Cover A: Mike Perkins
Cover B: Miguel Mercado
The new series is inspired by the Dashiell Hammett and Alex Raymond’s spy-thriller Secret X-9 newspaper comic strip, which ran for more than 60 years
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
OCT. 30, 2026 (LOS ANGELES, CA) — Acclaimed writer Dan DiDio (Ancient Enemies) and artist Tom Derenick (Flash Gordon: Killer of Worlds) are bringing a classic spy into the modern day in their upcoming noir series Secret Agent X-9, coming from Mad Cave Studios and King Features. The new eight-issue comic book series is inspired by the spy-thriller Secret X-9 newspaper comic strip by Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon) and Alex Raymond (Flash Gordon), which ran for more than 60 years. Fans of classic noir and detective stories like Dick Tracy will love this thrilling new take on beloved spy Phil Corrigan. Featuring colors by Jão Canola (Terrorbytes) and letters by Jeff Eckleberry (Rip Kirby), Secret Agent X-9 #1 hits shelves on January 27, 2027.
In 1934, Hammett and Raymond created their genre-defining strip Secret X-9, starring an unnamed agent who worked for a shadowy anonymous agency. Now, a new legendary creative team led by DiDio and Derenick joins forces to explode Secret Agent Phil Corrigan into the modern day! When a failed assassination attempt drags retired super-spy Phil Corrigan back into the shadows, he’s forced into an uneasy alliance with a younger operative to hunt Pendulum--a shadow network manipulating both extremes of the political spectrum to keep the world in perpetual chaos. Featuring old villains and new allies, surprise settings, and classic explosive action, Secret Agent X-9 kicks off the noir comic of the year!
“From Dashiell Hammett and Alex Raymond to Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson, Secret Agent X-9 has an incredible legacy, and it’s a thrill to be part of it,” said DiDio. “I’ve always loved the spy genre, and this series gives me a chance to work alongside the incredibly talented Tom Derenick, whose art brings every twist and turn of the story’s action to life.”
The first issue of Secret Agent X-9 will feature a stunning Cover A by Mike Perkins (Lois Lane: Enemy of the People) with variant covers by an all-star lineup of artists including Derenick, Miguel Mercado (Flash Gordon), and Gabriel Hardman (The Rocketeer: Infiltrator!).
Cover C: Tom Derenick
Cover D: Gabriel Hardman
Cover E: Mike Perkins (Virgin)
Cover F: Miguel Mercado (Foil Virgin)
The first issue of Secret Agent X-9 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, January 27, 2027 (FOC January 4, 2027). The title will become available across digital platforms as well. Preorder through your local comic shop or from Mad Cave directly.
Ahead of the first issue’s release, fans of the original strip will also enjoy the upcoming hardcover collection of Secret Agent X-9 coming from Mad Cave Studios and King Features. The collection features Hammett and Raymond’s original newspaper strips as well as the first two years of Al Williamson and Archie Goodwin’s revival strip Secret Agent Corrigan, created thirty years after the original. The book will be available in bookstores on January 12, 2027, and in comic book stores on January 13 (ISBN13: 9781545837474).
Stay up to date with Mad Cave Studios—and its imprints Papercutz, Maverick, and Nakama Press on social media, or visit www.madcavestudios.com to explore new releases, licensed series, and creator-owned titles.
Mad Cave Studios, established in 2014, is an independent publisher committed to providing the very best in graphic storytelling. Mad Cave’s catalog includes a captivating blend of licensed, creator-owned, and original works, created by a diverse cast of storytellers focused on cultivating impactful character-driven narratives. Mad Cave Studios is the parent company to Maverick, Nakama Press, and Papercutz, enriching the literary landscape for readers of all ages.
About Secret Agent X-9
Secret Agent X-9 was introduced in 1934 by writer Dashiell Hammett (The Maltese Falcon) and legendary artist Alex Raymond (Flash Gordon). Starring a nameless agent known only as X-9 who works for a secret agency that specializes in covert operations, the classic comic strip was a combination of a secret agent and private eye adventure that was distributed by King Features for more than 60 years until its conclusion in 1996. Now, X-9 is coming out of retirement for an all-new comic book series from Mad Cave Studios and King Features. Inspired by the genre-defining newspaper strip, the new series brings legendary spy Phil Corrigan into the modern day. Packed with old villains, new allies, surprise settings, and classic explosive action, Secret Agent X-9 #1 hits shelves January 27, 2027.
About King Features:
King Features is a premier producer and distributor of the world’s most iconic intellectual properties and a leader in classic character licensing and franchise development. With one of the longest-running consumer products programs in the industry, King Features’ portfolio includes world-renowned pop culture brands such as Popeye®, Cuphead, Flash Gordon™, The Phantom™, Hägar the Horrible, Moomin, Prince Valiant® and Mandrake the Magician. King Features produced the Emmy-nominated series The Cuphead Show! with Netflix Animation, which debuted in 2022. As content syndication specialists, the company distributes beloved comics such as Blondie, Beetle Bailey®, Mutts™, and dozens of others as well as columns, editorial cartoons, and puzzles across multiple platforms and content providers around the globe. King Features is part of Hearst Newspapers, which publishes 24 dailies and 52 weeklies, including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, and Times Union (Albany, New York), and operates local digital marketing services and directories.