‘Event Horizon: Dark Descent’ Writer Christian Ward Talks About The Series’ Villain And Why The Time Is Right For This Prequel
Paul W. S. Anderson’s Event Horizon wormed its way into everyone’s nightmares in 1997.
The sci-fi horror turned into a bona fide cult classic, thanks to its sinister visuals, creepy story from the mind of Philip Eisner, and outstanding performances from the likes of Sam Neill, Laurence Fishburne, Joely Richardson, and Jason Isaacs. Now, almost three decades after its release, the story continues – or goes back to the start – as a comic book prequel series titled Event Horizon: Dark Descent explores what actually happened to Captain John Kilpack’s doomed crew. In addition, readers will meet Paimon, who is described as the “Eyeless King of Hell.”
The five-part series, which is set to be published by IDW Publishing, is penned by Eisner Awarding-winning writer Christian Ward, drawn by Tristan Jones, and colored by Pip Martin. We caught up with Ward to find out more about the series and why it makes sense to tell this story now and in the medium of comic books. Needless to say, this sounds like one series you should be adding to your pull list immediately.
How long has the idea for an Event Horizon prequel percolated in your head and why is it the right time for Event Horizon: Dark Descent now?
The lore of Event Horizon is tantalizing. It feels equal parts deep and rich but also vague and out of sight. It’s the perfect world to think of wider stories for, and that’s definitely something I’ve done on and off since seeing the film in ’97.
More specifically, I had a meeting with my good friend, IDW editor Heather Antos, last October, and she told me that IDW had secured the license to do an Event Horizon comic. So that’s when the cogs began to turn, but the full idea didn’t solidify until earlier this year when editor Nic Niño reached out and asked me to pitch my take. The day of the invite I watched the film again and the specific untold story stared me in the face, and I just knew it was one that had to be told.
The prequel offers a blank slate, since Event Horizon doesn’t really cover what happened to Captain John Kilpack and his crew. Apart from creating an interesting backstory for fans who want to know more about Kilpack and Co., what did you want to achieve from this story?
The important thing for me was that the story we told didn’t betray or undermine the film at all. This is a loft comparison, but one of the things I love about Andor is how it enriches both Rogue One and in turn Star Wars: A New Hope through changing or enriching context. That was my goal here, to tell a story that would change how you view the movie, specifically Dr. Weir.
I will say, it’s a balancing act, though. One of the things that makes the first film so successful is its mystery. Things in the darkness are never as scary when the light is switched on. That couldn’t be more true than in cosmic horror, where the horror is so often about things beyond our comprehension. So, what I didn’t want to do was explain everything. There has to be darkness at the centre of the black hole.
Event Horizon is fondly remembered for the nightmarish visuals. How do Tristan Jones and Pip Martin pay tribute to the original in Event Horizon: Dark Descent but still find a way to make the art their own?
Tristan is the perfect artist for this. He made his name as one of the leading Aliens comic artists – no one draws a Xenomorph like him – but one of my favourite images of his was an undead medieval knight that he posted on his Instagram. That was the image that made me know he was ideal for this. As much as Event Horizon is – like Alien – a cosmic horror, it’s far more medieval and gothic in its inspirations. The Event Horizon ship itself is built more like an industrial cathedral than the sleek spaceships so often seen in sci-fi. It’s that aesthetic Tristan is really leaning into.
And Pip takes Tristan’s nightmarish art to a really cool and very contemporary place. She is one of the hottest new talents in comics and every time she sends her colors in, we’re blown away. This book wont look like any other on the stand. It looks so sexy and cool you won’t be able to look away even when you might want to.
How R-rated are we going here? Do fans need to keep the light on when they go to sleep at night?
All I’m going to say is this… Anyone for a blood orgy?
After this five-issue series, what else would you like to explore in the Event Horizon universe?
I can’t say too much, but Dark Descent is very much the beginning. I have such delicious plans.
And finally, why does Event Horizon suit the comic book medium?
Despite the film being marketed as the scariest film since The Exorcist, it is not The Exorcist. It’s not a subtle slow-burn serious horror film. It’s a rollercoaster of a movie. Rewatching the film and thinking about it in the context of comics, I was struck by how many of the big iconic visuals felt like comic panels or splash pages. Imagery designed to not just be scary but to just be f**king cool. And in those ways, it lends itself to comics perfectly.
Of course, we’re leaning into this being a comic with the addition of a brand-new and very comic book-y character. Folks often refer to Event Horizon as “Hellraiser in space”; with that in mind, I felt we needed our very own “Pinhead,” Paimon. Every comic book needs a good villain and he’s the worst!
Event Horizon: Dark Descent #1 arrives on August 20, 2025, while the pre-order deadline for the issue is July 14.
