Free Planet Preview: East of West Meets Dune in New Epic Space Opera

IGN exclusively reveals Image Comics' latest project: Free Planet, an epic space opera blending East-meets-West aesthetics with the grandeur of Dune. Sci-fi fans, mark your calendars!

Check out the exclusive first look at Free Planet #1 in the slideshow gallery below:

Free Planet #1: Exclusive Comic Book Preview

10 Images

Written by Aubrey Sitterson (No One Left to Fight) and illustrated by Jed Dougherty (Savage Hearts), with covers by Dougherty and Fico Ossio, Free Planet tells the story of humanity's first truly free planet and the revolutionary heroes defending its unique energy source from hostile intergalactic forces. Image Comics describes the series as a blend of East of West's intricate history and Saga's emotional space opera, exploring freedom and its sacrifices.

"Free Planet represents the future of comics," says Sitterson. "Jed and I aimed to elevate the medium with a truly literary comic, visually rich and complex. From intense military action to intricate politics and heart-wrenching drama, every page is packed with detail, designed for slow, repeated reading. It’s a complex exploration of what everyone desires: freedom." He adds that Image Comics, a publisher built on creator freedom, is the perfect home for this project.

Dougherty comments, "Aubrey and I have collaborated on fantasy and comedy. Free Planet is our foray into a more serious work: revolutionaries defending their planet, rebuilding society, and seeking vengeance, justice, and love. My art reflects the script's richness, with grittier rendering and experimental page layouts."

Free Planet #1 launches Wednesday, May 7. Stay tuned for more on Marvel and DC's 2025 plans.