Romero’s Lost Horror Rides Again with Carpenter’s Backing

Two titans of horror are joining forces in an unexpected but fitting tribute to a once-lost masterpiece. The Amusement Park, George A. Romero’s surreal descent into the horrors of aging, is being reimagined as a graphic novel thanks to Storm King Comics, with John Carpenter lending his name and backing to the ambitious project. The book is set for release on 10 June, bringing a fresh artistic interpretation to one of Romero’s most personal and haunting creations.

Originally filmed in 1975 as a public service announcement on elder abuse and societal neglect, The Amusement Park was shelved and presumed lost for decades. Unlike Romero’s better-known films such as Night of the Living Dead or Dawn of the Dead, this one was less concerned with zombies and more focused on a world that turns a blind eye to the vulnerability of ageing bodies and minds. When the George A. Romero Foundation (GARF) recovered and restored the film in recent years, it became clear that this was a crucial piece of the filmmaker’s legacy. Now, that legacy expands with a striking visual reinterpretation.

Written by Jeff Whitehead and illustrated by Ryan Carr, the adaptation is more than a page-for-page retelling. Instead, it explores the same existential themes through a more stylised and contemporary lens. The plot centres on a young businessman who meets an older man with a cryptic tale to tell—a recollection that spirals into a nightmarish journey through an amusement park that reflects the humiliations and hardships of growing old. It’s Kafka by way of carnivals, with ageism rendered through grotesque attractions and metaphysical torment.

“George’s work has always reflected deeper social issues beneath the genre,” said Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, president of the GARF. “This graphic novel allows a new generation to experience The Amusement Park in a powerful, visual way. We couldn’t ask for better collaborators than John Carpenter and Storm King.”

Sandy King, Carpenter’s long-time producing partner and founder of Storm King Comics, saw the project as a natural fit. “John and George always wanted to find a way to work together,” she explained. “This felt like the perfect opportunity for their creative visions to finally align.”

Carpenter himself was enthusiastic, calling Romero’s work “legendary” and describing The Amusement Park as a fascinating entry in the director’s body of work. “This isn’t just a rehash. It’s a tribute, a reinterpretation, and an extension of Romero’s vision,” he said.

Storm King Comics has built a reputation for quality genre storytelling in graphic form, publishing acclaimed titles like Tales for a HalloweeNight and John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction. With their proven track record, the company is well-positioned to give The Amusement Park a second life beyond the screen.

As horror continues its long-standing affair with social commentary, this release couldn’t be timelier. The re-emergence of Romero’s bleak but insightful meditation on aging, filtered through the visual dynamism of comics, ensures that the film’s original message will continue to resonate, and perhaps haunt, in an entirely new format.

John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s The Amusement Park will be available from 10 June via comic shops, bookstores, and online retailers. It’s a rare collision of horror royalty, promising an experience as unsettling as it is unforgettable.
For more information, visit: stormkingcomics.com/