Sponsored.  In the world of horror comics, BOOM! Studios has consistently set the bar for original, critically acclaimed stories.  With titles like Something is Killing the Children and Grim, the publisher has become synonymous with fresh, genre-defining narratives.  Now, with the upcoming release of Marian Heretic, they're once again pushing the boundaries of the medium, delivering a bold new series that combines religious horror, dark mythology, and a roaring, face-melting riff of heavy metal rebellion.

Written by Tini Howard (Catwoman, Excalibur, Assassinistas) and illustrated by Joe Jaro (Buffy the Last Vampire Slayer, Dungeons & Dragons: Fortune Finder), Marian Heretic tells the story of Sister Marian – a witch hunter, Mother Superior, and devout follower of a Goddess that the Church refuses to acknowledge.  The series opens with Marian’s order being branded as blasphemers by the Holy Father Church, forcing Marian to make a desperate and dangerous choice.  She agrees to become the Church's enforcer, hunting down witches and heretics across the city of Vespers in exchange for the survival of her Sisters.

As Marian executes judgment, her soul becomes increasingly fractured.  With each life she condemns, she feels herself losing a piece of her humanity.  Her journey raises a powerful question: Can she continue to protect the faith that guides her even as the Church uses her as a weapon to destroy it?

Tini Howard, a writer known for creating complex, multifaceted characters, found inspiration for Marian Heretic from a simple question: "What book, if I saw it on shelves, would I not be able to resist?"  The answer was a gothic, 90s-inspired series featuring a powerful female lead—someone who does more than just look cool on the cover, but who actively shapes the narrative.  Enter Marian, a character who embodies both strength and vulnerability, leading a journey that is as much about personal sacrifice as it is about spiritual rebellion.

Joe Jaro's art brings the gothic, heavy metal influences of Marian Heretic to life in a visually stunning way.  The character design for Marian herself was a labor of love for Jaro, who immediately connected with the story upon reading Howard's treatment.  "This story is everything I love as an artist – bold, sexy, weird, disturbing, and a lot of fun," Jaro says.  His dynamic art style enhances the dark, atmospheric world of Vespers, where danger lurks around every corner, and the lines between divine and demonic are dangerously blurred.

Each page is filled with tension, moral ambiguity, and the visceral excitement of a world on the brink of collapse.

With Marian Heretic, BOOM! Studios continues to expand the horizons of horror comics, bringing fans a series that is both visually striking and thematically complex.  It's a journey into darkness, both external and internal, where faith meets rebellion, and the true price of survival is revealed.

For those looking for a fresh take on religious horror, Marian Heretic is a must-read – a thrilling, thought-provoking series that perfectly blends the gothic and the grotesque.  And with Tini Howard's compelling storytelling and Joe Jaro's breathtaking art, this is a comic that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Click on Gallery below for full-sized cover images and preview pages.