#killer influences

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Killer Influences #1 (incentive variant) (2026)

Art by: David Lapham

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[PREVIEW] Killer Influences #1 (July 1, 2026)

writer: Joey Esposito | artist [penciller & inker]: Valeria Burzo | colorist: Iñaki Azpiazu | letterer: Alex Ray | cover artist: David Baldeón [pencils & inks] and Kike J. Díaz [colors] | publishing company: IDW Crime [IDW Publishing]

synopsis: Killer Influences follows Melvin, a serial killer who is aspiring to be one of the most infamous to ever do it, a true American nightmare. His problem? He’s so efficient and methodical that he doesn’t have a brand. No one has connected his crimes—except for Kylie, an aspiring true crime influencer who is flailing at a small-town newspaper. When she comes across Melvin’s crimes and reaches out to him… she figures out how she’s going to become a star. She will give Melvin the identity he needs to be the iconic serial killer he wants to be, while she follows his exploits on her channel and becomes famous. Kylie and Melvin make a pact that will make their dreams come true and destroy their lives in the process.

Eisner Award nominee Joey Esposito (The Pedestrian, Batman: Urban Legends) and rising-star artist Valeria Burzo (Castle Full of Blackbirds, EC Comics) deliver a scathing and thrilling true crime serial killer saga with Killer Influences!

[theartofthecover]

Killer Influences #1 (variant cover) (2026)

Art by: Valeria Burzo and Iñaki Azpiazu

[theartofthecover]

Killer Influences #3 (variant cover) (2026)

Art by: Valeria Burzo and Iñaki Azpiazu

[maxsindiecomics]

Killer Influences #1 (July 1, 2026)

writer: Joey Esposito | artist [penciller & inker]: Valeria Burzo | colorist: Iñaki Azpiazu | letterer: Alex Ray | editor: Dave Wielgosz | publishing company: IDW Crime [IDW Publishing]

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Ok yeah, Killer Influences 1 is cooking so far. It's basically a comic about a serial killer pissed that he's not getting enough recognition teaming up with a wannabe true crime podcaster. They both want to make enough to GTFO of rust belt.

And it's a really interesting take on the public obsession with learning about violent crimes, as long as they've got some flashy element. Like, there's a whole scene where the podcaster advises the serial killer on how to become more "marketable".

Insane timing to publish this btw, considering that a region in US has been debating how to handle the issue of a convicted murderer profiting on public interest in her. Ostensibly, this is the kind of scenario that Son of Sam laws want to prevent. They've been opposed very aggressively on free speech grounds and have already been updated to be narrower in scope in the 90s (bc they would have originally been weaponizable against legit stuff like Malcolm X's biography), however. Also, they were written before social media and true crime documentaries.

So yeah, kind of an insane timing to drop this story of bald-faced profiteering on everyone's inner interest in violence.

[smashpages]

Coming from the IDW Crime line in July: The Pedestrian writer Joey Esposito teams with artist Valeria Burzo for a true crime serial killer saga called Killer Influences:

Melvin’s a serial killer who craves infamy. His problem? He’s so efficient and methodical that he doesn’t have a brand and no one has connected his crimes — except for Kylie, an aspiring true crime influencer who reaches out to him, hoping his story can help her become a star. The unlikely duo will make a pact to accomplish their dreams… and destroy their lives in the process.

Read more

cover by David Baldeon and K.J. Díaz

[smashpages]

Killer Influences #1 (IDW, July 2026) variant cover by Valeria Burzo and Iñaki Azpiazu