Author: Newsroom
DEC. 19, 2025 (PORTLAND, OR) — Rebellion starts on the page.
Mad Cave Studios is proud to announce EXPLOIT, the forthcoming four-issue technothriller from tenured journalists, former senior editor of WIRED, Laura Hudson, and Tim Leong (Marvel Super Graphic, Star Wars Super Graphic), joined by Emiliana Pinna (Immortal Red Sonja), Rebecca Good (The Old Guard), and Frank Cvetkovic (Blue Palo Verde)—with a variant by Veronica Fish (Blackwood, Slam!). This mix of newsroom grit and tech-fueled paranoia zeroes in on what it means to live (and fight) in a world where billionaire influence shapes the truth, algorithms decide the stakes, and every notification hits hard…
Don’t bury the lede. Bury your enemies.
Kirby Kuo might be late to her true purpose in life–but no one would call the 30-something journalism intern out of time. When she uncovers a shocking secret about tech billionaire Cole Saxon, Kirby does what she has always wanted to do and publishes it. But the violence and vengeance that follows is like nothing she could have anticipated—pitting Kirby, her agoraphobic roommate, and the writing staff of the defunct magazine RIOT! to bring justice to a world where the rich get what they want without consequence.
“For me, Exploit became a way to cope with how volatile life has become, how unstable reality seems, and how little it feels like we can do about it,” said Laura Hudson. “The world of Exploit is also plagued by unctuous tech billionaires and corrupt politicians, but it’s focused on people who want to fight back, often at cost, with the resources and skills they have available. The comic is a bit more dramatic and absurd than the world we live in, but unfortunately, not by much. The comic is also much more enjoyable and narratively coherent than real life. We hope readers will enjoy this.”
Series co-writer Tim Leong added, “This is a deeply personal story for us. We worked behind the scenes at some of the world’s biggest magazines—and watched them close. We didn’t know what to do with all the emotions that come from the slow destruction of the industry you love. So, we poured them into Exploit—a modern technothriller that’s never been more relevant. At its heart, Exploit is a rebellion story. Fighting back when it feels like everything is closing in around you, when your profession crumbles to dust, and when you’re feeling absolutely powerless. We started this book back in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, and it felt like everything was out of our control. Exploit was our way to find that light, that hope—that power. And now we want to pass that same feeling on to the readers.”
Exploit taps into the energy of ‘90s zine culture and the unease of life inside the digital surveillance.
If you’ve ever felt burned out, watched, or worn down by collapsing industries, billionaire-owned media, and the relentless pressure of staying visible online. With its fusion of rebellion, suspense, and razor-sharp commentary, Exploit asks what it means to fight for truth when the narrative is already rigged.
Exploit #1 arrives March 4, 2026, with FOC on February 9th. Preorder through your local comic shop, retailer, or from Mad Cave directly.
Stay up to date with Mad Cave Studios—and its imprints Papercutz, Maverick, and Nakama Press on social media, or visit www.madcavestudios.com to explore new releases, licensed series, and creator-owned titles.