In the pantheon of modern dark fantasy, few premises cut as deep as Karman Blade. From the Eisner Award-winning creative team behind Little Bird and Precious Metal comes a four-issue miniseries that doesn't pull its punches: a world dying under the boot of a tyrant god, and a single blade sharp enough to break free.
This is sword-and-sorcery stripped to its existential core. Not heroes on a quest, but survivors in a world where hope itself has been weaponized against them. Darcy Van Poelgeest's script cuts straight to the moral center of tyranny, while Ian Bertram's artwork—rendered by colorist Matt Hollingsworth—brings a visual ferocity that makes every panel feel like a blow.
A stunning dark fantasy that refuses easy answers. Van Poelgeest and Bertram have created something genuinely dangerous—a story that knows the power of its own mythology and wields it like a weapon.
— Comic Book Review Network
The premise is deceptively simple: in a world enslaved by a god made manifest, rebellion takes the form of a single weapon. But in the hands of creators this skilled, simplicity becomes sophistication. Every page builds pressure. Every panel asks a question that cuts deeper than the last.
If you've followed Van Poelgeest's work on Little Bird—with its intimate brutality and moral clarity—you already know what to expect: storytelling that refuses sentimentality but never loses sight of what's at stake. If you know Bertram's art from Precious Metal and beyond, you're prepared for linework that moves like violence itself, that makes every gesture matter.
Bertram's artwork is extraordinary. There's a kinetic intensity to every page that matches the desperation of the narrative. This is dark fantasy art that doesn't look like anything else on shelves.
— Comic Book Database
Meet the Architects of the Apocalypse
Darcy Van Poelgeest
Writer
Van Poelgeest has built a reputation for stories that refuse compromise. Her work on the Eisner Award-winning series Little Bird established her as a master of intimate, brutal storytelling—narratives that find the human cost of systemic oppression. In Precious Metal, she demonstrated her range with a science fiction epic that balanced scope with intimate character work. With Karman Blade, she turns to pure dark fantasy, bringing the same moral clarity and narrative precision that have defined her career. Her scripts demand readers sit with uncomfortable truths.
Ian Bertram
Artist
Bertram's artwork is instantly recognizable for its kinetic intensity and visual storytelling prowess. His work on Precious MetalLittle BirdKarman Blade, Bertram brings a visual ferocity that matches the brutality of Van Poelgeest's script. Every line serves the story; every panel is a composition that pulls the reader forward. His art makes the impossible look effortless and the brutal look beautiful.
Matt Hollingsworth
Colorist
Hollingsworth's color work has been essential to some of the most striking comics of the past decade. His palette choices don't just enhance Bertram's linework—they define the emotional temperature of every scene. For Karman Blade, Hollingsworth brings a color approach that emphasizes the darkness of the world while making moments of resistance shimmer with desperate beauty. His color choices elevate the artwork from strong to unforgettable.
The Details You Need
Title: Karman Blade #1 (of 4)
Release Date: September 9, 2026
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Darcy Van Poelgeest
Artist: Ian Bertram
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Pages: 32
Price: $3.99
Diamond Code: Check local availability
Karman Blade arrives in stores September 9, 2026. All cover variants are available now at Epic Panels Comics. This is essential reading for fans of dark fantasy, for readers who follow Van Poelgeest and Bertram's work, and for anyone looking for a story that doesn't flinch.
