Chachu #1 Sells Out as Iman Vellani’s Solo Writing Debut Heads Back to Print
Image Comics has another fast-moving new series on its hands. Chachu #1, the solo writing debut from actor and writer Iman Vellani, has sold out completely at the distributor level and is being rushed back to print this week.
The five-issue miniseries pairs Vellani with artist Marianna Ignazzi, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and production house Tiny Onion for a coming-of-age neo-noir story set in 1979. For readers following new creator-owned launches from Image Comics, this is one to watch closely.
Chachu #1 Gets a Second Printing
Chachu #1 introduces readers to Leila, a 19-year-old Pakistani-Canadian film obsessive and pulp novel fan who travels to California hoping to reconnect with her estranged uncle, known as her “Chachu.”
Her uncle is a semi-retired private investigator with a strange claim to fame: he once married the starlet he was hired to find. But when that same wife mysteriously disappears again, Leila and Chachu are pulled into an unexpected road-trip investigation filled with family secrets, unresolved grief, and the dangerous fantasies both characters have built around themselves.
Image Comics will release Chachu #1 Second Printing at comic book shops on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Chachu #1 Second Printing
UPC: 70985304829900112
Readers who missed the first printing can also check the official Chachu #1 release listing for more details on the debut issue.
A Neo-Noir Mystery With a Coming-of-Age Heart
The hook behind Chachu is not just that it marks Iman Vellani’s solo comics writing debut. The series also stands out because of how it reframes classic private-eye storytelling through the eyes of a young woman stepping into adulthood.
Leila is not a hardened detective. She is a 19-year-old trying to understand family, identity, cinema, fantasy, and reality all at once. That gives Chachu a different texture from a standard mystery comic. The road-trip investigation becomes a way to explore what happens when the stories people tell themselves begin to fall apart.
That makes the book a strong fit for readers who enjoy character-driven noir, family drama, and comics that use genre as a way to unpack bigger emotional questions. Early critical attention, including review coverage from AIPT, has helped put more eyes on the debut.
Chachu #2 Arrives September 9
The next chapter of the series arrives one week after the second printing of issue #1. Chachu #2 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
Chachu #2 Cover A by Marianna Ignazzi
UPC: 70985304829900211
Chachu #2 Cover B 1:25 Incentive Variant by Filipe Andrade
UPC: 70985304829900221
Chachu #2 Cover C 1:50 Incentive Variant by Anand RK
UPC: 70985304829900231
With issue #1 already sold out at the distributor level, readers interested in the series should contact their local comic shop early for issue #2 and the second printing of the debut.
Why Chachu Is Worth Watching
Chachu has the ingredients of a breakout creator-owned series: a recognizable debut from Iman Vellani, a stylish art team, a sharp period setting, and a premise that blends mystery with emotional stakes.
The 1979 setting gives the book room to play with old Hollywood mythology, pulp detective fiction, and the haze of California dream-chasing. At the same time, the story’s focus on Leila’s first major step into adulthood gives the series a grounded emotional core.
Marianna Ignazzi’s art and Jordie Bellaire’s colors are also major selling points. The book needs to carry both noir atmosphere and coming-of-age vulnerability, and that kind of tonal balance depends heavily on visual storytelling. Based on the response to the first issue, readers are clearly paying attention.
Pick It Up at Your Local Comic Shop
With Chachu #1 now heading back to print, this is a good time to check with your local comic shop and lock in a copy before the second printing arrives. Comic shops remain the best way to support new creator-owned series, discover books early, and keep independent comics moving.
Readers looking for shop-focused recommendations can also check out Comic Book Addicts’ feature on Dr. No’s Comics & Games and their top pull-list picks.
Final Thoughts
Chachu #1 selling out at the distributor level is a strong start for Iman Vellani’s solo writing debut. The series brings together neo-noir mystery, family drama, cultural identity, and a cinematic 1979 backdrop in a way that feels fresh for Image Comics’ creator-owned lineup.
The second printing gives new readers a chance to catch up, while Chachu #2 keeps the investigation rolling on September 9. For fans of stylish mysteries with emotional weight, this is a series worth adding to the pull list.
Join the Discussion
Did you pick up Chachu #1, or are you waiting for the second printing?
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