The Story Everyone Thought They Knew Changes Forever…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

JULY 21, 2026 (PORTLAND, OR) — This fall, the beloved duplicate gets his due!

Following the successful launch of its first-ever ongoing The Last Starfighter comic series this July, Mad Cave Studios returns to one of the franchise’s greatest mysteries. THE LAST STARFIGHTER: BETA finally reveals what became of the simuloid who sacrificed himself so Alex Rogan could save the galaxy.

Original The Last Starfighter screenwriterJonathan Betuel returns alongside producer Paul Davidson for a new story arc written by Benjamin Raab and Deric A. Hughes (Syfy’s Warehouse 13, The CW’s Arrow, NBC’s Quantum Leap), with art by David Cutler (Marvel’s Voices, Giant-Size X-Men: Thunderbird), colors by Francesco Segala (G.I. Joe), letters by Rob Jones, Cover A by David Lopez, and Cover B by Jessica Fong. This standalone one-shot uncovers the secret history of the unlikely hero whose story wasn’t over after all.

When the Ko-Dan Armada sent an assassin to kill small-town boy Alex Rogan, it was Alex’s simuloid duplicate, Beta, who saved the day, sacrificing himself to convince the Ko-Dan that Alex was dead. The move bought the Last Starfighter valuable time—enough to sabotage the Ko-Dan mothership and save the planet Rylos.

The Last Starfighter: Beta offers longtime fans an essential missing chapter while serving as a heartfelt standalone story that honors one of science fiction’s most enduring cult classics. Equal parts action, humor, and emotional character study, the issue shines a long-overdue spotlight on the hero who made Alex Rogan’s victory possible.

“Everyone remembers The Last Starfighter for its epic space battles and groundbreaking CGI, but the real victory of that movie was its unique blend of heart, pathos and humor in an unforgettable sci-fi stew. With that recipe in mind, we’ve cooked up Beta—a story about the disposable, shape-shifting simuloid sent to Earth as a sacrificial decoy for Alex Rogan, who suddenly finds itself in an adventure all its own. A ‘stranger in a strange land’ tale about an artificial intelligence learning what it means to be human.”  —Benjamin Raab 

“Normally, androids on the big screen are to be feared and never trusted… But not The Last Starfighter’s lovable and trustworthy android, who made a heroic sacrifice to save Alex Rogan’s friends and family and brought a tear to audiences’ eyes as we mourned its loss. Or so we believed… Because now, a new adventure begins! But this time around, tears of sorrow won’t be shed; instead, it’ll be tears of joy, as we welcome back the android and hero called BETA in a fun and exciting One-Shot issue for all to enjoy.” —Deric A. Hughes 

“Whether it’s the Buffy bot or the Spider-Man clone, I’ve always loved a fictional fraud, especially when they stop pretending to be a hero and find a way to really save the day. The scenes in The Last Starfighter with Alex’s hapless stand-in were my favorites growing up, so being a part of this book was a genuine dream. Join us in The Last Starfighter: Beta in the search for self, and maybe we can all stop feeling like copies of someone cooler.” —David Cutler

Perfect for fans of Star Wars, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Transformers, and heartfelt science fiction that blends cosmic adventure with deeply human questions about identity, purpose, and what it truly means to be alive.

Clocking in at 40 full-color pages, The Last Starfighter: Beta #1 goes on sale October 21, 2026, with FOC September 28. Preorder now through your favorite local comic shop or from the Mad Cave website.

Mad Cave Studios will be exhibiting at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 from July 23-26 at Booth #2806. Stop by for a first look at The Last Starfighter, along with the publisher’s latest licensed favorites and acclaimed creator-owned titles.