Black Mask's 'Calexit' Hits SDCC With Timely Take on California Secession, Unveils New Horror Series

Black Mask Studios is once again leaning into the meta-narrative with its San Diego Comic-Con exclusive covers, particularly for its fiercely relevant series Calexit. Creator Matteo Pizzolo and artist Carlos Granda's acclaimed comic, which imagines a California that has seceded from the United States, has a knack for featuring the very convention center it's sold in. It’s a bold, timely commentary that only feels more prescient with each passing year.

For SDCC, fans can grab Calexit: The Battle of Universal City TP, collecting the first three issues as Jamil and Zora fight to liberate Los Angeles from occupying forces. The battle continues with Calexit: Say Goodbye To Hollywood #1 and The Battle of San Onofre, Part Two, completing a two-part story. There’s even a second printing of Say Goodbye To Hollywood #1 featuring a Cineramadome homage cover, a nice nod to cinematic history. Black Mask isn't just selling comics; they're "drop-kicking Fascism" according to Rolling Stone, and Calexit is their signature move.

But the exclusives don't stop with California's fiery independence. Black Mask is also bringing Patrick Kindlon and Lorenzo Re's Leaded Gasoline #1 exclusively to SDCC. Set in 1980s South Los Angeles, this new horror series follows a community college professor who suspects a killer stalking the streets might be more than just a single madman. Inspired by the real-life "Southside Slayer" killings, Leaded Gasoline promises a smart, dangerous take on classic horror, intent on messing with your mind. It’s exactly the kind of gritty, risk-taking storytelling we expect from these creators.