Every month, Dark Horse Comics gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a comic or book. These articles can include the inspiration behind a specific title, what it's like to work in the comics industry, or some other special feature on the highlighted title of the month! In this month's Horsepower, Kyle Starks takes a deeper look at true crime and how it inspired Those Not Afraid:

There’s something undeniably fascinating about Serial Killers.

And you know what? I’m not completely certain on what the attraction is. Is it the idea that there’s that sort of human predator existing out there? Is it that the animal part of brain is inherently attracted to danger and the macabre?

Personally, I believe we love hearing these terrible, sordid, upsetting stories as a sort of subconscious safety preparation. We won’t go down the dark alley like that victim did. We check the backseat before we get in the car. We’re cataloguing the possibilities so we’d be ready for them.

Honestly, it’s probably every single one of those things and more.

All I know is that we love them and that was the seed for my new series Those Not Afraid with Patrick Piazzalunga. It’s a love letter to our preoccupation with these terrible, criminal souls, the intense variety they come in, and their threat.

In Those Not Afraid, two killers become aware they are close to breaking the long-standing state record for serial murders and one suggests a dark competition. We follow these two as they not only stack up kills against each other but also engage with one another, form a perilous relationship, and try to remain free of the authorities.

We also follow the Greek chorus of their community: the disgraced exsheriff, his true crime podcast-ing daughter, even one of the killer’s wives. We look into their lives as they undertake this grisly contest and how it affects everyone.

While we focus on two killers−one very much a Ted Bundy, the other a seemingly random Night Stalker type but with touch of Herbert Mullin−I wanted to make a sort of serial killer universe. We’ll cross four serial killers through this story arc−all different in method and motivation. If we’re lucky enough to go forward I’d like for our murderous leads to come across even more.

If you’re the type that likes to stay up late consuming true crime tales and serial killer lore, Those Not Afraid is the book for you.

That is, as long as you’re not too afraid.

—KYLE STARKS

Those Not Afraid #1, written by Kyle Starks, illustrated by Patrick Piazzalunga, color art by Marco Brakko, and lettered by Jim Campbell, is out now!

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