Cyberpunk: Edgerunners MADNESS – The Official Prequel Manga Invades the US, Deepening Night City’s Lore

A New Chapter for Night City: Edgerunners MADNESS Arrives

After captivating viewers with its raw blend of high-octane action and emotional tragedy, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners has left a neon-lit mark on modern sci-fi. Now, the universe expands with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners MADNESS, the official prequel manga—finally available in the US and poised to elevate the franchise’s mythology even further.

A Dive Into the Origins of Chaos

This prequel doesn’t rehash the saga of David Martinez. Instead, it zooms in on two of Night City’s most volatile and beloved characters: Rebecca and her brother Pilar. Driven by the hope of becoming legendary edgerunners, the siblings are forced to navigate a city where power, infamy, and survival intersect in brutal, unpredictable ways. Their journey, layered with ambition and desperation, bridges the lore between the anime and the wider Cyberpunk franchise.

Narrative Authenticity & Artistic Dynamism

Scripted by Bartosz Sztybor, who also contributed to the anime, MADNESS pulses with an authenticity that fans will immediately recognize. The dialogues and emotional beats maintain the series’ signature blend: spectacular violence grounded in deeply personal stakes. The narrative gives Rebecca, now an established fan favorite, more depth—showcasing formative moments that shaped her into the unpredictable yet tragic character seen on screen.

Visually, the manga is brought to life by illustrator Asano, famed for their dynamic adaptation of Studio TRIGGER’s BNA: Brand New Animal into manga. Asano’s expressive character work and sharp, kinetic line art capture the relentless chaos of Night City with electrifying accuracy—the pages feel alive, vibrating with motion and energy that match the anime’s aesthetic without imitating it.

The Significance of MADNESS in the Cyberpunk Canon

The resonance of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners across sci-fi pop culture extended far beyond its original Netflix run. The anime’s 100% Rotten Tomatoes score and critical acclaim turned its cast—especially Rebecca—into icons overnight. MADNESS capitalizes on that cultural momentum, shining a spotlight on the internal and external forces driving Night City’s youth into the dangerous world of mercenary freedom and corporate conspiracy.

The manga goes beyond glorifying violence; it interrogates the price of ambition in an environment rife with systemic corruption and trauma. Rebecca and Pilar’s ascent isn’t glorified as a simple rise—it’s a cautionary tale colored by trauma inherited from their father and the exploitative systems that prey on Night City’s hopefuls.

Getting MADNESS: Your Night City Passport

Published in English by Dark Horse Comics, this 200-page, black-and-white volume makes the prequel more accessible than ever to western audiences. Priced affordably and recommended for mature readers (16+), MADNESS is a punchy yet nuanced entry point for new fans, as well as a rewarding deep dive for long-time followers of the franchise.

With its release, the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners universe feels freshly energized—a living, breathing world where ambition, tragedy, and kinetic action collide under the ever-present glow of neon. MADNESS doesn’t dilute the original’s sharp edges; if anything, it reinforces them, challenging readers to confront the cost of survival in Night City, where hope and madness might just be two sides of the same chrome coin.