Superstar artist and longtime gearhead Sean Gordon Murphy (Batman: White Knight, Tokyo Ghost) is getting back behind the wheel. Image Comics has officially announced THE LAST DRIVER, an all-new, landscape-format ongoing series launching on August 19, 2026. First revealed in an exclusive scoop by The Hollywood Reporter, this pedal-to-the-metal action series is set to take the comic world by storm this summer. If you are looking for fresh stories to add to your pull list, you can always check out our latest New Comics section.
This high-octane cyberpunk thriller is being described as Escape from New York meets Vanishing Point. For readers who crave high-speed sequential storytelling and gorgeous automotive art, this upcoming launch is an absolute must-read.
The Plot: Outlawing the Automobile in a Divided America
In a dystopian future, American infrastructure has completely shifted to the GRID—a centralized, fully automated robotic transportation system. The GRID didn’t just make classic car culture obsolete; it made operating a manual vehicle completely illegal.
Enter an outlaw named “Clutch.” When his granddaughter’s life hangs in the balance, Clutch has no choice but to break the law, fire up a hidden engine, and take the wheel one final time. What begins as a desperate rescue mission rapidly accelerates into a full-blown rebellion against technology, fascism, and state control.
Sean Gordon Murphy revealed that the inspiration for the book hit him while visiting the legendary Le Mans racetrack in France. Witnessing a billion dollars’ worth of historic vehicles stored in a makeshift hangar made him reflect on the future of automotive history.
“It made me wonder who was going to take care of such valuable cars in the future,” Murphy explained. “Not only would this story be an excuse to draw cars, but I could compare the dying of car culture—switching to electric cars that drive themselves—and use it as a metaphor for people ceding control to government control. And for America, I wanted the main character to be Native American—someone who understands freedom in a different way, because of how it was taken from him.”
An Absolute Force of Nature at Image Comics
Sean Gordon Murphy is handling both writing and illustration duties for The Last Driver, utilizing a unique landscape orientation to capture the sprawling, cinematic scope of high-speed car chases. Image Comics Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Eric Stephenson shared his immense excitement for the project:
“Sean’s a virtual force of nature in comics. Everything he does is astounding—whether it’s his bestselling Batman comics or his contributions to creator-owned work like Tokyo Ghost and Joe the Barbarian, he raises the bar time and time again. I guarantee you, The Last Driver isn’t like anything else you’re reading right now—so strap in, buckle up, and enjoy the ride!”
Speculator and Retailer Variant Guide
The Last Driver #1 arrives in local comic shops on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. Image Comics is pulling out all the stops for the launch, recruiting an elite lineup of artists to deliver engine-revving variant covers. If you love tracking rare editions, check our historical breakdowns and see what happened in history on This Day In Comics to compare how Murphy’s previous indie launches have performed on the secondary market.
| Cover Tier | Artist/Style | Notes |
| Cover A & B | Sean Gordon Murphy | Main companion covers showcasing industrial design. |
| Cover C | Corin Howell | Stylized, high-energy character focus. |
| Cover D (1:25) | Matteo Scalera | High-intent ratio incentive variant. |
| Cover E (1:50) | Ryan Ottley | Ultra-dynamic action variant. |
| Cover F (1:100) | Sean Gordon Murphy | Premium Black & White raw inks edition. |
| Cover G | Blank Sketch | Perfect for conventions and custom commissions. |
For digital readers, the premiere issue will simultaneously launch across major digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play.
📢 Join the Conversation
Are you ready to see Sean Gordon Murphy bring his signature automotive art style to a brand-new cyberpunk universe? Will Clutch become indie comics’ next iconic outlaw? Discover your next read with our Comic Book of the Day spotlight and drop a comment below to let us know which variant cover is going straight onto your pull list!
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