Historical fiction is not usually the first thing I reach for when I am looking for a new comic. But add werewolves, occult Nazis, exorcisms, and a military squad assembled to deal with monsters, though, and suddenly you have my attention.
That was basically my introduction to Grave Brigade. Mike Dean and Tim Radecki push World War II into supernatural horror, following soldiers sent after threats that definitely were not covered during basic training. Across three issues, the series keeps expanding that idea without losing the pulpy monster-movie energy that got me interested.
Grave Brigade
Creators/Writers: Mike Dean and Tim Radecki
Artist: Debora Lancianese
Colorist: Arthur Hesli
Letterer/Design: Dave Lentz
Issues reviewed: #1-3
The basic idea behind Grave Brigade is wonderfully simple: if the Nazis are going to use monsters and the occult to win World War II, the Allies are going to need some very dangerous people to stop them.
The series has been growing through crowdfunding, with both Grave Brigade #1 and Grave Brigade #2 previously launching through successful Kickstarter campaigns. Now the team is getting ready to return for Issue #3.
The first issue wastes no time. We meet the squad, the violence kicks in fast, a werewolf shows up, and it becomes clear that the paranormal side of the war is much bigger than Graves and his team initially realize.
The First Issue Knows Exactly What It Is
Captain Jack Graves leads the squad, and I appreciated how quickly the first issue gives everyone a clear role. Team books can easily blur characters together into “guy with gun #1” and “guy with gun #2.” Grave Brigade avoids that.
The team’s mission initially involves tracking down a group of cultists, but things go very wrong once a werewolf enters the picture. That encounter is where the larger story starts revealing itself. Hitler has placed Colonel Kruger in charge of a paranormal division searching Europe for mystical objects that might give the Nazis an advantage.
One of those targets is Dr. Frankenstein’s diary, currently connected to his granddaughter, Olga Frankenstein. At that point I was in.
There is something very fun about dropping familiar horror mythology into this military setting without treating it like a joke. “Nazis hunting Frankenstein’s diary” sounds ridiculous in the best possible way, but everyone inside the story takes the threat seriously.
The Art Makes the Horror Hit Harder
Debora Lancianese’s art immediately gives Grave Brigade its own identity, especially when Arthur Hesli’s colors come into play.
The first issue is dominated by black, white, and red, and I loved how much that controls where your eye goes. The limited palette makes the violence stand out because the red becomes impossible to ignore. The werewolf sequences in particular have some fantastic horror imagery, and the creature actually feels threatening instead of looking like a slightly hairy guy who needs a manicure.
By issue #2, the color work starts doing something different. Individual scenes lean heavily into red, green, and blue, with each color almost setting the mood before you process what is happening. One sequence can feel sickly and supernatural while another becomes hotter and more violent. The colors are helping tell you what kind of horror you have walked into.
Chaplain Cooper Has a Very Bad First Day
Issue #2 introduces Chaplain Cooper, who joins the Brigade after the priest who previously served with the team is no longer there (Guess why?) I liked Cooper almost immediately because he feels completely out of his depth. The rest of the team has already experienced the reality of this supernatural war. Cooper has not, and his first major assignment is an exorcism.
The exorcism sequence might be my favorite part of the first two issues. It is genuinely creepy, and the possessed man feels increasingly wrong as the scene escalates. At the same time, Cooper wants to save his soul while Graves wants one thing: where is Olga Frankenstein?
That tells you a lot about both characters. Cooper still sees the human being in front of him. Graves sees the mission. Neither perspective feels completely unreasonable considering the situation.
Issue #3 Is Coming to Kickstarter on September 8
We received an advance copy of Grave Brigade #3 directly from the creators for review, and its Kickstarter campaign launches September 8, 2026.
Issue #3 changes the pace again. The horror is still there, but the story leans more heavily into action while giving us more information about the Brigade itself. Before leaving, the team’s previous priest left Cooper his diary, and through that we start learning more about the men Cooper has suddenly found himself fighting beside.
The diary adds background without stopping the story. These characters already have strong personalities, but hints about their secrets make the team more interesting because there is more happening underneath all the shooting and supernatural chaos.
The shift toward action also works because Grave Brigade has been mixing genres from the beginning. This is a war comic. It is a horror comic. Sometimes it is a monster comic. Sometimes we are doing The Exorcist. Why choose?
I Like That It Keeps Changing
Three issues in, one of the things I appreciate most is that Grave Brigade is not repeating the same monster hunt every time. Issue #1 gives us the werewolf. Issue #2 goes darker with the exorcism. Issue #3 gives us more character history and pushes the action forward.
If the occult-conspiracy side of this is what grabs you, we had a similarly good time watching secrets and monsters pile up in Dark Pyramid, although Grave Brigade comes at that kind of weirdness from a very different direction.
Mostly, I am just happy to see an indie series taking a premise like this seriously while still understanding how fun it is. World War II horror with werewolves and Frankenstein mythology does not need to apologize for itself.
The Brigade Is Just Getting Started
Grave Brigade #3 launches on Kickstarter on September 8, 2026. If supernatural war stories, monsters, occult horror, and soldiers with more secrets than they probably should have sound like your thing, this is a very good time to jump in and support the next chapter.
Because if Issue #3 is any indication, things are only getting worse for the Brigade. Which is excellent news for us.
FAQ
What is Grave Brigade about? Grave Brigade is a supernatural World War II comic following Captain Jack Graves and a squad of soldiers tasked with fighting monsters, occult forces, and Nazi paranormal experiments.
Who created Grave Brigade? The series was created and written by Mike Dean and Tim Radecki, with art by Debora Lancianese, colors by Arthur Hesli, and lettering and design by Dave Lentz.
How many issues of Grave Brigade are available? The first two issues have already been released through successful Kickstarter campaigns. Issue #3 is the next chapter.
When does the Grave Brigade #3 Kickstarter launch? The Kickstarter campaign for Grave Brigade #3 launches on September 8, 2026.
Does Grave Brigade have werewolves? Yes. The first issue throws the team into a confrontation with a werewolf while introducing the larger Nazi paranormal threat.
Is Grave Brigade a horror comic or a war comic? It is both. The series combines World War II action with werewolves, exorcisms, occult conspiracies, Frankenstein mythology, and other supernatural horror elements.
