In the town of Stillwater, nobody dies. That’s not just a promise. It’s a threat.

That’s the only bit of synopsis we get for the new Image/Skybound horror series Stillwater, sure to be a strange new entry from the company that brought us Gideon Falls and The Walking Dead. Stillwater comes from Eisner award winners Chip Zdarsky (Daredevil, Sex Criminals) and Ramon K. Perez (Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, Jane) and presents a significant departure from both creators’ generally brighter fare.

“I’m thrilled people are finally going to see Stillwater! This idea’s been percolating in my for years now, and it’s been fun working with Ramon to build this tiny, strange world! I’ve always wanted to write a horror comic so I can show the world that I’m not JUST creepy, I can also write creepy!” said Zdarsky. “I love getting to explore immortality on a small stage, the idea that you can live forever but just within such a constrained space. It’s been a treat getting to write characters struggling with that terrifying deal.”

Pérez added: “It’s been a joy to step away from the superhero genre and delve into the horror, thriller, and a dash of mystery genre with Chip on Stillwater! I hope readers are as unsettled as I was drawing the book…”

The concept, however vague, seems promising and is so open-ended that there are practically limitless directions the creators can take the series. Zdarsky’s comments on the constraints of immortality in a small, stagnant area are particularly intriguing. There are a lot of ways to make immortality conceptually scary, and if the writer’s description isn’t enough to convince you, check out these surreal-feeling preview pages:

Stillwater #1 (Diamond Code JUL200017) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, September 16, and will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, ComiXology, and Google Play.

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