DC Announces New Series for Its Best Non-Superhero Property

Published Jul 26, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT Shaun Corley has been with ScreenRant for over 5 years, and is currently the Coordinator for PR and Outreach for the Comics Team. DC Comics has announced a brand-new series for one of its best non-superhero properties. DC’s Next Level initiative, an outgrowth of All-In, has allowed some of today’s best creators to take a crack at the fan-favorite characters in the publisher’s stable. Since Next Level’s launch this past spring, fans have been excited about new adventures for beloved heroes such as Firestorm and Barbara Gordon. Now, DC is upping the ante for Next Level with a new wave of titles, announced at San Diego Comic-Con. DC has revealed that another crop of icons will get the all-star treatment. Etrigan will return in a new book just in time for Halloween, and superstar writer Stephanie Williams will pen a new Vixen title. Static will also return as part of the second wave of DC’s Next Level program. This new wave of books is even more diverse than the last batch, especially in terms of tone and subject matter. Yet at the dawn of the following decade, DC created a dark western character that at times leaned heavily into the horror genre: Jonah Hex. And amidst this second wave is the return of one of DC’s premiere western characters. The publisher had great luck with western-themed comics throughout its history, with characters such as Bat Lash receiving their own books in the 1960s. Yet at the dawn of the following decade, DC created a dark western character that at times leaned heavily into the horror genre: Jonah Hex. Hex is a cult-favorite with DC fans, and his Next Level return promises his most intense adventure yet. Jonah Hex Returns to the DC Universe This Fall in Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death Horror Comics Star Michael Walsh Will Chronicle Jonah Hex's Adventures DC previously announced a new Jonah Hex book, and now it has confirmed both the title and the creative team behind it. Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death, a six-issue miniseries that will be written and drawn by Michael Walsh, returns the bounty hunter to a place of prominence within DC’s western hero canon. DC has revealed a plot synopsis for the first issue, shared here: Welcome to the end of the Wild West. Welcome to the quiet life of a broken-down bounty hunter whose own story, one of bloodshed, pain, and guilt, ended long ago — or so he thought. In a small town called Ashecott , something evil has arrived. Something more dangerous than a gunslinger, more sinister than an outlaw, and older than the town it seeks to infect. Something from a world beyond the only one its victims have ever known. Something darker. Unfortunately for that evil, Jonah Hex has taken notice. Not just of the otherworldly entities surrounding his home or the child with mysterious abilities they seek to capture — but also of the chance to finally redeem himself. Join master of horror Michael Walsh (Exquisite Corpses) as he begins a terrifying new era of DC's most infamous bounty hunter. The Jonah Hex character has flirted with the horror genre before, and now this book all-out embraces that aspect of him. Jonah Hex is in good hands in this new project. Series writer/artist Michael Walsh is no stranger to the horror genre, having worked on books such as Exquisite Corpses, as well as Image/Skybound’s line of Universal Monster titles, including Frankenstein. Walsh worked on The Silver Coin, also for Image. His previous outings in the horror comics field were hits with fans and critics alike, and this only builds the hype for Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death. Jonah Hex Has a Deep History at DC Comics It is only fitting that Jonah Hex receives a new title as part of DCs’ Next Level. Hex has a long history at the publisher, stretching back to the early 1970s. Even though Hex was created past the Western’s heyday, he still resonated with fans. Unlike many other titles and characters in the genre, Jonah Hex’s adventures were dark and gritty, and the lines between hero and villain often blurred. By bucking trends, Jonah Hex has had a shelf life beyond his contemporaries. Jonah Hex was created by writer John Albano and artist Tony DeZuniga, and debuted in 1972's All-Star Western #10. A major reason for Jonah Hex’s continuing appeal is his backstory, which will play a major role in his new book. After deserting his unit during the Civil War, Hex worked as a bounty hunter in the West, at a time of rapid colonization and expansion. It was a lawless and savage world, and Jonah Hex fit right in. DC’s advanced information about the book mentions Hex is on a quest for redemption. Writer/artist Walsh is tapping heavily into Hex’s compelling history, problematic as it might be. Jonah Hex has headlined several books across his 50+ year history, including a title set in a post-apocalyptic future. Hex’s previous comic outings have also dabbled in horror, particularly in a series of minis from DC’s Vertigo imprint in the mid-1990s. He also starred in his own title in the mid-2000s, as well as his own live action feature film, which was the subject of derision from both fans and critics. Jonah Hex may have been down, but he is never out, and now he is returning for his biggest, scariest adventure yet. Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1 is on sale October 7 from DC Comics!