By SHAWN MACOMBER
It didn’t take more than a few pages for the rotting spirit of JANITORS VS THE LIVING DEAD to begin whispering its fetid, maniacal sweet nothings to neo-pulp bizzarro artist Justin T. Coons’ imagination. “I felt that punk rock energy of Return of the Living Dead,” Coons tells RUE MORGUE. “The messier aspects of the story gave me an excuse to use bright colors, echoing the neon palette of Street Trash. Drawing from both, I attempted to capture the book’s grotesque–yet insanely fun–spirit.”
The gonzo ‘n glorious socially conscious horror opus–the latest from rising genre stalwarts Michelle Garza and Melissa Lason, the twins who write under the Sisters of Slaughter moniker–doesn’t hit shelves until April 1 (via Dead Sky), but you can check out Coons’ handiwork in an exclusive cover reveal below right now.
Turns out the Coons/Sisters crossover is a creative marriage made in whatever part of Hell they house abstract art. “We worked as janitors for many years and wanted to mix that with our love for horror,” Lason says. “Of course, it turned into a novel, probably our sickest one yet!”
“When we went to outline this story, we basically said, ‘Let’s mix our experience as janitors with one of our favorite movies–Return of the Living Dead–and it was probably one of the most fun things to write!” Garza adds. “Then Justin suggested our cover be inspired by another one of our favorites–Street Trash–and it all felt even more perfect!”
Here’s the official synopsis:
“In the pristine landscape of Serenity Canyon Country Club, situated in the majestic red rocks just outside of Sedona, Arizona, there is little leniency for anything grotesque. The staff ensures constant tranquility, their priorities glued to maintaining this slice of paradise on Earth in their gated community with private pools, a golf course and a members-only club.
“But when member Dr. Reinart becomes obsessed with his newest experimentations, however, this facade begins to crumble. He unknowingly carries a parasitic virus into the neighborhood and his wife unleashes it when she decides to end their marriage swiftly and violently.
“Chaos envelopes the community as the virus spreads throughout. Once high-class ruling members of society shift into bumbling monsters covered in bile and decaying flesh. Their only salvation? The lowly janitors they dedicated their living days to belittling.”
Gorehounds can preorder JANITORS VS THE LIVING DEAD here, and stay up-to-date with Justin T. Coons and the Sisters of Slaughter.
