Christian Ward uncut: Inside his next cosmic horror epic Event Horizon: Inferno

On this week’s episode of the AIPT Comics Podcast, we’ve got something special for you. We’re running the full, uncut interview with Christian Ward, where the acclaimed writer and artist dives deep into his upcoming project: Event Horizon: Inferno! We unpack his creative process behind his storytelling and the big ideas driving his latest work. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about craft, comics, and the strange corners of genre storytelling that Ward continues to explore. Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon! NEWS Ram V, Evan Cagle, and Anand RK reveal 'Deicidium' graphic novel coming to Image in 2026 Marvel reveals the tragic origin of Shalla-Bal in new 'Fantastic Four: First Foes' one-shot Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara makes Marvel Comics writing debut in Pride special Marvel reveals 'X-Men ’97: Season Two' prelude, continuing the animated series’ shocking cliffhanger TOP 50 COMICS - FEBRUARY 2026 Our Top Books of the Week: Dave: Sirens: Love Hurts #2 (Tini Howard, Babs Tarr) Absolute Batman #18 (Scott Snyder, Eric Canete) Chris:​​ Die: Loaded #5 (Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans) X-Men United #1 (Eve Ewing, Tiago Palma) Standout KAPOW moment of the week: Chris: A Quiet Place: Storm Warning #1 (Phil Hester, Ryan Kelly)  Dave: Sirens: Love Hurts #2 (Tini Howard, Babs Tarr) TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK Chris: Lobo #1 (Skottie Young, Jorge Corona) Dave: Sentry #1 (Paul Jenkins, Christian Rosado) JUDGING BY THE COVER JR. Dave: X-Men #27 (Gerald Parel Cover) Chris: Dead Teenagers #1 (Caitlin Yarsky's Variant) Interview: Christian Ward - FOC Mar 16th - Out - Apr 22, 2026 1. You’re returning to the world of Event Horizon after Dark Descent. At what point did you know you had the green light to continue this story, and was Inferno always part of your long-term plan, or did it grow out of the response to the first series? 2. The solicitation pitches this as “Aliens meets Dante’s Inferno.” That’s a big swing. How consciously are you leaning into the structure or themes of Dante’s Inferno, and does this story descend through its own version of circles of Hell? 3. Setting the story two hundred years after the original incident gives you a massive time jump. What does that distance allow you to explore that you could not in Dark Descent? 5.5. You have a compelling mix of characters working for the billionaire. How do you balance their personalities and backstories? Do you flesh out a cast, then go, “hmmm i’m mixing X”? 4. The idea of a billionaire assembling a private star fleet to plunder the wreckage feels very modern in its cynicism. Were you intentionally tapping into contemporary anxieties about unchecked wealth and corporate ambition? 6. The gravity drive has always been the heart of the horror in Event Horizon. In Inferno, does the focus shift more toward the metaphysical implications of interdimensional travel, or are we going even harder into physical, visceral terror? 7. Rob Carey joins you on art for this series. What does he bring visually that makes this version of Event Horizon feel distinct from Dark Descent? 7.5. Love the suits these characters wear. How do you design something that’s new, but also as cool as something we’ve seen in a sci-fi movie before? 8. After revisiting this universe twice now, how do you personally define what “Hell” is in  Event Horizon? Is it a place, an entity, a force of nature, or something humanity carries with it into the stars?