Oni Press has announced plans to publish Free For All, a graphic novel written and drawn by acclaimed creator Patrick Horvath, next year. Horvath is the creator of Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, the excellent “cozy horror” miniseries published by IDW, and previously funded Free For All on Zoop.
Free For All seems to have dropped the “cozy” and replaced it with “brutal greed.” It’s set in a world where the world’s richest people are forced to either donate money to charity or face off in ritual combat to defend their millions.
“I’m thrilled that Free For All has found a home with Oni Press,” said Horvath. “The idea for it came from an immense frustration with the state of society almost a decade ago, and with the issues of the world as they stand now, it’s only become more relevant. I’m so glad this book has a chance now to reach a wide audience.”
Oni shared more details on what to expect from the story:
In the future, the World Finance League exists to benefit all, randomly choosing those from among the billionaires and trillionaires of the world and presenting them with a choice: either donate half of their assets to the common good — or defend them in ritual combat.
Reigning champion and real estate magnate Ted Brooks has 22 victories under his belt — defending the wealth he schemed and stabbed to get — when he is forced to face his ex-wife, Luella Dominguez, in a fight to the death. Luella has been training, waiting for this moment. But will she have what it takes to defeat the man who would do anything — absolutely anything — to keep his fortune?
The graphic novel will arrive in March, and is one of five “genre-colliding projects from high-profile talents” Oni has planned for early next year.