DC COMICS
DC FINEST: GREEN LANTERN — HARD-TRAVELING HEROES TP: Collects Green Lantern stories published between July 1968 and March 1971 from the pages of GREEN LANTERN #62-82, THE FLASH #191, and WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #201. I've said before that any Hard-Traveling Heroes collection ought to include the first three back-up stories from The Flash #217-219, because they were from the same creative team, they set up the next chapters of the Emerald Warriors and they (I believe) were meant for Green Lantern #90.
ANNUALS & SPECIALS
BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD'S FINEST 2026 ANNUAL #1 (ONE-SHOT)
(W) Mark Waid, Mark Russell, Tyrone Finch (A) Clayton Henry, Patrick Boutin (CA) Dan Mora
AN OVERSIZE SUMMER SPECIAL!
The World's Finest attempt to have a relaxing night out with Jonathan Kent and Alfred. But after an emergency leads Batman and Superman into a trap, it's up to the father figures to jump into the fray! Also, with Lois Lane's current investigation putting her in Intergang's crosshairs, Batman steps in to provide Lois backup — but as Bruce Wayne, and accompanying Lois on a date!
I don't think I've ever seen a Jonathan Kent/Alfred Pennyworth team-up. Never thought about it. But now I want to.
DC'S HAWK-GIRL SUMMER #1 (ONE-SHOT)
(W) Meghan Fitzmartin, Andre R. Frattino, Trick Weekes, Cavan Scott, Josh Trujillo, Dacy Lim, Siobhan Chiffon & Cathy Le, Ramon Perez and Others
(A) Meghan Hetrick, Andrew Drilon, Ramon Perez, Rafael Loureiro, Rowan MacColl, Siobhan Chiffon & Cathy Le and Others
(CA) Guillem March
LISTEN UP, NORMIES … A HAWK-GIRL IS TALKING!
Summer has arrived — and so has your perfect juicy beach read. Hot off the presses, this collection of scorching new stories showcases the babes and bombshells of the DCU slaying the summer! Join Hawkgirl, Catwoman, Red Hood, Grace Choi, Thunder, Shining Knight, Kid Quick, and more as The Female Furies, dominate the beach, the boardwalk, and any bad guys in their way.
I thought the intent was to make her scary, not sexy. I guess she can be both.
DETECTIVE COMICS 2026 ANNUAL #1 (ONE SHOT) CVR A NICOLA SCOTT
(W) Tom Taylor, Dave Wielgosz (A) Nicola Scott, Fran Mariscal (CA) Nicola Scot
GUEST-STARRING THE MAIN MAN HIMSELF, LOBO! Batman has been falsely accused of a political assassination on a distant planet, and someone has been sent to track down the Dark Knight and bring him to justice — someone with a special talent for hunting. That's right, Lobo's come to Earth with a bounty on Batman! Now, in the clutches of the Main Man and being carted across the cosmos to be judged for a crime he did not commit, Batman must find a way to clear his name! Tom Taylor and Nicola Scott bring you a thrilling tale of bounties, battles, and bastiches.
Like many Legionnaires, I have no use for Lobo. I think that when Superman or Batman first ran into him, they'd have spent the rest of their careers making sure he was locked away. Instead, they team up. Disappointing. The next thing you know, Peter Parker will do something out of character, like make a deal with the devil.
JUSTICE LEAGUE KNIGHT VISION SPECIAL #1 (ONE-SHOT)
(W) Mark Waid, Joshua Williamson (A) Miguel Mendonca (CA) Carmine Di Giandomenico
A NEW DANGER TO THE DCU FORCES A BATMAN & LEX LUTHOR TEAM-UP! The Justice League has offered a number of villains amnesty, allowing them to prove they're on the side of the angels. But what they didn't see coming was the void that would leave in the world of super-villains! Batman and Lex Luthor must work together to investigate a Justice League villain who wants to fill that void, capitalizing on shifting priorities and the visions of the future that the DC Universe's champions saw at the end of DC K.O. to create a dangerous new weapon! Can Batman and Lex set aside their differences to stop them? This crucial issue in the All In Saga sets up new threats for the Justice League's heroes and villains!
Seaking of stomach-churning team-ups ...
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #200 FACSIMILE EDITION
(W) Gerry Conway (A) Various (CA) George Perez
DON'T MISS THIS LANDMARK OVERSIZE ISSUE!
Art by George Perez, Brett Breeding, Pat Broderick, Jim Aparo, Dick Giordano, Gil Kane, Carmine Infantino, Brian Bolland and Joe Kubert In this special anniversary adventure, the seven founding members of the League are pitted against the team's later additions when a sinister plan put into motion by the Justice League's very first case at last comes to fruition. An all-star cast of talent brings old and new Leaguers together in this astounding oversize epic!
I remember thinking at the time, "Didn't Avengers Annual #2 already do this?" And just like with Avengers, the Justice League's second draft round wasn't any match, power-wise, for the charter members. But there's nothing new under the sun, and this is a pretty good package for pre-Crisis Justice League fans.
SUPERMAN ANNUAL YEAR ONE THOUSAND #1 (ONE-SHOT)
(W) Joshua Williamson (A) Eddy Barrows, Yasmine Putri (CA) Eddy Barrows
SUPERMAN AT THE END OF TIME! At the end of DC K.O., Superman became King Omega with the powers of a god. But after pushing Darkseid back to the Absolute World, Superman rejected the Heart of Apokolips ... and went missing. Now the story of where he went can be told! The future was infected by Darkseid and his Legion — leaving a trail of death and disaster in their wake — including the Legion of Super-Heroes. Now Superman is using Time Trapper's powers to heal the future and correct the damage that has been done. But Superman's godlike powers are fading fast, and he may become lost at the end of time!
Will this have anything to do with the 853rd century stories, you think? I've forgotten what DC's far future is supposed to look like, and what little I do remember is probably two revamps ago.
MARVEL COMICS
DOOMQUEST(2026) #3
Writer: Ryan North
Penciller: Francesco Mobili
Doom has escaped the Titanic and now finds himself in a strange new body, in a strange new world: America, at the start of the Revolutionary War. The world is about to change, and a young nation is about to take on the British Empire: the single most powerful military in the history of the world. But Doom has other plans — and sees an opportunity here to give history a better form. Can one man, acting alone, truly change the course of history? And does the answer change if that one man, acting alone, creates a laser Gatling gun centuries ahead of schedule?
Ryan North on Doctor Doom is not a series I will miss.
PREDATOR VS. THE PLANET OF THE APES #1 (OF 8)
Written by GREG PAK
Art by ALAN ROBINSON
Evolution created them. Now the hunt will test them.
This July, the galaxy’s greatest hunter finds new prey on a world ruled by apes in PREDATOR VS. THE PLANET OF THE APES, a five-issue Marvel Comics series written by Greg Pak (Planet Hulk) and drawn by Alan Robinson (X-Men Infinity Comic). Made in collaboration with 20th Century Studios, the series marks the first-ever crossover between the two groundbreaking sci-fi franchises and is the latest in Marvel’s line of acclaimed 20th Century Studios storytelling that includes recent hits like Planet of the Apes Vs. Fantastic Four and Predator: Bloodshed. Blending the mythology as well as the themes of both universes, the revolutionary saga pushes both Yautja and ape to their limit in a brutal battle for dominance!
Worlds collide when a deadly Yautja crash-lands on the legendary Planet of the Apes!
After a rescue mission gone wrong, astronaut Arch finds herself embedded in a hostile ape society where humans are subservient. But the hunters soon became the hunted when the apes find themselves being stalked by Predators! A three-way war is about to erupt between humans, apes and Yautja – who will reign supreme?!
On his love for both franchises, Pak shared, “I vividly remember watching the first Planet of the Apes movie on an old 13" black and white television in the early 1980s and having my mind TOTALLY BLOWN. So I was thrilled when Marvel approached me to write Planet of the Apes comics -- and then even MORE thrilled when they said it would be a Predator book as well!”
“Planet of the Apes and Predator are two of the most iconic sci-fi series of all time—I'd be thrilled to work on EITHER of them. But both of them together? Just incredible,” he continued. “Both series do so much wild worldbuilding, grapple with a deeply organic and compelling kind of sci-fi, and take on massive and eternally relevant themes of violence and war. Both also absolutely GO THERE, taking huge risks and leaps all the time. I can't wait to show what we're cooking up with Alan Robinson and the rest of the creative team. “
I'm not trying to be glib, but ... do we care who wins?
QUEEN IN BLACK #1 (OF 5)
Written by AL EWING
Art by IBAN COELLO
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
HELA AND KNULL'S COSMIC COLLISION UNLEASHES HEL ON EARTH IN QUEEN IN BLACK!
This summer, QUEEN IN BLACK, a five-issue event series by mastermind writer Al Ewing (Venom) and superstar artist Iban Coello (Fantastic Four), conquers the Marvel Universe!
QUEEN IN BLACK spins out of Ewing’s acclaimed work on Venom as well as the new Knull limited series that saw Hela seize Knull’s throne, forcing the God of the Void to claim a new power for himself. Their conflict erupts across the cosmos, coming to a head on Earth where Marvel’s heroes are all that stand in the way of the world being torn asunder by the forces of Light and Dark, both bent on enveloping the universe in their own brand of nothingness! In addition to the core series centered around Spider-Man, Venom, Mary Jane, Eddie Brock, and Dylan Brock, new tie-in series will see QUEEN IN BLACK’s impact on other corners of the Marvel Universe.
To celebrate the launch of the summer’s biggest event, QUEEN IN BLACK #1 will be available in Marvel’s new TRUE BELIEVERS BLIND BAGS. Following the massive success of Ultimate Endgame #1 and Daredevil #1, TRUE BELIEVERS BLIND BAGS give fans a chance to purchase the issue in special sealed bags, but unlike previous TRUE BELIEVERS BLIND BAGS, QUEEN IN BLACK #1 TRUE BELIEVERS BLIND BAGS will only contain exclusive variant covers not available for regular ordering. The main cover and regular open-to-order variant covers cannot be found in True Believers Blind Bags, making it the most exciting and rewarding TRUE BELIEVERS BLIND BAG experience yet! See below for a list of the exclusive blind bag variant covers. In addition to those listed, fans can once again look forward to super rare exclusive covers by surprise contributors, including hand-drawn, one-of-a-kind sketch covers.
EACH BLIND BAG CONTAINS ONE OF THESE VARIANT COVERS TO QUEEN IN BLACK #1, EXCLUSIVE TO TRUE BELIEVERS BLIND BAGS:
- DESIGN VARIANT COVER BY RYAN STEGMAN
- SWIMSUIT VARIANT COVER BY DAVID NAKAYAMA
- JEFF AND KNULL VARIANT COVER BY GURIHURU
- ALTERNATE WEBHEAD FOIL VARIANT COVER BY PAT GLEASON
- VARIANT COVER BY ARTGERM
- VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY ARTGERM
- VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY JEEHYUNG LEE
- VIRGIN VARIANT COVER BY PEACH MOMOKO
- ALTERNATE HOMAGE VARIANT COVER BY RYAN STEGMAN
- MARVEL RIVALS VARIANT COVER BY NETEASE GAMES
- ALL BLACK BLANK VARIANT COVER
- CONNECTING VARIANT COVER A BY DAVID MARQUEZ
- CONNECTING VARIANT COVER B BY DAVID MARQUEZ
- OR SEVERAL RARE, HAND DRAWN SKETCH COVERS BY SURPRISE CONTRIBUTORS!
HEL ON EARTH!
On the farthest edges of the solar system, Knull, God of the Void, builds a brand-new army to destroy Earth...but Hela of Asgard might have gotten there first – as she makes planetfall with a legion of the galaxy’s deadliest symbiotes! Two of the most powerful evils in the galaxy are at war. ... A cosmic collision of evil versus evil with Venom, Mary Jane and Dylan Brock caught right in the middle!
"The only threat bigger than one evil God is two of them fighting each other, with Earth caught right in the middle,” Ewing shared. “As an old-school ‘60s Marvel villain, Hela's a great match-up against the newer school of Knull, especially given the steps she's been taking to get onto his level. There can only be one winner - but whoever wins, it's the worst news possible for our heroes."
I've always loved Hela, going back to Thor #189 (and probably earlier). And I have despised symbiotes since they took over the Spider-books (and probably earlier). Hate wins out over love, I'm afraid, as I will not be indulging in this.
QUEEN IN BLACK: DEFENDERS OF LIGHT AND DARK #1 (OF 3)
Written by TOM WALTZ
Art by ZÉ CARLOS
Cover by DAVID MARQUEZ
UNLEASH THE HEROES!
Hela and Knull wage war over the Marvel Universe this summer in QUEEN IN BLACK, a new crossover event from Al Ewing and Iban Coello. But when Hela’s army of symbiotes and Knull’s forces of light arrive to conquer Earth, they’ll be met by two new superhero teams specifically assembled for their destruction in QUEEN IN BLACK: DEFENDERS OF LIGHT AND DARK, a three-issue tie-in series by writer Tom Waltz, currently writing one of the event’s key lead-in chapters in Knull, and artist Zé Carlos (Amazing Spider-Man), who will also draw sequences in the main Queen in Black series.
Spinning directly out of QUEEN IN BLACK #1, QUEEN IN BLACK: DEFENDERS OF LIGHT AND DARK follows two daring and pivotal confrontations with the Queen in Black and God of the Void themselves as BETA RAY BILL leads PHOTON, SUNFIRE and DAGGER to cast a light against Hela’s sweeping darkness while IRON MAN, equipped in new Darkforce armor, leads DARKSTAR, AGENT ANTI-VENOM and CLOAK to snuff out Knull’s all-encompassing light.
UNLEASH THE HEROES!
Beta Ray Bill is the only hero in Midgard who remembers Hela, the Goddess of Death...but does that mean he and his team can counter a Queen In Black? Meanwhile, Tony Stark’s all-new Black Metal Armor is the ultimate weapon against Knull, God of the Void...but does he have command of his own defense squad? It’s the mission that’ll decide the outcome of the entire conflict!
"Working with Al Ewing, Juanan Ramirez, and Erick Arciniega on the Knull mini-series was an absolute blast! And I'm very excited to rejoin Al and Co. for more Marvel Cosmic fun with QUEEN IN BLACK: DEFENDERS OF LIGHT AND DARK,” Waltz shared. “We (or, rather, Tony Stark) have assembled a rag-tag team of super heroes to serve as the first line of Earth's defense against the dual invasion threat of Knull and Lady Hela. These aren't your normal Defenders -- and teaming them up to help save the planet might seem unorthodox at first -- but maybe a little super hero chaos is just what's needed to stop Hela and Knull's own chaotic machinations. The only way to find out is to join uber-talented artist Zé Carlos, me, and the rest of the creative team for this cosmic tale of bravery, sacrifice, renewal, and redemption!"
QUEEN IN BLACK: HELA #1 (ONE-SHOT)
Written by AL EWING
Art by CARLOS MAGNO
Cover by PASQUAL FERRY
THE QUEEN TAKES HER THRONE!
Hela and Knull’s cosmic collision unleashes HEL ON EARTH in QUEEN IN BLACK, a new crossover event from Venom writer Al Ewing and superstar artist Iban Coello. Kicking off in July, the event will be told across a five-issue main series as well key tie-ins like the recently announced QUEEN IN BLACK: DEFENDERS OF LIGHT AND DARK limited series and two one-shots from Ewing himself: QUEEN IN BLACK: HELA #1 and QUEEN IN BLACK: THOR #1.
With art by Carlos Magno, QUEEN IN BLACK: HELA #1 will reveal just how Hela rose to the throne, including her vicious takedown of Knull that led to the current Knull limited series. The one-shot takes place during the Immortal Thor era of Ewing’s run. All the secrets of the Queen in Black — revealed in QUEEN IN BLACK: HELA! Why were Hela and Tyr in Midgard when the Rainbow Bridge fell? How did she cage Knull, God of the Void? And which Thor tried to stop her? Balder the Brave seeks the answers from Karnilla of the Norns ... but will he live to tell anyone else?
Representing Asgard’s role in the event, the Hela and Thor one-shots will deliver pivotal chapters for the overall QUEEN IN BLACK saga and significantly impact Ewing’s current Thor run.
ROCKET RACCOON: ROCKET REWIND #1 (ONE-SHOT)
Written by J.M. DEMATTEIS, CHRISTOS GAGE AND MACKENZIE CADENHEAD and BILL MANTLO
Art by SHAWN MCMANUS, TODD NAUCK, ENID BALÁM and KEITH GIFFEN
Big things come in small, furry packages … and this July, Rocket Raccoon sets out to prove it with a 50th anniversary one-shot: ROCKET RACCON: ROCKET REWIND!
Buckle up and travel the stars as Rocket engages in over-the-top action and calamity across three all-new stories from a roster of titanic creators including writers J.M. DeMatteis, Christos Gage, and MacKenzie Cadenhead and artists Shawn McManus, Todd Nauck, and Enid Balám, plus a re-presentation of Rocket’s debut tale from co-creators Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen.
Originally introduced in the pages of Marvel Preview #7 by Mantlo and Giffen, Rocket has blasted and jetpacked his way into becoming an integral part of the Marvel cosmic tapestry and a key figure (as well as the heart and soul) of numerous Guardians of the Galaxy team line-ups.
“Fans of Rocket Raccoon are going to love this special featuring all-new stories that span through his bold, adventurous, and sassy career,” explains Editor Mark Pannicia. “I’m excited to include the first appearance of Rocky Raccoon. That’s right, old bean, in that story by legendary comic creators Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen, Rocket went by Rocky and inexplicably had a British accent. Wild and fun stuff!”
Follow the heavily armed rapscallion as he blazes new trails in locations both new and familiar across the following stories:
Rocket Raccoon encounters a mysterious galactic book collector before coming face-to-face with the one-and-only Rocky Raccoon (wait, what?!) in a brain-bending tale from writer J.M. DeMatteis and artist Shawn McManus.
In “BoomShakaLaka,” MacKenzie Cadenhead and Enid Balám take Rocket to a paradise planet full of good vibes and an immensely powerful artifact that’s just begging to be stolen by a cybernetically enhanced creature with a bad attitude. Know anybody like that?
Christos Gage and Todd Nauck set out to prove that size does matter in “The Fight in the Raccoon,” featuring an odd-couple team up of Hank Pym and Rocket as they fight back a massive invasion force in Sub-Atomica!
Plus, the original debut of Rocket by Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen!
If Rocket Raccoon has been around for half a century, that would make me old. Preposterous!
WHAT IF…? SPIDER-MAN #1
Written by J.M. DEMATTEIS
Art by YILDIRAY ÇINAR
Cover by LUCAS WERNECK
On Sale 7/29
WHAT IF … KRAVEN SURVIVED HIS “LAST HUNT”?
Leaving Spider-Man broken, insane and vulnerable to the influence of an old enemy … and who better to fill the void left by the spider than Kraven the Hunter?! One way or another, both Kraven and Peter will become something more — and finally settle the score between them!
As Bob says, I'm less familiar with the events that today's "What If" titles are covering, and therefore less interested. I do remember "Kraven's Last Hunt," and what I think is that it was a great story they shoud leave alone. No variant ending will hold a candle to the original, and can only reduce its power.
ULTIMATE
ULTIMATE IMPACT: REBORN #3: Not done yet.
PS ARTBOOKS
I think everybody who buys PS Artbooks knows there's been a hiccup lately. I'm probably more aware of it than most, because I probably buy the most PS Artbooks among the Legionnaires. From my perspective, PS Artbooks vanished from the places I normally ordered them for a while. This was just after Trump instituted his tarrif regime, but I don't know if they're related. Anyway, for a while the only place I could order new PS Artbooks (except from the home site in the UK) was at Bud's Art Books (Bud's Incredible Catalog). Then Bud's stopped stocking them. I thought that was it, and went on about my life.
But then PS Artbooks made a mysterious comeback to Westfield Comics and InStockTrades. Not a lot, but some here or there. And I ordered a bunch from Westfield which -- just like before the hiccup -- have taken eons to arrive.
And now, suddenly, Lunar is listing some for sale. This is what's listed for this week;
GOLDEN AGE CLASSICS CAPTAIN TRIUMPH HC VOL 01
(W) Alfred Andriola (A) Ruben Moreira, Alfred Andriola, Al Kotzky, Al Bryant (CA) Ruben Moreira
GOLDEN AGE CLASSICS CAPTAIN TRIUMPH HC VOLUME 1 In 1919, identical twin brothers Michael and Lance Gallant were born in New York City – both possessed T-shaped birthmarks on their left wrists. The boys were very close growing up. During the Second World War, Michael enlisted in the Air Force as a pilot. Unfortunately, on their 23rd birthday, Michael died when his hanger exploded and his brother, Lance, who saw the tragedy, grabbed Michael from the flames, only to have him die in his arms. Lance wanted vengeance! The Fates of Greek mythology witnessed Michael's death and decided to turn Lance into their champion. Soon after, Lance is visited by Michael's ghost, who told his brother they were still linked and if he touched his birthmark, the brothers would merge and gain superpowers - including superhuman strength, endurance, flight, invulnerability, and invisibility. So, Lance decides to call himself Captain Triumph and become a crime-fighter – all brought to you here by PS Artbooks in this first volume of all his adventures! By Ruben Moreira, Alfred Andriola, Al Kotzky and Al Bryant.
Funny, we were just talking about this character over in the JSA re-read thread. I actually have this book already, presumably from InStockTrades sometime last year.
GOLDEN AGE CLASSICS PRINCESS PANTHA HC VOL 01
(W) Gardner Fox (A) Ken Battefield, Robert Webb, Iger Shop (CA) Bob Powell
GOLDEN AGE CLASSICS PRINCESS PANTHA HC VOLUME 1 Princess Pantha was a circus-performing wild animal handler, who went to Africa, in search of the legendary giant gorilla M’Gana for her act! She disappeared shortly after setting out – so Gilt-edge Gates, the owner of The National Circus hired Dane Hunter, a famous explorer to find her. After discovering her safari had been wiped out by an unknown hostile native tribe and she’d saved herself by using her ability to make an extra-loud gorilla call, which the natives mistook for the approach of M’Gana and fled. Princess Pantha had survived in the jungle for two months now, utilizing her animal skills, knowledge of jiu-jitsu and a few primitive weapons. Together Pantha and Dane remained in the jungle and continued there quest to capture the legendary giant gorilla M’Gana! Comic book stories from the 1940s and 1950s depicted some ethnic and racial prejudices that were once common place in American culture. One story “The Land of the Black Python” has been cited as an example of racial insensitivity, a white Princess Pantha taught black Africans to overcome racial prejudice in a near-classic example of “blame-the-victim” mentality! Such depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. While not representing the publisher's view of today's society, these stories are printed as they were originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. By Alex Schomburg, Art Saaf and Ralph Mayo.
I have this one in-house already, too. Very strange.
PRE-CODE CLASSICS CAVE GIRL HC VOL 01
(W) Art Saaf (A) Alex Schomburg, Art Saaf, Ralph Mayo (CA) Alex Schomburg
After losing her parents when they were attacked by the savage Balu natives, Carol London escaped death when an eagle carried her away to the Dawn Lands – a valley hidden in time by the mountains known as the Barriers of the Moon! She was raised by wolves, becoming the pack leader after Kattu dies! With her ability to talk to the animals and her skill in using a bow, spear and knife learned form watching the Hairy Men, a group of Neanderthals who lived in the Dawn Lands she became CAVE GIRL, only then having to fight off the attentions of the Neanderthal king Pood and the Hairy Men, assisted by a Pygmy outcast named Bobo. Alongside the King of the Congo – Thun’da and all featuring the unique artistry of Bob Powell, we present the full series cover to cover – just like the original comics!By Ken Battefield, Robert Webb and Iger Shop.
I have this one, too.
PS ARTBOOKS PRESENTS CLASSIC SCIENCE FICTION COMICS HC VOL 10
(W) Gene Fawcette (A) Alex Schomburg, Gene Fawcette (CA) Alex Schomburg
along with her friends Malo and Robin are unjustly forced into exile from Earth, so they take refuge in Phantom Haven on Venus, the headquarters of Haneesh and his ‘Brotherhood of Space’. Although they are wanted by the authorities as space pirates, they are unofficially recognized as heroic ‘Robin Hood’ type of characters, battling injustice and corrupt government officials such as Daro Dallas of Mars. The people of Earth begin to recognize her as their champion. TARA is a fine sword fighter and carries an ‘Atom Sword’ which can fire a short blast of atomic energy. Combined with her leadership skills and tactical cunning and her ability to hypnotize opponents – they travel the Solar System in the Space Rover!Captain Dick Devens volunteers to travel a thousand years into the future for 24 hours but gets stuck in the 30th Century - bringing only his bullet-proof suit, some weapons and a helicopter, Dick must survive the Venusians and other alien attacking the city of Futuria! By Alex Schomburg and Gene Fawcette.
I don't have this one in-house, but it has been on my Westfield order form for months. So none of this is to my benefit yet, but I'm hoping it means the return of PS.
AMP COMICS
GREATEST AMERICAN HERO #1 (OF 5)
(W) Don Handfield (A) Alper Gecgel (CA) Rob Prior
He's back. Amp Comics is proud to bring the bumbling superhero from the hit '80s TV show to a comic shop near you. The Greatest American Hero has returned to reconnect with his son, who only knows him as the "crazy man in red pajamas." Seven days. One suit. A final sacrifice. The Greatest American Hero gets the ending he deserved. This new first issue includes an additional page and three great covers!
Those of us of a certain age remember this character well, and were horrified when the lead actor turned up as a not-so-nice guy in Carrie. (His hair was unmistakable.)
DYNAMITE
VAMPIRELLA VOL. 5 TP
Dynamite Entertainment announces an essential new release for fans of one of its most popular and historic characters. The new paperback edition of Vampirella Archives Volume 5 hits the shelves of stores and fans this April, continuing the affordable reprints of the Daughter of Drakulon's original run of adventures as well as diverse anthology tales.
This fabulous fifth volume includes issues #29-35 of the Vampirella magazine originally released by Warren Publishing. These stories were originally released from 1973 to 1974.
With four volumes in tow behind it, fans can pick and choose the eras that appeal to them or buy the line in any order thanks to its anthology stylings, or go for the full set with a new entry scheduled for every two months. The fourth volume right before this new one included the key origin retelling from the 1972 annual, one of the most essential Vampi stories, as well as contributions from Bronze Age greats like Steve Englehart, Doug Moench, Steve Skeates, and powerhouse artists Jose Gonzalez, Esteban Maroto, and more.
There are several highlights in this fifth volume! First and foremost, every included issue features a Vampirella tale, amounting to a fifth of the total page count. A new run on the character by Flaxman Loew largely starts here, encompassing issues #28-36, 38-42, 51. He's joined on all his stories here by definitive Vampirella artist of the era Jose Gonzalez — except the final one drawn by Jose Ortiz.
Vampirella #30 is one of the biggest key issues in the run, with the introductory first appearance of Pantha. The feline frenemy of the Daughter of Drakulon was created by Steve Skeates and Rafael Auraleon. She stars in four stories of her own in this book, with further solo stories in issues #42, 44, 90, 93-99, 101-104, 106, 108, as well as several iconic crossovers with Vampirella and other features of the magazine. Though not historically as prominent, the Ramon Torrents character Fleur also first appears here, with two stories, one later in #68, and part of the big crossover issue alongside Pantha and Vampi in #50.
Another major draw for this stretch of stories is the highest concentration in the series by Jeffrey Catherine Jones. Issues #32-34 all feature her contributions. On one she is joined by Bernie Wrightson, a compatriot of the legendary The Studio collective they were in alongside Barry Windsor-Smith and Michael Wm. Kaluta. Other contributions of hers can be found in issues #4, 5, 9, 12, and 50.
Beyond these three exciting angles, fans can also enjoy writing and artwork from creators including Doug Moench, Richard Corben, Steve Skeates, Esteban Maroto, Fernando Fernandez, and others.
I have all these in HC, and I'm glad I do. If you're of a certain age, 1960s and '70s brings a giddy nostalgia that's hard to explain. (I have no idea what younger readers might think. Hate it, probably? Philistines.)
TITAN COMICS
BLACK STAR #1 (OF 5)
(W) Kristin Kreuk, Peter Mooney & Eric Putzer
(A) Joe Bacardo
Cover A: Martin Simmonds
Cover B: Joe Bacardo
Cover C: Robert Hack
Cover D: Alison Sampson
Cover E: Martin Simmonds Foil
Cover F: Joe Bacardo Virgin Cardstock
Cover G: Martin Simmonds Virgin
FC • 32pp • $4.99 • On Sale July 29, 2026
Globally renowned publisher Titan Comics are thrilled to be publishing Black Star (in stores and digital devices July 29, 2026) a debut comic series by acclaimed actress Kristin Kreuk (Smallville, Reacher, Murder in a Small Town). Co-written with Peter Mooney (Rookie Blue, Mistletoe Murders) and screenwriter Eric Putzer, and illustrated by artist Joe Bocardo (Nightwalkers, The Hexiles), this five-issue series is a Northern Gothic noir steeped in horror and dark humour.
Amidst skirmishes between two warring factions in the early nineteenth-century fur trade, Dashiell Carlyle discovers he has magical abilities… and that he's not alone. Thrust into a secret order with designs to use their magic to build a new and better world, Dashiell discovers that their utopia may come at a horrific cost.
It's a violent world: gritty, bloody, and dark. But that's balanced with a sense of discovery and awe. The storytelling’s propulsive, and the morality grey. It's The Revenant meets Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. It's a love letter to a frozen corner of the world that few know. It's weird. And wonderful. And something wholly its own.
“Black Star was born while Peter, Eric, and I were filming “Burden of Truth” in Winnipeg.” said Kristin Kreuk. “We were inspired by the city’s lore and, because we worked so well together, began spending our spare time on set (and then, for years afterwards) developing our own take on the history and magic we imagined pulsing beneath its surface, shaping the rhythms of the city and the battles raging just beyond our view.”
“Sometimes people come to my hometown and they can’t see past its rough edges or inhospitable weather. But it was clear Kristin and Eric could see right into the strangeness that makes Winnipeg so unique,” said co-writer Peter Mooney. “This isn’t so much an alternative history, but an omitted chapter that’s been lost to time. It’s bizarre and fantastical and entirely imagined — but it goes a long way towards explaining why the city is how it is today.”
“There’s an intimacy to comics that no other form quite achieves; the reader controls the rhythm, the breath, the revelation,” said co-writer Eric Putzer. “In a story about power and human nature, we felt that intimacy necessary to make the reader an active part of the exchange.” -
"For a comic book artist, working on a series as ambitious and well-written as Black Star is a gift,” said artist Joe Bocardo. “But if you also work on it with a talented and friendly team that gives you creative freedom, then it's not a gift; it's a privilege."
“Set in the eerie, snow-blanketed wasteland of early 19th Century Winnipeg, this is magic as you’ve never seen it before,” said Titan Comics editor, Jake Devine. “Hopeful yet bleak, miraculous yet insidious, and only time will tell if the prize is worth the cost. Readers are going to be swept away by Joe Bocardo’s mesmerising artwork as it envelops them in a story filled with awe and tragedy.”
ABOUT THE CREATORS:
Kristin Kreuk is a Canadian actor and producer who has worked in television and film for over two decades. Known for series such as Smallville, Beauty and the Beast, Burden of Truth, and Murder in a Small Town, she is also an avid reader and creative collaborator interested in storytelling that explores identity, memory, and human connection.
Peter Mooney is a Canadian actor and writer. He’s stared in numerous television series including Rookie Blue, Burden of Truth, Camelot and Mistletoe Murders, and feature films including We Were Wolves and The Prodigy. As a writer, his short films Method and Parachute premiered at the Toronto and Tribeca film festivals respectively.
Eric Putzer, a Canadian writer and Canadian Film Centre alumnus, served as co-producer on CBC and The CW’s Burden of Truth.
“Black Star was born while Peter, Eric, and I were filming Burden of Truth in Winnipeg. We were inspired by the city’s lore and, because we worked so well together, began spending our spare time on set (and then, for years afterwards) developing our own take on the history and magic we imagined pulsing beneath its surface, shaping the rhythms of the city and the battles raging just beyond our view.” — Kristin Kreuk, Author of Black Star
Kreuk's acting career seems to have evaporated since Smallville. I'm not casting any shade, I'm just stating a fact. If she can find a second career as a graphic novel writer, then more power to her. The cynic in me, however, suspects there's a character in this book that will be just perfect for Kristin Kreuk should this be adapted to the screen.
CONAN THE BARBARIAN #33 (NEW ARC)
(W) JIM ZUB
(A) FERNANDO DAGNINO
Cover A: Roberto De La Torre
Cover B: Fernando Dagnino
Cover C: Max Von Fafner
Cover D: Don Aguillo
Cover E: Rebeca Puebla
Cover F: Roberto De La Torre Foil Variant ($14.99)
Cover G: Roberto De La Torre Virgin Cardstock Variant ($6.99)
Publisher: Titan Comics and Heroic Signatures
FC, 32pp, $4.99, IN-STORES: 29 JULY 2026
THE BRAND NEW STORY ARC CURSED SHORES BEYOND BEGINS HERE
Conan and Valeria are pirates of the Red Brotherhood, living a life of lawless adventure on the Western Sea, but occult forces from the Cimmerian’s past have him in their sights once more and they will not rest until the barbarian’s body and soul are torn asunder!
The Conan-a-ssaince continues!
ABRAMS
SUPER HERO'S JOURNEY HC
(W) Patrick McDonnell (A) Patrick McDonnell, Marvel Entertainment (CA) Patrick McDonnell
The art of the multi-award-winning, beloved Mutts creator Patrick McDonnell and the greatest super heroes of the Marvel Universe come together in this spectacular and bestselling graphic novel
“The Super Hero’s Journey is a genuinely moving treatise on the inspiration we can take from others, and an antidote for cynicism.” — Alex Ross, Fantastic Four: Full Circle
Imbued with the creativity, artwork, and heart of Patrick McDonnell, this graphic novel love letter features the classic Marvel super heroes including the Fantastic Four, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Black Panther, and Spider-Man, and is the synthesis of McDonnell’s positive, inspirational sensibility and Marvel’s blockbuster brand.Using the Marvel Universe as avatars, McDonnell muses on how comics changed his life and inspired him to become a cartoonist, instilling a moral sensibility that he carries through his work and his life.
Visually striking, The Super Hero’s Journey incorporates panels from classic Marvel comics as a tribute by McDonnell to his heroes—Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and the other creators of the Marvel Universe—alongside inspirational quotes from Eckhart Tolle, Thoreau, and others, presenting an adventure unlike any you have ever read.
"McDonnell’s unexpected conceit flies high and makes a perfect landing.” —Publishers Weekly [Starred Review]
“A love letter to Marvel comics.”—NEWSARAMA
"A philosophical and spiritual look back at the Silver Age comics heroes that inspired him, McDonnell’s weaves his own path to cartooning by intersecting his own art and renditions of Marvel’s classic heroes with the original, iconic artwork of their comics, as the likes of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko’s works weaves throughout McDonnell’s history.”—io9
"McDonnell's graphic novel is a love letter to both Marvel's legendary creators and the valuable lessons found within their stories." — Screenrant
“Inspiration, fun, and joy are to be found a plenty in Patrick McDonnell’s all-new The Super Hero's Journey.”—AIPT Comics
“The Super Hero's Journey combines McDonnell's iconic cartooning style with work from legendary Marvel artists like Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, and Don Heck to tell a story about positivity that's as biographical and spiritual as it is action-packed and bombastic.”—CBR
“A profound and moving reading experience.”—FORCES OF GEEK
“Combining the magic of Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, and Steve Ditko with the lessons of the Dalai Lama, Patrick McDonnell’s metatextual The Super Hero's Journey is a unique addition to the graphic novel medium.”—CONSKIPPER
“A gorgeous graphic celebration of Marvel Comics. What makes The Super Hero's Journey stand out is the way McDonnell marries the biographical elements of Lee, Kirby, and Ditko with his own autobiographical explorations of how their myth-making impacted on his life, as well as how those foundational superheroes resonated within the larger literary canon (hence the Joseph Campbell of it all)." — Boing Boing
Also Available:Fantastic Four: Full Circle by Alex Ross
Praise
“The Super Hero’s Journey is a powerful argument for how the comic book art form makes a positive impact in our lives. Patrick McDonell weaves the work of Jack Kirby and other Marvel artists together with his own to create a remarkable view into the wonder he felt as a young reader first experiencing these classic comics. It is a genuinely moving treatise on the inspiration we can take from others, and an antidote for cynicism.”—Alex Ross, author of Fantastic Four: Full Circle
“The Super Hero’s Journey is thrilling, hilarious, mind-blowing, weird and poignant—just like the stories that inspired it. Patrick McDonnell flexes the same artistic muscle that drew Kirby to collage, mashing up childhood memories, Silver Age stories, and his own works of fine art, fueling an explosion of creativity, wonder, and beauty. When I finished the first time, I immediately read it again to re-experience its generous heartbeat. After my own journey, all I can say is Make Mine McDonnell!”—Glen David Gold, author of Carter Beats the Devil and I Will Be Complete
"An amazing, uplifting testament to the power of comics."—–Forbes
“Mutts cartoonist Patrick McDonnell has long sought to connect his own spiritual journey with the worlds that inspired him to become a comic artist in the first place—and while he got to do the former in Heart to Heart, a cartooning collaboration with the Dalai Lama, his next graphic novel comes at it from a more comic-booky angle, although no less spiritual… A philosophical and spiritual look back at the Silver Age comics heroes that inspired him, McDonnell’s weaves his own path to cartooning by intersecting his own art and renditions of Marvel’s classic heroes with the original, iconic artwork of their comics, as the likes of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko’s works weaves throughout McDonnell’s history.” ——io9
"McDonnell is both a gifted cartoonist and a scholar of the medium. He also has a generous view of human nature that is in short supply these days, and the story ends up being a neat summary of everything that made Marvel comics of that era so memorable and endearing. Perfect for fans of any age." —–ICv2
“Surprising and memorable.”—–Geek Girl Authority
Jefff's bragged on this book quite a bit, and here's my chance to read it!
IMAGE COMICS
GHOST PEPPER #13
Today Skybound and Image Comics announced a bold new Ghost Pepper story arc from creator/writer/artist/letterer Ludo Lullabi (TRANSFORMERS, Battle Chasers) and colorist Adriano Lucas (Destro). Ghost Pepper #13 will kick off the next chapter in the spiciest action series on shelves and will arrive in comic book shops on July 29, 2026.
“I’m so happy to continue the Ghost Pepper journey with this new story arc! When I got the news, my mind completely exploded — I immediately jumped into writing something bigger, more intense, and full of action and spectacular moments,” said series creator, artist and writer Ludo Lullabi. “This arc also introduces a major new character: Ax. She’s been waiting in the shadows—in my sketchbooks—for a long time, and her arrival is going to deeply shake the world of Ghost Pepper. I can’t wait for readers to discover her and to take them even further into this cyber-fantasy world.”
Ghost Pepper introduced readers to a reality where humanity survived a monstrous threat, but the world isn’t better for everyone. Every day Loloi hits the road to deliver her delicious cooking to the masses, outsmarting her treacherous competition and staying one step ahead of the massive robots “protecting” them all. But everything changes when she serves a mysterious warrior named Ash, whose secrets might just save the world...if his superhuman strength doesn’t destroy it first.
Now, the world needs a champion… but none remain! After the shocking events of last issue, a strange traveler emerges from the chaos, eager to taste Loloï’s famous spicy dishes… AND MIGHT BE THE KEY TO SAVING THE WORLD?
"It’s thrilling to extend Ghost Pepper another full arc and have Ludo and Adriano continue this epic,” raved editor Ben Abernathy. "Ash, Loloï’, and their allies face their greatest challenge yet, and it’s especially exciting to kick off the arc with a can’t-miss new character, the mysterious and deadly, Ax!”
For every issue of this exciting new story arc there will be a 90s trading card-themed variant cover from acclaimed artist Cliff Rathburn (The Walking Dead), each “card” featuring a character from the Ghost Pepper cast, including Ax, the elusive new character debuting in this arc.
In addition to the main cover by Ludo Lullabi, the lineup of variant covers for Ghost Pepper #13 also includes an open-to-order cover by Cedric Poulat (G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero), the first cover in the 1:10 incentive variant cover series by Cliff Rathburn, a 1:25 incentive variant cover by Mirka Andolfo (DC Comics: Bombshells), a 1:50 incentive variant cover by Alec Bezzina (Invincible Universe: Battle Beast), and a blank sketch cover.
“The momentum of the action is given a great amount of life by Lullabi’s art. Lullabi renders speed and power quite brilliantly.” – You Don’t Read Comics
“Working together, Lullabi and Lucas form an accomplished art team whose combined talents consistently produce memorable, high-quality illustrations that enhance the entire comic.” – Fanlight Zone
I've been meaning to sample this book, and now it looks like Image has given me a jumping-on point.
IDW PUBLISHING
KILLER INFLUENCES #1
Author Joey Esposito
Illustrated by Valeria Burzo
Cover Design or Artwork by David Baldeón
Mature
The second series in IDW’s new crime line is here!
Killer Influences follows Melvin, a serial killer who is aspiring to be one of the most infamous to ever do it, a true American nightmare. His problem? He’s so efficient and methodical that he doesn’t have a brand. No one has connected his crimes—except for Kylie, an aspiring true crime influencer who is flailing at a small-town newspaper. When she comes across Melvin’s crimes and reaches out to him…she figures out how she’s going to become a star. She will give Melvin the identity he needs to be the iconic serial killer he wants to be, while she follows his exploits on her channel and becomes famous. Kylie and Melvin make a pact that will make their dreams come true and destroy their lives in the process.
Eisner Award nominee Joey Esposito (The Pedestrian, Batman: Urban Legends) and rising-star artist Valeria Burzo (Castle Full of Blackbirds, EC Comics) deliver a scathing and thrilling true crime serial killer saga with Killer Influences!
You can't have too many crime books, sez I, especially if they a beginning, middle and end.
DARK HORSE
HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: THE WINGS OF FATE #2
MINOR THREATS: THE LAST DEVIL LEFT ALIVE #5
COLLECTIONS
AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER CHIBIS VOLUME 2--SOKKA'S BOOMERANG CLASS HC
HE-MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE VOLUME 1: THE SWORD OF FLAWS TPB
THE LEGEND OF KORRA: KYA AND THE SECRET OF THE SAND TPB
LEGEND OF MANA: THE ART OF MANA--30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION HC
PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES ZOMNIBUS VOLUME 5 HC
TRAILER PARK WARLOCK VOLUME 2 TPB
Replies
GREATEST AMERICAN HERO #1 (OF 5)
The Greatest American Hero gets the ending he deserved. This new first issue includes an additional page and three great covers!
Those of us of a certain age remember this character well, and were horrified when the lead actor turned up as a not-so-nice guy in Carrie. (His hair was unmistakable.)
Sorry, Cap. I saw the 1976 movie Carrie before the 1981 series Greatest American Hero. Just like in the book Carrie, William Katt’s character Tommy Ross was a nice guy who had to be pressured by his real girlfriend (Susan Snell, played by Amy Irving) to invite Carrie White to the prom to make up for Susan’s earlier participation in her harassment.
Many viewers somehow formed the impression that Susan and Tommy were in on the bucket of blood plot. They weren’t.
Unfortunately, I was working long hours when The Greatest American Hero aired. I saw and enjoyed some episodes, but not all. Also unfortunately, the thing that sticks in my mind is their decision to stop calling him by his full name, as if everyone named Hinkley was responsible for the near assassination of Ronald Reagan.
That was a REALLY stupid call by ABC to pressure The Greatest American Hero producers to redact Ralph Hinckley's name. Not only is the spelling different (a subtle difference, but a difference), I thought then as still do now: What if our shooter had the same name as a character from a more-established show? Like, say, "Barney Miller"?
If you'd like to see William Katt in something else, he's in The Man From Earth, a terrific little movie about a retiring history professor who invites his colleagues (Katt among them) to a dinner party and confesses to them that he's been alive since the time of the cavemen -- and they spend the next hour or so trying to poke holes in his story. The screenplay was written in 1988 by Star Trek writer Jerome Bixby, but it wasn't filmed until 2007, nearly 20 years after his death. You can see it on Prime, Kanopy, Hoopla, Tubi, or some other services. There's a sequel, The Man From Earth: Holocene, which I haven't seen yet. It looks like that's on Prime and Tubi as well.
I don't think I've ever seen a Jonathan Kent/Alfred Pennyworth team-up.
There was one in which the Wayne family limo broke down while driving through Smallville.
If Rocket Raccoon has been around for half a century...
Every time some other character hits the 50 year mark, it makes this milestone feel less and less special.
PS ARTBOOKS
The last time PS Artbooks shipped to Diamond (three of them I pre-ordered), they never made it to my LCS. I had been thinking of stopping buying them, anyway, because I'm so far behind reading them, but I never cold bring myself to pull the trigger. I'll have to see which ones (if any) show up at my LCS this week and go from there.
Jeff's bragged on this book quite a bit, and here's my chance to read it!
Please do! Then post something about it HERE. It's been two years since I last read it, well past time for me to read it again.
Barney Google is three years away from 110.
For that matter, your old pal Walt Wallet is only two years away.
PS ARTBOOKS - Two of the four volumes you posted (Captain Triumph v2 and Classic Sci-Fi v10) found their way to my LCS this week. My retailer said that these are volumes that shipped to Diamond months ago but never got beyond that point... until now. He said to expect eight in the next 12 weeks (or was it 12 in the next eight weeks?). I guess I'm back in the PS Artbooks buying business.
Cap asked about the Superman Annual:
Will this have anything to do with the 853rd century stories, you think? I've forgotten what DC's far future is supposed to look like, and what little I do remember is probably two revamps ago.
Yep! There's a mention of Justice Legion A, and some characters from the 853rd century make an appearance! More than that, I shall not say.
It is so good to have a glimpse of the Legion after so long.
It was a properly warm, feel-good story that makes me hopeful for the near future of the Legion of Super-Heroes.