J. Michael Straczysnki, Tony Parker And Carrie Strachan Bring A Dying Earth To Life in Synthetics Volume 1

What Does It Mean To Be Human?

Dark Horse Comics brings together a stellar group of talent for an original, creator-owned series that bends genres. Creator of Babylon 5 and Marvel and DC modern legend J. Michael Straczynski, artist Tony Parker (Medusa, Mass Effect: Foundation), colourist Carrie Strachan (Hellblazer, Smallville: Season 11), and letterer Steve Dutro (Plants vs Zombies, Cthulhu Cat) invite fans to dive into a new dystopian scenario where the meaning of life is only as important as the definition of life. Synthetics Volume 1 arrives in October 2025 as a four-issue comic mini-series…

Straczynski gave fans a taste of what to expect within Synthetics. “The question most often asked in speculative fiction, but which is really at the heart of all storytelling, is: what does it mean to be human?  In our story, for the first time, synthetic humans have been created in order to save the human race from its own mistakes, and the ripple effect touches all of our characters: police, scientists, the press, the rich and powerful and all parts in-between.  The ultimate question is, can the synthetics help us survive, and can we allow them to survive?”

“I was excited to work with J. Michael Straczynski, and once I read the script, I became elated,” said Parker. “This work is a thing of beauty, and I can’t wait to share it with the world.”

In Synthetics Volume 1:

On a dying Earth filled with expanding dead zones, humans form rage gangs to vent their anger at futures lost. Others escape into the cyber-void to escape the existential dread of what’s coming. The only hope for civilization’s survival rests with a new kind of human. Will their appearance in a desperate world be met with acceptance—or destruction? Are they angels, devils, or the latest iteration of Frankenstein’s monster?

Focus on the future when Synthetics Volume 1 #1 (of 4) arrives in comic shops on October 29, 2025, for $4.99. Visit Comic Shop Locator for more details and stores near you.

About Dark Horse Comics 

Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson with the goal of creating a welcoming environment for comics professionals. The company strives to be an example of how integrity and innovation can broaden a unique storytelling medium and transform a company with humble beginnings into an industry giant. Dark Horse has published modern masters such as Yoshitaka Amano, Margaret Atwood, Brian Michael Bendis, Paul Chadwick, Geof Darrow, Colleen Doran, Janet Evanovich, Dave Gibbons, Faith Erin Hicks, Kazuo Koike, Matt Kindt, Jeff Lemire, Kentaro Miura, Moebius, Chuck Palahniuk, Eric Powell, Stan Sakai, and Gerard Way, as well as Hall of Fame legends Will Eisner, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Richard Corben. The company also set the industry standard for quality licensed comics, graphic novels, collectibles, and art books, based on properties such as Star Wars, Stranger Things, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Minecraft, The Legend of Zelda, Dragon Age, James Cameron’s Avatar, Game of Thrones, Mass Effect, The Witcher, and Halo. Dark Horse established an entertainment division in 1989, finding success with company-owned projects The Mask and TimeCop. Current hits from Dark Horse Entertainment include The Umbrella Academy on Netflix and Resident Alien on SyFy. Additionally, Dark Horse has a long tradition of establishing new creative talent throughout all of its divisions.

In 2022, Dark Horse Media, LLC was established as the parent company of all three divisions, and became part of Embracer Group AB, strengthening the company’s transmedia capabilities.