Tag Archives: oliver mertz

Get Ready For a Spooky, Spellbinding, and Seriously Stunning Autumn with Oni Press’ Fall 2026 Slate of Creator-Owned Graphic Novels

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Oni Press has announced their ambitious and eclectic fall slate of creator-owned graphic novels for fall 2026. The list of titles is far-ranging, both in their ambition and their range of genres.

A GHOST ARM MADE OF ANGRY GHOSTS HC

WRITTEN BY OLIVER MERTZ
ART & COVER BY ALEX DIOTTO

From writer and colorist extraordinaire Oliver Mertz (The Monuments, First Law of Mad Science) and acclaimed artist Alex Diotto (Youth, Indigo Children) comes a weird tale of conspiracy, faded superheroics, and suburban angst in ʼ90s Washington, D.C.

Sixteen-year-old Ari Ackerman just witnessed a murder. Or two. Or maybe he didn’t. He’s not quite sure. What he does know is that he loves the Washington, D.C., punk scene and is trying very hard to process the perpetual impending death (and frequent resurrections) of his cancer-stricken father. Ari’s best friend, Maya Meng, just wants to hang out and go see Jawbox play at the Black Cat. But sadly, an escalating series of unexplained deaths can really ruin a perfectly good day.

For readers who like What’s the Furthest Place from Here?, Love and Rockets, David Lynch, Daniel Clowes, Seinfeld, Agatha Christie, Powers, Fugazi, and Wes Anderson, A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts is sure to evoke all the feelings that come with being an outsider, making sense of the world around you, and finding your place in it.

$29.99 | 184 PGS | FC
FOC: 8/10/2026
On Sale: 9/2/2026

A GHOST ARM MADE OF ANGRY GHOSTS HC

MOON DEER HC

WRITTEN & ART BY YOANN KAVEGE

From stunning emerging French cartoonist Yoann Kavege, travel the stars with Moon Deer to keep his quarry safe and complete his mission. Read this exquisitely rendered galaxy chase in English for the first time!

To keep his precious egg safe from the mysterious hunter on his trail, little Moon Deer must flee across the infinite and empty space at the risk of his life. In this mostly wordless breathtaking graphic novel, an intergalactic chase unfolds that could seal the fate of the universe—ravaged by the dreaded True Silence—where one small deer is the last thing standing between humanity and complete annihilation.

$24.99 | 208 PGS | FC
FOC: 8/31/2026
On Sale: 9/22/26

MOON DEER HC

HAUNTED COMIC CLUB SC

WRITTEN BY JOSH TIERNEY
ART BY CAITLIN SOLIMAN

Eisner-nominated writer Josh Tierney (World Piece, Iris Complex) joins longtime collaborator Caitlin Soliman (Iris Complex) in this spooky middle-grade graphic novel about ghosts, friendship, and making comics!

Will and Anita are two lonely tweens who find themselves alone together in the art room of the local after school club. After gushing over each other’s work—Will’s writing and Anita’s art—the two team up to make their own comic about a local urban legend—a teen counselor who haunts the club after a tragic demise. Anita and Will research the ghost and develop their story, forming a strong friendship. But can they overcome bullies at the club and problems at home to become great friends and collaborators?

$16.99 | 228 PGS | FC
FOC: 9/14/2026
On Sale: 10/6/2026

HAUNTED COMIC CLUB SC

CANTICLE OF LOST SOULS HC

WRITTEN BY MICHELE MONTELEONE
ILLUSTRATED BY FREDDIE TANTO
COLORED BY FRANCESCO SEGALA

This dark exploration of identity and responsibility in the face of evil from Michele Monteleone (Dylan Dog) and Freddie Tanto (Ghost Stories) is an engrossing journey for fans of young adult fantasy!

Teenage orphan Leah lives in a small village a few miles away from the deadly swamp. According to local legend, in ancient times the swamp was a lake with an imposing castle at the center, until someone awoke something behind those walls that needed to be kept asleep, and the castle collapsed as the swamp took over. Now people live precariously on its borders, as the swamp spawns “things” that the Church calls Demons.

When her village’s greatest hero is killed fighting off one of these monsters, leaving the shriveled, weak remnant of its evil contained in a lantern, Leah is chosen to carry the demon to the center of the swamp and cast it into the black pit. But as she journeys she’ll encounter greater threats than that held tightly in her hand, and the demon raises questions about why Leah would risk her life for the village that would send her on this perilous task in the first place.

What will Leah find in the ruins of the collapsed castle and the black pit? How far do we have to travel to know ourselves?

$24.99 | 144 PGS | FC
FOC: 10/19/2026
On Sale: 11/10/2026

CANTICLE OF LOST SOULS HC

Crowdfunding Corner: A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts is superpowered murder in the D.C. punk scene

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Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

Eternal life of the perpetually terminally ill, teen angst, and a superpowered murder all play out in the D.C. punk scene of the 1990s.

A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts #1 is a perfect-bound, double-sized issue that is 58 pages long! Available now on Kickstarter. 

Ari Ackerman is a straight-edge teenager in command of absolutely nothing but his extreme awkwardness. He’s obsessed with the D.C. punk/post-hardcore music scene and is trying very hard to process the perpetual impending death of his cancer-stricken father. Oh, and he has stumbled upon a murder. Or two murders. He’s not quite sure. He also just saw Fugazi play in a church basement. So it’s not all bad news for him.

Maya Meng is Ari’s best friend, and unfortunately, soon to be his accomplice. She just wants to hang out, get high, and go see Jawbox play at the Black Cat. But sadly, a series of unexplained deaths can really ruin a perfectly good day. 

Sona Summerhill has just stumbled upon a murder. Or not. She’s not quite sure. What she does know is that she’s obsessed with horror films and one day hopes to make a movie. While messing around with a camcorder, she spots Ari colluding with person of interest and local superhero Gamut. Things are going to be awkward when Ari and Sona see each other at school!

A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts is a love letter to D.C. punk/hardcore music, growing up in the DMV area in the 90s, dealing with family loss, and really good “pull at the threads, follow the clues” style murder mysteries. Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery?

By Oliver Mertz, Alex Diotto, Taylor Esposito, and featuring covers by Alex Diotto, Alison Sampson, Jim Mahfood, and Ted Brandt and Ro Stein, the campaign ends on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 3:15 PM EDT.

Crowdfunding Corner: A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts is superpowered murder in the D.C. punk scene

Posted on by

Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing.

Eternal life of the perpetually terminally ill, teen angst, and a superpowered murder all play out in the D.C. punk scene of the 1990s.

A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts #1 is a perfect-bound, double-sized issue that is 58 pages long! Available now on Kickstarter. 

Ari Ackerman is a straight-edge teenager in command of absolutely nothing but his extreme awkwardness. He’s obsessed with the D.C. punk/post-hardcore music scene and is trying very hard to process the perpetual impending death of his cancer-stricken father. Oh, and he has stumbled upon a murder. Or two murders. He’s not quite sure. He also just saw Fugazi play in a church basement. So it’s not all bad news for him.

Maya Meng is Ari’s best friend, and unfortunately, soon to be his accomplice. She just wants to hang out, get high, and go see Jawbox play at the Black Cat. But sadly, a series of unexplained deaths can really ruin a perfectly good day. 

Sona Summerhill has just stumbled upon a murder. Or not. She’s not quite sure. What she does know is that she’s obsessed with horror films and one day hopes to make a movie. While messing around with a camcorder, she spots Ari colluding with person of interest and local superhero Gamut. Things are going to be awkward when Ari and Sona see each other at school!

A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts is a love letter to D.C. punk/hardcore music, growing up in the DMV area in the 90s, dealing with family loss, and really good “pull at the threads, follow the clues” style murder mysteries. Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery?

By Oliver Mertz, Alex Diotto, Taylor Esposito, and featuring covers by Alex Diotto, Alison Sampson, Jim Mahfood, and Ted Brandt and Ro Stein, the campaign ends on Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 12:01 AM EDT.

Discover the new mech mystery Let His Death Be a Warning for Free

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Let His Death Be a Warning

The first chapter of Let His Death Be a Warning, the follow-up to the hit indie sci-fi fantasy graphic novel The Monuments, is now available online for free. 

Let His Death Be a Warning is a beautifully illustrated mystery/adventure story from Oliver Mertz, Michael S. Bracco, and Mike Isenberg.

The first issue/first chapter of The Monuments was released in September 2018. Volume one was released through a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign that raised $50,000. Now the story continues for free online at LetHisDeathBeAWarning.com. 

Let His Death Be a Warning is a story about grief, healing, and giant mechs.

EIGHT HUNDRED YEARS AGO
On the remote island of Mehndria, warring city-states band together to face a common enemy: giant, mysterious mechs. All hope seems lost as the mechs destroy everything in their path. 

Then inexplicably and without cause, the mechs all power down. They remain motionless for centuries, untouched, becoming monuments to a forgotten time.

ONE YEAR AGO
On the now unified island of Mehndria, one of the mechs suddenly powers up – revealing a man lost in time. The mechs begin to wake. Destruction follows.

TODAY
Still dealing with the aftermath of the great awakening, the citizens of United Mehndria must deal with their collective trauma. Disrupting this time of healing, one of the mechs goes missing.

The first chapter of Let His Death Be a Warning is available now for free.

The Monuments Comes to Kickstarter and is Funded in 12 hours

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The Monuments

Sci-fi fantasy graphic novel The Monuments is now live on Kickstarter, was funded in 12 hours, and has now collected over $21,000 in pledges. 

The Monuments is a 140 page, beautifully illustrated, mystery/adventure story from Oliver Mertz, Michael S. Bracco, and Mike Isenberg.

The first issue/first chapter of The Monuments was released in September 2018. This Kickstarter is to fund the printing for the complete graphic novel. 

The Monuments is about a fantasy world in which four warring city-states are forced to come together to face a common enemy: giant mysterious mechs. Right before wiping out the entire civilization, the mechs all power down for no clear reason, leaving the survivors to rebuild their world together.

800 years later. The world has moved on. The city-states are now united as one nation: a land littered with massive robotic relics that serve as monuments to a long-forgotten war.

After centuries of dormancy, one of these long-frozen mechs suddenly powers up, revealing a man who is confused, misplaced in time, and still very much alive.

Kickstarter Spotlight: Chatting The First Law of Mad Science with Mike Isenberg & Oliver Mertz

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At Awesome Con this past weekend, I chatted with comic creators Mike Isenberg and Oliver Mertz about their comic series First Law of Mad Science.

They’re currently running a Kickstarter to print the first five issues of First Law of Mad Science as a trade paperback, 164 pages, and a new anthology issue (68 pages). That’s over 230 pages of comics!

Check out the interview, and if you’re interested, you can pledge now to their project.