Daniel Warren Johnson will launch a new series titled Chainkata this November from Image Comics. The writer and artist comes to the project after a chart-topping run on Transformers, the Eisner Award-winning Do A Powerbomb, and the critically acclaimed The Moon Is Following Us.
Chainkata arrives after a decade of acclaimed work from Johnson. The new series is positioned as one of the year’s most anticipated comic book launches.
From Breakout Talent to Industry Star
Johnson first drew major attention with fan favorites Space-Mullet, now reaching a wider market through Image Comics, along with Extremity and Murder Falcon through Image/Skybound. Those early titles made him one to watch and placed him firmly on the industry’s radar.
Do A Powerbomb pushed Johnson to a new level of fame. The series blended high-octane action with emotional storytelling and earned him his first Eisner Award in the Best Publication for Teens category.
Johnson then headlined Skybound’s successful, multiple Eisner Award-winning reinvigoration of Transformers. He followed that success with The Moon Is Following Us, which further cemented his name with critics and readers.
His rise also includes direct hits on Wonder Woman: Dead Earth, Beta Ray Bill: Argent Star, and Absolute Batman. Those projects helped build momentum for Chainkata and its upcoming launch.
A Chainsaw-Wielding Warrior Queen in Space
Chainkata follows Luma, a chainsaw-wielding warrior queen searching for an unknown power in deep space. She wants peace, but violence and terror follow her through every black hole.
The series blends the epic, high-stakes sci-fi of Beta Ray Bill and Space-Mullet with the character depth of Extremity and Do A Powerbomb. Image Comics describes the project as a culmination and maximization of Johnson’s craft.
The book is aimed at fans of action-driven comics with art that moves with force and energy. Chainkata brings Johnson’s visual style back to the page on a large sci-fi canvas.
San Diego Comic-Con Push
Chainkata will receive a full promotional rollout this month at San Diego Comic-Con. Appearances are planned to help build excitement ahead of the series launch.
The new series marks Johnson’s most ambitious project yet. With Chainkata, he aims to bring sci-fi back to the forefront of comics and storytelling in a new way.
Johnson on the Long Road to Chainkata
“Ever since my start in comics, I’ve wanted to make a science fiction book that truly felt different from everything already out there,” said Johnson. “It was 2017 when I drew the first sketch of Luma, Chainkata’s main character. From that point, it took me NINE years to come up with a story that I felt was worthy of being on the stands, and Chainkata is the end result of that journey. I have pushed myself narratively and artistically further than I ever have before, and I believe it shows in the pages you’ll be reading this fall. Please join me for an epic like none other. The Chain awaits you.”
Chainkata #1 will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms in November 2026. The series launches Johnson’s next major creator-owned project at Image Comics.
