Talk About A Cult Following! Mad Cave Studios Announces Under The Influence

Join the hot dog party! This summer, New York Times-acclaimed writer Eliot Rahal (Hot Lunch Special, Bleed Them Dry, Madam Satan) presents a thrilling cyber-cult classic with art by Stefano Simeone (The Last Days of Black Hammer, Star Wars, Star Trek, Radiant Black, Megaman)!

When a live-streamed social media prank takes a deadly turn, social media star Paul Kozac finds himself as the face of a new cyber-cult. Cue Cara Cole, F.B.I. undercover agent, to infiltrate the ranks of the Hot Dog Party!

UNDER THE INFLUENCE #1
Author: Eliot Rahal – Artist: Stefano Simeone – Letterer: Frank Cvetkovic
Cover Artist: Stefano Simeone

Synopsis: A teenage sociopath, Paul Kozac, has accidentally created an internet cult called The Hot Dog Party. When a prank turns deadly, the F.B.I. sends in an undercover agent, Cara Cole, to investigate and infiltrate their ranks. Now Cara battles against real stakes, fake news, and memes in a character-driven story about power structures and the communities you build.

Meet the Creators!

Eliot Rahal (W)
Eliot Rahal (Hot Lunch Special, Bleed Them Dry, Madam Satan) is a New York Times-acclaimed writer best known for his work in comics and his collaborations with Last Podcast on the Left, Machine Gun Kelly, and Emily Hampshire.

“Cults as an idea are very fascinating to me. How they work. The relationship between the cult members and cult leader. And now it really seems that we as a species have moved into a new era of cults through the internet.” Writer Eliot Rahal shares, “Sometimes I can’t help but think about where this is all going. Under the Influence will be a five-issue story about an internet cult that gets too big, inertia, and hot dogs. ”

Stefano Simeone (A)
Stefano Simeone (The Last Days of Black Hammer, Star Wars, Star Trek, Radiant Black, Megaman) is a comic artist from Rome, who collaborates with Disney, Pixar, Image Dark Horse, IDW, Boom! Studios, Sergio Bonelli Editore and others. His real talent is cooking and Angry Birds.

“Since I read Eliot’s first comics, I’ve wanted to work with him on something. I was sure he could cook something special. I wasn’t wrong, and he cooked Hot Dogs!” Artist Stefano Simeone mentions, “This book is about internet and socials and cultism, and tells about the most difficult age of life – when you’re too young to be an adult and too old to be a child, so you’re just stuck in the middle. I’m lucky I have the chance to bring to life all those characters with their different feelings, it’s a great challenge.”

SNEAK PEEK

Under the Influence #1 is now available for pre-order on the official Mad Cave Studios website, and will be available at your favorite bookstore, local comic shop, and digital comic reader on July 5th, 2023!

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