PORTLAND, Ore. 08/21/2025 — Before Jason Aaron and Mahmud Asrar’s Bug Wars returns with its next epic arc in 2026, the The Spyder Wytch Special will strike with a deadly one-shot in the New Year—setting the stage for Aaron and Asrar’s brutal fantasy saga to spin into even darker corners of the yard. Bug Wars: Spyder Wytch Special will provide fans with additional world building and enrich the Bug Wars lore—all the while priming readers for the series’ return later in 2026.
This jumbo-sized one-shot will feature stories of the mysterious and deadly Spider Sect, including the adventures of the exiled warrior sorceress, Wysta the Wayward Wytch. Alongside Aaron and Asrar will be contributions from artist Baldemar Rivas (DC’s Two-Face, the forthcoming Godzilla Vs. Kansas City).
"The wild ride through the Yard has just begun. There’s so much more about the kingdom of the Mytes that Mahmud and I are excited to explore," said Aaron. "The Spyder Wytch Special will feature various stories focused on the mysterious witches of the spider sect. After that, we’ll return to the chronicles of the Slaymaker family with Book Two. In other words, there are a lot more murderous bugs and tiny sword wielding warriors still to come."
Asrar added: "Our efforts from the last couple of years swarmed together and presented in one big collection. A wild way to start on our journey with Slade and his family in the world of Bug Wars."
Bug Wars: Spyder Wytch one-shot will be available at comic book shops in January 2026.
In Bug Wars, the Old Slaymaker House is shrouded in mystery. Neighbors whisper about it. Children dare each other to step foot in its overgrown lawn. Exterminators refuse to visit and shudder at the thought of what multi-limbed monsters may burrow in its earth… For Slade Slaymaker and his brother Sydney, it’s the last remnant of their father, a dedicated entomologist devoured by the very creatures he dedicated his life to understanding. Slade, too young to remember his death, continues his legacy with his own love of all things insect. Sydney, old enough to remember the gruesome scene, despises and seeks to annihilate any bug he sees.
When these two brothers’ opposing obsessions clash, Slade finds himself shrunk to the size of his diminutive subjects and thrust into the middle of a brutal Bug War, an earth-shattering struggle that will decide the fate of his family and, perhaps, uncover the secrets behind his father’s gruesome demise.
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids meets Conan The Barbarian in this epic tale of a kid from Alabama suddenly lost in a vicious world beyond his imagining… a world of marauding ant armies, spell-casting spider witches, and beetle-riding barbarians.
Bug Wars is where tiny warriors wage violent battles for dominance over an insect-driven kingdom all hidden beneath the grassline. Both Aaron and Asrar spoke in-depth about the series on the Let's Talk Comics podcast.
The series was first announced at New York City Comic Con last year with a limited edition ashcan that whipped up early buzz with attendees at the show and landed it on IGN’s Most Anticipated Comics of 2025 list before going on to reach massive critical acclaim and multiple sell-outs and reprints.
Bug Wars: Book One trade paperback (ISBN: 9781534329850, Lunar Code 0825IM0459) will be available at local comic book shops on Wednesday, October 8 and independent bookstores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, and Waterstones on Tuesday, October 21.
Select early praise for Bug Wars:
“An imaginative and ambitious dark fantasy story full of epic moments.” —Pages & Panels
“A cool concept with epic art that is executed well and leaves plenty of mysteries on the table for future issues.” —Graphic Policy
“Gripping story, intricately detailed artwork, and deep thematic depth.” —Comic Crusaders
“If you haven’t heard of Bug Wars, do yourself a favor and go check it out immediately… Off to a really compelling start, giving us action right from the jump and promise of an epic (and violent) fantasy adventure, but also presenting a more delicate story about a family navigating grief and trauma.” —Engadget
“What an absolutely stunning book, everyone. And an incredible read.” —Geoff Johns
"Bug Wars is a beautiful mix of high fantasy, suburban horror and every creepy-crawler under the sun. It'll get under your skin (in a good way.)" —Charles Soule
“Best Comic I’ve read in ages!” —Frank Quitely
"From issue #1 alone, Bug Wars has become my first new favorite comic of 2025. A huge congrats for Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar, Matt Wilson & Becca Carey on making such a fun comic!" —Joshua Williamson
"An epic adventure with huge heart—pre-order your copy from your LCS today so you don’t miss out!" —Scott Snyder
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