“Some Secrets Were Never Meant to Surface” – Exclusive Preview of THE RISING and Q&A with Gregory Widen

"Deep beneath the Badlands, some secrets were never meant to surface. Right when you thought the darkest horrors had been buried for good, Artists Writers & Artisans (AWA) and Roy Lee’s Vertigo Entertainment (Weapons, It, Barbarian) are back to unearth your next nightmare with THE RISING, the latest nightmare-fueled release in The Future of Fear collection."

The Rising is described as a "chilling, oversized one-shot" due out on September 23rd, and we have an exclusive preview for Daily Dead readers, along with a Q&A with writer Gregory Widen (The Prophecy, Highlander), who talks about bringing the story to life with artist Laci:

Synopsis: "In a dying military town deep in the Badlands, THE RISING follows the closure of a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile base that marks the end of an era for Ray and his daughter, Atty. As the military base shutters and the town winds down, something beneath the facility begins to stir. While Ray detects strange glitches appearing in the decommissioned system, Atty uncovers impossible signs of movement among six coma patients tied to a decades-old mysterious accident, upending their plans to leave town. As the base begins to reactivate in ways that defy explanation, they realize something far more sinister is emerging beneath the surface, leaving the fate of the planet on the line."

Q&A with Gregory Widen

What was the origin / genesis of the idea for THE RISING?

I had the opportunity to observe the shutting down of a nuclear missile wing in Wyoming. I was there in the silos, watched the warheads come off, sat with the crews that would launch the missiles if it came to it. The strangeness of it and the emptiness of the landscape seemed a great setting for a grounded horror story using the reality of the place and the terrifying weirdness of its mission.

How was it collaborating with artist Laci on this project and working with AWA to bring it to life?

Working with Laci was great to help bring a different, moody expression to the story. I was especially impressed by how he was able to use the physical reality of these places to communicate mood and atmosphere.

Why does this story and its characters mean so much to you?

The father/daughter dynamic and getting past a tragedy in their lives–while all this insanity is happening around them–is really what inspired me to do this. The experience of a teenage girl who's only known this strange life, now watching the town she grew up turning into a spooky ghost town, and who ends up being the only one that realizes the horror that's happening around them.

What horrors await readers when they get their hands on the book this September?

That terror can lurk in the most unexpected of places, even among the lonely nuclear missile silos of Wyoming badlands.

---

From the Press Release: "THE RISING marks a distinct turn for author Gregory Widen, best known for creating the iconic fantasy-action franchise Highlander, the supernatural horror-thriller The Prophecy, and the action-thriller Backdraft. With a career spanning film, television, and comics, Widen has built a reputation for crafting ambitious, genre-defining stories that blend mythology, suspense, and unforgettable horror. 

The 72-page title merges a fractured small-town reality with large-scale existential horror, brought to life by Laci’s chilling illustrations that envelop readers in a world that feels alien but strikingly familiar. Following the debut of LOOK OUT and KILL OR BE KILLED, THE RISING continues The Future of Fear anthology, a cross-platform horror initiative from AWA and Vertigo Entertainment designed to launch the next generation of horror franchises across comics, illustrated storytelling, film, and television. As each title expands the collection with bold new nightmares from acclaimed creators, the Eisner-winning publisher and horror juggernaut are developing the stories for the screen, creating a unified pipeline for horror fans to discover terrifying new worlds across multiple mediums.

AWA’s THE RISING is written and created by Gregory Widen with artwork by Laci; cover by Tim Bradstreet (LOOK OUT, THE PUNISHER), colored by Miroslav Mrva (MARJORIE FINNEGAN, DAREDEVIL); and lettered by AndWorld Design (BEAST MODE 510, BATMAN). THE RISING will be available digitally and in stores nationwide wherever comics are sold on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Additional titles in The Future of Fear collection will be revealed at a later date.

For more information on THE RISING, The Future of Fear collection, and other projects, follow AWA Studios on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and visit AWAStudios.com."

Credits: Cover By Tim Bradstreet, Courtesy of AWA. Pages By Laci, Courtesy of AWA.