First Look: BENJAMIN #1 Shatters Time-Space Reality in Everyday Los Angeles – Coming Soon from Oni Press!
Get ready for a reality-bending trip! Oni Press is releasing a mind-twisting new series this June. BENJAMIN #1 from Oni Press promises a unique sci-fi mystery. Acclaimed writer Ben H. Winters teams up with artist Leomacs. They bring us a story unlike anything else currently on the shelves. Imagine a cult sci-fi author. He died decades ago. Now, he suddenly wakes up in modern Los Angeles. This is the strange, compelling premise of BENJAMIN. We are thrilled to share a first look inside this exciting new title from a publisher known for groundbreaking comics. This project looks set to continue that tradition.
What Twisted Reality Awaits in BENJAMIN #1 from Oni Press?
BENJAMIN #1 introduces Benjamin J. Carp. He was a revolutionary sci-fi writer in his time. Think counterculture icon, operating just outside the mainstream. His 44 novels and numerous short stories pushed boundaries. Carp explored the very nature of reality itself, often challenging literary norms for the genre. However, his career was marked by amphetamine abuse and Southern California excess. He never quite achieved widespread mainstream fame, remaining a cult figure. Benjamin J. Carp officially died in 1982.
Fast forward to the present day, 2025. Carp suddenly awakens. He finds himself in a run-down, burned-out Los Angeles motel. He vividly remembers dying decades earlier. Naturally, he questions his impossible existence. Is he a clone? A ghost? Perhaps a simulation, or even a robot? These are scenarios Carp pondered intensely in his own fiction. Now, he must investigate his own impossible reality. This realization sets him on a bewildered journey across modern LA. He travels from Studio City to Venice Beach and beyond. The 21st century presents a paranoid, unfamiliar sprawl. Carp’s greatest, most personal mystery becomes himself.
Writer Ben H. Winters is known for blending genres masterfully. His Last Policeman trilogy won both the Edgar Award and the Philip K. Dick Award. He also created the acclaimed CBS TV series Tracker. Winters brings his unique perspective and sharp writing to Carp’s bizarre story. The art comes from the acclaimed Leomacs. His work on titles like DC Black Label’s Rogues and EC’s Epitaphs from the Abyss showcases his skill in capturing atmosphere and character. Together, they craft a story drawing comparisons to literary and sci-fi classics. Imagine the metatextual paranoia of Philip K. Dick’s A Scanner Darkly. Add a dash of the hazy, sun-drenched weirdness found in Thomas Pynchon’s Inherent Vice. This comic promises a complex, character-driven narrative. It seems destined to intrigue the wider comic book community.
First Look: Carp Navigates a Strange New World
The provided preview pages offer a fantastic glimpse into Carp’s initial disorientation. Writer Ben H. Winters helps set the scene: “In this sequence from early in the first issue of BENJAMIN, our cranky, hyperarticulate, cult sci-fi author hero Benjamin J. Carp has just been kicked out of the motel room where he woke up.” He explains that the motel manager reasonably assumes Carp is just some drunk or squatter. Carp, however, retains no memories of how he arrived there, especially since his last memory is dying back in 1982.
Winters continues, “Out on the street he is astonished at the strange new world (which he thinks has ripped him off) and is rescued by this sweet earnest young man named Marcus, who works at the motel.” This early interaction highlights Carp’s prickly personality. It also effectively establishes his profound confusion in this unfamiliar timeline. Leomacs’ accompanying art brilliantly captures the gritty LA setting. Furthermore, it conveys Carp’s bewilderment and the strangeness of his situation effectively. The visuals perfectly complement Winters’ sharp, character-focused writing. This first issue clearly sets a compelling stage for the rest of the series.
The series arrives in a special format designed for collectors and readers seeking an immersive experience. Oni Press is releasing BENJAMIN across three extra-long issues. Each issue features a prestige format. This typically means higher quality paper and deluxe cardstock covers. Importantly, the publisher confirms these issues are completely ad-free. This allows for an uninterrupted dive into Carp’s bizarre journey. Each installment boasts 32 pages of story and art. Oni Press also emphasizes enhanced design elements, suggesting a carefully crafted presentation worthy of the unique story.
Furthermore, the series features incredible cover artists contributing to its launch. The main Cover A comes from the psychotropic stylings of Christian Ward (Invisible Kingdom). Leomacs provides the artwork for Cover B himself. The talented Malachi Ward (Black Hammer: The Return) contributes Cover C. For collectors, there is also a 1:10 full art incentive variant by Christian Ward. Fans of impressive cover artwork will certainly have plenty to admire and choose from.
Oni Press has built a strong reputation over its history, founded in 1997. They published beloved hits like Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim and Cullen Bunn & Brian Hurtt’s The Sixth Gun. Their focus remains on groundbreaking, often award-winning comics and graphic novels. BENJAMIN seems poised to be another unique and talked-about addition to their library. Its fascinating blend of science fiction, existential mystery, and dark humor feels distinct. The metatextual element—a sci-fi author investigating his own impossible sci-fi scenario—adds another intriguing layer. Carp investigating himself promises unexpected twists and turns. The modern Los Angeles setting provides a vibrant, complex backdrop. It contrasts the perceived glitter of Hollywood with a grim, paranoid reality. This promises a truly unique reading experience for fans of intelligent, boundary-pushing comics.
Conclusion: Get Ready for BENJAMIN
In summary, BENJAMIN #1 from Oni Press looks like a must-read debut for fans of thoughtful science fiction and compelling mysteries. It throws a deceased, cult sci-fi author headfirst into the confusing, hyper-connected world of 2025 Los Angeles. The powerhouse creative team of Ben H. Winters and Leomacs are poised to deliver a genuinely mind-bending narrative. The story expertly blends paranoia, dark humor, and deep existential questions. Additionally, the prestige, ad-free format promises a high-quality reading experience matching the ambitious story.
This first issue kicks off a three-part journey into the unknown, exploring the blurry lines between reality, fiction, life, and death. Will Benjamin J. Carp solve the ultimate mystery of his own existence? What secrets will he uncover as he navigates this strange new timeline that seems ripped from one of his own stories? We can’t wait to find out when BENJAMIN #1 hits comic shops everywhere on June 18th, 2025.
What are your theories about Benjamin Carp’s impossible return? Head over to our Twitter page and share your thoughts and speculations with us!
