Horror Icons Unite To Bring George A. Romero's "THE AMUSEMENT PARK" To Life In New Graphic Novel

Storm King Comics has just announced a brand new graphic novel that will bring two horror icons together for John Carpenter Presents: George A. Romero’s “THE AMUSEMENT PARK” and we have all the info you need to get your copy below.

Based on Romero's groundbreaking 45-minute film, long thought to be lost, this graphic novel by Jeff Whitehead, and Ryan Carr will be available beginning May 7, and is a visually stunning interpretation of the unusual film. We know how Storm King works and how impressive they are in interpretations so this new graphic novel will be nothing short of stunning.

FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:

THE AMUSEMENT PARK, George A. Romero’s groundbreaking, 45-minute “Lost” film from 1975, becomes an original graphic novel this spring when Storm King Comics releases John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s THE AMUSEMENT PARK, an all-new artistic interpretation of the unique film.

Long thought to be lost, and originally conceived as a public service announcement, THE AMUSEMENT PARK is a surreal, haunting commentary on ageism and society’s treatment of the elderly, wrapped in Romero’s signature horror style. The George A. Romero Foundation, which is dedicated to honoring the life and preserving Romero’s work, restored the film as one of its first projects and discovered the result met with widespread critical acclaim.

As critics and audiences pored through the myriad of images and meanings found in THE AMUSEMENT PARK, the Foundation and its artist-in-residence, illustrator Ryan Carr, began working on adapting the film in a novel way—a graphic novel way. Along with writer Jeff Whitehead, a visually stunning interpretation of the film came to life on the page.

Seeking distribution for the project, the George A. Romero Foundation turned to another icon of cinematic horror: John Carpenter. Storm King Comics, founded by Sandy King, seemed the perfect publisher to help bring this version of THE AMUSEMENT PARK to readers. Storm King Comics has become the premier publisher of horror graphic novels, and King felt THE AMUSEMENT PARK would make a fascinating pairing of the two names.

“George A. Romero’s films are legendary. They already were legendary when I was just a student, and The Amusement Park has a fascinating history. This is a project that’s so important to his legacy as a filmmaker, so I’m glad to lend my name to it,” said John Carpenter.

The Amusement Park via Storm King Comics

“John and George often talked about ways they might collaborate, and this project felt like a fantastic opportunity,” King explained. “We’re really happy to come together for this project, which represents George Romero’s vision through and through, filtered through the artistic lens of Ryan and Jeff.”

More than a simple adaptation, John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s THE AMUSEMENT PARK  is also a tribute to Romero’s enduring influence on horror, as Whitehead and Carr have reconsidered the nearly 50-year-old film in ways that will resonate with new generations.

“The Amusement Park holds a special place in George's body of work because it tackles such a deeply human issue—ageism—through the lens of horror. Adapting it into a graphic novel allows us to bring his unique vision to a whole new audience. We are thrilled to collaborate with John Carpenter and Storm King Comics on this project, which honors George's legacy in such a meaningful way," said Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, founder and president of The GARF.

In John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s THE AMUSEMENT PARK, an impatient businessman in his 20s meets an elderly man who spins a fantastic tale about a long-gone amusement park. As the conversation continues, the younger man is disturbed to learn the story of an elderly man eager to recapture the memories of youth. Instead of pleasant memories, however, this trip to the amusement park becomes a surreal microcosm of aging and its inherent challenges as bodies and minds begin to break down. The old man finds himself abused and pushed into a horrifying series of attractions that mimic the later stages of life. Increasingly battered both mentally and physically, the man realizes he is trapped in a loop, forced to relive the harrowing experience over and over. The young man, William Lincoln, soon discovers that he and the old man have much more in common than they suspect.

John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s THE AMUSEMENT PARK will make its debut online and in comic stores May 7, 2025, followed by availability through all booksellers May 20, 2025. 

If you have not seen “THE AMUSEMENT PARK”, it is a very different film than what Romero is known for and it shines above many films of its time as more of a psychological horror than a straight gorefest. We truly feel that one must see the film before reading this new graphic novel so you can compare and contrast the two. We’ll be adding “THE AMUSEMENT PARK” to our collections and so should you.

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