The fear was real, even if the accusations weren’t. Mad Cave Studios is heading back to the height of the 1980s Satanic Panic this October with Satanic Panic, a new four-issue horror series that mixes classic slasher thrills with the paranoia that swept across America when heavy metal, Dungeons & Dragons, and anyone deemed an outsider became easy targets.
AIPT can exclusively reveal the new series from writer Matt Miner (Poser, Young Men in Love, Critical Hit) and artist Clayton McCormack (Batman: White Knight Presents – Generation Joker). Featuring colors by Oliver Mertz, letters by Matt Krotzer, and covers by McCormack with variants by Justin Coffee, the series follows three teenage misfits caught in a nightmare where public hysteria may prove just as deadly as the masked murderer hunting their town.
Set in a quiet community unraveling under the weight of suspicion, Satanic Panic centers on Naz, Sal, and Terry, three friends who suddenly find themselves blamed for a string of gruesome murders. With panic spreading through every church, neighborhood, and news report, they’ll have to uncover the identity of the real killer before fear claims even more victims.
The story also draws from Miner’s own experiences growing up during the era.
“Growing up, my mom was caught up in the religious hysteria centered around heavy metal and D&D, she burned my Ozzy tapes, my gaming stuff, all of it, so it’s nice to tell a story highlighting just how stupid that all was,” Miner said.
Combining brutal kills with a sharp look at how misinformation and public fear can spiral out of control, Satanic Panic revisits a dark chapter of American culture through the lens of a bloody slasher mystery. The series arrives just in time for Halloween, with Satanic Panic #1 hitting comic shops on October 28, 2026, with a Final Order Cutoff date of October 5.
Check out the cover artwork below.
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