BOOM! Studios announced on Tuesday that legendary horror writer R.L. Stine will continue his Just Beyond middle grade horror series next year. Just Beyond: The Horror at Happy Landings features art by Kelly and Nichole Matthews (Pandora’s Legacy) and a cover by Julian Totino Tedesco (Life of Captain Marvel). This new graphic novel will hit stores in May 2020, when it will take readers on an all new adventure.
The Walden family takes a trip to the supposedly serene camping grounds of the forest preserve at Happy Landings, but things go downhill, fast. What begins as a nice family vacation quickly turns to a horror show: after Parker’s and Annie’s mom suffers unidentified bird attacks in the forest, the siblings encounter a pair of body-snatching aliens. Can they break free of the aliens’ control? What happens if they can’t?
“I’m not an outdoors person. When I’m in the woods or out in the country, I think of all the creatures who live there, and I instantly begin to think of horrifying encounters,” Stine said in a statement. “This story goes Just Beyond my normal imagining: What if you were camping out — and you were invaded by creatures from another planet?”
Kelly and Nichole Matthews added, “It’s exciting to return to the world of Just Beyond with a new, out-of-this-world experience. We hope you enjoy The Horror at Happy Landings!”
Just Beyond: The Horror at Happy Landings marks the second original graphic novel in Stine’s four-book deal with BOOM! Studios to publish middle-grade horror through its KaBOOM! imprint. The first book in the series, Just Beyond: The Scare School, hits shelves Sept. 4.
“R.L. Stine brings all of his celebrated humor and horror to his newest graphic novel,” said Matt Gagnon, Editor-in-Chief at BOOM! Studios, in a statement. “Old fans and new readers alike will discover brand new thrills and chills from the master of middle-grade scares himself as we run into strange creatures, body-snatching aliens, and much more. Artists Kelly and Nichole Matthews are immensely talented and bring this world to life with stunning art. This is a creative collaboration that we can’t get enough of.”
Check out the cover art for The Horror at Happy Landings below.