Rian Hughes writes for upcoming Cruel Universe from Oni Press

By John Freeman on July 8, 2025

Blink and you might miss it, but lurking within the pages of Oni Press upcoming Cruel Universe 2 #3 is ace designer and artist Rian Hughes first outing as a comic writer for another artist, his strip drawn by 2000AD’s Anna Readman.

Oni Press kick off this year’s spectre-filled season with an all-new, atom-shredding installment of the Eisner Award–nominated sci-fi horror anthology Cruel Universe 2 #3 on 1st October, followed by the brutally barbaric Catacomb of Torment #4, slithering into comic shops on 15th October 15th.

Oni Press is an American multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997, working with William M. Gaines Agent, Inc. on these EC Comics inspired titles.

Corporate greed, human desperation, technological despair! Such postulations all are but tiny specks swallowed by the unforgiving void of Cruel Universe 2 #3 (of 12)! The shocking and body-shivering stories continue its deep dive into futuristic depravity and darkness with three new tales from writers Cecil Castellucci (Shade the Changing Girl), Sarah Gailey (Eat the Rich, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), and Eisner Award nominee Rian Hughes (Batman: Black and White, and author of the novel, The Black Locomotive) as they get their quarks quantum entangled with the apocalyptic visions of artists Kano (EC’s Cruel Universe), Anna Readman (2000AD), and Claire Roe (EC’s Epitaphs from the Abyss).

Although this isn’t not the first comic Rian has written, it is the first he’s written but not drawn himself – an intriguing departure from his better known work as a much in demand designer and artist.

Cruel Universe 2 #3 is in comic shops everywhere from 1st October with startling covers by Lee Bermejo (Batman: Damned), Greg Smallwood (Cruel Universe), Albert Monteys (Slaughterhouse-Five), and Malachi Ward (Black Hammer Reborn).

As Halloween nears, the latest Cruel Universe is a quickly followed by new issue of Catacomb of Torment. Yes, because you demanded it – Terror! Torture! Fear! Mayhem!

“After all, this comic is called Catacomb of Torment,” Oni Press caution. “What did you expect, kittens?!

“Yes, yes, bite down hard and await the inevitable, because there is no escape and it’s too late – much, much too late – as our host, the Tormentor, carefully positions the scalpels of acutely accurate writers John Arcudi (B.P.R.D), Patricia A. Jackson(Star Wars: Tales from the Empire), and Amy Roy (EC’s Epitaphs from the Abyss) above your splayed ribcage with the assistance of mangle-minded artists Shawn Martinbrough (Thief of Thieves), Fabiana Mascolo (Catwoman), and Shawn McManus (Fables) on October 15th for Catacomb of Torment #3!

“A murder mystery with extra-added murder, a seamstress seeking sartorial revenge, and a gardener taking the pruning shears to an extra-bloody bloom . . . Despair ye not because EC Comic’s brutally entertaining monthly horror anthology is just getting warmed up – with the extra-added assistance of cover artists Dustin Weaver (Avengers), Reiko Murakami (Batgirl), Jay Stephens (Dwellings), and Patricia Martín (G.I. Joe), to boot!”

Like a railroad spike meeting the brittle crown of a human skull, Cruel Universe 2 #3 and Catacomb of Torment #4 are hammering into comic shops everywhere this October…

Don’t waste the Tormentor’s time – better to tell her which pieces of your torso you are the least attached to now… or else she’ll start choosing for you!

EC CRUEL UNIVERSE 2 #3 (OF 12)

ON SALE 1st OCTOBER, 2025 | $4.99 | 32 PAGES | FC

*Archive Edition (1:50) by Malachi Ward*

Written By Cecil Castellucci, Sarah Gailey, & Rian Hughes

Art by Kano, Anna Readman & Claire Roe

Cover A by Lee Bermejo | Cover B by Greg Smallwood | EC Homage Variant (1:10) by Albert Montes | B&W Artist Edition Variant (1:20) by Greg Smallwood | Archive Edition (1:50) by Malachi Ward

EC CATACOMB OF TORMENT #4

ON SALE 15th OCTOBER 2025 | $4.99 | 32 PAGES | FC

*Archive Edition (1:50) by Patricia Martin*

Written by John Arcudi, Patricia A. Jackson, & Amy Roy

Art by Shawn Martinbrough, Fabiana Mascoko & Shawn McManus

Cover A by Dustin Weaver | Cover B by Reiko Murakami | EC Homage Variant (1:10) by Jay Stephens | B&W Artist Edition Variant (1:20) by Reiko Murakami | Archive Edition (1:50) by Patricia Martin

This item was updated on Wednesday 9th July

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John Freeman

John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.

He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.