When the Truth Lands, Nothing Is the Same

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

OCT. 30, 2025 (PORTLAND, OR) — When a mysterious photo changes their lives, three former friends: a haunted photographer, a fame-obsessed UFO enthusiast, and a devoted cult member, reunite to uncover the truth lurking in their small town.

Nakama Press, an imprint of Mad Cave Studiosdedicated to bringing global voices to English-speaking audiences, is proud to announce LAST CALL TO LEAVE EARTH, an original graphic novel from Brazilian writer and illustrator Cassio Ribeiro (Iris Complex, Sara Animals, Navigating with You). This 180-page young adult OGN blends small-town mystery, emotional realism, and speculative wonder in a story that questions what we choose to believe—and what it costs to hold on.

Rita, Carlos, and Lucas were merely friends until a pivotal moment changed everything: they photographed what many in the small town of Caminho da Anta believed to be an alien. Years later, Rita, now thriving as a professional photographer, returns to discover the truth behind that fateful day and its effects on their lives and the community. A troubled photographer, a fame-seeking UFO enthusiast, and a loyal cult member are all in pursuit of answers, but what they find could be more extraordinary than they ever anticipated.

Series creator, Cassio Ribeiro, said:

“I started writing this story during the quarantine at the beginning of COVID, from a draft of a story I had thought of years earlier. I’ve always been a fan of mystery podcasts, especially those related to UFOs, although I’m somewhat skeptical of most of them. My main inspirations for the story’s tone, aside from some cases that occurred in Brazil, were Twin Peaks and, although it’s not a horror story, films like Ringu and Ju-on. I wanted a mystery story where the mystery wasn’t the main draw, but rather the relationships between the characters and their search to be understood by others—

It’s a story about how even if we know someone closely, there will always be something about that person that seems a little alien to us, and vice versa. I’m very excited that this very personal story with such specific Brazilian elements is being translated into English, and I hope the readers enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it!”

A contemplative, visually arresting journey for fans of Paper Girls, Annihilation, and Under the Silver Lake, Last Call to Leave Earth captures the tension between mystery and memory—where the search for truth becomes an act of emotional survival.

Last Call to Leave Earth lands in stores on March 24, 2026. Preorder now at your local comic shop, favorite bookstore, or from Nakama Press directly.