Get ready for an off-the-wall new series from Image Comics. Creators Eliot Rahal (Bleed Them Dry, Cult Classic) and Mattia Monaco (Eat Your Young, Knock ‘Em Dead) are teaming up to bring us Crimes Against Nature, a neo-noir buddy-crime comedy arriving in comic shops on September 23, 2026.
Described by its creators as “Koko the gorilla meets The Usual Suspects,” the story centers on the unlikely bond between a man and his primate companion. The plot follows Hollywood animal trainer Dr. Kermit Groedan and his only client—Amigo the Ape, the first gorilla ever to be nominated for an Academy Award—as they find themselves framed for a crime they did not commit. Now on the run, the pair must confront their dark secrets and hidden pasts to clear their names and survive.
For artist Mattia Monaco, the project represents a significant return to traditional pen-and-ink illustration. “This book is about coming home,” said Monaco. “After nearly six years of working digitally, this was the first project that brought me back to pen and ink and gave me a renewed sense of freedom and experimentation on every page.”
Writer Eliot Rahal echoed the sentiment, noting the emotional weight and partnership behind the book: “Every panel and page is lightning in a bottle. It’s one of the greatest partnerships of my life. And I think all of that joy and trust spills out into our book about a guy and his gorilla.“
Crimes Against Nature #1 hits shelves on September 23.
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