Bones & Betrayals: British Comic Team Unveils Fantasy Crime Series with Glitter and Ghosts
On November 14, 2025, British comics website downthetubes.net dropped a revealing interview that’s already sending ripples through the indie comics scene: Bones & Betrayals: A Chat with Andi Ewington, Erica Marks and Calum Alexander Watt. The piece isn’t just another creator profile—it’s a window into a bold new genre hybrid: a fantasy crime series where forensic detail meets fairy dust, and ghosts don’t haunt houses, they haunt crime scenes. The first volume, Silence of the Dead (Bones & Betrayals #1), is already generating buzz, and the reason? It doesn’t just tell a story—it makes you smell the damp stone, hear the whisper of spectral evidence, and wonder if the glitter on the victim’s sleeve is decoration… or a magical signature.
Building a Fantasy Crime Scene with Glitter and Ghosts
The subtitle says it all. Bones & Betrayals isn’t your typical noir. While most crime comics lean into rain-slicked alleys and hard-boiled detectives, this one? It’s got spectral witnesses, enchanted autopsies, and crime scenes dusted with cursed confetti. Andi Ewington and Erica Marks, the co-writers, describe their approach as "forensic fantasy." They’re not just adding magic to murder—they’re reimagining how justice works when the dead don’t stay dead. One scene in the first issue, according to the interview, involves a detective using a spirit-lens to trace a murder weapon’s last touch through lingering emotional residue. "It’s not magic as spectacle," Ewington says. "It’s magic as evidence."
The artist behind this eerie aesthetic is Calum Alexander Watt, whose visual style blends the gritty realism of Blacksad with the surreal textures of Studio Ghibli’s haunted forests. His panels don’t just illustrate the story—they haunt you. A bloodstain might glow faintly purple. A suspect’s shadow might move independently. And yes—glitter. Not the kind you find at a birthday party, but the kind that lingers like a curse, catching the light in ways that shouldn’t be possible. "It’s not decoration," Watt explains. "It’s the residue of a spell that went wrong. The killer didn’t mean to leave it. But now, it’s the only clue that matters."
A Writer’s Legacy and a New Voice
Andi Ewington isn’t new to the comics world. He’s carved out a niche with gritty, lore-heavy work for Games Workshop on titles like Forty-Five45, Warhammer 40k, and Warhammer Age of Sigmar. His strength has always been worldbuilding with weight—every weapon has history, every faction has blood on its hands. But Bones & Betrayals is different. It’s tighter. More personal. "I used to write empires collapsing," Ewington says. "Now I’m writing about one body, one lie, and the ghost who won’t let it go."
Erica Marks, on the other hand, is a fresh voice in the UK comics scene. Her previous work leaned toward psychological horror and folk tales, often centered on female protagonists navigating systems designed to silence them. In Silence of the Dead, that theme echoes louder than ever. The lead detective, a former police officer turned supernatural investigator, is haunted not just by ghosts—but by the institution that failed her. "It’s a murder mystery," Marks says, "but the real crime is who gets believed when the evidence is invisible."
Why This Matters Now
The timing is no accident. 2025 has seen a quiet but powerful shift in British comics: readers are hungry for stories that blend genre, not just mash them up. Black Mirror meets The X-Files meets True Detective—but in ink and panel borders. The interview’s immediate pickup by irresponsiblereader.com, a blog known for literary fiction and indie reads, signals that this isn’t just a comic for traditional fans. It’s for readers who pick up The Ministry of Time on their way to the bookstore.
And the response? Immediate. Within 24 hours of publication, the interview was highlighted in a blog post with the simple, powerful line: "Bones & Betrayals: A Chat with Andi Ewington, Erica Marks and Calum Alexander Watt—loved this." That’s rare. Comics interviews rarely get that kind of organic shout-out outside the niche. It suggests something deeper: this isn’t just a new comic. It’s a cultural signal.
What’s Next for the Series?
While no official release date or ISBN has been confirmed, Amazon UK listings referenced on fanfiaddict.com suggest the first volume is slated for early 2026. No page count or price point is public, but given the level of detail in the artwork and the layered narrative, it’s likely a 64- to 80-page hardcover—premium, but not overpriced.
There are whispers of a second volume already in development, tentatively titled The Hollow Choir, which will explore the mythos of "ghost witnesses"—spirits bound to places of violent death, unable to speak unless someone with the right sensitivity listens. "It’s not about solving crimes," Ewington teases. "It’s about giving the dead a voice they never had in life."
Why This Interview Stands Out
Most comics interviews spotlight either the writer or the artist. This one? It’s a three-way conversation where each voice carries equal weight. That’s unusual. It suggests a true creative partnership—not just a hired hand illustrating someone else’s script. Watt’s input isn’t just about visuals; he helped shape the tone, the pacing, even the way spells are written on the page. "We’d argue over whether a ghost should have eyelashes," Watt laughs. "Turns out, they don’t. But their tears leave glitter trails."
The interview’s success also reflects a broader truth: audiences are tired of the same tropes. They want stories that feel alive, weird, and deeply human—even when the characters are dead. Bones & Betrayals doesn’t just deliver that. It makes you feel the cold of the grave… and the warmth of a truth finally told.
Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is 'Bones & Betrayals' exactly?
It’s a fantasy crime procedural with supernatural elements, blending forensic investigation tropes with magical realism. Think True Detective meets Practical Magic, but with ghosts as key witnesses and glitter as magical evidence. The series doesn’t just add magic to crime—it redefines how justice works when the dead refuse to stay silent.
Who are the creators behind 'Silence of the Dead'?
Writers Andi Ewington and Erica Marks co-wrote the first volume, with artist Calum Alexander Watt handling all visuals. Ewington brings his Warhammer-worldbuilding experience, Marks adds psychological depth and feminist themes, and Watt’s art gives the supernatural its haunting, tactile presence.
Why is the 'glitter and ghosts' detail so important?
The glitter isn’t just aesthetic—it’s narrative. In the world of Bones & Betrayals, magical residue from spells lingers as visible, shimmering traces. Glitter is the most common, but it’s also the most damning. It’s how investigators track who cast what spell, where, and when. It turns magic into forensic science, making the supernatural tangible and investigable.
Is this series part of a larger universe like Warhammer?
No. While Andi Ewington has worked on Warhammer titles, Bones & Betrayals is a standalone universe with its own rules, mythology, and history. It’s designed to be accessible to newcomers, with no prior knowledge needed. The tone and themes are more intimate—focused on personal trauma and silenced voices—rather than epic wars or cosmic stakes.
When will 'Silence of the Dead' be available to buy?
Though no official date has been announced, Amazon UK listings and publisher rumors point to an early 2026 release, likely as a 64- to 80-page hardcover. Pre-orders are expected to open in January 2026, with digital versions following shortly after. The creators have hinted at a limited collector’s edition with hand-embossed glitter on the cover.
Why did this interview get so much attention so fast?
Because it didn’t feel like marketing. The interview revealed genuine creative tension, emotional stakes, and a unique visual language. Plus, it was picked up by a literary blog—irresponsiblereader.com—which doesn’t usually cover comics. That crossover appeal suggests Bones & Betrayals is reaching beyond traditional comic fans into broader literary audiences.
