Tales From The Crypt, to Creepy and Journey Into Mystery. Now, readers that prefer their books on the spookier side have something to cheer about. The first installment of Razorblades: The Horror Magazine, a terrifying new pay-what-you-want digital anthology is out now through writer James Tynion IV’s Tiny Onions Studios.
Clocking in at nearly 80 pages, the collection of comics, prose, and illustrations was assembled by Tynion IV and writer/editor Steve Foxe, and will showcase work from some of the biggest rising stars in the horror comics industry. The first issue will feature pieces from Ram V. (These Savage Shores), John J. Pearson (Paradiso) Marguerite Bennett (Animosity), Nick Robles (The Dreaming: Waking Hours), DaNi (Coffin Bound), and Lonnie Nadler & Jenna Cha (Black Stars Above), as well as a serialized story from Tynion IV & Richardo Lopez Ortis (Hit-Girl). and will sport a cover from horror illustrator Trevor Henderson. And if that isn’t enough, there’ll also be an extensive interview between Tynion IV and Scott Snyder (Wytches, ) included as well.
The focus on young talent was a conscious choice for Tynion IV and Foxe when they first began conceiving of Razorblades, partly in an attempt to keep the stories told as rooted in the present day as possible. “We’ve asked them to bring us their most frightening work, grounded in the modern world, not trying to evoke something from past decades,” says Tynion IV in the first issue’s introduction. Contributors to the series will also maintain creative ownership of the properties they create, allowing them to move forward with possible spinoffs from Razorblades in the future. Check out previews for the first issue below!
“We were impatient about getting Razorblades into reader’s hands," says Tynion IV, calling the surprise release a “jump scare” for horror comics fans while stating that the project came together so quickly due to the publishing slowdowns caused by the spread of COVID 19. The project comes in the wake of another collaborative project, DIVOC 19, which also came about partly due to the publishing issues that arouse because of the virus.
Razorblades: The Horror Magazine is available now and can be bought digitally through ReadRazorblades.com. A special limited physical edition run of 500 print copies is also available for preorder. Futures issues will be released quarterly, with the next installment due out in time for Halloween. Each issue will cost whatever readers can afford to give.
