The indie comic scene is about to get a major injection of 90s nostalgia and high-concept sci-fi. Writer Benjamin Hunting and artist Joe Ng are bringing Dead Air #3 to Kickstarter, building on a wave of momentum that previously brought in over 400 backers and smashed through multiple stretch goals. If you missed the initial run, this new campaign acts as the perfect onboarding ramp to catch up on the entire series.
What is the Comic Book Series Dead Air About?
The core concept of Dead Air hinges on a piece of groundbreaking tech called D-TALq. Once a year, this machinery allows the living to speak directly with the dead. The brilliance of the world-building is how mundane this miracle has become. It’s no longer a supernatural shock; it’s just another franchise people visit, like a local laundromat or a DMV.
The narrative splits its time between two distinct eras. We follow the main character, Michelle, during her late-90s college years—a time defined by university radio culture and deep friendships. The story then cuts to the early 2010s, showing the same cast as fractured adults dealing with the lingering fallout of a major tragedy. When Michelle visits a D-TALq franchise for a routine session, a bizarre anomaly shatters her normal routine, forcing long-buried secrets from her college days back into the light.
Who is the Creative Team Behind Dead Air #3?
Benjamin Hunting (known for Model UN and Code 45) handles the writing, bringing a sharp focus on character relationships and tight plotting. Joining him is artist Joe Ng, a veteran penciler whose clean, dynamic style has graced major franchise books like Transformers, Transformers/G.I. Joe, and Street Fighter.
The visual identity of the book is rounded out by a stellar indie support crew. Graphic designer Angela Hodge, colorist Maja Opacic, and letterer Lyndon Radchenka all return to ensure the book maintains its distinct, moody aesthetic.
The series is heavily anchored in Hunting’s real-life experiences working in broadcasting during his youth. The fictional station in the comic, CJNK, serves as the emotional anchor for the entire cast. Hunting explained how those formative years shaped the book’s identity:
“Being thrown into such a diverse musical mix at a university radio station my mid-teens exposed me to bands and genres that had otherwise skipped the very small town I grew up in,” says Benjamin. “I was surrounded by students who were at exactly the right time in their lives to dive head-first into whatever music subculture appealed to them the most. Isolated from global pop culture at large by rural Quebec, these passionate people carved out their own style niches and worldviews that revolved around their favorite bands and scenes. All of that is reflected in the pages of Dead Air, especially at CJNK, the station that serves as the focal point for the characters.”
Where to Back the Campaign
Ready to tune in? You can grab your copies of the entire series and check out the exclusive stretch goals by heading over to the official Dead Air #3 Kickstarter.
