DC Comics released DC Horror Presents #3, a four-issue trade paperback collecting tales that pit major superheroes against visceral, grounded fears. Francesco Francavilla and Patrick Horvath led creative duties for segments of DC Horror Presents, which feature Batman trapped in a coffin and Adam Strange discovering a pandemic.
Batman Faces Claustrophobia and a Vegetative Apocalypse
In the segment titled “The Chthonian Dawn,” writer and artist Francesco Francavilla depicts Batman waking up in complete darkness inside a sealed coffin. Francavilla previously illustrated “Silent Warning” for IDW’s Twilight Zone comic. After escaping the burial site, the Dark Knight discovers that Abby Arcane has successfully transformed Gotham City into a massive greenhouse of reddish weeds reminiscent of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds.
Adam Strange Returns to an Extraterrestrial Pandemic
Paired with Francavilla’s story is “The Brooding Public” by writer and artist Patrick Horvath, known for IDW’s Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees. The plot follows Adam Strange returning to the planet Rann after a mission, where Alanna’s father, Sardath, spots infectious spores on his boots. When the Zeta Beam wears off and sends Strange back to Earth, he finds that humanity has been decimated by a virus that splits open infected heads to reveal a mass of worms.
Superheroes Confronting Familiar Terrors
- Batman: Buried alive before witnessing Gotham City consumed by invasive alien vegetation.
- Adam Strange: Returns to Earth to find a fungal-style virus has eradicated much of the human population.
- Superman and Martian Manhunter: Appear alongside gasmask-wearing members of the Justice League to investigate the outbreak.
- Trade Paperback Release: Collects the DC Horror Presents miniseries for $3.99.
Frequently Asked Questions About DC Horror Presents
Who created the horror segments in issue #3?
Francesco Francavilla wrote and illustrated “The Chthonian Dawn,” while Patrick Horvath wrote and illustrated “The Brooding Public.” Both creators have prior experience with horror comics for IDW Publishing.
What other creators contributed to the miniseries?
David Dastmalchian and Leah Kilpatrick authored a story about an obsessive dollhouse lover, and Patton Oswalt penned a tale involving Catwoman and a cursed diamond.
How can readers purchase the complete series?
The individual issues are now collected in a trade paperback edition that compiles all four parts of the DC Horror Presents run published by DC Comics.
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