Comix Zone is a 1995 beat 'em up game developed by Sega Technical Institute (STI) and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. Set within the panels of a comic book, it follows the comic writer/artist Sketch Turner who, after being transported into the comic by one of his creations, attempts to escape while contending with various threats. The game sees the player traversing six levels, where they interact with the comic world and must defeat enemies, or occasionally solve puzzles, to progress.

Conceived by STI programmer Peter Morawiec, the concept for the game was originally shown off in 1992 via a demonstration video, entitled Joe Pencil Trapped In The Comix Zone. The concept was greenlit by Sega of America CEO Tom Kalinske and development began on the game in late 1993. After repeated delays in order to implement more features, the game was released in July of 1995 in North America, in Japan on September, and Europe in October of the same year.

The game was generally well received by critics, who often praised its visual presentation and soundtrack but also criticized its perceived high difficulty level and short length. Despite mainly positive reception, the game was not financially successful, in part due to its late release for the Genesis and the advent of more sophisticated fifth-generation game consoles. Since then, the game has gone on to acquire a cult following and be re-released on multiple occasions for digital storefronts and video game compilations.

Comix Zone is a side-scrolling beat 'em up game with minor platform and puzzle elements. The game is set within the panels of a comic book; with dialogue rendered through speech balloons while environments resemble hand-drawn American superhero comics. Sketch Turner, the player character, can interact with the comic world in a variety of ways, such as by ripping a part of the page into a paper plane to attack an enemy.

There are six levels, or pages, in total, each of which are set across three themed “episodes”. In each level, the player traverses a series of panels. Each panel either contains enemies or a simple puzzle that must be tackled to progress to another panel. Occasionally, the player gets to choose from a branching set of panels, which eventually lead back to single panel. The player’s health is represented by a life bar and is diminished if they attack or are hit by an enemy or obstacle. When the player’s health depletes completely, or they fall down a pit, the game ends unless the player has obtained a continue by completing an episode.

Players can store up to three items in order to overcome obstacles or enemies. Most items in the game can be found by using Roadkill, a rat and himself an item, to peel back parts of the page to discover them. Many items, such as knives, offer help in combat situations, however only one item, iced tea, can heal the player’s life bar.

Comix Zone is set within a comic book of the same name, with the comic itself being set on a post-apocalyptic Earth. Each level is set in a different part of the comic world, such as a decimated New York City, the Himalayas, and the atolls of Zealand. The player controls Sketch Turner, a comic writer/artist who created the comic after dreaming vividly about its contents. While working on Comix Zone during a thunderstorm, Sketch's comic is hit by a lightning bolt, causing the book’s antagonist, a mutant named Mortus, to escape its pages. Desiring a physical form in the real world, Mortus sends Sketch into the comic in the hopes of killing him and receiving a body in the process. Upon being transported, Sketch is met by Alissa Cyan, a defense force general fighting against Mortus who believes that Sketch came to save her world. Sketch disputes this fact, but regardless decides to go on Alissa's mission.

The duo traverse through the comic world for a while, defeating many of Mortus’s henchmen along the way, until eventually reaching a weapons factory containing a nuclear weapon hidden on a derelict ship. As Alissa attempts to defuse the weapon, Mortus comes back into the comic and throws her into a chamber of rising liquid. Sketch manages to successfully defeat Mortus, frees Alissa from the chamber, and escapes the comic with her just as the weapon self-detonates. Now in the real world, Alissa enlists in the army and, after months, is promoted to Chief of Security for the United States. Comix Zone becomes the best-selling comic book ever, selling out on the first day and making him a celebrity overnight. Alissa moves in with Sketch and they live happily together.