Best New Sci-Fi Franchises Coming Soon in Comics
In the ever-expanding cosmos of comic books, sci-fi has long been a cornerstone, from the sprawling galactic epics of Jack Kirby to the introspective space operas of Warren Ellis. Yet, after a period dominated by gritty realism and multiversal superheroics, a fresh wave of innovative sci-fi franchises is igniting the industry. These are not mere one-shots or limited series; they are ambitious universes poised to spawn sequels, spin-offs, and potentially cinematic adaptations. We’re talking about bold new launches from 2023 onwards, crafted by visionary creators, boasting explosive sales, and rich with thematic depth that probes humanity’s place in the stars.
What defines the ‘best new’ here? Criteria include narrative innovation, world-building scale, creator pedigree, commercial momentum, and franchise potential—evidenced by announced expansions or adaptation buzz. From reimagined toybox empires to alternate realities and digital dystopias, these franchises are revitalising sci-fi comics, blending hard science with philosophical enquiry. They draw on historical precedents like 2000 AD‘s Judge Dredd universe or Valiant’s 1990s shared cosmos, but inject modern sensibilities: diverse casts, ecological warnings, and AI anxieties. As Hollywood hunts for IP gold, comics remain the fertile ground where tomorrow’s blockbusters germinate.
Prepare for warp speed. Here’s our countdown of the top 10 new sci-fi franchises storming the scene, each primed for interstellar dominance.
10. The Massive-Verse (Image Comics, 2021–Ongoing, Expanding Rapidly)
Kicking off our list is Kyle Higgins and Matias Bergara’s Massive-Verse, a shared superhero-sci-fi universe that hit escape velocity with Radiant Black #1 in late 2021, but truly franchised out in 2023 with spin-offs like Rogue Sun, Barrier, and Local Man. What elevates it to sci-fi stardom? At its core lies the Radiants—cosmic powers derived from mysterious black holes—exploring quantum entanglement, multiversal travel, and existential identity crises. Higgins, fresh off Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, crafts a tokusatsu-inspired saga where legacy heroes mentor flawed successors amid interstellar threats.
By 2024, the universe boasts crossovers and a cinematic tease via Boom Studios’ ties, echoing the indie boom of the 2010s with Saga or Paper Girls. Sales top 50,000 copies per issue, with Void (2024 launch) delving into AI uprisings. Franchise future? Higgins promises ‘Massive Collision’ events, positioning it as Image’s answer to Marvel’s shared model—perfect for Netflix live-action.
9. W0rldtr33 (Image Comics, 2023–Ongoing)
James Tynion IV and Fernando Blanco’s W0rldtr33 arrived like a digital singularity in 2023, selling out instantly and launching a franchise with prequel minis and sequel teases. This cyberpunk horror-sci-fi hybrid centres on childhood friends reuniting to combat ‘Dark Web,’ a sentient internet entity born from forgotten social media experiments. Tynion, riding high from Something is Killing the Children, dissects online radicalisation and meme warfare with chilling precision, reminiscent of Transmetropolitan‘s media satire but amplified for the TikTok era.
Blanco’s kinetic art propels the narrative through augmented realities and neural hacks, with 2024 issues expanding the mythos via global spin-offs. Cultural impact? It mirrors real-world AI fears, much like The Matrix did in 1999. Coming soon: a ‘Year One’ event and HBO Max optioning talks, cementing its franchise trajectory.
8. Nocterra (Image Comics, 2021–Ongoing, New Arcs 2024)
Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta’s Nocterra plunged readers into eternal twilight in 2021, but 2023’s oversized specials and 2024 crossover teases mark its franchise ascent. In a world where sunlight breeds monsters, ‘smudge-divers’ harvest dark energy—pure sci-fi survivalism akin to Dune‘s spice harvesters crossed with The Road. Snyder’s Vertigo roots shine in themes of energy scarcity and mutated ecologies.
Dragotta’s painterly panels evoke Moebius, while sales surged post-Absolute Batman buzz. Franchise expansion: ‘Nocterra United’ in 2025 unites with Snyder’s DC works. Adaptation whispers from Amazon position it as post-apocalyptic sci-fi’s next big thing.
7. House of Slaughter / Something is Killing the Children Universe (Boom! Studios, 2019–Ongoing)
Boom!’s monster-hunting saga, spearheaded by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera, franchised explosively in 2023 with House of Slaughter #1 hitting 100,000+ sales. Sci-fi infuses the folk-horror via ancient orders wielding quantum blades against extradimensional beasts. Erica Slaughter’s arc evolves into cosmic conspiracy, echoing Hellboy‘s BPRD expansion.
2024 brings Red Pyramid Dead Show Deaders spin-off, probing multiversal rifts. Tynion’s Eisner-winning formula guarantees longevity, with Netflix’s live-action series greenlit for 2025—true franchise liftoff.
6. The Deviant (Image Comics, 2023–Ongoing)
James Stokoe’s The Deviant redefined auteur sci-fi in 2023, blending kaiju-scale biotech horrors with corporate espionage. A rogue scientist unleashes abominations on a polluted Earth, satirising Big Pharma like Videodrome on steroids. Stokoe’s maniacal art—dense, grotesque, unforgettable—propels the solo series towards franchise status via 2024 sequels.
Image’s top seller that year, it draws Prophet comparisons for body-horror evolution. Coming: crossovers with Stokoe’s Goliath, eyeing anime adaptations.
5. Once & Future (Boom! Studios, 2019–Ongoing, New Volumes 2024)
Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora’s Arthurian sci-fi mash-up exploded anew in 2023 with Once & Future Vol. 4, franchising via spin-offs like The Secret of the Stone. Monsters from myth invade modern Britain through Bandersnatch portals—portal fantasy meets quantum folklore. Gillen’s Die pedigree infuses RPG mechanics and Brexit allegory.
Mora’s dynamic spreads rival Esad Ribic. 2025’s ‘King Arthur Forever’ event promises universe-wide war, with BBC series in development.
4. Absolute Universe (DC Comics, 2024 Launch)
DC’s bold 2024 initiative, helmed by Scott Snyder et al., reboots icons in a gritty, sci-fi-infused reality. Absolute Batman and Absolute Green Lantern (forthcoming) feature exosuits, alien tech, and no-holds-barred physics—think The Authority meets Edge of Tomorrow. Snyder’s post-Dark Nights: Metal vision crafts a franchise playground for Elseworlds-scale events.
Sales previews shatter records; 2025 expansions include Absolute Superman. It’s DC’s sci-fi renaissance, primed for Max streaming.
3. Ultimate Universe (Marvel Comics, 2023–Ongoing)
Jonathan Hickman and a killer art roster relaunched Marvel’s Ultimate line in 2023 with Ultimate Invasion, birthing Ultimate Black Panther, Ultimate Spider-Man, and 2024’s Ultimates. This ground-up sci-fi rebuild explores Maker-twisted timelines, AI gods, and Wakanda’s galactic empire—Hickman’s House of X ambition scaled cosmically.
Esad Ribic’s painterly vistas stun; sales dominate charts. Franchise pinnacle: 2025 crossovers, with Sony eyeing films.
2. Energon Universe (Skybound/Image, 2023–Ongoing)
Robert Kirkman’s surprise masterstroke: Void Rivals #1 unveiled the Energon Universe, uniting Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Duke in 2023. Skybound’s shared cosmos—ancient Cybertronians vs. human Joes amid cosmic wars—revives 1980s toyetic sci-fi with Kirkman’s Invincible grit. Daniel Warren Johnson’s art channels John Byrne.
Over 200,000 units shipped; 2024’s Scarlett & Duke and Cobra Commander cement it. Hasbro’s films loom large.
1. Time Before Time (IDW, 2022–Ongoing, Major Expansions 2024)
Declan Shalvey and Geoff Barrow’s Time Before Time
tops our list, franchising since 2022 with 2023 minis and 2024’s ‘After Time’ saga. Stranded in prehistoric eras via temporal rifts, lovers battle dinosaurs and anomalies—hard sci-fi time travel meets survival horror, evoking Predator and Quantum Leap. Barrow’s Hot Chip synth-score ties into comic beats innovatively.
Shalvey’s pacing rivals Brubaker; sales boom post-SDCC reveals. Franchise future: Multiverse branches, Apple TV+ pilot— the ultimate new sci-fi powerhouse.
Conclusion
These 10 franchises herald a sci-fi renaissance in comics, marrying historical influences like Kirby’s Fourth World with contemporary urgency: climate collapse, digital existentialism, temporal flux. From Image’s indie explosions to Marvel/DC’s bold resets, they promise decades of expansion, much like Star Wars comics did post-1977. Watch for adaptations to propel them mainstream, but savour the source material now—comics remain sci-fi’s purest frontier. Which will dominate the galaxy? The stars align for all.
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