Clay McLeod Chapman

Clay McLeod Chapman

“Like a demonic angel on a skateboard, like a resurrected Artaud on methadrine, like a tattletale psychiatrist turned rodeo clown, Clay McLeod Chapman races back and forth along the serrated edges of everyday American madness, objectively recording each whimper of anguish, each whisper of skewed desire. This is strong stuff, intense stuff, sometimes disturbing stuff, but I think the many who admire Chuck Palahniuk will admire Chapman as well.”—Tom Robbins, author, Still Life with Woodpecker

Clay McLeod Chapman is the author of novels What Kind of Mother, Ghost Eaters, Whisper Down the Lane, The Remaking, and miss corpus, story collections nothing untoward, commencement and rest area, as well as The Tribe middlegrade series: Homeroom Headhunters, Camp Cannibal and Academic Assassins.

His new novel, Wake Up and Open Your Eyes, arrives on January 7, 2025. Upcoming projects include the novelette Stay On The Line (Shortwave Books), the novella Kill Your Darling (Bad Hand Books) and the creator-owned comic limited series Seance in the Asylum (Dark Horse Comics).

Quiet Part Loud, a 12-part horror podcast from Jordan Peele/Monkeypaw Productions, written by Chapman and Mac Rogers, is available on Spotify.

Chapman’s story late bloomer was adapted into a short film, directed by Craig William Macneill. An official selection at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, the short won Best Short at the Lake Placid Film Festival and the Brown Jenkins Award at the 12th Annual H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival.

Their second short, Henley, based on the chapter “The Henley Road Motel” from Chapman’s novel miss corpus, was an official selection at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. It won Best Short at the 2011 Gen Art Film Festival and the 2011 Carmel Arts and Film Festival. The Boy (SXSW 2015), a feature-length adaptation of Henley, co-written with director Macneill, was produced by SpectreVision (Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah, and Josh C. Waller) in 2015.

In comics, Chapman is the writer of the Marvel series Scream: Curse of Carnage. He has written Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety, Iron Fist: Phantom Limb, Typhoid Fever, as well as for Edge of Spider-Verse and Venomverse, The Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, Ultimate Spider-Man, American Vampire, Scream: King In Black, and ORIGINS among others.

He is the creator of Self Storage (451 Media) and Lazaretto (BOOM! Studios).

Chapman is the creator of the rigorous storytelling session The Pumpkin Pie Show. In the twenty years of its existence, it has performed internationally at the Romanian Theatre Festival of Sibiu, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, New York International Fringe Festival, Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Edmonton Fringe Festival, Minnesota Fringe Festival, Dublin-based thisisnotashop art space, IGNITE Festival, Women Center Stage Festival and Impact Theatre Festival.

Chapman wrote the book for Hostage Song (music & lyrics by Kyle Jarrow). He is the author of such plays as commencement, the cardiac shadow and volume of smoke. His story-monologues birdfeeder, undertow and the wet echo have been featured in The Best American Short Plays anthologies.

Chapman was educated at the North Carolina School of the Arts for Drama, the Burren College of Art, and Sarah Lawrence College. He currently teaches writing at The Actors Studio MFA Program at Pace University.


2022

QUIET PART LOUD

Performances

Quiet Part Loud

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1996

The Pumpkin Pie Show

Performances

Celebrating its second decade of performances, The Pumpkin Pie Show is a literary fist in the face. Part storytelling session, part boxing match, part shamanistic ritual, The Pumpkin Pie Show has established itself as an all-points artistic hodgepodge of theatre and literature.

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2024

WAKE UP AND OPEN YOUR EYES

Books

Wake Up and Open Your Eyes: A new novel written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Wake Up And Open Your Eyes (UK Edition)

Books

Wake Up and Open Your Eyes: A new novel written by Clay McLeod Chapman, UK edition, from Titan Books

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Bookworms Horror Zine #6

Books

Bookworn Horror Zine features "saucy sprat" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Fear of Clowns

Books

Features the short story "quit clowning around" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Seance in the Asylum #4

Books

Seance in the Asylum, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Andrea Mutti, from Dark Horse Comics

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Seance in the Asylum #3

Books

Seance in the Asylum, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Andrea Mutti, from Dark Horse Comics

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Seance in the Asylum #2

Books

Seance in the Asylum, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Andrea Mutti, from Dark Horse Comics

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The Rack

Books

The Rack features the short story WHITE PAGES written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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The Darkest Night

Books

The Darkest Night, featuring Mr. Butler, written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Kill Your Darling

Books

Killy Your Darling, a novella written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Seance in the Asylum #1

Books

Seance in the Asylum, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Andrea Mutti, from Dark Horse Comics

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Long Division anthology

Books

New anthology featuring a story by Clay McLeod Chapman.

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Spider-Verse: Across The Multiverse

Books

Spider-Verse: Across the Multiverse featuring Clay McLeod Chapman

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Que Clase de Madre (Spanish edition)

Books

What Kind of Mother, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, Spanish edition, from Runas Books

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Ghost Eaters (Czech edition)

Books

Ghost Eaters, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, translated in Czech

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What Kind of Mother (UK Edition)

Books

What Kind of Mother, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, from Titan Books

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Shadows in the Stacks

Books

Shadows in the Stacks, A Spirited Giving Charity Anthology, featuring a short story written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Stay On The Line

Books

Stay On The Line, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Trevor Henderson

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Fangoria Vol 2 #22

Books

Fangoria Magazine features "Hermit" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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2023

Extreme Venomverse

Books

Extreme Venomverse trade paperback featuring new stories written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Knockoffs

Books

Knockoffs written by Clay McLeod Chapman from Shortwave Books

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WHAT KIND OF MOTHER: A Novel

Books

What Kind Of Mother, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, from Quirk Books

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Daily Lurker

Books

Features the short story "swallowbox" by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Makeout Creek #8

Books

Makeout Creek #8 featuring "pick of the litter" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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EDGE OF VENOMVERSE UNLIMITED INFINITY COMIC #8

Books

Edge of Venomverse Unlimited Infinity Comic #8, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Dax Gordine

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Shadows Over Main Vol 3

Books

Shadows Over Main Vol 3 features "summer in the pit" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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October Screams

Books

October Screams, edited by Kenneth W. Caine, featuring the short story "sweet meat" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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House of Haunts

Books

House of Haunts anthology featuring the short story "rug burns" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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EDGE OF VENOMVERSE UNLIMITED INFINITY COMIC #6

Books

Edge of Venomverse Unlimited Infinity Comic #6, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Philip Sevy

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EDGE OF VENOMVERSE UNLIMITED INFINITY COMIC #5

Books

Edge of Venomverse Unlimited Infinity Comic #5, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Gustavo Duart

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Dark Corners of the Old Dominion

Books

Dark Corners of the Old Dominion featuring the short story "keep it civil" by Clay McLeod Chapman

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EDGE OF VENOMVERSE UNLIMITED INFINITY COMIC #3

Books

Edge of Venomverse Unlimited Infinity Comic #3, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Philip Sevy

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EDGE OF VENOMVERSE UNLIMITED INFINITY COMIC #2

Books

Edge of Venomverse Unlimited Infinity Comic #2, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Philip Sevy

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EDGE OF VENOMVERSE UNLIMITED INFINITY COMIC #1

Books

Edge of Venomverse Unlimited Infinity Comic #1, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Philip Sevy

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Extreme Venomverse #3

Books

Extreme Venomverse #3 featuring a new story written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Extreme Venomverse #2

Books

Extreme Venomverse #2 featuring a new story written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Creepshow Vol 1

Books

Creepshow #5 features the story "Husk" written by Clay McLeod Chapman and art by Amwita Citriya

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2022

Creepshow #5

Books

Creepshow #5 features the story "Debutante Ball" written by Clay McLeod Chapman and art by Amwita Citriya

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Literally Dead: Tales of Holiday Hauntings

Books

Literally Dead: Tales of Holiday Hauntings, featuring the short story "psychic santa" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Ghoulish Tales #1

Books

Ghoulish Tales #1 features the short story "Who Brings A Baby?" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Obsolescence

Books

Obsolescence features the short story "pump and dump" by Clay McLeod Chapman

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American Cannibal

Books

American Cannibal anthology featuring Clay McLeod Chapman's "all ears."

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Baby Carrots

Books

Baby Carrots written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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GHOST EATERS: A Novel

Books

Ghost Eaters, a novel written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Mama Bird

Books

Short story "mama bird" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Weird House Magazine #2

Books

Weird House Magazine #2 featuring "nail on the head" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Wendell & Wild

Films

Wendell & Wild, directed by Henry Selick, written by Selick and Jordan Peele, based upon the book by Selick and Clay McLeod Chapman

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FOUND

Books

Found, an anthology of found footage horror stories, features "the spew of news" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Campfire Macabre: Volume 2

Books

Campfire Macabre includes the short story "scratch 'n sniff" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Nail on the Head

Books

Nail on the Head, a limited edition chapbook, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, published by Theurgical Studies

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Worth Writing About

Books

Worth Writing About zine featuring the short story "Crosshairs" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Devil’s Reign: Villains for Hire

Books

Devil's Reign: Villains for Hire, written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Le Remake (French edition)

Books

Le Remake, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, translated by Thibaud Eilroff, from Pygmalion Books

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2021

Devil’s Reign: Villains for Hire #3

Books

Devil's Reign: Villains for Hire #3, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Manuel Garcia

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Devil’s Reign: Villains for Hire #2

Books

Devil's Reign: Villains for Hire #2, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Manuel Garcia

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Devil’s Reign: Villains for Hire #1

Books

Devil's Reign: Villains for Hire #1, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Manuel Garcia

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9 Tales from Beyond the Pale

Books

Radio plays for the digital age.

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Southwest Review

Books

Southwest Review, featuring the short story "Stowaway" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Extreme Carnage

Books

Extreme Carnage trade paperback collecting all eight issues.

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UNKNOWN

Films

Unknown is a psychological horror anthology series created by Craig William Macniell and Clay McLeod Chapman, produced by Kilter Films and Amazon Studios

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ORIGINS

Books

Origins, an original graphic novel, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Jakub Rebelka, from BOOM! Studios

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Alter Bridge: Tour of Horrors

Books

An original horror anthology graphic novel from Z2 Comics

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Extreme Carnage: Lasher #1

Books

Extreme Carnage: Lasher #1, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Chris Mooneyham

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Extreme Carnage: Scream #1

Books

Extreme Carnage: Scream #1, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Chris Mooneyham

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King In Black: Gwenom vs. Carnage

Books

King In Black: Scream #1, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Garry Brown.

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King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes

Books

King In Black: Planet of Symbiotes #1, written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Empyre Omnibus

Books

Web of Venom: Empyre's End #1, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, with art by Guiu Villanova

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ORIGINS #6

Books

Origins, an original graphic novel, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Jakub Rebelka, from BOOM! Studios

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ORIGINS #5

Books

Origins, an original graphic novel, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Jakub Rebelka, from BOOM! Studios

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2020

Whisper Down the Lane: A Novel

Books

Whisper Down the Lane: A Novel written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Black Telephone Magazine

Books

Black Telephone Magazine #1 featuring "room with a boo" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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ORIGINS #4

Books

Origins, an original graphic novel, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Jakub Rebelka, from BOOM! Studios

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ORIGINS #3

Books

Origins, an original graphic novel, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Jakub Rebelka, from BOOM! Studios

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ORIGINS #2

Books

Origins, an original graphic novel, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Jakub Rebelka, from BOOM! Studios

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34 Orchard: Issue 2, Autumn 2020

Books

34 Orchard, includes the short story "fairy ring" written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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The Dread Machine

Books

The Dread Machine features TAKE ME written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Fangoria Vol 2 #9

Books

Fangoria Vol 2 #9 featuring the story "debridement" by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Come Join Us By The Fire

Books

Tor Nightfire's new audio anthology, Come Join Us By The Fire, featuring Clay McLeod Chapman's story "the fireplace"

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2019

ORIGINS #1

Books

Origins, an original graphic novel, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Jakub Rebelka, from BOOM! Studios

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King In Black: Scream #1

Books

King In Black: Scream #1, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Garry Brown.

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King In Black: Planet of Symbiotes #1

Books

King In Black: Planet of Symbiotes #1, written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Web of Venom: Empyre’s End #1

Books

Web of Venom: Empyre's End #1, written by Clay McLeod Chapman, with art by Guiu Villanova

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Scream: Curse of Carnage #8

Books

Scream: Curse of Carnage #8 written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Garry Brown.

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Scream: Curse of Carnage #7

Books

Scream: Curse of Carnage #7 written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Garry Brown

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Scream: Curse of Carnage #6

Books

Scream: Curse of Carnage #6 written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Chris Mooneyham

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Scream: Curse of Carnage

Books

Trade paperback collecting Scream: Curse of Carnage #1-5

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Scream: Curse of Carnage #5

Books

Scream: Curse of Carnage #5 written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Chris Mooneyham

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Scream: Curse of Carnage #4

Books

Scream: Curse of Carnage #4 written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Chris Mooneyham

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Black Telephone Magazine #3

Books

Black Telephone Magazine #3 featuring a new short story written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Scream: Curse of Carnage #3

Books

Scream: Curse of Carnage #3 written by Clay McLeod Chapman.

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Scream: Curse of Carnage #2

Books

Scream: Curse of Carnage #2 written by Clay McLeod Chapman, art by Chris Mooneyham

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Scream: Curse of Carnage #1

Books

Scream: Curse of Carnage #1 written by Clay McLeod Chapman

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Absolute Carnage: Scream

Books

Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety written by Clay McLeod Chapman.

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Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety #1

Books

Absolute Carnage: Separation Anxiety #1 written by Clay McLeod Chapman.

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Absolute Carnage Omnibus

Books

Absolute Carnage Omnibus hardback

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Absolute Carnage

Books

Trade paperback collecting Absolute Carnage #1-5

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Absolute Carnage #5

Books

Daily Bugle Editorial by J. Jonah Jameson (transcribed by Clay McLeod Chapman)

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Absolute Carnage #4

Books

Transcribed by Clay McLeod Chapman

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