A HAUNTED GIRL – Exclusive Extended Edition
Now Live On Zoop
The father/daughter collaboration merges horror comics with mental health awareness
Launching today on the Zoop crowdfunding platform is A Haunted Girl – The Exclusive Extended Edition from father/daughter writers Ethan and Naomi Sacks, with art by Marco Lorenzana. It’s the ultimate collector’s item for fans of the acclaimed Image/Syzygy YA supernatural horror story that explores the real-life terror that comes with the struggles of anxiety and depression. It’s a perfect complete story for new readers as well.
Cleo, a 16-year-old adopted Japanese-American whose anxiety and depression drives her to suicidal thoughts, is fresh out of the hospital and trying unsuccessfully to reintegrate back into her old life. What she doesn’t know is that her real struggles are just beginning as she finds herself encountering an increasingly terrifying succession of ghosts. Is she losing her grip on reality…or is the explanation much, much worse.
The story is inspired by the real life mental health battle of co-writer Naomi Sacks, who teamed with her father, comic book veteran Ethan Sacks (Star Wars: Bounty Hunters, Old Man Hawkeye), and artist extraordinaire Marco Lorenzana (Hulk), in an attempt to reach readers going through similar struggles.
A Haunted Girl was profiled by CBS News, People Magazine, the Lancet medical journal, and NPR and includes resource help guides from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the American Psychiatric Association.
But the new Exclusive Extended Edition, only available through Zoop, has so much more additional features:
* A stunning hardcover format featuring art by comics legend Joe Quesada * Artist Marco Lorenzana’s how-to guide for drawing Cleo
* A reprint of the People Magazine profile on the real life story behind the comic.
* A script excerpt, layouts, and pencils and ink for a behind-the-scenes look at how a comic book comes together.
And best of all, a portion of the proceeds of the new edition will be donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to help fund their crucial lifesaving work.
Praise for A Haunted Girl:
“I’ve been thinking about A Haunted Girl for days now. Ethan Sachs, Naomi Sachs and Marco Lorenzana create something chilling and real that lurks in so many of us. You’ll see. It’ll haunt you too.” — Brad Meltzer
“Horror at its most human. An intimate tale of the psychological toll of depression wrapped in a larger story of impending supernatural cataclysm. Powerful and moving.” — Steven S. DeKnight
“A Haunted Girl is a beautiful story that tackles hard subjects with a deft touch. Ethan, Naomi and Marco blend real-world issues with a perfect amount of fantasy and horror to give us a first issue that makes you immediately want more. A stellar beginning.” — Chip Zdarsky
ABOUT THE CREATORS
Ethan Sacks is best known in comics as the writer of Marvel’s Old Man Hawkeye, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Star Wars: Bounty Hunters. He also wrote the acclaimed nonfiction comics, COVID Chronicles and Climate Crisis Chronicles for AWA Studios, as well as several stories for DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics. Before comics, he was a 20-year veteran at the New York Daily News, covering film and geek culture. He also contributes to NBC News.
Naomi Sacks may just be 21 years old, but she already has notched professional clips
from the New York Daily News, TODAY, and AM New York, interviewing the likes of Steven Spielberg, Ava Duvernay and Lin-Manuel Miranda. She is currently a college student majoring in Linguistics and Environmental Studies.
Marco Lorenzana, a Mexico-based illustrator and designer, kicked off his professional career in the pages of Heavy Metal and with Aspen Comics’ Overtaken. He has also collaborated on Zenescope and drew for Marvel’s Hulk, Secret Empire: Brave New World and Ultimates2. He previously teamed up with writer Ethan Sacks on a creator owned comic, Intrusion, a horror one-shot for Magma Comix and Heavy Metal.