Writer Zac Thompson, artist Jok and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou are heading down to Florida for the tale of an ex-convict trying to find his son’s corpse in The Body Trade, a new series coming from Mad Cave Studios this fall.
“I’ve wanted to create this comic for years and collaborating with Jok is a dream,” Thompson said. “Through his lines and colors he’s built this incredible mood on the page that captures the gaudy excess of Florida balanced against the horrific stylings of an industry of death. Together we’ve created a story that’s both a fierce revenge yarn and an interrogation into a seedy corporate underbelly of America. The Body Trade is a raw and unflinching neo-noir where an ex-convict goes up against the intense might of corporate power and will do anything to win. But what when there’s nothing illegal about what you’re up against—how do you expose the truth?! And will anyone care when you do?”
Thompson has been quite busy lately, with Into the Unbeing, Blow Away and Cemetery Kids Don’t Die all debuting in the first half of 2024.
The story starts with a quest for revenge:
Kim Krilic is a divorced ex-con who’s trying to atone. However, his short temper tends to get the best of him. When he returns to Florida to bury his estranged son, he’s sickened to find an empty grave. His son’s remains were sold into “The Body Trade.” Armed with righteous fury, Kim sets out to reclaim his child’s corpse. But one act of vengeance causes everything to spiral out of control.
Jacob Phillips provides a variant cover for the first issue:
Jok drew the wonderful In Hell We Fight! with writer John Layman, and has been working on projects lately that are “lighter” in nature. He says The Body Trade has been a welcome change.
“When The Body Trade knocked at my door, I was working on some children and YA projects that required a light-hearted style, gentle narrative and festive color palette,” said Jok. “Zac’s story needed quite the opposite, as it explored deeply dramatic themes, some gore and a heavy atmosphere. It’s been a great pleasure to meet and work with Zac and the team. I hope readers get hooked by The Body Trade, as it combines elements I’ve enjoyed in other works of fiction such as True Detective, Thomas Harris novels and Scorsese’s movies. Zac is brilliant and I believe we share the same view and taste for these kinds of stories. We’ve both certainly put our hearts in this one.”
Here’s a look inside:
Look for the first issue to arrive on shelves Sept. 18.