Acclaimed actor John Cusack is set to promote his debut graphic novel, Momo, which he developed alongside artist Ignacio Noé and the renowned Damien Hirst. The novel will be released in July by Mad Cave Studios and will coincide with Cusack’s anticipated appearances at San Diego Comic-Con, making it the focal point of his year. This release signals Cusack’s entry into the comics world, blending his creative talents with the visual expertise of Noé and the conceptual influence of Hirst.
A Unique Blend of Conspiracy Thrillers, Cosmic Horror, and Surreal Road Trips
Momo crafts a complex narrative that combines conspiracy theories, cosmic horror elements, and an unusual road trip featuring Jackie Gleason in a central role. The plot follows two criminals who band together to deliver a mysterious artifact to Gleason himself, who plays a pivotal part in the story’s mythos. The journey quickly descends into chaos as demonic forces, mystical beings, and occult actors emerge, weaving a narrative rich with alien technology, betrayal, and dark mysteries that threaten reality itself.
The story unfolds in an American landscape ravaged by decay, where nuclear secrets and long-buried betrayals simmer beneath the surface. As the protagonists traverse this bleak wasteland, the boundaries between divine comedy and cosmic horror blur, challenging their survival and the fate of the world.
Creative Origins Rooted in a Decade-Long Collaboration
The graphic novel’s roots stretch back to 2010 when Damian Hirst’s company, Other Criteria, asked Ignacio Noé to develop a comic strip set in Bangkok’s bar and brothel scene. This project was inspired by Swiss art critic Hans Ulrich Obrist’s report on American painter Ashley Bickerton. Bickerton requested specific visual motifs such as snakes and an opium den, which Hirst incorporated, even taking on a visual role himself.
Fourteen years later, this collaboration expanded into Momo, featuring a character modeled after John Cusack. Hirst revealed that the graphic novel’s script is based on an abandoned movie screenplay written by Cusack, originally set in the 1970s. Over time, the script grew from 150 to 190 pages, enriched with numerous celebrity cameos and complex story threads. Cusack recognized Noé’s dedicated effort, noting that the artist
“worked tirelessly for many days and nights”
to bring the project to life, using reinterpreted classified documents relating to drug routes between China and America in the early 1970s—a subject investigated jointly by Cusack and Hirst for an art collector and restorer.
An Intense and Surreal Adventure Illustrated by Ignacio Noé
“Acclaimed actor John Cusack and artist Ignacio Noe bring you a road trip with world-ending cosmic stakes! Two criminals on the lam form an uneasy alliance to deliver a cryptic artifact to none other than Jackie Gleason—yes, that Jackie Gleason. Their road trip spirals into chaos when they’re confronted by demon-possessed monsters, occult actors, mystical beings with untold power, and buried secrets that lead to a crash course in ancient extraterrestrial tech. Between betrayal, confessions, and cosmic absurdity, they may just save the world—or doom it with a punchline.” —Mark Irwin, Vice President of Mad Cave Studios
“Two criminals are thrown together by fate–both running from their pasts–a weathered man and a mysterious young woman who refuses to give her name form an unlikely partnership and take on a mission that could tear reality apart as they make their way through the already decaying barren wasteland of the American Dream and everything it stands for. Their goal? Recover an ancient artifact for Jackie Gleason—yes, that Jackie Gleason, TV legend and rumored connoisseur of all things extraterrestrial. But this isn’t just a strange road trip. There are cosmic forces beyond imagination with a taste for chaos and vengeance and so much more along their route.” —Mark Irwin, Vice President of Mad Cave Studios
“As their uneasy alliance unravels mile by mile in a world littered with nuclear secrets and Howard Johnson’s, buried secrets claw to the surface. and betrayals bloom like roadside flowers. And the closer they get to Gleason’s hideaway, the more the lines blur between divine comedy and cosmic horror. The team might manage to reach Jackie, but doing so could cost them their very lives. Still, the mission cannot be put to a halt and our wayward strangers, with the help of the most eclectic cast of characters you’ve ever seen including occult actors and endlessly powerful mystical beings, must retrieve the artifact at all costs. It’s a wild fusion of a road trip, theological noir, and pulpy sci-fi absurdism from acclaimed actor John Cusack and artist Ignacio Noe!” —Mark Irwin, Vice President of Mad Cave Studios
Characters and Plot Dilemmas Drive a Dark, Mystical Quest
The graphic novel centers on two fugitives: a weathered man and a young, nameless woman, whose fragile alliance unfolds against a backdrop of the fragmented American Dream and looming cosmic forces. Their mission to secure an ancient object for Jackie Gleason brings them into contact with supernatural adversaries and allies alike. As their journey exposes hidden histories and nuclear clandestine operations, their tenuous partnership faces relentless perils that threaten not only their lives but potentially the fate of the entire world.
John Cusack’s Career and Ignacio Noé’s Artistic Legacy
John Cusack’s acting career began in 1983 with the film Class, and he rose to stardom during the 1980s as a member of the Brat Pack, with notable films including Better Off Dead, The Sure Thing, and One Crazy Summer. His breakthrough came with Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything, immortalized by the iconic scene of him holding a boombox. Later, Cusack earned acclaim in films such as The Grifters, Grosse Pointe Blank—which he co-wrote—Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, and Con Air.
Ignacio Noé, an Argentine comic book artist, is recognized for works including The Convent of Hell from Kiss Comix, The Piano Tuner, Helldorado, Ship of Fools, and Pin-Up Artist. His talent extends to cover art for publishers such as Zenescope and Antarctic, marking him as one of the respected figures in contemporary international comic art.
Anticipation Builds for Momo’s Impact on Comics and Pop Culture
Momo represents a compelling fusion of genres, blending surrealist fantasy, theological noir, and sci-fi absurdism under the creative vision of Cusack and Noé. As Cusack embarks on a late-night talk show promotional tour, the graphic novel is poised to reach a broad audience and spark renewed interest in unique storytelling within the comics realm. The intersections of celebrity, conspiracy, and cosmic horror create a vivid narrative that challenges traditional genre boundaries.
With its debut set to energize conventions and retailers alike, Momo highlights how established talents from film and art can converge to expand the graphic novel medium, promising a distinctive experience for readers drawn to intricate, dark, and ambitious storytelling.
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