Former Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs is making his graphic novel debut alongside Eisner and Harvey Award nominee Kyle Higgins (Radiant Black, Immortal Legend Batman) and artist Danilo Beyruth (Deep Cuts, Catwoman) with The Trap, a standalone sci-fi sports story coming this fall from Image Comics.
Set in a distant future, The Trap follows Jaylen Robinson, a gifted young athlete from Earth who appears destined for greatness. His future begins to unravel after a risky job goes sideways just days before a career-defining race, forcing him to confront the harsh realities of a system that threatens to pull him under before he ever reaches the starting line.
Briggs said the project fulfills a longtime passion for comics and storytelling.
“I’ve been a reader and a fan of comics for most of my life. Now, with Kyle, Danilo, Tamra, and Hassan, I’m so excited to bring a new world to one of my favorite mediums, focusing on a far future where the struggles are very familiar but the scope of what can be achieved is so much bigger. Hours were long, story discussions were at times tough, but I’m so proud of the work we were able to do and I can’t wait to finally share Jaylen and The Trap with the world.”
Higgins revealed the book has been years in the making, describing it as an “interstellar sports noir” born from conversations with Briggs that stretch back more than a decade.
“I love working with interesting people and from the moment I met Lance, over a decade ago, I was impressed by how much his love of comics and storytelling was at the forefront of all our conversations, to say nothing of his desire to tell new stories in new corners of fiction. We started this journey to make The Trap over six years ago. Now, I’m so excited to share what we’ve built with the world.”
For Beyruth, the appeal came from combining Briggs’ vision with Higgins’ world-building.
“As the artist for The Trap, my mission was to bring to life both Lance Briggs’ personal journey as well as Kyle Higgins’ incredible sense of storytelling in a sci-fi world that is equal parts sleek and broken. I’m thrilled to finally share this with a wider audience.”
Described as a fast-paced blend of science fiction, sports, and noir, The Trap tells a story about ambition, survival, and the cost of chasing a dream when the odds are stacked against you.
Check out the first look and more details below.
The Trap (ISBN: 9781534335592) original graphic novel trade paperback will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, October 7 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, November 3.
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