Skybound and Image Comics have revealed a first look at Ghost Pepper #13, arriving July 29, 2026, and kicking off what the publisher is calling the series' biggest story arc to date. Titled "The World Needs a Champion... But None Remains!", the new arc follows the fallout of the previous issue's shocking ending and introduces a major new character who is set to shake up the entire cast.
What Happens in the New Arc
After the previous issue left the world without a champion, chaos takes hold, and into that vacuum walks a mysterious traveler with an oddly specific goal: tasting Loloi's famous spicy cooking. That setup opens the door for a new arc that creator, writer, artist, and letterer Ludo Lullabi has been building toward, with colorist Adriano Lucas continuing to bring the series' distinct visual style to life.
The arc also introduces Ax, a new character described as having waited in the shadows for a long time before finally making her entrance. According to the creative team, Ax's arrival is going to deeply shake the world of Ghost Pepper, suggesting a shift in the series' status quo heading into its next chapter.
Variant Covers and Presentation
For every issue in the new arc, Image Comics and Skybound are releasing a 90s trading card-themed variant cover from artist Cliff Rathburn. Each variant is designed like a collectible trading card featuring a different character from the Ghost Pepper cast, including new arrival Ax, giving longtime readers and collectors an extra reason to pick up each issue as the arc unfolds.
Conclusion
Ghost Pepper #13 sets up what Skybound and Image Comics are billing as the series' most ambitious arc so far, pairing a status quo-shaking new character with a nostalgic variant cover gimmick. Issue #13 arrives in comic shops July 29, 2026.
