The rules are simple: kill a complete stranger and livestream the murder, or lose everything.

Artists Writers and Artisans, Inc. (AWA) and Roy Lee’s Vertigo Entertainment unveiled Kill Or Be Killed, the second spine-tingling release in their The Future of Fear collection.

In a world where your “friend” notification could be your death sentence, Kill or Be Killed imagines a tech dystopia where social media and AI collide with lethal consequences. When random people begin receiving mysterious messages that threaten the lives of their loved ones—unless they murder a stranger and livestream it for all to see—they become victims of a mysterious serial murderer known as the Friendship Killer. The perpetrator’s sinister game spreads like wildfire until one victim embarks on a search for the murderer that sets him down a twisted road of advanced surveillance tech, deepfake capabilities, and AI horror.

Kill or Be Killed marks a bold new turn for author Peter Tieryas, known for blending sharp social commentary with speculative thrillers. The 48-page novella blends page-turning prose with razor-sharp social commentary, brought chillingly to life through Mike Choi’s haunting illustrations that immerse readers in a near-future world that feels all too real. Kill or Be Killed continues The Future of Fear anthology, a cross-platform horror initiative spanning comics, illustrated prose, and screen adaptations. Titles from the collection are already in development for film and television through AWA Studios and Vertigo Entertainment.

Kill or Be Killed will be available digitally and in comic shops nationwide beginning August 20. Further titles in The Future of Fear collection will be announced and released throughout 2025 and 2026.

For more information on the one-shot, collection, and other projects, visit AWA Studios on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and AWAStudios.com.