Imagine a world where legendary sci-fi author Philip K. Dick is resurrected in the 21st Century. This intriguing premise forms the backbone of "Benjamin," a captivating new sci-fi mystery series from Oni Press. The story follows Benjamin J. Carp, an author who dies in 1982 and mysteriously awakens in 2025, clueless about his resurrection. This three-issue prestige format comic delves deep into the life and mysteries surrounding Carp, offering readers a thrilling journey through time and self-discovery.
IGN has the exclusive first look at "Benjamin #1." Dive into the preview gallery below, but be warned: some content contains NSFW language:
Benjamin #1: Exclusive Comic Book Preview Gallery
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"Benjamin" marks the full-length comic debut of Ben H. Winters, renowned for his "Last Policeman Trilogy" and as the creator of the CBS series "Tracker." The series is brought to life by artist Leomacs, known for "EC's Epitaphs from the Abyss" and "Basketful of Heads," with stunning cover art contributed by Leomacs, Christian Ward, and Malachi Ward.
Here's how Oni Press describes "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 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 further elaborates, "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 hit the shelves on June 18, 2025. You can also catch an animated trailer for "Benjamin" to get a glimpse of what's in store.
In other comic book news, DC Comics and Ghost Machine are embarking on their first crossover, and the nominees for the 2025 Eisner Awards have been announced.
