Written by Matt Kindt and drawn by James Bond artist Ibrahim Moustafa , Dark Horse Comics will be publishing the new comic book series, John le Carré: The Circus – Losing Control , set in the world of The Circus created by John le Carré in The Spy Who Came In From The Cold , Tinker Tailor Solider Spy , and more, developed in association with The Ink Factory . However, this three-issue series will be set in the modern day, with colours by Brad Simpson and letters by Simon Bowland .
"Every day, behind closed doors, the men and women of The Circus are embroiled in high stakes, high-wire acts that the average citizen would never notice. These intelligence officers protect Britain’s most sensitive secrets. At the head of it all is Control: an all-powerful puppet master who decides who goes where, who does what, and sometimes, if necessary, who lives and who dies. But now, Control has vanished.
"He doesn’t show up at the office. He misses his meetings. He won’t—or can’t—answer his phone. He is simply nowhere. Control’s assistant Maggie is the only one who knows he’s gone, and with a mole’s identity blown in Moscow, the clock is ticking. A member of « The Mothers » – the unsung fleet of assistants and secretaries who hold the show together behind the scenes of The Circus – Maggie knows every protocol, every password, and every operative—but she has no idea whether something has happened to Control or whether this is part of his plan. Either way, she can’t trust anyone. No-one can know Control is missing. And can she even trust Control? Secrets within The Circus have a way of unravelling, and Maggie will have to act fast… or risk the walls tumbling down around her.
« Getting asked to contribute a piece to John le Carré’s world of Smiley has been one of the greatest honors and responsibilities of my life, » said Kindt. « I wasn’t looking for this job but I was called into service. And much like Smiley, my heart is in the right place and hopefully that will be enough. »
Nick Harkaway, speaking on behalf of the John le Carré Estate, said: « Look at this! Just look at it! You open the book and Ibrahim’s amazing visuals immediately wrap you in the world. Then you get Matt’s story of lies, damned lies and espionage in a gripping modern iteration of the le Carré mode. You’re in safe hands from page one, and it’s a pleasure to lay The Circus: Losing Control at the feet of readers and see what they make of it all. But speaking as the resident comics nerd in this generation of the Cornwell family: I’m in. Give me more! »
John Le Carré: The Circus—Losing Control #1 (of 3) will be available in comic shops on November 19, 2025 for $5.99
Every day, the intelligence agents of the Circus are enmeshed in high-stakes, high-wire acts that the average citizen would never notice. They protect Britain’s most sensitive secrets—and in modern Britain, secrets are everything. At the head of it all is Control: the all-powerful puppet master who decides who goes where, who does what, and sometimes, of necessity, who lives and who dies. But now, Control has vanished.
He doesn’t show up at the office. He misses his meetings. He won’t—or can’t—answer his phone. He is, simply, nowhere. Control’s assistant Maggie is the only one who knows he’s gone, and with an imminent and critical mission in Vienna, the clock is ticking. Maggie knows every protocol, every password, and every operative—but whether something has happened to Control or whether this is part of his plan, she has no idea. Either way, she can’t trust anyone with the knowledge of his absence. Can she even trust him?
Secrets within the Circus have a way of coming unraveled, and Maggie will have to act fast…or risk the walls tumbling down around her.
• John le Carré reinvented and reimagined the modern espionage novel. Over an almost sixty-year writing career he published twenty-six best-selling books, many of which have also been adapted as award winning feature films and television series, such as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Constant Gardner, A Most Wanted Man, and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.
• Written by Harvey Award-winning and NYT Best-Selling writer and artist Matt Kindt.
• Three-issue series.
Creators
Writer:
Matt Kindt
Artist:
Ibrahim Moustafa
Colorist:
Brad Simpson
Letterer:
Simon Bowland
Cover Artist:
Ibrahim MoustafaGenre: Crime/Mystery
Publication Date:
November 19, 2025
Format:
FC, 40 pages; Miniseries
Price:
$5.99
London, 2025. Control is missing. And with an imminent and critical mission in Vienna, potential enemies within the Circus, and nothing to work from but an unsent text to her saying “DON’T,” Control’s assistant Maggie can’t trust anyone with the knowledge of his absence. Using every connection and tool she has at her disposal, Maggie works quickly to spin a web of deceit—but in protecting the secret of Control’s absence, she runs into danger herself.
• Written by Harvey Award-winning and NYT Best-Selling writer and artist Matt Kindt.
• Illustrated by Eisner Award–nominated artist Ibrahim Moustafa.
• Three-issue series.
Creators
Writer: Matt Kindt
Artist: Ibrahim Moustafa
Colorist: Brad Simpson
Letterer: Simon Bowland
Cover artist: Ibrahim MoustafaGenres: Crime/Mystery
Publication date: Feb. 11, 2026
Format: FC, 40 pages; Miniseries
Price: $5.99
