Written By: Sam Santiago
John Carpenter Hates Working... So When He Creates Something New, Horror Fans Should Pay Attention
John Carpenter doesn't do anything lightly.
In fact, if you've followed the legendary filmmaker over the years, you've probably heard him admit more than once that he hates working. That isn't laziness talking. Carpenter has always made a distinction between work and creating. The business side of Hollywood? He could live without it. Dreaming up nightmares that stick with you for decades? That's another story entirely.
For nearly 50 years, Carpenter has floated through the horror genre like a specter, never needing to chase trends because he helped create them. With films like Halloween, The Thing, Prince of Darkness, They Live, The Fog and even the wonderfully offbeat Big Trouble in Little China, he earned his place among horror's most influential storytellers.
So when word lands on our desk that John Carpenter has written his first original graphic novel, we pay attention.
Sacred Bones Variant (Leonardo Colapietro)
Released today through Storm King Comics, "Cathedral" marks a major milestone in Carpenter's career. While he's previously contributed to comic anthologies and graphic novel series alongside his wife and longtime producing partner Sandy King, this is the first completely original graphic novel conceived by Carpenter himself.
"I saw it in a dream: a nightmare landscape deep underground filled with monsters too weird and sinister to exist in daylight," Carpenter said. "I knew instantly I had to get these things out of my head and into everyone else's brains."
That dream has become Cathedral.
Set beneath downtown Los Angeles, the story centers on an abandoned cathedral that has sat forgotten for generations, hiding an ancient evil within its crumbling walls. After a gruesome murder pulls the neglected church back into public view, Lieutenant Christine Marks and detectives Paul Hernandez and Steve Mayfield descend into the cathedral searching for answers, only to discover something far older and far more terrifying than any of them expected.
CATHEDRAL main cover by Federico De Luca
The graphic novel is co-written by Sandy King and Sean Sobczak, with artwork from Federico De Luca and Luis Guaragna, colors by Sian Mandrake and lettering by Marshall Dillon. Horror collectors will also have plenty to chase, as "Cathedral" launches with several stunning variant covers from artists Francesco Francavilla, Jason Shawn Alexander, Leonardo Colapietro and others.
As if a brand new horror graphic novel wasn't enough, Carpenter also expanded the experience with music. The man knows how to write a tune, okay. (How many times have you tapped your foot to the Halloween theme? Come on, you know it's catchy.)
His latest single, "Revenge," is available now and serves as the newest preview of the companion album Cathedral, arriving August 7 through Sacred Bones Records. Recorded alongside longtime collaborators Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies, the album functions as a complete soundtrack to the graphic novel, with every track corresponding to a chapter in the story. According to Carpenter, it may be the closest fans will get to experiencing a brand new John Carpenter movie since 2010.
WATCH THE VISUALIZER FOR "REVENGE" BELOW
"It was so cinematic and vivid," Carpenter said of the dream that inspired "Cathedral". "I thought, 'I have to score this.' It's kind of our first heavy metal album."
Also, this weekend, Southern California horror fans won't have to wait long to celebrate with Carpenter in person.
John Carpenter, Sandy King and the Storm King Comics team will be appearing at Midsummer Scream this weekend at the Long Beach Convention Center, where fans can pick up convention-exclusive editions of "Cathedral", have books and vinyl signed and undoubtedly discover a few surprises along the way. If you're attending Midsummer Scream, this should be one of the can't-miss stops on the convention floor. We will be in attendance for Midsummer Scream and hope to get a copy for ourselves but we know this is going ot be the longest line in the building. For good reason too!
The celebration continues later this fall when The Horror Show exhibition opens at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 28. As part of the exhibition, Carpenter's work will be honored with the John Carpenter: Prince of Darkness screening series, celebrating the career of one of horror's most influential filmmakers.
John Carpenter has spent decades proving that nightmares never really leave us and we for one are glad he still has that love of horror and the unkown that made him such an influence.