Arcstream: False Start #1

Arcstream: False Start #1 ignites a brand-new Rippaverse® saga, following Zephyr Arland—a gifted young speedster caught between extraordinary potential and devastating consequences.  

At North Florespark High, Zephyr is already ahead of everyone else. On the track, in the classroom—everything seems effortless. But beneath that effortless speed lies a dangerous truth: every time he pushes himself, his body begins to break down. 

Still, he can’t stop. 

Because when lives are on the line, standing still isn’t an option for him. And after one fateful moment places him at the center of a growing crisis, Zephyr becomes something he never intended to be—a variable. 

Watched.
Tracked.
Baited. 

Lurking behind the scenes, powerful figures with their own agenda begin to close in. They see what Zephyr could become—and more importantly, how he can be used. With carefully crafted promises of control, relief, and purpose, they offer him the one thing he’s been chasing: the ability to save others without losing himself. 

But in a city where power is regulated and vigilantism is forbidden, every shortcut comes with a cost. 

And every deal has strings attached. 

Driven by his need to help—and blinded by the belief that he can handle it—Zephyr makes a choice that sets everything in motion. A choice that begins not with triumph… 

…but with a false start. 

From creator and writer Andrew Rodriguez, brought to life by RippaFest contest winner, illustrator Lee Sands, and powerhouse industry colorist Andrew Dalhouse, this debut issue delivers a fast-paced, emotionally charged origin story about ambition, consequence, and the dangerous allure of becoming something more. 

A Powerhouse Creative Team 

Arcstream: False Start #1 launches with a dynamic creative lineup: 

• Creator & Writer: Andrew Rodriguez  
• Interior Art: Lee Sands
• Colors: Andrew Dalhouse  

Key Features: 

• Debut issue of a brand-new Rippaverse series
• High-energy, character-driven origin story
• A grounded take on speedster abilities with real consequences
• Explores the cost of power, ambition, and responsibility

Pre-Order Bonus
Exclusive Arcstream character card included with the first 1,000 orders

Cover Variants: 

• Cover A: Riccardo Cecchi & Sebastian Cheng
• Cover B: Riccardo Jaime & Candice Han
• Cover C: Yevgeny Sokolov (Foil & Embossed) & Andrew Dalhouse
• Cover D: Megan Mushi & Marcos Martins

Specifications: 

• Format: Physical
• Page Count:56
• Limited Quantities: Covers A, B, C – once these sell out, they will not be reprinted—only Cover D will be guaranteed
• Age Rating: 13+ for action, peril, and thematic intensity
• Perfect for fans of grounded superhero origin stories and high-speed action 

Release Date: 10/27/2026