Contra is getting a 12-issue comic book series next year

Konami Cross Media NY and Mad Cave Studios announced a 12-issue Contra comic book series back in July, but I just noticed it today. The partnership will bring the classic run-and-gun video game franchise to print, starting with a monthly run that kicks off in January 2027.

According to coverage from License Global, the licensing agreement covers a comprehensive publishing line. Beyond the initial 12 issues, Mad Cave plans to release multiple trade paperback volumes and a deluxe edition. The Miami-based publisher is already known for imprints like Papercutz and Maverick, and they're now taking on one of Konami's oldest action properties.

Konami has spent the last few years actively licensing out its dormant and classic franchises to third-party creators. We saw this recently with the video game side of the business, where WayForward took the reins to develop Contra: Operation Galuga in March 2024. Now, the Konami Cross Media NY division is applying a similar strategy to print media, trusting an independent comic publisher to expand the sci-fi universe.

I hope it comes with 30 lives

The Contra franchise has been around since its arcade debut in 1987, though it really took over living rooms with the 1988 Nintendo Entertainment System port. That version popularized the Konami Code and ruined countless friendships over stolen continues. It's consistently stuck to its 2D side-scrolling roots over the decades, delivering fast-paced alien shooting across the Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and modern consoles.

Translating a game famous for holding the fire button and jumping into a narrative medium is an interesting challenge. The comic will need to flesh out the lore of Earth's defense force, likely focusing on commandos Bill Rizer and Lance Bean as they fight off the Red Falcon alien invasion.

Hitting shelves in January

Konami Cross Media NY senior vice president Jennifer Coleman noted that the action-heavy nature of the games makes it a good fit for the comic book medium.

Mad Cave Studios was founded in 2014 and has steadily grown its portfolio of original and licensed titles. Their expansion into children's and young adult graphic novels with the acquisition of Papercutz in 2022 gave them a much larger footprint in the publishing world. Video game comic adaptations have seen a massive resurgence lately. Publishers like Titan Comics and UDON Entertainment have found success by treating classic gaming properties with serious narrative weight, and it looks like Mad Cave is taking a similar approach here.

The publishing deal covers major territories including the United States, Canada, Latin America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. The first issue arrives at local comic shops and major book retailers in January 2027. No word yet on whether reading it requires a second player to drag the screen forward and drop you into a pit.