Bess Pallares
LightNews LightNews
banner
besspallares.bsky.social
Bess Pallares
@besspallares.bsky.social
2.7K followers 1.1K following 980 posts
Senior Editrix at Oni Press // High Strangeness, Out of Alcatraz, Plague House, The Autumn Kingdom, Cult of the Lamb, Hobtown Mystery Stories, I Feel Awful, Thanks, and MORE // Not accepting pitches. Views are my own, obviously.
Posts Replies Media Videos
besspallares.bsky.social
lol
A plate of tofu stir fry
November 11, 2025 at 12:30 AM
besspallares.bsky.social
The eagle is upside down in that shot.
An American Spirit cigarette
September 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
The bookplates in question are an extremely cool Alcatraz Prison Library card marking the June 11 "check out" date of the escaped prisoners, and will be signed by Chris and Tyler.

(This special offer is available only to comic shops.)
Tyler Crook's hand holds a stack of cards that read Alcatraz Prison Library, Out of Alcatraz. They look like old library cards and feature the signatures of John Anglin, Clarence Anglin, and Frank Morris, with the check out date of June 11. There are spaces below for the signatures of writer Christopher Cantwell and illustrator Tyler Crook.
September 29, 2025 at 7:35 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
Heard from @libraryjournal.bsky.social today that Out of Alcatraz has received a STARRED REVIEW. The hardcover is out next month and is available for preorder now through your comic shop or bookstore. Huge congrats to @ifyoucantwell.bsky.social and @mrtylercrook.bsky.social! @oni-press.bsky.social
Library Journal starred review Cantwell, Christopher (text) & Tyler Crook (illus.). Out of Alcatraz. Oni. Oct. 2025. ISBN 9781637158685. 176p. $29.99. THRILLER Mining the historical intrigue of the 1962 escape from Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, which saw a trio of inmates slip away from the island and vanish completely, this gripping thriller proposes that escaping from prison was by far the easiest obstacle on the men’s path to freedom. Cantwell (Star Trek: Defiant) crafts a propulsive, noir-tinged narrative as the convicts limp into a murky Northern California underworld, pursued by lawmen, haunted by violence, and betrayed at nearly every turn. While the fugitives stumble toward freedom, they’re forced to confront a bleak truth: escape is not liberation, and the world beyond bars may be just another cell. Crook’s (The Lonesome Hunters) painterly and cinematic illustration heightens scenes of stark natural beauty by alternating them with grim interiors and bursts of violence. His use of color and light evokes a cinematic dread that matches the script’s fatalism. It’s rooted in crime fiction, but the graphic novel hints at metaphysical despair, transcending its genre premise to become something bolder, eerier, and more tragic. VERDICT Atmospheric, beautifully rendered, and psychologically rich, this is a standout thriller for fans of Ed Brubaker, Jeff Lemire, and True Detective.
September 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
Don't chat me on here because I will not by uploading my ID to any websites just so I can send memes to friends.
A screenshot reads: You must complete age assurance in order to access this screen (Messages). The laws in your location require you to verify you're an adult before accessing certain features on Bluesky, like adult content or direct messaging.
September 12, 2025 at 3:33 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
If you shop B&N and like to save on good books, there’s a 25% off preorder code on their website right now for Out of Alcatraz and Plague House! @oni-press.bsky.social
Preorder Out of Alcatraz from Barnes and Noble 9/3 to 9/5 using code PREORDER25 Preorder Plague House from Barnes and Noble 9/3 to 9/5 using code PREORDER25
September 3, 2025 at 8:31 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
Out of Alcatraz issue 5 is out today, bringing the series to a close. I'm incredibly proud of the story @ifyoucantwell.bsky.social and @mrtylercrook.bsky.social created, and will always be thankful they trusted me and @oni-press.bsky.social to get it done right.

It's a masterpiece, fellas!
A watercolor image shows a woman looking terrified and traumatized behind the reflection of an engulfing flame. Captions read: Or perhaps it's what happens when any of us is suddenly given freedom. We simply don't know what to do with it. Art by Tyler Crook, words by Christopher Cantwell.
July 30, 2025 at 5:27 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
From left, Chris Condon, Daniel Noah, Bess Pallares, and Jock smile at the camera. The San Diego pedestrian bridge seen from the Hilton side looking toward downtown. A Cult of the Lamb hardcover copy has a fresh signature from cover artist Juan Gedeon. A family dressed as BMO, Ice King, and Princess Bubblehum attend an Adventure Time signing with Nick Winn, Maria Wild, and Patrick Horvath.
July 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
I’m still not home from SDCC after getting stuck in Chicago overnight, but I’m almost there. It was another exhausting but life-affirming con. Seeing old friends, making new ones, planning books. It’s THE BEST.

I didn’t take a lot of photos, but here are some.
The front walkway of the San Diego convention center. A row of road cases with images of comic book covers on them for Out of Alcatraz, Benjamin, and The Sixth Gun Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt smile while sitting at a panelist table. Elijah Wood and Bess Pallares smile at the camera.
July 28, 2025 at 2:44 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
Bringing back one of my all-time fave Tumblr posts.
An image shows what appears to be a green bird dead on the side of the road, then a closer view that it's just a piece of corn. Text below the image says "Poor little parrot, killed by the high temperatures." then "Ah no, it's a corn."
July 20, 2025 at 7:19 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
You have to see Claire's inks. Francesco did a stellar job on colors, as always, but I'm almost bummed we didn't do an inks variant of this just so people could see how insanely effective her lineart is! @claireroe.bsky.social
A black and white illustration features a bedraggled man on his knees on a rocky, barren landscape. Flame-like energy erupts from the ground around him, silhouetting him in the center of a skull.
July 1, 2025 at 3:26 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
Plague House issue 4 is out TOMORROW! Which insane cover of Del at the Salton Sea are you hoping to snag?

Cover A by @davechisholmcomics.com
Cover B by Ash Jon
Cover C by @claireroe.bsky.social with colors by @francescosegala.bsky.social.

@michaelwconrad.bsky.social, @oni-press.bsky.social
A comic book cover titled PLAGUE HOUSE features a lower half of a man's face, with unkempt hair and beard, and the top half an abandoned building covered in graffiti, surrounded by floating skulls and red fire. Art by Dave Chisholm. A comic book cover titled PLAGUE HOUSE features a central character in a white mask and hood walking through a distorted wasteland, carrying a bar and chain, wrapped in barbed wire, with red ghosts rising around them. Art by Ash Jon. A comic book cover titled PLAGUE HOUSE features an overhead view of a man on his knees, reaching up toward the sky. The rocky, barren land surrounding him cracks and flame-like energy erupts from the ground, outlining in him the silhouette of a skull. Art by Claire Roe and colors by Francesco Segala.
July 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
They just showed the San Diego skyline on the Dodgers-Padres game.
PTSD chihuahua. A frightened looking chihuahua is overlaid on an image of helicopters flying over a field of soldiers in Vietnam.
June 10, 2025 at 2:19 AM
besspallares.bsky.social
I love seeing that readers are enjoying the ever-deepening descent of Plague House. Issue 3 hit shelves today with covers by series artist @davechisholmcomics.com, @comixbychloe.bsky.social, and @caitlinyarsky.bsky.social. Written by @michaelwconrad.bsky.social, published by @oni-press.bsky.social
A comic book cover with the title Plague House features a sideways image of a screaming person’s face on the bottom and a four-story walk up building with the sign Calumet Hotel on top. A person in a hospital gown with space buns cowers in fear against a metal bedframe with images behind them of skulls, a barren desert, and blood. The title read Plague House. A man in a casual jacket, white t-shirt, and jeans casually holds a shovel over his shoulder with the outline of a white mask in the background. The title reads Plague House.
June 5, 2025 at 1:41 AM
besspallares.bsky.social
I don't always find it helpful (and sometimes it's hurtful) to compare comics to movies, but I've been holding this one inside for too long. Plague House is like First Reformed x Grave Encounters.

If that doesn't get you hyped, I don't know what will. 💀🏚️💀
A priest walks past a church sign that reads WILL GOD FORGIVE US? From First Reformed (2017). A man stands outside an abandoned building, an opening scene from the movie Grave Encounters (2011).
May 9, 2025 at 4:23 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
I own very little original art, but I feel lucky to have this BPRD: Hell on Earth page and a portrait Oni commissioned years ago, both by @mrtylercrook.bsky.social
A page of original comic art shows a man waking in bed, running past a mushroom zombie body, and going into a coffee shop. From BPRD Hell on Earth, illustrated by Tyler Crook. A watercolor portrait of a woman in a yellow sweater with short hair and glasses
May 8, 2025 at 3:12 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
My Robocop- and Dark Knight Returns-loving heart is also thrilled to introduce you to talk show host Kelly Zee in Plague House #2. Look at those layouts by @davechisholmcomics.com!
A comic book pages shows a man being interviewed by a talk show host on TV, art by Dave Chisholm from Plague House #2. A comic book pages shows a man being interviewed by a talk show host on TV, art by Dave Chisholm from Plague House #2.
May 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
Saoirse Ronan as Jo March in the film Little Women says "Women—"
May 4, 2025 at 3:39 AM
besspallares.bsky.social
Went to a zine workshop today at our local library. My daughter and I both independently decided to make hot dog zines, then afterward we ate (vegan) hot dogs 🌭
A woman and young girl sit at a table holding small hand-made comics they’ve just finished drawing.
May 4, 2025 at 1:11 AM
besspallares.bsky.social
Got to watch @michaelwconrad.bsky.social and @davechisholmcomics.com finish the final issue of Plague House live today, and it was a wonderful reminder that co-authorship and shared vision is one of the best elements of our medium. Issue 2 is out next week, and you want to follow this ghost story.
Four comic book covers in a line with the title Plague House. Each cover features a building on the top half and a face on the bottom half, featuring the characters Del, Jacob, and Holland from the series. Blood slowly drips in the background more and more across each cover, until the fourth cover background is entirely red.
May 3, 2025 at 2:32 AM
besspallares.bsky.social
May 1, 2025 at 5:21 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
Currently planning to knit more species because this was extremely fun. What's your favorite kind of moth?
A small knitted rosy maple moth is pinned to a backing board with a pearl-topped pin.
April 28, 2025 at 5:42 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
Pre-order the Out of Alcatraz hardcover through tomorrow for 25% off at bn.com using code PREORDER25. (That makes this 176-page, gorgeously designed hardcover the same price as a 112-page TPB.) The book is out October 21, and it's magnificent.
Pre-order Out of Alcatraz from Barnes & Noble April 23-25 for 25% off. A 3D mockup of a hardcover book titled Out of Alcatraz. Two men cower against a wall in a spotlight. Written by Christopher Cantwell, illustrated by Tyler Crook.
April 25, 2025 at 1:32 AM
besspallares.bsky.social
You guys had bread and circuses?
Will Poultet squints at the camera in disbelief.
April 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
besspallares.bsky.social
Clarence is Best Boy™. This one is mine!
A watercolor comic book panel shows two hands of a white man. His left hand is holding an old California license plate while the right hand holds a screwdriver he's using to remove the plate from the car.
April 23, 2025 at 10:10 PM