The Strain (franchise)


The Strain is an American vampire horror media franchise created by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan.
Del Toro first envisioned the story line as a television series, but was unable to find a buyer for the series. An agent then suggested turning the story into a series of books with writer Chuck Hogan.
A television adaptation premiered on FX in 2014, concluding in 2017 after 46 episodes.

Novels

Co-written by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. Published by William Morrow and Company.
TitleDateISBN
1The Strain
2The Fall
3The Night Eternal

Comic books

Published by Dark Horse Comics.

''The Strain'' (2011–13)

The Strain is a limited comic book series written David Lapham, with artist Mike Huddleston. It was adapted from the novel of the same name. The first issue received positive reviews.
IssueIssue DateCollectionDateISBN
1December 14, 2011The Strain, Vol 1October 15, 2012
2January 11, 2012The Strain, Vol 1October 15, 2012
3February 8, 2012The Strain, Vol 1October 15, 2012
4March 14, 2012The Strain, Vol 1October 15, 2012
5June 13, 2012The Strain, Vol 1October 15, 2012
6July 11, 2012The Strain, Vol 1October 15, 2012
7August 8, 2012The Strain, Vol. 2June 5, 2013
8September 12, 2012The Strain, Vol. 2June 5, 2013
9December 12, 2012The Strain, Vol. 2June 5, 2013
10January 9, 2013The Strain, Vol. 2June 5, 2013
11February 13, 2013The Strain, Vol. 2June 5, 2013

''The Fall'' (2013–14)

The Strain: The Fall was written by David Lapham, with artist Mike Huddleston. It was adapted from the novel of the same name.
IssueIssue DateCollectionDateISBN
1July 17, 2013The Strain, Vol. 3February 5, 2014
2August 21, 2013The Strain, Vol. 3February 5, 2014
3September 18, 2013The Strain, Vol. 3February 5, 2014
4October 16, 2013The Strain, Vol. 3February 5, 2014
5November 20, 2013The Strain, Vol. 4July 2, 2014
6December 18, 2013The Strain, Vol. 4July 2, 2014
7January 15, 2014The Strain, Vol. 4July 2, 2014
8February 19, 2014The Strain, Vol. 4July 2, 2014
9March 19, 2014The Strain, Vol. 4July 2, 2014

''The Night Eternal'' (2014–15)

The Strain: The Night Eternal was written David Lapham, with artist Mike Huddleston. It was adapted from a novel of the same name.
IssueIssue DateCollectionDateISBN
1August 20, 2014The Strain, Vol. 5May 6, 2015
2September 17, 2014The Strain, Vol. 5May 6, 2015
3October 15, 2014The Strain, Vol. 5May 6, 2015
4November 19, 2014The Strain, Vol. 5May 6, 2015
5January 21, 2015The Strain, Vol. 5May 6, 2015
6February 18, 2015The Strain, Vol. 5May 6, 2015
7March 18, 2015The Strain, Vol. 6December 2, 2015
8April 15, 2015The Strain, Vol. 6December 2, 2015
9May 20, 2015The Strain, Vol. 6December 2, 2015
10June 17, 2015The Strain, Vol. 6December 2, 2015
11July 15, 2015The Strain, Vol. 6December 2, 2015
12August 19, 2015The Strain, Vol. 6December 2, 2015

Hardcover collections (2014–16)

Collections of each series in a hardcover format. Limited number of printings are cloth-bound.
TitleDateISBN
1The StrainJuly 9, 2014
2The FallApril 22, 2015
3The Night EternalMay 25, 2016

''Mister Quinlan'' (2016–17)

The Strain: Mister Quinlan'Vampire Hunter' was limited series written David Lapham, with artist Edgar Salazar. The series details the origins of the half-vampire, Quintus Sertorius, whose name was later Gallicised to Quinlan.
IssueRelease DateCollectionDateISBN
1September 14, 2016Mister QuinlanVampire Hunter, Vol. 1May 3, 2017
2October 12, 2016Mister QuinlanVampire Hunter, Vol. 1May 3, 2017
3November 9, 2016Mister QuinlanVampire Hunter, Vol. 1May 3, 2017
4December 14, 2016Mister QuinlanVampire Hunter, Vol. 1May 3, 2017
5January 11, 2017Mister QuinlanVampire Hunter, Vol. 1May 3, 2017

Television series

In 2012 it was announced that FX had ordered a pilot episode of The Strain with the intention of creating a limited television series based on the books. Before writing the book trilogy, del Toro had initially planned the books as a television series and stated that if picked up, the series would span three to five seasons. He also commented that he and Hogan would co-write the script for the pilot episode and that as of November 2012 he had already begun casting. Del Toro further commented that he planned to also direct the pilot episode, with a full season airing in 2014 if the show was picked up.
It was later announced that a second full season was ordered by FX to air in 2015. Following the fourth episode of season 2, FX renewed the series for a third season, after which the creators announced they hope it will last for a total of 5 seasons. A fourth and final season was announced by FX on September 27, 2016 and it set for a Summer 2017 date.