HOMESTEAD: A Native American/Western Werewolf Graphic Novel
Created by Dirk Manning
A 100-page emotionally charged horror graphic novel about how far two families will go to defend their respective ways of life.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
From werewolves... to vampires!
4 months ago
– Thu, Nov 20, 2025 at 06:47:00 PM
THE WORLD IS A VAMPIRE...
Hello Wolf Pack! I hope this update finds you all well as we're entering the holiday season!
I'm now more or less hunkered down and "off the road" for the next few months to get a lot of writing done, including finishing FROG SWEAT, my bayou body horror follow-up graphic novel to HOMESTEAD with Les Lindon Garner, but between then and now I've returned to my longest running graphic novel series with its newest installment, and I think it's one a lot of you will quite enjoy...
TALES OF MR. RHEE Volume 6: "Blood for Blood" finds street level magician Mr. Rhee suddenly and unexpectedly charged with protecting a potentially divine stranger from The Vampire Queen, who believes his blood is the key to her and her brood's true immortality.
If you're a longtime TALES OF MR. RHEE reader, I suspect you've been waiting for this volume since the bombshell ending of the last volume, but if you're new to the series, fear not, as this is true a perfect jumping-in point to the story. Starting here, you'll learn everything you need to know about in the first five pages before we hit the ground running with lots of action, some dark humor, and a lot of horror-infused dread.
You can learn more about the series, including various pledge levels and the Stretch Goals we've unlocked so far at www.TalesOfMrRhee.com and I encourage you to do so!
I remain exceptionally proud of HOMESTEAD to the point where it may be my favorite standalone graphic novel of my career to date... and I say that to give you context when I say that TALES OF MR. RHEE is my favorite ongoing series I write. Legit.
While you can jump in directly with this volume (and then go forwards and/or backwards from there), I'm also offering a special "I'm New Here..." pledge level will get you the whole series to date (almost 900 pages of story!) at a special bundled price -- all with FREE U.S. SHIPPING to boot!
If you love horror, and loved HOMESTEAD, I hope you'll give TALES OF MR. RHEE a shot. The campaign is already fully funded, we're deep into the Stretch Goal Party, and I'd love to bring you into the TALES OF MR. RHEE fold if you'll be new to the series!
Thanks all!
Your friend in horror comics, Dirk Manning
Will you vote for us?
11 months ago
– Thu, May 22, 2025 at 06:27:57 AM
Hello Wolf Pack!
I'm dropping you all a note for two calls to action: One regarding HOMESTEAD, and one regarding Les's new book BRIDES!
WILL YOU NOMINATE TEAM HOMESTEAD IN THE RINGOS?
Real talk, friends: I've always kind of had a love//hate relationship with awards. At the end of the day, any and all awards, no matter how you slice it, are a popularity contest, and I (being a bit of a lone wolf in a lot of ways) have never been big on chasing adulation, you know?
That being said, the Ringo Awards are a bit of an exception for me, as this is one of those rare major awards that takes a lot of input from comic fans and readers. I've been fortunate enough to have three different books nominated for a Ringo Award over the years... and you know what? I really think that what we've all done with HOMESTEAD should get at least one nomination this year, so I'm humbly asking that you take a few minutes to nominate HOMESTEAD and our team in the Ringo Awards this year in the categories for which we're eligible:
You can download or screenshot that image above as a reference to guide you through the nomination process at www.RingoAwards.com.
Be aware, the nomination process is all write-in, and you don't have to nominate something or someone in every category, but I'd sincerely appreciate it if you'd nominate team HOMESTEAD in the above-listed eligible categories, at least!
Thanks, all! And that aside...
BRIDES BY LES LINDON GARNER HAS RELAUNCHED ON KICKSTARTER!
HOMESTEAD co-creator and illustrator Les Lindon Garner has relaunched the Kickstarter for his new graphic novella BRIDES, and it's already FULLY FUNDED with EIGHT DAYS LEFT in the campaign!
Brides is a gothic-horror graphic novella that delves into themes of identity, ambition, and transformation. Inspired by the atmospheric allure of Hammer Horror, the emotional depth of Anne Rice, and the personal horror of Vampire: The Masquerade, centering on Eva -- a "patchwork woman" who seeks to redefine herself through vampirism, only to uncover a darker destiny.
That's right, friends: BRIDES is the story of what happens when the bride of Frankenstein's monster meets the three brides of Dracula!
Written and illustrated by Les, I'm extremely excited about this one, I've already pledged for my copy, and I encourage all of you to do so as well here:
After all, you'll need some amazing comic work from Les to hold you over until FROG SWEAT, our bayou horror graphic novel follow-up to HOMESTEAD is launched here on Kickstarter later this year, right?
Thanks again for your support of all we do, friends! I hope you enjoy BRIDES... and let's get HOMESTEAD on the Ringo Award ballot! Wolf pack strong!
Your friend in horror comics, Dirk Manning
A new one by me, a new one by Les...
12 months ago
– Mon, Apr 21, 2025 at 12:06:18 PM
Hello my HOMESTEAD friends!
I wanted to drop you all a note to let you know about my newest horror graphic novel now on Kickstarter that I think you'll enjoy, as well as a new comic by HOMESTEAD illustrator and co-creator Les Garner too! It's a current Golden Ago of great horror... so let's get to it!
RSVP: E.S.P. is my newest graphic novel, and I'm excited and honored to be bringing this one to life with NY Times bestselling horror writer Josh Malerman (BIRD BOX, INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE) and illustrator Joshua Ross (NIGHTMARE WORLD, LEFT TURNS).
This is a story of two psychic children battling for the reality of a scientist trying to determine of their powers are real. It's a slowburn para psychological horror that escalates into a mind (and body) bending 120+ page tales of terror.
We've offering a Kickstarter Exclusive "moving" Lenticular Hardcover with this campaign...
And we've already unlocked FIVE Stretch Goals including triple autographs (including my Malerman) and purple gilded pages as we close in on unlocking a leatherbound cover upgrade next!
This book may very well go down as one of my most equally intense and explosive graphic novels of my career, so I hope you'll consider pledging for a copy now, friends:
There's only two weeks left in this campaign, and no funds are collected until the campaign ends at the end of the business day on May 5th... so pledge for what you want now to make sure you get it!
BRIDES #1
BRIDES #1 is a new comic written and illustrated by Les Garner, and he describes it as follows:
In a gothic 19th century world where monsters lurk in the shadows, EVA—the forgotten Bride of Frankenstein—seeks mastery over her violent urges by pursuing the one thing that might save her: vampire blood. Rejected by Van Helsing, she confronts Dracula himself, only to discover a power that transforms her into something unprecedented—neither human nor vampire, neither servant nor ruler.
I'm a huge fan of Les's artwork, of course, but also always enjoy his writing as well, so I hope you'll check this one out after you make your pledge for RSVP: E.S.P., too!
And fear not... Les and I will be joining forces again on another new graphic novel before the end of the year... here's a peek at what to expect from the full HOMESTEAD team when we all reunite again:
Did I mention we're in a Golden Age of horror comics? Stay tuned, friends. I'll keep you posted... but in the meantime, happy pledging!
Your friend in horror comics, Dirk Manning
Sunset is here, the wolves are out, and herein we say goodnight...
over 1 year ago
– Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at 05:53:32 PM
Hello friends!
As of today, all the Kickstarter packages have been shipped, bringing the book fulfillment portion -- and my regular updates -- of this project to a close.
I'm aware a few of you are working with Les Garner to pick out your original pages or finalize your art commissions, and if you have not received that email from Les, please check all your folders (including Junk/Spam). If you can't find it or didn't get it, please email me directly at [email protected] so I can forward it to you.
That being said, I'd like to close things out here with a few quick notes:
First... THANK YOU for your vocal and enthusiastic support of this campaign, including your kind words about the book. I mentioned in a previous update how Les suffered -- and then overcame -- a stroke while illustrating this book, and the truth of the matter is that this was just the tip of the iceberg in regards to some of the personal/health challenges that impacted every member of our HOMESTEAD team at some point during this campaign -- myself included. I'm not going to go into details here, but I will say that the incredible support you showed me, Les, Colin Johnson, Rau Blackhawk, Dave Lentz, and Drena Jo meant the world to all of all and gave us all a lot of ndividual and collective encouragement when we needed it. Thank you. Truly.
Second... I'm giving you all some exclusive news that NO ONE else outside the team knows: Les and I will be working on another original horror graphic novel to be released in 2025. It's not a sequel to HOMESTEAD, but is very much a "sister" book to this one. If you enjoyed our work on HOMESTEAD, I am exceptionally confident you'll enjoy what we'll be bringing to you next in 2025. More details -- and a special first look -- will be forthcoming in my January newsletter, so if you don't get it, you can sign-up now on the front page of www.DirkManning.comto fix that! I only send it once a month -- all killer, no filler!
Finally, in the event that you have a question about your pledge, please reach out to me directly at [email protected] so I can work with you to get it solved. This campaign was a little more involved than most that I run due to us offering statues and original art and such, and on top of that shipping from Whalebacker was happening close to Black Friday ('nuff said on that!), so if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me directly. I'll be stepping away from the computer for a few days to decompress for the holidays (and, admittedly, finalize the three new book announcements that will be announced in my January newsletter), but I'm putting myself back on the clock right around December 26h and will reply to any remaining emails about this campaign then. Just label any such emails "HOMESTEAD" so they jump out at me if you don't mind.
Thanks again, everyone. I remain so thankful to you all for your support of HOMESTEAD. Happy reading and happy holidays! I can't wait to show you all what's next!
Your friend in comics, Dirk Manning
The last rundown...
over 1 year ago
– Mon, Nov 25, 2024 at 07:15:40 PM
WE'RE CLOSE TO WRAPPIN' THIS ONE UP...
Hello my Wolf Pack friends!
Today Les Garner shipped the last batch of statues and mini werewolf busts to Whalebacker to replace the ones that were damaged... so if you've been waiting on yours, know that you should be getting your shipping notification after the Turkey holiday. I most sincerely appreciate your patience on the wait if you've been impacted, but we wanted to make sure your investment in this project is well-protected.
That aside, as we enter this last phase of the project, a few final notes:
ORIGINAL ART BACKERS: If you pledged for an original page from HOMESTEAD and haven't coordinated with Les to pick yours out and get it yet, please drop him an email at [email protected] to do so. (If you didn't pledge for an original page of art from the book but want to inquire about buying one, that's the email to use too, friends. Tell him Dirk sent ya'...)
IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A STATUE BUT GET YOUR PACKAGE YET: If your pledge package didn't include a mini-bust or a stature and you didn't get your package yet... something ain't right. In that case, please email [email protected] to check on the status of your order. Be sure to include your name and pledge level, of course.
I'll continue to do my best to keep an eye on messages here, too, if there's any unusual circumstances, but those two email address will be the ones to take care of most of everything at this point, I believe... which is good, because...
LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT ENDS ON CYBER MONDAY!
I know I've mentioned it here once or twice, but we've now unlocked SIX Stretch Goals on the official adaptation of the lost Lon Chaney vampire horror classic film LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT, meaning that every Kickstarter Exclusive Leatherbound Hardcover will not include:
A triple-autographed bookplate
An original sketch remark
An inset blue ribbon bookmark
Blue gilded pages
So, you know, it'll look really damn good sitting next to your copies of HOMESTEAD... so if you haven't pledged to reserve your copy yet, take a moment to do so now at www.LondonAferMidnightComic.com, because the campaign closed this (Cyber) Monday at 5:30 PM EST, and at that time the window will close and the leatherbound hardcover editions with all those extras (and any others we unlock) won't be made available ever again.
I mean, after reading a werewolf book, isn't a vampire book the next logical step?
I'll send out one final note about this campaign when the last few remaining packages ship-out, latest... but in the meantime, I hope you all have an AMAZING Thanksgiving if you celebrate it, my friends.
On behalf of all of us who brought you HOMESTEAD, I hope you know how thankful we all are for you!
