Toledo native, Dirk Manning is the writer/creator of comic series such as the supernatural noir TALES OF MR. RHEE and the genre-bending horror anthology NIGHTMARE WORLD.

More of Dirk’s comic work includes the official graphic novel adaptation of the classic lost horror film LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT (with the estate of Lon Chaney), RSVP: E.S.P. (with New York Times #1 bestselling author Josh Malerman), BUTTS IN SEATS: THE TONY SCHIAVONE STORY (a #1 Best-Selling Graphic Novel on Amazon), HOMESTEAD, (Ringo Award Finalist for Best Original Graphic Novel in 2025), BURIED BUT NOT DEAD (Ringo Award finalist for Best Original Graphic Novel in 2021), TWIZTID HAUNTED HIGH-ONS (Ringo Award finalist for Best Humor Comic in 2020 and 2022), HOPE, THE ADVENTURES OF CTHULHU JR. AND FRIENDS, and ARN ANDERSON: MY LIFE AS THE ENFORCER among others. Dirk was an early adapter in using crowdfunding to launch his comics and graphic novels, with his works having raised over half a million dollars and counting in pre-sales on Kickstarter alone.

Dirk is also the author of the inspirational/how-to column turned book series WRITE OR WRONG: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO CREATING COMICS and has contributed several short stories to the RPG game series CLOCKWORK: DOMINION for Reliquary Game Studios. His screenplay writing credits include the YouTube horror series BLACKBOX TV episode “The Hunger” (directed by Drew Daywalt and featuring Bonnie Aarons and Jon Gries).