Layla in the Lands of After

Set in a whimsically surreal afterlife, Layla in the Lands of After (2023–present, Spellbound Comics) follows a young girl navigating a strange, dreamlike realm of lost souls and forgotten memories. Written by J. M. DeMatteis with ethereal art by Shawn McManus, this two-issue series explores themes of grief and wonder through a gentle, philosophical lens. A quietly poignant addition to DeMatteis’s long career of introspective fantasy, it matters for its tender, visually inventive take on what comes next.