The 1975 45-minute movie by horror icon George A. Romero was restored by the George A. Romero Foundation, an organization dedicated to honoring the life and preserving Romero’s work. Romero passed away in 2017 (see "RIP George A. Romero"). The Foundation's artist-in-residence, illustrator Ryan Carr, adapted the movie to a graphic novel with writer Jeff Whitehead.
Originally conceived as a public service announcement, The Amusement Park deals with how society treats the elderly in a surreal horror style. In the story, a young businessman listens to an old man tell a tale of an abusive amusement park, with attractions that mimic the challenges of aging.
The head of Storm King Comics is Sandy King, whose husband is noted director John Carpenter. The project has been titled John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s The Amusement Park.
Said Carpenter, “George A. Romero’s films are legendary. They already were legendary when I was just a student, and The Amusement Park has a fascinating history. This is a project that’s so important to his legacy as a filmmaker, so I’m glad to lend my name to it,”
“The Amusement Park holds a special place in George's body of work because it tackles such a deeply human issue—ageism—through the lens of horror. Adapting it into a graphic novel allows us to bring his unique vision to a whole new audience. We are thrilled to collaborate with John Carpenter and Storm King Comics on this project, which honors George's legacy in such a meaningful way," said Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, founder and president of the George A. Romero Foundation.
John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s The Amusement Park will be available online and in comic stores May 7, 2025, and at booksellers May 20, 2025.