DF Interview: What ghost stories do ghosts tell? Cullen Bunn reveals the answers in ‘Ghostlore’

By Byron Brewer

We've all heard of ghost stories... but what stories do the ghosts themselves tell us?

An estranged daughter and her pastor father wander a haunted land; they only have the restless spirits, each with its own story to tell, as company along the way.
After a deadly accident of which they were the only survivors, Lucas and Harmony Agate can see the dead – an overwhelming amount of the deceased, all with their own warnings, cries for help, and malevolence alike.
But Lucas and Harmony aren't the only ones with this ability; there are other nearly-deads, some of which have malicious motivations!
Writer Cullen Bunn of Basilisk and Empty Man acclaim is joined by artist Leomacs (Basketful of Heads) and guest artist Brian Hurtt (The Sixth Gun) – the first in a haunting lineup of artists featured in each issue – to bring readers the most eye-opening spectral story since The Sixth Sense.
All I need to do is see three words: “Cullen Bunn” and “horror” and I’m on board. As such, I sat down with my old pal and Cullen told me about this new 12-issue limited series. Here’s what he said.


Byron Brewer: Well, Cullen, you’re back at it, weaving story threads of horror beyond imagination in this brand new book, Ghostlore. Tell us, O master of the macabre, how long have you been keeping this tale of terror on the Bunn back burner and what was its inspiration?



Cullen Bunn: While many of the concepts I pursue stick with me for years and years before they see print, Ghostlore is a relatively new creation. It rose from my love of ghost stories, anthology comics, and epic supernatural adventures. It also sprang to life from me asking myself the question, “What ghost stories do ghosts tell?”



Byron: I know that in each issue of this 12-issue series, artist Leomacs will be laying down the shadows for your stories. But there is also apparently a star-studded cast of guest artists who will be assisting on the stories. How does that work exactly?



Cullen Bunn: Leomacs is the maestro of our primary story, but with every issue, our lead characters will encounter ghosts who tell strange and horrific stories. These short stories will each be drawn by a different artist. So, with every issue you’ll be reading our main tale, drawn by Leomacs, and a short creepy tale of horror drawn by one of our guest artists!



Byron: Describe the creep-filled canvas, the haunting world you and the artists are preparing to drop readers into for Ghostlore.



Cullen Bunn: Ghostlore takes place in our world.

Sort of.
On the surface, at least, it looks like our world. But there are dark corners that most of us never see. A hidden world. There are ghosts in this hidden world. That’s a given. But there are many, many other surprises and horrors that we should count ourselves lucky that we never see.
Of course, we will see these horrors—as the ghost stories are revealed.


Byron: Introduce us to father and daughter protagonists Lucas and Harmony Agate. Who are they, what are their abilities, and how do they get to the circumstances that we find them as this book begins?



Cullen Bunn: Lucas and Harmony are an ordinary pair of people. Lucas is a reverend who is having trouble connecting with his daughter. Harmony is an angst-ridden teen who just wants to get away from her dad. A near-death experience, though, opens their eyes to a world of ghostly entities who are lurking around us all the time. They discover that the restless spirits around them want to tell them their stories. The telling of those stories seems to cement the ghosts into our world. And at that point they can be laid to rest. For Harmony, it is a peaceful transition. For Lucas, helping lay the ghosts to rest seems to be a little more violent. This difference in approaches drives an even wider wedge between father and daughter at a time when they are finding themselves in great danger.



Byron: What other characters are important to this tale’s beginning? And who are these “other nearly-deads” who seem to share the Agates’ abilities?



Cullen Bunn: Well, it’s a big world out there, and Lucas and Harmony are not the only people who can see and communicate with ghosts. We’ll be meeting quite a few of these folks. Perhaps most important among them is Shane Demos, a mysterious fellow who doesn’t want to help ghosts pass on like Harmony, doesn’t want to destroy them like Lucas. Instead, his agenda is something completely different and altogether much more sinister.



Byron: Can you give us an overall view of the series, a sort of summary of what readers can expect when issue #1 hits the stands?



Cullen Bunn: This is a story that starts with a small, tragic incident and then blows out into a huge, sweeping horror epic. Our first issue is focused on introducing you to the Agates, setting them up for the creepiness to come, establishing that there is a strange and supernatural undercurrent to our “normal” world. From there, we rocket into a sprawling story that will take the Agates far from their home… and far from safety.



Byron: Talk about the art of Leomacs and what it brings to this new book. If possible, mention some of the other artists involved.



Cullen Bunn: Leomacs does such a great job of bringing Lucas and Harmony to life, of showcasing the emotion between these characters. And that says nothing about his horror and action elements, which are just amazing. As I mentioned, each issue will feature a “ghost story” that will be drawn by a different artist. And talk about a star-studded cavalcade! A few I can name right away include Brian Hurtt, Vanessa Del Rey, Danny Luckert, Jonas Scharf, Naomi Franquiz, and Jakub Rebelka! It’s a celebration of one of the things I like most about working in comics—all the incredibly talented artists I get to work with!



Byron: Cullen, what other haunts do you have coming from your keyboard that you can tell readers about?



Cullen Bunn: I’m working on a broad range of horror and dark fantasy stories right now. Glancing over at my project bulletin board, I see five other projects that haven’t been announced yet, including horror/comedy, action/horror, and some very dark body horror projects.



Dynamic Forces would like to thank Cullen Bunn for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. Ghostlore #1 from BOOM! Studios is slated to be on sale May 10th!



For more news and up-to-date announcements, join us here at Dynamic Forces, www.dynamicforces.com/htmlfiles/, “LIKE” us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/dynamicforcesinc, and follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/dynamicforces.

Lily James will star in the thriller Photo Booth. HanWay films and UTA Independent Film Group have boarded the film and will launch sales in Cannes.

The film is set to start principal photography this October in Australia and London. James stars in the lead role of Jean Bouchet, a world-renowned performance artist who has decided to put her career before having children, and Raffey Cassidy (The Brutalist, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) is in the role of Millie, a young, free-spirited woman very much still figuring life out.

The full synopsis reads: Jean (James), a renowned performance artist at the height of her career, has always chosen ambition over family. But after another devastating setback in her struggle to have a child with her artist husband Ben, their carefully curated life and marriage begin to fracture. When Ben confesses to a drunken one-night stand with Millie (Raffey Cassidy) – a fragile, rootless young woman now unexpectedly pregnant — Jean makes a radical and unorthodox choice: she invites Millie into their home, offering financial support in exchange for the baby.

What starts as a calculated attempt to regain control quickly spirals into emotional chaos. Boundaries blur, loyalties shift, and resentments fester as the trio spirals towards implosion. All the while, Jean is racing towards the opening of her major retrospective at the Tate Modern, a career-defining moment shadowed by personal upheaval. As the retrospective nears, Jean reflects on her body of work: equally raw, visceral performances that chart the fault lines of her life, culminating in Photo Booth – her most intimate piece yet, rooted in childhood trauma and her estranged, alcoholic mother, Eileen. As reality blurs and tensions explode, Jean is forced to confront the ultimate question: can love survive the truth? (via Deadline)

Today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading games, IP and toy company Hasbro, revealed interior pages and the lineup of variant covers for Void Rivals #19. This all-new story arc will feature the blockbuster creative team of writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), artist Conor Hughes (White Ash, The Game), colorist Patricio Delpeche (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country), and letterer Rus Wooton (Fire Power). Jumpstarting the third story arc of the space opera, Void Rivals #19 hits comic book shops on May 28, 2025.

Void Rivals #19 serves as a standalone Skuxxoid epic, with the breakout fan-favorite of the Energon Universe taking center stage. Who is Skuxxoid? What is Skuxxoid? This issue answers all of your burning questions and more! Plus, the first appearance of Wreck-Gar and the Junkions.

Each issue of Void Rivals promises to take readers further into the Energon Universe, with more familiar faces to appear, including some of the most popular TRANSFORMERS bots, allies, and enemies!

"Robert has been pretty transparent about how close Skuxxoid has come to taking over this series in the past and it’s finally happened,” said executive editor Ben Abernathy. “Even non-Skuxxoid fans are in for a treat as this issue has it all—an amazing new artist with Conor Huges coming aboard, incredible first appearances for the Energon Universe...and Skuxxoid’s darkest secret revealed!”

Void Rivals #19 will feature a main cover by Lorenzo De Felici, along with a lineup of variant covers including an open-to-order cover B by Conor Hughes, a 1:10 incentive variant kicking off a new connecting cover series by Martín Morazzo and Patricio Delpeche, a 1:25 incentive variant by Eric Canete, a 1:50 incentive variant by Patricia Martín, a 1:100 incentive variant by E.J. Su, and a blank sketch cover.

Void Rivals is a tentpole of the Energon Universe, the crown jewel of the historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, who has introduced a brand-new era of the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises in one shared comic book universe. Other Energon Universe ongoing series include the two-time Eisner Award winning TRANSFORMERS by writer Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb), artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon) and G.I. JOE by writer Joshua Williamson (Superman, Dark Ride), artist Andrea Milana (Cobra Commander), colorist Lee Loughridge (Universal Monsters: The Mummy). Fans should expect can’t-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions from some of the biggest franchises in comics today.

Void Rivals #19 (Lunar Codes Coming Soon $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday May 28, 2025. 

The full list of covers is below:

Void Rivals #19 Cover A by Lorenzo De Felici (Lunar Code: 0325IM381)

Void Rivals #19 Cover B by Conor Hughes (Lunar Code: 0325IM382)

Void Rivals #19 Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive – Connecting) by Martín Morazzo (Lunar Code: 0325IM383)

Void Rivals #19 Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Eric Canete (Lunar Code: 0325IM384)

Void Rivals #19 Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive) by Patricia Martin (Lunar Code: 0325IM385)

Void Rivals #19 Cover F (1:100 Copy Incentive) by E.J. Su (Lunar Code: 0325IM386)

Void Rivals #19 Cover G Blank Sketch Cover (Lunar Code: 0325IM387)

Matt Reeves’ Batman Universe has been a breath of fresh air for DC. Reeves decided to embrace a grounded vision with his first movie, and The Batman was embraced by critics and fans alike. Its success spawned a television spinoff centered around Colin Farrell’s Oz Cobb. The Penguin was another smash hit, but after it wrapped up its first season, it felt like another outing wasn’t at the top of DC’s to-do list.

Reeves and Warner Bros. have yet to embrace The Penguin continuing. They haven’t ruled it out completely, but there’s no sense of urgency, to the point that Farrell is moving on to other things. He even had another DC project lined up, but it has hit a fork in the road, which could be just what Penguin ordered.

Farrell signed on to star in Sgt. Rock for DC. A World War II soldier who DC Studios head James Gunn found interesting enough to include in his animated series Creature Commandos, Sgt. Rock was in line to get his own movie. While Sgt. Rock was on track to film in summer 2025, production issues forced a delay. The movie will now look to film in summer 2026, and that just may be good news for the future of The Penguin, as it gives the powers that be an entire year to get the ball rolling with Farrell and Co.

The Penguin is streaming now on Max. (via ComicBook.com)

Shudder has acquired the distribution rights to the supernatural thriller Good Boy in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand following the film’s premiere at SXSW in March.

Good Boy, which redefines the haunted house genre by telling its horror tale through the eyes of a family dog, is co-written and directed by Ben Leonberg. Alex Cannon also co-writes.

Leonberg’s directorial debut stars his dog, Indy, who finds himself on a new adventure with his human owner — and best friend — Todd, leaving city life for a long-vacant family home in the country. From the start, two things are abundantly clear: Indy is wary of the creepy old house, and his affection for Todd is unwavering.

Indy’s new world is immediately filled with unease: he senses invisible presences, follows phantom tracks, receives chilling warnings from a ghostly dog, and is haunted by glimpses of the previous resident’s gruesome demise. When a dark influence begins to grip Todd, Indy must fight a malevolence intent on pulling him into the afterlife. (via Deadline)

Jonathan Hickman’s sweeping new cosmic epic, IMPERIAL, arrives this June. Known for his influential work on Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men as well as the creation of Marvel’s hit new Ultimate line, the visionary writer will now team up with superstar artists Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello to revolutionize Marvel’s galactic canon in this four-part event series. The series lays the foundation for an entire new landscape of interconnected space-set series, making it the must-read comic book of the summer. And now, fans can see all the covers for the debut issue including pieces by acclaimed artists Adi Granov, Peach Momoko, Miguel Mercado, Alessandro Cappuccio, and Skottie Young. Plus, check the first of a four-part connecting cover by Javier Garrón, a new cover in Todd Nauck’s Iconic Variant Cover series, and a Hidden Gem cover by Jim Lee!

The covers feature all the major players involved in the wars to come, including Hulk and She-Hulk, who return to Sakaar to restore order; Nova and Star-Lord, who team up to prevent the galaxy from falling into the worst hands; and the Shi’ar, who will be torn asunder in a battle for the throne!

JONATHAN HICKMAN, FEDERICO VICENTINI AND IBAN COELLO TAKE ON THE UNIVERSE! IMPERIAL finds the galaxies of the Marvel Universe on the brink of major upheaval, following the elimination of several of its most prominent leaders. Nature abhors a vacuum, and empires fall, rulers are overthrown and power is seized in a saga of intrigue, mysteries and war, all taking place against the backdrop of the formation of new galactic order in the Marvel Universe.

“I’m very excited about this project as I’m obviously a huge fan of all things Marvel Cosmic,” Hickman said. “The goal here is to kind of do what we did with the recent Ultimate line for all of our space titles, except having the setup book (IMPERIAL) be more of an event than a world building exercise (like Ultimate Invasion). The art team is killing it and we’re all just very excited for what’s happening in this special corner of the Marvel Universe.”

Two of Marvel’s Stormbreakers, a group of Marvel’s most elite talent, Vicentini (Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Wolverine) and Coello (Venom War, Fantastic Four) have brought their innovative style and creativity to nearly ever corner of the Marvel Universe. Now, these two celebrated artists embark on their boldest venture yet. In addition to their interior artwork, Vicentini and Coello are delivering spectacular new designs for characters, locales and more as they bring a whole new era of storytelling to life within the pages of IMPERIAL and beyond!

“Working with Hickman is a great challenge,” Vicentini shared. “I love his scripts. He writes really brilliant dialogue and puts incredible attention to details when it comes to the story’s setting. I had only knew Hickman as a reader, so it was incredible to be approached to work with him and Iban, who is a phenomenal artist! I'm working hard to produce my best work, and I'm certainly having a lot of fun!”

"Being involved in this project is incredible,” Coello added. “Creating all these new characters and costumes is really fun. Working with Hickman is something I never expected to be able to do, and it's both cool and intimidating at the same time because of the magnitude of what he's doing in the scripts. I look forward to being able to rise to the challenge and do a great job!"

Preorder IMPERIAL #1 at your local comic shop and stay tuned for more IMPERIAL news in the months ahead, including new tie-in announcements.

Chris Hemsworth is taking a deep dive for Amazon MGM Studios.

The actor, last seen in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, is set to star in Subversion, a submarine thriller that Patrick Vollrath will direct for Amazon MGM.

Lorenzo di Bonaventura is producing via his di Bonaventura Pictures banner. The project is eying a production start this fall in Australia.

Written by Andrew Ferguson, the story has been described as a “Die Hard on a submarine” style thriller that centers on a once-promising Naval commander (Hemsworth) who is blackmailed by a cartel-like operation into piloting a dangerous submarine carrying illegal cargo across international waters. Thrust into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, the man must outmaneuver blockades and navigate perilous threats both in and outside of the submarine. (via The Hollywood Reporter)

Multiple Eisner award-winning team Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips (Reckless, Houses of the Unholy, Fatale) will bring an all new Criminal graphic novel to shelves this September from Image Comics with The Knives.

It has been nearly five years since fans had an opportunity to revel in new Criminal material and this highly anticipated new story promises to be the darkest and most ambitious installment in the critically lauded, contemporary classic yet.

Cartoonist Jacob Kurtz goes to Hollywood in the era of peak TV to work on an adaptation of his comic strip, only to find himself caught up in the life of his aging aunt and the vultures circling her estate. Angie was raised at the Undertow, but now everything she loves has been taken from her. She's on the streets with vengeance on her mind, her eyes set on the city's kingpin. And finally, Tracy Lawless is home from the Special Forces, finally a civilian again, but he's in bad shape and this city has always brought out the worst in him. These three tales collide in The Knives, a breathtaking noir story about greed, ambition, heartbreak, and blood ties.

"A few years ago someone reached out to me to return some of my uncle's lost possessions, after his family estate had been plundered, and bizarrely, that sparked the inspiration for what I hope is the biggest and best Criminal book yet. A crime story about one generation growing up in the life, another growing older and trying to get out of it, and Hollywood, somehow, too," said Brubaker. "This book is an epic, the longest original graphic novel we've ever done, and it's been a joy to return to this series and these characters, especially after spending most of the last three years watching them come to life on set and screen. I can't wait to get this book into readers' hands."

Further excitement surrounding Criminal has amped up since news hit that the television adaptation of this iconic series was in production last year with Brubaker serving as show runner, and is coming soon to Amazon Prime. The adaptation will star A-listers Charlie Hunnam, Luke Evans, and Emilia Clarke and the first season of the TV show will cover the first two story arcs of the comic book series, Criminal, Volume One: Coward and Criminal, Volume Two: Lawless.

Originally published in 2007, Criminal follows a cast of characters connected through a shared criminal history. For readers looking to catch up on the Criminal series, volumes 1-8 are available in “new edition” trade paperbacks, which feature new cover designs by Phillips, as well as in oversized, deluxe hardcover editions, Books 1-3. They can be found at comic book shops, independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones.

The Knives hardcover (ISBN: 9781534355590, Lunar Code 0525IM280) will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, August 27 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, September 9.

Criminal is also available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.

A new 4K Ultra HD restoration of The Rocky Horror Picture Show has been struck and will be released in theatres across the U.S. to mark the film’s 50th anniversary.

The cult classic has been restored over 10 months by the Walt Disney Studios Restoration team. The company has said the restoration included a meticulous digital scan and preservation process that ensures every frame of the film is presented with “unprecedented clarity and vibrancy.” The restoration also features a newly mixed Dolby Atmos audio track.

“It’s a privilege to help preserve the legacy of a film that has meant so much to so many,” said Kevin Schaeffer, Disney’s Director of Restoration and Library Management. (via Deadline)

Will “Thunderbolts*” bring the box office thunder?

Disney’s latest Marvel superhero adventure is targeting $70 million to $75 million in its opening weekend, providing another needed jolt to movie theaters after the one-two punch of “A Minecraft Movie” and “Sinners.” Globally, “Thunderbolts*” looks to finish the weekend with $160 million to $175 million.

Those projected sales are softer than most of the recent entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; “Captain America: Brave New World” opened in February to $88 million over the weekend, $100 million through the extended Presidents’ Day holiday weekend and $192.4 million globally. And prior to that, only three post-pandemic Marvel adventures — 2021’s “Eternals” ($71 million), “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” ($75 million) and 2023’s “The Marvels” ($46 million) — have started below $100 million. Otherwise, big guns like 2024’s “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($221 million), 2023’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” ($118 million), “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” ($181 million) and 2022’s “Thor: Love and Thunder” ($144 million), were among the biggest opening weekends of their respective years.

As the weekend’s only newcomer, “Thunderbolts*” will easily tower over box office charts. However, “Sinners” is expected to take another big bite with ticket sales and is on pace to decline just 20% in its third weekend of release. (via Variety)

The first and most iconic TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (TMNT) villain, Oroku Saki aka SHREDDER, is making his terrifying return this summer and he wants one thing: revenge.

IDW Publishing is proud to announce TMNT: SHREDDER, a thrilling new comic book series from celebrated writer Dan Watters (Batman: Dark Patterns) and rising star artist Michele Bandini (Spider-Man: City at War), featuring primary covers and a fearsome new character design by fan-favorite TMNT artist Mateus Santolouco.



Prepare for the rags-to-revenge story of the ultimate ronin. Returned forever changed by a maddening ordeal beyond imagining, betrayed by all around him, and no longer with the Foot Clan, Shredder will quest deep into New York’s criminal underworld as a former protege has formed their own rival clan with sinister plans for the city. In his deadly mission for vengeance, enemies both old and new will brutally discover what defiance will bring them at the end of the Shredder’s blades.

“The bad guys always have the best stories, and Shredder is no exception,” said Watters. “This story is Shredder on a quest of revenge – rejecting the gods and allegiances he’s made over his long and storied history, reminding New York exactly why it feared him so much – and why it should do so again. This is the kind of character I love to write. Driven, ruthless, and crawling his way back to the top with a new purpose. This is going to be a hell of a ride.”



“I’m from the ‘80s, so I grew up with TMNT and I always wished to have the chance to work on one of their books since I was little kid. Yup, I wanted to be a comic book artist since I was five years old, and my favourite characters have always been the fun-loving Michelangelo and the ruthless ninja master, Shredder,” remarked Bandini. The artist added, “A revenge story with one of the coolest characters ever created? I can’t wait to see Shredder get back what he deserves: the crown of the deadliest villain New York has ever seen!”

“TMNT: SHREDDER was the new title I was most eager to develop when I took the TMNT job,” stated Senior Editor Andy Khouri. “Shredder is unquestionably one of the coolest, most fearsome and iconic villains in the history of American comics, and the time is right to take him back to those sinister roots. Dan Watters was the only writer I approached about the project. His bibliography – which includes characters like Batman and Lucifer, as well as his own innovative indie comics – reads like a training manual for how to write about Shredder, a character as steeped in mysticism as he is in blades and blood.” Khouri continued, “Dan’s story is at once a back-to-basics approach that welcomes the new readers of Jason Aaron’s historic TMNT run while building on the indelible backstory of IDW’s version of this classic character.”



“Working with Dan on this dark and mysterious new tale is Michele Bandini, a rising star in our industry,” commented Khouri. “Michele’s stunning cover artwork is just a taste of the passion and creativity he’s bringing to the project. Synthesizing comic book traditions from America, Europe and Asia, TMNT: SHREDDER will stand next to TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES as one of the most gorgeous books on sale this year.”

TMNT: SHREDDER #1 is on sale Wednesday, August 13 with a pre-order deadline of Monday, July 7. In addition to Santolouco’s striking cover, the debut issue will also feature jaw-dropping variants by series artist Bandini, Kael Ngu, Dike Ruan, Stjepan Šejić, a black & white version of Ngu’s cover, a foil version of Santolouco’s cover, and a sketch variant.