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Exclusive: Oni Press’ Benjamin #1 Has Sold-Out Again and Gets a Third Printing!

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We have the exclusive reveal that Oni Press‘ Benjamin #1 has sold out yet again at the distributor level and will return with a brand-new third printing on August 6th! The first issue of the breathtaking new series – featuring the full-length comics debut of writer Ben H. Winters, creator of CBS’ acclaimed TV series Tracker and Edgar Award and Philip K. Dick Award-winning novelist with artwork by acclaimed illustrator Leomacs. The Benjamin #1 Third Printing Variant features a cover by Christian Ward.  

In the tradition of Philip K. Dick’s A Scanner Darkly comes a uniquely fascinating and hilariously deranged excursion into the metatextual nexus where existence and oblivion, past and future, genius and madness, and glitter and grim reality all meet just beyond Hollywood Boulevard in the first of three prestige-format, ad-free issues unlike anything you’ve ever experienced . . . in this timeline anyway . . .

Legendary science-fiction novelist Benjamin J. Carp has just been resurrected 40 years after his death . . . and that’s not even the strangest thing that’s going to happen to him today.

In an effort to unravel the mystery of author Benjamin J. Carp’s unexpected reappearance, Benjamin and his newfound companion, Marcus, travel to the arid Joshua Tree desert, where they discover the secret lair of a cabal of scientists eager to revive the minds of some of history’s greatest thinkers in an effort to save humanity from its greatest weakness: lack of imagination. Are they to be believed . . . or is this just more sci-fi hokum torn from a chapter in one of Carp’s beloved novels?

Edgar Award nominee and Philip K. Dick Award–winning novelist Ben H. Winters teams with rising star Leomacs to recite the next haunting chapter of 2025’s mesmerizing science-fiction daydream with profound implications for the fate of the universe, as delivered in a prestige, ad-free format.

BENJAMIN #1 3rd PRINTING COVER BY CHRISTIAN WARD

See what folks are saying about Benjamin #1:

“BENJAMIN is cosmically brilliant. You have never been on a trip like this.” 

— Lev Grossman (The Magicians, The Bright Sword)

“BENJAMIN #1 is a debut that’ll get you coming back for more and one you don’t want to miss.” — GRAPHIC POLICY

“Refreshing . . . Special . . . The dialogue is snappy, with a real humor to it, and the set up is elevated by questions of consciousness. ” — THE BEAT

“A vivid, thought-provoking debut that explores identity, friendship, and sci-fi legacy with a surreal wink and stellar artwork… Leomacs is putting in his best work yet. It’s safe to say comics like this don’t come around very often, and publishers like Oni Press are the scant few who would publish it.”— AIPT

“Buckle in for what is sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience.” 

— NERD INITIATIVE

“Fascinating.”— FANBASE PRESS

 “As close to the label of ‘masterpiece’ as possible . . .” —COMICON.COM

“Ben H. Winters’ words and Leomacs’ art look to be creating a perfect mix of the surreal and the grounded, the mundane and the urgent. Life is unsettlingly fantastic and inscrutable and Benjamin looks to understand that and embrace it unflinchingly.”— FREAK SUGAR.

Preview: Benjamin #2

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Benjamin #2

(W) Ben H. Winters
(A) Leomacs
$4.99
July 16, 2025

Legendary science-fiction novelist Benjamin J. Carp has just been resurrected 40 years after his death . . . and that’s not even the strangest thing that’s going to happen to him today.

In an effort to unravel the mystery of author Benjamin J. Carp’s unexpected reappearance, Benjamin and his newfound companion, Marcus, travel to the arid Joshua Tree desert, where they discover the secret lair of a cabal of scientists eager to revive the minds of some of history’s greatest thinkers in an effort to save humanity from its greatest weakness: lack of imagination. Are they to be believed . . . or is this just more sci-fi hokum torn from a chapter in one of Carp’s beloved novels?

Edgar Award nominee and Philip K. Dick Award–winning novelist Ben H. Winters (EC’s Cruel Universe, The Last Policeman Trilogy) teams with rising star Leomacs (EC’s Epitaphs from the Abyss, Basketful of Heads) to recite the next haunting chapter of 2025’s mesmerizing science-fiction daydream with profound implications for the fate of the universe, as delivered in a prestige, ad-free format.

Benjamin #2

Benjamin #2 Takes Readers Further Into The Pit Of Sci-Fi Existential Dread!

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HE DOESN’T KNOW WHY HE’S HERE – MAN? ROBOT? SIMULACRUM? OR DREAM? –Oni Press gives readers their first look inside Benjamin #2, the second issue from ground-breaking miniseries by Edgar Award nominee and Philip K. Dick Award winner Ben H. Winters and rising star Leomacs! A mind-bending tale that looks at identity and reality, Benjamin #2 will leave you questioning everything.

Legendary science-fiction novelist Benjamin J. Carp has just been resurrected 40 years after his death . . . and that’s not even the strangest thing that’s going to happen to him today.

In an effort to unravel the mystery of author Benjamin J. Carp’s unexpected reappearance, Benjamin and his newfound companion, Marcus, travel to the arid Joshua Tree desert, where they discover the secret lair of a cabal of scientists eager to revive the minds of some of history’s greatest thinkers in an effort to save humanity from its greatest weakness: lack of imagination. Are they to be believed . . . or is this just more sci-fi hokum torn from a chapter in one of Carp’s beloved novels?

Presented in a prestige, ad-free format with 32 pages of story content and premium cardstock covers on every issue, Benjamin #2 will rise and walk in comic shops everywhere on July 16th, 2025 with gorgeous covers by multiple Eisner Award winner Christian Ward and visionary artist Malachi Ward.

Benjamin #2

Exclusive: Benjamin #1 by Ben H. Winters, Leomacs, and Oni Press has Sold Out and Returns with a Second Printing in July

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We have the exclusive announcement that Benjamin #1 by Ben H. Winters, Leomacs, and Oni Press has sold out at the distributor level and returns with a second printing on July 9th.

In the tradition of Philip K. Dick’s A Scanner Darkly and Thomas Pynchon’s Inherent Vice comes a uniquely fascinating and hilariously deranged excursion into the metatextual nexus where existence and oblivion, past and future, genius and madness, and glitter and grim reality all meet just beyond Hollywood Boulevard in the first of three prestige-format, ad-free issues unlike anything you’ve ever experienced . . . in this timeline anyway . . .

Legendary science-fiction novelist Benjamin J. Carp has just been resurrected 40 years after his death . . . and that’s not even the strangest thing that’s going to happen to him today.

In an effort to unravel the mystery of author Benjamin J. Carp’s unexpected reappearance, Benjamin and his newfound companion, Marcus, travel to the arid Joshua Tree desert, where they discover the secret lair of a cabal of scientists eager to revive the minds of some of history’s greatest thinkers in an effort to save humanity from its greatest weakness: lack of imagination. Are they to be believed . . . or is this just more sci-fi hokum torn from a chapter in one of Carp’s beloved novels?

Benjamin #1 returns with a cover by Christian Ward just in time for Benjamin #2 which is on sale July 16th. Presented in a prestige, ad-free format with 30 pages of story content and premium cardstock covers on every issue, Benjamin #2 features gorgeous covers by multiple Eisner Award winner Christian Ward and visionary artist Malachi Ward.

Check out our review of the first issue and don’t miss your chance to get it when the second printing hits shelves in July.

Benjamin #1 Kicks Off a Mind-Bending Trippy Mystery

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Benjamin #1

More than just a writer, more than just a science-fiction icon, Benjamin J. Carp was a cultural revolutionary. Across 44 novels and hundreds of short stories—including the counterculture classic The Man They Couldn’t Erase—Carp pushed the boundaries of literary respectability for the sci-fi genre and his readers’ perception of reality itself . . . until decades of amphetamine abuse and Southern California excess finally ended a mind-bending career that always just escaped mainstream success. He died in 1982. It’s now 2025 and Benjamin J. Carp awakens in a burned-out motel in Los Angeles. Benjamin #1 is the beginning of a strange trip and we’re here for the insanity.

Written by Ben H. Winters, Benjamin #1 is an intriguing beginning of a comic that feels like a drug induced wild ride of a dream. The tone of what we can expect comes early on as Carp admits to his new companion that he was on a lot of drugs when he was writing. It’s at that point it feels like maybe the reader should partake to and get the full experience of the read. But, even without a chemical enhancement, Benjamin #1 is an intriguing read that sets of a mystery that’s as much sci-fi as it is some meta adventure.

Leomacs‘ art is solid, capturing the dreamlike nature of the story that mixes between hard reality and ethereal ride. There’s a mystery as to the bigger picture and it raises questions as to the return of Benjamin to the world. Leomacs is joined by Luca Bertelè on colors and Becca Carey on lettering. The art captures the weirdness of the comic with visuals that feel like a mix of Philip K. Dick, Douglas Adams, and Hunter S. Thompson.

Benjamin #1 is the start of a weird mystery that sucks the reader in with its visuals, humor, and just strange oddity of it all. There’s the hint of a meta story and a story within the story all adding to the big swing of it all. And it work, it works really well. Benjamin #1 is a debut that’ll get you coming back for more and one you don’t want to muss.

Benjamin #1 comes to shops June 18.

Story: Ben H. Winters Art: Leomcs
Color: Luca Bertelè Letterer: Becca Carey
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Third Eye Comics – Kindle

Early Review: Benjamin #1 Kicks Off a Mind-Bending Trippy Mystery

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Benjamin #1

More than just a writer, more than just a science-fiction icon, Benjamin J. Carp was a cultural revolutionary. Across 44 novels and hundreds of short stories—including the counterculture classic The Man They Couldn’t Erase—Carp pushed the boundaries of literary respectability for the sci-fi genre and his readers’ perception of reality itself . . . until decades of amphetamine abuse and Southern California excess finally ended a mind-bending career that always just escaped mainstream success. He died in 1982. It’s now 2025 and Benjamin J. Carp awakens in a burned-out motel in Los Angeles. Benjamin #1 is the beginning of a strange trip and we’re here for the insanity.

Written by Ben H. Winters, Benjamin #1 is an intriguing beginning of a comic that feels like a drug induced wild ride of a dream. The tone of what we can expect comes early on as Carp admits to his new companion that he was on a lot of drugs when he was writing. It’s at that point it feels like maybe the reader should partake to and get the full experience of the read. But, even without a chemical enhancement, Benjamin #1 is an intriguing read that sets of a mystery that’s as much sci-fi as it is some meta adventure.

Leomacs‘ art is solid, capturing the dreamlike nature of the story that mixes between hard reality and ethereal ride. There’s a mystery as to the bigger picture and it raises questions as to the return of Benjamin to the world. Leomacs is joined by Luca Bertelè on colors and Becca Carey on lettering. The art captures the weirdness of the comic with visuals that feel like a mix of Philip K. Dick, Douglas Adams, and Hunter S. Thompson.

Benjamin #1 is the start of a weird mystery that sucks the reader in with its visuals, humor, and just strange oddity of it all. There’s the hint of a meta story and a story within the story all adding to the big swing of it all. And it work, it works really well. Benjamin #1 is a debut that’ll get you coming back for more and one you don’t want to muss.

Benjamin #1 comes to shops June 18.

Story: Ben H. Winters Art: Leomcs
Color: Luca Bertelè Letterer: Becca Carey
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Third Eye Comics – Kindle

Who loves Oni Press’ Benjamin? Bestselling novelist Lev Grossman, that’s who! Check out the first 10 pages of Benjamin

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Oni Press is primed to publish Benjamin, an ambitious, senses-shattering, science-fiction epic by Edgar Award nominee and Philip K. Dick Award winner Ben H. Winters and rising star Leomacs. Now, timed to FOC and ahead of the highly anticipated publication of Benjamin #1 on June 18, Oni Press is unleashing a reality-altering 10-page preview and trailer. Check out the trailer above and preview below!

Benjamin is the rare kind of story that does the seemingly impossible: define an entirely new genre for the comic medium, while also feeling so artfully constructed and well told that it feels like that it has actually existed for decades.  And the dueling contradictions of BENJAMIN don’t end there. This extraordinary story of a science fiction writer’s unexpected resurrection is warm, funny, and very much down to Earth on one hand, while, on the other, it’s also a mind-expanding, galaxy-spanning karma trip that questions the very nature of existence itself. Ben H. Winters and Leomacs have conjured something spectacular with Benjamin – and, regardless of it (or Benjamin J. Carp’s) true nature, rest assured: you’re unlikely to encounter a story of this caliber and psychic calibration anywhere else, at this in this dimension.

– Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson

In Benjamin, novelist and science-fiction icon Benjamin J. Carp was science fiction’s greatest mind. The author of 44 novels and hundreds of short stories — including the counterculture classic The Man They Forgot to Erase — died too young, in the year 1982, following decades of amphetamine abuse and Southern California excess. 

And then: Benjamin J. Carp is back, alive in a burned-out motel on the fringes of Los Angeles in the year 2025, some four decades after his death. He shouldn’t exist. Is he a dream? A robot? A ghost? A clone? A simulation? In his own time, Carp pondered all of these scenarios through his fiction—and, now, as he treks from Studio City to Venice Beach and onward into the paranoid sprawl of 21st-century Los Angeles, he must investigate his greatest mystery yet: himself. 

Here’s what people are saying about Benjamin:

Benjamin is cosmically brilliant. You have never been on a trip like this.

— Lev Grossman (The Magicians, The Bright Sword)

“STOP! Put down your Psy-Tac Intercommulator and listen! Benjamin, the new Oni Press series from stalwart writer Ben H. Winters and artist Leomacs plumbs the cosmic depths to explore the mysteries of time, space, and fiction! Taking a hint from the mad later scribblings of Philip K. Dick, Benjamin posits: what if Dick woke up in a hotel room 43 years after his death? The answer? It involves stealing a dog and going through a dead father’s collection of sci-fi first editions! Now pick up your Psy-Tac Intercommulator, and call your LCS to pre-order the mind-bendy travails of a man lost in time…a man called BENJAMIN!”

— Christopher Condon (Ultimate Wolverine, That Texas Blood)

Presented in a prestige, ad-free format with 30 pages of story content and premium cardstock covers on every issue, Benjamin #1 will materialize in comic shops everywhere on June 18, 2025 with hallucinatory covers by multiple Eisner Award winner Christian Ward, acclaimed interior artist Leomacs, and visionary artist Malachi Ward.

Benjamin #1

Benjamin #1 Shatters Time-Space Reality in Everyday Los Angeles – Coming Soon from Oni Press!

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Oni Press has unveiled the first look inside Benjamin #1, the full-length comic debut of writer Ben Winters, creator of CBS’ acclaimed TV series Tracker and author of the Edgar Award-winning and Philip K. Dick Award-winning The Last Policeman novel trilogy with artwork by acclaimed illustrator Leomacs!

In the tradition of Philip K. Dick’s A Scanner Darkly and Thomas Pynchon’s Inherent Vice comes a uniquely fascinating and hilariously deranged excursion into the metatextual nexus where existence and oblivion, past and future, genius and madness, and glitter and grim reality all meet just beyond Hollywood Boulevard in the first of three prestige-format, ad-free issues unlike anything you’ve ever experienced . . . in this timeline anyway . . .

More than just a writer, more than just a science-fiction icon, Benjamin J. Carp was a cultural revolutionary. Across 44 novels and hundreds of short stories—including the counterculture classic The Man They Couldn’t Erase—Carp pushed the boundaries of literary respectability for the sci-fi genre and his readers’ perception of reality itself . . . until decades of amphetamine abuse and Southern California excess finally ended a mind-bending career that always just escaped mainstream success. He died in 1982.

Until 2025 . . . when Benjamin J. Carp awakens, alive, in a burned-out motel on the fringes of Los Angeles. He remembers dying. He knows he shouldn’t exist. Is he a dream? A robot? A ghost? A clone? A simulation? In his own time, Carp pondered all of these scenarios intensely through his fiction—and, now, as he treks from Studio City to Venice Beach and onward into the paranoid sprawl of 21st-century Los Angeles, he will be called to investigate his greatest mystery yet: himself.

Published across three extra-long, ad-free chapters featuring enhanced design elements and deluxe, cardstock covers… Benjamin #1 will feature psychotropic cover art by Christian Ward, Leomacs, and Malachi Ward.

Benjamin #1

Charles Soule’s 27: Crossroad Blues Goes IndieGoGo to Become a Movie

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27firstset_coverWriter Charles Soule is having a hell of a year. Not only is he taking over DC Comics Swamp Thing, but he’s also got Strange Attractors for Archaia Press and the upcoming Letter 44 from Oni Press this year as well (plus I’m sure more that’s yet to be announced). Now add into that mix, a movie.

Soule and director James Cooper have teamed up to bring the Faustian supernatural drama, 27: Crossroad Blues to the screen. They are turning to crowd funding on Indiegogo to make it to raise the film’s $65,000 budget over a 30-day all-or-nothing campaign.

Based on Soule’s Image Comics series, 27, and adapted to a live action short film, 27: Crossroad Blues is inspired by the legend of 1930s blues musician Robert Johnson selling his soul in exchange for extraordinary guitar skills. Young Bobby approaches the crossroads to make a deal with the devil. A deal is made, but that’s about the only thing that goes as expected. Turns out, the devil’s not the only supernatural entity interested in Bobby’s magic hands. The story puts an otherworldly twist on the events leading up to the singers mysterious death at the age of 27.

The short story was originally published in the first collected volume of 27. Soule has adapted his story for the screen, with the production being produced and directed by Cooper. Peter Mabrucco and Yaw Attuah will serve as Co-Producers. Upon completion of the film, 27: Crossroad Blues will tour comic conventions across North America before rolling it out on the film festival circuit.

The cast includes Benjamin Watson as Bobby, Elias Toufexis as Erebus, Stephen Hart as The Devil, and Christine Horne as The Nine.

Joining Cooper behind the camera is award-winning Visual Effects Supervisor Martin Tori and award-winning Director of Photography Pasha Patriki.  Composing the film’s original score is Andrew Raiher.

You can help pitch in and make this happen!