Breaklands Vol 1 Review

 

Breaklands Vol 1 Review

Writer: Justin Jordan

Artist: Tyasseta

Colorist: Sarah Stern

Letterer: Rachel Deering

Publisher: Mad Cave Studios

Price: $19.99

Release Date: September 2, 2025

 

Kasa Fein's mother left a while ago. While she awaits her return, Kasa tries to protect her brother. But Adam is bored with their isolated existence. Neither sibling knows much about the world beyond their home in the cliffs. But before she left, their mother warned them that it was dangerous.

 

While Kasa hunts for food and does most of the household chores, Adam plays. Despite her urging, Kasa cannot restrain her younger brother from levitating her and flying among the hoodoos. Is the world as menacing as their mother believed? And what will happen when strangers discover the brother and sister? Let’s leap into Breaklands Vol 1 and see!

 

Story

One morning, Kasa criticizes her brother for levitating her without her permission. Adam flies off in a huff. While she hunts for their supper, Kasa hears him cry out. She races to her brother. But what aid she can render comes too late. And in this world where everyone but Kasa has a gift, she cannot protect him.

 

In Breaklands Vol 1, a stranger observes Kasa’s fight with Nitro Eddie and his Rumblers. Gargarin suspects the salvage gang found someone of immense value. Once, the world was much different. Then the Shapers tore it down and rebuilt it into its present form. Gargarin suspects that Adam is a Shaper. And he fears who Eddie and his gang will sell Adam to.

 

Justin Jordan enlivens this high-stakes story with snappy dialogue and dry humor. Once Adam leaves the hoodoos surrounding his home, others sense his abilities. As Gargarin and Kasa pursue Eddie and the Rumblers, others set off to intercept the boy with the power to reshape their world. As the fast-paced plot alternates between Kasa, Eddie, and those who want to control the powerful Shaper, Kasa discovers why, in a world where everyone has a gift, she may be the most special person of all.

 

Art

Tyasseta opens Breaklands Vol 1 in the future by introducing a ruler of this strange world. Incredibly muscled, Rask dons red and maroon armor over his white skin. While giant sculpted faces protrude from metal and stone buildings, he leaps hundreds of feet to greet his followers waiting in the street.

 

Along with those clad in maroon robes, Shattersword awaits Rask dressed in white and blue. Her long sword, composed of gleaming pink shards, acts like a whip when she wields it. Toy, with her pink mohawk and red skirt, can summon fire. Kneeling on the desert sand, blue hair falls upon Ruth's dark, muscular shoulders. The warrior, who often works as a security guard, can recover from any injury. But with faces adorning his chest and knees, Rask dominates everyone's attention. The ruler strips away a follower’s flesh with his hands, rips the limbs and ribs away, and raises the skull, spine, and pelvic girdle like a staff.

 

Then, Breaklands Vol 1 steps back in time to see how Adam and Kasa live before their period of isolation ends. Sarah Stern adorns the desert scenery and characters with a loaded palette of bright colors as Kasa sets off with her bow, arrows, sword, and throwing knives. Eddie's crew kicks up plumes of beige dust as their wheeled and nonwheeled vehicles cast maroon shadows over the coral and yellow hardpan. When their leader cocks his hand like a gun, a yellow and orange cloud bursts among the red hoodoos.

 

Rachel Deering fills white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes with black uppercase words. Rask speaks white letters into black balloons. After the opening scene, the letters increase in size. A rumble fills the air as the salvage gang approaches. Sniff, just one of many characters with transformed features, utters a bold “Snif” as his elephant trunk detects a Shaper. Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and Superfan Promotions for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

In a drastically changed future, people wield incredible abilities. While some people resemble animals, some of the animals they hunt have grown to enormous proportions. In this dog-eat-dog world, everyone is more than they seem. And while a boy's abilities could reshape the world, his sister could prove even more valuable in Breaklands Vol 1.

 

Rating 9/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Breaklands Vol 1. 

Breaklands Vol 1 Preview

 

Kasa Fein’s mother left a while ago. While she awaits her return, Kasa tries to protect her brother. But Adam is bored with their isolated existence. Neither sibling knows much about the world beyond their home in the cliffs. They just know that, before she left, their mother warned them that it was dangerous.

While Kasa hunts for food and does most of the household chores, Adam plays. Despite her urging, she cannot restrain her younger brother from levitating her and flying among the hoodoos. Is the world as menacing as their mother believed? And what will happen when strangers discover the brother and sister?  

Here's all the info from Mad Cave Studios: 

 

Breaklands Vol 1

Writer: Justin Jordan

Artist: Tyasseta

Colorist: Sarah Stern

Letterer: Rachel Deering

Publisher: Mad Cave Studios

Paperback Price: $19.99

ISBN: 9781545821251

Release Date: September 2, 2025

   

Mad Max meets Akira! In a future where history was reshaped by godlike psychics, Kasa Fain is the only girl in the world without a power of her own. When her brother is kidnapped, she's going to need to use everything she does have to get him back. The first of 3 volumes!

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a little about the creators:

 

  

Writer, Justin Jordan

Justin Jordan broke into comics with the Image series The Strange Talent of Luther Strode. Since no one threw him back out after said break in, he has gone on to work for every major comics publisher. He is owned by two cats, George and Tom.

(Luther Strode, Spread, Dead Body Road)

Quote:

"A while back, I got to thinking: what if everyone had super powers? And me being me, I figured this would be the end of the world. But then I wondered: what about after that? Breaklands is the answer, our anime inspired Mad Max meets Akira adventure through a world where everyone is superhuman...except our hero. While I love digital comics, there's nothing like the physical thing, so I'm beyond excited for Mad Cave's collection of the book that (briefly, digitally, on Amazon) outsold X-Men." – Writer, Justin Jordan

 

 

 

Artist, Tyasseta

Tyasseta is a comic artist and illustrator based in Indonesia: an enthusiast of silent comics, hiphop and martial art movies. He loves to draw lines, rubble, trees, and to hang out in parks.

Quote:

“I’m super excited to bring Breaklands back! I can't wait to see the Mad Cave edition. I hope it reaches many new readers who love adventure and great stories!” – Artist, Tyasseta

 

Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and Superfan Promotions for sharing this preview with us. 

 

Vincent Van Gogh: Sadness Will Last Forever TP Review

 

Writer: Francesco Barilli

Artist & Colorist: Sakka

Publisher: Mad Cave Studios

Price: $19.99

Release Date: February 24, 2026

 

His parents named him after his stillborn older brother. They made other plans for him. Even his brother Theo, his most avid supporter, forced Vincent to compromise his ideals. Still, Vincent knew what he wanted and tread his own path through life. What challenges did he face? And what prompted Vincent Van Gogh to create his immortal art? Let’s grab our paints and brushes, leap into Vincent Van Gogh: Sadness Will Last Forever TP, and see!

 

Story

Vincent’s father pastored a church in a small town in the Netherlands. Bearing the name of his stillborn older brother made Vincent feel like a replacement. And his parents regularly took him to the grave to honor his brother’s memory.

 

In Vincent Van Gogh: Sadness Will Last Forever TP, the artist-to-be grows up torn between two worlds. Pastors and art dealers number among his family. His father wants him to shepherd souls. Yet the working class suffers from poverty and illness. Vincent cannot preach from the pulpit to the well-heeled members of society without immersing himself in the plight of the less fortunate. His father’s insistence upon retaining the family’s respectability restrains Vincent and dooms his ministry.

 

Equating the world of manners and etiquette with spiritual death, Vincent throws his passion into his art. He craves neither financial rewards nor public acclaim. His parents, and later his brother Theo, support him. Still, Vincent's family wishes that pursuing art could make him happy.

 

As Vincent Van Gogh travels, always searching for someplace new to live and paint, Francesco Barilli walks readers through the artist's life. We see the people who inspired him, his brother's steadfast support, and Vincent's attempts to uplift others. Like many artists, Vincent seeks to transform his mind through alcohol. Yet whether living on his own or with others, in a house or a hospital, Vincent strives to capture the life, energy, and mystery of the world around him and the sky above.

 

Art

Sakka begins Vincent Van Gogh: Sadness Will Last Forever TP with darkness. Dressed in a suit, young Vincent holds a red rose. The moonlight casts an eerie glow over the cemetery and a decaying church. His parents seem more like specters than people. The darkness follows Vincent as he journeys through his life. Yet pink adorns the borders of pages filled with panels showcasing Vincent, the people in his life, and the symbols that held meaning for him.

 

These symbols open each chapter. They define periods of Vincent's life and the struggles he dealt with. Hyperreal colors suggest the stimuli flooding Vincent's brain, and the reasons why he always felt unworthy of wielding a brush. Yet Sakka's art attempts not just to tell Vincent's life but inhabit it through his paintings. From "Sorrow" to Vincent's Room," An Empty Chair" and beyond, these interpretations of Vincent’s classic paintings suggest X-ray images revealing the painter's otherworldly vision.

 

Handwriting fills white balloons and panel backgrounds. As the cursive lettering varies from tiny to generous, the writing style emulates the epistles Vincent and his family left behind. The lettering size and style may slow the pace. Yet they lend an immediacy and authenticity to Vincent Van Gogh: Sadness Will Last Forever TP.

 

In a final section of notes, the author cites the sources that helped him craft this interpretation of Vincent Van Gogh's life. He also explains why he embraced some historical accounts and contemporary views more than others. Thanks to Mad Cave Studios, Comixology, and Superfan Promotions for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Vincent Van Gogh lived among us for thirty-seven years. He only sold one painting during that time. Yet he is one of the most celebrated artists in history. Vincent Van Gogh: Sadness Will Last Forever TP illuminates the artist's struggles with family, society, and his limitations. The graphic novel also pays homage to the people who challenged and supported him, and ensured that Vincent Van Gogh's unique vision of the world still inspires us today.

 

Rating 9/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Vincent Van Gogh: Sadness Will Last Forever TP.

Vincent Van Gogh: Sadness Will Last Forever Preview

 

 

His parents named him after his stillborn older brother. They made other plans for him. Vincent had to compromise his ideals to pursue his passion. Still, he knew what he wanted, and tread his own path. What challenges did he face? And what prompted Vincent Van Gogh to create his immortal art?

Here's all the info from Mad Cave Studios:

 

Vincent Van Gogh: Sadness Will Last Forever

Written by Francesco Barilli

Art By Sakka

Publisher: Mad Cave Studios

Paperback Price: $19.99

Release Date: February 24, 2026 

A beautiful and stark depiction of Vincent Van Gogh's struggle with depression and the art it produced, told through an emotional dialogue between Vincent and his own madness. For fans of art history and historical fiction.

A gorgeously rendered, emotional exploration of the life and death of one of the most famously tormented painters in human history. Through an emotional dialogue between Vincent and his own madness, the artist revisits the most significant loves and losses of his short life. From his tender and tumultuous relationship with his brother Theo, to the famous quarrel with Gauguin that resulted in the self-mutilation of his ear, to the extreme act of self-harm that led to his death, Vincent Van Gogh channeled an extraordinary light as bright today as it was upon his death in 1890. Now in print for the first time in English, Van Gogh: Sadness is Forever casts its own light onto the darkest shadows of the painter's life and inspirations.

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Mad Cave Studios and Superfan Promotions for sharing this preview with us. 

Groupies TP Preview

 

 

For some, music is merely a diversion. For others, it means everything. This group of friends pursue their passion by being as close to the creative process as possible. But what happens when they stand by the roaring fire for too long? And where do the musicians draw their inspiration from?

Here's all the info from Comixology and Mad Cave Studios:

 

Groupies TP

Written by Helen Mullane
Art by Tula Lotay

A sexy, fem-focused look at the dark underside of music fandom, informed by Mullane's research on the real women labeled "groupies" and illustrated by one of the industry's top artists!

Celebrated filmmaker Helen Mullane teams up with superstar artist Tula Lotay for sex, drugs, and rock and roll on the Sunset Strip! On a wild night out at the Fox Club, the coolest, hottest, and wildest girls on (or off) the Strip meet the edgiest up-and-coming band in town, and sparks fly. The Moon Show’s stardom is about to rise as they celebrate getting signed to the legendary Asmodeus Records. As the story unfolds, the excited groupies head on tour with the band – living the dream – but their tuned-in and dropped-out idyll is about to unravel. Something dark is pulling the strings, and the girls are about to discover the true cost of rock and roll.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Comixology, Mad Cave Studios, and Superfan Promotions for sharing this preview with us.

Ten-Ton Titan Terrier Vol 1 Review

 

Writer: David Pepose

Artist: Ornella Greco

Letterer: Justin Birch

Designers: Tim Daniel & David Reyes

Editors: Adam Wallenta & Mike Marts

Publisher: Mad Cave Studios & Papercutz

Digital Copy: $9.99

Hardcover: $17.99

Paperback: $12.99

Release Date: October 7, 2025

 

When Sam Dawson sees a falling star, he wishes for a puppy. His parents don't think he was ready for the responsibility, but they believe he will be in the future. Then, Irradigator attacks Proxima City. One minute, his parents were with him. Then they aren't. As he searches among the rubble, Sam finds a puppy. When she barks at the Bio-Titan, Irradigator sinks into the sea. Impressed by her bravery, Sam promises to take care of her.

 

Will Sam become the responsible master his parents believed he could be? And what happens when Irradigator attacks civilization again? Let’s leap into Ten-Ton Titan Terrier Vol 1 and see!

 

Story

General Sterling Armstrong may have failed to save Sam’s parents. Still, seven years later, Sam joins the Planetary Elite Protectorate. He feels fortunate to work there. Sam has studied hard and gained expertise in Xenoengineering and Astrobiology. After he arrives, he meets General Armstrong and his daughter, Penny. But Holly messes up the laboratory, forcing Sam to consign her to his apartment.

 

David Pepose kicks off Ten-Ton Titan Terrier Vol 1 with a giant mechanical monster protecting Proxima City. Then he flashes back to show Irradigator’s attack, Sam losing his parents, and Holly defending their city. After Sam becomes the Protectorate's new researcher, the General reveals a fact he has kept Top Secret. While Sam saw one meteor fall that night, two struck the ground. One contained Bio-Titan eggs. The second impact was a giant suit of Mechacolossus Armor.

 

As the story moves forward, Sam must demonstrate that he deserves to work for the Planetary Elite Protectorate. His first order of business is to come to grips with the Mechacolossus Armor. General Armstrong has tried and failed to find anyone who can control it. And with the Bio-Titans leveling cities across the planet, Humanity desperately needs someone to save civilization.

 

In Ten-Ton Titan Terrier Vol 1, Holly demonstrates her fierce loyalty to Sam. In return, the armor allows her to be its master. While Sam is elated, Penny and General Armstrong are not amused. The armor rejected their best candidates and chose a little dog instead. But General Armstrong is determined to control the armor. In his war against the Bio-Titans, the last thing General Armstrong needs is a loose ten-ton cannon.

 

Art

As young Sam gazes up into the night sky, a shooting star forms a Y. After a mountainside explodes, smoke rises from armor lying in a glowing trench. Like his younger self, Sam wears glasses with square frames, while Penny wears glasses with enormous circular lenses. Holly examines the lab, leaps into a swivel chair, and frightens a caged animal. When Penny discovers them, she points at them, frowns, and crosses her arms over her chest. General Armstrong, clad in his decorated military jacket and beret, also frowns and crosses his arms before leading Sam to a vast room. Like Yancy and Raleigh Becket beholding a Jaeger, or Johnny Sokko befriending a Pharaoh-like robot, the scale of the complex evokes NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building in Florida.

 

Ornella Greco lavishes vibrant and appealing colors on her action-packed art in Ten-Ton Titan Terrier Vol 1. Holly remains an adorable “pupster” as she pilots the armor with virtual displays. The Mechacolossus Armor battles Bio-Titans resembling creatures from mythology, the natural world, and Kaiju cinema. Yet Holly remains at the center of this story, as she gazes up at her master with adoring eyes, investigates her new powers, and suffers nightmares in which Sam no longer loves her.

 

Justin Birch fills white and colored dialogue balloons and boxes with black uppercase letters. The boxes, balloons, and arrows demonstrate great variety, while words grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and shrink for lowered voices. Sound effects amplify the action, drama, devastation, and revelations as Sam's relationship with Penny and her father evolves. Thanks to Mad Cave Studios & Papercutz for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Fierce, loving, and brave, Sam Dawson's adorable "pupster" sees him through his adolescence. Holly has a heart bigger than the Bio-Titans she battles in the beautifully drawn and colored Ten-Ton Titan Terrier Vol 1. Just don't say, "Fetch," while she's wearing the Mechacolossus Armor!  

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Mad Cave Studios, Joe Quesada, and Dupuis reveal Amazing Comics!

The highly anticipated Mad Cave Studios super-secret news has been revealed in San Diego at Comic-Con International: Amazing Comics, a.k.a. Idaho’s #1 comic book company!

Since 2014, Mad Cave Studios has steadily carved out a reputation for bold storytelling, creator-focused comics, and boundary-pushing ideas. Now in its tenth year, the Miami-based publisher is thrilled to announce their groundbreaking partnership with premier European publishing house, Dupuis, to fully realize the worldwide publishing aspirations of Amazing Comics, a thrilling new venture from legendary American comic book artist, writer, and editor Joe Quesada! 

Amazing Comics is the first true international comics imprint, creating original concepts for an international market. From Quesada's headquarters in Idaho, this one-of-a-kind venture will attract the greatest talent from across the globe to create stories of universal appeal, with Mad Cave Studios and Dupuis working in tandem to publish and distribute fascinating new titles on either side of the Atlantic. With its commitment to compelling characters and captivating artwork, Amazing Comics promises the kind of storytelling that feels like it was established in your very own imagination.

The inaugural title, DISCIPLE, by co-writer and artist Joe Quesada, co-writer Charles Dorfman, inker Wade von Grawbadger, colorist Richard Isanove, and letterer Joe Caramagna, includes a unique and captivating reimagining of Shakespeare's Hamlet that blends classic literature with modern storytelling. The title debuts today with DISCIPLE: QUARTO, an exclusive San Diego Comic-Con preview comic, with more information about this exciting project to be revealed in the coming months.

 

 

Joe Quesada shared the story behind Disciple's creation: "The true origin of Disciple came about when I met Charles Dorfman, a talented writer with a passion for graphic storytelling. Charles pitched an adaptation of Hamlet, which sparked a creative journey that led to the unique version of Disciple we have today. This project blends Shakespearean elements with contemporary genres, creating a rich, mythological world for our readers to explore that begins as a prequel to the original, set in a whole new world."

 

The inaugural title, DISCIPLE, by co-writer and artist Joe Quesada, co-writer Charles Dorfman, inker Wade von Grawbadger, colorist Richard Isanove, and letterer Joe Caramagna, includes a unique and captivating reimagining of Shakespeare's Hamlet that blends classic literature with modern storytelling. The title debuts today with DISCIPLE: QUARTO, an exclusive San Diego Comic-Con preview comic, with more information about this exciting project to be revealed in the coming months.

 

 

 

Mark Irwin, President of Mad Cave Studios, has steered the company since 2021, earning a reputation as a creator-focused force making bold moves in the industry. The partnership with Quesada and Dupuis signals a new era of cross-continental collaboration and creative innovation.

From Dupuis, Stéphane Beaujean (Editorial Director) and Olivier Jalabert (Senior Editor) bring their expertise from one of Europe's most storied publishing houses. Dupuis' commitment to high-quality production and artistic excellence is a perfect match for this international endeavor.

Joe Quesada said, “Amazing Comics has been percolating in my head since 2005. I knew a day would come when I could make it a reality, but when it did, I promised myself not to rush into anything. Be patient and thoughtful, and always remember that I've been well served in my 30-plus years in comics by choosing the road less traveled. So here we are. After two years of quietly working, planning, and building something different from the ground up, I couldn’t be happier with my new partnership with Mad Cave Studios and Dupuis. Not only are they dear friends, but they’re world-class publishers who share the same vision for graphic storytelling that I do, and together, we’ve come up with an initiative that’s unique and has never been attempted before. I can’t wait to introduce some Amazing characters and stories to fans around the world.”

Olivier Jalabert highlighted the innovative nature of this partnership: "Dupuis Publishing and Média-Participations are both very proud and excited by the editorial joint venture between our group and the formidable team of Mad Cave Studios to undertake an unprecedented and historical endeavor in the graphic novel space, banding together with comic book legend Joe Quesada and his Amazing Comics team to produce innovating creative content for the worldwide audience."

Mark Irwin added, "Mad Cave isn't just a comics company; we’re a publisher specializing in graphic storytelling. This collaboration with Joe and Dupuis allows us to break new ground worldwide and bring something fresh and exciting to the market."

 

 

 

Fans can look forward to more exciting announcements from Amazing Comics coming soon—for now, the focus is delivering exceptional stories that bring joy and excitement to readers around the world! 

Learn more about Amazing Comics at: http://www.amazingcomicsco.com/

Get the latest news on Mad Cave Studios on social media, or visit www.madcavestudios.com to check out the full lineup of new releases, licenses, and celebrated creator-owned titles!