Historical Action and Intrigue in A Murder of Scarecrows
Original graphic novel set in Pre-Revolution America

From the dark mist of Raven Cove, the mysterious figure of the Scarecrow owns the night as he terrorizes the British soldiers who reign with a tight fist on a small seaport village. Set in the dramatic days before the American Revolution, a masked avenger seeks to maintain justice in the small seaport town of Seaton. As the British seek to clamp down on the smugglers, only The Scarecrow and his Freedom Riders can stand for the townspeople against the tyranny of the new commandant of the town...one who threatens to destroy the entire population in order to catch the Scarecrow!

Written by Gary Reed, known for his historical forays with a supernatural twist in Saint Germaine plus the acclaimed look at the assassination of JFK in Red Diaries, and illustrated by noted historical artist, Wayne Reid. Gary and Wayne have teamed up before on historical projects from Tome Press including ZuluNation and the story of El Cid. Reed has also written historical works from Jeremiah Johnson to Jack the Ripper.

"I really was glad when Wayne came on board," said Reed. "He's a classic type artist who some might call old school, but his style fits this project perfectly. I wanted that older sensibility to this graphic novel."

The saga of a seaport town suppressed by the British have their hopes in the rebellious and mysterious figure known only as the Scarecrow. When Colonel Dreymore is brought in to eliminate the Scarecrow and his men, the violence escalates into a prelude of war.

Reed explained the naming of the first graphic novel. "The collective term for crows is a murder of crows so I thought it was fitting to apply it to the Scarecrows as well."

Why the Scarecrow motif? "Many early American writers played with the idea of Scarecrows such as Nathaniel Hawthorn and of course, Percy MacKaye's "The Scarecrow", and I thought that it made an interesting dynamic.

The graphic novel, coming from Desperado Publishing in January of 2009, will run 64 pages and the story is the first in a planned series covering the life and times of the Scarecrow.


For More Information: Visit www.garyreed.net and www.desperadopublishing.com

Ordering Information: Available from Diamond Comic Distributors, order number NOV084000. A Murder of Scarecrows also received the Diamond Previews FlipSide spotlight.