“Part murder mystery, part fantasy epic, Black Cloak is a stunning work of storytelling alchemy.” —Scott Snyder

Eisner Award winning writer Kelly Thompson (Black Widow, Captain Marvel) and fan-favorite artist Meredith McClaren (Jem & the Holograms, Super Fun Sexy Times, Hinges) will launch the mystery/fantasy mashup Black Cloak. This ongoing series will be brought to print and land on shelves in January 2023 from Image Comics.

Black Cloak is essentially all of my favorite things—detective stories, fantasy creatures and magic, neo-noir sci-fi—thrown into a blender and made into something thrillingly new…or if not new, then at least new-ISH,” said Thompson in an exclusive on the announcement with Popverse. “And I’m so excited to be teaming up with Meredith again on a project where we can really cut loose with world-building and design. I can never get enough of how Meredith’s brain works and she has breathed incredible super cool life into Black Cloak.”

Blade Runner style mixes with Saga-esque drama in a delectable fantasy/sci-fi blend as two Black Cloaks try to solve the murder of a beloved prince in Kiros—the last city in the known world—before his murder tips the city into war. The mystery begins in a spectacular triple-length first issue hitting shelves in the New Year.

McClaren added: “Kelly asked me to and I like her a whole lot.” 

The print edition of Black Cloak #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, January 11:

  • Cover A by Meredith McClaren – Diamond Code NOV220018
  • Cover B by Jeff Dekal – Diamond Code NOV220019
  • Cover C by Christian Ward – Diamond Code NOV220020
  • Cover D by Peach Momoko – Diamond Code NOV220021
  • Cover E by Tula Lotay – Diamond Code NOV220022
  • Cover F by Tula Lotay – Diamond Code NOV220023

Black Cloak will also be available in digital format via Thompson’s 1979 Semi-Finalist Substack newsletter

Early praise for Black Cloak:

Black Cloak is upsettingly good. With a rich and gorgeous world, a story that grabs you from page one, and characters you fall in love with, it’s the kind of comic we all wish we could make.” —Matthew Rosenberg, What’s the Furthest Place from Here?, Hawkeye

“Eye-popping art, writing like a dagger in the heart, the best world-building I’ve seen in comics since Saga. Let me put it this way about Black Cloak… welcome to your new favorite comic.” —Gail Simone, Clean Room, Batgirl, Deadpool

Black Cloak takes two beloved genres, noir and fantasy, and blends them to make something thrillingly new and exciting. Part murder mystery, part fantasy epic, Black Cloak is a stunning work of storytelling alchemy. Thompson and McClaren grab you from the first pages and don’t let go. One of my favorite new books in a long time.” —Scott Snyder, We Have Demons, Clear, Batman

Black Cloak deftly blends the pleasure of procedural puzzles and murder mysteries with some of the cleverest post-modern inversions and subversions of the fantasy genre I’ve seen in quite some time. Add to that the warm humanity coursing through the characters and story and you’ve got your new favorite pulp murder magic.” —Christopher Cantwell, Iron Man, Briar, Blue Flame

“What’s not to love about Black Cloak? A fascinating world, wonderful characterizations, and a compelling mystery at its core. Thompson and McClaren have built a world here both fantastical and all too relatable, and I can’t wait to explore it more!” —Joe Henderson, Lucifer, Skyward, Shadecraft

“I loved, loved, loved Black Cloak—a master class in world-building that pulls you into its story and never lets you go. Crafted by a powerhouse creative team doing their best work. Don’t miss it!” —Alex Segura, Secret Identity, Poe Dameron, Black Ghost