Oni Press is bringing one of fiction’s earliest masked vigilantes back into action with Dr. Syn, a four-issue comic book series launching in January 2027. The new series reimagines the legendary British outlaw as a revolutionary fighting tyranny in colonial America.
The multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher has assembled a creative team with deep roots in comics, film, and television. Writers Michael E. Uslan and Steven S. DeKnight join artist Sebastián Cabrol to deliver a new origin story for the character first introduced more than a century ago.
Uslan is the executive producer behind the multibillion-dollar Batman film franchise, including Tim Burton’s Batman, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, Todd Phillips’ Joker, and Matt Reeves’ The Batman. DeKnight served as showrunner for Netflix’s Daredevil and Starz’s Spartacus: Blood and Sand, while Cabrol’s credits include EC’s Catacomb of Torment.
From the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh to the American Revolution
Reverend Doctor Christopher Syn once led a guerrilla uprising against King George III in 18th-century England. Driven by revenge for the brutal deaths of his family and the suffering of the oppressed, Syn became a feared enemy of the British monarchy.
Concealing his identity behind a terrifying Scarecrow mask, Syn struck against the crown and inspired rebellions throughout the English countryside. His exploits earned him the legendary name “Scarecrow of Romney Marsh,” turning him into a symbol of resistance against an increasingly oppressive ruler.
Now, Oni Press is taking the character’s story in a new direction. Captured, tried, and condemned for his rebellion, Syn faces exile to one of the British Empire’s harshest territories.
His destination is Georgia, an American penal colony where the crown sends its most notorious undesirables. Imprisoned alongside a collection of outcasts and criminals, Syn discovers potential allies who share his hatred of tyranny.
Together, they may have the power to ignite a revolution that could bring the British Empire to its knees. With tensions rising across the American colonies, Syn finds himself at the center of a conflict that could change history.
The year is 1775, and the Scarecrow’s war is just beginning.
Michael E. Uslan Brings a Longtime Passion Project to Life
For Michael E. Uslan, bringing Dr. Syn back to comics fulfills a creative ambition that has followed him throughout his career. The veteran producer and writer has long admired the character’s place in the history of masked heroes and vigilantes.
“From film to comic books and back again, I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a hand in shaping many of the iconic characters that first fueled my fascination with heroes, crime fighters, and vigilantes,” said co-writer Michael Uslan. “But even as I was bearing the torch to bring Batman to the big screen as a major film franchise or taking up writing duties on characters like Archie or The Spirit, there was always one more legend itching away in the back of mind: Dr. Syn, the proto-pulp avenger first created by author Russell Thorndike more than a century ago. Fortunately, the immensely talented Steven S. DeKnight shared my fascination, and, together with the brilliant Sebastián Cabrol, we’ve hatched a fierce new vision for a character that could be best described as ‘America’s first dark knight.’ Every revolution needs to start somewhere, and we’re so excited to share DR. SYN with a new generation of fans and readers.”
The creative team intends to preserve the character’s adventurous roots while introducing a darker interpretation of his fight against oppression. Their version places Syn within an alternative history of the American Revolution, where personal vengeance and political rebellion collide.
Steven S. DeKnight Promises Action, Adventure, and Rebellion
Steven S. DeKnight sees the series as both a celebration of classic adventure fiction and a story with contemporary relevance. He believes the conflict between an ordinary citizen and an oppressive government gives Dr. Syn a timeless appeal.
“The story of Syn couldn’t be more of a rollicking, historical tale of action and adventure. It’s also shockingly timely,” said co-writer Steven S. DeKnight. “An aggrieved citizen fighting back against a mad tyrant and his oppressive government running roughshod over the common man? The echoes of this resonant throughout the ages and the vibrations from such are more relevant than ever. But that never overtakes the core of Syn, which in its bones is a thrilling homage to the serial adventures of yesteryear, chuck full of edge-of-your-seat daring heroics, narrow escapes, romance, swordplay, and everything else that makes this genre so incredibly entertaining.”
The series will combine political intrigue with the action and suspense of classic pulp adventures. Sword fights, daring escapes, romance, and rebellion will drive a story that blends historical settings with an alternative vision of America’s founding.
A Pulp Legend Returns After More Than a Century
Dr. Syn has appeared in novels, movies, and comic books for more than 100 years. British author Russell Thorndike introduced the masked smuggler in his 1915 novel Doctor Syn: A Tale of the Romney Marsh.
The character went on to appear in six additional novels, establishing his reputation as an early masked adventurer. His trademark Scarecrow disguise and double life helped make him a recognizable figure in British adventure fiction.
Hollywood soon brought Syn to the screen through adaptations beginning in the 1930s. The character later reached a new audience in Disney’s 1963 production The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, which also inspired a tie-in comic book series from Dell Comics.
Often mentioned alongside Tarzan, Conan, and Buck Rogers as an influential early pulp archetype, Dr. Syn helped establish storytelling conventions that would later become central to masked heroes. His adventures blended secret identities, rebellion, danger, and larger-than-life action.
The new Oni Press series marks the character’s first major appearance in the 21st century. It will also bring the legendary British vigilante to American shores for the first time.
Dr. Syn #1 Arrives in January 2027
Oni Press describes its new interpretation as a blend of Inglourious Basterds and V for Vendetta, combining alternative history with a violent struggle against tyranny. Uslan, DeKnight, and Cabrol will explore the origins of a revolutionary whose fight for justice could help ignite America’s struggle for independence.
The first issue will feature covers by Dustin Weaver (Avengers, Infinity), Jeffrey Alan Love (News from the Fallout), Elia Bonetti (Star Wars), and Kelley Jones (Batman: Red Rain, The Sandman).
Dr. Syn #1, the opening chapter of the four-issue miniseries, arrives in comic book shops in January 2027. The release introduces a new generation of readers to one of adventure fiction’s earliest masked rebels, now ready to take his fight against the British crown to colonial America.
