Open Caskets is a collection of short stories that follows oddballs and weirdos on the fringes of society as they search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. Connected by a support group they all attend, these characters—like refugees from The Twilight Zone—tell their stories to one another as they struggle to make sense of it all as their counselor asks the hard questions and shows absurd self help puppet videos.
Part home for society's outcasts and part therapy group, Open Caskets brings its patients' dark and strange pasts into the light, where nothing is off limits. Through a series of surreal tales that blend the absurd, and the unsettling, the collection explores this Charles Adams meets Tim Burton-ish world.
The project unites acclaimed comics writer Shaun Simon, and artist Neil Sabatino, two longtime collaborators whose creative paths first crossed in New Jersey's indie music communitiy before evolving into careers spanning comics, publishing, visual art, and storytelling.
Simon is best known for co-writing The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys with Gerard Way, expanding the world introduced in My Chemical Romance's landmark Danger Days album. His body of work also includes Neverboy, Art Ops, Wizard Beach, Collapser with Mikey Way, and You Look Like Death: Tales from the Umbrella Academy. Published by Dark Horse Comics, DC Comics, Vertigo, Young Animal, BOOM! Studios, and Z2 Comics, Simon's work has sold more than half a million copies worldwide, been translated into multiple languages, and has seen projects developed for film and television.
Sabatino studied animation and visual arts at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and worked professionally in animation before founding Mint 400 Records, an independent label that has spent more than two decades championing underground artists. In addition to his work in music, Sabatino has maintained a career as a visual artist, designer, educator, and independent publisher, creating comics and artwork that reflect a commitment to experimentation, storytelling, and DIY culture.
While Open Caskets marks a new chapter for both creators in the Alt Comics realm, it also draws from a shared creative history. Before their careers in comics and publishing, Simon and Sabatino performed together in the influential New Jersey band Pencey Prep, a formative part of the early-2000s independent music scene that still garners millions of listeners a year. That longstanding creative connection informs the collaborative spirit at the heart of Open Caskets.
Format: graphic novel, 103 pages
Genre: Dark indie comics, psychological fiction, surreal fantasy & horror, literary anthology
Target Audience: Young Adult (16+) and Adult readers, Fans of dark, character-driven, and experimental comics
Available June 30, 2026 for Kindle and Softcover & Hardcover at Amazon as well as completely free at the GlobalComix App.
Pre-Order For Kindle: https://a.co/d/0iYruFsx
GlobalComix: https://globalcomix.com/c/open-caskets-1
