THE AMUSEMENT PARK, George A. Romero’s groundbreaking, 45-minute “lost” film from 1975, becomes an original graphic novel this spring when Storm King Comics releases John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s THE AMUSEMENT PARK, an all-new artistic interpretation of the unique film.
Long thought to be lost, and originally conceived as a public service announcement, THE AMUSEMENT PARK is a surreal, haunting commentary on ageism and society’s treatment of the elderly, wrapped in Romero’s signature horror style. The George A. Romero Foundation, which is dedicated to honoring the life and preserving Romero’s work, restored the film as one of its first projects, and discovered the result met with widespread critical acclaim.
As critics and audiences pored through the myriad of images and meanings found in THE AMUSEMENT PARK, the Foundation and its artist-in-residence, illustrator Ryan Carr, began working on adapting the film in a novel way—a graphic novel way. Along with writer Jeff Whitehead, a visually stunning interpretation of the film came to life on the page.
Seeking distribution for the project, the George A. Romero Foundation turned to another icon of cinematic horror: John Carpenter. Storm King Comics, founded by Sandy King, seemed the perfect publisher to help bring this version of THE AMUSEMENT PARK to readers. Storm King Comics has become the premiere publisher of horror graphic novels, and King felt THE AMUSEMENT PARK would make a fascinating pairing of the two names.
“George A. Romero’s films are legendary. They already were legendary when I was just a student, and The Amusement Parkhas a fascinating history. This is a project that’s so important to his legacy as a filmmaker, so I’m glad to lend my name to it,” said John Carpenter.
“John and George often talked about ways they might collaborate, and this project felt like a fantastic opportunity,” King explained. “We’re really happy to come together for this project, which represents George Romero’s vision through and through, filtered through the artistic lens of Ryan and Jeff.”
More than a simple adaptation, John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s THE AMUSEMENT PARK is also a tribute to Romero’s enduring influence on horror, as Whitehead and Carr have reconsidered the nearly 50-year-old film in ways that will resonate with new generations.
“The Amusement Park holds a special place in George’s body of work because it tackles such a deeply human issue—ageism—through the lens of horror. Adapting it into a graphic novel allows us to bring his unique vision to a whole new audience. We are thrilled to collaborate with John Carpenter and Storm King Comics on this project, which honors George’s legacy in such a meaningful way,” said Suzanne Desrocher-Romero, founder and president of The GARF.
In John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s THE AMUSEMENT PARK, an impatient businessman in his 20s meets an elderly man who spins a fantastic tale about a long-gone amusement park. As the conversation continues, the younger man is disturbed to learn the story of an elderly man eager to recapture the memories of youth. Instead of pleasant memories, however, this trip to the amusement park becomes a surreal microcosm of aging and its inherent challenges as bodies and minds begin to break down. The old man finds himself abused, pushed into a horrifying series of attractions that mimic the later stages of life. Increasingly battered both mentally and physically, the man realizes he is trapped in a loop, force to relive the harrowing experience over and over. And the young man, William Lincoln, soon discovers that he and the old man have much more in common than they suspect.
John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero’s THE AMUSEMENT PARK will make its debut online and in comic stores 7th May 2025, followed by availability through all booksellers 20th May 2025.
About Storm King Comics
Storm King Comics, formed in 2012 as a division of Storm King Productions, is headed by writer/producer and editor Sandy King. Along with her husband, director John Carpenter, King focuses on bringing the best writers from the worlds of comics, movies and novels together to bring their special brand of horror and sci-fi entertainment to comics. Their flagship comic book title John Carpenter’s Asylum has become a global fan favorite, followed by the award-winning annual anthology, John Carpenter’s Tales for a HalloweeNight, and the monthly anthology series, John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction. More recent additions to the Storm King brand are Storm King Comics Dark & Twisted, John Carpenter’s Night Terrors, and John Carpenter Presents Storm Kids, introducing horror and sci-fi to younger audiences.
About the George A. Romero Foundation
The George A. Romero Foundation, established in 2018 by Suzanne Desrocher-Romero in Pittsburgh, is a global nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting George A. Romero’s legacy. The foundation supports emerging independent filmmakers, artists, and creators, while also documenting, restoring, and preserving Romero’s archives. Learn more at www.georgearomerofoundation.org.