Birdking: Dark Horse publishes a new dark fantasy

Daniel Freedman and CROM had a big hit with Raiders, a comic book about dungeon raiders in a corrupt land. The pair are back with Birdking, which Dark Horse is publishing.

Dark Horse calls the new title a dark fantasy and one of epic adventure and magic. They describe it;

Bianca, teenage apprentice to an infamous arcane blacksmith, is forced to flee her homeland and seek out Atlas, a fabled land of light ruled by “the clean god.” She is joined by a mysterious guardian spirit known only as the “BirdKing”. Together they will have to overcome dozens of enemies to reach Atlas and along the way, unravel the mystery of the BirdKing and their ancestral connection.

Birdking is the brainchild of the illustrator CROM. The London based artist has a Patreon and lists specialities as books, games, tattoos and necromancy.

You can even buy CROM Critical Hit dice bags.

CROM said;

Birdking has been living in my head for years, invading my thoughts and waiting for the right story that would bring him to life in the only way a wraith of his caliber deserves. Fire, magic, undead champions, necromancers, skulls and fat swords, this book has it all. I can’t imagine a better playground to lark about in. I’m loving it.”

Freedman and Dark Horse are also working together on Lai, a high-octane graphic novel that is due out in August. Kai, a project with Robert Sammelin as illustrator, is a revenge story as a biker goes after the gang who betrayed her.

The author and colourist has worked for Marvel Comics, Warner Brothers, Image and even Apple and HP before. For Image Comics, he co-created Undying Love and Burn the Orphanage.

For the Birdking, Daniel Freedman told the press;

When CROM came to me after Raiders with the Birdking, the entire epic unfolded in such an organic way I did not believe it. Our collaboration has never been stronger and while we have thoroughly enjoyed our time exploring this vast and distinct fantasy world, we cannot wait for readers to gain access and bask in the glory that is Birdking.”

UK retailer Forbidden Planet says that Birdking vol 1 is due out on the 31st of August.