Dark Horse Comics has announced Skate Ali, a new five-issue comic series from Kelly Sue DeConnick, Sam Humphries, and Natacha Bustos. The series is a high-octane, genre-smashing sci-fi skatepunk saga about friendship, rebellion, and finding yourself when the world wants to knock you down written by DeConnick (FML, Bitch Planet) and Humphries (Harley Quinn, Guardians of the Galaxy), illustrated by Bustos (Moon Girl, Miles Morales), and lettered by Josh Reed (Knight City, Christmas 365). Issue #1 will be available in June 2026 and will feature cover art by Bustos, Joe Quinones, Sweeney Boo, Emma Rios, and Jamie McKelvie.
Welcome to near-future Los Angeles—a neon-scorched city where skateboarding has been ruthlessly outlawed. But nothing stops Skate Ali.
By day, she’s just another student dodging detention. By night, she’s a rebel on wheels, an enigmatic loner defying the law on the Los Angeles streets.
But when Ali slams headfirst into the infamous world of underground skateboarding, she comes face to face with a crew of outcast skaters called the LA Skull Clan, and their masked leader, Skull Queen 9. Fueled by a magical force called the Rush, the clan pulls off explosive moves and defiant acts of resistance.
Faced with the opportunity to level up her game, but afraid of actually being perceived by others, Ali must decide: will she play it safe, or kickflip straight into a revolution?
“Kelly Sue and I first came up with Skate Ali over ten years ago,” said Humphries. “She’s been living in our heads ever since, demanding to come out, skating the inside of our skulls like they were empty swimming pools. It’s noisy and we needed the relief, but there’s also something about her heart, smartass vibes, and banged up ankles that has made her impossible to ignore. Getting Natacha to join us as artist and co-creator was the perfect fit to make Ali finally come alive. We can’t wait for everyone to meet the best and worst skater in the history of Los Angeles.”
“Working on this project has been fun from the very beginning,” added Bustos. “I was immediately captivated by the scripts and the spokon spirit at the heart of the story, with its peculiar and incredibly smartly written characters. Of course, Ali is the soul of everything, and Sam and Kelly’s description of her made me fall in love with the character at first sight. Designing her was a joy, just like bringing to life all the characters who orbit around her. I hope readers enjoy a comic that’s fun, clever, and full of heart.”
Drop into your local comic shop and pre-order Skate Ali #1 (of 5) before it hits shelves on June 10, 2026 for $4.99.
