Nazis And Murder: Image Comics Announces New Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Electric Smoke’

by Olly MacNamee

Writer Jordan Thomas (Weird Work, The Man from Maybe) and artistic collaborator Chris Matthews (Mugshots, Exorcism Island) have a new twisty science fiction/murder mystery four-issue miniseries, Electric Smoke, debuting from Image Comics in February, 2027. As well as a main cover by Matthews, the first issue will also feature variant covers by Jacob Phillips (Everything Dead & Dying, That Texas Blood), Warwick Johnson-Cadwell (Our Encounters With Evil), and Matthews himself.

Here’s the series’ synopsis:

“Electric Smoke starts with a murder. An Austrian robotics expert is dead. Now Detective Foster J. Lockidge is on the case.

Brought in by a mysterious client, Foster thought it was just a protection gig, but now the old guy’s dead before he even laid eyes on him. Not one to hand back a client’s fee, Foster decides to do what he does best and hit the 1930s New York streets to track down the culprits.

Unfortunately for Foster, that decision is going to lead to a world of trouble full of Nazis, shady US military types, dangerous dames and revelations that could rock the wider world, all whilst the city bubbles with tension over the upcoming meeting of the Nazi-sympathizing American Bund.”

And here’s Thomas with his statement on the new book:

“Chris and I are constantly planning what our next projects together will be and when I saw Chris post a set of gorgeous character designs with a 1930s vibe a year or so back I knew we had to do something in that era. From there I pulled in my love of classic noir movies and our mutual adoration for all things Mike Mignola and Electric Smoke was born. I truly believe this is our best work so far and the art Chris is doing for the series is both stunning and unlike anything else in comics right now. I think people are going to fall in love with the world and be thrilled by the twists and turns in the story.”

Matthews added:

“Jordan smashes another one out the park. A really fun, original take on a classic noir detective story that I’m proud to be a part of.”