Chainsaws in Space? Daniel Warren Johnson Has Our Attention.

Some comic announcements make you stop scrolling.

A chainsaw-wielding warrior queen traveling through space, fighting her way across the galaxy?

Yeah. That'll do it.

But here's the thing about Chainkata #1.

It's not just the ridiculous premise that has us excited.

It's the person creating it.

Daniel Warren Johnson.

The same guy who gave us Do a Powerbomb!, Murder Falcon, Extremity, and that incredible run on Transformers.

Now he's launching an entirely new creator-owned science-fiction series through Image Comics.

And with Final Order Cutoff approaching, this is one of those books we think readers should take a serious look at before orders are finalized.

Chainkata #1 arrives November 18, 2026, with an October 19 FOC deadline. [1]

At ATL Comics & Cards, we're encouraging readers to preorder early—and if you're interested in the different covers, this is a great opportunity to grab the set.

What Is Chainkata #1 About?

Meet Luma.

She's a warrior queen.

She carries a chainsaw.

And she's traveling through space searching for a mysterious power.

What does she really want?

Peace.

Unfortunately, the universe apparently has other plans.

Violence follows her across the galaxy, and wherever she goes, trouble isn't far behind.

Image Comics describes the series as a combination of the fantasy storytelling of Princess Mononoke and the enormous, violent science-fiction world of Warhammer 40,000. [2]

That's a pretty wild combination.

But if anybody can make something like that work, it's Daniel Warren Johnson.

Because Johnson understands something that a lot of action comics miss.

The fighting only matters when you care about who's doing it.

And that's why we're interested in Luma.

Not just because she carries a chainsaw.

But because there's apparently a much bigger story behind why she's fighting in the first place.

Daniel Warren Johnson Has Been Building Toward This for Nine Years

Here's something that makes Chainkata particularly interesting.

This isn't an idea Johnson came up with six months ago.

According to Image Comics, he first sketched Luma back in 2017.

Nine years ago. [2]

He spent years trying to develop a story he believed was worthy of the character.

And now he's finally ready to tell it.

That's significant.

Because Johnson isn't simply a popular artist taking on another assignment.

He's somebody who has spent years developing his own approach to storytelling.

Look at Do a Powerbomb!.

On the surface, it's a wrestling comic.

But underneath all the ridiculous wrestling moves, it's an emotional story about family, grief, and loss.

Look at Murder Falcon.

A guy with a guitar summons a giant monster to fight evil.

Sounds completely insane.

And somehow, it becomes one of the most heartfelt comics you'll ever read.

Then there's Transformers.

Johnson took a franchise that's been around for decades and made the characters feel powerful, dangerous, and surprisingly emotional.

That's his strength.

He makes enormous, ridiculous action sequences feel personal.

And we're expecting Chainkata to follow that tradition.

Forty Pages of Story. No Ads. $3.99.

Can we talk about this for a second?

Because this is one of our favorite details about the launch.

Chainkata #1 features 40 pages of story with no advertisements for a regular cover price of $3.99. [1]

In today's comic market, that's a pretty attractive deal.

We're seeing more and more standard issues priced at $4.99, $5.99, and sometimes considerably higher.

And here's Image Comics giving readers a substantial opening chapter at $3.99.

We like that.

Especially for a brand-new series.

Because readers should be able to try something different without feeling like they're making a major financial commitment.

It's also a smart way to introduce Luma and her world.

Forty uninterrupted pages give Johnson room to establish the characters, build the setting, and deliver the kind of action his readers expect.

And judging by the preview artwork and promotional material, this is going to be a very visual comic.

Which brings us to the covers.

Chainkata #1 Has Six Standard Covers — Here's the Breakdown

If you enjoy comic-book artwork, this is where things get particularly interesting.

Chainkata #1 has six standard cover options, including three by Daniel Warren Johnson himself and variants from Riley Rossmo and Rob Liefeld. [3]

Here's what you can expect.

Cover A — Daniel Warren Johnson

The main cover.

And for us, it's the natural starting point.

Johnson has such a recognizable style that his covers almost feel like they're moving.

His characters rarely stand around looking pretty.

They're usually screaming, fighting, jumping, or about to do something completely outrageous.

If you're buying one copy because you love Daniel Warren Johnson, this is the obvious choice.

Cover B — Daniel Warren Johnson Black-and-White

This is where you really get to appreciate the linework.

Without color, the composition and raw energy of Johnson's drawing become the focus.

And with an artist this expressive, that's a very good thing.

We tend to like black-and-white variants when the artwork is strong enough to carry the image on its own.

Johnson's certainly is.

Cover C — Daniel Warren Johnson Sword & Sorcery

This cover takes a different approach to Luma's character and leans into the fantasy side of the concept.

It's also the artwork used for a separate high-ratio foil variant.

For readers who like the combination of science fiction and fantasy, this could be a favorite.

Cover D — Riley Rossmo

Now we're talking.

Rossmo has one of the more distinctive styles in modern comics.

His work is expressive, unusual, and often wonderfully chaotic.

That's exactly the kind of artist we like seeing on a book such as Chainkata.

A good variant should offer a genuinely different interpretation of the character.

Not simply another version of the same pose.

Rossmo brings that difference.

Cover E — Rob Liefeld

Yes.

Rob Liefeld is drawing a chainsaw-wielding warrior queen.

And if that sentence doesn't make you at least a little curious, we don't know what to tell you.

Liefeld helped define an entire era of comic-book artwork.

His exaggerated action poses and larger-than-life characters are instantly recognizable.

And Johnson has spoken publicly about how much Liefeld's work influenced him growing up. [3]

That's what makes this particular cover interesting.

It's not simply a famous artist contributing another variant.

There's a genuine connection between the two creators.

And we think that's pretty cool.

Cover F — Blank Sketch Variant

This one's for readers who enjoy original artwork.

A blank sketch cover gives you the opportunity to have an artist create something unique directly on the comic.

For convention attendees and fans who enjoy commissioned sketches, it's a fun option.

And with a character as visually interesting as Luma, there are plenty of possibilities.

What About the Chainkata Incentive Variants?

There are also three higher-ratio versions.

Image Comics has announced:

• Cover G: Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer Sword & Sorcery Foil — 1:100

• Cover H: Daniel Warren Johnson Raw Art — 1:100

• Cover I: Daniel Warren Johnson Original Head Sketch — 1:1,000

These are separate from the six standard covers. [3]

The 1:1,000 version is particularly unusual.

But here's our advice.

Don't assume you need the most expensive version to appreciate the book.

If you love the artwork, buy the cover you actually want.

If you enjoy having multiple interpretations of a character, consider the standard set.

And if you're interested in the higher-ratio incentives, understand that availability and pricing will be very different.

We're not going to pretend every variant is equally accessible.

Why We're Recommending the Chainkata #1 Cover Set

Here's where we think this release gets particularly appealing.

Instead of trying to decide between Johnson, Rossmo, and Liefeld, why not grab the standard set?

You get three different Daniel Warren Johnson covers.

You get Rossmo's interpretation.

You get Liefeld's take.

And you get the blank sketch edition.

Six versions of the same character, each serving a different purpose.

For somebody who genuinely appreciates cover artwork, that's a fun lineup.

And unlike a set built around nearly identical covers with minor color changes, this one has some real variety.

That's why we're highlighting Chainkata #1 at ATL Comics & Cards.

Preorder your copies—or grab the available cover set—at ATLComicsCards.com.

We're encouraging customers to place their orders before the October 19 FOC deadline so we can plan our orders accordingly.

Don't wait until release week and assume every cover will still be available.

Especially if you want the complete standard lineup.

What Does FOC Actually Mean?

If you're newer to ordering comics, here's the simple explanation.

FOC stands for Final Order Cutoff.

It's the point when comic shops generally need to finalize their orders with distributors.

For Chainkata #1, the widely published FOC date is Monday, October 19, 2026. [4]

The comic itself releases Wednesday, November 18.

Those are two different dates.

October 19 is the important date for planning your preorder.

November 18 is when the book is scheduled to arrive.

And while a comic might still be available after FOC, waiting can reduce your options, particularly when you're looking for specific variants.

That's why preordering matters.

It helps retailers understand demand.

And it gives readers a better chance of getting the covers they actually want.

Could Chainkata Be Daniel Warren Johnson's Next Big Hit?

We're not going to pretend we've read a comic that hasn't been released yet.

And we're definitely not going to guarantee that Chainkata becomes the next enormous hit.

That's not how this works.

But we will say this.

Daniel Warren Johnson has earned our attention.

He has a track record of taking unusual concepts and turning them into stories with genuine emotional weight.

And the fact that he's been developing this character for nearly a decade makes us even more curious.

There's something exciting about a creator returning to an original idea after years of working on major established properties.

No familiar superhero continuity.

No decades of backstory.

Just a new world, a new character, and an artist with something he wants to say.

And a chainsaw.

A really big chainsaw.

Final Thoughts: Don't Sleep on Chainkata #1

There are a lot of new comics coming out in November.

But Chainkata #1 is near the top of our list.

Not because somebody told us it's going to be rare.

Not because there's a high-ratio incentive.

And not because we expect every copy to suddenly become valuable.

We're excited because Daniel Warren Johnson is one of the most interesting creators working in comics today.

And this is his new creator-owned series.

Chainkata #1 releases November 18. FOC is October 19.

If you've been thinking about trying the book, now is the time to get your order in.

And if the cover artwork has caught your attention, we'd recommend grabbing the standard set while preorder options are available.

Head over to ATLComicsCards.com and get your Chainkata #1 preorder in before FOC.

Because sometimes a comic really is as cool as it sounds.

Chainsaws. In. Space.

Where Comics Live.

Sources & Credits

[1] Image Comics — November 2026 Solicitations. Official series description, November 18 release date, creative credits, page count, and standard cover price.

https://imagecomics.com/solicitations/solicitations-for-nov-2026

[2] Image Comics — Daniel Warren Johnson to Launch Chainkata. July 6, 2026. Official announcement covering Johnson's nine-year development of the series and its creative direction.

https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/multiple-award-winning-do-a-powerbomb-transformers-dynamo-daniel-warren-johnson-to-launch-epic-new-series-chainkata-this-november-from-image-comics

[3] Image Comics — Rob Liefeld's Chainkata Variant Cover Reveal. September 11, 2026. Official list of standard and incentive covers, along with Johnson's comments about Liefeld.

https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/rob-liefelds-chick-with-chainsaw-variant-for-upcoming-chainkata-will-shred-through-shelves-next-month

[4] Comic Previews — Final Order Cutoff, October 19, 2026. Public FOC listing for Chainkata #1.