Emmy-nominated writer Peter Murrieta and Eisner-nominated artist David Rubín are collaborating on _Teq_, a new five-issue limited comic series set to launch in February 2027 from Ignition Press. The story unfolds in an alternate future Los Angeles controlled by a thriving Aztec Empire, blending genres such as noir, science fiction, and mythology. _Teq_ centers on a disillusioned former police officer turned private investigator who delves into ritualistic murders threatening the empire's fragile peace.

_Teq_'s narrative explores a complex conspiracy involving politics and corruption beneath the surface of this Aztec-ruled city. Murrieta describes the project as part of an Aztec/Chicano Futurism Noir movement, inviting readers to experience a unique world combining historical elements with speculative fiction. With rich Mesoamerican-inspired artwork by Rubín, the visuals reinforce this vivid portrayal of a past, present, and future collision.

Artistic challenges were embraced by Rubín, who relishes the opportunity to grow through creating entirely new characters and environments steeped in indigenous symbolism. The first issue’s cover art consciously incorporates Mesoamerican motifs and cultural callbacks, including clever references like the protagonist’s name, a play on “Aztec,” and in-world brands such as Atl & Ember coffee, invoking Nahuatl language. Commentary by both creators will accompany each installment.

Ignition Press Editor-in-Chief Jamie S. Rich praised _Teq_ as a fresh and original take on the detective genre and praised Murrieta and Rubín’s boundary-pushing vision. The release coincides with renewed global attention on Aztec heritage, highlighted by the recent return of the 16th-century Azcatitlan Codex manuscript to Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology. This work promises to offer readers an immersive, thought-provoking blend of culture, mystery, and futuristic imagination.