At Image Comics' 2016 expo, Jonathan Hickman came on stage to tell the crowd of his next book at the publisher -- titled "The Black Monday Murders" -- that is inspired by the real-life financial Black Monday of 1987, which he said led society to where it is now. "It's the death of the nation state, and it's kind of an environment that's ripe for financial corruption," Hickman said. "I don't need to elaborate on that, because we live in it each and every day."

Hickman revealed that he's been wanting to do a comic series about magic for awhile, thus "The Black Monday Murders." "This is a book about schools of magic. The only difference being that instead of schools of magic, it's financial institutions. Power is accumulated through wealth. It's about a bunch of guys, a bunch of schools, that gathered together and generated a financial collapse in order to attain power."

Hickman teased, "It's probably the best thing I've written in about three years."

On artist Tomm Coker joining the series as artist, Hickman said, "He's just an amazing artist, this is going to be a really good book for him."

Describing the importance he places on the presentation of comics, Hickman said, "This is the first book I've done where it's to the point that I feel like it's an actual manifestation of how I think a comic should be done."

He went on to note that Issues will include "world-building" back matter, relevant to overall story of "The Black Monday Murders."

The Black Monday Murders, by @JHickman and Tomm Coker #IMAGEEXPO Financial collapse, power, magic, high concept pic.twitter.com/vy1BIw8HJy- Emerald City Comicon (@emeraldcitycon) April 6, 2016

You can follow all of Image's announcements as well as publisher Eric Stephenson's keynote address right here on CBR.