Mad Cave Studios Announces The Next Chapter Of ‘Underworld’ — Previewing ‘Exit City’ #5
by Brendan M. Allen
Mark London’s Underworld was first announced in 2024 as part of Mad Cave Studios’ 10th Anniversary celebration, launching an interconnected line of titles that included Revolution 9, Hour of the Wolf, Exit City, and the epic crossover Endless Night.
Nearly two years later, this fan-favorite corner of the Mad Cave universe expands in a bold new direction as second arcs begin to unfold. The next chapter kicks off with the futuristic crime thriller Exit City #5.
London spoke about continuing the series with new creative teams:
“When a story connects with readers the way Revolution 9 [due out May 27th] and Exit City have, you don’t let it end, you find the right voices to carry it forward. Watching new creative teams step in and bring fresh energy to these worlds has been one of the most rewarding parts of building this publisher. Having writers like [Rich] Douek and [Steve] Orlando paired with artists like Georges Jeanty and Tom Derenick shows the caliber of talent these stories attract. They understand what made the originals special, and they’re pushing them into exciting new territory. That’s the Mad Cave philosophy: to build worlds worth returning to. And with the Hour of the Wolf on the horizon, there’s even more to look forward to.”
Exit City #5 from writer Rich Douek, artist Tom Derenick, colorist Fran Gamboa, and letterer Dave Sharpe with a variant cover by Juan Doe hits FOC today, so let your local shop know you want a copy while you still can.
Vitruvian marks a bold new starting point and a return to the Underworld franchise, launching an all-new story arc from writer Rich Douek and artist Tom Derenick. What begins as a lavish high-society gallery opening spirals into chaos — and then horror — when a shocking murder reframes vandalism as something far more sinister. As Detective McCormick investigates, Exit City once again proves that in a world built on ambition and excess, even creativity can become a weapon.
Douek said, “Exit City was already full of everything I love in cyberpunk fiction; the gritty reality of ordinary people struggling to maintain their humanity in a corrupt and oppressive corporate system, unrestrained research and mad science blurring the line between human and machine … it was chock full of great themes already, and I’m thrilled to be able to add my own spin to them.
“Of all the Underworld books, I think Exit City in particular is vital and relevant at this point in history, when real-world technocrats are running wild and unrestrained, breaking entire industries with no regard for the people caught in the fallout,” he continued. “Ultimately, that’s what we’re exploring in this book — what does humanity mean, in a world where everything is being turned into a product? I’m so grateful that Mark and Mad Cave have given me the chance to run with this book, and my hope is that it will become one of the many shining stars in the bright future of the Underworld Universe.”
