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Here's a sentence I didn't think I'd be writing today: John Cusack is coming to comics. That's right, the Hollywood A-lister that starred in movies like Say Anything, 1408, and Igor (what do you mean you haven't seen Igor?) is partnering with skyrocketing publisher Mad Cave Studios for the graphic novel Momo. Described as "a road trip epic of cosmic stakes," the surrealist crime thriller sees Cusack partnering with Helldorado artist Ignacio Noé.

"When John first approached Mad Cave's Editor-in-Chief, Mike Marts, about debuting his first project in the medium with Mad Cave, needless to say, we were more than intrigued,” said Mad Cave publisher Chris Fernandez in a statement Popverse is excited to reveal.

He continued, "When the project's scope was first revealed to us, we knew it was unlike anything anyone was expecting. And when we learned that none other than Ignacio Noé was attached to illustrate, we were over the moon. I think I can speak for the whole team when I say that we are honored to have these two legends in their respective fields trust us with this unrelenting work. It's an honest vision John has for this project, and there is no medium more honest than comics. In that sense, this is the perfect fit."

So just what is Momo all about, you ask? Like anything Cusack is attached to, it's obviously going to be something that stands out from the crowd - see Fernandez's comment on "scope" - but to really appreciate just how differently the storyline is going to run, you're gonna have to read Mad Cave's official plot synopsis.

"Two criminals are thrown together by fate," it says, "Both running from their pasts—a weathered man and a mysterious young woman who refuses to give her name form an unlikely partnership and take on a mission that could tear reality apart as they make their way through the already decaying, barren wasteland of the American Dream. Their goal? Recover an ancient artifact for Jackie Gleason—yes, that Jackie Gleason, TV legend and rumored connoisseur of all things extraterrestrial.

"But this isn't just a strange road trip. There are cosmic forces beyond imagination with a taste for chaos and vengeance, and so much more along their route. As their uneasy alliance unravels mile by mile in a world littered by blasted souls and nuclear secrets and Howard Johnson's, betrayals bloom like roadside flowers. And the closer they get to Gleason’s hideaway, the more the lines blur between divine comedy and cosmic horror. Still, the mission cannot be put to a halt, and our wayward strangers, with the help of the most eclectic cast of characters you've ever seen — including occult actors and endlessly powerful mystical beings—must retrieve the artifact at all costs."

Well, I, for one, am thrilled that Honeymooners star Jackie Gleason is finally getting recognized for his fascination with everything UFO. (Oh yeah, that is 100% true - you can Google it for yourself.) In fact, according to the graphic novel's creator, there's going to be a whole lot of incredible truths in this project, despite the surreal nature of its plot.

"The origin story of Momo I will leave for another time," teased Cusack, "Suffice to say, the brilliantly singular artist Ignacio Noé worked tirelessly through many days and nights, and 'decoded' the original classified documents that came to my attention accidentally many years ago, when [British artist] Damien Hirst and I were researching the Chinese/North American narcotic drug routes of the early 1970s for a well-known restaurateur and art collector — I’m more than delighted to be working with the excellent people at Mad Cave—and have zero doubt this is the first of many creations to come."

Sorry, can you repeat that one more time, John? "Many creations to come"? I guess I should add to that sentence I didn't think I'd be writing with something even more surprising. John Cusack isn't just coming to comics, it looks very much like he'll be staying once he gets there.

Momo, written by John Cusack, drawn by Ignacio Noé, and published by Mad Cave Studios, is slated for release June 16, 2026.

Get ready for what's next with our guide to upcoming comics, how to buy comics at a comic shop, and our guide to Free Comic Book Day 2025.