The Irreverent Dark Comedy From AHOY Comics Sold Out Its Initial Run
(June 5, 2023) JUSTICE WARRIORS, the satirical graphic novel from Matt Bors — the founder of The Nib and a political cartoonist who has twice been named a Pulitzer Prize finalist — and Ben Clarkson — an acclaimed filmmaker and illustrator whose art has been featured on Adult Swim and Vice Noisey — has sold out of its initial run and is returning to press. JUSTICE WARRIORS is co-written by Clarkson and Bors in a collaborative art process involving both creators contributing to various stages of layouts, with colors by Felipe Sobreiro. All line art is by Clarkson and it is lettered by Bors.
The irreverent, dark comedy was published as a trade paperback earlier this year and has received widespread attention from IGN, POD DAMN AMERICA, CURRENT AFFAIRS, COMIC BOOK COUPLES COUNSELING, LEDGER, SUPER NICE CLUB, GRAPHIC POLICY, QANONANON, and STRUGGLE SESSION.
JUSTICE WARRIORS follows two police officers, Swamp Cop and Schitt, who operate out of the world’s first perfect metropolis. Inside its protective shell, Bubble City enjoys equality, diversity, and prosperity—with no crime whatsoever. But outside the Bubble lies the Uninhabited Zone, a vast and densely populated slum where the majority of the mutant population actually lives.
“Readers are really responding to our book of social mayhem and economic upheaval, which I don’t understand, really, because everything is fine in the world!” said Bors. “This is the first volume in our mutant mega-satire of society. Stock up because we plan on Justice Warriors being a long-running series.”
“Justice turns out to be highly profitable,” said Clarkson.
JUSTICE WARRIORS is published by AHOY Comics, perhaps best known for SECOND COMING, a controversial, satirical series by Mark Russell, Richard Pace and Leonard Kirk in which Jesus Christ resumes His Holy Mission. The independent, Syracuse-based company is the brainchild of journalist and satirist Hart Seely (publisher), an award-winning reporter whose humor and satire has appeared in The New York Times and on National Public Radio, comics writer Tom Peyer (editor-in-chief), and cartoonist Frank Cammuso (chief creative officer). AHOY Comics launched in 2018 with four acclaimed comic book magazine titles featuring full length comic book stories, poetry, prose fiction, and cartoons.
Here’s what people are saying about JUSTICE WARRIORS:
“Easily one of the most bizarre and memorable comics to come along in recent memory… This futuristic dystopia makes Judge Dredd seem normal.”—IGN
“A maximalist satire romp that takes on infuriating issues of the day with surprising, absurd, and bold storytelling.”—COMICS BEAT
“Filled with action, humor, and biting commentary.”—SCREENRANT
“A scathing – and often quite funny – critique of modern events and norms with a heavy focus on police practices. Though its jabs are quite pointed and purposeful, its broad encompassing of topics like formula shortages and an overemphasis on social media make it seem as though nothing’s off the table when it comes to being parodied.”—COMICBOOK.COM
“Matt Bors’ comic book debut is everything you hoped for from the best political cartoonist of his generation. Teamed up with visionary storyteller Ben Clarkson, JUSTICE WARRIORS gives you searing satire, at least one hilarious moment per scene and unrestrained fury at the horrors before us. Read the scene that the NYPD literally brought to life!” — Spencer Ackerman, author of REIGN OF TERROR
“A rich satirical tale of America’s overconsumption and over-policing issues.”—CBR
“All the glorious dystopian satire you hoped it would be.”—BOING BOING
“This is the type of comic that comes around once in a while and reminds you what the form can achieve. Both creators deserve praise for what they’ve made here. It’s hard to believe anyone that reads comics wouldn’t enjoy this.”— AIPT Comics
“Imagine a 1980s Verhoeven scifi flick, plus Judge Dredd, plus the most ruthless social commentary imaginable. Oh, and also, it’s gutbustingly hilarious. Justice Warriors scratches so very many of my itches it’s unbelievable. It was my most anticipated comic of the year and it’s even better than I had hoped.”—Aubrey Sitterson
“Sure to satisfy any reader looking for an intelligent and witty alternative to the average comic.”—CONSKIPPER
“Just the perfect amount of demented!” — Bill Oakley (The Simpsons)
‘If you had your developing mind warped by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, GI Joe, Robocop and comic books, and then had it further destroyed by twitter and social media, then JUSTICE WARRIORS will fill those holes in your brain. Ben Clarkson is truly goated on the inks.”— Will Menaker, co-host Chapo Trap House, author of NY Times Bestseller “The Chapo Guide to Revolution”
“I’m thrilled to see Matt Bors’ work liberate itself from its 4-panel cage. Ben Clarkson’s detailed art adeptly dishes the ultra-violence in this Zootopia-meets-Robocop-like satire.” — Keith Knight (K Chronicles, (th)ink, Woke)
For more updates on AHOY Comics, visit them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About the Creators
Ben Clarkson is a filmmaker, illustrator and artist who lives in Montreal. His work has been featured on Time.com, Adult Swim, MuchMusic, and Vice Noisey. He has been a finalist for the International Lumen Prize in Digital Art, A Juno, and a National Magazine award.
Matt Bors is a cartoonist, writer, editor, and publisher who founded the comics publication The Nib. His work has appeared in The Nation, CNN, The Guardian, The Village Voice, Daily Kos, and was collected in the book We Should Improve Society Somewhat. He is a two time Pulitzer Prize Finalist for his political cartoons and drew the graphic novel War Is Boring.
About AHOY Comics
AHOY Comics debuted in the fall of 2018 with the bold promise for readers to expect more from its line of comic book magazines, featuring comic book stories, poetry, prose fiction, and cartoons. The independent, Syracuse-based company is the brainchild of publisher Hart Seely, an award-winning reporter whose humor and satire has appeared in The New York Times and on National Public Radio. AHOY’s editor-in-chief Tom Peyer is committed to publishing comics with a (dark) sense of humor with titles like the religious satires SECOND COMING and HIGH HEAVEN, the superhero parodies THE WRONG EARTH and HASHTAG: DANGER, the sci-fi spoof CAPTAIN GINGER, the time travel tales PLANET OF THE NERDS and BRONZE AGE BOOGIE, and the humor/horror anthology series EDGAR ALLAN POE’S SNIFTER OF BLOOD.
