In the near future the world is dead.

Chemical and biological warfare has leveled the cities and turned the air to poison. Deadly genetically-engineered monsters stalk the ruins of civilization. At the heart of the devastation, a mysterious medical facility experiments on human subjects. Their goal: To create the perfect human.

Gabby, Mike and Raph aren't your average twelve-year-olds. They've spent their entire lives in a cage, subject to examinations and experiments. But when a rogue scientist helps them to escape, their world will be turned upside down.

What will they find on the outside?

The future is what we make it. It's time to break free.

CAGES is an original graphic novel by Insomnia Publications. Writing by Xander Bennett, Art by Melanie Cook, Cover by Jonathan Hickman, Foreword by Ben Templesmith.

For more information on CAGES, visit Insomnia Publications, the official CAGES website, and my blog.

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UPDATE April 13th 2008: CAGES is at the printers!

CAGES, the original one-volume sci-fi story from Insomnia Publications, is only weeks away from publication. CAGES makes its debut at next month's Bristol International Comics Expo in the UK, where a small number of special preview copies will be available to buy.

To celebrate the impending launch of the book, check out a new re-lettered preview of the first 10 pages of the book. Or check out this 5 page preview from later in the story. And stay tuned to www.insomniapublications.com and www.cagescomic.com -- both sites will be receiving a complete overhaul in the coming weeks.

CAGES is written by Xander Bennett and illustrated by Melanie Cook. It features a stunning wrap-around cover by Jonathan Hickman (The Nightly News, Pax Romana) and a foreword by Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night, Fell).


UPDATE August 11th 2007: Ganesha - New Short Story

Super-talented artist David Montoro, who I've collaborated with on projects such as Shaman, has sent along his adaptation of my short story, Ganesha.

The story was originally written for the burst fiction site Elephant Words, at which I'm a contributor. Here's the original..

And here's the brand-new 4-page comics version.

Go, read. Trust me, it's great.


UPDATE August 2nd 2007: Insane Diego

San Diego Comic Con International is the biggest American comics convention, and this year CAGES was in attendance!

Well, okay, I was in attendance, handing out flyers and putting the word out for our big launch next year.

For more information, head over to the July archives on my blog, or check out the official CAGES blog on cagescomic.com.


UPDATE June 22nd 2007: Read Ho Versus Joe!

Well, Round 3 of the Dimestore Small Press Idol competition is over and our entry, Ho Versus Joe, has been chosen for a cover feature on an upcoming issue of Mysterious Visions Anthology, coming April next year!

Until then, you can check out all the zombie goodness in the brand new Ho Versus Joe gallery.


UPDATE May 29th 2007: CAGES has a publisher!

I've had to keep this under wraps for some time, but I can now reveal that CAGES has found a home at Insomnia Publications!

CAGES made its public debut at the Bristol Comic Expo a few weeks back, and received a very warm response. The complete story is to be published as a 90+ page trade paperback, tentatively scheduled for February 2008.

In the meantime, you can check out the brand-new CAGES Official Website, to be updated with actual content very soon.

There'll be more information as it develops, so watch this space!


UPDATE March 20th 2007: An Interview with Ben Templesmith

Ben Templesmith is the new black. What with Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse and Fell (with Warren Ellis), the guy is just ridiculously hot right now.

In fact, Templesmith is so talented that I was forced to conduct this interview last year via email, lest I succumb to a fatal dose of awesome-rays. Read at your own peril!