Dark Horse Comics is once again partnering with some of the best voices in horror to bring unique and terrifying stories to the world, and we’ve got your first sneak peek. FANGORIA is excited to reveal the cover art and first details for Beast of Borikén, the publisher’s newest collaborator with Tiny Onion, the independent imprint owned by renowned writer James Tynion IV.
Beast of Borikén, the second installment in Tiny Onion’s True Weird series, is written by Julio Anta, with art by Daniel Irizarri, colors by Patricio Delpeche, and letters by Lucas Gattoni. The series’ synopsis is as follows:
In contemporary Puerto Rico, Loli Flores is a fierce activist fighting the overdevelopment of the island by outside investors. When a groundbreaking ceremony is violently interrupted by a supernatural force, Loli discovers that the stories of el Chupacabra are not just echoes from the past, but true tales of a brutal protector of generations extending back to the indigenous people of the island. As Loli uncovers the horrors firsthand, el Chupacabra follows a parallel path, leaving elemental destruction in his wake.
“Beast of Borikén has been a home-coming to draw my island and its people as I’ve witnessed them in all their shapes and sizes, their joy and their rage.” says Irizarri. “It was bold and refreshing of Tiny Onion to take a chance on a different direction for the next chapter of their True Weird series. Julio’s story is a sharp portrayal of Puerto Rican resistance that made me feel seen, while also giving us the space to create a modern, snarling interpretation of the Chupacabra as well as our violent history and myths. I’m excited to bring my artistic sensibilities to this pulp-horror story of protester grit and ancient spirits of vengeance.”
The first issue of the five-issue miniseries will feature cover art variants by Irizarri, Naomi Franq, and Max Fiumara. The series is the second in Tiny Onion’s True Weird line after Let This One Be A Devil, written by Tynion and Steve Foxe.
“Beast of Borikén is a tropical horror story inspired by all the creature features I grew up devouring,” said Anta. “It’s both an epic tale encompassing over 500 years of colonialism and resistance and a gory character drama starring Latin America’s most terrifying cryptid, the Chupacabra. I can’t wait for readers to sink their teeth into this book, beautifully illustrated by Daniel Irizarri… no one’s ever seen a Chupacabra this horrifyingly human!”
Beast of Borikén #1 hits shelves on July 1. Check out the cover art down below:
