Look Out: The Terrifying Debut of the Future of Fear Franchise

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Artists Writers and Artisans, a comic book company, along with Vertigo Entertainment, a production company, have unveiled the initial title for their joint project titled “Future of Fear.

Dan Baillie’s ‘Look Out,’ beautifully illustrated by Tim Bradstreet (known for his work on ‘The Punisher’ and ‘Hellblazer’), is scheduled for release on May 7th. This initial piece of illustrated prose marks the beginning of ‘The Future of Fear,’ a series that will showcase various stories, tones, horror concepts, and formats in future editions.

According to the press release, “Look Out” is about Oscar, who is trying to recover from a divorce. He decides to take a job as a fire lookout in a remote forest outpost, hoping for peace and a fresh start. However, his peaceful retreat takes a disturbing turn when he finds a tattered piece of paper with a mysterious set of guidelines claiming to keep him safe during his watch. At first, Oscar dismisses it as a harmless prank from the other fire lookouts in the area. But as darkness falls, he has a chilling revelation that these rules are no laughing matter and the danger they warn against is very real.

In a statement, Roy Lee, head of Vertigo Entertainment and a renowned horror producer, expressed his continuous pursuit for compelling narratives that stir profound, widespread dread. He is especially captivated by stories that conjure up intense fear, frequently set in disquieting locales. Lee was thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate closely with AWA, whose work he has long respected, to present this anthology to fans. The objective of ‘The Future of Fear’ is to highlight exceptional talent through an innovative collection of horror stories. We have diligently searched in both conventional and unorthodox venues to provide you with these fresh tales, each one unique in its ability to terrify, brimming with the anticipation, surprise, and heart-pounding suspense that masters of the genre are known for.

In a discussion, EbMaster conversed with the chief creative officer of AWA, Axel Alonso, on the debut of the series. He explained that “Look Out” serves as an entry point for horror enthusiasts eager to delve into terrifying tales in a fresh format.

Why did “Look Out” make so much sense to be the first story in “The Future of Fear”?

I’ve been closely watching the progress of this piece, alongside the next one we’re working on. Given our excitement over Tim Bradstreet’s collaboration, we chose to debut this artwork first. After all, he’s a veritable master in his field, elevating our creation to unprecedented heights.

Dan Baillie wrote the comic as his debut project. How did you know he’d be able to take on such a big opportunity as his debut?

The intriguing backstory of the tale captivated me. Originally, Dan, a police officer based in Glasgow, shared his narrative on Reddit, which piqued the interest of Roy Lee and his crew. Upon joining forces with AWA for “Future of Fear,” they promptly showed us this story, and I was instantly hooked. Consequently, we made the swift decision to adapt it. However, given the richness of the narrative and the specifics, we recognized that an illustrated prose format would be more fitting than a comic book. Importantly, this isn’t the original Reddit post – it has been revised and enhanced into a completely new story. Ultimately, we published it as a prose work featuring approximately 40 to 50 illustrations.

Partnering with Vertigo is opening up the pipeline to create film or TV adaptations. Have those discussions come up yet for “Look Out”?

As an editor, my primary task is to help develop and refine compelling graphic novels by crafting engaging narratives. While I don’t wish for it not to be adapted, I recognize that a strong story has the potential to transcend its original form and find success in various media. The fundamental elements of this tale are robust, with an immersive setting and a chilling sense of isolation serving as its foundation.

For horror fans, are there movies that share a similar vibe to “Look Out”?

The film carries an eerie resemblance to “Midsommar.” It’s a chilling psychological thriller set in a tightly confined space, exuding a palpable sense of foreboding. This isn’t just any ordinary tale; it’s a compact, isolated psychological horror narrative about a recently divorced man seeking change, who accepts a job at a forest outpost. His role is as a solitary sentinel stationed in a lookout tower on a hill in the heart of nowhere. Upon arrival, he discovers a list of rules meant to guide his stay. Initially, he assumes these are pranks by fellow rangers, but soon realizes they’re no laughing matter. The story delves into themes of isolation, claustrophobia, and paranoia.

Going forward, will “Future of Fear” stories be totally different in presentation, tone and themes?

They’re all over the map. There’s no redundancy at all to be found in these stories.

See some of the non-finalized page concepts from “Look Out” below.

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2025-02-19 17:19