Free Comic Book Day 2025: Diablo – Dawn of Hatred #1

by Cullen Bunn, Daniele Serra (Artist), Jame (Letterer)

FROM BLIZZARD'S AWARD-WINNING, BEST-SELLING VIDEO GAME SERIES

DIABLO returns to printed comics for the first time in over a decade!

Horror auteur Cullen Bunn (Harrow County) teams up with award-winning illustrator Daniele Serra to explore the evils prowling Sanctuary following the cataclysmic events of DIABLO IV and its first expansion VESSEL OF HATRED.

Derris and his barbarian tribe are in need of a miracle. With their leader gravely ill, they have traveled far seeking Akarat, champion of the poor and downtrodden. The people say that Akarat has risen after centuries of death to heal the world with Light...and Derris is nearly desperate enough to believe them. But in the shadow of this savior, a new age is rising: an Age of Hatred.

Genres: Comics

Unknown Binding

Published May 3, 2025

About the author

Cullen grew up in rural North Carolina, but now lives in the St. Louis area with his wife Cindy and his son Jackson. His noir/horror comic (and first collaboration with Brian Hurtt), The Damned, was published in 2007 by Oni Press. The follow-up, The Damned: Prodigal Sons, was released in 2008. In addition to The Sixth Gun, his current projects include Crooked Hills, a middle reader horror prose series from Evileye Books; The Tooth, an original graphic novel from Oni Press; and various work for Marvel and DC. Somewhere along the way, Cullen founded Undaunted Press and edited the critically acclaimed small press horror magazine, Whispers from the Shattered Forum.

All writers must pay their dues, and Cullen has worked various odd jobs, including Alien Autopsy Specialist, Rodeo Clown, Professional Wrestler Manager, and Sasquatch Wrangler.

And, yes, he has fought for his life against mountain lions and he did perform on stage as the World's Youngest Hypnotist. Buy him a drink sometime, and he'll tell you all about it.

Visit his website at www.cullenbunn.com.

Reviews

[Patrick Soucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great bridge between Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred , and what is coming for the future expansion in 2026. Of course, this FCBD issue is only the prelude to the upcoming ongoing comic book series, so it would be unfair to review it on its own. I might revise the 5-star review later, when the series is done, for but now, it was exactly what I was expecting from a new Diablo comic book! Let them coming!

[Chad · Rating 1 out of 5]

I haven't played Diablo in a very long time, since Diablo III so I can't speak into how this uses the latest expansion that it pulls its name from. I can tell you that this story doesn't really work on its own. I could barely tell the characters apart and wasn't at all interested in what was going on here.

[Nichole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the game, not into this comic, though.