Did you know that during the Cold War, a sabotaged Soviet oil pipeline blew up, and the detonation was so large you could see it from space? That’s what people say. Regardless, a new challenger approaches as the next Datum CEO claims the throne, and immediately uses it to transform fear into delicious oppression. PLUS: The Origin Story of Mr. Ipsum, an infamous ‘80s hacker who had root on the city power grid while your parents were learning to program a VCR. Tune in on the appropriate Wednesday for death memes, go bags, and the coldest war stories this side of Siberia. The largest non-nuclear explosion ever. That’s what they say.
On the night RIOT prepares to publish its most dangerous story yet, celebration curdles into dread as unseen forces begin to move. A public reckoning, a viral backlash and a sudden eruption of chaos leave Kirby marked and exposed in ways she never expected. As fear closes in from every direction, escape becomes both urgent and impossible.
A timely, biting satire with a pop-punk edge, Exploit has a lot to say about the state of the American tech oligarchy and the rise of global fascism.
Don’t bury the lede. Bury your enemies.
Kirby Kuo might be late to her true purpose in life–but no one would call the 30-something journalism intern out of time. When she uncovers a shocking secret about tech billionaire Cole Saxon, Kirby does what she has always wanted to do and publishes it. But the violence and vengeance that follows is like nothing she could have anticipated–pitting Kirby, her agoraphobic roommate, and the writing staff of the defunct magazine RIOT! to bring justice to a world where the rich get what they want without consequence.
Exploit is a timely, biting satire of the state of the American tech oligarchy with a pop-punk edge.
Rebellion starts on the page. Mad Cave Studios is proud to announce Exploit, the forthcoming four-issue technothriller from tenured journalists, former senior editor of WIRED, Laura Hudson, and Tim Leong, joined by Emiliana Pinna, Rebecca Good, and Frank Cvetkovic—with a variant by Veronica Fish. This mix of newsroom grit and tech-fueled paranoia zeroes in on what it means to live (and fight) in a world where billionaire influence shapes the truth, algorithms decide the stakes, and every notification hits hard…
Don’t bury the lede. Bury your enemies.
Kirby Kuo might be late to her true purpose in life–but no one would call the 30-something journalism intern out of time. When she uncovers a shocking secret about tech billionaire Cole Saxon, Kirby does what she has always wanted to do and publishes it. But the violence and vengeance that follows is like nothing she could have anticipated—pitting Kirby, her agoraphobic roommate, and the writing staff of the defunct magazine RIOT! to bring justice to a world where the rich get what they want without consequence.
Exploit taps into the energy of ‘90s zine culture and the unease of life inside the digital surveillance.
If you’ve ever felt burned out, watched, or worn down by collapsing industries, billionaire-owned media, and the relentless pressure of staying visible online. With its fusion of rebellion, suspense, and razor-sharp commentary, Exploit asks what it means to fight for truth when the narrative is already rigged.
Exploit #1 arrives March 4, 2026, with FOC on February 9th.
Inspired by women coming forward in the video game industry, Laura Hudson has Tweeted about her interactions with comic writer Brian Wood accusing him of sexual misconduct.
In her account, she met Wood at a bar where he grabbed her and forced her to kiss him. She then excused herself to head to the bathroom and looked him up on Wikipedia where she found out he was married. Wood then texted Hudson for weeks asking her to have sex which she refused.
This isn’t the first time Wood has been accused of such behavior. In 2013, artist Tess Fowler alleged that Wood sexually harassed her at a convention years before. Wood admitted to having “made a pass” but denied harassment or abuse. Anne Scherbina accused Wood of “making a pass” as well and then threatening her career when she didn’t agree. Scherbina says Wood then retaliated by posting a blind item that she provided sexual favors in a DC stockroom.
You can read Hudson’s full Twitter thread below.
His name was Brian Wood and I worshipped him at the time (he wrote so many strong female characters!!!). If you think this is going to go badly, you're correct. I went into a bar with him and he grabbed me he forced me into a kiss
I have a very clear memory of going to the bathroom and looking him up on Wikipedia afterwards to see if he was married, which he was. I believe his wife was pregnant at the time, but I’m not certain. If she wasn't, she was later. He didn’t care.
He texted me for weeks afterwards, telling me his wife didn’t understand him the way I did. Wanting me to come out and fuck him. I refused. I was scared. How the fuck are you supposed to react? I didn’t know what it meant to say no to my idol and I had no power at the time
That’s why the Alexis Kennedy accusations (games #metoo) should chill you to the bone. He and Brian specifically sought out young, less powerful women and exploited and used them because that’s easy, and that’s what predators do.
The day Tess started talking, he knew I liked rock climbing and for No Reason started sending me emails the Exact Same Day (we're not friends and don't talk) about his niece and how much she loves rock climbing. Def not bc I had status and he was afraid I could hurt him now pic.twitter.com/kPheWm6bbK
Brian can say whatever he wants, about how this all an inexplicable lie I told for no reason and invoke his wife he has cheated on repeatedly or the fact that HE HAS A DAUGHTER and I: don’t care. pic.twitter.com/rPefk2VCR6
I’m only saying all of this so that so no other young woman ever trusts him or puts herself into a vulnerable situation or has to hold her head in her hands for weeks because her hero treated her like garbage
And Brian: I’m saying this to you specifically because I know you will read this. If any part of you wants to make this into a story about how you’re a victim, rethink literally everything about how you function if you have any aspiration to be a basically decent person
I’ve carried this shit around for a decade like a broken bone bc you couldn’t think any more of someone who adored you and was vulnerable to you as anything other than something that was easy to fuck.
