Guest post written by Queens of the Crypt creator DOM&INK
DOM&INK is a freelance illustrator and author from Bolton, via Narnia. They love to create works themed around queerness, identity, and mental health with a splash of drag, horror, and pop girly icons. Throughout their years illustrating, Dom has worked with and created artwork for Tinder UK, Bumble, Little Mix, iWeigh, BBC, Lenovo, Logitech, and more. Dom also was the official content illustrator for RuPaul’s Drag Race UK seasons 1–5 (and RuPaul’s Drag Race UK vs. the World season 1). Something they still pinch themselves about daily.
About Queens of the Crypt: E. M. Carroll meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a dash of The Rocky Horror Picture Show in this debut young adult graphic novel that is a celebration of horror, queerness, and figuring out who you want to be. Out August 25th 2026.
Watching Uma Thurman, remove a neon pink gorilla suit whilst also serving face and elaborate hand choreography and then descend, in her full Poison Ivy costume onto a stage and greet George Clooney’s Batman and Chris ‘O’ Donnell’s Robin with a ‘Hello Boys’. That was the moment I knew I became obsessed with the idea of a femme fatale. To me, they weren’t monsters, they were misunderstood icons.
Growing up, like any other pre-teen destined-to-be-a-diva-but-stuck-in-their-awkward-pre-coming-out-phase-with-a-bad-fringe-era, I loved Britney Spears and Beyoncé, but you know whom else I adored? Xenia Onatopp, Emma Peel, Batgirl and of course, Halle Berry’s Catwoman, (yes, you did read that correctly) and without a doubt, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Fierce and dynamic female characters, drag artists and creatures have always inspired me, especially in creating my first graphic novel, Queens of the Crypt.
Set in the sleepy, gothic town of Widow’s Creek, Queens of the Crypt tells the story of teenager Barnaby Jones. Not only do they struggle with their identity and coming out to their parents, but also that their best friend Fi has been added to the list of missing teens in town and…is that a Crypt that they’ve mistakenly unlocked that exists inside their closet…
Unintentionally summoning the Queens of the Crypt, Barnaby must work with them to solve the disappearances in Widow’s Creek, find Fi and unmask the Faceless Frightener.
THE OPERA PHANTOM
She’s beauty, she’s grace, she’s the most Cryptastique diva around. The Phantom is the leader of the queens, overly dramatic and opinionated, this spooky siren won’t dare leave her chamber if she isn’t wearing couture darling!
Beware her sonic vibrato though, those high notes are killer.
Lipsync For Your Afterlife Song: The Phantom of the Opera – The Phantom of the Opera (of course)
THE COUNTESS
Vampire royalty that serves face, looks and can reanimate your corpse? Tens across the board! With a penchant for satanic demon blood and an army of bats, The Countess is the most powerful of the queens. However, let’s not mention the three ex wives to her…it’s a touchy subject.
Lipsync For Your Afterlife Song: Queen of the Night – Whitney Houston
THE BOGEYWOMAN
Stalking your night terrors and stealing your dreams, you’ve probably met The Bogeywoman before. Made of fears, frights and all things not so nice, you are just another plaything to her. No killer clown or nightmare slasher can compare, she is the OG icon of the Nightmare Realm.
Lipsync For Your Afterlife Song: Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
LADY INVISIBLE
If you need a crime solving, then Lady Invisible is your broad! She’s a tough talking, wise cracking ex private investigator who lives for the thrill of the danger and the buzz of a case closed. With a killer right hook, beware of her famous Tizzi Blooms Tailspin Kick. Oh, and did she mention she had a bottomless brunch with Poirot once?
Lipsync For Your Afterlife Song: A Little Party Never Killed Nobody – Fergie
MILDRED aka THE CREATURE
Hailing all the way from the Swamp of Shadows, it’s our amphibian and fiercely fin-tastic MILDRED. Once a top scientist who unfortunately ended up turning into THE CREATURE, Mildred relishes working alongside a team like the queens. But don’t let her terrifying appearance fool you, she’s actually got a heart of gold. And a pet kraken.
