Martyr Loser King: A Graphic Novel

Incisive questions about capitalism, colonialism, and the future of technology abound in this cyberpunk fable from visionary poet, performer, and director Saul Williams.

Can you name the ghost in your machine? The precious ore coltan can be found in every cell phone and computer on earth. And in a small East African country, both the Black population and the land are exploited for this precious resource--the people as a source of cheap, expendable labor; the land as a mining site and international dumping ground for defunct technology.

Yet from the rubble, creativity and rebellion rise. An encounter between a miner and an otherworldly stranger named Neptune results in the birth of a hacker named MartyrLoserKing, and the launch of a global cyberattack. Their plan will rock the world to its foundations, upend centuries of institutional abuse, and, perhaps, usher in a new age of understanding.

Steeped in mythology and history and inspired by present-day events, this cyberpunk fable from visionary poet, musician, and director Saul Williams is both a cautionary tale and a hopeful vision of the future.

Author: Saul Williams
Publisher: 23rd St.
Published: 04/28/2026
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.87lbs
Size: 9.22h x 6.31w x 1.01d
ISBN: 9781626721999


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 01/26/2026

About the Author

Saul Williams is a poet, musician, and actor. He is the co-director, screenwriter, and composer of the science-fiction musical Neptune Frost. Saul made his acting and screenwriting debut in the 1998 feature Slam, which won Sundance's Grand Jury Prize and the Cannes Film Festival's Caméra d'Or. Saul has released six albums and has published five books of poetry.

Morgan Sorne is an award-winning artist, composer, worldbuilder, and musician whose primary instrument is his five-octave voice. He's known for his visual works and immersive sound sculptures, and his original music can be heard in film, television, and video games, including Dark Matter, The Witcher: Blood Origin, American Horror Story, and more.