Jeff Lemire has shown off the final cover for his next graphic novel series. Mr. Oblivion Book 1: Incantations is “the first in a 3-part graphic novel series to be published by Harper Alley Books,” Lemire said, “written by me and illustrated by the incomparable Teddy Kristiansen,” Bleeding Cool reports.
The series follows Marty McCabe, who 20 years ago was Mr. Oblivion, the world’s greatest occult detective. His Merlin Mask, an artifact of enormous power, could crack any case, but the more he used it, the more it ate away at his soul. After hitting rock bottom, Marty checked himself into rehab, walked away from the mask and built a quiet life with his family and a fairly bland real estate business.
That life falls apart when a ritualistic murder in his town feels a little too familiar. With the FBI floundering and the killer still at large, Marty puts the mask on again, whatever it costs him.
Mr. Oblivion is the lead title in HarperAlley’s first list of graphic novels for adults, which the HarperCollins imprint plans to launch in summer 2027, Publishers Weekly reported. The publisher describes the book as a story about “family, addiction, mortality, and the masks we all wear.” Retail listings show Book 1 at 208 pages, scheduled for June 8, 2027.
Each of the three volumes will run more than 200 pages. The trilogy is part of a five-book deal Lemire signed with HarperAlley. One of the other two books will be a standalone graphic novel drawn by Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, while the fifth has not been revealed.
Lemire and Kristiansen have worked together before on Black Hammer: Spiral City. Lemire is known for Essex County, Sweet Tooth, Descender and Gideon Falls, while Kristiansen, a Danish artist, is known for his work on The Sandman, The Dreaming and the Superman graphic novel It’s a Bird…
It is part of a growing slate of big original graphic novels set for mid-2027, alongside books like Jake Tapper’s Klaus Barbie graphic novel.
