POP KILL Gets Bigger, Bloodier, and Sweeter With BIG CANDY, Coming This October From Mad Cave Studios!

New enemies, corporate conspiracies, candy-coated carnage, and a brutal battle for control of the world’s sweetest empire kick off an explosive new POP KILL saga.

The Cola Wars are over, fam. Now the Sugar Wars are ready to turn the entire candy aisle into a crime scene.

This fall, Mad Cave Studios unleashes POP KILL: BIG CANDY, an explosive new chapter in the fan-favorite action satire from acclaimed creators Jimmy Palmiotti and Dave Johnson. They are joined by artist Juan Santacruz, colorist Vittorio Astone, and letterer Sean Konot, bringing readers familiar faces, bigger stakes, fresh enemies, and one seriously twisted conspiracy hiding underneath the world’s sweetest corporations. Because apparently regular corporate greed was not wild enough. Now they are fighting over candy. WEPA!

Jon Pyle and Dina Deluxe survived the violent chaos of the original POP KILL, but eight months later, their relationship is hanging on by a thread. The chemistry is still there, but so are the scars, bad decisions, and enough emotional baggage to fill a delivery truck. Just as the two try to figure out how to move forward without each other, Dina unveils a revolutionary sugar substitute capable of changing the entire candy industry. Great for consumers. Terrible news for the powerful corporations making mountains of cash off the sweet stuff. Naturally, the candy industry handles this maturely by sending killers after them.

A secret consortium representing the world’s most powerful candy companies marks Jon and Dina for death, forcing the former couple back together and straight into another deadly chase. This time, they are not only fighting for their lives. They are caught in a war for control of an empire where sugar is more valuable than gold and everybody wants a piece of the action.

POP KILL: BIG CANDY #1 will arrive with eight cover options from an all-star lineup of comic-book talent, including JG Jones, Amanda Conner, Ben Caldwell, Brian Stelfreeze, and Dave Johnson.

The lineup includes a black bag variant by Brian Stelfreeze, a 1:10 Amanda Conner virgin cover, a 1:20 Ben Caldwell pencil variant, a Dave Johnson foil cover, and a blank sketch variant for collectors looking to add their own flavor to the madness.

“POP KILL: BIG CANDY doesn’t just escalate, it detonates, erupting into a sugar-fueled riot of adult chaos that makes our first run look like a warm-up,” Jimmy Palmiotti said. “Mad Cave gave us one directive: Go wild. So we ripped off the brakes and hurled Jon Pyle and Dina Deluxe into a world where sugar is worth more than gold.”

Palmiotti also praised Juan Santacruz’s return, describing the artist as being back behind the wheel and steering the series directly into madness, while an army of top comic artists delivers a collection of knockout covers.

Dave Johnson added that POP KILL: BIG CANDY will satisfy readers with a sweet tooth, a hunger for nonstop action, or an appreciation for completely unhinged villains.

Blending corporate conspiracy, candy-coated ultraviolence, relationship drama, sharp social satire, and enough chaos to give your dentist nightmares, POP KILL: BIG CANDY doubles down on everything that made the original series a cult favorite. Fans of POP KILL, The Boys, and Bullet Train should absolutely have this one on their radar. This is not some innocent trip to the corner store for a chocolate bar. This is corporate warfare with bullets, betrayal, and a body count.

POP KILL: BIG CANDY #1 goes on sale October 7, 2026, with a Final Order Cut-Off date of September 14, 2026. Readers can contact their favorite local comic shop to preorder a copy or order directly through Mad Cave Studios.

Mad Cave Studios will also be exhibiting at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, taking place July 23 through July 26. Fans can visit Booth #2806 for a first look at The Last Starfighter, along with the publisher’s newest licensed releases and acclaimed creator-owned titles.

Stay connected with Mad Cave Studios and its imprints, Papercutz, Maverick, and Nakama Press, through social media or visit www.madcavestudios.com to explore upcoming releases, licensed series, original graphic novels, and creator-owned comics.

The Sugar Wars are coming.

Bring your sweet tooth, keep your head down, and do not trust anybody carrying a lollipop.