Author Greg Broadmore – whose fantasy pedigree includes behind-the-scenes work on the Peter Jackson film Lord of the Rings films, design work for the Godzilla franchise and, more recently, an excellent cover art work for Conan the Barbarian – it is launching a new “dark romantic fantasy“from the publisher Mad Cave Studios, titled One way.
Screen Rant is pleased to share the exclusive first look One way – written by Broadmore, with art by Andy Lanning – which follows its eponymous character, who according to Mad Cave’s press release announcing the book is a member of a “cave girl tribe.”
As with all great science fiction and fantasy, from Frank Herbert’s Dune books for Tolkein Lord of the Rings itself, One way will be rooted in the author’s sociological meditations, which will serve to make the book more than an action and adventure saga, but also an important entry in the discourse on “progress versus tradition.”
Exclusive: Mad Cave Studios Announces New Fantasy Graphic Novel From Visionary Creator Greg Broadmore
One way – Written by Greg Broadmore; Art by Andy Lanning and Nick Boshier
In its initial synopsis for One wayMad Cave Studios described the upcoming graphic novel this way:
Hunted by giant primordial beasts with red teeth and claws, a tribe of cave girls live a grim existence in a brutal and uncaring world. They cling to a life where few make it past the first few months, let alone adulthood. Governed by ancient laws and mysterious rituals – the only constants they have – they follow the old ways of death’s pain.
But One Path, a hunter and warrior, has a plan to change their lives. To free them from the toll, the great predators that pursue them attack, and it will overthrow everything they know. Sometimes change is scarier than death.
This intriguing premise suggests that the series will be an intriguing cabal of high-concept fantasy and grounded ideas of pre-civilized humans and their discontents. Telling a story about the deepest corners of prehistory is a fantastic challenge, but one Greg Broadmore is amply prepared to take on. The preview pages for One way suggest a world where early humans and dinosaurs intermingle, though beyond that, readers will have to wait to discover what horrors and thrills the series’ world contains.
The mention of “ancient laws and mysterious rituals“is particularly intriguing because it alludes to the idea that this story takes place in the context of the first human societies being formed. Although the presence of dinosaurs makes it clear that this is not a strictly historical setting, sets the stage for a rich and detailed dive into the themes and concepts with which Broadmore aims to engage. One heartwhich the author describes as a book he “I felt a deep primal desire to release.”
“One Path” is a “primitive” story that addresses contemporary issues in a prehistoric setting
One way – Available March 17, 2025 from Mad Cave Studios
Greg Broadmore described One wayhis new comic book project from Mad Cave Studios, like this:
One way it’s a wild, brutal story, one that I felt a deep, primal desire to release – I didn’t really understand where it was coming from, as it seemed to come out of a deep subconscious, unprompted. It’s a story of raw animal violence and the grim desolation of life on the edge of survival, but also of family and unbreakable love – and ancient traditions that may need to be broken… or not. It’s deeply personal for me, but I hope it contains truths that many people can relate to.
Broadmore’s account of the genesis of his new story is fascinating, and is especially appropriate for a story about humanity at its most free and unbridled. However, at the same time, the emphasis that the series’ creator and publisher place on the idea of ”tradition” and the “status quo“is a reminder that this story is less concerned with the early days of humanity, and more with the use of this time period and setting to examine vital questions about modern human life.
In other words, the dynamics of “progress versus tradition“has been one of the driving tensions of human civilization for thousands of years – but it is as urgent a topic as ever in the modern world. While some authors might explore the distant future to engage with this critical dichotomy, Greg Broadmore has opted for the most dark pasts, where the traditions and values of its characters are being actively forged by the merciless “state of nature” in which they exist.
Author Greg Broadmore takes readers on an incredible journey
One way Author Greg Broadmore’s enthusiasm for his project is palpable in his introductory comments on the series, as is his love of the comic book medium in general. Broadmore also expressed deep appreciation for publisher Mad Cave Studios’ commitment to the book. As he explained in the initial press release:
I’ve had the pleasure of working on some of the most incredible films and helped create some of the most advanced technology in video games – but for me, nothing compares to the power and purity of making comics. It’s the medium I always return to – the one where I feel most creatively liberated. And this time I had the combined wisdom and superpowers of Andy Lanning (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Nick Boshier (Moth Effect) to help me create it and take it to the next level—
Mad Cave Studios is bold – and perhaps a little crazy (appropriate, given the name) – for taking a chance on what must have seemed like a wild vision. Their commitment to creators and unique storytelling makes them the perfect partner, and I’m thrilled that they’ve given this world of wild cave girls and ravenous dinosaurs a place to call home – a Crazy Cave.”
In all, One way looks primed to be one of the standalone comics of 2025while Broadmore and Mad Cave unleash this”wild vision” for unsuspecting readers.
Readers don’t know how One way will ultimately make them feel – which gives Broadmore a wide range to do exciting and unpredictable things.
One great thing about a new, independent comic book project like One way is that readers can interact with it without expectations. The world of the story, and how its author might play with the ambitious themes he described as the driving force behind the book, are open-ended, and that means readers don’t know how. One way will ultimately make them feel – which gives Broadmore a wide range to do exciting and unpredictable things. Readers familiar with his career, including his Conan the Barbarian covers, know that this new fantasy series is going to be a thrilling ride.
One way will be available on March 17, 2025 from Mad Cave Studios.