Vampire Survivors #1 — David Hazan and Jimmy Kucaj Turn Game Lore Into a Gothic Horror Hunt
The Belpaese siblings are vampire hunters who fear the monsters less than they fear each other. In this new Titan Comics series, writer David Hazan and artist Jimmy Kucaj adapt the beloved game’s universe into a tense, atmospheric hunt where the real danger might be internal.
You know the game. You know the dopamine hit of clearing a screen of monsters while managing your inventory, growing stronger with every drop. But have you ever wondered about the lore sitting beneath the pixels? Titan Comics is finally giving that world a proper narrative foundation with Vampire Survivors #1, and it feels like the missing piece we’ve been waiting for. This isn’t just a tie-in; it’s a fresh start that treats the source material with the gothic gravity it deserves.
The setup is intimate and immediately stressful. We meet the Belpaese siblings, a pair of hunters who don’t just survive the night—they thrive on it. They wield whips, magic, and garlic with the confidence of veterans, but their real enemy isn’t the vampires lurking in the shadows. It’s their own rivalry. When Imelda Belpaese and her brother are tasked with clearing out a library infested with supernatural entities, the job goes sideways fast. Imelda encounters an ancient, horrific evil that leaves destruction in its wake, but this creature does something far more insidious: it targets her mind.
What makes this debut so compelling is the psychological layer Hazan adds to the action. The ancient evil, known only as the Trickster, becomes invisible to everyone but Imelda. She’s alone in a room full of allies who can’t see the horror she sees, watching her own perception unravel. Meanwhile, the rival Ladonna family is applying pressure from the outside, and the Belpaese siblings’ constant bickering provides the perfect opening for the Trickster to weave its havoc. It’s a story about isolation, trust, and the terrifying fragility of the human mind when faced with something that can’t be fought with a sword.
Jimmy Kucaj’s art is the perfect vessel for this kind of claustrophobic terror. His linework has a crisp, expressive quality that shines in the darker moments, capturing the grotesque beauty of the supernatural threats and the raw panic of Imelda’s isolation. With coloring by João Canola, the atmosphere feels thick and heavy, pulling you into the library’s shadows. This is a book that knows how to balance the adrenaline of a hunt with the slow-burn dread of a psychological thriller.
If you’re a fan of character-driven horror where the internal conflict is as deadly as the external threats, this is the one to grab. The variant covers are already looking like collector’s items, but the real value here is the story itself—a sharp, atmospheric entry into a world that has been waiting for a proper voice. It’s a strong debut that sets a high bar for the rest of the four-issue run.
This is the kind of launch that reminds you why you love comics: a familiar IP reimagined with fresh energy and a creative team that’s clearly in love with the material. Keep an eye on this one—it’s going to be a standout for anyone who likes their horror with a side of heart-pounding tension.