Two New Crime Series Announced From Ram V, Dan Watters, And Image Comics

by Olly MacNamee

Teased at New York Comic Con recently, two new series from White Noise Studio members Ram V (The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, Swamp Thing) and Dan Watters (Home Sick Pilots, Loki) have now revealed a launch date of February 2024 from Image Comics. And both sporting very deliberately matching cover designs.

First up in early February is The One Hand from Ram V, artist Laurence Campbell (Old Haunts, BPRD: Hell on Earth) and colourist Lee Loughridge (Deadly Class). An “unrelenting procedural that will have readers guessing until the very end.”

“Neo Novena detective, Ari Nasser is about to retire with an enviable record, until a brutal murder occurs, bearing all the hallmarks of the “One Hand Killer” …which should be impossible since Ari already put him away not once but twice in the years before.

What follows is a deadly cat-and-mouse game as Ari pursues his quarry down the rain-soaked streets of Neo Novena. Ari will stop at nothing to unravel the secrets and ciphers of this case, but each revelation only leads further into the dark heart of his future-metropolis and Ari’s own beleaguered soul.”

Ram V is quoted as saying:]

“The One Hand stems from one of those 3 a.m.-frantically-looking-for-a-notebook-to-make-notes kind of ideas. It took hold of my imagination a couple of years ago and would not let go until the story was made. It is ambitious, seeking to do new things in the medium and unlike anything I’ve made before. I cannot wait for people to experience it.”

Then we have The Six Fingers in late February from writer Watters, artist Sumit Kumar (Man-Bat, These Savage Shores) and Loughridge on colours. “An equally confounding mystery that will have readers on the edge of their seats as the story unfolds.”

“Neo Novena archaeology student, Johannes Vale, has always been so very in control of his life. But when he commits a brutal murder, using the M.O. of an historic and notorious serial killer, everything begins to spiral out of control… primarily as Johannes doesn’t remember doing it.

What follows is a deadly cat-and-mouse game as Johannes seeks refuge in the rain-soaked streets of Neo Novena. He will stop at nothing to unravel the secrets and ciphers of what he did and why he did it; but each revelation only leads further into the dark heart of his future-metropolis and Johannes’ own heartbroken soul.”

Watters added:

“This book is one we’ve been boiling up for years, a true labor of love. We’re doing something with it I’ve never seen in comics before, and I think readers are going to have a hell of a time uncovering the secrets and sins buried between its bloody pages.”