Oni Press Launches New Series Inspired by Philip K. Dick

What if legendary science fiction writer Philip K. Dick were somehow revived in the 21st century? That's the central premise of Benjamin, a mind-bending new sci-fi mystery series from Oni Press. This three-issue prestige comic follows author Benjamin J. Carp, who died in 1982, only to inexplicably awaken in 2025 with no memory of how he returned.

IGN has an exclusive first look at Benjamin #1. Explore the slideshow gallery below for a closer peek, but please be aware that some NSFW language is present:

Benjamin #1: Exclusive Comic Book Preview Gallery

View 15 Images

Benjamin marks the first full-length comic writing project for Ben H. Winters, author of The Last Policeman Trilogy and creator of the CBS series Tracker. The series is illustrated by Leomacs (known for EC’s Epitaphs from the Abyss and Basketful of Heads), with cover artwork by Leomacs, Christian Ward, and Malachi Ward.

Here is Oni Press's official description of Benjamin:

Benjamin J. Carp was more than just a writer or a science-fiction icon; he was a cultural revolutionary. Across 44 novels and hundreds of short stories—including the counterculture classic The Man They Couldn’t Erase—Carp stretched the boundaries of literary respectability for the sci-fi genre and challenged his readers' perception of reality itself . . . until a life of amphetamine abuse and Southern California excess finally ended a mind-bending career that narrowly missed mainstream acclaim. He died in 1982.

Then, in 2025 . . . Benjamin J. Carp awakens, alive, in a derelict motel on the outskirts of Los Angeles. He remembers dying. He knows he shouldn't exist. Is he a dream? A robot? A ghost? A clone? A simulation? In his own time, Carp explored all these possibilities in his fiction—and now, as he journeys from Studio City to Venice Beach and deeper into the paranoid expanse of 21st-century Los Angeles, he must solve his greatest mystery yet: himself.

"First of all, just because the comic is called Benjamin and it's about a guy named Benjamin, written by a guy named Benjamin—that doesn't make it autobiographical! Just because the protagonist is a grumpy, middle-aged science-fiction writer wandering through Los Angeles in search of life’s meaning, and I happen to be—oh, wait. S***," Winters tells IGN. "The joy of writing Benjamin was taking life's most serious theme—death, and the fact that we all die—and turning it into a lively, fun adventure about a middle-aged man who died, came back, and is trying to figure out why, how, and what to do next."

Winters adds, "I've always enjoyed stories with a playful twist. So a tale about a sci-fi writer who might be trapped inside one of his own stories—and written by another sci-fi writer, no less—trying to find his way out... it's a clever and entertaining story that also tackles the big questions that define our existence. Plus, there's a dog! A sweet, loyal dog named Strawman. Honestly, what more could you want?"

Benjamin #1 arrives on June 18, 2025. You can also watch an animated trailer for the series.

In other comic news, DC Comics and Ghost Machine are staging their first crossover (of sorts), and the nominees for the 2025 Eisner Awards have been announced.