# 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 broadcaster who was interested. A friend 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.
| No. | Title | Date | ISBN |
| 1 | The Strain | June 2, 2009 | 978-0-06-155823-8 |
| 2 | The Fall | September 21, 2010 | 978-0-06-155822-1 |
| 3 | The Night Eternal | October 25, 2011 | 978-0-06-155826-9 |

## Comic books

Published by Dark Horse Comics.

### The Strain (2011–2013)

The Strain is a limited comic book series written by David Lapham, with artist Mike Huddleston. It was adapted from the novel of the same name. The first issue received positive reviews.
| Issue | Issue Date | Collection | Date | ISBN |
| 1 | December 14, 2011 | The Strain, Vol 1 | October 15, 2012 | 978-1-61655-032-5 |
| 2 | January 11, 2012 | The Strain, Vol 1 | October 15, 2012 | 978-1-61655-032-5 |
| 3 | February 8, 2012 | The Strain, Vol 1 | October 15, 2012 | 978-1-61655-032-5 |
| 4 | March 14, 2012 | The Strain, Vol 1 | October 15, 2012 | 978-1-61655-032-5 |
| 5 | June 13, 2012 | The Strain, Vol 1 | October 15, 2012 | 978-1-61655-032-5 |
| 6 | July 11, 2012 | The Strain, Vol 1 | October 15, 2012 | 978-1-61655-032-5 |
| 7 | August 8, 2012 | The Strain, Vol. 2 | June 5, 2013 | 978-1-61655-156-8 |
| 8 | September 12, 2012 | The Strain, Vol. 2 | June 5, 2013 | 978-1-61655-156-8 |
| 9 | December 12, 2012 | The Strain, Vol. 2 | June 5, 2013 | 978-1-61655-156-8 |
| 10 | January 9, 2013 | The Strain, Vol. 2 | June 5, 2013 | 978-1-61655-156-8 |
| 11 | February 13, 2013 | The Strain, Vol. 2 | June 5, 2013 | 978-1-61655-156-8 |

### 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.
| Issue | Issue Date | Collection | Date | ISBN |
| 1 | July 17, 2013 | The Strain, Vol. 3 | February 5, 2014 | 978-1-61655-333-3 |
| 2 | August 21, 2013 | The Strain, Vol. 3 | February 5, 2014 | 978-1-61655-333-3 |
| 3 | September 18, 2013 | The Strain, Vol. 3 | February 5, 2014 | 978-1-61655-333-3 |
| 4 | October 16, 2013 | The Strain, Vol. 3 | February 5, 2014 | 978-1-61655-333-3 |
| 5 | November 20, 2013 | The Strain, Vol. 4 | July 2, 2014 | 978-1-61655-449-1 |
| 6 | December 18, 2013 | The Strain, Vol. 4 | July 2, 2014 | 978-1-61655-449-1 |
| 7 | January 15, 2014 | The Strain, Vol. 4 | July 2, 2014 | 978-1-61655-449-1 |
| 8 | February 19, 2014 | The Strain, Vol. 4 | July 2, 2014 | 978-1-61655-449-1 |
| 9 | March 19, 2014 | The Strain, Vol. 4 | July 2, 2014 | 978-1-61655-449-1 |

### The Night Eternal (2014–15)

The Strain: The Night Eternal was written by David Lapham, with artist Mike Huddleston. It was adapted from a novel of the same name.
| Issue | Issue Date | Collection | Date | ISBN |
| 1 | August 20, 2014 | The Strain, Vol. 5 | May 6, 2015 | 978-1-61655-638-9 |
| 2 | September 17, 2014 | The Strain, Vol. 5 | May 6, 2015 | 978-1-61655-638-9 |
| 3 | October 15, 2014 | The Strain, Vol. 5 | May 6, 2015 | 978-1-61655-638-9 |
| 4 | November 19, 2014 | The Strain, Vol. 5 | May 6, 2015 | 978-1-61655-638-9 |
| 5 | January 21, 2015 | The Strain, Vol. 5 | May 6, 2015 | 978-1-61655-638-9 |
| 6 | February 18, 2015 | The Strain, Vol. 5 | May 6, 2015 | 978-1-61655-638-9 |
| 7 | March 18, 2015 | The Strain, Vol. 6 | December 2, 2015 | 978-1-61655-787-4 |
| 8 | April 15, 2015 | The Strain, Vol. 6 | December 2, 2015 | 978-1-61655-787-4 |
| 9 | May 20, 2015 | The Strain, Vol. 6 | December 2, 2015 | 978-1-61655-787-4 |
| 10 | June 17, 2015 | The Strain, Vol. 6 | December 2, 2015 | 978-1-61655-787-4 |
| 11 | July 15, 2015 | The Strain, Vol. 6 | December 2, 2015 | 978-1-61655-787-4 |
| 12 | August 19, 2015 | The Strain, Vol. 6 | December 2, 2015 | 978-1-61655-787-4 |

### Hardcover collections (2014–16)

Collections of each series in a hardcover format.
| No. | Title | Date | ISBN |
| 1 | The Strain | July 9, 2014 | 978-1-61655-548-1 |
| 2 | The Fall | April 22, 2015 | 978-1-61655-836-9 |
| 3 | The Night Eternal | May 25, 2016 | 978-1-61655-977-9 |

### Mister Quinlan (2016–17)

The Strain: Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter is a limited series that explores the origins of the vampire Quintus Sertorius, later known as Quinlan. Written by David Lapham, with artist Edgar Salazar.
| Issue | Release Date | Collection | Date | ISBN |
| 1 | September 14, 2016 | Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter, Vol. 1 | May 3, 2017 | 978-1-5067-0160-8 |
| 2 | October 12, 2016 | Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter, Vol. 1 | May 3, 2017 | 978-1-5067-0160-8 |
| 3 | November 9, 2016 | Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter, Vol. 1 | May 3, 2017 | 978-1-5067-0160-8 |
| 4 | December 14, 2016 | Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter, Vol. 1 | May 3, 2017 | 978-1-5067-0160-8 |
| 5 | January 11, 2017 | Mister Quinlan – Vampire Hunter, Vol. 1 | May 3, 2017 | 978-1-5067-0160-8 |

## 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.