A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts- ADVANCED REVIEW

Publisher:

Oni Press

Creative Team:

Written by Oliver Mertz

Illustrated by Alex Diotto

Colored by Oliver Mertz

Lettered by Taylor Esposito

Flats by Marco Sales

Designer Winston Gambro

Editor: Jung He Lee

Special Choreography: Sarah Beth Oppenheim

Release Date:

September 2, 2026

Final Order CutOff:

August 10, 2026

Solicit:

Sixteen-year-old Ari Ackerman just witnessed a murder. Or two. Or maybe he didn’t. He’s not quite sure. What he does know is that he loves the Washington, D.C., punk scene and is trying very hard to process the perpetual impending death (and frequent resurrections) of his cancer-stricken father. Ari’s best friend, Maya Meng, just wants to hang out and go see Jawbox play at the Black Cat. But sadly, an escalating series of unexplained deaths can really ruin a perfectly good day. 

For readers who like What’s the Furthest Place from Here?, Love and Rockets, David Lynch, Daniel Clowes, Seinfeld, Agatha Christie, Powers, Fugazi, and Wes Anderson, A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts is sure to evoke all the feelings that come with being an outsider, making sense of the world around you, and finding your place in it.

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REVIEW

Take two cups of Vertigo Comics, add a tablespoon of East Coast Punk Rock, a sprinkle of historical references, a full serving of weirdness, and a pinch of humor, blend it all, and you have A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts. Don’t forget your straw and enjoy the ride.

Take two cups of Vertigo Comics, add a tablespoon of East Coast Punk Rock, a sprinkle of historical references, a full serving of weirdness, and a pinch of humor, blend it all, and you have A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts. Don’t forget your straw and enjoy the ride.

A Ghost Arm Made of Angry Ghosts has personality. Superhero comics often times are like pop music. They’re exhilarating and full of sway-worthy melodies, but you usually know when the beat is going to drop. Not this book. This is punk rock, complete with a long title. What differentiates punk and pop is that punk has something to say, defies expectations, and does it in unexpected ways. Mertz, Diotto, and crew craft a world that knows when to scream and when to whisper. 

Ok, that is enough with the metaphors; let’s get into the actual book. Ari Ackerman lives in a world of superpowers. He’d probably say “Yeah… and?” Here, a huge chunk of the population has powers; Ari lives next to Gamut, one of the world's first superheroes; his dad dies and is resurrected every night, and the running club has actual giants in it. But that doesn’t concern Ari; he just wants to enjoy punk music with his stoner friend Maya Meng while trying to convince the woman in charge of the weather to make it snow. That all changes when a death happens. 

Everyone is a suspect, even the victim? Who is Gamut really, and how does he have three identical brothers that no one has ever heard of, and why is one of them suddenly dominating the news?  All the while, Ari is dealing with powers of his own that are rather inconvenient and threaten to derail his whole life.

All of the complicated plot points are masterfully woven by Oliver Mertz, who takes what could have been a simple super-powered murder mystery and makes it anything but simple. These characters have strong personalities that make you want to get to know them. The chapters are often headed by a historical fact told in a sardonic sense of humor. The weirdness is never overpowering because it all acts to build out the world. Remember Oliver Mertz because he is going to be going places.

All of the complicated plot points are masterfully woven by Oliver Mertz, who takes what could have been a simple super-powered murder mystery and makes it anything but simple. These characters have strong personalities that make you want to get to know them

Speaking of talent to watch, Alex Diotto is the highlight of this book. Alex blends the surrealism of this world with the mundane of the Washington DC setting so well. I grew up in this area and instantly felt at home in Diotto’s art. The characters each have strong looks that make them instantly recognizable. I felt like I had seen Ari walking the streets of the city when I was younger. Mertz’s colors on top of the art give it an instantly unique style. Esposito’s lettering is not to be ignored either in the present or in the flashbacks; the letters complement and uplift the story. 

Deep characterization, crazy plot twists, and a story format unlike anything you have ever seen. I never knew what was going to happen. And that is what we need more of in comics. My only critique? I want more. I want to see this world expanded upon. I want more Mertz and Diotto weirdness. 

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