Oni Press Launches Sci-Fi Mystery Series Inspired by Philip K. Dick

Imagine if iconic sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick returned to life in the modern era. That’s the gripping concept behind Benjamin, a thrilling new sci-fi mystery comic from Oni Press. This three-issue prestige format series follows Benjamin J. Carp, an author who dies in 1982 but inexplicably awakens in 2025, grappling with the mystery of his resurrection.

IGN exclusively presents a preview of Benjamin #1. Explore the slideshow gallery below, but note that some content includes NSFW language:

Benjamin #1: Exclusive Comic Book Preview Gallery

Benjamin introduces the comic writing debut of Ben H. Winters, known for the Last Policeman Trilogy and the CBS series Tracker. The artwork is crafted by Leomacs (EC’s Epitaphs from the Abyss, Basketful of Heads), with covers by Leomacs, Christian Ward, and Malachi Ward.

Here’s Oni Press’s official synopsis of Benjamin:

More than a mere author, Benjamin J. Carp was a visionary who reshaped culture. With 44 novels and countless short stories, including the counterculture masterpiece The Man They Couldn’t Erase, Carp elevated sci-fi literature, challenging readers to question reality itself. Decades of substance abuse and a life of excess in Southern California ended his groundbreaking career just shy of mainstream acclaim. He passed away in 1982.

Until 2025, when Benjamin J. Carp finds himself alive in a dilapidated Los Angeles motel. He remembers his death. He knows he shouldn’t be here. Is he a phantom? A machine? A clone? A simulation? In his novels, Carp explored these very ideas. Now, wandering from Studio City to Venice Beach through the chaotic expanse of 21st-century Los Angeles, he faces his greatest enigma: his own existence.

“To be clear, just because the story is called Benjamin and I’m named Benjamin doesn’t make it a memoir! Sure, it’s about a grumpy, middle-aged sci-fi writer searching for meaning while roaming Los Angeles, but—well, okay, maybe there’s a little overlap,” Winters tells IGN with a laugh. “Writing Benjamin was about tackling heavy themes—death, mortality, the big stuff—and turning them into a lively, absurd adventure. It’s about a guy who died, came back, and now has to figure out why, how, and what’s next.”

Winters adds, “I love stories with a playful edge, a bit of clever spin. So, a tale about a sci-fi writer possibly stuck in one of his own stories—written by another sci-fi writer, no less—trying to escape is just so much fun. It’s a crafty narrative that digs into life’s big questions. Plus, there’s a dog! A lovable pup named Strawman. What more could you ask for?”

Benjamin #1 hits shelves on June 18, 2025. Check out the animated trailer for Benjamin as well.

In other comic news, DC Comics and Ghost Machine are teaming up for their first crossover (of sorts), and the 2025 Eisner Award nominees have been announced.