The long-awaited next chapter

Dear backer,

Following up on our previous interview with Ben Mauro about the development of HUXLEY. We have asked him a few questions about the first prequel of the series, The Oracle.

When did the concept of HUXLEY: The Oracle form in your mind?

The concept for HUXLEY: The Oracle began forming shortly after I completed the HUXLEY graphic novel series. I had always envisioned a much larger universe, and as I wrapped up the main story, I realized there was so much untapped potential in exploring the origins of the characters and the world itself. The idea of a prequel, something that could offer deeper insight into the lore while setting the stage for future expansions, came naturally as I reflected on the narrative gaps and questions left open in the original story. Because of how long each page took to illustrate by hand, I had so many other ideas and backstories kicking around, so it was great to finally explore those ideas in the next book.

I was deeply intrigued by the idea of expanding on the human experience in this future world – how humans were born, recruited into the army, and what it was like to be a soldier in a machine-dominated society. I wanted to explore Machine City at the height of its power, introduce the more powerful ruling class known as The Oracles, and delve into the hierarchies within this massive machine empire that ruled the planet at the start of the AI wars. It was important to show how humanity fit into this world, carving out their place amidst overwhelming odds. In the original graphic novel, the character Max is portrayed toward the end of his life looking for a way out. In this story, we meet him in middle age, at the beginning of his career in the Ronin army. We follow him on his first missions, witnessing his growth as he learns what it takes to be a Ronin. Along the way, we see the trials and hardships that ultimately shape him into the broken soldier we meet later in the graphic novel. This story also provides a deeper look at the machine empire at the height of its dominance and, ultimately, how Max survived through its downfall. It’s a chance to show not just the broader world, but the deeply personal struggles that define the journey of one man caught in the epic collapse of a once-powerful civilization.

Unlike with the graphic novel HUXLEY, you’ve been working with a team to bring this first prequel to life. Is this collaboration only around visuals, or do you also work on the plot/narrative together as you expand the HUXLEY universe?

Collaboration has been essential in this book: as things grew, I needed talented artists to help flesh out and expand the universe. While the original graphic novel was hand illustrated and written by me, The Oracle has the talented Steve Chinhsuan Wang and Nikolas Gekko involved bringing the illustrations and story moments to life in stunning detail. We treated it very much like a film production artistic benchmark, but with the benefit of extra time that we wouldn't normally be afforded on most films where everything is so rushed. I still oversee the artistic direction and create artwork where needed to ensure the world and designs of HUXLEY remain authentic, but I also worked with another writer, Austin Farmer, to flesh out plot points I had in mind, which was a fun experience. It was a collaborative effort to ensure that the story feels cohesive and respects the foundation I built in the original graphic novels. It’s been exciting to see other creative voices contribute new perspectives while staying true to the spirit of HUXLEY as the series and universe expands into new books.

Compared to when you were making HUXLEY, how did your approaches change in this new work setting? Have you faced any particular challenges?

Creating the original HUXLEY graphic novels was a very personal and solitary process. It allowed me complete creative control, but it also meant I was carrying the entire weight of the project and took many additional years to do it all myself. The biggest change has been learning to trust and delegate aspects of the project to the team, as it's just not possible for me to do everything myself (unless people want to wait another 5-10 years for a second book). It’s both liberating and challenging – finding that balance between maintaining creative consistency and embracing new ideas has been a learning experience. One challenge has been ensuring the vision remains unified as different artists and writers bring their talents into the fold. Overall, however, it’s been immensely rewarding seeing the new stories come to life as I finish the first trilogy of stories in the HUXLEY universe.

Are you planning to expand the team you are working with for further expansions of the series?

The HUXLEY universe is vast, and there are so many stories left to tell. Currently we’re in the middle of the second prequel book, which takes place years before The Oracle. It’s a sort of coming of age story of Max in his youth that will round out the first trilogy of stories, which I am excited to share more about soon. As we continue to grow, expanding the team is a natural step, though I’d ideally like to maintain my core group of artists and writers for as long as possible to ensure a consistent style and tone across this initial trilogy. As things expand through adaptations into games, films and shows, bringing in more diverse talents – whether they specialize in art, storytelling, game design, or other mediums – will help enrich the world, and open up new possibilities for how audiences engage with the series. I’m excited about the future and the idea of building a team that can bring HUXLEY to life in ways I couldn’t achieve on my own.

This first trilogy has been an exploration of the past, moving backward in time. Next, I’m considering ideas that push the story forward – beyond the events of the original graphic novel. I’m also excited to explore other stories that take place between the main trilogy, focusing on side characters and pivotal events scattered throughout the history of the HUXLEY universe. There’s so much left to discover, and I can’t wait to share it all.

We look forward to sharing more exclusive updates on the development of HUXLEY and The Oracle in the new year. Keep an eye on our newsletters and share them with people around you to introduce more sci-fi fans to the groundbreaking worldbuilding of HUXLEY.

The Volume team