This October, Dark Horse Comics will publish Dracula Book 1: The Impaler, a bold and terrifying secret history of the world’s most famous vampire from writer Matt Wagner, artist Kelley Jones, colorist José Villarrubia, and letterer Rob Steen. The project marks the first ever collaboration for Wagner and Jones, two legendary comic book creators and longtime friends. The book, which began as a crowdfunding sensation on Kickstarter, will now be available in comic shops and bookstores in time for Halloween 2024.

The first of four planned volumes, Dracula Book 1: The Impaler explores the legendary Count before his debut in Bram Stoker’s iconic novel—from his first foray into the dark arts to his rise to lord of the undead! The series of books will fill in these tantalizing gaps to provide a terrifying portrait of Vlad Dracula, with Dracula Book 1: The Impaler exploring Dracula’s bloody history and his tenure at Satan’s legendary seminary of the dark arts, the Scholomance.