Rick Remender and Steve Epting’s new horror series is already making noise at comic shops.
It didn’t take long for Hammerfist to make an impact.
The debut issue of the new ongoing Image Comics series from writer Rick Remender and artist Steve Epting has sold out at the distributor level, with Image Comics announcing that the first issue is already being rushed back to print.
That means fans who missed out on Hammerfist #1 will have another chance to get their hands on the issue. The second printing will feature completely new cover artwork from Epting and is scheduled to arrive in comic shops on September 23, 2026.
Remender said the response was far beyond what he expected after spending years developing the project.
“I’m glad to know the monsters lost today,” Remender said following the sellout.
Epting also revealed that he and Remender first discussed working together on a project back in 2020. After years of development, Hammerfist finally became a reality.
And the premise is certainly not your typical superhero story.
A Hitman, a Daughter and Something Much Worse
Hammerfist follows Mike Denton, a hitman, drug addict and absentee father who has spent most of his life making terrible decisions. Drugs, murder and easy money have taken priority over everything else—including his daughter.
Then comes Black Noon.
An ancient darkness capable of erasing the light from everything threatens the world, forcing Mike to confront the one thing he has spent his entire life avoiding: becoming someone his daughter can actually depend on.
Mike discovers a supernatural weapon powered by love and is forced into a brutal fight against an embodiment of evil.
Image Comics describes the series as a collision between crime thriller and splatter horror, essentially putting the worlds of Reservoir Dogs and Evil Dead together.
That combination, along with the creative team of Remender and Epting, appears to have caught the attention of comic shops and readers right out of the gate.
What’s Next for Hammerfist?
The second printing of Hammerfist #1 arrives September 23, followed one week later by Hammerfist #2 on September 30.
The second issue will be available with three different covers:
- Cover A: Steve Epting
- Cover B: Michael Kaluta
- Cover C: Brett Parson featuring a Witchblade team-up
The series is also available digitally through multiple platforms.
With the first issue selling out immediately and Image already rushing another printing into stores, Hammerfist has wasted no time establishing itself as one of the new comics to keep an eye on this fall.
Beam Me Up Scotty
Old punk rocker from Miami who still smells faintly like comic shops and poor financial decisions.
