Crime Noir Set In A Classic Children’s Book Universe ‘Knockturn County’ Announced For Fall 2022

Scout Comics has announced a gritty crime noir with rhyming narrative they describe as ‘if Dr. Seuss took a few swigs of whimsical whiskey and ran amok through Sin City.’ From writer James E. Roche, artist Axur Eneas, colorist Sean Callahan, and letterer Chas! Pangburn comes Knockturn Alley.

Scout Comics has announced a gritty crime noir with rhyming narrative they describe as ‘if Dr. Seuss took a few swigs of whimsical whiskey and ran amok through Sin City.’ From writer James E. Roche, artist Axur Eneas, colorist Sean Callahan, and letterer Chas! Pangburn comes Knockturn Alley.

‘Knockturn County is an adult crime noir set in a classic children’s book universe. Various tales converge and collide in this county built on crime, as a rhyming narrative leads readers through a tangled web of death, booze, drugs, and betrayal. Good doesn’t always win, bad doesn’t always pay, and, in true noir fashion, people always die.’

This debut issue follows an obsessed detective who puts his badge aside to hunt for his missing ex, and a little girl in the scariest place of all: her home.

“The entire creative team has been together on Knockturn County since its inception in 2018! It suffered several hiccups along the way, but the team wanted to tell this rhyming, dark, unique crime noir tale, no matter what it took,” said Roche. 

“Everything about Knockturn County was a great fit for me because I LOVE crime novels and movies from the 1940’s-50’s,” added Eneas. “I even rewatched John Huston and Hitchcock movies while working on the book. I had also worked as an animator on kid’s shows for Ánima Estudios and Cartoon Network, so the mix of genres in Knockturn County was super interesting and fun for me.”

Knockturn Alley #1 hits the spinner racks on September 7, 2022.