If you’re a fan of true crime with a side of urban legends, Storm King Comics is dropping Dead Flowers, a gritty new graphic novel thriller that turns a real-life Route 66 landmark into a playground for murder and secrets.
A Cold Case Reopened
The Aztec Hotel was once a crown jewel of “Mayan Revival” architecture. Now, it’s a decaying relic of the past, better known for ghost stories than its golden age.
The mystery kicks off in 1949 with a brutal murder that stains the hotel’s reputation forever. Fast-forward 70 years: the current owners claim they’ve finally cracked the case. They’re inviting the public on a special tour to reveal the killer’s identity. Laney, a newcomer to town, signs up for the tour out of curiosity. Soon Laney realizes that someone (or something) is willing to kill again to keep that 1949 secret buried.
Behind the Scenes
Edgar Award nominee and NYT bestseller Duane Swierczynski (California Bear, The Guilty) is the writer behind the story. Interestingly, Duane didn’t just dream this up; ghost stories inspired him when his barber told him while getting his hair cut inside the actual haunted hotel in Monrovia.
Despite the spooky setting, Swierczynski says this isn’t a ghost story. It’s a grounded thriller about how the “dead” past can still come back to bite you in the present.
Dead Flowers is illustrated by industry veteran Andrea Mutti, whose resume includes heavy hitters like Batman, Star Wars, and Wolverine.
As Sandy King, CEO of Storm King Comics, puts it: “Even the brightest lights can cast the deepest, darkest shadows.”
Launched in 2012 by producer Sandy King and legendary director John Carpenter, Storm King Comics is the go-to home for top-tier horror and sci-fi. By bridging the worlds of film, novels, and comics, King and Carpenter have built a powerhouse lineup of fan favorites. That includes John Carpenter’s Asylum, Tales for a HalloweeNight, and the monthly series Tales of Science Fiction.
Dead Flowers is the latest addition to their Dark & Twisted imprint, which focuses on crime and suspense that feels uncomfortably real. Get your copy on February 10, 2026, from Storm King Comics or book shops.
