When an ambitious and troubled video game programmer dares to audition for a secret society in the gaming/tech industry, composed of cutthroat, genius masterminds that promise to help their members achieve their wildest dreams, he and his rebellious co-worker find themselves in a gauntlet of real-life puzzles that quickly turn deadly. Are they truly smart enough to survive the mysterious game of the Masterminds?
• Squid Game meets David Fincher’s The Game.
• A modern noir series about the gamification of success.
• Five issue series.
Creators
Writer:
Zack Kaplan
Artist:
Stephen Thompson
Colorist:
Thiago Rocha
Letterer:
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover Artist:
Stephen Thompson, Aaron Campbell, Björn BarendsGenre: Crime/Mystery
Publication Date:
August 27, 2025
Format:
FC, 32 pages; Miniseries
Price:
$4.99
Level Two.
Edward and Angie begin the adventure of a lifetime as they face the Masterminds’ strange but brilliant real-life puzzles and challenges. But when they realize they are not the only competitors, they will have to ask themselves if they are willing to turn criminal on the gaming company they once worked for and make horrific sacrifices to get ahead.
• Five-issue series.
Creators
Writer:
Zack Kaplan
Artist:
Stephen Thompson
Colorist:
Thiago Rocha
Letterer:
Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover Artist:
Stephen Thompson, Martin SimmondsGenre: Crime/Mystery
Publication Date:
October 08, 2025
Format:
FC, 32 pages; Min
Level Three. After a brush with death in the audition’s most dangerous puzzle yet, a suspicious and paranoid Edward discovers the Masterminds are everywhere, watching his every step and controlling his every move. As he tries to secretly investigate their true motives and identities, he soon realizes that in this game, he can’t trust anyone.
• A world of brilliant puzzle solving that will test readers.
• Five-issue series.
Creators
Writer: Zack Kaplan
Artist: Stephen Thompson
Colorist: Thiago Rocha
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover artist: Stephen Thompson, Keron GrantGenres: Crime/Mystery
Publication date: Dec. 24, 2025
Format: FC, 32 pages; Miniseries
Price: $4.99
Level Four. Suspicious of everyone, a fugitive on the run and with time running out, Edward must uncover the society’s secrets and determine whether the game is actually a billion-dollar heist or if it is truly a sadistically concocted real-life initiation to join the smartest society of all time.
• Five-issue series.
Creators
Writer: Zack Kaplan
Artist: Stephen Thompson
Colorist: Thiago Rocha
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover artist: Stephen ThompsonGenres: Crime/Mystery
Publication date: March 11, 2026
Format: FC, 32 pages; Miniseries
Price: $4.99
