Three Spine-Tingling Ways to Discover the Dark Secrets of The Last Wardens
There’s a dark force lurking behind the shadowed streets and suburban nightmares of 1970s America, an ancient power only The Last Wardens dare confront!
Originating from Mad Cave Studios' visceral grindhouse horror comic series, this grim yet compelling universe has expanded far beyond the printed page. Fans can now immerse themselves in a full-cast audio drama featuring the talents of some of today’s most popular voice actors, richly layered with tension and emotion, or create their own gore-drenched sagas through the retro-cosmic-grindhouse-horror tabletop roleplaying game.
Think you’re ready to experience the chills, thrills, and tentacles firsthand? Here are three unforgettable ways to journey into the world of The Last Wardens.
The Last Wardens Comic Books and Trade Paperback
The Last Wardens first wriggled to life on the pages of the comic book series published by Mad Cave Studios. In the first six-issue arc—now collected in trade paperback—creators Amit Tishler (Edenfrost) and Elliot Sperl (Bob’s Burgers) plunge readers into a gritty grindhouse version of 1970s America, drenched in blood-slick visuals and steeped in escalating dread.
The series introduces us to Danielle Pryer, a teen torn between her dreams of escape and the grim duty of caring for an alcoholic father shattered by the loss of his son in Vietnam. But when Bruce suddenly returns—forever changed by his experiences in Vietnam—Danielle is pulled into a conflict that threatens far more than her fractured family or her doomed hometown of Bleakwood.
That conflict draws the attention of the Last Wardens, a rogue band of anti-heroes wielding their supernatural gifts (or curses) in a last-ditch effort to protect humanity from a fate worse than death. But their brutal, take-no-prisoners methods clash with Danielle’s desperate resolve to protect her brother, her town, and whatever humanity might be left.
This critically acclaimed horror comic blends emotional storytelling with delightfully gruesome grindhouse-style visuals. It’s a perfect read for fans searching for indie horror comics, intense graphic novels, or supernatural comic series like Something Is Killing the Children. Every panel drips with tension and retro nostalgia, merging the raw aesthetic of exploitation cinema with inhuman cosmic horror. If you're looking for the next cult horror comic to binge, this is it.
The Last Wardens Audio Drama
There’s no shortage of great horror podcasts and audiobooks out there. Even so, The Last Wardens adaptation on Spotify stands apart by melding cinematic production with grindhouse grotesquery, all voiced by a dream cast of sci-fi, video game, and roleplaying game legends.
Anjali Bhimani, known for powerhouse roles in Overwatch, Apex Legends, and the new hit Sunderfolk, leads the charge with a performance that’s equal parts grit and heart. Felicia Day, the queen of nerd culture, infuses Riddle with the unhinged brilliance that made her unforgettable in The Guild, Supernatural, and her frequent tabletop RPG appearances.
Mark Meer, whose legendary turn as Commander Shepard in Mass Effect made him a gaming icon, taps into the primal fury of Worm, a character whose idea of diplomacy is flinging tentacles and lighting a fuse.
Shiva Negar, acclaimed for her role as Annika Ogden in American Assassin, brings depth and intensity to the character of Cyra. With a background in both action thrillers and dramatic roles, Negar's portrayal adds a layer of complexity to the Wardens' ensemble.
Matthew Waterson, recognized for voicing Magneto in X-Men '97 and Doom Slayer in Doom Eternal, lends his versatile voice to the character of Keith Doyle. Waterson's extensive experience in animation and video games results in a compelling performance that resonates with fans of the genre and newcomers alike.
Ginny Di, a prominent figure in the Dungeons & Dragons community, known for her engaging YouTube content and participation in projects like Bardsung and Animal Adventures: The Faraway Sea, voices Laura Olsen. Her passion for storytelling and character immersion shines through, bridging the gap between tabletop gaming and audio drama.
Produced by Encyclopocalypse and distributed by Aethon Books, The Last Wardens is a masterclass in horror audio drama. It’s delivered with a style that blends comic book horror audio, full-cast audio drama production, and retro body horror soundscapes. The adaptation invites listeners to live the apocalyptic fate of Bleakwood in every distorted whisper and moist, meaty crunch. If you’re hunting for high-quality horror audio dramas or want a cast that delivers both character arcs and RPG-style campaign drama, The Last Wardens deserves a top spot on your playlist.
The Last Wardens Tabletop Roleplaying Game
Hey, that’s us! Think of the tabletop roleplaying game’s vibe like this: if The Thing, Scanners, and True Detective all attended the same family reunion, and you could wade through the ensuing gore with a handful of dice. That’s The Last Wardens Tabletop Roleplaying Game, where narrative-driven horror collides with customizable character builds and a setting soaked in 1970s retro grime.
This new RPG blends cosmic body horror, high-risk decision-making, and impossible supernatural stakes through a flexible, story-first system. Built on the Year Zero Engine (twisted to match the game’s over-the-top grindhouse tone) the rules reward players for pushing their luck, questioning their humanity, and embracing the story consequences of failure and death. Characters don’t just take damage here…they shatter, mutate, and fall apart as the chaos escalates.
The game features six core “Callings”, the way each character faces adversity and overcomes challenges. Callings range from the Bastion (a steadfast tank that endures adversity and protects others from it), to Seeker (a knowledge-hound who overcomes challenges by discovering their weaknesses), to Reaver (a brutal battler who solves problems by destroying their source).
Playes can combine these with Driftmarks—thematic chaos mutations like Nektonic (deep-sea corruption) or Phobogenic (nightmares made real)—to create your own gruesome hybrid. With rules for high-stakes consequences, a unique adversary creation system, and combat that escalates in intensity, the system brings to life the cinematic style of retro cosmic grindhouse horror.
The Last Wardens tabletop RPG is a great fit for players looking for a horror RPG that supports intense one-shots as well as sprawling conspiratorial campaigns. It includes guidance for GMs to build Cells, generate Drift-borne threats, and design sanctums teetering between safety and decay. In this game, trust is rare. Wounds fester. And every small-town sheriff might be a ticking time bomb of chaos mutation.
If you're searching for a retro horror tabletop game with rich lore, gritty supernatural mechanics, or TTRPGs based on comics, this is your first-class, bloodstained ticket.