Exclusive Preview: A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts Graphic Novel

Oni Press is set to release A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts, a new original graphic novel from writer and colorist Oliver Mertz and artist Alex Diotto, on September 2, 2026. Ahead of its release, we have an exclusive excerpt from the book.

Set in the Washington, D.C. punk scene of the 1990s, the story follows teenager Ari Ackerman after he witnesses what may have been a murder. As Ari attempts to understand what happened, he is also dealing with his sick father’s recurring brushes with death and subsequent resurrections.

His best friend Maya Meng would rather spend her time with Ari and catch Jawbox at the Black Cat, but several unexplained deaths pull them into a mystery involving superheroes and unusual events.

Mertz describes the graphic novel as a personal reflection of his experiences growing up around Washington, D.C.’s punk scene:

“I grew up in the ‘90s, going to see bands like Fugazi, Jawbox, and the Monorchid play in cramped venues scattered around the Washington D.C. area. When I started writing A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts, I knew I wanted it to be a love letter to that time and place. But as I kept writing, the book got weirder and weirder. And ironically, the stranger it got, the more personal and emotionally honest the story became.”

Diotto similarly connected with the book’s characters and punk influences, noting that its increasingly unusual elements became part of the appeal while working on the project.

A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts is written and colored by Oliver Mertz, with artwork by Alex Diotto. It will be released in bookstores on September 2, 2026.

Check out our exclusive excerpt from A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts below.