‘FATAL FEST’ BLENDS MENACING SURVIVAL HORROR WITH SHARP HOLLYWOOD SATIRE IN CREATOR HANNAH ROSE MAY’S NEXT ORIGINAL NIGHTMARE

May 29, 2026

“[IDW Dark] has become a go-to destination for compelling horror” – Shaun Corley, Screen Rant

“[Hannah Rose] May has proven to be an excellent horror writer, whether it’s exploring the truly dark side of fandom in ‘Rogues’ Gallery’ or the sinister side of fashion in ‘Smile: For the Camera’” – Collier Jennings, AIPT

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 29, 2026) – How far would you go to achieve your dream? Would you killfor it?

Following the success of THE EXORCISM AT 1600 PENN and its upcoming feature adaptation with Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, celebrated creator and writer Hannah Rose May is ready to unleash a first look at FATAL FEST, her next nail-biting and bold original terror with IDW Publishing’s hit horror imprint IDW Dark.

When six emerging horror filmmakers are invited to compete at Fatal Fest, the mysterious festival run by reclusive horror maestro Frank Finch and his legendary production empire, Fatal Films, they discover this is no ordinary film festival. Frank has one simple rule: to create true fear, you must experience it. If they want to win the Fatal Fest, they need to be willing to kill for it.

FATAL FEST #1 Cover A by Andrea Scalmazzi, Antoni Antro

Featuring jaw-dropping artwork by Andrea Scalmazzi, FATAL FEST is a harrowing and twisted exploration of obsession with IP, the thirst for fame and Hollywood’s ruthless commodification of art. Survival horror collides with culturally relevant satire and readers won’t be able to look away from the brutal ride.

“I’ve wanted to tell this story for years. It lives at the intersection of everything I love: horror, Hollywood and our cultural obsession with IP,” said May. “I’ve been dying to explore what happens when obsession collides with violent ambition and with FATAL FEST we get to dial that all the way up to the most terrifying degree. This is my third original series with IDW and I’m so grateful for their continued trust and for letting me run wild with my most twisted story yet.”

“Every now and then, a pitch lands on your desk that reminds you why you love comics in the first place. FATAL FEST was one of those projects for us,” commented Heather Antos, Senior Group Editor. “It’s bold, bloody, incredibly clever, and completely unapologetic in its vision. From the first page, we knew readers were in for something unforgettable. Hannah and Andrea have created a world that feels equal parts Hollywood Horror satire, psychological thriller, and pure nightmare fuel. This is the kind of series readers discover in issue #1 and never stop talking about.”

“Hannah is a visionary creator and an incredible creative partner, delivering a horror story that feels both terrifyingly modern and razor-sharp in its commentary on fame, entertainment, and the commodification of art,” stated Davidi Jonas, CEO. “FATAL FEST is bold, cinematic, and deeply unsettling in all the right ways and we couldn’t be more thrilled to continue building the future of IDW Dark alongside a talent like Hannah.”

More information about FATAL FEST will be revealed at a later date. Until then, new issues of SMILE: FOR THE CAMERA and the acclaimed sequel THE EXORCISM AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE are currently available in comic shops. The collected edition of THE EXORCISM AT 1600 PENN is out now wherever graphic novels are sold.

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