THE FLORIDA HIPPOPOTAMUS COCAINE MASSACRE #1 Sells Out: Second Printing Announced
- Byron O'Neal
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
It happened. You were warned.
Today, kicking off ComicsPRO in Glendale, California, Mad Cave Studiosannounced THE FLORIDA HIPPOPOTAMUS COCAINE MASSACRE #1 has sold out at distribution, following its explosive debut!
The four-issue absurdist action-comedy comes from writer Fred Kennedy(Dead Romans, Assassin’s Creed: Power), with art, colors, and letters by James Edward Clark (Evil Comics, Tales to Enlighten), an original variant cover B by Italian comics superstar Mirka Andolfo (Sweet Paprika), and the latest printing featuring an all-new cover by Eisner, GLAAD, and Russ Manning-nominated artist, Marguerite Sauvage!
From day one, the series leaned fully into slapstick carnage, anti-drug satire, and unapologetic absurdity, and retailers showed up ready for the ride! What started as a love letter to ’80s paranoia, grindhouse energy, and D.A.R.E. assemblies gone feral has quickly become one of Mad Cave Studios’ most talked-about launches of the season.
“It’s been a ride, dude. James and I have been getting asked to do signings at a bunch of shops, and that was before the second printing was announced! Then we heard from Mad Cave that Marguerite Sauvage would be doing a special cover, and I was floored! That’s not even mentioning all the retailer exclusives. I think a book this silly getting such incredible support is a sign of the times. People need a laugh, they REALLY need a laugh. And hippos always deliver.” - writer Fred Kennedy
Disco Hippo Wonderland is the number one amusement park in Flamingo City. But few realize its corpulent owner, Jans M’jor Discau, is about to release the most potent drug ever created: Coke45! Fortunately for humanity, Agent Clarke Nebraska is on the case! She’ll bring down Discau come heck or high water! That was the plan, until her undercover agent, Tico Senecoza, was captured! And before she can rescue him, Miquel—Tico’s sexy loose cannon of an older brother beats her to the punch, storming into the park with bullets flying. Discau panics, dumping the Coke45 into the hippo enclosure and letting them loose on the park, before fleeing into Wonderland’s tunnel network! Nebraska’s plans are totally off the rails, and things get worse when a marijuana smoke-fueled hurricane drowns the park in torrential rain! Now it's up to Nebraska and Miquel to create an uncomfortable truce to bring Discau down before he escapes!
With its laser-bright aesthetic, over-the-top action, and sharp social satire tucked beneath the chaos, The Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre has proven there’s still room in comics for something this loud, this ridiculous, and this fun. Definitely for readers of The Goon, Minor Threats, and anyone who grew up on anti-drug PSAs and action movies where subtlety was illegal…
The second printing of The Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre #1 will be available on March 25, 2026, with FOC March 2, alongside issue #2. The first printing hits comic shops today!Stay up to date with Mad Cave Studios—and its imprints Papercutz, Maverick, and Nakama Press on social media, or visit www.madcavestudios.com to explore new releases, licensed series, and creator-owned titles.
About Mad Cave Studios
Mad Cave Studios, established in 2014, is an independent publisher committed to providing the very best in graphic storytelling. Mad Cave’s catalog includes a captivating blend of licensed, creator-owned, and original works, created by a diverse cast of storytellers focused on cultivating impactful character-driven narratives. Mad Cave Studios is the parent company to Maverick, Nakama Press, and Papercutz, enriching the literary landscape for readers of all ages.
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