The week prior to San Diego Comic-Con 2025, creators Jordan Hart (Ripple Effects, The Cabinet) and Chris Ryall (Megalopolis, Marvel Age of Comics: Daredevil: Born Again) released Dread the Hall H (Syzygy Publishing / Image Comics), an oversized comics anthology that lovingly celebrates the convention-related horror stories to which we can all relate. Whether it’s the interminable lines for booths and panels or the panel attendee’s question….that isn’t so much a question but an unending statement, each and every story in Dread the Hall H will have you chuckling at the terrifying twists on our shared convention experiences. As a follow-up to their hit Dread the Halls anthology from last December, Hart and Ryall have found an incredible, new approach to the horror anthology (with stunning artwork, as well!) that has critics and fans alike clamoring for more. In fact, Dread the Hall H may have been the most sought-after comic at San Diego Comic-Con, with many fans searching for a copy and eager to attend the creators’ panel on Saturday evening.
The panel, “Dread the Hall H: (Fictional) Comic Convention Horror Stories,” featured many of the anthology’s creative team, including Hart, Ryall, artist Chris Anderson, cover artist Maria Wolf, and upcoming anthology artist Keithan Jones. (The creators not in attendance were Piotr Kowalski, Nelson Daniel, and Jimmy Kucaj.) Attendees – who had lined up in advance – filled the entire room as the creators discussed the inspiration for their respective stories within the anthology, as well as their own personal convention horror stories to the delight of the crowd. To everyone’s delight, actor/podcaster/media personality Ming Chen – who can be seen within the pages of Dread the Hall H – stopped by for a surprise visit at the end of the panel, mirroring his experience in the comic. The anthology even had its very first cosplayer (courtesy of Rey Benavides), who joined in on the fun by posing one last question… that was really more of a statement.
According to co-creator and co-writer/letterer/cover artist Jordan Hart, “I wasn’t sure if Dread the Hall H was going to land with readers. Chris and I put our love of comic conventions into each page, creating a comic that made each other laugh while celebrating the con experience. But it was a concept that really hadn’t been executed at the scale of Dread the Hall H. To see nearly every seat filled during the book’s panel was shocking in the best way and confirmation that we must keep this fun and weird anthology going.”
Many attendees were able to take home a limited edition Dread the Hall H lanyard and convention badge to commemorate their attendance at the popular panel. Plus, attendees were the first to learn that Dread the Halls will be returning again this December for an all-new collection of holiday-themed horror stories!
“Our Dread the Hall H panel encapsulated pretty much everything that made me love Comic-Con so much that I wanted to make a comic book about it in the first place: a packed room filled with enthusiastic fans, a lively discussion about comics and convention culture alongside super-talented and kind creators, and even a couple moments of life imitating art imitating life, too,” noted co-creator and co-writer Chris Ryall. “It left me energized for more, and to tell additional tales of Hall H next year and beyond, too!”
Dread the Hall H is selling out fast at comic shops, and it’s no surprise as to why: This anthology puts a delightfully horrific spin on the convention mishaps that we know and love. If you haven’t been able to garner your copy of the comic, be sure to ask your local comic book shop to order another one for you from publishers Image Comics and Syzygy Publishing (with what will undoubtedly be a second print run). Trust me: You’ll be glad that you did!
