Lights, Camera, Action! Mad Cave Studios is introducing a brand new line of hardcover original graphic novels slated for release in 2023, with titles from industry heavy-hitters including Dan Panosian, Liana Kangas, Amit Tishler, Ennun Ana Iurov, and more! The new lineup begins with the interstellar thriller The Karman Line; written by Dennis Hopeless (Spider-Man, X-O Manowar) with art by Piotr Kowalski (Robocop, Gail), colors by Brad Simpson, and letters by Chas! Pangburn!
With cameras rolling 24/7, there’s never a dull moment at Keyhole Station. It’s all sex, lies, and betrayal in this all-access reality show streaming from space. When an international crew of astronauts receives distress calls from back home, their mission goes critical! The cameras are rolling in this fight for survival, but will these reality stars be able to stay grounded and make it back home in one piece? Tune in to The Karman Line to find out!
THE KARMAN LINE (OGN)
Writer: Dennis Hopeless – Artist: Piotr Kowalski – Colorist: Brad Simpson – Letterer: Chas! Pangburn – Editor: Joe Corallo
“There’s a reason astronaut horror is so effective. You’re trapped in a tin can with the little bit of oxygen you brought with you, trusting your life to a few coworkers and their gadgets… In an endless vacuum of death. Space is objectively terrifying. Maybe that’s why astronauts used to be so famous. Bubble-helmeted action heroes flying the hopes and dreams of humanity into the heavens. Back when you could be famous and also private. When celebrity wasn’t so invasive.
In The Karmann Line our astronauts are modern famous. 24/7-always-on-cameras-in-your-face-paparazzi-famous. Their mission is real, and just might save the human race, but only if they can keep us entertained. It’s a story about who we really are versus what we let people see and what happens when our carefully-crafted personas break down… With the whole world watching.
I’m honored to be telling this story with Piotr Kowalski. His stark linework and devastatingly human characters perfectly echo the silent terror of space.”
– Writer, Dennis Hopeless (He/Him)
Instagram: @dennishopelesscomics | Twitter: @HopelessDent
“The Karman Line is the first sci-fi comic I have been working on in more than 10 years. You can imagine how overjoyed I was when I got The Karman Line’s script. I remember my first thought was: Finally!
You see, drawing a sci-fi comic is not an easy thing. A lot of tight spaces, futuristic equipment, corridors, airlocks, space shuttles, space suits,etc. Difficult stuff. And it becomes really difficult when your approach to drawing comics is like mine has always been. I have always believed that a comic book is very much like a movie; cut to a frozen panel, but still a movie. You have the actors, film sets, specific locations, and just as in a movie your job is to make it all work. And in order to make it all work, you have to adjust your drawing style to the type of the story that was given to you. Whenever you draw monsters, vampires, surreal landscapes, dreamy visions, or beautiful girls wielding enormous guns, you can sort of ‘ unleash’ your imagination and let yourself go; you can let your lines become shaky, untidy ,maybe even less precise than usual. But…all of that wouldn’t work when you have to draw a story like The Karman Line. Stories like The Karman Line demand a specific approach: a lot of precision and diligence. Nothing can be accidental and everything has to be planned and carefully executed – I love it!
So far, working on this comic has been a wonderful exercise and a chance to apply a lot of self-discipline which is always a good thing. Besides, Dennis gave me a great script. The plot offers a few surprising twists and the members of the crew have to make tough decisions. In order to convey the inner tensions properly, a lot of precisely designed body language is necessary which, again, demands a lot of precise, realistic lines. I’m sure all the hard work will pay off in the end. Hopefully our readers will enjoy reading this comic as much as I have been enjoying drawing it.”
– Artist, Piotr Kowalski
Instagram: @piotr_kowalski_here | Twitter: @KowalskiPiotr
The Karman Line is now available for pre-order on the Mad Cave site here, and making its big premiere in stores March 2023!
Mad Cave Studios is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded by Mark London in
2014 driven by madness and committed to quality. For additional information, visit madcavestudios.com.
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