TOP 10 PUBLISHERS
NO. 1: MARVEL COMICS
BATTLEWORLD #3 (OF 5), $3.99: I don't suppose Marvel is recycling ideas any more lately than they always have. But man, everything at the "House of Ideas" feels like a rerun these days. Because now Venom is going to get a new costume on a Battleworld, and I suppose it will also be more than it seems.
I do, however, like the conversation between Hank of one world and Jan of another in the preview. I didn't even know "our" Hank was back. And the art's nice.
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Art by MARCUS TO
In Amazing Spider-Man #252 by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz, Spider-Man returned from Secret Wars with a new black costume that was later revealed to be the alien symbiote VENOM! Now, over 40 years later, a new comic book legend begins with the debut of a symbiote costume in BATTLEWORLD #3 this November that will return the following month in VENOM #252.
BATTLEWORLD, a new limited series by Christos Gage and Marcus To, kicks off in September. The series follows the tradition of both the groundbreaking original Secret Wars and the 2015 Secret Wars event by bringing various heroes from the multiverse together on a patchwork planet for an epic conflict! Last week at San Diego Comic-Con, retailers learned that In BATTLEWORLD #3, one of those chosen heroes is revealed to be an all-new alternate Venom donning a Red and Blue Spidey suit! Created by writer Jordan Morris, who made his Marvel Comics debut earlier this year in Web of Spider-Verse: New Blood #1, and Marvel’s Stormbreaker elite artist and superstar Spider-Verse designer Luciano Vecchio, this mysterious new character will headline his own backup story by Morris and Jesús Saíz in VENOM #252, part of Al Ewing and Paco Medina’s current run. VENOM #252 will also reunite DeFalco and Frenz for a story that ties back to their classic Amazing Spider-Man issue.
In addition to Luciano Vecchio’s design sheet for the new costume, check out the main cover for BATTLEWORLD #3 by Leinil Francis Yu and a Venom Variant Cover by Phillip Tan. Plus, see new variant covers for VENOM #252 by R.B. Silva and Cory Smith that homage the original covers of Secret Wars #7 and Amazing Spider-Man #252. Don’t miss the most shocking costume reveal in 40 years by preordering both issues at your local comic shop today!
DAREDEVIL/PUNISHER: THE DEVIL’S TRIGGER #1 (OF 5), $4.99: Always a good face-off. Palmiotti's presence a plus.
Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art by TOMMASO BIANCHI
Marvel Knights co-founder Jimmy Palmiotti returns to the revolutionary imprint’s signature stars in DAREDEVIL/PUNISHER: THE DEVIL’S TRIGGER, a five-issue limited series launching in November. The series will be drawn by rising star artist Tommaso Bianchi, known for his acclaimed work on the recent Thunderbolts: Doomstrike series. The latest chapter in their history of violent clashes and tense team-ups, Marvel’s most iconic street-level heroes will go head-to-head after Punisher unleashes hell on an emerging criminal empire, forcing Daredevil to put an end to his one-man war before it destroys the city. Divided by ideologies, the pair’s complex relationship has resulted in some of their most memorable stories, and this latest saga promises to be their most intense showdown yet!
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO PULL THE TRIGGER?
DAREDEVIL and THE PUNISHER – two of Marvel’s mightiest with one of the most celebrated and storied rivalries in comics find themselves at odds, not only with each other, but with New York’s criminal element once again! Writer Jimmy Palmiotti revisits the Marvel Universe, pitting Frank Castle against the Gnucci crime family for their most violent and visceral confrontation yet! As their conflict threatens to tear Hell’s Kitchen apart, it’ll fall to Daredevil to contain the chaos!
“Honestly, writing this series has been a blast and a true gift for me,” Palmiotti shared. “Reconnecting with this storyline, originally sparked during the Marvel Knights era, is pure adrenaline and nostalgia for me and gives me the opportunity to dive deeper into what makes both the Punisher and Daredevil unique in the Marvel Universe. Revisiting these iconic characters and their explosive ideological clash feels like slipping back into a gritty, familiar alleyway for me. The Punisher's wiped the Gnucci family off the map, but the vacuum doesn’t stay empty for long as Daredevil witnesses the birth of four new crime syndicates as they rise from the ashes to take over the city.”
“As Daredevil pursues the next wave of criminal empires, Frank’s determined to teach Matt Murdock that permanent justice comes at the barrel of a gun,” he continued. “It’s philosophy vs. firepower as Hell’s Kitchen becomes a battleground not just for turf—but for the soul of justice itself. Writing this has been an absolute thrill—almost criminal in how much fun I’m having. Stepping into Matt’s mind has been both a blast and a real gauntlet; the deeper I go, the clearer it becomes: both men are right, and both are wildly wrong. That tension? That moral knife-edge? It’s the heartbeat of this entire series.”
HAWKEYE: MY LIFE AS A WEAPON TP, $14.99: I have this in the regular comics, and as two trade paperbacks. Do I need it again, all in one place? Oh, who am I kidding. I can't stop myself.
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art by DAVID AJA
COLLECTING: Hawkeye (2012) #1-11, Young Avengers Presents (2008) #6
Clint Barton, the Avenger known as Hawkeye, fights for justice — and good rooftop BBQs! And with Young Avenger Kate Bishop by his side, it’s double the Hawkeye and double the trouble as they battle digital doomsday, dog detectives, lady problems, murder for money, tracksuited killers and more! It’s cars, guns and videotape as Matt Fraction and David Aja (IMMORTAL IRON FIST) reunite for this exciting, adventurous reimagining of the arrowed Avenger! Plus: Relive Kate’s first meeting with Clint as she learns wanting something can be miles away from actually earning it. And most important, Pizza Dog gets his own story! Can he solve the grisly murder that shocked Team Hawkguy? Who knows! He’s a dog!
INFERNAL HULK #1, $4.99: I still haven't read Immortal Hulk, so I'm WAY behind on these transformations.
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art and Cover by NIC KLEIN
New York, NY— August 15, 2025 — Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein’s INCREDIBLE HULK has reawakened monsters and reignited horror storytelling across the Marvel Universe! This November, they’ll launch INFERNAL HULK, a monstrous new chapter following their bold run that debuts the most terrifying Hulk in comic book history!
Teased yesterday, INFERNAL HULK picks up after Hulk’s epic rematch with the Eldest, the powerful firstborn of the Mother of Horrors, in October’s Incredible Hulk #30. The Eldest’s long-seeded plan comes to fruition as it uses the power of the Strongest There Is to usher in a new AGE OF MONSTERS, unleashing a dark destiny for the entire Marvel Universe and declaring war for its very soul!
INCREDIBLE...IMMORTAL...INFERNAL!
The evil known as Eldest has literally torn Bruce Banner and the Hulk apart and taken the Hulk’s body as their own. This new, unstoppable Infernal Hulk is ten times the monster that everyone always feared Hulk would be. Their diabolical plan is to plunge the world back into ancient horrors by transforming our heroes into nightmarish beasts! Meanwhile, the indomitable Bruce Banner, though powerless, will stop at nothing to thwart their evil schemes!
“I’ve been promising Hulk fans the biggest, boldest status quo change in Hulk’s history, and that time is finally here,” Johnson said. “The next few issues of Incredible Hulk give fans all the answers they’ve been waiting for about Eldest and the Mother of Horrors, and INFERNAL HULK is the beginning of a terrifying new normal, not just for the Hulk series but for the entire Marvel Universe.”
"Working on Hulk whether it be ‘Incredible’ and now ‘Infernal’ with Phillip has been a dream,” Klein said. “Phillip is not only an amazing world builder and craftsman who pours so much heart into this book, but he has also become a great friend and fantastic collaborator throughout this. INFERNAL HULK is where the journey was always going to go all along, and I’m excited to see reader’s reactions to it. I know I’m putting a lot of blood, sweat, ad tears into it, as always."
On what to expect in this new era, Johnson explains, “There are monsters way worse and more powerful than anything we’ve seen so far, bigger and stronger than Hulk with origins that go back to the foundations of the Earth. It’s time to take this story to the next level, and no corner of the Marvel Universe will be left untouched before the end.”
MARVEL KNIGHTS: PUNISHER #2 (OF 4): Palmiotti again! That's two books for Marvel at the same time, and I can't remember the last one he was involved with.
Written by JIMMY PALMIOTTI
Art and Cover by DAN PANOSIAN
FRANK CASTLE -- PRISONER?!
It’s no easy task to capture Frank Castle, and what his enemies do to him this issue is well beyond that. The upcoming series promises to shock, disturb and have readers on the edge of your seat. Buckle up!
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: THE MIGHTY THOR VOLUME 24 HC, $75.00 collects Thor #349-359, Thor Annual #13 and Marvel Graphic Novel #15. It feels like there's a new MMW every week. If I didn't know the line was coming to an end, I'd think it was booming. I guess they're just clearing it all out at once. Sad to see that MMW: Thor will end before Simonson's run does.
AGE OF REVELATION
EXPATRIATE X-MEN #2, $3.99
Written by EVE L. EWING
Art and Cover by FRANCESCO MORTARINO
GUERILLA WARFARE!
X YEARS LATER, Bronze, Ms. Marvel, Rift, Melee, and their guerilla flotilla make their way upriver, evading the surveillance of both Revelation and the U.S. Army. It’s clear that their recently-rescued charge Lyrebird is not who he seems to be. And withholding some details leaves his life on the line, as the team approaches the Limbo Lands... and the truth.
CLOAK OR DAGGER #2, $3.99
Written by JUSTINA IRELAND
Art by LORENZO TAMMETTA
Cover by MIKE MCKONE
EVOLUTION!
X YEARS LATER, the secret behind Cloak and Dagger’s evolution is revealed! The Fenris Twins don’t much care as long as they can kill Cloak or Dagger and get the human cargo they want! Your favorite Marvel Rivals characters inspire this evolution in your favorite super pair!
X-VENGERS #2, $3.99
Written by JASON LOO
Art by SERGIO DÁVILA
Cover by MIKE MCKONE
MOONSTAR ASSEMBLES WHAT’S LEFT OF THE AVENGERS!
X YEARS LATER, the Revelation Territories are under grave danger from the Technarchy! Can Moonstar and the X-Vengers save this mutant paradise? And why does Revelation not want them to?!
UNDEADPOOL #2, $3.99
Written by TIM SEELEY
Art by CARLOS MAGNO
Cover by E.M. GIST
THE MAN CALLED CABLE VS. UNDEADPOOL!
X YEARS LATER, Wade Wilson reunites with Nathan Summers, the man called Cable! But it’s not a happy reunion… Will the Undeadpool devour his mutant friend, or will Cable destroy his one-time partner? And you may be shocked – not everyone is getting through this alive!
NO 2: DC COMICS
BATMAN/GREEN ARROW/THE QUESTION: ARCADIA #1 (OF 4), $5.99: I was a big fan of Denny O'Neil's The Question, and I loved, loved, loved the DC animated universe version, voiced by the great Jeffrey Combs. (Who is never not good in anything.) I have no objection to the Renee Montoya version, except that I found Montoya more compelling as a police officer battling sexism and racism in her own ranks, rather than as The Question, where she seems generic. Maybe it's just me, but I don't feel the Montoya Question has the complexity, the backstory and the questionable pseudo-philosophies of the original, which raised Vic Sage into the rare atmosphere of "unique character." (And as I said, I loved the TV version where he's a conspiracy theorist, who is actually sometimes right!) And I should mention that I was really looking forward to The Question: All Along the Watchtower, and was crushed with disappointment.
But this one seems to be some sort of Elseworlds, with a Vic Sage who is still alive. He will compare and contrast well with Green Arrow and Batman (better than Montoya). And Bats and GA generally compare and contrast well with each other. So I'm interested. But after Watchtower, I think I'll tradewait (and review-wait).
BURBANK, CA — DC today announced Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia, a bold, character-driven new four-issue comic book series by acclaimed storyteller Gabriel Hardman, launching November 26, 2025, and publishing monthly under the publisher’s DC Black Label imprint. Writer/artist Hardman comes to DC Black Label with a hard-boiled modern twist on the DC thrillers of the 1980s, updating this opinionated trio of lone-wolf vigilantes, Batman, Green Arrow and the Question, for a new era of open class warfare and ecological collapse.
Written, pencilled, and inked by Hardman, with colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr. and lettering by Simon Bowland, Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia unites three of DC’s most ideologically distinct heroes in an expansive narrative of global stakes and personal reckoning. As Bruce Wayne forms a tenuous bond with a billionaire climate visionary, Batman begins to question the true purpose of Arcadia—an ocean-sailing city, climate-hardened against weather extremes, being constructed off the coast of Greenland. Meanwhile, Green Arrow and the Question investigate the darker realities hidden beneath Arcadia’s utopian promise.
"I’ve wanted to tell a story about Batman, Green Arrow and the Question since I was 14 years old and I couldn’t be more excited to finally get the chance,” said Gabriel Hardman. “While I’m taking inspiration from the great work of Denny O’Neil, Denys Cowan and Mike Grell, this series isn’t an exercise in nostalgia. I’m taking the grounded approach they spearheaded in the late 80s and moving forward, having these three difficult, opinionated personalities confront a contemporary brand of criminality on a global scale."
Through a high-stakes blend of suspense, espionage, and conflict, Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia is perfect for readers seeking complex narratives and iconic archetypes as the comic book series dives deep into the moral gray zones of three of the DC Universe’s most unyielding vigilantes. In Arcadia, working from the decaying husk of Hub City, Vic Sage, the Question, goes deep undercover on the trail of a human-trafficking operation in the frozen Arctic. Oliver Queen, the Green Arrow, pushed out of his own company’s C-suite, must get his crumbling life back together…but what is Queen Industries’ involvement with a mysterious project dubbed Arcadia? Spurred on by the Question, Green Arrow joins the hunt for answers…but one obstacle stands in the way of their investigation: the Batman.
Expect bold storytelling, dynamic visuals, and a tone that honors the psychological depth of its vigilante protagonists, each guided by their own code and clashing as often as they unite, while posing difficult questions: When justice fails, what remains? When power corrupts, who resists? And when principle becomes weaponized, who gets hurt?
Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1 will feature a main cover by Hardman and variant covers from Kevin Nowlan and the legendary duo of Denys Cowan & Bill Sienkiewicz. The Cowan and Sienkiewicz variant was originally seen on a DC poster promoting the 1988 “Fables” crossover between Detective Comics Annual #1, Green Arrow Annual #1, and The Question Annual #1, and has never been offered as a variant cover until now. The Cowan and Sienkiewicz variant will be available in standard card stock and trade-dress-free foil versions.
Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #1 publishes November 26, 2025, available wherever comic books are sold. Card stock covers will retail for $5.99 US while the foil variant cover will retail for $7.99 US. Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia will carry DC’s Ages 17+ content descriptor (for mature readers). Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia is edited by DC executive editor Chris Conroy and assistant editor Ash Padilla. Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia (hardcover, ISBN 9781799505518), collecting all four periodical issues, hits shelves June 16, 2026, and will retail for $24.99 US.
DC'S I SAW MA HUNKEL KISSING SANTA CLAUS #1 (ONE-SHOT), $9.99: Holiday special. Say, that Supergirl/Brainiac 5 cover suddenly seems like a deep cut. When was the last time they were a couple? I don't remember if they were romance-y in Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes (2006). If not, you might have to go back to pre-Crisis. I hope Jeff of Earth-J is reading this, as he is our resident Supergirl expert.
(W) Various
(A) Various
(CA) Chrissie Zullo
SHE DIDN'T SEE ME CREEP DOWN THE STAIRS TO HAVE A PEEP!
Written by Ashley Allen, Nathan Cayanan, Steve Orlando, Jadzia Axelrod, Dave Baker, Marly Halpern-Glaser, Sebastian Bader and Ash Padilla Art by Bruno Abdias, Michael Shelfer, Riley Rossmo, Hannah Templer, Nicole Goux and Anthony Marques Ah, the holidays. A time for joy and togetherness, presents and carols...and emotions, drama, and chaos galore. Join our merry gang of heroes and villains as they navigate the highs and lows of holiday romance. Supergirl kicks off her winter vacation with a blind date! Galaxy tries (and fails) to clear her superhero-ing schedule to spend Hanukkah with her sweetheart! And so much more! Warm up your winter with this collection of heartwarming and heart-racing tales coming to shelves this holiday season!
TRINITY: DAUGHTER OF WONDER WOMAN #5 (OF 6), $3.99: It feels like ages since issue #4. Was there a delay?
ABSOLUTE
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #14, $4.99
ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #14, $4.99
DC K.O.
DC K.O. #2 (Of 5), $5.99
FLASH #27, $3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #13, $3.99
SUPERMAN #32, $4.99: I'm still getting this title, but I've dropped most other DC titles until the K.O. event is over. I'm sure it's a very important story, and we've already been told it will lead into the next event. ("Armageddon," I think? Or am I thinking of Marvel?) But I feel comfortable skipping K.O. until then. I can always read it later at DC Universe Infinite or in a collection if I feel the need. It's weird to say as a comic book fan, but I'm really not into stories that can be resolved with a punch, especially where punching is the point. I don't even like boxing movies.
NO. 3: IMAGE COMICS
FREE PLANET VOLUME 1 TP, $16.99: Press release.
“Completely new and totally refreshing." —Daniel Warren Johnson, Transformers, The Moon Is Following Us
"Notes of Warhammer 40k and Firefly." —Kieron Gillen, The Power Fantasy, The Wicked + The Divine
“Shades of the cosmic imagination of Jack Vance, Jack Kirby, and Samuel Delany and Howard Chaykin’s great lost Empire.” —Jonathan Lethem, The Fortress of Solitude
PORTLAND, Ore. 08/05/2025 — Fan-favorite writer Aubrey Sitterson (No One Left to Fight, The Comic Book Story of Professional Wrestling) and critically-acclaimed artist Jed Dougherty (Savage Hearts, Worlds’ Finest) a dauntless, cerebral leap into a meticulously researched and visionary science-fiction epic with the upcoming Free Planet, Vol. 1. It is set to hit shelves this Winter from Image Comics.
Fans of series like Dune and East of West will enjoy sinking their teeth into this exploration of societal structure and suspenseful storytelling filled with separatist movements, counterrevolutionaries, and a looming trade war.
This all-new graphic novel series delves deep into a rich array of political themes echoing the scope and gravity of today’s hottest topics. Fans of series like Dune and East of West will enjoy sinking their teeth into this exploration of societal structure and suspenseful storytelling filled with separatist movements, counterrevolutionaries, and a looming trade war.
The first completely free planet in human history has won its independence. In Free Planet, readers follow a group of revolutionary heroes who must defend the planet’s unique energy source from a pair of hostile intergalactic powers while determining what complete freedom actually entails.
G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #26 – HAMA FILES EDITION, $3.99: What the what, now? Glad I'm not a G.I. Joe fan, and tempted to buy this. I'm not saying it's gouging, but it feels like it.
LOS ANGELES 08/07/2025 — Today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading games, IP and toy company Hasbro, announced the Hama Files Editions, a new program launching this fall that celebrates the most iconic issues of G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero, with insights from the man who knows them best, the legendary writer Larry Hama (Wolverine, The 'Nam).
The Hama Files are reprints of classic, pivotal issues of G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero that each include a brand-new letter from Larry Hama himself, offering behind-the-scenes information and special insights into the most important issues of the series. As the creative driving force behind G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero since day one, Hama brings an unmatched perspective to these landmark issues.
The program will launch with a special new printing of one of the most celebrated issues in G.I. JOE history—G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #26. From the creative team of writer and penciler Larry Hama, inker Steve Leialoha (Sandman, Fables), and colorist George Roussos (Fantastic Four, The Avengers), the new Hama Files edition of this iconic issue will arrive in comic book shops on November 26, 2025.
This unforgettable chapter reveals the explosive origin of one of pop culture’s most familiar characters: Snake-Eyes. First unveiled in this issue, the secret past of Snake-Eyes and his connection to Storm Shadow shook the foundations of the G.I. JOE universe. Widely regarded as one of the most demanded issues in the franchise’s history, G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #26 stands as a definitive moment that resonates with both longtime fans and new readers alike.
"Each issue of the Hama Files reprints an essential issue of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero,” said Alex Antone, Editorial Director at Skybound. “And inside each issue, a letter from the legendary Larry Hama, adds fresh insight and perspective to these all-time classic comics. We can’t wait for G.I. Joe fans to check ‘em out!”
In addition to the main cover by Mike Zeck & Bob Wiacek, the lineup of variant covers also includes an open-to-order variant cover by current G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero series artist Chris Mooneyham, as well as the foil version of Zeck & Wiacek’s cover.
G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero is a cornerstone of the historic collaboration between Skybound and Hasbro, alongside the shared Energon Universe that features ongoing series Void Rivals by Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead) and artist Conor Hughes (White Ash, The Game), TRANSFORMERS by writer Daniel Warren Johnson and artist Jorge Corona (Middlewest), and G.I. JOE by writer Joshua Williamson (Superman, Dark Ride) and artist Andrea Milana (Cobra Commander).
SKINBREAKER #3, $4.99: Press release.
Danger Comes from All Sides in Skinbreaker #3
Robert Kirkman & David Finch’s Explosive Series Continues HERE!
“With the superstar creative team of Robert Kirkman and David Finch, there is no way this title would disappoint” - Comicon
“Skinbreaker #1 is both a visually rich and emotionally charged slice of fantasy, uniting two legendary comic creators to deliver some of the best work of their careers.” - AIPT Comics
LOS ANGELES 10/30/2025 — Today Skybound and Image Comics shared the first look at Skinbreaker #3, from the iconic creative team of co-creator/writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), co-creator/artist David Finch (Batman, New Avengers), colorist Annalisa Leoni (Invincible Universe: Battle Beast), and letterer Rus Wooton (TRANSFORMERS). The breathtaking action epic returns to comic book shops on November 26, 2025.
Fueled by massive demand, Skinbreaker #1 sold out at the distributor level and has returned for a second printing in both its standard and oversized treasury editions, available now.
The acclaimed hit from Robert Kirkman and David Finch continues with issue #3! New enemies have come for The Elder and his tribe, but are his own people an even greater threat?
In addition to the main cover by David Finch, the cover lineup for Skinbreaker #3 includes a portrait variant cover by Finch and incentive variant covers by all-star artists Lorenzo De Felici, Eric Canete, and Tony Moore.
Skinbreaker #3 Treasury Edition features an oversized 8.5” x 13.25” presentation of the series to capture the incomparable grandeur of David Finch’s art. Experience all the action, bone-crushing battles, and shocking twists in this commemorative large format, presented on deluxe newsprint.
Skinbreaker #3 (of 8) (Lunar Codes Below | SRP: $4.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
The full list of covers is below:
Skinbreaker #3 Cover A by David Finch & Annalisa Leoni (Lunar Code: 0925IM0403)
Skinbreaker #3 Cover B (Portrait Variant) by David Finch & Annalisa Leoni (Lunar Code: 0925IM0404)
Skinbreaker #3 Cover C (1:10 Incentive) by Tony Moore (Lunar Code: 0925IM0405)
Skinbreaker #3 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) by Lorenzo De Felici (Lunar Code: 0925IM0406)
Skinbreaker #3 Cover E (1:50 Incentive) by Eric Canete (Lunar Code: 0925IM0407)
Skinbreaker #3 (of 8) Treasury Edition (Lunar Code: 0925IM0408 | SRP: $14.99) will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: DRACULA BLACK AND WHITE SPECIAL #2 (OF 2), $6.99: Good stuff.
UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: THE INVISIBLE MAN #4 (OF 4), $4.99: More good stuff.
No. 5: DARK HORSE COMICS
DEVIL ON MY SHOULDER #1 (OF 4), $4.99: I like the covers. But I'm always leery of a comic book when one of the creators says, "It's extremely cinematic." That worries me that they're aiming for a movie, where the real money is, and the comic book is an afterthought. That's probably too cynical. Here's a PREVIEW:
PRESS RELEASE: Dark Horse Comics presents Devil on My Shoulder, a new dark horror comic series from Kyle Starks and Piotr Kowalski. Written by Starks (Where Monsters Lie, Those Not Afraid), illustrated by Kowalski (Where Monsters Lie, Let This One Be a Devil), colored by Brad Simpson (Summer Shadows, Let This One Be a Devil), and lettered by Josh Reed (Arcana Royale, Where Monsters Lie), this four-issue miniseries begins on November 5. The first issue will also feature cover art by Kowalski, Martin Simmonds, and Christian Ward.
About Devil on My Shoulder:
Something terrible has happened. For forty days, Tee was tortured by five men and left for dead--but she will get her revenge on each and every one of them. And it will be bloody. An event that takes her on a strange and violent supernatural path of payback through bizarre encounters with ex-hitmen, sadistic art enthusiasts, and literal devils.
“I wanted to do something new with DEVIL ON MY SHOULDER -- I wanted to do something dark and horrifying. A true Horror Story in the style of the classic Bloody Revenges,” said Starks. “This book has terrible people doing terrible things and then suffering terrible consequences. Our villains are awful, do monstrous things and our heroine's revenge will be equal to what she takes if not worse. Be forewarned, this is not a comedy. This is not humorous. This is a violent and nasty, action-filled book for fans of horror comics, the Crow, Revenge, Kill Bill or I Saw The Devil. We made a book for lovers of revenge and violence and you couldn't ask for a better partner than Piotr Kowalski. This is our third book together and I think it's some of his best work yet -- it's extremely cinematic.”
TOMB RAIDER COLOSSAL COLLECTION VOLUME 2 HC, $99.99: Has anybody read any DH Tomb Raider? I don't think I have, but I'm considering getting these, because A) it's a lot of comics for very little money, and B) those gorgeous Adam Hughes covers. Here's a PREVIEW.
USAGI YOJIMBO VOLUME 41 TEN THOUSAND PLUMS TP, $24.99: Press release. Here's a PREVIEW.
MILWAUKIE, Ore., (May 23, 2025)— Dogu Publishing and Dark Horse Books offer fans the latest series in Usagi Yojimbo’s brilliant saga with Usagi Yojimbo Volume 41: Ten Thousand Plums. The newest volume in Stan Sakai’s masterpiece collects issues #1-5 and is currently available for pre-order in a paperback edition. Now, fans can also order a Limited Edition featuring a numbered tip-in sheet signed by Sakai. Usagi Yojimbo: Ten Thousand Plums features story, art, and lettering by creator Sakai and colors byHiFi Colour Design (“Ten Thousand Plums”) and Emi Fujii (“Tabo”). The limited edition includes new cover artwork by Sakai, colored by Emi Fujii, and a unique tip-in sheet signed by Sakai. Join Miyamoto Usagi, cousin Yukichi, and fan-favorite Gen in their continued adventures as the Usagi Yojimbo Volume 41: Ten Thousand Plums Limited Edition hardcover arrives alongside the paperback edition in November 2025
In Usagi Yojimbo: Ten Thousand Plums, colored by HiFi Colour Design:
The trees within the valley of ten thousand plums are beautiful to behold. But the umeboshi, or pickled plums, made in the local village are renowned for their strong medicinal properties and a favorite of the Shogun. As a series of deadly events grip the valley with fear, the Shogun's samurai strongman is immediately suspicious when Usagi, Yukichi, and Gen are caught wandering among the prized foliage. Can their appearance be a mere coincidence? This collection also includes Stan Sakai’s moving, personal “Tabo” story, colored by Emi Fujii!
Don’t get caught without Usagi Yojimbo Volume 41: Ten Thousand Plums Limited Edition when the 152-page (6.625” x 10.1875”) hardcover volume arrives in bookstores on November 25, 2025 and comic shops on November 26, 2025, for $59.99. Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or your local bookstore or comic shop. Visit Comic Shop Locator or Bookshop.org for more details and stores near you. The standard edition is also available for pre-order wherever you get your comics.
NO. 6: BOOM! STUDIOS
BRZRKR: THE BLEEDING TIDE #1, $9.99: Oh yeah, I've been meaning to get me some BRZRKR. It's going to be a movie. Or a TV show. Possibly with Keau Reeves. Or not. But it's going to be something. Here's a PREVIEW.
LAST DAY OF H.P. LOVECRAFT #2, $4.99: Here's a PREVIEW.
No. 7: DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
DISNEY VILLAINS: MALEFICENT VOL. 2 #2, $4.99: Press release.
A FRACTURED FAIRY TALE!
After discovering the existence of a new fount of magical energy, the Queen of the Forbidden Mountain is determined to take possession of it - no matter the dangers involved.
Opening a portal from her kingdom, Maleficent follows her two spectral guides into the mysterious realm of the Fae to begin her treacherous quest. But are these ghostly figures leading her to the source of the power - or to her own destruction?
Find out in the darkly enchanting second issue of author PAULINA GANUCHEAU and artist THEO STULTZ's Disney Villains: Maleficent Vol. 2 - featuring fetchingly foreboding covers by GANUCHEAU, STULTZ, ELLERY SANTOS, and ROBERT QUINN!
VAMPIRELLA HELLIDAY 2025 SPECIAL #1, $4.99: Holiday special. I know retailers are relieved by the logo placement on Cover C.
NO. 9: ONI PRESS
CATACOMB OF TORMENT #5, $4.99: I'm still on board.
(W) Christopher Cantwell, Evan Dorkin, Paul Tobin (A) PJ Holden, Lukas Ketner, Dan McDaid (CA) Mark Buckingham
Feeling the rusty shears of eager anticipation as they coarsely cut away your tendons of dread? You’ve come to the right place . . . because EC Comics is serving another tortuous session of frightful delights with the CATACOMB OF TORMENT!Prepare to be mortified—literally—as manacled writers Christopher Cantwell (Out of Alcatraz), Evan Dorkin (Beasts of Burden), and Paul Tobin (The Witcher) are forced to turn the crank and twist the tension-wracked fingertips of artists PJ Holden (2000 AD), Lukas Ketner (Count Crowley), and Dan McDaid (Epitaphs from the Abyss) into blood-spattered spectacle! Sound like fun? Our beloved host, the Tormentor, sure thinks so!
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AHOY COMICS
ANCESTRAL RECALL #4 (OF 5), $4.99
TOXIC AVENGER COMICS #5, $4.99
FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS
SEARCH AND DESTROY VOLUME 3 GN, $14.99
"Manga creator Atsushi Kaneko (EVOL, Bambi and Her Pink Gun) concludes his cyberpunk retelling of the timeless, Eisner Award–winning Dororo by “God of Manga” Osamu Tezuka (Astro Boy, Buddha)."
IRON AGE COMICS
DEAD HEAD #1 (OF 6), $4.99: Sounds like what DC K.O. wants to be.
TITAN COMICS
CONAN THE BARBARIAN SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT #3 (OF 4), $4.99: Press release.
Writer: Jim Zub, Artist: Ivan Gil, Colorist: Joao Canola
Conan of Cimmeria has encountered Stygian sorcery and snake-sent creatures many times in his grand adventures, but he has never faced the true unspeakable power of SET… until NOW.
The serpent god’s influence coils around the Hyborian Age and every other age linked to it. Thee stunning supernatural stories will weave together to answer a chilling question of past and present – What is Set’s grand plan for humanity and, now that it’s begun, can it be stopped.
LIFE IS STRANGE DELUXE EDITION VOLUME 1 DUST HC, $24.99: Press release.
Author: Emma Vieceli
Artist: Claudia Leonardi
Publisher: Titan Comics
HC, 144 pages, FC, $24.99
The first graphic novel in the award-winning series, rereleased in a deluxe hardback.
When her temporal abilities began to tear her apart, Max Caulfield must return to Arcadia Bay to confront her past.
The first graphic novel following the events of the original Life is Strange videogame, and the ending where Max sacrificed the town of Arcadia Bay to save Chloe. A year after making her fateful choice and forgoing her powers, building a new life in Seattle away from the trauma of her past, Max’s temporal abilities begin to return - beyond her control. Pulled between timelines without warning, she and Chloe leave Seattle to return to face the ruins of Arcadia Bay.
Haunted by the past, and by her uncontrollable flickering between realities, Max must fight to find a timeline where she belongs. Can Max and Chloe find the answer in the ashes of Arcadia Bay – or must Max sacrifice even more for her future?
Life is Strange vol 1: Dust Deluxe Edition collects the Life is Strange comic issues #1-4 in a new hardcover binding, plus never-before-seen art from the development of the series.
GAMERA REBIRTH: CODE THYRSOS VOLUME 1 TP, $12.99: Press release.
Author/Artist: Cambria Bakuhatsu Taro
Publisher: Titan Manga
SC, 192pp, B&W, $12.99
ISBN: 9781787747982
Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic Gamera film, this thrilling manga reveals the origins of the legendary kaiju in the prequel to the Netflix series.
Set in an ancient civilization, a vengeful boy battles powerful kaiju created for war, uncovering a dark conspiracy.
On the 60th anniversary of Gamera’s debut, GAMERA -Rebirth-: Code Thyrsos Vol. 1 reveals the shocking origins of the legendary kaiju – the prequel to the Netflix anime series. Set 100,000 years before the events of GAMERA -Rebirth- on Netflix, this thrilling prequel uncovers the rise of the ancient civilization of Elisitania, where powerful creatures were created for artificial wars to benefit the elite.
The story follows a boy named Lucius, who is left scarred and vengeful after witnessing the death of his father in one of these brutal conflicts. As the kingdom’s experiments lead to the creation of Gamera, a fire-breathing turtle with immense power, Lucius vows to dismantle the aristocracy and destroy the source of these monstrous creations.
With stunning artwork by Cambria Bakuhatsu Taro, this manga blends action, drama, and sci-fi, taking readers deep into the heart of ancient technology, kaiju warfare, and revenge. Fans of classic kaiju like Godzilla and Mothra will be hooked on this epic tale of a world that birthed the ultimate protector of nature—and the forces that sought to control it. GAMERA -Rebirth-: Code Thyrsos Vol. 1 is the beginning of a new monster saga!
Replies
I hope Jeff of Earth-J is reading this, as he is our resident Supergirl expert.
I'm reading this but I don't know the answer off the top of my head.
TRINITY: DAUGHTER OF WONDER WOMAN #5: It feels like ages since issue #4. Was there a delay?
Yes, this was supposed to have shipped last month.
G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #26 – HAMA FILES EDITION
I used to play with the dolls when I was little, and I bought the first issue back in 1982 on a whim. I couldn't even finish it. More recently (maybe 10 or 15 years ago...?) some company (Dark Horse, I think...?) reprinted it as a "Dollar Edition" (or something). "How bad could it really be?" I asked myself. I bought it on a whim for a second time, and couldn't bring myself to finish reading it for a second time. (I do have a G.I. Joe "Artist's Edition" portfolio by Michael Golden. That I like.)
SKINBREAKER #3 - This is a good series; I recommend it.
LiS FLIP THROUGH - To me, "LiS" will always be "Lost in Space."
Has the meaning of DC's "All-In" line changed from the initial releases? I am fairly certain that at first we understood that the Absolute titles had a certain brand and the regular DC Earth had another (I am blanking on which, as well as on which was assigned to the Absolute books).
But apparently these days there are "All-In" books both among the Absolute line and the regular line, and that label serves not to point different continuities but rather that the books connect to the larger storyline of dealing with timeline trouble and the latest Darkseid-related dangers.
It is fine if that is how it is. I just don't know whether that is the case. I hope so, because that would indicate that this Absolute line is not meant to simply run in parallel to the more consolidated continuity. I have developed a taste for continuities that actually go somewhere.
I thought "All In" was original recipe, to contrast with Absolute. But there's beginning to be some overlap, and there's definitely an overarching story developing. So you may be right that "the books connect to the larger storyline of dealing with timeline trouble and the latest Darkseid-related dangers." Like you, I'm not going to worry about the labels overmuch. And, like you, I tend to prefer continuities that go somewhere.
I thought "All In" was original recipe, to contrast with Absolute.
That was my understanding as well, but after losing all interest in the "Absolute" line (after giving it a good try), I pretty much lost all interest in branding as well. As always, I buy what I buy.
Regarding "continuities that go somewhere," I think that's the reason for the "Reset Button." AFAIAC, the post-Crisis DCU came to an end withthe death of Superman, Batman getting his back broken, and Green Lantern becoming Parallax. But in an ongoing universe the show must go on, so Superman comes back to life (after four imposters filled the roll), Bruce Wayne becomes Batman again (after Azrael), and Hal Jordan becomes Green Lantern again (after a stint as the Spectre). this happens at Marvel, too (see the "Captain Fascist" version of Captain America). I objected to the post-Flashpoint "New 52," but for all intents and purposes, "universes" restart all the time (every time there's a "new number one," say), but without a big cosmic "event" to bolster them, no one notices. The reason for these perpetual resets is that these universe can't end; they are damned to a cycle of "beginning, middle, new beginning."
Like Ragnarok!
Regarding "continuities that go somewhere," I think that's the reason for the "Reset Button." AFAIAC, the post-Crisis DCU came to an end withthe death of Superman, Batman getting his back broken, and Green Lantern becoming Parallax.
Since batman's broken back was mentioned, I take this opportunity to interject the following about something that's always bugged me.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia page "Batman Knightfall"
"Knightquest: The Search" follows Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth's search for Jack Drake and Shondra Kinsolving, the father of the current Robin and the physical therapist with whom Bruce Wayne had fallen in love during his rehabilitation sessions, respectively. Their investigation leads them to the Caribbean and then Great Britain. Kinsolving's brother-by-adoption Benedict Asp kidnapped her to use her special powers to kill people at a distance. Asp demonstrates this new form of mass murder on a small English village. When Bruce Wayne finds Kinsolving, he finds himself caught in the middle of a telekinetic tug-of-war between Asp and Kinsolving. The battle climaxes with her refocusing her energy to defeat Asp; as a side effect of the energy, Bruce's broken spine becomes healed. However, the drugs forced onto her by Asp, combined with the effects of the fight with Asp, reduce her mind to that of a child as Shondra's traumatised mind regresses to the past to escape her unhappy present, and Wayne reluctantly puts her into a mental institution.
It's interesting to me that the mental powers of this woman served to fix Bruce's unfixable back. Her mind is fried, so DC can pretend that Bruce never fell in love with a black woman. I'm willing to bet that they never mentioned her again.
Yes, the way they burned out Shondra in order to heal Bruce was disappointing.
However, canonically she did recover and appear again. First in the Azrael books, then in Batman #609 during the first "Hush" storyline.
Not sure that is much better, though. The implication is that this woman was his love interest, healed him at great personal cost... and somehow Bruce does not much remember her anyway.