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We Double Dog Dare You. Under the Influence #1 Is Now Available!
Join the hot dog party! Our newest cyber-cult classic, Under the Influence, by New York Times-acclaimed writer Eliot Rahal (Hot Lunch Special, Bleed Them Dry, Madam Satan) with art by Stefano Simeone (The Last Days of Black Hammer, Star Wars, Star Trek, Radiant Black, Megaman), is now available at your favorite local comic shop!
When a live-streamed social media prank takes a deadly turn, social media star Paul Kozac finds himself at the head of a dangerous cyber cult. It’s up to undercover FBI agent Cara Cole to ketchup with the killer, and get to the meat of the matter before things spiral out of control!
UNDER THE INFLUENCE #1
Writer: Eliot Rahal – Artist: Stefano Simeone – Letterer: Frank Cvetkovic
Release Date: July 5th, 2023
Diamond Code:
Lunar Code:
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. This is a story about “Click to follow” cultism during the age of social media.
MAD CAVE EXCLUSIVES
To celebrate this all-new series, we’ve teamed up with illustrators Stefano Simeone (THE LAST DAYS OF BLACK HAMMER, STAR WARS, STAR TREK, RADIANT BLACK, MEGAMAN) and David Rubin (RUMBLE, ETHER, X-O MANOWAR: UNCONQUERED, BLACK HAMMER: THE END) to cook up two limited-edition Mad Cave Exclusive variant covers of Under the Influence #1!
Limited to a print run of 100 copies each, make sure to collect your very own copy while they’re hot! (We double-dog dare you.)
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.”
SEE WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING!
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"A nail-biting look into new cult leaders, social media influencers." -Jake Palermo
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"Feels current in a way that is unexpected and fascinating." -Anton Kromoff
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“Under The Influence #1 is extremely relevant in modern times. With the rise of social media, the story feels like it hits close to home. It’s a warning about the dangers of idolizing social influencers and how quickly it can turn ugly. The comic provides a window into the world of social media cultism and how it can cause harm to individuals who fall under its influence.” -Justin Soderberg
Trailer
Nothing is as it seems in the hot dog party. We’ve got a look at our freshly-cooked trailer for Under the Influence! Check it out below!
Sneak Peek!
Join the Hot Dog Party! We’ve got a sneak peek at what’s in the bun in Under the Influence #1! Click through for a first look!
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"The Tiger’s Tongue was engrained with passion, family intrigue and a sometimes-dark reality." -Martin Sexton
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“Showdowns culminate in an emotional conclusion as hubris meets personal sacrifice. The twists will keep readers on their toes in what proves a captivating tale.”
-Publisher’s Weekly
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“The story is vibrant and fresh, just what the comic book world needs... It’s smart, refreshing, and a great addition to the already great library Mad Cave has amassed.” -Nolan P. Smith
Under the Influence #1 is now available on the official website, and is available at your favorite bookstore, local comic shop, and digital comic reader!
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