Variety reports that a graphic novel adaptation of author HD Carlton’s best-selling dark romance book “The Haunting Adaline” is scheduled to be released next year.
Developed and published by Deviant Ink Publishing, an illustrated format publisher focused on romance and dark romance, the project will first be released as a comic book series, expected to hit comic bookstores nationwide in early 2027, and then as a collection of graphic novel versions for the broader bookstore market. Blackstone Publishing, currently at San Diego Comic-Con in the midst of this announcement, will be distributing the entire comic series and graphic novel.
“I never imagined ‘The Haunting Adaline’ would be coming to San Diego Comic-Con, but it feels so right, like Zayed and Addy entering another house,” Carlton said in a statement to Variety. “We’re excited to immerse our readers in this world in a whole new way. I can say we’re excited to see them fall in love with this world, but I think we all know they lost their readers a long time ago, and now it’s time to watch their untethered selves blossom at Comic-Con.”
The Amazon synopsis for Carlton’s best-selling self-published book, Haunting Adeline, reads as follows:
“For Adaline Riley, returning to Seattle was supposed to be the perfect new start. With her successful career as a writer and the inheritance of her late grandmother’s Gothic mansion, nothing will stand in her way. But Adaline is not alone in the Parsons mansion. Adeline fears not the angry spirit that haunts the hallways of her childhood home. It sounds like a mysterious intrusion, the appearance of a rose, and some kind of threatening message. Adaline is left with a haunting diary detailing her ghost story, and a terrifying future where history could repeat itself if she doesn’t fall in love.”
Deviant Ink and Blackstone say the upcoming Haunting Adeline comic and graphic novel format will “bring the world of Zaid and Addy to life for the first time in an official sequential art format developed for adult readers, collectors, and longtime fans of the series.”
News of the graphic novel project comes amid heated debate in the BookTok community over director Carlton’s July 14 announcement that a film adaptation of The Haunting Adeline is currently in production. At the heart of the controversy is a debate among readers over adapting the book’s divisive stalker-romance storyline and explicit sexual abuse plot points into a film.
Carlton posted a new video message on Instagram on Friday, in which he “apologized” to those who “believe” in “The Haunting Adeline’s right to exist as a book and a movie” after receiving backlash for supporting the film adaptation. Carlton says the film is still on schedule.
Variety has confirmed that no additional details are available regarding the film “The Haunting Adeline” at this time.
Additional announcements from the creative team for the “Haunting Adeline” comic and graphic novel, cover reveal, retailer information, and pre-order details will be released in the coming months.
The graphic novel deal between Carlton, Deviant and Blackstone was arranged by Kimberly Whalen of the Whalen Agency.
“Dark romance readers are some of the most passionate fans in the publishing industry, and ‘The Haunting Adeline’ is one of the titles that proves just how powerful that audience has become,” said Eduardo Alpuente, publisher of Deviant Inc. Publishing. “This adaptation gives us the opportunity to create a visually striking new experience for our fans while honoring the atmosphere, danger and emotional intensity of HD Carlton’s novel. This is exactly the kind of project Deviant Ink was created to bring to the world.”
Blackstone Publishing CEO Josh Stanton added, “Fans got here before the industry did.” “They were already creating art, sharing edits, building mood boards, collecting merchandise, and turning Adeline the Possessed into a visual world. We’re interested in not just the size of that readership, but the intensity. These fans don’t buy into stories casually, so comics and graphic novels are a smart next step, and Deviant Working with Ink gives the project a creative partner built for atmosphere, character and obsession.”
