We were so curious about The Author Immortal when we teased it here, and now that we’ve read the first issue, it’s time to say how amazing it is.

The Author Immortal #1
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Frank J. Barbiere
Artist: Morgan Beem
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Release date: October 1, 2025

Here’s the setup: Hector Ramirez is a failed writer that is offered a chance to reboot the fantasy series that shaped his childhood. The original author vanished years ago, and now a cancelled conservative writer wants Hector to bring the books back to life. Don’t get me wrong, she explicitly says his writing is mediocre, but his obsession with the writer caught her attention and she thinks he’s the right person for the mission of reviving the series. I didn’t come into this book knowing Barbiere or Beem’s past work, which, honestly, makes the story all the more exciting.

What hit me right away was how real this issue felt. The art is gorgeous, soft watercolors that match the fantasy awaiting. There’s a slow burn of tension: we get a mystery first, but we also lean into real-world consequences of cancel culture, the weight of public perception, identity, and the gaslighting tones in the “cancelled author” narrative. I loved how we don’t immediately shift into full fantasy mode, at first, it’s all people and power and reputation. Hector’s daughter is non-binary, which adds depth to the relationships too.

I love that this story doesn’t push us into a fantasy world. It invites you in via tension, secrets, and real feelings. But by the end? You feel the pull toward the unreal, the magical, the unknown.

You need to grab this issue. It’s not just a book, it’s a puzzle in motion, and we can’t wait to solve it! October 1 is when this story begins – don’t miss the debut of The Author Immortal.