Published Feb 25, 2026, 12:41 PM EST
Hannah is a senior writer and self-publisher for the anime section at ScreenRant. There, she focuses on writing news, features, and list-style articles about all things anime and manga. She works as a freelance writer in the entertainment industry, focusing on video games, anime, and literature.
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Four years after Cyberpunk: Edgerunners became a breakout anime hit, fans can finally dive deeper into Night City’s chaos. The long-awaited English release of its official prequel manga has arrived in the United States, giving readers a new perspective on the violent, chrome-plated world that helped redefine modern sci-fi animation.
Titled Cyberpunk: Edgerunners MADNESS Volume 1, the manga expands the franchise’s emotional core while doubling down on its brutality, per a press release. Published in English by Dark Horse Comics, this 200-page black-and-white volume delivers a focused, character-driven story that both complements and intensifies the anime’s tragic legacy.
A Blood-Soaked Origin Story in Night City
Rather than revisiting David Martinez’s rise and fall, MADNESS shifts attention to Rebecca and her brother Pilar. The siblings dream of becoming legendary edgerunners like their father, chasing notoriety in a city that devours ambition. Their journey captures the reckless hunger that defines life in Night City.
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Written by Bartosz Sztybor, who also worked on the anime’s screenplay, the prequel feels narratively authentic. The tone mirrors the show’s blend of kinetic action and emotional devastation, grounding explosive violence in personal desperation. Rebecca’s volatility and Pilar’s swagger are given added context through their shared past.
Illustrations by Asano amplify the chaos. Known for adapting Studio Trigger’s BNA: Brand New Animal into manga form, Asano brings sharp linework and expressive character designs that echo the anime’s energy while standing on their own. The panels pulse with motion, capturing Night City’s neon-drenched instability.
Why Cyberpunk: Edgerunners MADNESS Matters Four Years Later
When Cyberpunk: Edgerunners premiered in 2022, it revitalized interest in the larger Cyberpunk universe and turned its cast into instant fan favorites. Rebecca, in particular, became a breakout character. MADNESS deepens her backstory, transforming her from scene-stealing chaos agent into a fully realized tragic figure.
The prequel also explores how Night City’s culture of violence shapes young hopefuls. Rebecca and Pilar aren’t simply thrill-seekers; they are products of systemic corruption, corporate exploitation, and inherited trauma. Their descent into increasingly dangerous jobs reflects the same fatalistic spiral that defined the anime’s central narrative.
Now available in trade paperback for $14.99, the English edition makes the story more accessible than ever. At 200 pages and rated for readers 16 and up, the volume delivers a compact but potent expansion of the franchise. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, it’s a reminder that in Night City, ambition and madness are often indistinguishable.
With Cyberpunk: Edgerunners MADNESS finally in U.S. bookstores, the world of edgerunners feels alive again. The prequel doesn’t soften the edges of its source material, it sharpens them. And for fans still haunted by the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners anime ending, this return to Night City proves that its legacy is far from over.
Release Date 2022 - 2022
Network Netflix
Writers Mike Pondsmith, Yoshiki Usa, Masahiko Otsuka
Franchise(s) Cyberpunk
English (US) ·