Bloody Disgusting’s own Pacific S. Obadiah has officially opened up the world of American Abyss, a unique new mixed media horror project that’s got some pretty big names attached.
But first… what is American Abyss? Pacific explains, “American Abyss is a multi-media internet horror project consisting of a fiction podcast, an immersive website, short stories, artwork, audio, and video clips, and physical ephemera (zine, postcards, and documents), which grant a glimpse into the world of the Palmyra Exclusion Zone. This world is hand crafted for folks who love their lore deep and their horror both visceral and psychological.”
Pacific has joined forces with notable artists including Trevor Henderson (Siren Head), Eduardo Valdés-Hevia, Ben Counter, Nic Boone, Trevor Roberts, and Hannah Schooner to build out the world of American Abyss and the Palmyra Exclusion Zone, with each artist contributing their own tales, artwork, and bringing their unique sensibilities to this monster-filled world.
American Abyss is inspired by “weird zone” stories like Roadside Picnic, Annihilation, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and Pacific Drive, and you can get in on the ground floor if that sounds like your type of horror project. American Abyss is currently being funded on Kickstarter until October 2!
And you can actually listen to the project’s pilot episode… RIGHT NOW!
This is where the story of American Abyss begins…
Palmyra is a small city on a peninsula in northern Michigan. For most of its history it has been a sleepy tourist town. But in the early months of 2027, the ATF and DHS planned to raid the headquarters of an extremist right-wing militia known as the Liberty Lions. Sympathizers in local law enforcement tipped the Lions off and what followed was a bloody shootout with dozens of casualties on both sides. Following this violent clash, a city-wide evacuation began, but before it could resolve Palmyra was hit by a second disaster: The Flash.
Late one evening, the night sky filled with bright streaks of light “… as if the stars were cascading down from the heavens.” Just as quickly as it came, the light vanished, leaving behind only confusion. The remaining citizens tried to flee the city, but were quarantined before they could escape.
Now, over 100,000 people are trapped within the city. The fighting between the Feds and the Lions is ongoing. And, following the Flash, strange things have started creeping out of the rubble in Palmyra. Temporal anomalies, paranormal events and strange creatures from diseased citizens to floating ‘flesh cubes’ haunt the city in ever greater numbers.
Everything in Palmyra is awful, and no one is safe. And yet, the people stranded here have found refuge in their local communities. Survivors band together, trade amongst themselves, and navigate their new surroundings. Meanwhile the Feds and the Lions maneuver through the bullet-riddled streets, profiteers offer dubious promises of escape, and a few hardy souls search for the truth behind the Flash, the Lions, and the strangeness.
Learn more about American Abyss and get involved on Kickstarter!
Pacific S. Obadiah has been making podcasts for over a decade, with experience managing a crew of artists, and releasing consist content. Their longest running show, SCP Archives, has over 300 episodes, and thousands of positive reviews on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Pacific has run a successful Patreon for their other podcasts for much of the last decade.
