Steve Niles brings sci-fi horror graphic novel Callisto to The Lab Press

Steve Niles is launching Callisto, a new 180-page science fiction horror graphic novel from The Lab Press, with comic shop sales starting Sept. 30 and wider release on Oct. 6, 2026. The story follows a detective probing disappearances on Jupiter’s moon Callisto, where a cult and cosmic horror threaten a human colony.

Why it matters: - Callisto extends Steve Niles’ signature horror into a new sci-fi noir setting, aiming at readers who want genre storytelling with a darker, more psychological edge. - The book arrives as an original graphic novel, which gives The Lab Press another high-profile title built for comic shops, bookstores and online retail. - The release also leans into collector demand with a limited Day One variant, signaling that The Lab Press is using special editions as part of its publishing strategy.

What happened: - The Lab Press announced Callisto, a new original graphic novel from creator and writer Steve Niles. - The project pairs Niles with artist Andrea Mutti, colorist Lee Loughridge, letterer Marshall Dillon, and designers Emma Price and John J. Hill. - Callisto will arrive in comic shops on Sept. 30, 2026, before releasing through bookstores and online retailers on Oct. 6, 2026. - Readers can preorder the book through Amazon, local comic shops, independent bookstores or other graphic novel retailers.

The details: - Callisto follows Detective Becca Ramos as she investigates mysterious disappearances on Jupiter’s second-largest moon. - The investigation leads to an underground cult, a rising body count and an ancient cosmic horror beneath the surface of Callisto. - The graphic novel runs 180 pages. - The main cover is painted by Scott Hampton. - The limited Day One variant cover is by Chris Shehan and is capped at 200 copies. - The Day One edition launches alongside the main release and costs the same as the standard cover. - The Lab Press said the limited editions are part of its publishing identity and are meant to give collectors something extra without a premium price. - Niles described the project as a way to use an alien setting to explore familiar human problems and question whether people can escape their own demons by leaving Earth.

Between the lines: - Callisto is positioned as a blend of Blade Runner, Event Horizon, True Detective and 30 Days of Night, which frames the book as both atmospheric and commercially recognizable. - The premise suggests the story is using a science fiction setting to explore colonization, religion and survival, not just monsters or mystery. - The Lab Press editor-in-chief Dagen Walker said the book feels personal, haunting and ambitious, underscoring the publisher’s focus on original creator-driven work. - The marketing around the book suggests The Lab Press wants Callisto to stand out as both a prestige horror title and a collector-friendly release.

What's next: - Callisto will begin landing in comic shops at the end of September 2026. - The wider bookstore and online release follows a week later in early October. - The limited 200-copy Day One variant is likely to be a fast-moving item for collectors once preorders open. - More information is available at thelabpress.com and on The Lab Press Instagram.

The bottom line: - Steve Niles is returning with a new horror project that pushes his trademark dread into deep-space noir, with The Lab Press betting on both story and collectible appeal.