Daryl Zed returns to newsstands after five years.
Anyone who loves Dylan Dog knows the name Daryl Zed . Born in 1992 as the fictional alter ego of the Nightmare Investigator, he returned to prominence in 2020 with a miniseries dedicated to him, written by Tito Faraci and illustrated by artists such as Nicola Mari, Angelo Stano, and Werther Dell'Edera , with colors by Sergio Algozzino .
The miniseries was released in six comic book issues, sold only in comic book stores and on the Bonelli website, but the volume that collected them, already printed and ready for newsstands, never saw the light of day . Until today.
📅 May 30, 2025 : Mark the date!
After five years of waiting , controversy, and editorial mystery, the book Daryl Zed: Monster Hunter is finally available on newsstands. But it's not a reprint: it's the same edition printed in 2020 that remained unreleased until now.
🔥 A fiery letter signed by Tiziano Sclavi
The situation was unblocked by a long reflection by Dylan Dog's creator, Tiziano Sclavi , who decided to publicly explain the reasons for the delay in an open letter published on May 21, 2025. In his statement, Sclavi reveals that the volume was suspended at his request , since the content of the album, and in particular the title "The monsters are them" , went against the original philosophy of Dylan Dog and his personal thoughts: for Dylan and Sclavi, in fact, we are the monsters .
Not only that. In the story, Daryl Zed—who in his first appearance was a caricature of a right-thinking inquisitor—is transformed into a full-fledged vigilante , even with a fleeting (and controversial) appearance by Dylan himself and the "cartoon Sclavi," who utters words the author never intended.
🎭 A compromise and respect for the work of others
However, Sclavi, who has always been a great supporter of freedom of expression and the work of other authors, has decided to unblock the publication for three main reasons :
- He reached an agreement with the publisher to safeguard his original vision and the work done by Bonelli.
- He didn't want the commitment of the scriptwriters and artists - first and foremost Tito Faraci , whom he deeply respects - to remain in the shadows.
- He believes that the final judgment should be up to the readers .
💬 The public will have the final say
The album is therefore released as it is, as it was conceived in 2020, and it will be up to the public to decide whether this new Daryl Zed is a betrayal of the original spirit or a successful creative provocation.
One thing is certain: the hunt for monsters—and perhaps even for inquisitors—is on again.
