What happens when a punk-rock escape collides with a possible murder and a dash of the supernatural? That's the tantalizing premise of A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts, a new graphic novel from writer Oliver Mertz and artist Alex Diotto, hitting shelves next week. We've got an exclusive first look at five pages that set the stage for a story that's equal parts coming-of-age drama and eerie whodunit.
The tale unfolds in the suburban D.C. punk scene of the 1990s—a world of basement shows, DIY ethics, and teenage angst, far from the political power plays of the capital. Here, we meet Ari Ackerman, a teen using the scene to escape the looming loss of his father to cancer. His best friend, Maya Meng, is along for the ride, just looking for a good time. But Ari's world is shattered when he witnesses a brutal murder—or does he? The line between reality and something stranger blurs from the very start.
Our exclusive preview opens with Ari returning home from a show, greeted by his father, who's clinging to life but still sharp enough to trade darkly humorous jabs. The two light yahrzeit candles in memory of Ari's late mother, and his dad refuses morphine despite the pain, determined to stay lucid for that night's Star Trek: The Next Generation rerun—specifically, "Darmok," a fan-favorite episode. It's a quiet, intimate moment that grounds the story in real human emotion.
But the calm is soon disrupted. We cut to a pair of mysterious figures surveilling a quiet house. They mention seeing the inhabitant do "the thing with the blood," hinting at supernatural abilities that could be tied to the murder Ari thinks he saw. Are these watchers friend or foe? And what's their connection to the possible crime?
This isn't your typical superhero tale. It's a genre-blending mystery that explores grief, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves to cope. The creative team brings a wealth of experience: Mertz, a Maryland-based writer known for First Law of Mad Science and The Monuments, also handles the coloring, while Diotto, an Italian artist with credits on Indigo Children and Lost Fantasy, provides the art. Letterer Taylor Esposito, whose résumé includes Batman and Elvira, rounds out the team.
For fans of classic mystery drama with a modern twist, this graphic novel promises a fresh take on the genre. It also taps into the current appetite for mystery novels turned into visual media, offering a comic that feels both timely and timeless.
A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts arrives September 2 from Oni Press, priced at $29.99. If the preview is any indication, this is one mystery you won't want to put down—just be prepared to question everything you see.
