Mad Cave’s Mark London Breaks Down Underworld’s Epic Crossover and Teases Future Plans

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The universe of Underworld by Mad Cave Studios has expanded from a single series to three distinct titles: Revolution 9, Exit City, and Hour of the Wolf. For the first time ever, these separate storylines are merging in the crossover event, Endless Night #1. ComicBook recently had an exclusive conversation with Mad Cave Studios CEO and writer of Endless Night, Mark London, about this exciting debut, the circumstances that led to assembling some iconic characters within the same realm, and what lies ahead for the evolving universe.

Getting a Second Chance



Fans of each series will witness a historic collaboration, but even if you’ve only been following one or two, don’t worry! Endless Night will swiftly bring you up to speed on the ongoing events and the backstory. Each series was designed to be an independent adventure while subtly setting up larger events. That grand event has now materialized as Endless Night, yet Velveteen, McCormick, Miller, and Owen Blackwood have been on London’s radar for a while. In fact, the Underworld universe can trace its origins back to when London revisited some overlooked treasures from the past.

Firstly, these characters have been lingering in my thoughts for over a decade and then some. They’ve undergone some changes because when we first started Mad Cave Studios, we had a series called Midnight Task Force featuring Detective Aidan McCormick, who is one of your detectives in Exit City. Additionally, we had another series, RV9, centered around Velveteen. So, in essence, these characters have been with me for a long time.

Reflecting on my childhood filled with Marvel and DC comics, epic crossovers, and the joy of seeing characters intertwine, I developed a deep affection for the idea of blending stories. This desire has always been present within me. Last year, during Mad Cave’s 10-year anniversary, I decided to revamp some of our older series, aiming to redefine the characters and their narratives. It was incredibly rewarding to breathe new life into these characters, reacquainting myself with them, and exploring where they could go next since they had a brief initial run. The potential for growth and improvement, as well as creating something meaningful for our fans, was truly exciting.

An Epic Crossover


The distinctiveness of each title played a significant role in the original plan, since it catered to various genre preferences and enabled fans to discover their favorites. To this day, as these series intersect, each one retains its individual charm and contributes uniquely to the overall spectacle.

London pointed out that these three tales – Revolution 9, Exit City, and Hour of the Wolf – are each unique in their structure. You can find a genre that appeals to you, such as an action-packed spy thriller in Revolution 9, or a noir detective story set in a surreal world like Exit City, or a narrative diving into magic, the supernatural, and the bizarre as Hour of the Wolf does.

To summarize, what was required was a central hub where characters and events could naturally unfold, and this was identified as Exit City right from the start. Although they share common objectives, it might take some time for Velveteen, McCormick, Miller, and Owen to build trust among themselves. However, they must expedite this process if they wish to thwart The Order of the Nine, a highly influential group, from enlisting another ally in their mission.


In essence, London mentioned that a vacancy exists within the enigmatic Order of the Nine, a clandestine group significantly impacting their world. They’ve extended an invitation to a somewhat dubious individual residing in Exit City, promising him membership if he retrieves a relic steeped in magic and the occult.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: “That empty chair is mine, a dream I’ve harbored for a lifetime. Instead of gathering a team, I bring someone on board to retrieve the cherished item that will secure my ultimate reward.” (London’s words)

As a movie enthusiast who’s drawn to the mysterious world of occult and secret societies, I can say that a good dose of edge is crucial for my satisfaction. That’s exactly what Endless Night offers in abundance. With its blend of intense action and chilling sequences, it was only natural that the talented artist Tom Derenick would be tapped to breathe life into this gripping tale.


London expressed that he had a clear vision for the new story, “Endless Night,” which would be extremely dynamic and full of action. Sharing his thoughts with editor Mike Martz, one of the best in the business, he made it clear that he wanted the story to be grandiose. In other words, he wanted it to be bold, even using a colloquialism “balls to the wall” (pardon my French). Martz agreed and suggested they needed an artist capable of handling such intensity, mentioning Tom Derenick. London praised Derenick, stating that his work with Marvel and DC was impressive, especially his Justice League series. Upon seeing a few pages of Derenick’s work, London was convinced and expressed his desire to have him on board for the project.

Tom’s work on the script was exceptional. He seemed to enhance every page, giving it an extra edge, both in terms of the action and the visual elements we wanted for Endless Night. In essence, he gave it his all, which is why we believe he’s the perfect artist for our series,” London expressed.

The Future



In this unfolding universe, Endless Night marks a significant milestone, offering tantalizing glimpses of what’s to come across its four-issue run. London serves to paint a clearer portrait of our future world, and the exciting news is that there are even more grand revelations on the horizon.

Revolution 9, Exit City, or Hour of the Wolf. However, these series can be read independently, and each has its unique storyline.

London explained that reading “Endless Night” serves as an excellent starting point to familiarize yourself with new characters if you’re unfamiliar with them. For a deeper understanding, you can delve into previous stories, but they’ve designed the current series in manageable chunks. “Revolution 9,” “Exit City,” and “Hour of the Wolf” are all four-issue series, and just like the crossover, they’re self-contained.

Regarding what comes after “Endless Night”, there’s nothing to fret about as we have grand designs in motion. Specifically, we are moving forward with Phase 2, which will introduce five fresh titles to this universe. Each of these new additions will offer a unique experience, similar to Revolution 9, Exit City, and Hour of the Wolf. If you’re a fan of magic and particularly enjoyed Hour of the Wolf, I believe that one upcoming title will be especially appealing to you.

For these five storylines, we’re thinking about expanding them a bit. Two of them will span 12 issues, another one will be limited to five issues, and the fourth one could potentially stretch to either six or 12 issues, depending on our decisions. Each story will focus on its own contained narrative. If things go well and we receive positive feedback, there are plans for a follow-up crossover and possibly even a larger one, similar to how the big comic book publishers do it. Writing and creating this series is just such an enjoyable experience for me; it feels like I’m crafting a love letter to the comics I grew up with.

Endless Night #1 is in stores now.

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2025-06-04 23:11