Review – The Author Immortal #1 (Image Comics)

October 3, 2025

2–3 minutes

Publisher: Image Comics
Story: Frank J. Barbiere
Art: Morgan Beem
Letters: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Release Date: 1st October 2025

Separating fact from fiction might be harder than usual in this new series from Frank J. Barbiere, Morgan Beem and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Opening in fifties London with the macabre site of an author apparently taking their own life with some kind of quill, we jump both across the pond while moving bang up to the modern day. From one author to another, only this time instead of a grand fifties London townhouse with expansive library and décor, we meet Hector, a struggling writer, teacher, and it would appear, serial cheat.

Do not let the cartoonish and often cutesy expressions and artwork, skilfully delivered as they are, fool you. This comic oozes despair, loss, darkness and terror. But, all is not lost, as there’s also fantasy and the promise of heroic adventure.

Without spoiling too much of this first issue, its clear that some malevolent force is seeping through the written word, linked to the stories of E.L. Vossler, the author from the opening scene. Hector is ‘summoned’ to the offices of Deborah Luckwell, another author, albeit one who is significantly more successful, and asked to collaborate on new stories based on Vossler’s catalogue of work; Hector being regarded as a leading scholar of Vossler’s writings. Luckwell needs assistance in the young adult fantasy sphere as, despite having the wealth to acquire the rights to such works, her reputation is in tatters for some offenses we are not quite clear on. Its hard to miss forced parallels with a certain real world author here which I didn’t think landed as well as the rest of the tale being told.

Putting that aside, we are also introduced to Hector’s daughter, a teen he obviously has a strained relationship with, before jetting off to London to start his new project. The inky, crawling chaos wastes little time before making its presence known and throwing Hector into a very real ‘fictional’ world.

Despite some of the elements here feeling a touch forced for my liking, I really enjoyed this debut issue. Like a very dark take on the likes of Neverending Story or Princess Bride, with plenty of modern horror ideas blended in, The Author Immortal puts a novel spin of the ‘fantasy writer in their own world’ idea. Rather than an everyman hero, Hector is a flawed character, and all the more real for it. Part of which makes the art here work in conjunction so well. For all the panels with whimsical touches, the black inky terror feels all the more sinister. The juxtaposition of light and breezy with the subject matter makes this hit all the harder.

Whether you’re a fan of horror, YA fantasy, or simply good stories, The Author Immortal should be high on your pick list.

Rating: 4/5.

[PREVIEW ARTWORK – CLICK TO ENLARGE]