Mulvey & Lees Bring Grawlgore & Shanks to ComixTribe
"Knives Out" meets "The Lord of the Rings" -- New comic book series to serve up bloody murder mysteries in a high fantasy setting.
This week, we promised the 350+ backers of the SINK: City of Killers campaign that if the Kickstarter ending this week passes $30K in funding, we would announce a new series coming soon from ComixTribe.
Our fans did their thing, and as a result… we’ve got some news to break!
I’m thrilled to announce Grawlgore & Shanks, a brand-new fantasy mystery comic series from the acclaimed creative team of writer John Lees (Sink, The Nasty) and artist Joe Mulvey (SCAM, Happy Hill) will be coming under the ComixTribe banner. A unique blend of high fantasy and detective fiction, the series has been described as The Lord of the Rings meets Knives Out, offering an episodic, character-driven take on the genre.
Set in the diverse and sprawling fantasy realm of Plaena, Grawlgore & Shanks follows an unlikely duo of problem-solvers: Vaun Grawlgore, a mountain dwarf with a passion for tailoring (despite his questionable talent), and Arlog Shanks, his loyal orc steward and bodyguard. Though Grawlgore would prefer to make his mark designing fine attire, his reputation as an accidental detective has taken precedence. Together, the duo travels from village to village in their rickety wagon, taking on mysteries, solving crimes, and righting small wrongs—all while insisting their clients purchase and wear Grawlgore’s flamboyant fashion creations.
While fantasy is often associated with grand adventures, Grawlgore & Shanks embraces a different style of storytelling, leaning into episodic, procedural mysteries reminiscent of Columbo, Master Keaton, and Only Murders in the Building.
Each issue will presents a self-contained case, while an evolving character dynamic and deeper themes of classism, prejudice, and camaraderie build a larger narrative.
"I wanted to create a fantasy comic that felt fresh and distinctly my own," said writer John Lees. "With the fantasy genre experiencing a renaissance across multiple mediums, this is an exciting time to explore new stories. Grawlgore and Shanks are not your typical adventurers—they’re detectives navigating a world where small injustices still need to be made right."
Artist Joe Mulvey adds, "This series has been an absolute joy to bring to life. The combination of heartfelt character moments, rich world-building, and engaging mysteries makes it something truly special. Plus, getting to illustrate Grawlgore’s garish wardrobe is an artistic challenge I’ve fully embraced."
The first arc, titled The Curious Trade of Grawlgore & Shanks is already in development. Fans of fantasy, cozy mysteries, and unconventional detective stories can look forward to the series launching from ComixTribe soon.
SINK BACKERS GET AN EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW NOW!
If you want an exclusive, PDF Preview click the link above. Note, you will need to be a SINK: City of Killers backer of at least $1 in order to unlock the Grawlgore & Shanks Preview PDF.
P.S. There’s STILL TIME to jump into the SINK: City of Killers launch!
Hell yeah boys! Can’t wait!