Cryptocracy

For time beyond memory, the Nine Families watched from the shadows, believing themselves shepherds and manipulating whole societies as they saw fit. Nothing happened that they didn’t observe or control. Outsiders knew naught of the Families, much less threatened them. Until now.

The Nine Families have ruled civilization from the shadows for time beyond memory. But now, for the first time, they are being hunted. Family leaders begrudgingly forge an alliance to discover the hunter’s identity, but in so doing only place themselves in greater danger.

The Nine Prophecies foretell a great cataclysm and the end of the age of the Nine Families that secretly rule the world. The first has come true, and now the mysterious and deadly Hum aims to fulfill the others. Agent Grahame is desperate to prove that Hum is just a man—a man who can be killed. Elsewhere, radio host Bela is drawn into the fight for the fate of the world as she learns some of the Families’ long-hidden secrets.

Hidden away in northern China is the Preserve, a walled-off compound where the Nine Families have secreted away the world’s deadliest cryptozoological creatures. Grahame and Jason venture inside to search for a clue to the origin of the Mothmen, but learning the truth is only the first step. Then, they’ll have to escape alive. Elsewhere, Bela shines a bright light on the Cryptocracy, sparking her followers to war.

In the wake of tragedy, Grahame makes a desperate gamble for leadership of the Mars Family. But to do so, he must battle with his stepsister Temple for the Spear of Mars. Elsewhere, Bela’s document leak has brought her fame and attention, but she begins to question the motives of her new ally, Hum. Also: The Lizard Men attack!

The Mars Family base is under attack, besieged by Hum and his army of deadly cryptids. To save his people in this epic battle, Grahame must step forward as a leader, putting everything he cares about on the line to salvage the broken remains of the Cryptocracy.

For time beyond memory, the Nine Families watched from the shadows, believing themselves shepherds and manipulating whole societies as they saw fit. Nothing happened that they didn’t observe or control. Outsiders knew naught of the Families, much less threatened them. Until now. Collects issues #1–#6 of the series.