A Video Game villain Enters the Real World in the New Comic Book series 'Zero Instance'

A routine raid in a popular MMO video game takes a deadly turn in Zero Instance, an exciting new five-issue sci-fi thriller comic book series from acclaimed storyteller and video game writer Frank Barbiere (Astonishing Times) and award-winning game writer and comics newcomer Stephen Rhodes, making his creator-owned debut with the series. Featuring art by Vic Malhotra issues #1-2 and Eoin Marron issues #3-5, colors by Lauren Affe, letters by Taylor Esposito and covers by Vic Malhotra, Zero Instance begins July 14, 2026. The series will be available exclusively from Amazon’s Comixology Originals digital content line.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of comics, but I only started experimenting with it as a creative outlet in recent years. After working on some tie-in comics for a video game project, I absolutely fell in love with the format and how creatively liberating it is,” said Stephen Rhodes. “Getting to work with my long-time friend and collaborator, Frank Barbiere, has been incredible. We have both spent many years working in video game development, so it was fun to draw on that experience within the story. Zero Instance emerged as a result of our love of video games as a medium and explores where the future of interactivity could be heading in the not-too-distant future.”

Zero Instance starts with a bang as the final boss escapes the screen and bleeds into the real world.

Rhys, a directionless college grad thought logging into his favorite MMO was just another raid with his friends, but they are shocked to find their boss fight glitching. When Chris—his best friend—doesn’t log out, Rhys is forced to confront a terrifying truth: the lines between game and reality are vanishing. As an experimental AI known as Braxir begins to manipulate smart systems, twist human behavior, and build a base of operations in the real world, Rhys must decide if he’s ready to lead when the game is over—and the stakes are real.

“Zero Instance was born out of a shared love of tense thrillers, MMOs, and game development, and I’m so excited to be telling this story with fantastic collaborators,” says Frank Barbiere. “I’m honored to be co-writing with my friend Stephen Rhodes in his first creator-owned comic series, and our art team of Vic Malhotra, Eoin Marron, and Lauren Affe have given the series a defining look that comic fans from across genres will love. The whole project is wrapped together with the fantastic lettering of Taylor Esposito and design from Dylan Todd, and I can’t wait for readers to get their hands on it!”

Rhodes continued, “I am incredibly grateful to our art team of Vic Malhotra, Eoin Marron, and Lauren Affe who have truly brought the story to life with vibrant and evocative art that I think people will really enjoy. The fantastic lettering of Taylor Esposito and design from Dylan Todd, ties everything together and makes the story engaging and clear. I cannot wait for the release of Zero Instance and I hope people enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.”