Image Comics' Breakout Horror Hit Mercy Gets An Exciting New Sequel

Published Sep 17, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT Shaun Corley has been with ScreenRant for over 5 years, and is currently the Coordinator for PR and Outreach for the Comics Team. Image Comics’ breakout hit horror comic Mercy is getting a sequel, and ScreenRant is bringing fans a first look. Image is home to some of the best creator-owned comics today, and their offerings are wide and diverse. The publisher’s offerings stretch across many genres, including superheroes, science fiction and horror. Mercy, released by Image in 2020, was one of the company’s horror comics. The brainchild of artist Mirka Andolfo, Mercy was set in the mining town of Woodsburgh, Washington. The region is currently in the throes of a gold rush, bringing many people to the town. One day, evil descends upon Woodsburgh in the form of a series of brutal and violent murders. The ensuing chaos coincides with the arrival of a mysterious visitor, named Lady Hellaine. Mercy ran for six issues, drawing praise from both fans and critics. Mercy was steeped in the Gothic horror genre, and it broke new ground by infusing tropes with a rugged mining town setting. The art was perfect for the subject matter, creating a sense of eerie dread going hand in hand with Mercy’s tone. Fans have waited patiently for a sequel to Mercy, and now six years later, Image Comics is returning to Woodsburgh for another round of sheer terror in the new Merciless. Image Comics is Releasing a Sequel to Mercy Merciless Opens 18 Years After Mercy Image Comics’ Merciless hits stores this December, but eager fans unable to wait until then are in luck, as the publisher has shared covers and interiors for the book’s first issue. Merciless #1 will be written by Adolfo and drawn by Lidia Bolognini, and will run for five issues. Image shared a synopsis for Merciless, provided here: FIFTEEN YEARS AFTER THE DEVIL OF WOODSBURGH VANISHED, EVIL RETURNS TO TOWN… Having rid itself of the terrible Devil of Woodsburgh, the thriving former mining town has seen the sun shine again for fifteen years… until the arrival of a new Lady Hellaine. Rory, accompanied by Joel, is all grown up now, and ready to open her factory. But her arrival hides a secret: Electric Sumac is spreading through the streets, a strange drug that makes humans unusually strong and dangerous… something Rory and Joel are determined to stop at any cost, knowing all too well that its mysterious origins are decidedly not of this world. Meanwhile, Sheriff Bancroft seems to have returned as well, to settle the scores his father left behind. Could Rory end up caught in the middle…? Image was also gracious enough to share with ScreenRant a first look at both the variant covers and interiors, also shared here. The pages provided whisk readers back to Woodsburgh. It also brings new fans up to speed by detailing the events of Mercy. Mirka Andolfo, the creator behind Mercy and Merciless, is one of the most exciting artists working today. In addition to Mercy and its sequel, Andolfo was also responsible for books like Mirka Andolfo’s Sweet and Paprika. Much like Mercy, these books drew acclaim from fans and critics, and elevated her career further. Andolfo was excited to bring Merciless to fans, saying: MERCY readers have been waiting for this sequel, and I'm so happy it's finally on its way! MERCILESS is a brand-new story with a 'new' Lady Hellaine: Rory, now all grown up and ready to uncover some dark secrets in the old town of Woodsburgh. Brought to life by Lidia Bolognini's amazing art, this is a new horror adventure for fans of MERCY, horror and mystery, and I can't wait to share it with you. The preview pages that Image shared show Andolfo’s passion for the project. Mercy and Merciless Are Great Examples of Gothic Horror Gothic horror is one of the most popular strands in the genre. Movies such as Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak and the soap opera Dark Shadows popularized the field. It counts distant locations and large, shambling mansions among its tropes, and Mercy was full of it. Merciless looks to continue Andolfo’s hot streak, and Bolognini is now along for the ride as well. Bolognini’s contributions have energized the world of Mercy. Image Comics has published some of the best horror comics the industry has ever known. From Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino’s Gideon Falls to Robert Kirkman’s Outcast, Image has helped raise the bar. Thanks to its gothic tone, Mercy became a hit alongside the others, and now the publisher is bringing out its sequel later this year, much to the delight of fans everywhere. Merciless #1 is on sale December 2 from Image Comics!