A new high-school HORROR is dropping this FEBRUARY from MAD CAVE STUDIOS
- keepingitgeekly
- Aug 27
- 2 min read
What happens when an imaginary boyfriend doesn't want to just stay inside your head anymore? Screenwriter Seth Sherwood (The Scary Movie Writer's Guide, Hell Fest) and artist Elisa "Pocci" Pocetta explore a new horror with a manga edge called The Boyfriend, hitting shelves February 24th, 2026.
High school crushes can be brutal, especially when the one you made up won’t stay imaginary.
Writer: Seth Sherwood
Artist: Elisa Pocetta
Letterer: Charles Pritchett
Chloe, an outcast teen relentlessly bullied by everyone, conjures up an imaginary boyfriend to boost her confidence and win the approval of her peers. To her surprise, the plan works, and she soon lands a real boyfriend, believing her life has finally turned around. But her excitement turns to terror when the imaginary lover she created comes to life, determined to eliminate anyone who stands in the way of their twisted connection.
Seth Sherwood said, “I think that there are experiences most of us have gone through. We were all teenagers, most of us dealt with all the drama and trauma those years can have—but also the high points. These are the years most people have their first loves, their first car, their first job—we hold these things close and dear. I think this is why teen stories tend to resonate with all ages, and we so frequently return to our favorites as we get older. So, obviously, that nostalgia and trauma combo makes for a perfect space to drop a horror story into. Being a teenager is a horror story as it is, so what?”
“A mysterious creature lurking in the dark is scary. But teenage years could be even scarier,” said Elisa “Pocci” Pocetta. “Many of us can deeply understand the struggles Chloe faces every day: bullying is hard, being misunderstood by our own families is hard... feeling lonely is hard. This, in particular, could push each one of us onto unexpected, unsettling paths. I am beyond honored to be able to illustrate Seth's precious story. I hope everyone feeling lonely like Chloe could find themselves a little less lonely after reading The Boyfriend (between some shivers from time to time)!”
The Boyfriend hits shelves February 24, 2026. Preorder now, before the blood runs out!
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