A Photograph, A Friendship, And A Gripping Mystery — ‘Last Call To Leave Earth’ Announced
by Brendan M. Allen
When a mysterious photo changes three former friends’ lives. A haunted photographer, a fame-obsessed UFO enthusiast, and a devoted cult member reunite to uncover the truth lurking in their small town.
Nakama Press, an imprint of Mad Cave Studios, has announced Last Call To Leave Earth. The original graphic novel from Brazilian writer and illustrator Cassio Ribeiro is 180 pages of young adult fiction that blends small-town mystery, emotional realism, and speculative wonder in a story that questions what we choose to believe … and what it costs to hold on.
Rita, Carlos, and Lucas were merely friends until a pivotal moment changed everything: they photographed what many in the small town of Caminho da Anta believed to be an alien. Years later, Rita, now thriving as a professional photographer, returns to discover the truth behind that fateful day and its effects on their lives and the community. A troubled photographer, a fame-seeking UFO enthusiast, and a loyal cult member are all in pursuit of answers, but what they find could be more extraordinary than they ever anticipated.
“I started writing this story during the quarantine at the beginning of COVID, from a draft of a story I had thought of years earlier,” said Ribiero. “I’ve always been a fan of mystery podcasts, especially those related to UFOs, although I’m somewhat skeptical of most of them. My main inspirations for the story’s tone, aside from some cases that occurred in Brazil, were Twin Peaks and, although it’s not a horror story, films like Ringu and Ju-on. I wanted a mystery story where the mystery wasn’t the main draw, but rather the relationships between the characters and their search to be understood by others.
It’s a story about how even if we know someone closely, there will always be something about that person that seems a little alien to us, and vice versa. I’m very excited that this very personal story with such specific Brazilian elements is being translated into English, and I hope the readers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it!”
Last Call to Leave Earth lands in stores on March 24th, 2026. Preorder now at your local comic shop, favorite bookstore, or from Nakama Press directly.
