Independent publisher Hero Tomorrow Comics is marking the 20th anniversary of its flagship superhero project at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 with a free digital comic giveaway. Attendees visiting Small Press Booth O-04 at the convention this week can catch the debut of issue 25 in the publisher’s shared universe, while readers receive a four-issue digital download bundle featuring Apama #1, Bloom #1, and Tap Dance Killer #1 & #2.
The milestone traces back to July 2006, when writer and director Ted Sikora premiered the indie feature film Hero Tomorrow at San Diego Comic-Con. The movie followed a struggling comic book artist named David who attempted to actually become his superhero creation, Apama. What started as a single promotional tie-in comic created for the film website subsequently expanded over two decades into an ongoing shared comic book universe.
Ted Sikora, Publisher at Hero Tomorrow Comics, said in a statement,
20 years ago we debuted Hero Tomorrow (the feature film) at San Diego Comic Con. It’s about a struggling comic book artist, David, who attempts to actually become his creation, Apama. None of us could have imagined how creating an Apama spin-off single issue for the film’s website would lead to our current shared universe which is debuting its 25th issue at this year’s Comic Con.”
While the digital bundle provides immediate access to the origin stories of Apama, Bloom, and Tap Dance Killer, the direct distribution approach highlights how independent creators handle digital fulfilment. Rather than hosting the free anniversary bundle on established digital storefronts, Hero Tomorrow Comics is distributing the digital files directly via a Google Drive link sent to email subscribers. Promotional material for the anniversary release also showcases character photography, including Christina Sirmons as Violnate the Undead.
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