26 August, 2023, Sydney, Australia.
Disturbing body transformations abound within a poignant, poetic nightmare-hunt that is ‘Bristlemouth: A Cove Horror’, an original comic-book mini-series that seems a perfect template for a new horror-movie franchise, and which was acquired by international independent comics publisher, IPI Comics (sister company to genre book publisher IFWG Publishing International).
IPI owner, Gerry Huntman, explains: “IPI Comics only does genre, and when editor-in-chief, Christopher Sequeira, brought me writer-artist Hayden Fryer’s project I was impressed at its sophistication as well as its sheer commerciality. This is something of a siege-horror in remote forestland alongside a cove, but it is haunting in its psychology, too. The characters are so vivid and real, and bring pain and attitudes with them we don’t normally see so convincingly portrayed in commercial dark fiction. And the gorgeous, grey wash-tone art is absolutely enthralling. You’ll feel you’re there with these characters in the mysterious environs by the water.”
Sequeira added, “I’ve been watching Hayden’s quiet career-skills develop over the years, and I felt immensely fortunate he brought this work to us. This not an imbecilic slasher or meat-grinder fest; this has all the terror of a group-under-threat-in remote-climes tale, but this is utterly original. If a movie studio isn’t making him offers by the time this first series is done I’ll be surprised. It’s that good, that accessible, yet has more than jump-scares and plot-reversals to offer. And the creature designs are wholly original and bloody fun!”
Hayden Fryer himself was pleased with this deal. He said “I’ve long been a fan of Chris Sequeira and Gerry Huntman’s work, both as writers and together as one of Australia’s finest publishing teams. And with their upcoming line of comics under the IPI banner, it was the perfect home for this long-gestating horror comic series that has kept me awake for many a night. So, to say I’m thrilled to bring this project to market with them is meekly understated and I can’t wait to share the horrors lurking within this haunted cove with the world!”
“BRISTLEMOUTH: A COVE HORROR” will be issued through comic-book stores internationally from early 2024, as a 4-issue series.
HAYDEN FRYER will be available for interviews and in-store signings in New South Wales and some other states in Australia during the 4-issue run, with a possible appearance in the USA in mid-2024. He is also available for remote interviews.
Art on this page copyright 2023 Hayden Fryer
IPI Comics 