Sometimes we read a synopsis for a new book and we’re pulling it at our LCS right away. This is what just happened with Babylon Cove, a new five-issue horror romantic comedy from Mad Cave Studios.
Babylon Cove #1
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios
Writer: Rafer Roberts
Artist: Joe Eisma
Colorist: Marissa Louise
Letterer: Crank!
Release date: May 20, 2026
So, What’s the Story?
Heather Hutchens is a no-nonsense career woman who goes back to her picturesque New England hometown for the first time in a decade to attend a family funeral. Waiting for her are the old relationships and unresolved feelings she left behind, including Dennis, the all-American dreamboat who broke her heart in high school, and Charlie, the shy late bloomer she never gave the time of day. A small-town love triangle would be complicated enough, but there’s also Karthon, an ancient demon who plans to feast on everyone in town.
The pitch has been described as a Hallmark movie written by Stephen King. What starts as grounded romance and personal drama turns into something much darker and more chaotic.
Who’s Making Babylon Cove?
Rafer Roberts writes, Joe Eisma draws, Marissa Louise colors, and Crank! letters, published by Mad Cave Studios.
This is a creative team we’re not very familiar with, which makes the project even more interesting to us as a discovery, and a look at their work shows they’re more experienced than we expected. Roberts is the writer and co-creator of Modern Fantasy, Grumble, and The Rock Gods of Jackson, Tennessee, and he has written for Image, Oni, Valiant, and Dark Horse, including Valiant’s Archer & Armstrong and a Rick and Morty comic. Eisma is the Eisner-nominated co-creator of the New York Times bestseller Morning Glories at Image Comics, and he has also drawn Star Trek for IDW, Archie and Riverdale for Archie Comics, and The Flash for DC.
Louise colored Hex Wives, and Crank! lettered Hack/Slash. The team is also not new to each other: Roberts, Louise, and Crank! all worked together on Grumble, so the writer, colorist, and letterer already have a working rhythm. Eric Powell provides the variant cover for issue #1.
Why We’re Watching This One
This is exactly the kind of mix we love. Romance stories already come with built-in tension, awkward reunions, and emotional baggage, so throwing a literal demon into that setup just makes everything more chaotic in the best way. It feels like the kind of series that can shift between messy relationships, humor, and straight-up horror without losing its identity.
That contrast between small-town romance drama and something much darker lurking underneath is what really sells it for us. If it leans fully into both sides, the emotional and the supernatural, this could end up being a very fun and memorable read. We do love unique books, and this one definitely fits the bill!
Who Should Add This to Their Pull List?
Fans of horror comedies, readers who enjoy romance with a twist, and anyone who wants something genuinely different on their pull list should check this out. It’s also a good fit for Mad Cave readers who like the publisher’s more unusual horror books.
More Mad Cave We’ve Enjoyed
If you’re looking for more from Mad Cave, we’ve recently enjoyed It Killed Everyone But Me, a horror series built around a lone survivor; Flow, a horror miniseries about a curse that comes for a group of former bullies; and The Slasher’s Apprentice, a slasher story.
Release Details
Babylon Cove #1 goes on sale May 20, 2026, from Mad Cave Studios, as the first issue of a five-issue limited series. The main cover is by Joe Eisma, with a variant cover by Eric Powell. Talk to your LCS about it!
FAQ
When does Babylon Cove #1 come out? Issue #1 releases May 20, 2026.
Who is writing Babylon Cove? Rafer Roberts, known for Modern Fantasy and Grumble.
Who is drawing Babylon Cove? Joe Eisma, co-creator of Morning Glories, with colors by Marissa Louise and letters by Crank!
What publisher is releasing Babylon Cove? Mad Cave Studios.
Is Babylon Cove a new series, limited series, or one-shot? It’s a five-issue limited series.
Is Babylon Cove horror or romance? Both. It’s a horror romantic comedy, mixing small-town romance with an ancient demon.
Who should read Babylon Cove? Fans of horror comedies and romance with a twist, and anyone looking for something unique.
