Zero Instance Begins Summer 2026 Exclusively From Comixology Originals
A routine raid in a popular MMO video game takes a deadly turn in Zero Instance, an exciting new five-issue sci-fi thriller comic book series from acclaimed storyteller and video game writer Frank Barbiere (Astonishing Times) and award-winning game writer and comics newcomer Stephen Rhodes, making his creator-owned debut with the series. Featuring art by Vic Malhotra issues #1-2 and Eoin Marron issues #3-5, colors by Lauren Affe, letters by Taylor Esposito and covers by Vic Malhotra, Zero Instance begins July 14, 2026. The series will be available exclusively from Amazon’s Comixology Originals digital content line.
“I’ve always been a huge fan of comics, but I only started experimenting with it as a creative outlet in recent years. After working on some tie-in comics for a video game project, I absolutely fell in love with the format and how creatively liberating it is,” said Stephen Rhodes. “Getting to work with my long-time friend and collaborator, Frank Barbiere, has been incredible. We have both spent many years working in video game development, so it was fun to draw on that experience within the story. Zero Instance emerged as a result of our love of video games as a medium and explores where the future of interactivity could be heading in the not-too-distant future.”
Zero Instance starts with a bang as the final boss escapes the screen and bleeds into the real world.
Rhys, a directionless college grad thought logging into his favorite MMO was just another raid with his friends, but they are shocked to find their boss fight glitching. When Chris—his best friend—doesn’t log out, Rhys is forced to confront a terrifying truth: the lines between game and reality are vanishing. As an experimental AI known as Braxir begins to manipulate smart systems, twist human behavior, and build a base of operations in the real world, Rhys must decide if he’s ready to lead when the game is over—and the stakes are real.
“Zero Instance was born out of a shared love of tense thrillers, MMOs, and game development, and I’m so excited to be telling this story with fantastic collaborators,” says Frank Barbiere. “I’m honored to be co-writing with my friend Stephen Rhodes in his first creator-owned comic series, and our art team of Vic Malhotra, Eoin Marron, and Lauren Affe have given the series a defining look that comic fans from across genres will love. The whole project is wrapped together with the fantastic lettering of Taylor Esposito and design from Dylan Todd, and I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on it!”
Rhodes continued, “I am incredibly grateful to our art team of Vic Malhotra, Eoin Marron, and Lauren Affe who have truly brought the story to life with vibrant and evocative art that I think people will really enjoy. The fantastic lettering of Taylor Esposito and design from Dylan Todd, ties everything together and makes the story engaging and clear. I cannot wait for the release of Zero Instance and I hope people enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.”
Current Comixology Originals releases include The Adequates byEisner Award-winner Lee Loughridge and Marz Jr.; GhostBox: Black & White by bestselling writer Mike Carey (The Girl With All the Gifts) and artist Pablo Raimondi (Sacred Creatures); Parapsychologist, the comedic paranormal, psychotherapy- themed graphic novel by HUGO award-nominated cartoonist Taki Soma, co-writer Mark Schey and artist Cat Farris (The Great Train Haunting); The Whisper War by Emmy award winning writer/producer Marc Guggenheim and artist Sedat Oezgen; and Leviathan Freedom, an epic sci-fi adventure inspired by the true story of American icon Robert Smalls, co-writtenby Marc Guggenheim and rockstar Tom Morello with art by Szymon Kudrański.
About the Team:
Frank Barbiere is a former English teacher with degrees from Rutgers University and the Graduate School for Education. After breaking into the comics industry with the creator-owned hit Five Ghosts (Image Comics), Frank has since worked for every major publisher in the U.S., as well as having a global presence in France (Glenat Comics), Italy (Cosmo Editoriale), and Spain (Norma) with his creator-owned work. He has written notable runs on Avengers World and Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. at Marvel Comics, as well as the creator-owned series Black Market and Broken World (BOOM! Studios), The Revisionist (Aftershock Comics), Violent Love (Image Comics), and The White Suits (Dark Horse Comics).
In 2017, Frank began working in the video games industry as a writer and narrative designer. He has since contributed to the Destiny franchise and served as lead writer on Darksiders Genesis, Ruined King: A League of Legends Story, and Skydance’s Behemoth.
Stephen Rhodes is an award-winning Scriptwriter and Narrative Designer with over fifteen years of experience creating immersive, emotional, and character-driven stories for video games. He has worked on numerous AAA titles for studios including Electronic Arts (Iron Man), Sledgehammer Games (Call of Duty), Ubisoft (Immortals Fenyx Rising; Assassin’s Creed Odyssey), DONTNOD (Vampyr), CD Projekt RED (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt), and Deep Silver (various).
Stephen has previously worked on the Call of Duty Vanguard comics, but he’s also published work in several tabletop roleplaying game systems and supplements. Stephen is currently a Senior Narrative Director at Electronic Arts working on the Iron Man project.
Vic Malhotra is a Canadian comic book artist. He has worked with publishers such as Image Comics, Archie Comics, IDW Comics and others. Some notable works of his are the comic book adaptations of Jim Thompson’s The Killer Inside Me and Joe Hill’s Thumbprint.
Eoin Marron is an analog comic artist, creator and illustrator, with a penchant for crime and horror stories and credits at a plethora of publishers since 2016; inc. Image, Aftershock, IDW, Marvel, Dynamite Ent. and more. His second love is for film, and prides himself on a physical library covering a wide history of cinema. Originally from Ireland, he now resides in London with his partner KT and their corgi Badger