BLOOD TRAILS IN THE SNOW
BLOOD TRAILS IN THE SNOW — SciFiPulse.Net
BLOOD TRAILS IN THE SNOW
Two British Publishers Unite for a Major Kickstarter Launch As Forensic Psychology Meets Folk Horror in New Comic “Heartwood”
by Ian CullenJuly 11, 2026
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Launching soon on Kickstarter, Heartwood is an ambitious new mini series that blends detective noir, psychological crime and folk horror into a story about justice, memory and the hidden structures that allow violence to endure
It asks the uncomfortable question:
“why do some victims disappear twice—first from life, and then from memory?”
Created by Professor Laurence Alison, illustrated by Warwick Fraser-Coombe, designed by Andy Bloor and published through a collaboration between Shane Chebsey’s Scratch Comics and PSYComics—the independent publishing house founded by Professor Laurence Alison and Neil Roche, (who acts as letterer on the series too)—Heartwood brings together an exceptional creative team committed to producing psychologically rich, creator-led comics
At the centre of the story is Sarah Heartwood, an indigenous detective working in the forests of northern Minnesota. Quiet, stoic and fiercely principled, Sarah refuses to let go of the cases everyone else has abandoned. Investigating the disappearance and murder of Indigenous women, she uncovers not simply a killer, but a pattern of violence sustained by silence, indifference and generations of injustice
Unlike many crime comics, Heartwood is grounded in real forensic psychology. Professor Alison is internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading forensic psychologists, having spent more than three decades advising major murder investigations, researching violent offenders and interviewing some of history’s most notorious serial killers. That experience informs every page of Heartwood, exploring not simply how crimes are solved, but why violence persists, how institutions fail, and what it costs investigators who refuse to look away.
“I’ve spent much of my career trying to understand people who commit extraordinary acts of violence,” says Alison. “What increasingly fascinated me were the people who keep searching long after everyone else has stopped. Sarah Heartwood grew from that question.”
If Alison provides the psychological foundation of Heartwood, Warwick Fraser-Coombe gives the series its emotional and visual identity
Fraser-Coombe’s artwork captures both the beauty and isolation of northern Minnesota, while conveying the emotional complexity of Sarah’s investigation. His storytelling moves effortlessly between tense interrogations, intimate character moments and scenes of genuine horror. Rather than relying on spectacle, Fraser-Coombe builds unease through expression, pacing and atmosphere, allowing readers to feel every difficult decision Sarah makes
“What drew me to Heartwood was Sarah,” says Fraser-Coombe. “She’s incredibly restrained, so every expression, every pause and every glance matters. The horror only works if readers care about the people first. Laurence’s script gave me the space to let those quieter moments do as much of the storytelling as the darker scenes.”
The title itself carries a powerful metaphor. In a tree, heartwood is the dead central core that gives strength to everything still living around it. That idea runs through the story. Sarah has been shaped by what she has witnessed, but rather than breaking her, those experiences have become thetigates: beneath the visible surface lies something older, harder and far more difficult to confront
For editor Shane Chebsey, Heartwood represents exactly the sort of ambitious project independent comics were created to champion
“Independent comics give creators the freedom to tackle stories that don’t fit neatly into established genres,” says Chebsey. “Heartwood combines authentic forensic psychology, compelling crime fiction and outstanding artwork in a way that feels genuinely original. Collaborating with Laurence, Neil and Warwick has produced a book we’re immensely proud to co-publish through Scratch Comics.”
The collaboration between Scratch Comics and PSYComics reflects a shared belief that independent comics can tell sophisticated, emotionally intelligent stories while remaining accessible to a broad audience. By combining Laurence Alison’s psychological expertise, Warwick Fraser-Coombe’s exceptional storytelling and the publishing experience of both imprints, Heartwood marks the beginning of an exciting new partnership
The forthcoming Kickstarter will fund the first volume of Heartwood, alongside exclusive editions, original artwork, signed copies and behind-the-scenes material exploring both the creative process and the forensic psychology that underpins the story
More than a detective story and more than a horror story, Heartwood asks what happens when someone refuses to accept that certain lives can simply be forgotten
To find out more and to pledge for your own copy of the book go to:
Ian Cullen
Ian Cullen is the founder of scifipulse.net and has been a fan of science fiction and fantasy from birth.
In the past few years he has written for ‘Star Trek’ Magazine as well as interviewed numerous comics writers, television producers and actors for the SFP-NOW podcast at: www.scifipulseradio.com
When he is not writing for scifipulse.net Ian enjoys playing his guitar, studying music, watching movies and reading his comics.
Ian is both the founder and owner of scifipulse.net
You can contact ian at: ian@scifipulse.net
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