For seemingly no reason, and with no advance warning, the world comes to a stop for everyone except one man, who goes on a mission to uncover the mystery in Pause, a new six-issue comics series from John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction, an imprint of Storm King Comics.
Issue No. 1 of John Carpenter’s Tales of Science Fiction — Pause will debut exclusively in comic book stores on February 26, 2025, with subsequent issues available monthly through July. The series marks the 12th story in John Carpenter’s anthology series Tales of Science Fiction.
Written by Matthew K. Manning (The Batman Files, Marvel Action: Avengers) and illustrated by Conor Boyle (Judge Dredd, Black Sight), with lettering by Janice Chiang, Pause is a dark, compelling tale that begins on an ordinary night in Brooklyn as Henry Jacobs finds himself, as usual, having thrown back one too many. Henry is no stranger to the unexpected consequences of drinking too much, but he’s not prepared for what happens when he boards a subway and is the only person unaffected when, without warning, the world comes to a sudden stop.
Pause invites readers to consider what might happen if they were put into the same position. Would they stay in the nicest Manhattan penthouse, ignoring the frozen owner standing in the center of the room? Would they eat at the finest restaurants—food paused in time and still hot on the plates? And what if, with just a touch, anyone could be unfrozen … would they keep this newfound playground for themselves, or would they take anything? Anything at all might be possible—unless, of course, the wrong people were unpaused.
“In Pause, Matthew has taken a classic setup for a sci-fi thriller and brought it into the modern world with stunning flair, aided by Conor’s artistic vision, which helps Pause play like a movie … one you absolutely do not want to pause,” said Storm King Comics founder and editor Sandy King. “We’re excited to release Pause as single issues, which helps keep the suspense going. In an age when binging is everything, it’s a lot of fun to dole out such a captivating story in small pieces.”
Pause #1 will be available in comic book stores and on digital platforms Wednesday, February 26, 2025. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.
