The bogeyman is more than a figment of a child's imagination in Vertigo Comics' new title Imaginary Fiends. Instead, it's a real creature from another realm that nudges the impressionable to do bad things for them. And there's more than one of these creatures. A lot more.

Debuting November 15, and exclusively revealed at SYFY WIRE, the six-part sci-fi/horror book from the adult-oriented DC Comics imprint is written by Tim Seeley (co-creator of Hack/Slash, Nightwing) and features art by Stephen Molnar (Star Trek).

The story kicks off with a ripped-from-the-headlines premise of a young girl found covered in blood, in the woods near a small town. Her best friend, Melba, has just tried to murder her, pushed to commit the act by a spider girl with the appropriately creepy name of "Polly Peachpit." Seven years later, Melba is about to be transferred from a psychiatric facility to federal prison when Agent Crockett arrives. He knows Polly Peachpit is real, and but one of many spectral parasites from another dimension that seek to gain access to our world. By convincing compliant humans to commit acts for them, the parasitic aliens become stronger, all while remaining invisible to all but their hosts.

Now Crockett wants Melba -- and Polly -- to help him hunt down these IMPs (Interdimensional Mental Parasites).

"Imaginary Fiends is a return to horror for me," said Seeley, who added that the comic is "a chance to tell a story about a broken person and her monster friend."

"But Fiends is darker, scarier, and more fanatical than anything I've ever done."

Seeley also notes that Molnar's artwork is amazing, and that "his Polly Peachpit is one of the creepiest monsters I've ever seen."

"It's always exciting to have the opportunity to create a new book," said Molnar. "I hope our audience has as much fun reading our story as I do drawing it."

Serving as Fiends editor is Molly Mahan, a friend Seeley jokes is "fortunately, as far as I know, not imaginary.”

Check out our exclusive reveal of the Imaginary Fiends solicit text below, as well as a peek at the inaugural cover art and some concept designs of Melba and the spider girl herself, Polly Peachpit. If you're intrigued and creeped out, pick up the Vertigo book when it drops this November.

Solicit text:

“Polly Peachpit.” Those were the words ten-year-old Brinke Calle said when she was found covered in her own blood by the woods in rural Cannon Falls, MN. Her best friend, Melba, had just attempted to murder her because a spider girl named Polly Peachpit told her to. Since that day, Melba has spent seven years in a mental health facility. Tomorrow is her eighteenth birthday. Tomorrow, she’ll be transferred to a federal prison. Tomorrow, her real sentence will begin.



That is, until she receives a visit from FBI Agent Virgil Crockett. Crockett explains that there is another world beyond ours, where hungry spectral aliens stalk the minds of the impressionable and weak. These things, called IMPs (Interdimensional Mental Parasites) feed on compliance. They convince hosts to do things for them, and the more they feed, the stronger they become. More IMPs stream into the world each day, invisible to everyone but his or her hosts.



After years of drugs and counseling, Polly and Melba have developed a unique relationship—and to Crockett, this relationship represents something her people can work with. In exchange for release from prison, Crockett asks Melba (and Polly) to serve as IMP hunters. For Melba, it’s a chance to prove that she’s innocent, convinced to murder by a monster...a monster she must now unleash.

On sale NOVEMBER 15 • 32 pg, FC, 1 of 6, $3.99 US • MATURE READERS