Scott Lobdell to pen 'The Scourge'

X-Men writer Scott Lobdell is working on a horror series for Aspen Comics titled The Scourge.

Illustrated by Eric Battle, the story is based on a concept from Gale Anne Hurd, producer of the blockbuster films Terminator 2: Judgement Day and Aliens.

The plot sees a viral outbreak in Manhattan turn its citizens into monstrous creatures made of stone. It follows SWAT officer John Griffin's efforts to protect his son and search for a cure.

"Unlike the traditional 'dead infected person eating another person and then on and on', this is actually a living organism that has been around for thousands of years that has laid dormant until one of the main characters brings the virus back with him from Europe," Lobdell told CBR.

"When that happens, each person that gets infected winds up gaining the characteristics of what somebody at first glance would recognise as a gargoyle. I don't think the word gargoyle is ever quite used in the script, but they're grey and their skin becomes like stone and several of them sprout wings and claws."

He added: "The goal is essentially to keep perpetuating their race, so they have a specific goal in mind. As opposed to zombies, which are more traditionally just mindless, dead creatures craving for brains and flesh."

An introductory issue #0 will kick the series off on July 14. The Scourge #1 arrives in stores the following month.