About the Spontaneous Graphic Novel (Mature)

Phenomenon, conspiracy, or delusion? “Kelvin” Melvin Reyes was only three years old when Spontaneous Human Combustion took his father from him. He’s since devoted his life to exploring the mystery behind the phenomenon, searching for a pattern and predictors that he might save others from that same fiery fate. But the closer he gets to his goal, the further things lead down a well of secrets, horrors, and terrible truths. Is SHC real? And if so, can it be stopped?

What follows is a supernatural trip down a suburban rabbit hole as Melvin’s quest to honor his father’s memory unlocks the mysteries of his town’s dark past and his own family secrets. From acclaimed writer and filmmaker Joe Harris (Ghost Projekt, The X-Files) comes a slow-burn horror thriller of obsession, belief, and restitution. JOE HARRIS is the New York Times-bestselling writer and creator of comics and graphic novels including Ghost Projekt and Wars in Toyland (Oni Press), Rockstars and Great Pacific (Image Comics), and Disaster Inc. (AfterShock). As a young creator at Marvel Comics, Joe launched the Spider-Man spinoff, Slingers, and Bishop: The Last X-Man series. After a popular run penning the return of Agents Mulder and Scully’s investigations into The X-Files (IDW Comics), his scripts were later adapted into the chart-topping audio releases from Audible, The X-Files: Cold Cases and The X-Files: Stolen Lives featuring the voices of the original TV cast, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, and garnering multiple award nominations. A horror screenwriter and filmmaker, Harris conceived and cowrote Darkness Falls for Sony Pictures, and the political farce slasher movie, The Tripper for FOX. The grisly Viking werewolf saga, Sun Eater—created by Dylan Sprouse and co-written with Harris—was published by Heavy Metal Comics in 2022. “Spontaneous stands out as truly artful and inventive, as playful as Brick and as stylishly imagined as an especially focused Gregg Araki work.”