Those in the know have been (im)patiently waiting for The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery. Of course, no one has been waiting as long as the comic’s creators, Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips. The series originated when Condon was a student, determined to make the whole damn thing himself. Then, after discovering his That Texas Bloodcompatriot, Phillips, they did a draft for their Patreon, and even tried to manifest it into a legitimate Indiana Jones comics project. Their wishful thinking caught the attention of DC editor Chris Conroy, who suggested they make it part of their Vertigo Comics relaunch.
Folding The Peril of the Brutal Dark into the iconic imprint solidified the concept and encouraged them to push its noir/adventure core to its highest potential. The comic wears its hardboiled blockbuster influences on its sleeve, while maintaining an aggressive intensity familiar to the readers of Condon and Phillips. That Texas Blood, The Enfield Gang Massacre, these are comics made by folks grown on bloody pop culture, but propelled into thematic r...
Those in the know have been (im)patiently waiting for The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery. Of course, no one has been waiting as long as the comic’s creators, Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips. The series originated when Condon was a student, determined to make the whole damn thing himself. Then, after discovering his That Texas Bloodcompatriot, Phillips, they did a draft for their Patreon, and even tried to manifest it into a legitimate Indiana Jones comics project. Their wishful thinking caught the attention of DC editor Chris Conroy, who suggested they make it part of their Vertigo Comics relaunch.
Folding The Peril of the Brutal Dark into the iconic imprint solidified the concept and encouraged them to push its noir/adventure core to its highest potential. The comic wears its hardboiled blockbuster influences on its sleeve, while maintaining an aggressive intensity familiar to the readers of Condon and Phillips. That Texas Blood, The Enfield Gang Massacre, these are comics made by folks grown on bloody pop culture, but propelled into thematic realms that are anything but dusty.
The Peril of the Brutal Dark is one of ten new titles launching within DC’s new Vertigo imprint, resurrected six years after it was initially put away. The comic gives us an excuse to revisit the importance of Vertigo Comics within the industry when it launched, discuss its legacy, and consider what a new iteration means in an era when “Suggested for Mature Readers” no longer carries the allure it once did.
We begin our conversation with Condon and Phillips by talking about their history with Vertigo Comics. How does The Peril of the Brutal Dark fit inside it? How has the comic evolved over the years? What separates their fedora-wearing hero, Ezra Cain, from the whip-cracking nazi-puncher that inspired him? If you think it's not punching nazis, you’re wrong. More nazis get punched, like all should be.
The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Cain Mystery #1 arrives in comic book shops from DC Comics on 2/25. It's written by Chris Condon, illustrated and colored by Jacob Phillips, and lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Final Order Cutoff (FOC) is Monday, February 2nd.
Follow Chris Condon on Bluesky. Follow Jacob Phillips on Blue Sky and Instagram.
This Week's Sponsors
The Future is Calling! 2000 AD is the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with new issues published every single week! Every 32-page issue of 2000 AD brings you the best in sci-fi and horror, featuring characters like Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and more. Get a print subscription to 2000 AD and it’ll arrive to your mailbox every week - and your first issue is free! Or subscribe digitally, and you can download DRM-free copies of each issue for only $9 a month. That’s 128 pages of incredible comics every month for less than $10! Head to 2000AD.com and click on ‘subscribe’ now – or download the 2000 AD app and start reading today!
Other Relevant Links to This Week's Episode:
-
Subscribe to The Stacks, Comic Creators Name Their Favorite Comics
-
The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part One)
-
The Stampies: Best Comics of 2025 (Part Two)
-
Read The Stampies on GlobalComix
-
Previously on CBCC: Jacob Phillips on Megalopolis
-
Previously on CBCC: Chris Condon on News from the Fallout
-
Previously on CBCC: Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips on The Enfield Gang Massacre
-
Previously on CBCC: Jacob Phillip and Sean Phillips
-
Previously on CBCC: Jacob Phillips on Everything Dead and Dying
-
Previously on CBCC: Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips on That Texas Blood
-
The Oblivion Bar Comics Fantasy Draft with Brad and Sal
-
Comic Book Club: Black Arms to Hold You Up at Meanwhile...Coffee in Herndon, Virginia, on 2/1 at 3:30 PM
-
Comic Book Film Club: The Phantom w/Billy Zane Virtual Intro at the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester on 1/25
Final Round of Plugs (PHEW):
Support the Podcast by Joining OUR PATREON COMMUNITY.
The Comic Book Couples Counseling TeePublic Merch Page.
And, of course, follow Comic Book Couples Counseling on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Bluesky @CBCCPodcast, and you can follow hosts Brad Gullickson @MouthDork & Lisa Gullickson @sidewalksiren.
Send us your Words of Affirmation by leaving us a 5-star Review on Apple Podcasts.
Continue your conversation with CBCC by hopping over to our website, where we have reviews, essays, and numerous interviews with comic book creators.
Podcast logo by Jesse Lonergan and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
