We’ve teamed up John Zuur Platten best known for writing some of your favorite video games like Fear Effect (some of you might remember the comic book adaptions we printed) with Top Cow fan-favorite Atilio Rojo!

Check out the official press release from Image Comics:

PORTLAND, Ore. 5.17.2021 — Fan-favorite writer John Zuur Platten (Jurassic World: Evolution, The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Athena, Wanted: Weapons of Fate) teams up with artist Atilio Rojo for the upcoming action-packed revenge tale, St. Mercy. This all-new, four issue miniseries kicks off this August from Image/Top Cow.

“I’ve always been fascinated by mythical stories of characters facing impossible odds, and in St. Mercy, I was able to explore this for two young heroines connected through time,” said Platten. “Each must find the willpower to defy the evil and the powerful in the face of personal tragedy. And while St. Mercy has its roots in the tradition of classic westerns, things take a violent, bloody, and unexpected turn once the demonic children appear.”

A tale of vengeful retribution, St. Mercy pits the Incan Empire against the American West—and features two strong, determined young women who must defy authority and ultimately embrace their destiny. Mercedes Oro is one of the surviving descendants of the Incans who has been charged with protecting a cache of cursed gold used in their child sacrifice rituals.

But when an outlaw tries to steal the gold for his band of thieves, he unknowingly sets events in motion that will unleash an angry god who is willing to travel through the centuries to have what he desires.

Atilio added: “Well, I’m really enjoying the series. It has a lot of elements that I enjoy drawing. This project demands a different aesthetic treatment, which is always refreshing for me!”

St. Mercy #1 (Diamond Code JUN210074) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, August 25.

St. Mercy #1 will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.

Here are the first few pages of the debut issue:

A MAN AMONG YE #2

WRITER: Stephanie Phillips
ARTIST / COVER A: Craig Cermak

JUNE 24 / 32 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99

The adventures of pirate queens Anne Bonny and Mary Read might be over before they begin, as a murderous mutiny sweeps “Calico Jack” Rackham’s crew, forcing Anne and Mary to flee for their lives. Can they survive on the high seas long enough to plot their revenge and gather their own crew?

THE CLOCK TP

WRITER: Matt Hawkins
ARTIST: Colleen Doran

JULY 01 / 128 pages / FC/ M / $14.99

Within three weeks, hundreds of millions of healthy people worldwide contract various forms of aggressive cancer, and the proliferation, seemingly a viral outbreak, stumps the best scientific minds available. But after a leading cancer researcher loses his wife and watches his nine-year-old daughter begin to succumb to the same illness, he must race against the clock to end a global conspiracy that could propel the world straight into WWIII…or worse.Collects THE CLOCK #1-4

CYBER FORCE (2018) #11

WRITER: Matt Hawkins, Bryan Hill
ARTIST: Atilio Rojo
COVER A: Raffaele Ienco
FEBRUARY 27 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99

As the members of Cyber Force put aside their differences and learn to use their strengths to combat their personal demons, they’re forced to choose between serving the master that created them or being independent—and thus becoming targets of the world.

THE FREEZE #3

WRITER: Dan Wickline
ARTIST / COVER A: Phillip Sevy
FEBRUARY 06 / 32 pages / FC/ — / $3.99

The new society begins to splinter into various factions as more of the frozen vanish—and more mutilated bodies are found.

VINDICATION #2

WRITER: MD Marie
ARTIST: Dema Jr., Carlos Miko
COVER A: Linda Sejic
FEBRUARY 20 / 32 pages / FC/ M / $3.99

After Turn’s release, a murder occurs—and it’s almost identical to the one he was convicted of committing. To protect his job and his reputation, Detective Christopher will have to defy his captain and Internal Affairs in order to prove that Turn Washington is guilty. But was it luck that brought him to the evidence that ties Turn Washington to the new murder scene—or something else?

WITCHBLADE, VOL. 2: GOOD INTENTIONS TP

WRITER: Caitlin Kittredge
ARTIST / COVER A: Roberta Ingranata
COLOR ARTIST: BRYAN VALENZA
FEBRUARY 20 / 152 pages / FC/ M / $16.99

Breaking a demon’s stranglehold on New York City was only the beginning for Alex and Team Witchblade. Now, somebody much worse than a demon wants the Artifact—and they’ll do anything to get it. Collects WITCHBLADE #7-12

In this fourth complete electrifying collection of the supernatural powerhouse WITCHBLADE, Sara Pezzini fights against her most nefarious enemy yet…the United States government super spy organization, known to few as Level 42. Ian Nottingham makes a deadly return, and Sara teams up with the Magdalena to hunt down an occult killer. This volume also features the beginning of Ron Marz’ groundbreaking and transformative run on Witchblade.

Featuring art by Francis Manapul, Mike Choi, David Nakayama, Tony Daniel, Clarence Lansang, Romano Molenaar, Scott Benefiel, Leonard Kirk, and more! Featuring iconic stories written by Ron Marz, David Wohl, Geoff Johns, Troy Hickman, Chuck Austen, Kris Grimminger, Ian Edgington.

Witchblade Complete Collection Volume 4 by Top Cow Productions — Kickstarter

Also included with the Kickstarter is the Witchblade 2024 Vol 1 trade paperback with an exclusive variant cover by Stjepan Sejic!

We’ve already rocketed past our initial goal, but there is still time to unlock the last two stretch goals!

The campaign ends Friday, December 27 2024 at 12:00 PM PST.

Witchblade Complete Collection Volume 4 by Top Cow Productions — Kickstarter

About Top Cow

Top Cow Productions, Inc., a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades.

About Witchblade

Witchblade is a comic book series published by Top Cow Productions, which ran from November 1995 to October 2015 and December 2017 to January 2020. The series was created by Marc Silvestri, David Wohl, Brian Haberlin, and Michael Turner. The comic series was made into a TNT television series in 2001 and was directed by Ralph Hemecher and starred Yancy Butler as Sara Pezzini. Later, Top Cow and Japanese animation studio Gonzo produced an anime adaptation of Witchblade, which debuted in 2006.

About PUNDERWORLD: Hades and Persephone’s love-struck misadventures. The classic tale of Greek mythology, but 100 percent more awkwardly relatable. Hades is the officious, antisocial ruler of the Underworld. Persephone, daughter of Demeter, is an earth goddess of growth and renewal—they’ve been crushing on each other for the past two centuries. But when a festival (and a little liquid courage) present an opportunity to put an end to their olympian will-they-won’t-they, a meddlesome pantheon and several titanic misassumptions threaten to give every god in the sky the wrong impression…and leave their romance dead before it can bloom.

Punderworld has 13 million hits with 350K subscribers, according to the WEBTOON page.

You might have caught Bleeding Cool’s exclusive scoop that Top Cow & Image Comics is bringing the first season to print in August.

Linda Šejić tells Bleeding Cool “Punderworld allowed me to incorporate all the things I loved the most since I was in high school: Mythological beings in their unlimited creativity, which always tickled my imagination set in a fantasy setting with lots of nature morphed into an awkward comedic romance. I am beyond excited about getting it printed, and I can’t wait to hold it in my hands.”

Want to pre-order the book? We couldn’t have said it any better than what was published in the Image Comics press release:

Punderworld (ISBN: 978-1-5343-2072-7, Diamond Code JUN210157) will be available on Wednesday, August 25 and in bookstores on Tuesday, August 31. It can be pre-ordered at your local comic book shop or independent bookstore via Bookshop or IndieBound, or it can be pre-ordered on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and Indigo.

A MAN AMONG YE #1

WRITER: Stephanie Phillips
ARTIST / COVER A: Craig Cermak
COVER B: Stjepan Sejic

MAY 13 / 32 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99

High adventure on the high seas in the waning days of piracy, when men were men, and the best pirates were…women? Writer STEPHANIE PHILLIPS (Butcher of Paris, Descendent) and artist CRAIG CERMAK (Red Team, Voltron) bring to life the tale of Anne Bonny and Mary Read as they hoist the skull and crossbones, draw cutlasses, and seek a treasure that will make them legends. In an era when sailing with women was thought to be bad luck, Anne and Mary might just be the only people capable of saving the pirate way of life.

SWING, VOL. 3 OGN TP

WRITER: Matt Hawkins
ARTIST / COVER A: Yishan Li, Linda Sejic

MAY 20 / 128 pages / FC/ M / $16.99

Dan and Cathy’s swinging adventures continue in this SUNSTONE spin-off as their relationship becomes strained, perhaps irreparably. Love conquers all in this stylish slice-of-life take on an ethically non-monogamous couple.

THE COMPLETE WITCHBLADE, VOL. 1 HC

WRITER: Brian Haberlin, Christina Z., Warren Ellis, David Wohl, David Finch
ARTIST: David Finch, Billy Tan, Nathan Cabrera, Marc Silvestri, Michael Turner, Tony Daniel
COVER A: Michael Turner

MAY 13 / 624 pages / FC/ M / $49.99

The story of the WITCHBLADE begins here, as streetwise cop Sara Pezzini receives a mysterious weapon of untold power and uses it to face the dark supernatural underbelly of New York City—and the uncertainty of her own destiny. This first collection of the bestselling series created by MARC SILVESTRI, DAVID WOHL, BRIAN HABERLIN, and MICHAEL TURNER, beautifully rendered and painstakingly assembled in gorgeous hardcover.Collects WITCHBLADE #1–19, THE DARKNESS #9 & 10 & TALES OF THE WITCHBLADE #1/2–3

WRITER: MD MARIE
ARTIST: CARLOS MIKO, DEMA JR.
COVER: JONATHAN DAVIS
JANUARY 16 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

In turbulent times, when cops are often portrayed as the enemy of the people, Detective Chip Christopher maneuvers the blurred blue line between racism and due diligence in order to do his job. And right now it’s his job to investigate Turn, a young black man with a sketchy past—who was previously exonerated of a similar murder.

CYBER FORCE (2018) #10

WRITER: BRYAN HILL, MATT HAWKINS
ARTIST: ATILIO ROJO
JANUARY 23 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

Morgan Stryker convinces Ripclaw to join Cyber Force, but the organization that created him wants Ripclaw dead. Stryker makes a choice that will turn Cyber Force into fugitives or murderers—or something much, much worse.

CYBER FORCE: AWAKENING, VOL. 2 TP

WRITER: MATT HAWKINS, BRYAN HILL
ARTIST / COVER: ATILIO ROJO
JANUARY 30 / 128 PAGES / FC / M / $16.99

With the world still reeling from the sudden blackout of all networked technology, Stryker, Aphrodite, and Velocity are sent to find a deadly bounty hunter that could help them bring order to the chaos… but this bounty hunter has a secret that might stop Cyber Force before it starts. Collects CYBER FORCE #5-8!

ECLIPSE, VOL. 3 TP

WRITER: ZACK KAPLAN
ARTIST / COVER: GIOVANNI TIMPANO
JANUARY 09 / 128 PAGES / FC / T+ / $16.99

In a world where sunlight is deadly, a corporate heiress-turned-rebel, her corrupt solar tycoon father, and a former hero seeking redemption, all find themselves battling to find and control the mysterious Scientist responsible for an immunity to dangerous sunlight—a Scientist with his own plans in mind. Collects ECLIPSE #9-12

THE FREEZE #2

WRITER: DAN WICKLINE
ARTIST / COVER: PHILLIP SEVY
JANUARY 09 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99

Ray and his co-workers have begun to build their new society, but each newly unfrozen person has their own opinions about what happened—and how things should be done.

INFINITE DARK #4

WRITER: RYAN CADY
ARTIST / COVER: ANDREA MUTTI
JANUARY 16 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99

It’s everyone’s life on the line as Deva Karrell comes face-to-face with the Entity from beyond and learns the terrible truth behind the Orpheus’ recent deaths.

WITCHBLADE (2017) #12

WRITER: CAITLIN KITTREDGE
ARTIST / COVER: ROBERTA INGRANATA
VARIANT COVER: FARAH NURMALIZA
COLORIST: BRYAN VALENZA
JANUARY 23 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

“GOOD INTENTIONS,” Conclusion Alex and the Witchblade are inexorably linked—but what happens when that bond is broken?

Click to Download Digital Assets

July 17, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA —Top Cow Productions, Inc. and Image Comics, proudly announce Death to Pachuco, a gripping Chicano noir crime graphic series from writer Henry Barajas (La Voz de M.A.Y.O., Helm Greycastle), artist Rachel Merrill, and colorist Lee Loughridge. This powerful new title blends the cultural defiance of Luis Valdez’s Zoot Suit with the hard-boiled tension of James M. Cain’s Double Indemnity, delivering a story steeped in historical urgency and cinematic grit.

Set against the backdrop of 1943 wartime Los Angeles, Death to Pachuco reimagines the chilling aftermath of the Sleepy Lagoon murder—an event that ignited widespread racial unrest. As tensions boil over, a five-day clash between U.S. Navy servicemen and young Mexican Americans—known as the Zoot Suit Riots—turns the city into a battlefield. In the middle of this volatile moment, private investigator Ricardo “Ricky” Tellez races to solve the killing of Carlos Urbano, a murder that threatens to destroy him unless he finds the truth before the mob does. With every page, Death to Pachuco explores themes of cultural identity, systemic injustice, and the cost of being seen as the enemy in your own country.

The original series marks Barajas’s return to Top Cow with his most urgent and personal work yet. He draws from deeply researched historical events and culturally resonant storytelling to illuminate a dark but vital chapter of American history that remains shockingly relevant today. “All the research and digging I did to make this comic a reality with the best team and cover artists in comics,” says Barajas. “I’m lucky I get to tell this story with Rachel, Lee, and Will. We’re swinging for the fences.”

Rachel Merrill’s evocative artwork, brought to life with Lee Loughridge’s moody, noir-inspired colors, immerses readers in a 1940s Los Angeles rarely seen in comics. “We are trying to tell a story that takes place during a dark time in history while living in one,” Rachel says. “Death to Pachuco comes from a place of love for comics, history, and film noir.” The authenticity of the zoot suit fashion, cityscapes, and cultural markers is matched by the emotional depth of the characters navigating a world where justice is elusive and survival is an act of resistance. The covers by David Lapham and Lee Loughridge, Katie Shelly, Marco Finnigean and Gab Contreras, and Ramon Villobos add an extra layer of prestige to this project, perfectly capturing its tone and message.

Barajas intends for this story to offer more than entertainment. “I hope it brings context to what is happening today,” he explains. “It was just shy of 80 years ago that Japanese Americans were being forced into concentration camps—and Mexican people were targeted and harassed for existing. It wasn’t an accident that the first line from the protagonist’s mouth is ‘Now’s not a good time to be a Mexican.’ We tell these stories so history doesn’t keep repeating itself, and I believe comics have the power to make a difference in the world no matter how bleak it looks.

Top Cow President and COO Matt Hawkins adds, “With Death to Pachuco, our creative team channels the urgency and gravity of the moment—both historical and personal. The entire team have crafted a tale that resonates today: a noir detective story fused with social commentary and raw emotion.”

Death to Pachuco #1

Writer: Henry Barajas

Artist: Rachel Merrill

Colorist: Lee Loughridge

Letterer: Henry Barajas

• Cover A: art by David Lapham & Lee Loughridge 

• Cover B: art by Katie Skelly 

• Cover C: art by Marco Finnigean & Gab Contreras

• Cover D: art by Ramon Villalobos 

• Cover E: art by David Lapham & Lee Loughridge 1:10 B&W Virgin 

• Cover F: art by David Lapham & Lee Loughridge 1:25 Virgin/Color 

• Cover G: art by Katie Skelly 1:25 Virgin/Color

• Cover H: art by Ramon Villalobos 1:25 Virgin/Color 

• Cover I: art by David Lapham & Lee Loughridge 1:50 Spot Foil with Trade Dress  

During the summer of 1943, Los Angeles became a hotbed of tension and conflict as a series of fierce clashes erupted between U.S. Navy members and Mexican American youth stemming from the murder of Carlos Urbano. Private eye Ricardo “Ricky” Tellez needs to find the Sleepy Lagoon Killer before the racist mob kills him in the Zoot Suit Riots.The clock is ticking—and it’s a bad time to be a Mexican.The syndicated team of Henry Barajas (La Voz De M.A.Y.O. Tata Rambo) and Rachel Merril (Izzy n’ Jean) uncover a Chino Noir rooted in the shameful parts of LA’s history!

October 8 • 32 PAGES• FC • M / Mature • $3.99

For fans of noir, Latin American history, and social justice storytelling, Death to Pachuco is not just a comic—it’s a revelation.

Those attending San Diego Comic-Con will get an exclusive first look at the project with the Death to Pachuco #1 Limited Edition Ashcan Preview, available at the Top Cow Booth #2629 for purchase throughout the show. Fans will also have the opportunity to meet co-creator Henry Barajas (Death to Pachuco, Helm Greycastle) during scheduled signings: Thursday, July 24 through Saturday, July 27 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday, July 28 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM as well as during Top Cow: The New Universe! Panel on Saturday, July 26 at 12:00 pm in Room #4.

About Top Cow Productions
Top Cow Productions, Inc., a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two decades.

For more information, visit www.topcow.com or follow Top Cow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Bluesky.

For press inquiries, preview requests, or retail support, please contact:

Press Contact:
Lisa Y. Wu
Director of Marketing, Top Cow Productions
Email: lisa@topcow.com
Phone: (843) 514-3892

Click here for the full official announcement from Image Comics HQ:

“Syphon explores how much of a burden we can take on ourselves in trying to help others and the world around us,” said Meaney. “After the past few years of world events, it feels extremely relevant to ask, how much can you do to try and save the world before you destroy yourself.”

Syphon introduces a new supernatural empath who is entrusted with the power to sense and siphon pain from others. Sylas, a fast-living EMT, is now able to directly ease the suffering of people around him. But the more he uses this gift, the more it curses him with carrying the miseries of those he’s helped. Tormented by his solitude, Sylas is befriended by a drifter who eventually draws him into an ages-old war that has raged for control of the human condition.

Edwards added: “This is an absolute dream come true. I have copies of Top Cow books that I have been flipped through so many times, the ink has started to come off. And now, to be able to work on a new series with this team is an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life.”

“Syphon is a very personal story for a generation that’s dealt with a myriad of injustice and inequality over the years,” said Ashraf. “We all carry trauma with us, and this new series examines the fragile state of our collective psyche and how best to deal with it. Ultimately it delivers a message of hope, that we can be the change-makers we seek.”

Syphon #1 (Diamond Code MAY210065) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, July 21.

Syphon #1 will also be available for purchase across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play.

THE CLOCK #3 (OF 4)

WRITER: Matt Hawkins
ARTIST / COVER A: Colleen Doran
MARCH 18 / 32 pages / FC/ T+ / $3.99

When a leading cancer researcher uncovers a global eugenics conspiracy behind a viral outbreak of aggressive cancer, he’s branded a fugitive. Now, he’s up against more than just time in the race to save his daughter’s life.

POSTAL: DELIVERANCE, VOL. 2 TP

WRITER: Bryan Hill
ARTIST / COVER A: Raffaele Ienco
APRIL 08 / 128 pages / FC/ M / $14.99

Eden has a vicious new serial killer on the loose, and dealing with the crisis has put Mark and Laura at odds. Meanwhile, a bit of jealousy arises when Mark meets his mother’s new surrogate son Pascal for the first time.Collects POSTAL: DELIVERANCE #5-8

THE FREEZE #1

WRITER: DAN WICKLINE
ARTIST / COVER: PHIL SEVY
DECEMBER 05 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99

The entire human population is frozen by a mysterious global event… all except Ray, and only he has the power to unfreeze them. Now with the fate of the world in his hands, he must figure out what is going on, how to set things right again, and answer the question: does everyone deserve to be saved?

ARES IX: DARKNESS (ONE-SHOT)

WRITER: BRENDAN HODGDON
ARTIST: BALAZS VALYOGOS
COVER: SARA KNAEPEN
DECEMBER 12 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99

AN ALL-NEW ONE-SHOT FROM TOP COW TALENT HUNT WINNERS! Witness the untold chapter of a Demi-God’s story. After the Ascension of the IXs, Ares finds himself drawn to a mysterious catacomb. What he finds there will redefine his past, his future, and the entire IXth Generation!

APHRODITE V TP

WRITER: BRYAN HILL
ARTIST / COVER: JEFF SPOKES
DECEMBER 19 / 128 PAGES / FC / M / $9.99

In the near future, Los Angeles is a city on the brink of evolution, struggling with a new wave of terror powered by black market technology. Enter Aphrodite V: a fugitive from her masters, seeking individuality and purpose. She is the bleeding edge of biomechanics… and Los Angeles’ best hope against a new enemy that seeks to become a god among machines. One machine wants to destroy the city. Another has come to save it. Only one will survive. Collects APHRODITE V #1-4

CHRONICLES OF HATE, COLLECTED EDITION OF BOOK 1 & 2 TP

WRITER / ARTIST / COVER: ADRIAN SMITH
DECEMBER 05 / 240 PAGES / BW / M / $29.99

In a world where the sun is frozen and the moon burns, an unlikely hero rises to free the Earth Mother from her chains. This isn’t a world for the weak. All we know is HATE. Following the massively successful Kickstarter board game based on internationally recognized painter ADRIAN SMITH, CHRONICLES OF HATE is recollected in this oversized trade paperback. TRIM SIZE: 8”x12”

SEPTEMBER MOURNING, COMPLETE VOL. 1 TP

WRITER: DAVID HINE, EMILY LAZAR, MARIAH MCCOURT
ARTIST: TINA VALENTINO
COVER: MARC SILVESTRI
JANUARY 16 / 128 PAGES / FC / M / $16.99

In a world where Reapers prey on the souls of the living, imprisoning them in the shadow-land of Mortem, there is one last hope for humanity. Her name is September Mourning. Half human, half Reaper, she takes the souls of the wicked so the innocent can live again. September has joined forces with a woman who was murdered and restored to life, and a young blind girl who sees only the dead. Together, as The Trinity, they set out to fulfill a prophecy that will finally free all the lost souls trapped in Mortem. In conjunction with the release of this book, September Mourning will be releasing new music via Sumerian Records which will bring further life to the storyline. Collects SEPTEMBER MOURNING #1-4

CYBER FORCE (2018) #9

WRITER: BRYAN HILL, MATT HAWKINS
ARTIST / COVER: ATILIO ROJO
DECEMBER 19 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

It’s the brutal man-machine hybrid Leviathan vs. Cyber Force as Morgan, Ripclaw, Velocity, and Aphrodite face off to save the fate of a country caught in the center of The New War for Technology. Who will own the future?

INFINITE DARK #3

WRITER: RYAN CADY
ARTIST / COVER: ANDREA MUTTI, K. MICHAEL RUSSELL
DECEMBER 12 / 32 PAGES / FC / T+ / $3.99

With only backup power available to the Orpheus and panic setting in, Deva returns to the Dark Sector to stop a mad techno-linguist from destroying the last pocket of reality… and risks directly exposing herself to the Entity outside.

WITCHBLADE (2017) #11

WRITER: CAITLIN KITTREDGE
ARTIST / COVER: ROBERTA INGRANATA, BRYAN VALENZA
DECEMBER 19 / 32 PAGES / FC / M / $3.99

“GOOD INTENTIONS,” Part Five N-GEN makes a move, Alex makes a choice, and everyone she loves suffers the fallout.

This new series marks Silvestri’s highly anticipated return to the franchise he helped create in
1996. For longtime fans, the relaunch promises a bold expansion of the mythology that made
The Darkness a cult phenomenon while introducing fresh twists designed to surprise even its
most devoted readers. “The Darkness has always been one of my favorite characters, and I’ve
wanted to come back to it for a long time,” says Silvestri. “Fans have been asking for years
when Jackie would return, and now we get to deliver something truly special. This is going to
feel familiar, but it’s going to take you places you’ve never been before.”

The Darkness (2025) #1 will feature pencils by Ed Benes (Birds of Prey, Justice League of
America) with inks from Matt “Batt!” Banning, Sal Regla, and John Livesay, colors by Arif
Prianto, and letters by Troy Peteri. Benes will handle the first issue, while fan-favorite Raymond
Gay (Gunslinger Spawn, TMNT) will join the series starting with issue #2.

Originally launched nearly three decades ago, The Darkness quickly became one of Top Cow’s
most popular properties, spawning spin-off series, crossovers, and two acclaimed video game
adaptations. The title built a loyal following among fans of supernatural thrillers and morally
complex anti-heroes, standing alongside genre heavyweights. The new series aims to capture
that same energy while pushing its narrative into even darker, more unpredictable territory.
“This isn’t just a nostalgia trip—it’s a reinvention,” Silvestri adds. “We’re going back to what
made The Darkness such a hit: Its grit, its danger, its sense that power always comes with a
price. But this time, we’re turning everything up to eleven. Jackie’s world is going to expand in
ways readers never expected.”

The story once again follows Jackie Estacado, a mafia hitman who inherits a terrifying gift on his 21st birthday: an elemental force known as The Darkness, which grants him dominion over creatures from another realm. As supernatural forces wage war over reality itself, Jackie must
navigate a brutal conflict where good and evil are anything but clear.

The Darkness (2025) #1 arrives in comic shops on December 10, 2025, with final order cutoff
on November 10, 2025. The issue will launch with an extensive lineup of variant covers from
Silvestri, Benes, and acclaimed artist David Mack, along with blank sketch options, high-ratio
incentives, and ultra-rare signed and original art editions for collectors.

This new era of The Darkness is more than a comeback—it’s a statement. Whether you’re a
longtime fan or discovering Jackie Estacado for the first time, this is the moment to step into the shadows.

Preorders are open now at comic retailers everywhere. The Darkness series will
also be available across many digital platforms, including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and
Google Play. Visit TopCow.com for more information.

THE DARKNESS (2025) #1
Writer: Marc Silvestri
Penciler: Ed Benes
Inks: Matt “Batt!” Banning, Sal Regla, John Livesay
Colors: Arif Prianto
Letters: Troy Peteri
On Sale: December 10, 2025
Final Order Cutoff: November 10, 2025
In a world consumed by shadows…one man becomes The Darkness. Jackie Estacado is back!
Thrust into a supernatural war between the dark and the light in a no-holds-barred adventure where the edge of our reality grinds against supernatural forces grappling for control over each other and the waking world.

Mafia Hitman Jackie Estacado was both blessed and cursed on his 21st birthday when he became the bearer of The Darkness, an elemental force that allows those who wield it access to an otherworldly dimension and control over the demons who dwell there. Forces in the world rise up to face Jackie and the evil his gift represents. There is one small problem in this story…evil is good.

From co-creator Marc Silvestri (The Darkness, Cyber Force, Batman and the Joker: The Deadly
Duo) with the universe-shattering first issue art by Ed Benes (Birds of Prey, Superman, Justice
League of America), followed in issue #2 with ongoing series artist Raymond Gay (Gunsligner
Spawn, Bloodletter, TMNT, Medieval Spawn), comes an explosive new era of The Darkness!

Covers:
● Cover A: Marc Silvestri & Arif Prianto
● Cover B: Ed Benes & Arif Prianto

● Cover C: David Mack
● Cover D: Blank Sketch Cover

Incentives:
● 1:10, 1:25, 1:50, 1:100, 1:250 ratios including B&W line art and color virgin variants.
● Ultra-rare 1:500 and 1:1000 ratios include signed and original art sketch covers by
Marc Silvestri

Top Cow
Top Cow Productions, Inc., a Los Angeles-based entertainment company, was founded in
December of 1992 by artist Marc Silvestri, who also co-founded Image Comics earlier that same year. Top Cow currently publishes its line of comic books in 21 languages in over 55 different countries. The company has launched 20 franchises (18 original and two licensed) in the industry’s Top 10, seven at #1, a feat accomplished by no other publisher in the last two
decades.

The Darkness
First published by Top Cow Productions in 1996, The Darkness follows mafia hitman Jackie
Estacado, who inherits an ancient and malevolent force on his 21st birthday. Known as “The
Darkness”, this elemental power grants control over a shadow dimension and its demonic
inhabitants—at a terrible cost. Blending crime noir, supernatural horror, and action, The
Darkness has sold millions of copies worldwide, spawned multiple spin-offs and crossovers, and inspired two critically acclaimed video games. With its morally complex anti-hero and gothic tone, The Darkness remains one of the most influential titles in modern comics.