DENVER #1 From Mad Cave Studios Brings Dystopian Survival, Surveillance, and Collapse This August

The world drowned. Humanity scattered. And somehow, Denver survived — but barely, familia.

Mad Cave Studios is turning up the pressure with DENVER, a new dystopian thriller where the so-called “last safe city on Earth” may be one bad decision away from total collapse. In a near-future world swallowed by rising oceans, Denver stands as one of the final controlled safe zones, where resources are rationed, citizens are watched, and survival comes with a price tag heavier than a Midtown parking ticket.

At the center of the chaos is Max Flynn, a veteran border officer trying to hold his family together inside a system built on control. But when his wife is kidnapped and he’s forced into a betrayal that could crack the city wide open, Max has to descend into Denver’s underbelly and face the ugly truth hiding beneath all that “safety.” Spoiler-free warning: this ain’t cozy apocalypse. This is surveillance, scarcity, desperation, and that beautiful comic book madness where one man’s personal mission can threaten an entire civilization.

“With two of us growing up in the age of Heavy Metal, it makes sense that Justin and I set out to build a world far outside the safety of mainstream comics, one that embraces adult material and violence without ever feeling gratuitous,” said Jimmy Palmiotti. “We wanted a place where the brutality has weight, the characters feel real, and the story makes sense on its own harsh terms. Our goal was to give readers someone to care about in a world that doesn’t care back. And with Pier Brito’s explosive visual style driving every page, we’ve created an adventure that we think looks and hits like nothing else out there.”

Justin Gray added, “Jimmy and I spent many years creating comics together, so it’s exciting to see one of our creator-owned projects reaching a new audience through Mad Cave. I think readers who enjoy beautifully illustrated sci-fi crime stories with a strong atmosphere and character work are going to find a lot to enjoy in Denver.”

“Working on Denver was a blast. Jimmy and Justin’s vision of this massive Tower of Babel-like city in the middle of the sea, visually, I find very inspiring,” said Pier Brito. “There is a feeling of a broader world behind this story, which I hope intrigues the reader. It was a big challenge and a great opportunity to work on a book where I can help visualize such a scenario, from pencils to final color.”

With Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray writing, Pier Brito handling art and colors, Bill Tortolini on letters, and covers from Amanda Conner, Pier Brito, Uko Smith, and Dave Johnson, DENVER #1 is looking like a gritty, high-stakes survival ride built for readers who like their sci-fi with teeth, attitude, and a little “oh no, society is cooked” flavor.

DENVER #1 hits comic shops August 26, 2026, with Final Order Cutoff on August 3, 2026. Tell your LCS now, because when the last safe city starts falling apart, you do not want to be the person saying, “Wait, what issue was that?” That’s how pull-list regret gets born.

Stay up to date with Mad Cave Studios—and its imprints Papercutz, Maverick, and Nakama Press on social media, or visit www.madcavestudios.com to explore new releases, licensed series, and creator-owned titles.