Oblivion Song (2018–2022): Kirkman and De Felici's 36-Issue Sci-Fi Epic
Oblivion Song (2018–2022): Kirkman and De Felici's 36-Issue Sci-Fi Epic
Three hundred thousand people vanish into another dimension, and one man refuses to stop going back for them. Here's our guide to Robert Kirkman's other great finished series.
Most people know Robert Kirkman for The Walking Dead, but in 2018 he launched something quite different at Image and Skybound. Oblivion Song, drawn by Italian artist Lorenzo De Felici, is a science-fiction story about loss, guilt and the people who can't let go, and it ran for exactly 36 issues to the ending its creators planned.
We have a long run of the series on our shelves at Siomic Comics, from #1 through #22, so we went back and re-read it. Here's what the book is about, how it's built and which issues are worth knowing.
Oblivion Song at a glance
- Publisher: Image Comics, under Robert Kirkman's Skybound imprint
- Run: 36 issues, cover-dated March 2018 to June 2022
- Writer: Robert Kirkman
- Artist and co-creator: Lorenzo De Felici, who also drew nearly every cover
- Colourist: Annalisa Leoni
- Lead character: Nathan Cole
- Structure: Three 12-issue chapters
- On screen: A film adaptation has been in development, with Jake Gyllenhaal attached to star
The premise: a city lost to Oblivion
Ten years before the story opens, a huge part of Philadelphia, along with around 300,000 people, was suddenly swapped into another dimension. The survivors call it Oblivion: a monster-filled hellscape where the lost neighbourhoods still stand among alien plants and creatures. The government spent years on rescue missions, then gave up and moved on.
Nathan Cole did not. Every day he crosses over, alone, to look for anyone still alive. What starts as a rescue story turns into something more personal, because Nathan has reasons for going back that he hasn't told anyone, and some of the people living in Oblivion have no interest in being rescued.
The creators
Robert Kirkman
Writer and co-creator. Fresh from building The Walking Dead into a worldwide hit, he brought the same patient, character-first storytelling to a sci-fi setting.
Lorenzo De Felici
Co-creator, artist and cover artist. His designs for Oblivion's creatures and its overgrown version of Philadelphia are the reason the book looks unlike anything else on the stands.
Annalisa Leoni
The colourist, whose bright, alien palette makes Oblivion feel strange and beautiful as well as dangerous.
How the story is built
Kirkman and De Felici planned the series as a trilogy of 12-issue arcs, and when Skybound confirmed the ending in 2021 they made it clear that #36 had always been meant to be the last issue. That makes Oblivion Song a rare thing in monthly comics: a complete, self-contained story you can collect from start to finish.
| Issues | Chapter | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| #1–12 | Chapter one | Nathan's trips into Oblivion, his brother Edward and the survivors who don't want to leave; the arc ends with an extra-sized #12 |
| #13–24 | Chapter two | The world after a second transference; the mysterious Faceless Men arrive, and reach Earth in #22 |
| #25–36 | Chapter three | The final act, closing with #36 in June 2022 |
Key characters
- Nathan Cole: the scientist who keeps crossing into Oblivion, carrying a secret about how the disaster began.
- Edward Cole: Nathan's brother, lost in the first transference, whose choices drive much of the story.
- Heather: Nathan's partner, whose patience is tested by his obsession.
- Duncan: one of Nathan's associates and a survivor of Oblivion himself.
- The Faceless Men: the threat that takes over the middle of the series.
Key issues for collectors
| Issue | Cover date | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | March 2018 | First issue and first appearance of Nathan Cole |
| #3 | May 2018 | Nathan learns some survivors will fight to stay; one of the early issues that went back to print |
| #6 | August 2018 | The shock reveal that reshapes the first chapter |
| #12 | February 2019 | Extra-sized end of the first 12-issue chapter |
| #13 | March 2019 | A new arc after the second transference |
| #19 | September 2019 | First real answers about the Faceless Men |
| #22 | December 2019 | The Faceless Men arrive on Earth |
| #25 | July 2020 | Start of the final chapter |
| #36 | June 2022 | The planned final issue |
Curiosities collectors should know
No reprints of #1
At launch Kirkman promised there would be no second printing of #1. Instead the first two issues were heavily overprinted, so a first print is the only #1 there is.
A limited collector's edition
A special edition of #1 came with a statue, a print and a pin, limited to 1,000 copies.
Back to press for #3
Even after the overprint, demand pushed #3 into a second printing, so check the cover details when buying early issues.
One artist, start to finish
De Felici drew the series and almost every main cover, so the look stays consistent across all 36 issues.
Oblivion Song beyond the page
Hollywood moved quickly. In 2019 Universal Pictures announced a film adaptation, and in 2021 the project moved to New Republic Pictures with Jake Gyllenhaal set to produce and to star as Nathan Cole. There has been no release date since, so for now the comic is the only way to experience the story.
Why Oblivion Song matters
It shows what Kirkman does with a story he knows the ending of. Where The Walking Dead ran for years, Oblivion Song is tight and planned, and De Felici's world-building gives it a visual identity that sticks. For readers who want a modern Image series they can own in full, it's one of the easiest recommendations we make.
Where to start reading Oblivion Song
- #1, for the premise and Nathan's first trip into Oblivion.
- #1 to #12, the complete first chapter.
- #13, if you want to jump in after the second transference.
- #25 to #36, for the final act.
Oblivion Song covers through the years
A look at some of the covers from the run. Tap a cover to see what we have on the shelf.
#7
#18
#24
#25
#30
#31
#35
#36Browse our Oblivion Song back issues
These are some of the Oblivion Song issues currently in stock. Every copy is photographed so you can check its condition before buying.
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#1
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#2
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#3
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#6
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#12
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#13
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#19
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#22
We also have these issues of the series in stock:
You can also search all our Oblivion Song comics.
Keep exploring our comic history guides
Frequently asked questions about Oblivion Song
When did Oblivion Song start?
Oblivion Song #1 is cover-dated March 2018 and was published by Image Comics under Skybound.
Who created Oblivion Song?
Writer Robert Kirkman and artist Lorenzo De Felici co-created the series, with colours by Annalisa Leoni.
How many issues of Oblivion Song are there?
The series ran for 36 issues, ending in June 2022 as planned.
Is Oblivion Song being made into a movie?
A film has been in development, first at Universal and later at New Republic Pictures with Jake Gyllenhaal attached to star as Nathan Cole.
Was Oblivion Song #1 reprinted?
Kirkman promised no second printing of #1; the first issues were overprinted instead.
Where should I start reading Oblivion Song?
Start with #1 and read the first 12-issue chapter.
Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have Oblivion Song comics of your own? See how to sell your comics to Siomic Comics. Oblivion Song and all related characters are trademarks of Robert Kirkman, LLC and Lorenzo De Felici. Cover images are shown for reference.