Imagine if the legendary sci-fi author Philip K. Dick were to be resurrected in the 21st Century—that's the intriguing premise behind Benjamin, a mind-bending new sci-fi mystery series from Oni Press. This three-issue prestige format comic revolves around an author named Benjamin J. Carp, who dies in 1982 and mysteriously awakens in 2025, completely unaware of how he returned to life.
IGN is thrilled to exclusively debut a preview of Benjamin #1. Dive into the slideshow gallery below for a closer look, but be warned: there's some NSFW language ahead:
Benjamin #1: Exclusive Comic Book Preview Gallery
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Benjamin marks the full-length comic writing debut of Ben H. Winters, the acclaimed author of the Last Policeman Trilogy and the creator of the CBS series Tracker. The series is beautifully illustrated by Leomacs, known for his work on EC’s Epitaphs from the Abyss and Basketful of Heads, with stunning cover art provided by Leomacs, Christian Ward, and Malachi Ward.
Here's Oni's official description of Benjamin:
*More than just a writer, more than just a science-fiction icon, Benjamin J. Carp was a cultural revolutionary. Over the course of 44 novels and hundreds of short stories—including the counterculture classic The Man They Couldn’t Erase—Carp pushed the boundaries of literary respectability for the sci-fi genre and his readers’ perception of reality itself . . . until decades of amphetamine abuse and Southern California excess finally ended a mind-bending career that always just escaped mainstream success. He died in 1982.*
*Until 2025 . . . when Benjamin J. Carp awakens, alive, in a burned-out motel on the fringes of Los Angeles. He remembers dying. He knows he shouldn’t exist. Is he a dream? A robot? A ghost? A clone? A simulation? In his own time, Carp pondered all of these scenarios through his fiction—and, now, as he treks from Studio City to Venice Beach and onward into the paranoid sprawl of 21st-century Los Angeles, he will be called to investigate his greatest mystery yet: himself.*
"So, first of all, just because Benjamin is about a guy named Benjamin and it's written by a guy named Benjamin, does not mean it's autobiographical! Just because the hero is a cranky middle-aged science-fiction writer trying desperately to figure out life's purpose while he wanders around Los Angeles, and I'm—oh, wait. S\*\*\*," Winters humorously tells IGN. "The joy of writing Benjamin was in finding ways to take the most serious possible subject—you know, death and the fact that we all die and all that fun stuff—and make it into a joyous, goofy adventure, about a middle-aged dude who died and now is back, and is trying to figure out why. And how. And what to do now."
Winters continues, "I've always loved stories that have a bit of a wink to them, a bit of top spin. So a story about a sci-fi writer who may or may not be trapped inside one of his own stories—and by the way written by ANOTHER sci-fi writer—and trying to figure out how to get out...it's a very fun and crafty story that at the same time is pushing at the big questions that define our lives. Also, there's a dog in it! A cute, loving dog named Strawman. Honestly, I don't know what else you could want."
Benjamin #1 is set to be released on June 18, 2025. Don't miss out on the animated trailer for Benjamin, which adds another layer of excitement to this highly anticipated series.
In other comic book news, DC Comics and Ghost Machine are embarking on their first crossover event, and the nominees for the 2025 Eisner Awards have been announced, adding to the buzz in the comic book community.
