Missoula, MT (July 22, 2024) – Vault is thrilled to announce GODFATHER OF HELL, a dark and thrilling new supernatural crime series written by New York Times Bestseller Cavan Scott (Star Wars: The High Republic, Shadow Service) and drawn by Bram Stoker Award-winning artist Pius Bak (Eat the Rich, The Magicians). Blending neo-noir and hellfire, GODFATHER OF HELL is sure to be THE comic of fall 2024.
In GODFATHER OF HELL, Dario Santini has lived a charmed life as an enforcer and debt collector for mob boss Niccolò Mechini. He’s had it all: respect, power, even the love of a good woman. But everything changes when he crosses a line and is shot dead on the sidewalk. Waking up in Hell, Dario faces a future of pain and suffering… unless he can turn eternal damnation into a business opportunity.
The first issue of GODFATHER OF HELL will launch with an incredible line of crime movie poster homage variants drawn by a murderers row of star artists such as Nathan Gooden (Barbaric), Joshua Hixson (Deviant), Chris Shehan (House of Slaughter), Jake Phillips (Destroy All Monsters), Corin Howell (Lilith), and Conor Boyle (Judge Dredd).
“Two of my favourite genres collide in GODFATHER OF HELL: gangster noir and exorcist terror,” said Scott. “Brace yourself for visceral body horror, lashings of black humor, and moments of super-cool swagger brought to life by Pius’ neon-soaked art. It’s sexy, gritty and downright terrifying!
“Most exorcist dramas focus on the human victims and their saviors, but GODFATHER OF HELL flips the script, telling the story of multiple possessions from the point of view of the demons themselves. Our guide to the ultimate criminal underworld is Dario, a mob enforcer who, after a fatal shooting, receives an unexpected business proposition from one of Satan’s lieutenants. Hell, Dario quickly realizes, is just another racket, and if there’s one thing Dario knows, it’s how to work rackets. Can he play the Devil at his own game to save those he loves from eternal damnation? Or will he finally lose his soul?
“GODFATHER OF HELL is a demonic noir where human souls are collateral and damnation lurks on every street corner: a truly twisted tale of possession, passion and powerplay. I can’t wait for everyone to meet the devil’s new debt collector!”
Pius Bak added, “throughout my career I’ve explored various genres, but lately I’ve found myself naturally gravitating towards drawing weirder and creepier stuff. So was I thrilled when Vault approached me with a proposition to work on this unique twist of horror? And with Cavan freaking Scott? HELL yeah!
“The story is funny and sad, very cool and creepy, I’m genuinely enjoying Cavan’s storytelling. On my part, from designing the characters to illustrating the covers, from sketching the layouts to inking the pages, working on this book has been immensely fun!”
GODFATHER OF HELL #1 will hit store shelves October 2024. The full synopsis for issue #1 can be read below:
Dario Santini has lived a charmed life as an enforcer and debt collector for mob boss Niccolò Mechini. He’s had it all: respect, power, even the love of a good woman. But everything changes when he crosses a line and is shot dead on the sidewalk.
Waking up in Hell, Dario faces a future of pain and suffering… unless he can turn eternal damnation into a business opportunity. Neo-noir hellfire from New York Times Bestseller Cavan Scott (Star Wars: The High Republic, Shadow Service, Dead Seas) and Bram Stoker Award-winning artist Pius Bak (Eat the Rich, The Magicians, Stranger Things).
