Acclaimed author Clay McLeod Chapman brings his talents to Dark Horse along with artist Leonardo Marcello Grassi with Seance in the Asylum, a historical horror with psychological suspense.

1865. Defrauded spiritual medium Alicia Wilkinson is brought to The Ashcroft Hospital at the behest of Dr. John James Templeton. He offers Alicia a second chance to revive her once-thriving career: Perform a séance amongst the patients in order to drawing out their mental maladies. Alicia performs her first series of séances with the patients-including traumatized soldiers returning from the Civil War, women whose sanity has slipped through their fingers-only to realize their sessions might work all too well. What no one knows is Alicia is a fake. A liar. A cheat… So why are the patients suddenly acting possessed?

Clay McLeod Chapman’s storytelling shines in Seance in the Asylum as he crafts a gripping tale that blends historical horror with psychological suspense seamlessly. He uses a slow burn in the debut issue to set the dark and mysterious tone for the series. While introducing us to the main cast of characters in this first issue, you can tell he is setting up themes of deception, guilt, and redemption to unfold in future issues.

Chapman also excels at using flashbacks or dream sequences to tell the tale of Alicia Wilkinson prior to arriving at The Ashcroft Hospital. This plot device allows us to get right into the heart of the story and slowly explain the defrauding of her reputation as we read along.

Leonardo Marcello Grassi’s artwork compliments the story and script from Chapman. The artwork has a rough-edge feel that enhances the overall horror atmosphere. While Grassi was the not the original interior artist on this series, his work on this premiere issue fits right in without skipping a beat. The illustrations capture the darkness and intensity of The Ashcroft Hospital, immersing us into its haunting world. Andrea Mutti was originally attached to this project, but had to step away. At least we get some outstanding covers from Mutti to add a extra layer of horror to Seance in the Asylum.

Seance in the Asylum #1 definitely feels like a Clay McLeod Chapman story and partnering with artists such as Leonardo Marcello Grassi and Andrea Mutti to bring this series to life makes for a complete package. The dark tone is set in this first issue and we cannot wait to see where they take this tale of deception, madness, and mystery in future issues.

Seance in the Asylum #1 hits local comic shops on October 9, 2024 from Dark Horse.