Zack Kaplan and Dark Horse Comics: Major 2026 Multi-Title Deal
Zack Kaplan is set to dominate the 2026 release calendar with a massive multi-title deal revealed today by Dark Horse Comics. Celebrating the publisher’s landmark 40th anniversary, this vibrant slate of three new series continues a partnership that has already produced critical hits like Kill All Immortals and The Midnight Shadows. The announcement promises a dynamic year of high-stakes storytelling featuring superstar artists at the top of their game.
The creative roster for these upcoming 2026 projects includes:
- Writer: Zack Kaplan
- Artists: Stefano Raffaele, John J Pearson, Francesco Manna
- Colors: Thiago Rocha
- Lettering: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
- Designer: Tom Muller
- Publisher: Dark Horse Comics
Starting this June, the partnership kicks into high gear with Only The Savage Are Left, featuring art by Stefano Raffaele. Kaplan notes that his commitment to raising the bar in 2026 is bolstered by a creative environment at Dark Horse that remains dedicated to original visions. By focusing on dramatic narratives and world-building, the team aims to give readers something truly special across the genres of post-apocalyptic survival, sci-fi noir, and Viking epic.
Expanding the World of Zack Kaplan in 2026
The first major anchor for Zack Kaplan in 2026 is the action-adventure story Only The Savage Are Left. Launching on June 3, the series explores a “monster-apocalypse” where survival requires a tragic transformation into the very thing you fear. Inspired by the legacy of The Walking Dead, Kaplan and Raffaele aim to put their own stamp on the genre. Raffaele describes the book as a “dream project,” utilizing his cinematic approach to capture the powerful emotions of a broken world.
Following this summer debut, the lineup transitions into late fall with the release of The Smart Division. This marks a reunion for the Mindset creative team of Kaplan and Eisner-winner John J Pearson. For fans who track new comics for their intellectual depth, this series is a high-water mark. It explores the tense intersections of technology and morality, building on the “danger and dread” that made their previous collaborations so effective.
The Smart Division and AI Crime
A standout element of the Zack Kaplan 2026 deal is the investigation into the darker side of artificial intelligence. The Smart Division follows two disparate FBI agents hunting down the first AI app that helps users commit the perfect crimes. John J Pearson is pushing his artwork into a more traditional approach for this series, juxtaposing the digital and the analog to reflect the “division and decay” of a world saturated by technological abundance.
The year’s finale concludes with Kill All Immortals III, featuring the high-impact artwork of Marvel superstar Francesco Manna. Described as “Succession meets John Wick,” the final chapter of the immortal Viking trilogy sees warrior Frey Asvald face her rivals in a modern world. For those who enjoy tracking comic book covers, the return of Ringo-winner Oliver Barrett for the issue #1 variants ensures this finale will be a visual powerhouse.
The synergy between Kaplan’s scripts and the diverse artistic styles of Raffaele, Pearson, and Manna demonstrates a clear authority over modern genre-blending. Consequently, the 2026 slate is not just a collection of books, but a calculated expansion of the “Kaplan-verse” within Dark Horse. Transitioning between monster-filled wastelands and AI-driven detective noir allows the creative team to showcase their range throughout the 40th-anniversary celebrations.
In conclusion, the 2026 partnership between Zack Kaplan and Dark Horse Comics is a mathematical certainty for any reader looking for premium independent storytelling. By collecting these superstar artists and award-winning letterers into a single multi-title deal, the publisher has guaranteed that the coming year will be defined by “dynamic and dramatic stories.” Don’t miss the beginning of this epic journey when Only The Savage Are Left hits shops this June!
📢 Join the Conversation
Which 2026 Zack Kaplan series are you most excited for: the monster-apocalypse or the AI-detective noir? Are you ready for the finale of the Viking trilogy? Join the conversation on X and tag us @comicbookaddt to share your thoughts on the new Dark Horse slate!
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