Rodney Coleman had a good life. Then his marriage fell apart. Still, the military trained him to be an army of one. So, homeless and unemployed, Rodney pitches a tent in the desert and contemplates his life. Where will he find inspiration? And how will he get a new start in life?
Here's all the info from Ahoy Comics:
The Forgotten Divine Preview
Writer: Mark Russell
Artist: Russ Braun
Colorist: Paul Little
Letterer: Rob Steen
Publisher: Ahoy Comics
Price: See Kickstarter Page
Release Date: June 9, 2026
AHOY Comics Launches its Debut Kickstarter For
THE FORGOTTEN DIVINE
A Satirical Sci-Fi Drama from Writer Mark Russell and Artist Russ Braun
Featuring Righteous Variant Covers by Mark Russell, Russ Braun, and Matt Bors
And A Slew of Unforgettable Campaign-Exclusive Extras
“I never miss a Mark Russell book, ever.”
—Patton Oswalt, co-creator and co-writer of Minor Threats
Since 2018, Syracuse-based indie publisher AHOY Comics has
made its reputation on witty satires, acclaimed creators, and a
commitment to bold and risk-taking storytelling. Now the funnybook
publisher behind The Toxic Avenger, Second Coming, Justice Warriors, The Wrong Earth and more is launching its debut Kickstarter for THE FORGOTTEN DIVINE, a satirical science fiction drama from writer Mark Russell (SECOND COMING) and artist Russ Braun (The Boys). THE FORGOTTEN DIVINE
will be the first of AHOY’s new AHOY Select line, their pop-up imprint
for direct to consumer releases. The inaugural campaign from the
publisher that asks its readers to Expect More will offer exclusive
campaign-only covers, unique AHOY goodies, and more tantalizing perks
yet to be announced. Sign up here to be notified when the campaign goes live.
“THE FORGOTTEN DIVINE
is about why people join cults, assign meaning to mysteries, and find
comfort in their own persecution,” said writer Mark Russell. “I feel
like we can all either relate to these characters or see someone we know
in them. We’re all looking for our Forgotten Divine.”
Meet
Rodney Coleman, an unhoused veteran whose sleep is haunted by dreams of
a faraway planet. (At least, he thinks they’re dreams.) Soon Coleman
connects with others plagued by dreams of the same world and finds
himself at the head of a UFO cult. The group's shared effort to
understand their visions is heartfelt at first—but over time it descends
into unreality, conspiracy, paranoia, violence, and conceivably…
revelation.
“THE FORGOTTEN DIVINE
is a challenging story, both to read and to draw,” said artist Russ
Braun. “The subtleties involved in the storytelling required a lot of
thought; the slow evolution, ramp up, and ultimate impact is a testament
to Mark's writing. Visually, we got to put some stuff out there that
hasn't been seen before and that's always a blast for me. We took some
risks, but I think AHOY, Mark, and I are known for that and it
definitely paid off.”
The
campaign includes a slew of unique tiers and exclusive extras that only
the “Expect More-igans” at AHOY could dream up, including a paperback
edition signed by writer Mark Russell; exclusive hardcover editions
featuring variant covers by Russ Braun, Matt Bors, and Mark Russell;
enamel pins featuring AHOY fan-favorite characters; prints; bathrobes;
hour-long Zoom calls with Mark Russell, Russ Braun, and Editor-in-Chief
Tom Peyer; and (most crucially) a virtual lock of Tom Peyer’s hair. More
extras and add-ons will be announced during the campaign.
"Mark
thinks deeply, and his ideas are often challenging and original. But
for me it's his command of character that really puts his stories over
the top,” said Editor-in-Chief Tom Peyer. “He's interested in people—and
you can say the same about Russ. You won't see better 'acting' in a
comic; the emotions he portrays are nuanced and completely on-target. If
we read stories to be less alone, Mark and Russ consistently crush the
assignment."
Not
convinced yet? Well, tough cookie, we asked one of the world's funniest
men to read the book, and he said this entirely of his own free will…
“Russell and company have produced yet another poignant, hilarious, and so-true-it-stings look at the times we’re living in — and what might be in store. I never miss a Mark Russell book, ever.
—Patton Oswalt (Minor Threats)
Visit the campaign for THE FORGOTTEN DIVINE here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/comicsahoy/the-forgotten-divine-by-mark-russell-and-russ-braun?ref=ch2gds
For more updates on AHOY Comics, visit them on X, Bluesky, Facebook and Instagram.
Now, let's take a look inside:
Here is another cover option:
Thanks to Ahoy Comics and Superfan Promotions for sharing this preview with us.
About AHOY Comics
AHOY
Comics debuted in the fall of 2018 with the bold promise for readers to
expect more from its line of comic book magazines, featuring comic book
stories, poetry, prose fiction, and cartoons. Brainchild of publisher
Hart Seely, editor-in-chief Tom Peyer, CCO Frank Cammuso, and Ops guy
Stuart Moore, the Syracuse-based indie publisher has made its reputation
on witty satires, acclaimed creators, and commitment to bold and
risk-taking storytelling — with critically acclaimed titles such as THE
TOXIC AVENGER by Matt Bors and Fred Harper, SECOND COMING by Mark
Russell and Richard Pace, BABS by Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows, HOWL by
Alisa Kwitney and Mauricet, THE WRONG EARTH by Tom Peyer and Jamal
Igle, JUSTICE WARRIORS by Matt Bors and Ben Clarkson, the quirky monster
anthology PROJECT: CRYPTID, and many more.
About the creators
Mark Russell is an author, comic book writer, and cartoonist living and toiling in Portland, Oregon. The works he is known for include God Is Disappointed in You, a modern re-telling of the Bible, The Flintstones, Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles (Winner of the 2019 GLAAD Award for Outstanding Comic), Not All Robots (Winner of the 2022 Eisner Award for Best Humor Comic), and Superman: Space Age,
which tells the story of Superman and his loved ones, living against
the backdrop of Cold War America. As far as he knows, all his books are
still in print.
Russ Braun
has been drawing comics for over 30 years, with time out for a 7-year
stint with Walt Disney Feature Animation. Known for his expressive
characters and storytelling on everything from Batman, Swamp Thing, Fables, and Jack of Fables, Russ is best known for his frequent collaborations with Garth Ennis, including The Boys, Night Witches, their creator-owned book, Jimmy’s Bastards, and its new sequel Jimmy’s Little Bastards.
