This is the story of how we escape.
After the stunning success of Fearscape, comes A Dark Interlude, the story of-- "No! The only offence to literature greater than the loathsome synopsis is the sequel. I will not stand idle while some internet marketer mangles and confuses my story, which is intact, perfect, and concluded, with this derivative drivel. Mark my words, this nonsense has nothing to do with my tale. I am not in it. I do not condone it. And you, dear reader, should not buy it!"
Forgive the interruption. That was our narrator, Henry Henry. A Dark Interlude is a stand-alone sequel to 2018's sellout metafictional dark fantasy comic series Fearscape. The only problem is...the narrator is in denial about it being a sequel, and the entire plot of the book is that endless sequels are keeping humanity stagnant and unable to grow.
In A Dark Interlude, we follow Henry Henry, The Muse, The Hero With a Thousand Faces, and a bevy of supernatural beings as they try to help humanity escape this "sequel crisis" before it destroys not only our world, but the supernatural world beyond it, too.
A Dark Interlude is perfect for fans of old school supernatural Vertigo writers such as Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, or Grant Morrison. The elevator pitch I am contractually obligated to include is: "It's Sandman meets Breaking Bad". (But I will deny ever having typed this.)
CREDITS
Writing: Ryan O'Sullivan
Cover: Ariela Kristantina
Pencils/Inks: Andrea Mutti
Colours: Vladimir Popov
Lettering: Deron Bennet
Publisher: Vault Comics
Price: $3.99
Pages: 32
Issues: Collects #1 (of 5)
Similar Titles: Sandman, Swamp Thing, The Unwritten, Pale Fire, Ulysses
Cover A (Ariela Kristantina) - SEP201542
Cover B (Nathan Gooden) - SEP201543
Cover C (Rebekah Isaacs) - SEP201544
PRAISE* FOR THE FEARSCAPE SERIES
"I liked it so much I called James Tynion Right after I finished it. I genuinely love it. It’s hard to find something this fresh and visionary."
-Scott Snyder
"I’m in awe of the way O’Sullivan has transformed his fear into a masterpiece of comic literature. From Moore to Gaiman, O’Sullivan channels some of the greatest comic writers of all time."
-Comicbooked.com
""Fearscape was one of the best minis of last year. The team back together is a huge deal. Get ready."
-Kieron Gillen
"A nigh-perfect debut, a unique comic that pushes the boundaries of sequential graphic storytelling. One part killer creator-owned comic, one part famous literary short story, and 100 percent not to be missed. 10/10"
-Batman's Book Case
"Ryan manages to simultaneously make me adore and seethe at this book. Impressively inventive with its formalist leanings and meta-fictional narrative. The real joy of this book is its intensely detestable and yet addictive protagonist. Read it!"
-Ram V
"A comic you need to pick up. Henry Henry is a character that you will love yet despise. But it’s characters like these that give us more humanized experiences. Ryan O’Sullivan is a masterful storyteller,"
-Comicsverse
"Fearscape was one of the best comics of the last few years, and the team behind that are about to do it again."
-Dan Watters
"A blend of Sandman, highbrow literary satire, and an unreliable narrator. It’s hilarious, clever, and intriguing. If you’re a fan of reading, no matter the genre, or the medium, this is a story you can appreciate. 10/10"
-Black Nerd Problems
"I was sold from Page One; a gut punch from the outset but also tapping into things that have been on my mind for a long time. Bold, true comics right here!"
-Steve Orlando
"A particularly cruel and unimaginative[ly] derivative work."
-The AV Club