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Bug Wars
Bug Wars #1
MINISERIES PREMIERE
Slade Slaymaker is a kid from Alabama suddenly lost in a vicious world beyond his imagining, a world of marauding ant armies, spellcasting spider witches, and beetle-riding barbarians. A kingdom of tiny but deadly warriors hidden in his own backyard. The same world that saw his father eaten alive by insects now plunges young Slade into the middle of a brutal Bug War to decide the fate of his family.
From the superstar team of writer JASON AARON (SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Absolute Superman) and artist MAHMUD ASRAR (Conan the Barbarian, X-Men, Batman & Robin) comes the over-sized debut of BUG BOOK ONE, the first adventure in a sprawling new dark fantasy epic.
Slade Slaymaker is a kid from Alabama suddenly lost in a vicious world beyond his imagining, a world of marauding ant armies, spellcasting spider witches, and beetle-riding barbarians. A kingdom of tiny but deadly warriors hidden in his own backyard. The same world that saw his father eaten alive by insects now plunges young Slade into the middle of a brutal Bug War to decide the fate of his family.
From the superstar team of writer JASON AARON (SOUTHERN BASTARDS, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Absolute Superman) and artist MAHMUD ASRAR (Conan the Barbarian, X-Men, Batman & Robin) comes the over-sized debut of BUG BOOK ONE, the first adventure in a sprawling new dark fantasy epic.
Kindle Edition
Published February 12, 2025
About the author
Jason Aaron
2,372 books1,713 followersJason Aaron grew up in a small town in Alabama. His cousin, Gustav Hasford, who wrote the semi-autobiographical novel The Short-Timers, on which the feature film Full Metal Jacket was based, was a large influence on Aaron. Aaron decided he wanted to write comics as a child, and though his father was skeptical when Aaron informed him of this aspiration, his mother took Aaron to drug stores, where he would purchase books from spinner racks, some of which he still owns today.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Aaron's career in comics began in 2001 when he won a Marvel Comics talent search contest with an eight-page Wolverine back-up story script. The story, which was published in Wolverine #175 (June 2002), gave him the opportunity to pitch subsequent ideas to editors.
In 2006, Aaron made a blind submission to DC/Vertigo, who published his first major work, the Vietnam War story The Other Side which was nominated for an Eisner Award for Best Miniseries, and which Aaron regards as the "second time" he broke into the industry.
Following this, Vertigo asked him to pitch other ideas, which led to the series Scalped, a creator-owned series set on the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation and published by DC/Vertigo.
In 2007, Aaron wrote Ripclaw: Pilot Season for Top Cow Productions. Later that year, Marvel editor Axel Alonso, who was impressed by The Other Side and Scalped, hired Aaron to write issues of Wolverine, Black Panther and eventually, an extended run on Ghost Rider that began in April 2008. His continued work on Black Panther also included a tie-in to the company-wide crossover storyline along with a "Secret Invasion" with David Lapham in 2009.
In January 2008, he signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, though it would not affect his work on Scalped. Later that July, he wrote the Penguin issue of The Joker's Asylum.
After a 4-issue stint on Wolverine in 2007, Aaron returned to the character with the ongoing series Wolverine: Weapon X, launched to coincide with the feature film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Aaron commented, "With Wolverine: Weapon X we'll be trying to mix things up like that from arc to arc, so the first arc is a typical sort of black ops story but the second arc will jump right into the middle of a completely different genre," In 2010, the series was relaunched once again as simply Wolverine. He followed this with his current run on Thor: God of Thunder.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 12, 2025
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Jason Aaron and company do it again!! When I saw that Mr. Aaron was releasing a comic titled Bug Wars I immediately knew I was in for a fun ride. Mr. Aaron has such a wonderful, compelling way of immediately grasping his audience from Scrooge, to Thor, to The Goddamned, to the new amazing TMNT series that I had no doubts in this story. Immediately in Bug Wars I was brought back to my own childhood on a small island named Wrangell in Southeast Alaska where I also wandered outside in the yard armed with nothing but action figures, comics and imagination. This is already a must read and a frequent trip to pick up the next issue at my local comic shop. Thank you so much for bringing this to us, but dang you for making me wait for the next one.
Favorite bug is too easy as my favorite animal is a rhino.
My graphic novel club will love this read!!
Jason Aaron and company do it again!! When I saw that Mr. Aaron was releasing a comic titled Bug Wars I immediately knew I was in for a fun ride. Mr. Aaron has such a wonderful, compelling way of immediately grasping his audience from Scrooge, to Thor, to The Goddamned, to the new amazing TMNT series that I had no doubts in this story. Immediately in Bug Wars I was brought back to my own childhood on a small island named Wrangell in Southeast Alaska where I also wandered outside in the yard armed with nothing but action figures, comics and imagination. This is already a must read and a frequent trip to pick up the next issue at my local comic shop. Thank you so much for bringing this to us, but dang you for making me wait for the next one.
Favorite bug is too easy as my favorite animal is a rhino.
My graphic novel club will love this read!!
April 5, 2025
This is absolutely genius and sooo much fun! What a concept! I’m blown away.
February 23, 2025
Bug Wars #1 – Review
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Mahmud Asrar
Colors by Matthew Wilson
Letters & Design by Becca Carey
Jason Aaron’s Bug Wars #1 is a high-concept, action-packed survival story that immediately pulls readers into its brutal, insect-dominated world. The premise—human shrunk to the size of bugs and forced into a desperate battle for survival—feels like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets Gladiator, with a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and raw adventure. Strange and unknown back story yet to be unfolded as family returns to home after a 12 year absence due to family tragedy.
Mahmud Asrar’s artwork is a highlight, capturing both the terrifying enormity of the insect world and the visceral intensity of the battles. Every panel feels alive, thanks to Matthew Wilson’s striking colors, which add depth and contrast to the chaotic landscapes. The sheer scale of the world from this miniature perspective is thrilling, and the designs of the creatures and characters make it all the more immersive.
That said, two elements detracted from my overall enjoyment. The first is the inclusion of nudity in some of the character designs. While I can see the artistic and world-building intent behind it, at times, it felt unnecessary and distracted from the otherwise gripping storytelling. The second is the heavy use of vulgar language. While gritty dialogue can enhance realism in high-stakes stories, in this case, it felt excessive and sometimes pulled me out of the experience rather than reinforcing the tension. The world itself is brutal enough that the language didn’t need to push so hard to make its point.
Despite these drawbacks, Bug Wars #1 is an intriguing and well-executed start to what could be an epic survival saga. If the series balances its mature themes with stronger character-driven moments and continues exploring its fascinating premise, it has the potential to be something special.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Are you thinking about picking up issue #2, or do you want to see how the series unfolds before committing?
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by Mahmud Asrar
Colors by Matthew Wilson
Letters & Design by Becca Carey
Jason Aaron’s Bug Wars #1 is a high-concept, action-packed survival story that immediately pulls readers into its brutal, insect-dominated world. The premise—human shrunk to the size of bugs and forced into a desperate battle for survival—feels like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets Gladiator, with a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and raw adventure. Strange and unknown back story yet to be unfolded as family returns to home after a 12 year absence due to family tragedy.
Mahmud Asrar’s artwork is a highlight, capturing both the terrifying enormity of the insect world and the visceral intensity of the battles. Every panel feels alive, thanks to Matthew Wilson’s striking colors, which add depth and contrast to the chaotic landscapes. The sheer scale of the world from this miniature perspective is thrilling, and the designs of the creatures and characters make it all the more immersive.
That said, two elements detracted from my overall enjoyment. The first is the inclusion of nudity in some of the character designs. While I can see the artistic and world-building intent behind it, at times, it felt unnecessary and distracted from the otherwise gripping storytelling. The second is the heavy use of vulgar language. While gritty dialogue can enhance realism in high-stakes stories, in this case, it felt excessive and sometimes pulled me out of the experience rather than reinforcing the tension. The world itself is brutal enough that the language didn’t need to push so hard to make its point.
Despite these drawbacks, Bug Wars #1 is an intriguing and well-executed start to what could be an epic survival saga. If the series balances its mature themes with stronger character-driven moments and continues exploring its fascinating premise, it has the potential to be something special.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Are you thinking about picking up issue #2, or do you want to see how the series unfolds before committing?
April 16, 2026
The concept of this book is awesome. A richly built world that ties real entomology to a gritty world of fairies (or mytes). The illustrations and design of the world was also phenomenal and kept me turning pages. My issue with the book is that it had an identity problem. It wanted to be this gritty, vulgar, nude filled novel.... but then the main character is a 12 year old boy. The result is that the vulgarity felt immature and a distracting. . . There is an odd disconnect between the main character and the world that seems to be a result of the writers not wanting to expose their oddly young main character to this highly inappropriate world. At other times the vulgarity felt like a crutch in the dialogue writing.
I may look out for more bug wars books, and would absolutely read more if they did not follow a weird 12 year old boy. I would also hope that there would be slightly less cursing. I don't have a problem with the cursing... it just makes the dialogue sound unnatural.
I can not emphasize enough how cool the world building is. i just hate the main character.
I may look out for more bug wars books, and would absolutely read more if they did not follow a weird 12 year old boy. I would also hope that there would be slightly less cursing. I don't have a problem with the cursing... it just makes the dialogue sound unnatural.
I can not emphasize enough how cool the world building is. i just hate the main character.
February 18, 2025
If A Bug’s Life, Game of Thrones, Honey I Shrunk the Kids decided to have a polyamorous relationship with one another, this would be the child they raise! I went into this first issue not knowing much and I implore every comic loved to do the same. Giving almost nothing away—Bug Wars issue #1 is what I see as a perfect first issue with engaging writing and impeccable artwork. It easily establishes a rich and vibrant world and ushers in a story that is sure to feature heart ache, mysteries, and plenty of big guts. Never have I been more excited to get my hands on another issue since the release of Saga.
February 28, 2025
I see what there is to like her. As a fan of bugs and creepy crawlers - I'm down. But man, some of the dialogue and gratuitous violence really turned me off this title. Listen, I cuss like a sailor... But the amount of swearing is a bit ridiculous here. And normally, guts and gore are no problem for me. I'm a horror fan for sure - but this seemed like a comic that didn't need that much gore. Sure a good stabby stab here and there but like guts POURING out of a dude ... For a comic about bugs? Ehh. Overall, I enjoy the premise enough to read this in its entirety once it comes out in trade. But I'm not invested enough to keep reading it in singles.
March 10, 2025
Jason Aaron does it again. This is a dark and gritty fantasy story about clans of big warriors and a kid who shrinks down and gets wrapped up in the war. It’s so fun and the world building seems to be really in depth. I’m hooked.
June 19, 2025
A pretty cool premise so far! Honey I shrunk the kids with a dash of dark fantasy and mysticism, I’m loving the art, the brutality and I like our lead Slade as well. Curious to see where things go from here.
July 26, 2025
Very awesome and unique comic that reminds me of honey I shrunk the kids with more depths and world building, the author truly loves the bug kingdom and did a lot of research and planning for the comic, its really unique and original.
September 5, 2025
His dad killed by bugs is the strangest thing older brother grows to loathe all bugs and yet youngest follows in his father’s footsteps as bug scientist… when the amulet the young boy wears is triggered kid goes into secret bug world where he kicks serious ass
February 13, 2025
Cvr B Variant, solid opening issue to a conflict beyond our vision. Cant wait to descend into these bug societies and learn the ways of beetles and moths.
February 17, 2025
It was decent
Pretty cool. Some nice concepts. Art could and should have been better but it got the job done. I may or may not pick up issue 2. Still on the fence a bit.
Pretty cool. Some nice concepts. Art could and should have been better but it got the job done. I may or may not pick up issue 2. Still on the fence a bit.
March 16, 2025
Love love love! It’s a wonderful combination of fantasy and adult themes. I love the art and the overall vibe. I look forward to the next comic release and the next bug designs
April 16, 2025
WOW! This is the first comic book that I’ve really loved, from the comic to the concept. I am beyond excited to see where this story takes me.
June 23, 2025
Ant Bully meets Lord of the Rings, super cool intro to (hopefully) a great read.
Image Comics has me in a chokehold rn
Image Comics has me in a chokehold rn
July 5, 2025
This was such a strong opener! I'm eager to see where this story goes. 🪲
July 21, 2025
Interesting concept, love the bug representation. Excited to read more
December 30, 2025
It was an interesting concept but it just wasn’t for me
March 1, 2026
What an interesting premise. The bugs in the yard have their own lives, societies, etc. I'm hooked. On to issue 2
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews