Back in September of 2022, talented creator Shawn Kuruneru brought his Western Noir Thriller—Cave Grave to Kickstarter. Cave Grave tells the story of three outlaws and a robbery that leads them down a terrifying path. The campaign was successful, and those who contributed were rewarded with a great title from a rising comic star.

Looking ahead, Oni Press and Shawn are gearing up to bring this exciting story, along with a brand-new tale, to a wide audience in March 2026. Thanks to Oni Press and creator Shawn Kuruneru, we’re thrilled to share this exclusive announcement and page preview of ‘Cave Grave: Wild West Tales.’

Cartoonist Shawn Kuruneru Goes Guns Blazing for CAVE GRAVE: WILD WEST TALES – Coming Spring 2026 from Oni Press!

The Acclaimed Artist of THE GODDAMN TRAGEDY and BLACK HAMMER: COLONEL WEIRD & LITTLE ANDROMED A Presents a Two-Fisted, Original Graphic Novel

Illustrated cover of "Cave Grave" by Shawn Kuruneru, featuring a close-up of a rugged person with a cigarette, wearing a red hat, in a sketchy red and beige style.

PORTLAND, OR (May 28, 2025) Oni Press, the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997, is proud to announce CAVE GRAVE: WILD WEST TALES – a powerful and power burned collection of two previously self-published graphic novellas written and illustrated by acclaimed cartoonist and fast-rising star Shawn Kuruneru. Recently making Oni Press debut as the artist of THE GODDAMN TRAGEDY (with writer Chris Condon), Kuruneru is a Montreal-based writer/artist who also appeared in series including Fishflies (with writer/artist Jeff Lemire) and Black Hammer: Colonel Weird & Little Andromeda (with writer Tate Brombal). Slated for release as a uniquely sized and specially designed hardcover collection in March 2026, CAVE GRAVE: WILD WEST TALES will mark the first widely available solo collection of work from one of the most closely watched cartoonists in the industry today.

CAVE GRAVE: WILD WEST TALES features two startling stories of double-crossing desperation and hopeless humanity set against a backdrop of the lawless Wild West. In Cave Grave, the art of double-crossing is taken to a new extreme as three struggling thieves attempt to pull off the heist of a lifetime—only to realize they’ve stolen more than they bargained for. In Poor Moon, a cowboy searching for purpose turns to bounty hunting. Catch, return, reward—it’s simple, until he picks up a bounty that’ll change his life forever…

Shawn Kuruneru

CAVE GRAVE collects two Western stories, Cave Grave and Poor Moon. Cave Grave starts as a straightforward heist story that follows outlaw brothers Jimmy and Harv, and their friend the ruthless Jacky Boy. After stealing a mysterious satchel, the thieves hide in a cave where they discover a creature lurking in the shadows and must overcome their greed to make it out alive. Then, in Poor Moon, an ex-soldier turned bounty hunter named Held yearns for peace. One last big score sets him on a journey searching for the wanted Cassie the killer. The closer Held gets to Cassie, the more he is pulled into a world of violence and murder.

I love drawing the Western environment and wanted to write crime stories in the vein of Alfred Hitchcock—psychological edge, unexpected twists, and a focus on the characters’ internal struggles and paranoia. These two stories deal with a constant desire for wealth and power, and how that obsession can manifest into something monstrous.

Editor Megan Brown

Shawn’s gorgeous, evocative art will take you back to the Wild West at its most desperate, its most greedy, and its most tragic. A stunning look at the vastness of the environment and those struggling to make a name within it, these stories will leave you wanting more—and we’re so excited for folks to be able to experience them soon in comic shops and bookstores.”

Saddle up and get ready to ride to the edge of your seat when Shawn Kuruneru’s CAVE GRAVE: WILD WESTERN TALES arrives in comic shops and bookstores everywhere on March 3, 2026!

For more updates on Oni Press, visit them on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram.

A comic-style illustration of an old Western town with people, horses, and buildings; one panel features a saloon with text: "Bartender, another round, hurry up!.
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A bartender nervously serves drinks while men in hats sit at a table, with text narrating tension as they await someone named Harv.
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A bartender stands behind a counter while shadowy figures sit at a bar; narration identifies military men and hired guns in the scene.
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A comic page shows Mister Cross, a retired arms dealer, meeting in a bar. He brings a briefcase, and a patron calls for another round of drinks. Text explains his background.
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A man in a hat questions a bartender about his identity; the bartender nervously claims to be Carl's second cousin while pouring a drink.
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A comic page shows several men in conversation at a bar, discussing family relations and the health of one’s grandfather, with one character revealed to be lying. Colors are muted in black, white, and red tones.
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A person with two pistols bursts through a door shouting, "Reach for the sky!" while two surprised people in uniform react below.
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