Dead Teenagers # 1 2026 Cover C Caitlin Yarsky Variant First Printing NM

Dead Teenagers #1 is a 32-page supernatural slasher comic book released on March 18, 2026 by Oni Press. Written by GLAAD Media Award nominee Jude Ellison S. Doyle and illustrated by Eisner Award nominee Caitlin Yarsky, the debut issue kicks off a 5-issue miniseries that serves as a genre-bending horror love letter to the '90s slasher renaissance.

Key Details & Specs

• Writer: Jude Ellison S. Doyle (Maw)
• Artist: Caitlin Yarsky (Black Hammer Reborn)
• Publisher: Oni Press
• Release Date: March 18, 2026
• Format: 32-page standard comic book

Story Synopsis

Set heavily against a backdrop of '90s nostalgia, the story revolves around five high school friends—Alicia, J.T., Ryder, Brandy, and Claire—who have been trapped in a terrifying, continuous prom night time loop since 1997. A mysterious, sadistic entity forces them to relive the party and ruthlessly slaughters them in a different, increasingly graphic manner every single night. No matter how they try to alter their choices, death always catches them. However, in the premier issue, the cycle finally fractures. The group escapes their bizarre 1990s purgatory, only to stumble straight into a messy, unfamiliar modern reality: the year 2026.

Themes & Critical Reception

The series functions as an affectionate yet critical dissection of '90s horror staples like Scream and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Reviews for the first issue heavily praised the book's core concept, noting how it effectively subverts classic teen horror tropes while examining the jarring trauma of "growing up" instantly. Yarsky’s sharp, highly expressive artwork and character designs received dynamic praise for matching Doyle’s dark, cynical, and brash narrative energy.