Midnight Island Vol. 1: The Automation Awakens, Ruth Roche: The Phantom Hand of Comics, School for Extraterrestrial Girls Vol. 3, and Diablomachia
From Papercutz, Mad Cave Studios, and Nakama Press
Here is the latest comics news and previews from the world of comics, including:
A new adventure from Papercutz.
Revisit the golden age of comics in Ruth Roche: The Phantom Hand of Comics.
School for Extraterrestrial Girls Vol. 3 is released in May 2026
And a new release from Nakama Press.
Stranded, chosen, and watched. The island has a plan.
From Papercutz, Midnight Island Vol. 1: The Automation Awakens, a middle-grade graphic novel, which goes on sale July 28, 2026
Mysteries unfold in this adventurous series set on an enigmatic island full of secrets and wonders—it's Lost for a younger generation!
Papercutz and Mad Cave Studios announce MIDNIGHT ISLAND VOL. 1: THE AUTOMATION AWAKENS to English-language readers for the first time, a middle-grade graphic novel from writer Lylian (The Quest of Ewilan, Ellana) and illustrator Nicolas Grebil, with translation that carries the tone and uncertainty of the original French.
Four children wake up on a deserted island. After taking refuge in an abandoned boarding school, they find an automaton who, every night at midnight, gives them a mission. If they fail or refuse to take up the challenge, the consequences could be terrible. From one mission to the next, the children explore their surroundings, encounter other participants, and try to uncover the reason for their presence on the island…
Looking ahead to readers stepping onto Midnight Island, Lylian and Nicholas Grebil shared:
“We are thrilled and delighted at the idea of American audiences discovering their story! As you’ll soon find out, this tale contains echoes of Lost and The Hunger Games, sprinkled with touches of Stranger Things and even The Walking Dead, while still forging its own unique path within middle-grade genre comics. You’re clearly not done being surprised when you set foot on Midnight Island!"
For readers ages 10-14, the 80-page Midnight Island sits between mystery and adventure, unfolding through a series of escalating challenges and discoveries. It carries the spirit of Lost for a younger audience, grounded in group dynamics, survival, and the tension of not knowing what comes next.
Midnight Island Vol. 1: The Automation Awakens goes on sale July 28, 2026, in paperback (ISBN: 9781545827260 | $9.99) and hardcover (ISBN: 9781545827277 | $14.99) formats, with Final Order Cut-off July 6. The OGN is now available for preorder at local comic shops, bookstores, and from papercutz.com.
The woman who defined the Golden Age of comics
A special graphic novel highlighting the impact on the golden age of comics from Mad Cave Studios in Ruth Roche: The Phantom Hand of Comics.
This fall, Mad Cave Studios brings long-overdue focus to Ruth Roche, a defining voice of the Golden Age who helped shape comics from behind the scenes.
Announcing RUTH ROCHE: THE PHANTOM HAND OF COMICS, a graphic biography written by Eisner-nominated editor Joe Corallo (DC Pride: To The Farthest Reaches, Archie Horror Presents: Chilling Adventures) and artist Meghan Hetrick (Bodies, Red Thorn), with colors by Dee Cunniffe (Marvel Rivals, DareDevil: Woman without Fear) and letters by Morgan Martinez (Galaxy of Madness), bringing a long-overlooked figure in comics history into view, told in the medium she helped shape.
Finally, a book that highlights the pioneering, yet too often overlooked, comics career of Ruth Roche using the medium she most closely worked in as a writer, editor, and business partner to the legendary Jerry Iger. Following Ruth's journey from a young woman with a penchant for storytelling, through the Golden Age of comics, where Ruth worked in the midst of the action--until the fateful Wertham Trials brought all of it to an end.
For Corallo and Hetrick, bringing Ruth Roche’s story forward meant confronting both her absence and her impact.
“As a lover of both comics and history, I made it a point years ago to explore the Golden Age of comics,” said writer Joe Corallo. “One name that I would see pop up over and over again was Ruth Roche, but when I would try to look more into her, there was very little information available despite her being a major player for most of that era. Years of looking into her revealed one known photo and a handful of people acknowledging her work. It really frustrated me, which motivated me to dive deep into this research and write the most comprehensive story that could be told about Ruth at this point. I hope people who read this come away having a deeper understanding of comics, of Ruth, how women have played a pivotal role in comics from the very early days of the medium as we know it, and, unfortunately, how the more things change in comics, the more things stay the same.”
“Ruth Roche's story feels both inspiring and sobering to me,” added artist Meghan Hetrick. “As a woman working in comics today, I'm acutely aware of how many women helped shape this industry, only to have their names fade from the conversation over time. Ruth's work is a reminder that the history of comics is far broader and richer than we often acknowledge. I hope readers come away not only appreciating her contributions but also feeling a renewed curiosity about the creators whose voices have been overlooked.”
A biography with historical reconstruction, Ruth Roche: The Phantom Hand of Comics restores a key creative force to the broader history of comics, aligning with titles like Tell Me a Story Where the Bad Girl Wins: The Life and Art of Barbara Shermund by Caitlin McGurk and the influential historical work of Trina Robbins, underscoring a growing interest in biographical and archival comics scholarship.
Ruth Roche: The Phantom Hand of Comics goes on sale October 13, 2026, in paperback (ISBN: 9781545812624 | $19.99) and hardcover (ISBN: 9781545827376 | $29.99) formats. Final order cut-off is September 21, and it is now available for preorder at your favorite bookstore, comics shop, and directly from Mad Cave.
Beach plans meet an intergalactic threat!
School for Extraterrestrial Girls Vol. 3 is getting ready for the hot weather in May from Papercutz!
School is out, the beach is calling, and the end of the world might be arriving first.
Papercutz and Mad Cave Studios are proud to announce SCHOOL FOR EXTRATERRESTRIAL GIRLS VOL. 3, the next installment in the sci-fi series from award-winning writer Jeremy Whitley (Princeless, The Dog Knight, My Little Pony, Unstoppable Wasp) and series artist Jamie Noguchi, blending humor, heart, and high-stakes adventure in a world where identity, belonging, and friendship are just as important as saving the universe.
Picking up after the revelations of the first two volumes, this chapter shifts from questions to answers and the fallout that comes with them.
An armada from The Lacertillian Empire - Tara's people - are on the way to Earth and nobody knows why. There are only days before the strongest battlecruisers from the largest and most dangerous empire in the galaxy arrive and our girls are on the clock to help their headmasters figure out why they're coming and how to defend the world. Are they coming to eliminate Misako after destroying her home planet? Are they coming to reclaim Tara for some crime of her family? Or is there something far more dangerous on their agenda? Tara, Misako, Summer, Kat, and their friends are back and this time the fate of Earth is in their hands. Let's just hope they figure it out in time!
For Whitley, this volume marks a turning point in the series:
“All of Tara’s questions are about to be answered, and the answers just might tear apart the life she’s spent the past year rebuilding. Whatever happens next, Tara, Misako, Summer, Kat, and the School for Extraterrestrial Girls will never be the same.”
Jamie Noguchi added, “For those who’ve needed a hug so big it lifts you off the ground, for those who feel the magic when they’re with that special someone, for those who are afraid of the future and face it anyway, and for those who love a little bit of drama, this one’s for you.”
School for Extraterrestrial Girls Vol. 3 blends emotional storytelling with humor and action, landing squarely with middle-grade readers (10-14) who gravitate toward character-driven sci-fi, friendship under pressure, and worlds on the brink.
The title goes on sale May 19, 2026, in paperback (ISBN: 9781545826430 | $12.99) and hardcover (ISBN: 9781545826447 | $19.99), and will be available wherever books and comics are sold. Preorder from papercutz.com today!
Where demons protect and truth cuts deeper than fear…
An interesting-looking new manga from Nakama Press is coming soon with Diablomachia.
Mad Cave Studios, under its Nakama Press imprint, presents DIABLOMACHIA VOL. 1, a dark fantasy from Italian manga creator Da Hosoi (pseudonym of Daniele Magrì). A story where friendship defies fate, and demons aren’t always what they seem…
Neve is no ordinary summoner—he calls forth demons not to terrorize humanity, but to protect them. These gentle creatures have been hunted in the underworld for their kindness, and Earth is their only refuge. But peace never lasts. Rival demons are closing in, determined to shatter Neve’s sanctuary from within. As Neve awakens strange new powers, he must confront enemies on all sides—and a truth that will upend everything he thought he knew about his mission, his demons, and himself.
Trained in Japan under legendary artists including Tetsuo Hara, Tsukasa Hōjō, and Nobuhiko Horie, Hosoi blends the visual discipline of Japanese comics with a European storytelling sensibility, shaping a voice that feels both rooted and entirely his own.
The work came together through constant revision and self-reflection. Hosoi shared:
“Diablomachia is a very important story to me, and writing it was not easy at all. I’m an author who constantly questions my own work, which led me to rewrite the story many times before arriving at the final version. Also, drawing it gave me quite a few difficulties. I’m a big fan of fight and action scenes, but I’m not sure I’m very good at creating them. I know I still have a long way to go in this regard, but I wanted to give a sense of dynamism to Neve and to the battles he faces throughout the story. Through his adventures, I was able to express what truly mattered to me: the fear of relying on others, of placing one’s trust in someone or something, and the courage required to overcome one’s own fragilities. I hope readers can feel at ease in Neve’s world and become passionate about his journey of growth, approaching it lightly and perhaps even having fun along with him and his demon friends!”
Perfect for readers drawn to the emotional stakes and character-driven action of My Hero Academia, Diablomachia Vol. 1 offers a fresh take on the summoner mythos—where empathy is power, alliances are fragile, and nothing is as it seems.
Diablomachia Vol. 1 drops in shops August 18, 2026, in paperback (ISBN: 9781545827628 | $10.99). Preorder at your favorite bookstore, comic shop, or from nakamapress.com.
