BOOM! Studios announced a new graphic novel in the middle grade horror series from R.L. Stine, Just Beyond: Welcome to Beast Island, hitting shelves in October 2020. Joining the award-winning author of Goosebumps and Fear Street, are artists Kelly and Nichole Matthews (Pandora’s Legacy), letterer Mike Fiorentino, and cover artist Julian Totino Tedesco (Life of Captain Marvel).
Trips to exotic islands can be more exhausting than relaxing sometimes, and on the island of Mala Suerte, they’re a real beast. Karla and her little brother Benny accompany their Uncle Bill on a scientific expedition to study unidentified species on the remote island but after a little “bad luck” they soon discover something terrifying and deadly living in the river swamp... With nowhere to run, will Karla, Benny, and Uncle Bill survive the unimaginable and harrowing horrors of the place aptly nicknamed Beast Island?
Just Beyond, will be published through the company’s KaBOOM! imprint, marking the first time Stine has originated new concepts in the comic book medium as part of his multi-book agreement with the publisher. Stine established himself as one of the most important voices in horror with his debut novel Blind Date in 1981. This was followed by Fear Street in 1989, which remains a bestselling YA series with more than 100 books published thus far. In 1992, Goosebumps transformed Stine into a worldwide celebrity, spawning a hit TV series and two blockbuster films. Stine has continued to create new horror concepts for younger audiences and remains one of the most successful American novelists.
“Swamp monsters are horrifying to me. They rise up from the murky depths, bringing nothing but terror. With this story, I hope readers will feel like they are watching one of those timeless old fashioned horror movies that make everyone shudder and scream,” said Stine.
“R.L. Stine and Kelly and Nichole Matthews have already taken us Just Beyond a twisted trip to a sinister school, and a camping trip turned ‘trying to survive alien body snatching.’ Now they’re leading the way to the deepest, darkest island swamp filled with beastly, unimaginable new horrors,” said Bryce Carlson, VP, Editorial & Creative Strategy, BOOM! Studios. “If readers think the first two books were scary, they are not prepared for what lies ahead in Welcome to Beast Island.”
Just Beyond: Welcome to Beast Island will be available for sale in October 2020 at local comic book shops, bookstores or at the BOOM! Studios webstore.
