Stories featuring legendary characters such as Dracula or Frankenstein are a dime a dozen, but there are a select few that set themselves above the rest. The Accessories by writing duo David Dastmalchian & Leah Kilpatrick and artist Patrick Piazzalunga gives us a fresh new look at these age-old tales with a unique story where the side characters take center stage.
Igor, Renfield, and Mrs. Hyde have aided their masters’ diabolical missions for decades, but today is the day they stop being loyal. Today, the real horror walks out the front door. The looming question is…what do they do now? These three discarded servants find each other in the fallout, forming a band of gawky but determined anti-heroes caught between angry villagers, vengeful monster-hunters, and furious former employers. Their survival will take more than just guts; luckily, they know where to procure more.
As a fan of horror it is difficult to not be a fan of Bram Stoker’s Dracula or Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein stories, but what we tend to forget about is those who help those feature characters along the way. Yes, there have been stories such as Renfield, but most tales focus on the title character. Dastmalchian and Kilpatrick craft a story where we lean on the side characters, in this debut issue mostly Igor, and listen to what they have to say in a darkly humorous horror story.
Of course, Igor and Renfield have their grievances with their masters, helping them create greatness and getting little in return. Igor is promised over and over again, but yet continues to get pushed aside. This time, Igor breaks and what will happen next is anyones guess. This epic twist on a classic story leads me into future issues with great excitement. When those who are dismissed take action will their masters be right all along or will those side characters get their revenge? What forms at the end of this first issue is an unlikely team-up that adds more fuel to the fire.
Piazzalunga has this ability to illustrate the unique and fresh horror stories that has a monstrous feeling while also a sense of emotion on the characters faces. There is animation in the still imagery that is truly superb. Patrick allows The Accessories to breathe as well as giving a bit of dark humor to the already outstanding tale. Piazzalunga is the perfect artist for this series. Not to mention the outstanding colors by Marco Brakko, letters by Patrick Brosseau, and cover by Lukas Ketner.
The Accessories is just more proof that when writers David Dastmalchian & Leah Kilpatrick team-up we get a fresh and stellar comic that is hard to put down. Dastmalchian and Kilpatrick craft a story that gives the forgotten characters a voice while Patrick Piazzalunga brings the story to life (pun-intended) with wonderful illustrations. The Accessories is the monster story I never knew I wanted, but can’t believe I lived without.
The Accessories #1 hit your local comic shop on August 4, 2026 from Rocketship Entertainment. The second issue drops September 16.
The Accessories #1 Preview
