Mad Cave Studios is turning its sights to the Windy City. Following on the heels of its announced Escape From New York comic, the publisher is set to release a new series titled Escape From Chicago in September 2026, with writer Kyle Higgins and artist Val Rodrigues attached to the project, as first reported by Bleeding Cool.
While full plot details are still under wraps, the title positions Escape From Chicago as a thematic companion to Escape From New York, echoing the naming convention made famous by John Carpenter’s cult-classic film and its sequel, Escape From L.A. The new book is planned as a follow-up in Mad Cave’s growing “Escape” line, with Escape From New York leading the charge and Escape From Chicago arriving roughly a year later to expand that setting and concept.
The creative team should immediately catch the eye of genre comics fans. Higgins has built a reputation for sharp, high-concept genre work and large-scale worldbuilding on books like Radiant Black, the wider Massive-verse line at Image, and his acclaimed run on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. He has also tackled licensed and franchise storytelling before, bringing a cinematic sensibility and serialized TV pacing to his comics projects. Artist Val Rodrigues has made a name with atmospheric, moody visuals and detailed cityscapes on titles such as Deep Roots and other indie and genre projects, making him a natural fit for a dystopian or high-tension urban escape narrative.
Mad Cave itself has been steadily increasing its footprint in the direct market and bookstore space over the past several years, growing from a smaller indie into a publisher known for polished genre series and licensed work. The studio has handled properties like Gatchaman and Flash Gordon, while also cultivating original titles that lean heavily into sci-fi, fantasy, and action-thriller territory. Positioning Escape From New York and now Escape From Chicago as part of a connected line continues that strategy of targeting readers who want cinematic stakes with creator-driven flair.
Although Mad Cave has yet to release official preview art or a formal series synopsis for Escape From Chicago, the timing suggests the publisher is treating this as a tentpole follow-up rather than a quick spin-off. With Escape From New York set to pave the way, Chicago’s entry in September 2026 looks poised to build out a larger “Escape” universe, potentially exploring new protagonists, factions, and urban battlegrounds while maintaining a shared tone and aesthetic. Expect more concrete information—including format, issue count, and cover reveals—as Mad Cave rolls out its 2026 solicitations and convention announcements.
