Punk Suburban Angst Meets Superhero Mystery Sept. 2

Oni Press announced Oliver Mertz and Alex Diotto’s new graphic novel, A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts, a conspiracy-tinged punk superhero mystery set in ʼ90s Washington, D.C., where cancer, resurrection, and unexplained deaths collide. The book lands in shops

A day meant for a Jawbox show turns into something else entirely in Oliver Mertz’s new graphic novel. A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts. announced by Oni Press with a hard date: September 2. 2026. In its first promise, the story carries the sharp edges of ʼ90s Washington, D.C. punk—cramped venues, suburban restlessness, and that particular kind of dread that doesn’t ask permission.

The book follows teenager Ari Ackerman. a fan of the punk scene trying to process the “perpetual impending death (and frequent resurrections)” of his cancer-stricken father. His best friend, Maya Meng, just wants a normal hangout and to catch Jawbox at the Black Cat. But an escalating series of unexplained deaths keeps collapsing every attempt at a good day.

Oni Press describes the novel as a “weird tale of conspiracy. faded superheroics. and suburban angst in ʼ90s Washington. D.C.” The pitch leans into a particular cultural mix—fans of What’s the Furthest Place from Here?. Love and Rockets. David Lynch. Daniel Clowes. Seinfeld. Agatha Christie. Powers. Fugazi. and Wes Anderson are explicitly invited in. It’s not just genre play; it’s an atmosphere. the sense that humor. mystery. and the uncanny can all live next to the same bassline.

Mertz. credited as writer and with the note “The Monuments. First Law of Mad Science” in the announcement. frames the book as something personal rather than purely strange. “I grew up in the ‘90s. going to see bands like Fugazi. Jawbox. and the Monorchid play in cramped venues scattered around the Washington D.C. area,” he said. “When I started writing A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts. I knew I wanted it to be a love letter to that time and place. But as I kept writing, the book got weirder and weirder. And ironically, the stranger it got, the more personal and emotionally honest the story became.”.

That personal pull is echoed by artist Alex Diotto, who will illustrate the story. “Since Oliver introduced me to the characters, I immediately felt a strong connection to them,” Diotto said. “I found many similarities between Ari. Maya. Sona and myself—namely being an outcast and a long time fan of punk bands—and that connection grew even stronger as we progressed working on the book and the book got even weirder. It’s not an everyday thing seeing a bowl of soup talking through its mouth. or a giant head residing in a cabin!”.

Between those statements. the novel’s central tension sharpens: grief and identity are already complicated. and then the book keeps adding the surreal. Ari’s attempt to live inside the punk world he loves runs headlong into a family crisis that won’t stay contained. while the suburban mystery around “unexplained deaths” refuses to remain background noise.

The book itself is built for readers who want a complete package. It’s written and colored by Oliver Mertz and written and illustrated by Alex Diotto. with the cover by Alex Diotto and lettering by Taylor Esposito. The announced details are straightforward: it’s slated for “On Sale September 2. 2026. ” priced at “$29.99. ” running “184 PGS. ” and marked as “FC” with “FOC: 8/10/26.”.

As for what kind of artifact readers will hold. the combination of credits and the story description points to a graphic novel that treats punk culture as more than setting—it becomes a way to survive. Even the stated influences read like a map of how the book intends to move: from emotional realism to weirdness that arrives with conspiracy logic. from lounge-room humor to thriller pacing.

For readers tracking Oni Press between releases, the announcement points followers to Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram.

Oni Press Oliver Mertz Alex Diotto A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts graphic novel punk Washington D.C. 1990s Jawbox The Black Cat suburban angst conspiracy