Summary
Writers AJ Mendez and Aimee Garcia have teamed up for another comic book series – having previously cowritten several projects together, including aGLOWcomic adaptation – which will honor Mexican culture through a classic supernatural scary story. The series,Day of the Dead Girl, unites Garcia and Mendez with artist Belén Culebras, and will be released by indie publisher Magma Comix.
Screen Rant is pleased to share the exclusive first look at the cover forDay of the Dead Girl#1. The series will comprise four issues, and is set to take readers on a wild ride through the rich supernatural lore of Mexico.
According to the synopsis released for the series, the protagonist’s homecoming isabout to become a horror-show, as members of her mother’s coven start to be killed off in advance of their town’s Day of the Dead celebration.
AJ Mendez previously wrestled for the WWE from 2009 to 2015. Aimee Garcia is an actress known for roles on TV series such asDexter,Lucifer, and many more. In addition to their comic book work together, they co-wrote the screenplay for the Netflix filmBlade of the 47 Ronin. Mendez also wrote a Wonder Woman story forWonder Woman: Black and Gold.
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AJ Mendez and Aimee Garcia’sDay of the Dead Girlis one of the most exciting indie comic releases coming this fall.
According to the chilling opening line of the synopsis forDay of the Dead Girl:“Death is never the end of the story.” Co-writers AJ Mendez and Aimee Garcia are set to deliveran engaging, unsettling mystery steeped in Mexican cultural traditions about death.As the rest of the synopsis reads:
Death is never the end of the story. Coroner Sam Castillo will learn this the hard way, when a supernatural serial killer targets her hometown just as she moves back. A skeptical woman of science, Sam butts heads with her spiritual mother Ana, a leader of a witch coven specializing in Brujeria. But when the coven’s Brujas start turning up murdered, Sam and Ana must work together to find the killer and save their town’s Day of the Dead festival from turning into an occult bloodbath. As if sharing a bathroom with her mom wasn’t hard enough.
As Aimee Garcia noted, representation in the comic book medium was an important underlying motivation for the project. Garcia explained:
Growing up, I didn’t see comics that reflected my Mexican heritage, so I’m thrilled to create Day of the Dead Girl with AJ and spotlight our rich Latino culture to readers. Not only will Belén Culebras’ stunning visuals thrust readers into the midst of a joyful Day of the Dead celebration, but this story will cut to the core of what binds us all together … death.
Her co-writer, meanwhile, emphasized the bone-chilling thrills readers should anticipate from the series. As AJ Mendez stated:
We can’t wait for you to join us on this beautifully bloody adventure. Writing this supernatural horror story was a twisted dream, and we really hope it gives you nightmares. Read our morbid, magical mystery at your own risk.
Mendez and Garcia’s previous comic book collaborations – anofficialDungeons & Dragonscomic adaptation, and anofficial tie-in to Netflix’sGLOWTV series– allowed them to flex their capabilities as writers when it comes to both action and humor. Now, withDay of the Dead Girl, they will bring those skills to the table, with the added excitement of supernatural elements, and a murder-mystery plot to tie it all together. With all of that in mind, AJ Mendez and Aimee Garcia’sDay of the Dead Girlis one of the most exciting indie comic releases coming this fall.
Authors Aimee Garcia & AJ Mendez Have Displayed An Incredible Flair For Comic Book Writing
GLOW Vs. The Babyface– Written By Aimee Garcia & AJ Mendez; Art By Hannah Templer
As AJ Mendez and Aimee Garcia’s first independently-owned comic book title,Day of the Dead Girlappears to be an auspicious beginning to a long time creating memorable works in the medium.
While it is totally different in tone than fans should expect fromDay of the Dead Girl, Garcia and Mendez’sGLOW vs. the Babyfaceoffers a great primer for fans who can’t wait to read the duo’s work. In a way, the lightheartedness of the tie-in miniseries will offer a useful contrast to the terrors the authors are expected to unleash in their upcoming series. As AJ Mendez and Aimee Garcia’s first independently-owned comic book title,Day of the Dead Girlappears to be an auspicious beginning to a long time creating memorable works in the medium.
One person in particular who is excited is artist Belén Culebras, who realized the authors' work on the page. Culebras stated:
Drawing Day Of the Dead Girl is a dream come true, if you asked me what kind of story would you like to draw – it would be exactly this. I love the theme of witchcraft and ghosts, criminal investigation, Latin culture… It’s magical, I couldn’t ask for anything better.
While readers will have to wait a bit longer to get a glimpse of Culebras' interior art forDay of the Dead Girl, his excitement for the series should be another indicator to readers that this is going to be a can’t-miss series. Having cut their teeth onDungeons & DragonsandGLOW,AJ Mendez and Aimee Garcia’s new creator-owned comic series will take their creative tag-team partnership to the next level.
Day of the Dead Girl#1will be available August 21, 2025 from Magma Comix.
