DC Vertigo’s Launch Momentum Continues as THE PERIL OF THE BRUTAL DARK: AN EZRA CAIN MYSTERY #1 Returns to Press
The Peril of the Brutal Dark #1 becomes the third Vertigo title to go back to print, following sellouts of Bleeding Hearts #1 and End of Life #1.
The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1 main cover by Jacob Phillips
DC’s Vertigo revival continues its early momentum as The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1 heads back to press following its release! The debut issue from Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips marks the third DC Vertigo launch to trigger an immediate reprint, joining Bleeding Hearts #1 and End of Life #1 in a wave of sustained interest from readers and retailers.
Early critical response to The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1 has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. The Beat praised the debut as "a great combination of the hardscrabble with the potentially mystical and occult," noting that the issue "actually exceeded" their already high expectations. AIPT highlighted the book’s confidence and craft, calling it "a story that oozes style with every page." Comic Watch celebrated the series’ genre-bending appeal, describing it as "a strange and exciting intersection between Maltese Falcon-style noir and Spielberg’s Indiana Jones," adding that if comics were graded like orange juice, this one would be labeled "lots of pulp."
The Peril of the Brutal Dark introduces readers to private investigator Ezra Cain, whose latest case pulls him into a mystery that stretches from the streets of 1941 New York to the shadowy legacy of an artifact once coveted by Hitler himself. Condon and Phillips, reuniting after their acclaimed work on That Texas Blood and The Enfield Gang Massacre, bring a sharp, pulpy energy to DC Vertigo’s return, blending noir grit with supernatural intrigue.
The first printing of The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1 is available at local comic shops while supplies last, and readers are encouraged to check with their neighborhood retailer and add DC Vertigo’s Ezra Cain Mysteries to their pull lists. The Second Printing of The Peril of the Brutal Dark #1 will arrive in comic shops on April 22.
The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1 Second Printing will feature the original main cover art by Jacob Phillips (shown above), updated with new logo coloring for this edition. DC Vertigo will also offer a Second Printing variant cover, presenting an inks-only version of Hayden Sherman’s variant cover from the first printing:
The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1 Second Printing variant by Hayden Sherman (not final cover)
As DC Vertigo’s new titles continue to roll out through 2026, readers can look forward to even more series debuting throughout the summer and into the end of the year. Upcoming launches include 100 Bullets: The U.S. of Anger by Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso; A Walking Shadow by Simon Spurrier and Aaron Campbell; Fanatic by Grace Ellis and Hannah Templer; Necretaceous by Tom Taylor and Darick Robertson; Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy by Ram V and Mike Perkins; and The Crying Doll by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell. These new titles will continue expanding the imprint’s lineup with the bold, creator-driven storytelling that defines Vertigo’s legacy.
Who—or what—is The Brutal Dark? Find out in The Peril of the Brutal Dark #2, arriving March 25, as Ezra Cain strides deeper into those murky depths to discover the truth of that strange phrase.
The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1, written by Chris Condon with art by Jacob Phillips and lettering by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, is available now at participating comic book shops and digital retailers. The series is one of several new DC Vertigo titles launching in 2026, joining Bleeding Hearts, The Nice House by the Sea, and End of Life on shelves wherever comics are sold.
