Midsummer Scream 2025 Welcomes Horror Royalty

Midsummer Scream is gearing up for one of its most anticipated editions yet with a guest list and programming slate that promises to thrill horror devotees and comic collectors. Leading the charge at this year’s event is none other than legendary filmmaker John Carpenter, who will make a rare public appearance on Saturday 16th August in support of Storm King Comics – the independent publishing powerhouse co-founded by producer Sandy King.

Taking place at the Long Beach Convention Center from 15th to 17th August, Midsummer Scream 2025 has declared “Horror Comic Books” its central theme. It’s a fitting backdrop for Storm King Comics, which has spent over a decade fusing cinematic terror with graphic storytelling. Carpenter’s appearance is expected to be a major draw for fans, with each autograph including a copy of John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s The Amusement Park, a new graphic novel adaptation of the cult 1975 film originally directed by Romero and recently restored by the George A. Romero Foundation.

Sandy King, whose producing credits include In the Mouth of Madness, They Live and Ghosts of Mars, will also be present throughout the weekend. Under her leadership, Storm King Comics has become a reliable source of horror and science fiction content, producing titles such as John Carpenter’s Tales for a HalloweeNight, Tales of Science Fiction, and the youth-focused Storm Kids. The company’s booth will also feature appearances from various writers and artists connected to its ever-expanding library.

Organisers of Midsummer Scream, the world’s largest Halloween and horror convention, have expressed their enthusiasm at hosting the Carpenters and spotlighting the genre’s ongoing legacy in comics. “This is a dream pairing,” said executive director David Markland. “John Carpenter’s presence, combined with this year’s comic book focus, makes for an unforgettable event.”

Midsummer Scream 2025 will once again deliver its signature mix of immersive attractions and horror-fuelled entertainment, including the expansive Hall of Shadows, live shows, haunt reveals, and panels focused on major horror properties such as Halloween Horror Nights and Paramount Scares. Over 50,000 attendees are expected to descend on Long Beach for the three-day celebration, with more than 300 exhibitors filling the show floor.

Elsewhere at the convention, popular Long Beach haunt shop and arcade “Revenge Of” will host horror comic creator signings and provide retro pinball machines for guests to enjoy. The event’s striking 2025 poster, designed by D.W. Frydendal, pays homage to classic horror comics with imagery drawn from haunted houses, crypt creatures, and trick-or-treat nostalgia.

Tickets for Midsummer Scream are on sale now via the official website: midsummerscream.org/

Updates on programming and guests will be shared regularly across the event’s social media channels. For horror fans, collectors, and anyone with a love of the macabre, August’s event looks set to be a major date on the calendar.