustenance and driven by revenge, a formidable vampire lands on America's burgeoning shores, hunting for a fresh start and fresher blood. His dark desires fixate on a captivating young woman, standing on the threshold of her wedding. Prepare for a preliminary tale of ancient terror in which love, fate, and death collide beautifully rendered by artist Felipe Kroll.
“As a passionate fan of genre-based fiction across mediums, I set out to create a publishing company only bound by the criteria of publishing the finest in each category” says publisher Shawn Hainsworth. “Whether horror, science fiction, or even workplace comedy, our initial slate of titles are as different as can be. Each sharing one thing in common: our belief that each represents a piece of fiction that stands up to anything on shelves or screen from even the most well-known publishers or producers. We invite you to take a chance on the top comics voices of tomorrow today.”
Next, embark on a cosmic odyssey with The Killing Machine, which poses a provocative question: what if the origin of life on Earth ignited an interstellar conflict with an alien race? More than just another science fiction comic, The Killing Machine is an exploration of the nature of life, the moral consequences of war, and the dark side of human nature. The fate of worlds hangs in the balance.
Deep beneath the waves, a team of intrepid scientists uncovers the "Hand of God," an enigmatic artifact pulsating with the very essence of existence. Meanwhile, in the vast, silent void of space, battle-hardened Lieutenant Coni confronts an alien craft of unimaginable power. Readers are in for a journey of discovery, conflict, and cosmic mystery with the first issue of this all-new science fiction epic!
SHP Comics brings not one, but two wholly original and highly bingeable new series with Woodstake: Prologue on sale in stores alongside The Killing Machine #1 on August 28."
To keep up with the latest from SHP Comics, visit: https://shpcomics.com/