Synopsis:
1518. A comet burns across the sky above the City of Crossroads – an omen for what shall befall it. Days later, a woman dances in the streets… and cannot stop.
Crowds gather. Frenzy spreads. Bodies convulse. What starts as a sideshow becomes a plague that brings the city to its knees.
Magdalena Troffea, the daughter of the first dancer, watches as her family and her city unravel. Driven by a desperate need to save her brother, she encounters an entity from beyond the mortal world, yearning to sow further discord from within.
Dance of Death is a supernatural horror, inspired by the events of the dancing plague of 1518. A story about mass mania, oppression, and the courage to rise against the powers that demand submission, earthly or otherwise.
This project is supported by Arts Council Malta.
Further info about the launch/exhibition:
Inspired by the bizarre historical events of the Dancing Plague of 1518, where hundreds danced uncontrollably for days, Steven Xuereb Haber’s 200-page epic reinterprets the phenomenon through a lens of supernatural horror. Written and drawn by Xuereb Haber, illustrated by Hassan Hameed Tabrizi and story edited by Astrid Thorvaldsen, the book follows Magdalena Troffea, the daughter of the woman who sparked the contagion, as she navigates a city gripped by oppression, superstition, and a literal mental contagion.
The launch is accompanied by an exclusive exhibition running from 1 May to 5 May. Visitors can explore the “Dance of Death” universe through:
Book signings
Behind-the-scenes process pages: From initial thumbnails to inked pages to final rendered panels.
Original Artworks: charcoal and ink pieces created specifically for this project.
Event pages:
https://www.instagram.com/danceofdeath_graphicnovel/
