Comic Books

EXCLUSIVE: EC’s Cruel Universe 2 #1 prepares to obliterate reality in oversized return

To top it off, the issue features a lineup of stunning variant covers from top-tier artists including Lee Bermejo, Tom Fowler, Albert Monteys, Malachi Ward, and Liam Sharp.

David Brooke

July 9, 2025

Oni Press is blasting readers back into the void this August with Cruel Universe 2 #1, a cosmic horror comic so twisted it needed 40 pages to contain the madness. A follow-up to the Eisner-nominated Cruel Universe, this brand-new 12-issue maxi-series reunites EC Comics with an all-star lineup of writers and artists to deliver another hit of deep-space dread. AIPT has your exclusive first look inside.

As part of the “Summer of Fear” and launching on August 6, Cruel Universe 2 features contributions from The Walking Dead artist Charlie Adlard, Planet Hulk writer Greg Pak, Daredevil legend Ann Nocenti, David Rubín (of Sherlock Frankenstein fame), Kano (Immortal Iron Fist), and returning Epitaphs from the Abyss writer J. Holtham. This is not just a return but a bold reinvention, blending modern sci-fi storytelling with the dark, pulpy spirit of classic EC horror.

The series promises doomed expeditions, parasitic alien terrors, and mind-shattering twists. It also includes a fully restored classic tale from the EC archives, presented with its original coloring intact. If you enjoy your science fiction with a heavy dose of existential dread, this book is a must-read.

To top it off, the issue features a lineup of stunning variant covers from top-tier artists including Lee Bermejo, Tom Fowler, Albert Monteys, Malachi Ward, and Liam Sharp.

Cruel Universe 2 #1 arrives in comic shops and digital platforms on August 6. Cross the threshold if you dare, but be warned—nothing escapes the pull of this universe.

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