Unfinished Tales

by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips (Illustrator)

A shocking new original graphic novel from the legendary team of Brubaker and Phillips!

Finnegan Blake is one of the most successful authors in the world, but he can't enjoy all the fame and fortune anymore. Because Finn is ten years past his deadline on the final book in his epic fantasy series, and has no hope of ever finishing it. Until an old friend shows up with the perfect solution to his writers block. But their pact soon turns dark, as egos clash and old secrets emerge, leading Finn to wonder exactly what kind of deal he's made, and how far he's willing to go to get this final book onto the bestseller list. Most writers would kill for Finn's life... will he?

The Lord of the Rings meets The Talented Mr Ripley in this paranoid thriller by the grand masters of comics noir. UNFINISHED TALES is the must-have graphic novel for the Christmas season, from the red hot creators of RECKLESS, THE FADE OUT, KILL OR BE KILLED and CRIMINAL (coming in 2026 to Prime Video).

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Thriller

144 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication November 11, 2026

About the author

Ed Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.

In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.

Reviews

[Ciana Templeton]

Thank you to NetGalley, Image Comics, and Ed Brubaker / Sean Phillips for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Unfinished Tales is a dark, clever, and increasingly twisted graphic novel that takes something as familiar as writer’s block and turns it into a paranoid noir thriller.

I really enjoyed the premise. There’s something especially fun about watching the glamorous image of a famous author unravel into desperation, ego, secrets, and increasingly questionable decisions.

Brubaker and Phillips are such a strong pairing for this kind of story. The noir atmosphere works incredibly well, and the artwork gives the whole thing a gritty, uneasy quality that makes you feel like something is wrong even before you know exactly what it is. There’s tension, dark humour, and enough unpredictability to keep the pages turning.

Dark, strange, and compulsively readable, Unfinished Tales is a great pick for readers who enjoy morally messy characters, crime comics, psychological thrillers, and stories about writers behaving very badly.

[Alex Sarll]

Brubaker & Phillips' latest is the story of the world's biggest fantasy writer, his next book massively overdue, not helped by the TV adaptation overtaking the novels and having an ending everyone hated. And sure, I get them wanting to retain the very tiniest fig-leaf of deniability by not calling the author Phil RR Spector, but Finnegan Blake? Both ridiculously action hero and an overloaded literary reference? Really? It doesn't stop there; rather than a funny little hairy hobbit guy, Finn is grizzled but still leading man handsome, more of a Michael Chabon type, because that's what Phillips likes to draw. And when the art gets outside that rut he and Brubaker encourage in each other, there are a couple of shocking panels here, particularly the one where Finn's amiable dog, I'm pretty sure unintentionally, suddenly looks like a blazing hound of death, yet retains exactly the same gormless expression as usual. If the story had pursued that direction, it might at least have been more interesting, but as is, at every turn it does the shitty Hollywood biopic thing and changes the source facts in ways which make them less particular, more bog-standard. Finn is stuck on the final book of his series, not the penultimate; fame split him and his wife up, because that's what wealth and fame does, right, or at least what the non-famous find it consoling to believe. Finn isn't a veteran writer and showrunner when he begins the series as a second act, but a debut novelist – and one who really wants to be literary and serious, only thinks of fantasy as slumming it. I wonder if this might be the creators' own snobby little prejudices showing, especially since Finn's books sound like absolute dreck, generic single-hero fantasy where, yes, it would be baffling that anyone couldn't just churn one more out, much as B&P do with their noir books like this one, which, careful not to upset the applecart, even tacks on an entirely unnecessary crime subplot in the final act. There were moments I enjoyed – the difficulties of having a roommate again in middle age, one genuinely funny reveal right before the denouement. But for the most part it feels like production line workers impertinently demanding to know why a craftsman is so much slower than them.

(Netgalley ARC)

[Dave Schaafsma]

Thanks to the authors Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, Image Comics, and Net Galley for the early look at this graphic novel, to be published 11/11/26.

My favorite comics event of the year thus (2026) year thus far had been Five Gears in Reverse by this same team, so as soon as I saw Unfinished Tales was available to view early, and that Sam Quixote had already five-starred it (as he is stingy with those stars, so I knew he was probably right, but I already guessed it would likely be special, anyway). And it is special, also one of my faves of the year for sure, and though still crime comics, it is different than anything they have yet done. The cover is great, a throw-back to fifties-style covers, that tear in the surface there so we can expect we will eventually see what really is going on underneath the surface. Then we get a surprise, an advert for a book by a guy named Finnegan Blake, entitled Knights of November: Book 6 of the Knight Fires Tapestry series, which immediately makes one think only of George R. Martin’s unfinished tale, The Game of Thrones, which is stuck at, uh, book five. Though Tolkien also has a collection of stories also titled Unfinished Tales set in his Lord of the Rings universe.

“Fucking writers and their fucking egos.”

Finn is stuck and has been for years. He’s been widely successful and then he is almost a pariah as he continues to not write the last book of his series as a successful tv adaptation of the series passes him by. The process of Finn FINishing is one of the most straightforward narratives Brubaker and Phillips have yet produced, until it becomes a little less straightforward, at about the 3/4 mark, but it's worth the wait.

What transpires is in part yet another exploration by Brubaker of writing and fame, as the boys did in The Fadeout (about a writer in Hollywood, where Brubaker is also now working as showrunner of the tv adaptation of his Criminal series) and Bad Weekend, (featuring old comics icon Hal Adams and a recurring comics guy, Jacob Kurtz).

How will Finn finish the series (I liked that one so much I had to use it twice)? Pierre, the aforementioned old pal, once a peer his writing program, comes to rescue him, and I'll say what happens after that entertainingly works, though one might question the credibility for Pierre's motivation and what he does with his writing students. But okay. Much of wha happens before that seems like a kind of romantic writer’s fantasy, maybe as shleppy George R. Martin might have found his own climb to fame: Finn gets mega money, fame, happy marriage, until as often happens in real life, you take a bite of fame and it bites back, hard. So after a pretty straightforward and recognizable and relatively unsurprising rendering of rags to riches to (emotional) rags (he’s still way rich), surprises occur in the story that are entertaining.

PS:
*Entertainingly ironic that the team that apparently seems to never have had anything like writer’s block writes a kind of “solution” to the most famous writer’s block story of our age. That’s a fun thing to do.

*Two problems need to get solved; in the Knight Fires series--how to get the main character out of prison, and then, in the book Brubaker is writing, he needs to figure out how to get Finn out of his writer’s block. Story, and story within a story, both requiring clever narrative interventions, and they work, both solutions coming from sudden, unexpected blasts from the past. Cool!! There’s more of that double intervention stuff going on at the finish, what to do with Finn's Knight Fires series--essentially still unfinished!--and then what actually happens at the end of Brubaker's Unfinished Tales--also unfinished, though we pretty much know what is going to happen.

I really love it, so fun. For Brubaker-Phillips fans AND for George R. Martin fans. And fans of stories about writers who don't write (cf. Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon).

[Dan]

My thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for an advance copy of this graphic novel that is both a bit of a pastiche on the life of a famous writer, a look into the mind of a creative person, and a crime story about the lengths that one will go to to keep a dream alive, and that comes from that dream.

I remember hearing about a curse the Irish have from my grandmother, who was a bit of a witch, and I mean that in the paranormal sense. The worse thing you can tell someone one is that I wish you all that you want. Not what you deserve but what you want. All the burdens and pain that come with that want, all the pressures and fears that come with getting what you want. A curse in many ways. A curse that is not exclusive to the Irish. Many want success, but are unequipped to deal with it. Wants expose a hunger we all have. We want more, more success, more fame. And for it to never end. Which might drive someone to extremes to keep the want from going away. Unfinished Tales is a graphic novel written by Ed Brubaker, illustrated by Sean Phillips about a writer, his want to create, his want to continue his success, his want of a story, and his want of the consequences.

Finnegan Blake is riding high. Blake is the author of the super popular Knights of the Sun series, a project so big and popular that even people who would never read books like Blake's are reading books by Blake. Blake is a cottage industry, a publishing phenomenon, with lots of writers creating works based on his world, his ideas, and more. The book has spawned a television series with numbers unseen since the early days of television. And the concluding book in the series is late. About ten years late, and even Blake has given up on it every being published. A mix of expectations, writer's block, and lots of fear have taken Blake's ability to make words, something the world is getting angrier and angrier about. Blake is at the funeral of his writing mentor when he bumps into Pierre, another writer who never really made it, who was once a friend, and in some ways a rival. Blake and Pierre talk, and soon Pierre is living with Blake, and even more sharing ideas, and solutions for Blake's writing problems. As with all good things there is a catch, a catch that Blake is reluctant to deal with, and might mean the end of his series, and a whole lot more.

A story about creativity, a bit of biography about pressure that writers can face, and a bit of crime. The book is a using a very famous author as it's example, I don't really need to go into it, but it is fairly apparant just from the description. Brubaker uses a lot of allusions, the name of the characters, the title of the book to create his story, and a really interesting story it is. Fairly reminiscent of Donald Westlake's The Hook, the idea of creativity, writing and where one ideas come from. The crime part comes later, told with flashbacks into Blake's past, and where certain story elements come from, and where they might lead. The art is excellent of course. Phillips says he is more comfortable illustrating the past, but Phillips does his usual excellent job, capturing characters, emotions, and action really well. The story is good, moves along, doesn't bog down, and unlike a certain series, has a really satisfying ending.

This is a good example of the ways that graphic novels are unique in the storytelling medium. One that I would use to capture those unfamiliar with sequential art storytelling. The story is relatable, deals with subjects that are known, and with a bit of crime to make things tense and unknowable till the ending. For new readers and of course for long time fans. Even fans of a a series about ice, fire and dragons.

[Sam Quixote]

What if George R. R. Martin was given a secret ghost writer with a bag full of great ideas for how to finally end A Song of Ice and Fire - would he accept it, if it meant keeping the ghost writer’s identity a secret? And, if after delivering the finished manuscripts, what would he do if the ghost writer threatened to expose their secret - would he resort to murder?

Before I start, let me just say: thank fucking god for Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Not just the best creative team in comics, but dependable and prolific too. There are precious few good comics being published each year and there’d be even less without these two around. This is their second book I’ve read this year (the other was Five Gears in Reverse) and both were absolute knockouts. As a fan of quality comics, thank you both and I don’t know how you’re doing it at this pace but please carry on!

Now onto Unfinished Tales. Obviously Brubaker’s not using George R. R. Martin’s real name but his proxy - “Finnegan Blake” - is clearly modelled on Martin’s career as it relates to his hit fantasy series. Blake too has a bestselling swords and sorcery series that got made into an even bigger TV show, but the show outpaced his publishing and they had to make the final series based on his notes, rather than an actual book. The final series was panned by all and Blake’s writing has stalled. It’s years later now and fans are still waiting for the final book in the series, but Blake can’t bring himself to complete it.

So yeah, if you know anything about Martin and ASOIAF, it’s the same thing but with different names.

And relating that story alone is compelling. Brubaker provides credible insight into the life of a popular writer with the fan signings and editorial meetings that I’m sure he’s experienced firsthand (maybe not on the same scale but still), and posits a convincing theory for why Blake/Martin is unable to finish the series: the TV show finale was his real finale and he doesn’t want to write it because he knows the fans will hate it and he hasn’t come up with a better alternative.

Brubaker then throws a crime element (of course) into the mix which is basically a version of Strangers on a Train where two people enter into a secret pact which can only end badly. I won’t go into the details but suffice it to say I was totally enthralled with every aspect of this story - I read it through in one effortless sitting because it’s just that damn good a comic.

The title is a partial nod to Tolkien, the creator of the fantasy genre, who has a book called Unfinished Tales. I wonder if Finnegan Blake is a reference to Finnegans Wake, famously a novel without an ending (the final line is the first half of a sentence with the book’s first line being the second half of that sentence; the implication being that the book is a never-ending loop), while Finn is a writer in search of an ending.

I’m just glad that Brubaker doesn’t have what George R. R. Martin has and he’s able to put out high quality stories at an unreal rate. An absolutely wonderful standalone comic from Brubaker/Phillips that’s very contemporary and a superb read to boot. You’ll probably never read The Winds of Winter/A Dream of Spring (unless someone like Brandon Sanderson finishes them years after George’s death) but Unfinished Tales is real and definitely worth reading.

[Brian Shevory]

Many thanks to Image Comics and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips’ latest collaboration Unfinished Tales. I haven’t read too much by Ed Brubaker and I’m still relatively new to non-horror comics, but I was absolutely blown away by this tale of fame, fortune, and severe writer’s block (or procrastination). Unfinished Tales might be one of the best books I’ve read about the challenges of creativity and creating art in a market that values commercial success. The story focuses on Finnegan Blake, whose Knights of the Sun series is widely considered one of the most popular and best-selling fantasy series of the 21st century. The series, which generated a multi-season television show, has fans that follow Blake to various conventions and talks, despite (or maybe in spite of) the fact that Blake hasn’t completed the final book in the series. The last book was published many years ago, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the final entry. While many fans are hopefully anticipating Blake’s last entry, others are growing restless, with one fan even confronting Blake at a talk, with his public rebuke of Blake’s delay in completing the book going viral.
One of the great aspects of this book is how Brubaker’s writing and Phillips’ excellent artwork allow for a slow reveal where we begin to see how Finnegan Blake’s success and popularity are not exactly what they seem, and have created a kind of prison or weight that he carries around with him, continually reminded about the impending deadline that continuously pushed further and further back. Anyone whose struggled with writer’s block or procrastination should be able to relate to Blake’s struggles of just being unable to produce. Even Blake’s longtime editor, who tries some different approaches to get Blake to finish, never sees the book, as he passes away prior to retirement and years after having a stroke that was probably hastened by Blake’s failure to finish. On the way back from the funeral, Blake encounters a friend (or possibly a writer rival) from college, and they catch up over drinks. Although he experienced some success in college and after, Pierre never had the same kind of success and acclaim that Finn experienced. Nevertheless, Pierre ends up staying with Finn, offering him the possibility of finishing his series, although it comes with a catch. Will Finn agree to Pierre’s plan? Or will his ego get in the way? I won’t ruin the ending, but I really enjoyed this book. It’s a fun and surprising ending, and despite being a book about writer’s block and procrastination, the plot continually moves forward, occasionally revisiting Blake’s past to better understand how he got stuck and was unable to move ahead with his story. Furthermore, Phillips’ classic, realistic artwork provide a sense of gravitas to the story, elevating it to something more literary. I highly recommend this book, and I’ll be looking for more great stories from Brubaker and Phillips.

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza)]

I’ve never been so unsettled by a comic written by Brubaker and Phillips. Criminality, sex, drugs, murder, cults, pedophile rings, succubi, and yet this really got under my skin and made me feel unclean. This is nothing but a roman à clef where even the most ignorant of readers will put two and two together that Finnegan Blake is George RR Martin with his Knight Fire Tapestry series. This wasn't just lazy storytelling, it was pouring salt in the wounds of all fans of GRRM's who have lived through the endless delays and unsatisfying conclusion to the television show. It was beat for beat what we have lived through. Even the timeline is fairly accurate. I don't know if Brubaker and Phillips have a particular hatred of GRRM but they were punching up with all their might and it left a bitter taste in my mouth. What's more, claiming that the only way that we will get a satisfying conclusion to A Song of Ice and Fire is by turning to FanFic was just insulting to someone who has built such a lasting literary legacy. If Unfinished Tales actually gets published and GRRM doesn't file an injunction I will be surprised. But this wasn't my main problem with the book, this was just the lazier aspects of the book. My problem is that this is obviously a treatise on what can get people cancelled. How fame can turn against you. Yet it's all at a surface level while hinting at the bigger, darker, picture. Sanitizing the abuse within the world of authors and conventions to be about delays and plagiarism, not touching on the sexual aspects. They make it VERY CLEAR that Finnegan Blake has almost no sex drive so the fact that he is drawn to be a combination of the actor Tchéky Karyo and Neil Gaiman is puzzling. The Gaiman aspect is where I just couldn't anymore. There are frames where my breath was taken away because it was Neil Gaiman on the page. There was no ambiguity whatsoever. So the whole story takes on an entire darker overtone. Especially given that Brubaker has been in the news lately for accusations of "sexual and racial harassment and assault." Is this a book siding with Gaiman? Was this Brubaker knowing he was about to be outed and picking a side? I just felt so revolted and angry after reading this book. Brubaker and Phillips's Noir has always been a comfort place for me and even though I read this after the news about Brubaker broke I feel even more betrayed. Gaiman!?! Really!?! As Tyler Crook recently posted on Bluesky, "Trying to think of a time when the allegations against a comics guy turned out to be false… nothin’ coming to mind." So this is most likely where I part ways with Brubaker. He can go hang out with his new best friend Neil Gaiman.

[Dan]

If you're like me, you've probably given up any and all of the time you've spent reading George R.R. Martin's SONG OF ICE AND FIRE series as a complete waste. He's never going to finish the series. The TV show ended, and I was happy with that ending, and now I give zero shits about the books anymore. If he finishes them, great, if not, I know the ending already.

It has honestly never occurred to me "Why doesn't he get a ghost-writer?"...I mean, yes, I wondered if someone would finish the series after he died, but then he shot that down. Luckily for us, Ed Brubaker HAS wondered why Martin hasn't just hired a ghost-writer, and that scenario plays out wonderfully here, in UNFINISHED TALES.

Our G.R.R.M stand-in is Finnegan Blake, whose seventh and final book in the KNIGHT FIRE TAPESTRY is over a decade late; The hit TV show based on the series has already ended, using his story notes, and the ending was almost universally hated. Blake, like Martin, travels the world doing conventions, interviews, and appearances...doing everything but writing. Blake has written himself into a corner, and the ending he had envisioned was hated by all. He's stuck...what to do?

Enter his old college friend, Pierre. A failed writer himself, he offers to help Finn by ghosting/assisting with the final book. An agreement is reached, work begins, and Pierre is filled with solutions and great ideas. Pierre has been promised a healthy slice of the book's profits, but no credit...What are the odds that that agreement is going to stick? (Come on, this is a Brubaker book we're talking about, here!)

I am a huge fan of the billion or so other Brubaker/Sean Phillips collaborations, so I knew I'd love this, as well. My usual complaint about their work is that, while extremely well-told, there are never any surprises...anyone who has read enough books or seen the right films will see the end coming a mile off. Always a fun journey, but the destination is totally predictible.

Well, they surprised me here. So extra kudos for that. Great, great ending. Pick your side...Finn and Pierre both have valid points. But the ending was a clever, nasty little poke in the guts with a sharp knife. This jaded reader didn't see it coming, and I loved it.

Brubaker keeps what is essentially a talking heads book moving along briskly, and Phillips does his usual job of killing it, artwise. The Game of Thrones satire was strong, and fans of the books and TV show will find a lot to enjoy in that regard.

As always, Brubaker and Phillips are THE noir comics masters, and this one was a cut above their usual excellence. Highly recommended.

[Mike Dominic]

In comics, there is occasionally a pairing of writer and artist that seems like a match made in heaven. Although, to be fair, that pairing is actually a trinity when you consider that genre is an important part of the formula.
One such pairing is Brubaker and Phillips, with mystery rounding out the formula. While there have been some great writers and artists working in the mystery comics field over the decades, none have quite managed to capture the gritty realistic feel and level of character development displayed by these two creators.
Their projects have an earthiness reminiscent of the styles of Lawrence Block or Donald Westlake at their best. Their work together has created masterpieces of mystery comic art, with Phillips's rough edged brush inking perfectly complimenting Brubaker's character driven story lines.
Unfinished Tales is a wonderful example of the kind of work that can produce when they are firing on all cylinders. Using the story seed of a certain well-known author who seems to be unable to finish is book series, they have spun a story that is one of the finest examples of character building I've read in comics, with a twisting tail that is a slow burn of tension building with a healthy dose of dramatic irony.
There is a twist in this tail, and as a reader you can see it coming from very early on but you're never sure where or when it's going to happen until it arrives. Even though the majority of the story is based around the life of writing and does not rely on noir tropes or violent action to build its narrative, it is no less dramatic and gripping throughout. Unfinished Tales is a perfect example of how the genre can transcend its roots to tell a nuanced tale with emotional impact.
Of course, I would be remiss to fail to mention the color work of Jacob Phillips, who uses a muted palette that matches the tone of the story and adds depth to the art without overpowering it, which always a risk in comic coloring.
If you have not read anything by Brubaker and Phillips before now, you are in fan eye opening experience with this book. If you have read them, you're still in for a treat as they successfully explore new narrative grounds in a familiar context. This is a book that deserves a place on every mystery reader's and comic book lover's bookshelf, and if it doesn't win an Eisner, illegal my copy of A Contract With God. With mustard.

[Nadine in NY Jones]

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early review copy.

I was riveted as soon as I started reading, because the art is wonderful, truly top notch, and the character was interesting. Brubaker really rakes this guy over the coals, and I suspect more than one current author is going to see himself in this character, so that's an interesting choice. I didn't know how I felt about that.

Phillips' art is perfect. The characters' emotions are drawn perfectly, each character is easy to identify, the action is always clear. All the stars for this perfect example of comic book art.

The author, Finn, gets himself into a massive slump, and that part goes on too long. I wish Brubaker had cut to the chase a bit sooner. As Berry Gordy and many others have said: "don't bore us, get to the chorus." It applies to books, too! The ending is clever, it's sort of like a Twilight Zone ending, but it took a little bit too long to get there, with not enough in the middle to carry my interest.

The blurb promised us a Highsmith-worthy downward spiral, and that's not at all what we get. If my expectations had not been torqued up so much by the blurb, I might have enjoyed this for what it is: a character study of an author struggling with sudden fame and then struggling with a 15-years-long writer's block. What do you do when you're suddenly famous? Who do you become? And, when you lose that high, what do you do to get it back? Finn doesn't do anything truly shocking here, he's just a regular guy dealing with regular emotions. This is a spectacular character study, but I couldn't help feeling disappointed, because it's not what I was expecting based on the blurb.

[Howard]

Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics [the publisher] for an eARC of Unfinished Tales by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips [colors by Jacob Phillips] with an expected publication date of December 8, 2026, in return for an honest review. Brubaker and Phillips have coauthored a number of innovative graphic novel series, including Criminal [read], Kill or Be Killed, Fatale, Pulp [read], and Reckless [read], in addition to their work on superhero comics such as Batman, X-men, Captain America and Daredevil. I always am excited to check out a new Brubaker/Phillips graphic novel.

Finnegan Blake is a highly successful author who has hit writers block and he is 10 years past the deadline for the final book in his epic fantasy series. [If you are reminded of George R.R. Martin that’s probably intentional. As we get into the story, Blake has lost his publicist, his wife has moved out, and his agent has passed away. A former classmate has reentered his life, and has helped him get past the writers block and before you know it, the final book is ready for publication. But of course there are twists and turns that keep the book interesting to the end. I will not go into more specifics in order to avoid spoilers.

The art is top notch and drawn in a realistic style as are all of the Brubaker/Phillips collaborations. Both are winners of numerous Eisner awards.

I have given this a 5 star rating. The graphics and colors are 5 star, and help to move the story along. The story itself I also rate 5 stars. I really enjoyed the twists at the end I can honestly say that I did not see them coming.

Highly recommended as an easy and entertaining read, and perhaps to get some of your psychic anger at Martin out.

[Rustic Reads]

There are some few misses with the Ed Brubaker/Sean Phillips I've read, and this one is just fine but as a fantasy reader I enjoyed it a lot. Especially since there's quite a lot of fantasy series that was still unfinished, not just *that* popular unfinished series. I thought it would be not that obvious which series The Knight Fire Tapestry by Finnegan Blake is being compared to, but as it goes on the more obvious it becomes.

There's a lot of fantasy Easter eggs here and there and it's quite fun to spot them... I'd also say since the previews for this book already showed it, I'll just say that Knights of November feels like a bad book title.

The blurb for this one is quite misleading, it mentions that this one is The Lord of the Rings meets The Talented Mr Ripley. This one is so far from being The Lord of the Rings, this one is not fantasy in any kind of way. There's would be snippets from the book series of the author, but it's too few to be considered as fantasy.

This one is quite focused more on the writer having a roadblock finishing the series, we learned more about him, then we meet his friend who help him (all I'm saying is included in the blurb). This one is light on the thriller aspect.

[Kyle]

Thank you to NetGalley, Image Comics, and Ed Brubaker / Sean Phillips for the chance at an early look at one of their best.

A story so clearly inspired by George RR Martin and his ever-growing need to never finish what he started, Brubaker also peppers in enough “inside baseball” horror stories from the literary world / Hollywood I’m sure Brubaker has experienced in his decades-long career. The art of Phillips & Phillips continues to astonish, rivaling the highest highs of any cape book of the last 20 years.

You never know what you’re going to get with a Brubaker / Phillips book. When you first crack it open, there's a part that fully understands things are going to take a turn for the worse in pretty spectacularly messy ways. But you never know *when* that turn will happen.

With the last few graphic novels, you get sucked into the complete backstory of each character, lulling you into a false sense of comfort. That maybe nothing bad *will* happen to these characters you’ve grown so fond of (in such a short time too). And what the fallout will be.

And what a fallout there is in "Unfinished Tales."

[Nick Padula]

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Everything I've read from the dynamic duo of Brubaker and Philips has been stellar crime fiction thus far and I doubt that will change. Both the writing and the artwork blended seamlessly together through every project. I hope their pairing continues for many years to come! This was an interesting change from their usual stories since it focused more on the creative process rather than various crimes. The tension I felt from Finn's writer's block was just about as powerful as all their previous thrillers. Instead of worrying if the lead is going to get blown away by a twelve-gauge, I was instead wondering if he could finally accomplish his greatest feat as an author after years of being haunted by his own insecurities. As a writer myself, I especially sympathized with his plight, though I hope things would shake out a little differently if I were in his shoes!

If you loved this pair's previous works, definitely give this a look-see! If you haven't previously experienced one of their graphic novels, this would be a perfectly good place to start!

[Elia RS]

One of the first things that caught my attention was the premise. Even though I had never read the Knight Fire Tapestry series, I was curious to discover what was behind it. After finishing this graphic novel, I think I will finally give the series a try when I find the right moment.

The story follows Finnegan Blake almost like a biography, showing his journey through rejection, success, fame and creative block. More than that, it shows the person behind the books, exploring the insecurity and pressure that come with success and the expectations placed on an author while writing a popular series.

The artwork also reinforces these emotions. There is a constant contrast between the public image of the author and how isolated he feels. Warm colours accompany the quieter moments of his life, while darker and colder tones appear as the pressure grows, making it easy for the reader to understand his emotional state without needing many words.

I finished this graphic novel feeling that there is much more behind Finnegan Blake than simply a writer who cannot finish a story, and that was probably what I enjoyed the most.

[Rob]

With thanks to the author, publishers Image Comics, and NetGalley for providing me with a DRC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Finnegan Blake is a phenomenally successful fantasy author with one rather awkward problem: he is ten years late delivering the final book in his bestselling series. His television adaptation has overtaken him, his fans are becoming increasingly restless, and his writer’s block appears to have settled in permanently. When an old friend arrives with a possible solution, things take a distinctly darker and more complicated turn.

This is a sharp, funny and increasingly unsettling story about creativity, jealousy, fame, bruised egos and the dangerous temptation of an easy answer. It builds steadily, keeps revealing new layers, and delivers a wonderfully clever final act that seals the deal.

Sean Phillips’s artwork is superb, giving the story exactly the gritty, slightly uneasy noir atmosphere it needs. Darkly humorous, compulsively readable and satisfyingly twisted, this was an easy 5/5 stars for me.

[✩｡°⋆ Lala ⋆｡°✩]

🖋️ Author: Ed Brubaker
📖 Title: Unfinished Tales
🖌️ illustrator(s): Sean Phillips
📅 Pub Day: December 8, 2026
💌 Publisher: Image Comics
📚 Format: Digital
🏷️ ISBN: 9781534330122
⏱️ Length: 144 pages
📌 Genre(s): Noir, Mystery, Thriller
⭐ Star Rating: 4

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Finnegan Blake is one of the most successful authors in the world, ten years past his deadline on the final book in his epic fantasy series and completely out of hope, until an old friend shows up with what seems like the perfect solution. But their pact soon turns dark as egos clash and old secrets emerge.

The beginning hooked me immediately and the premise is genuinely compelling. A famous author making a deal to overcome writer's block, set against the cutthroat world of publishing and fame? I was in. The middle stretched a little too long for my taste and I had some trouble staying focused during those sections, which kept this from a full five stars. But the ending absolutely picked back up and stuck the landing in a way that made the slower stretch worth pushing through.

One formatting note: a couple of the chat panels earlier on had words cut off. It was still readable, just slightly annoying.

That said, this was still a fun, twisted read.

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If you like:

✔️ noir graphic novels
✔️ publishing industry drama
✔️ shady deals
✔️ morally grey protagonists
✔️ twisty endings
✔️ authors behaving badly

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Thank you to NetGalley, Ed Brubaker, and Image Comics for gifting this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

This review is cross‑posted across multiple platforms.

[Tabitha (Reading Tabby)]

Thanks to NetGalley and Image Comics for the advanced copy.

This was good but not this duo's best - so don't get me wrong, I really enjoy Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips but this story surprisingly didn't really draw me in like they usually do.

I honestly thought a story about an author struggling to write a book would be more oomph for me, because that is a topic I enjoy reading about, but it felt like this dragged a bit. A lot of contemplative stuff about life and writing, all good and thoughtful but nothing really new.

There are, of course, a few twists, which is where the story really shines. That final twist was a gut punch and SO good.

Sean Phillips art is great as always too.

A decent comic worth the read but I don't know if it's one for my shelves, personally. I can see this speaking to quite a few people though, particularly frustrated fans of George RR Martin, the obvious inspiration for Finnegan Blake lol

[Lukasz]

I’ll read pretty much anything Brubaker and Phillips put out at this point. They’re ridiculously prolific, and they keep delivering.

Unfinished Tales is another very good one. It’s an interesting take on writer’s block, fame, ego, and what happens when a hugely successful author can no longer finish the thing that made him famous. The George R. R. Martin parallels are obviously impossible to miss, but this isn’t really a satire of Martin. It uses that very recognizable situation as the starting point for something rather dark.

As always with these two, the writing and art are excellent. Phillips’ art fits the noir atmosphere perfectly, and Brubaker keeps things moving without overcomplicating the story.

Not my favorite Brubaker/Phillips book, but still a very easy recommendation. These two really do make it difficult to have a bad time.

ARC through NetGalley

[Amanda]

An author who is years behind in finishing his best-selling fantasy series accepts an offer of help from an old friend with ulterior motives.

Within just a couple of pages it's very clear that Brubaker is writing about George R. R. Martin and the unfinished A Song of Ice and Fire series. There are obvious fictional elements, but the first half of the book is just recounting the real world story. There's nothing original and it is about as exciting as listening to a bunch of fantasy fans bitch about Martin.

Unfinished Tales picks up in the second half when the original story begins, but by then I was already disengaged and ready for the book to be over. I won't give away the ending, but I found it petty and kind of mean-spirited.

Received via NetGalley.

[Jeff]

Ed Brubaker could write a medical journal on the causes of mumps among chimpanzees and I think I would read it. He is absolutely brilliant.

“Unfinished Tales” writes about the rise and potential fall of a hit fantasy writer. Everyone is clamoring for that final novel of a hit series. But the worst thing has happened to the author…writer’s block.

The journey to find at what links he is willing to go to complete his life’s work is so engaging. I loved every page of this graphic novel.

The problem with writing a review is I don’t want to spoil where it goes. Let’s just say, this is going to be an adventure you don’t want to miss.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Federica]

I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
A nice standalone, although not that much striking.
The protagonist and his dilemma strike me as a clear reference to George R.R. Martin and that now infamous series that will probably never end (although it is certainly not the only unfinished series; there are plenty of them in the fantasy genre). It was interesting to see how the story unfolds when, thanks to a veritable deus ex machina – albeit a rather sinister one – help finally arrives. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, because I think it would have been intriguing to see the consequences of all those (wrong) decisions as well.
The synopsis is misleading in the literary comparisons it draws, but it was nonetheless an enjoyable read.

[John Shaw]

Brubaker is one
of my favourite
crime writers.

This is a departure

Chronicling a
superstar fantasy
author at the height
of his multi million
dollar popularity.
Who simply cannot
manage to finish
his last book.

The mental and physical
anguish that he
goes through disappointing
his legion of fans
and suffering the disdain
of his friends and colleagues.

It really feels like
a thinly veiled
look at George R.R. Martin
creator of the Game of Thrones
and target of the ire of many.

[Rod Brown]

Ed Brubaker serves up some George R. R. Martin writer's block fanfiction, spinning the never-ending gap between novels in the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series into a dark tale of Faustian bargains and karmic justice.

I meant to read just the first half before turning in for the night but of course had to keep going until I finished.


Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.

[Cristian Marrero]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
What a crazy and amazing tale. I had a hunch of the possible track in this story, but what an incredible, creative ending! It reads a little bit of what the life of George R Martin with his own G.O.T. fandom and series. This book is a complete page turner. Read it in 2 days. An author is writing a 7-part sci-fi adventure. This story cover a great deal of what a writer has to experience all highs and lows.
Definitely worth the read!

[Ben A]

Like always with this creative team, I could guess at my rating for this graphic novel before I even read the first page and this one was no exception as I loved the hook immediately as we enter the world of long form fantasy fiction and the expectations and consequences of not finishing what you start with its excellent and decidedly Brubaker/Phillips narrative.

Special Thanks to Image Comics and Netgalley for the digital ARC. This was given to me for an honest review.

[James DeSantis]

A dark tale of a man stuck in writers block for years. Ready to release his 7th and final book in the series but can't think of a ending. You almost feel bad for the guy, but Ed Brubaker smartly recontextualizes everything by the end to give a real gut punch. Phillips is on top of his game still, giving us a moody dark atmosphere throughout that only gets sadder as it goes. A great graphic novel, one of my favorite so far.

[doowopapocalypse]

Oh man, wait until Martin sees this one...

The dog-eat-dog/author-eat-author/smack-kills-smackhead world of publishing. Not my favorite Brubaker. Not a character in the thing I liked. Not that that makes it a bad book, just made me bitterly remember my own grad school experiences etc etc.

[Brad Wojak]

Thanks to the publisher, the creators, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this title.

This is another fantastic book from Brubaker and Phillips. I am guessing this is based mostly on the life of George RR Martin. To my knowledge Martin never caused a collage friend to OD and blackmail him, but we don’t know for sure. Great art, and a pulse-pounding narrative. Good read!

[Jerrica]

I thought this was very well written and illustrated. It has a slow start but ramps up fast. Certainly seems to have had a very specific inspiration. I didn’t really get “thriller” when reading though.

Overall, this is a quick read and I enjoyed it, especially that ending!

Thank you to Image Comics and NetGalley for an eARC!