Oni Press has revealed Dr. Syn, a new four-issue series based on the novels by Russell Thorndike, written by Michael Uslan (Batman) and Steven S. DeKnight (Spartacus), with art by Sebastián Cabrol (Catacomb of Torment). The comic will reintroduce readers to the heroic 18th century Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn, who waged a guerrilla war against King George III as the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, after his family was killed by the Mad King. Now, Syn finds himself across the pond, as the American Revolutionary War is about to begin.
The official synopsis says, “Syn has been captured, tried, and condemned for his crimes. Forced into death by exile in the British Empire’s most inhospitable outpost — the American penal colony known as ‘Georgia’ — Syn has found himself imprisoned alongside a hardscrabble crew of his king’s most notorious ‘undesirables.’ With a mismatched team of allies fueled by the same burning vengeance for justice at his side, can England’s most dangerous revolutionary finally bring the empire down in an inferno of roaring flames… and could this backwater collection of pestilence-ridden colonies called America provide the spark? The year is 1775. And Dr. Syn’s war is about to begin.”
Uslan, 75, says, “Even as I was bearing the torch to bring Batman to the big screen as a major film franchise, or taking up writing duties on characters like Archie or the Spirit, there was always one more legend itching away in the back of mind: Dr. Syn, the proto-pulp avenger first created by author Russell Thorndike more than a century ago. Fortunately, the immensely talented Steven S. DeKnight shared my fascination, and, together with the brilliant Sebastián Cabrol, we’ve hatched a fierce new vision for a character that could be best described as ‘America’s first dark knight.’ Every revolution needs to start somewhere, and we’re so excited to share Dr. Syn with a new generation of fans and readers.”
DeKnight, 60, adds, “The story of Syn couldn’t be more of a rollicking, historical tale of action and adventure. It’s also shockingly timely. An aggrieved citizen fighting back against a mad tyrant and his oppressive government running roughshod over the common man? The echoes of this resonant throughout the ages and the vibrations from such are more relevant than ever. But that never overtakes the core of Syn, which in its bones is a thrilling homage to the serial adventures of yesteryear, chuck full of edge-of-your-seat daring heroics, narrow escapes, romance, swordplay, and everything else that makes this genre so incredibly entertaining.”
Dr. Syn was created by Thorndike in 1915, and starred in seven novels until 1944. The character has appeared in several films, audio projects, and comics before, as well as Disney’s 1963 TV serial The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, starring Patrick McGoohan, that formed the basis of a Gold Key comic of the same name. However, as Oni proclaims in the press release, this take will mark “the first major appearance of the character” in the 21st century, and “the first time the legendary British character has walked American shores.”
Issue #1 will be released on January 6, 2027, and retail at 32 pages for $4.99. It will have a main cover by Dustin Weaver, and variants by Elia Bonetti, Cabrol, Weaver, Jeffrey Alan Love, and Kelley Jones (a 1 in 50 incentive), some of which you can check out below with a preview. A blank sketch cover will also be available, along with a foil variant of Weaver’s main cover, that will retail for $8.99.
In the meantime, Uslan will attend Oni’s New York Comic Con panel on Friday, October 9, along with George Northy (Prometheus Graft), Oliver Mertz (A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts), Ryan O’Sullivan (Judge Dredd/Biker Mice from Mars), Dave Baker (Citizen: Stardust), and editors Karl Bollers and Bess Pallares. It’ll be held in North-Room S 406.1, between 4:30-5:15 pm.
Stay tuned to The Beat for more news from NYCC ’26.
