Going back home is awkward.
Going back home when there’s unresolved heartbreak, buried drama, and an ancient demon ready to snack on your neighbors? That’s a whole different level of “welcome back.” Mad Cave Studios is unleashing BABYLON COVE a five-issue horror romantic comedy that asks one simple question: what if your high school love triangle came back to haunt you… literally? Written by Rafer Roberts (Modern Fantasy, Grumble) and brought to life by New York Times best-selling artist Joe Eisma (Morning Glories), with haunting colors by Marissa Louise (Hex Wives), razor-sharp letters by Crank! (Hack/Slash), and a killer variant cover by Eric Powell this creative squad understood the assignment.
Heather Hutchens is not here for nostalgia. She’s a no-nonsense career woman who hasn’t stepped foot in her picturesque New England hometown in ten years. She comes back for a family funeral. That’s it. In and out. Quick trip. Except… Dennis is still there the all-American golden boy who shattered her heart in high school. Charlie is there too the shy late bloomer she barely noticed back then. And then there’s Karthon. Ancient. Demonic. Very hungry. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Stephen King got bored and decided to write a Hallmark holiday movie but kept the monsters welcome to BABYLON COVE. This series flips the love triangle on its head and sets it on fire. Polite small-town tension? Gone. Instead you get claws, chaos, emotional wreckage, and the kind of self-reflection that hits harder than a demon uprising.
“This project came about simply because it’s more fun to make comics with your friends,” said Rafer Roberts. “My first inclination was to write a romance comic to take advantage of Joe’s reputation from his Archie and Morning Glory days, but like all of my stuff, I had to subvert those expectations by adding a straight-up horror element. Babylon Cove is the product of both Joe and me, making the comics we’re known for, but at the same time making the comics we wish people would let us make. There is no other romantic comedy like Babylon Cove that has this much blood and guts, and there is no other horror out there that has this much romance and laughs. Babylon Cove is for people who say they hate romance stories, people who go to brunch because their friends drag them to brunch, and people who join book clubs and have strong opinions about why the romantic leads don’t belong together.”
Artist Joe Eisma added, “I have always wanted to draw a romance comic ever since I started my career in this industry, but I could never make it work until Rafer and I worked up the concept for Babylon Cove. We had so much fun mashing the romance genre by way of Lifetime Movies with cosmic horror. I love how Rafer subverted tropes for these types of stories and gave me so much gore to draw. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind comic, unlike anything I’ve done before! I hope folks will see how much fun and joy we had on this and have a great time with it.”
Because BABYLON COVE isn’t just about a creature stalking the streets. It’s about avoidance. It’s about self-sabotage. It’s about that desperate, human need to be loved even when we don’t love who we used to be. Sometimes the real horror isn’t the demon in the woods. It’s the version of yourself you’ve been running from.
Babylon Cove #1 (of 5) crashes into comic shops May 20, 2026, with FOC on April 27. Don’t play yourself preorder through your favorite local comic shop or grab it straight from Mad Cave Studios.
And if you’re not already tapped in, Mad Cave continues stacking heat across Papercutz, Maverick, and Nakama Press delivering creator-owned bangers and licensed hits that keep the shelves dangerous. Hit up madcavestudios.com. Stay locked in. Because romance is messy. But romance during a demonic apocalypse? That’s Babylon Cove.
Author Profile
- I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!
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