Dynamite and Coffin Comics announce a Co-Publishing Agreement
After a photo teased it, Dynamite Entertainment and Coffin Comics have announced the start of a historic co-publishing agreement, set to offer fans the ultimate collaboration and releases many have been waiting on for years. Following the surprise in-person announcement at Swornfest 2026 in Mesa, Arizona, this past weekend, after extensive meetings and planning between Dynamite’s Nick Barrucci and Coffin’s Brian Pulido, the full cast of characters and world of the original Chaos! Comics line will be reunited for limited-time reprint collections and merchandise, available through multiple channels, including direct-to-consumer crowdfunding campaigns and the direct market.
It all kicks off soon with a massive Kickstarter showcasing the character that began it all — Evil Ernie! In a projected three-volume set, all of the beloved original misadventures of the Evil One will be collected comprehensively for the first time ever. Presented in multiple formats, the books will amount to well over 1,500 pages. Each edition will feature a unique cover. Smiley, the Psychotic Button’s specials and solo stories will also be included in this set, while other superstars, including Lady Death, Purgatori, and Chastity will have appearances. Key storylines, including Youth Gone Wild, The Resurrection, Revenge, Straight to Hell, Destroyer, and more, will be presented in these can’t-miss tomes.
Future Kickstarter campaigns will focus on Lady Death, Purgatori, Chastity, and the Coffin universe.
As further details are confirmed, Dynamite and Coffin will keep fans up to date on book contents, formats, pricing, and launch dates. Other goodies projected to be offered include limited-edition issue reprints with epic enhancements, like metal or glow-in-the-dark effects, on top of all-new artwork from top names. A trading card set is being considered for parallel development. Posters, prints, T-shirts, patches, and challenge coins are planned.
The thrill ride mythos of Chaos! began in 1991 with the debut of Evil Ernie created by writer Brian Pulido and brought to life by the late great Steven Hughes. A couple years later, the scope and success of the effort expanded with the founding of a separate publisher and a string of new characters and titles including Lady Death, Purgatori, Chastity, Jade, Bad Kitty, Lady Demon, and many more. Pulido was revered by fans for his dark, pulse-pounding storytelling, great collaborative eye for artists, and unparalleled engagement with fans, aka the “Fiends.”
Steven Hughes established the iconic look for many of the Chaos! mainstays. His detail-oriented, moody artwork matched both Ernie’s edgy verve and the innovative “bad girl” trend, which featured Lady Death at the forefront. His visual blueprint laid the groundwork for countless creators who have tackled the characters to this day, including Ed Benes, Mike Deodato, Al Rio, Jim Balent, Ivan Reis, and countless others.
The Chaos! library outside of Lady Death was acquired by Dynamite Entertainment in 2010 and has featured in several best-selling comics and crossovers. Industry icons like Tim Seeley and Mirka Andolfo have contributed to the evolving characters, and they’ve crossed paths with Vampirella, Red Sonja, Hack/Slash, and more.
Pulido continues his tales of Lady Death and his reputation of connecting directly with “Sworn Nation” to this day through Coffin Comics. New characters, including La Muerta, Lady Satanus and Hellwitch, have wowed, and a new era of fans and creators keeps the energy alive with record-smashing Kickstarters and conventions.
More news on the Evil Ernie project and future plans will be coming soon!
