Comixology Originals will debut a new graphic novel from writer Michael Conrad, debut comic artist Nathan Ooten, letterer Kyle Arends, and editor Zane Barrow this week, with a print edition from Dark Horse Books to follow next spring. Neptune is described as “a tale of revenge and redemption” that Conrad says is borderline horror.
“Following books like Tremor Dose and Double Walker isn’t easy. I remain quite proud of both of those stories,” said Conrad. “With Neptune, I wanted to rip something from the headlines and address it in a graphic novel. The result feels far less like ‘entertainment’ and more like observing a car crash, a thing you don’t wish to see, but can’t look away from.
“Nathan Ooten nailed it. Each page manages to be at once a beautiful display of his multimedia approach to sequential art, and a profane representation of quite vile subject matter,” he continued.
Neptune follows Corey Harrison as he’s freed from 17 years in prison for a violent crime. In investigating the recent, mysterious death of his brother, he’s forced to confront his past and what it means for his future. The Beat can reveal an exclusive first look at a memory of Corey and his brother, seen below.
“Neptune wasn’t easy to create. The story contains a lot of complex and troubling elements including incarceration, murder, human trafficking, and exploitation,” said Conrad. “I hesitate to call Neptune a horror story, but it is most certainly horrific.”
“Michael Conrad’s career as a comics writer continues to grow and we’re excited to be a part of it,” added Jeff DiBartolomeo, Comixology’s GM and CTO. “It’s been thrilling to debut Michael’s creator-owned graphic novels—Tremor Dose, Double Walker, and now Neptune—with Comixology Originals. This is a heavy story that deals with complex elements that require a unique artistic touch, and we’re pleased to spotlight the work of a bright new artist in Nathan Ooten.”
Neptune will be available digitally from Comixology Originals on September 3. It will be available in print from Dark Horse Books on March 18, 2025 wherever books are sold, and on March 19, 2025 at your local comic shop.
