The Immortal Iron Fist may soon be immortal no more. Danny Rand first appeared in the pages of Marvel Premiere #15 in 1974, and he'll soon receive a hearty celebration in the form of Iron Fist 50th Anniversary Special #1. Though such an occasion would typically call for a jubilee, the House of Ideas is teasing a "tragic turn" for the Protector of K'un-Lun. With the oversized one-shot featuring stories from every point in time, the publisher notes it Danny Rand's that will be most tragic. What that tragic turn has yet to be seen, other than the fact it will appear in one of the comic's five stories.

"Ever since I saw Danny Rand in those green and yellows, I was a fan--not just because we shared a name, but because that look was so iconic!" Marvel editor Danny Khazem shared of the anniversary issue. "So to be able to work on this issue with all of these talented creators is a huge honor and pleasure. Danny's story has spanned five decades, but the legacy of the Iron Fist spans MILLIONS of years! And this issue dares to be the next step in not only the future of Danny Rand, but the future of the entire Iron Fist lore! Strap in as this is just the beginning!"

Is Finn Jones returning as Iron Fist?

With some actors returning to their Marvel roles in the MCU, namely Charlie Cox and Vincent D'Onofrio, it has yet to be seen if Iron Fist star Finn Jones will be one of those who receive a callback. When we spoke with the actor in 2022, he told ComicBook he'd love to play the Sworn Enemy of the Hand once more.

"I would love to continue playing that character. I think there's a lot of room for growth. Personally, where I would like to see the reintroduction of the character would be something like a Heroes for Hire TV series," Jones said at the time. " I think that would be the most dynamic and fun way to reintroduce those characters. I loved working with Mike and I loved the on-screen chemistry between Danny and Luke. I think it's a really interesting creative place that show can be taken in. I'd love to pick up that mantle again and keep moving this character forward and make the best possible Iron Fist there could be."

Both seasons of Iron Fist are now streaming on Disney+.

The Energon Universe hit the ground running and hasn't looked back since, delivering several acclaimed Transformers and G.I. Joe solo series before the recent announcement of a new G.I. Joe team book. The train shows no signs of stopping anytime soon either, as in the most recent Image Comics Top 10 report for June, four Energon Universe books made the Top 10 Comics list, and they made up the first four spots in the list. Meanwhile, in the Top 10 Books list (Direct and Book Market), G.I. Joe led the charge as well. It's an impressive showing across the board, and you can check out both full top 10 lists below.

At the top of the Comics list were the two newest additions to the G.I. Joe line in Destro #1 (by Dan Watters, Andrei Bressan, and Adriano Lucas) and Scarlett #1 (by Kelly Thompson, Marco Ferrari, and Lee Loughridge). That was followed up by Transformers #9 and Void Rivals #10, and even though it's not part of the Energon Universe, G.I. Joe still racked up another win with G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #307. Just outside of the top 5 was Misery #1 by Todd McFarlane and Szymon Kudranski, and you can find the full top 10 below.

TOP 10 COMICS (Direct Market)

#1 DESTRO #1

#2 SCARLETT #1

#3 TRANSFORMERS #9

#4 VOID RIVALS #10

#5 GI JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO #307

#6 MISERY #1

#7 SPAWN #354

#8 UNIVERSAL MONSTERS' CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON LIVES #3

#9 GEIGER #3

#10 ROOK: EXODUS #3

On the Top 10 Books list, it was still Yo Joe all the way with Duke Vol. 1 by Joshua Williamson (Superman) and Tom Reilly (The Thing, Ant-Man) taking the number 1 spot. The top five also features big collections like Geiger Deluxe Edition Vol. 1 Hardcover, Phantom Road, Vol. 2, HACK/SLASH: Back to School, and more. The Dead Lucky Vol. 2 hit right outside the top five as well, and you can check out the full Top 10 Books list below

TOP 10 BOOKS (Direct & Book Market)

#1 DUKE, VOL. 1 TP

#2 GEIGER DELUXE EDITION, VOL. 1 HC

#3 HACK/SLASH: BACK TO SCHOOL TP

#4 PHANTOM ROAD, VOL. 2 TP

#5 PETROL HEAD, VOL. 1 TP

#6 THE DEAD LUCKY, VOL. 2 TP

#7 BLOODRIK TP

#8 OUR BONES DUST TP

#9 GRIZ GROBUS TP

#10 1949 HC

Which books did you pick up from Image's Top 10 lists? You can talk all things comics with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

In the eyes of many fans, Marvel Studios has become synonymous with San Diego Comic-Con, showing up at the annual event to announce new movies and television shows to great fanfare. The studio is already confirmed to be returning to the convention's iconic Hall H panel room, but as it turns out, that won't be the only panel Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige appears in. Based on a recent update to San Diego Comic-Con's panel schedule, Feige is confirmed to be appearing on Marvel Comics' "Marvel Fanfare" panel, which will occur in Room 6DE on Friday, July 26th. The panel will be a discussion between Feige, who also serves as the the CCO of all of Marvel, and Marvel Comics editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski.

"Marvel masters collide in an unprecedented meeting of page and screen!" the official panel description reads. "Marvel Comics editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski and Marvel Studios' president Kevin Feige discuss their mutual love for all things Marvel Comics along with some special surprise creators. With decades of creative storytelling at the House of Ideas between them, there will be no shortage of insider insights and unheard comic book anecdotes that you can't afford to miss. And if that wasn't enough... following the discussion, fans will receive an exclusive giveaway comic!"

What Is Marvel Bringing to San Diego Comic-Con 2024?

With the trailers for Marvel's next theatrical and Disney+ releases, Captain America: Brave New World and Agatha All Along, dropping earlier this week, there's no telling what else they might bring to their presentation. Other projects that are on the horizon and have begun filming include Thunderbolts*, Daredevil: Born Again, Ironheart, and Wonder Man. The studio's highly-anticipated reboot of The Fantastic Four is scheduled to begin production in the days after San Diego Comic-Con.

"Our director, Matt Shakman has already moved to London, and we start filming at the end of July," Feige revealed in an interview last month. "Funny story, we start shooting the Monday after Comic-Con. We start filming the day after on The Fantastic Four. I'm extremely excited, because those characters are mainstays, are legendary pillars of the Marvel Universe that we've never gotten to play with or explore in any significant way apart from [Doctor Strange in the] Multiverse of Madness and a few fun teases before, in the way we're doing that film. So, I'm extremely excited."

Your favorite DC superhero could soon make their way to an official collectible coin. Earlier this week, the United States Mint announced a new collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, which will honor DC's crop of characters on a series of commemorative coins and medals. This three-year deal will begin in the summer of 2025 with Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman honored as the first three heroes. From now until Sunday, August 11th, fans can vote on six additional characters who will earn their own coins in 2026 and 2027. The survey includes twelve established DC heroes for fans to vote for -- Aquaman, Batgirl, Black Canary, Blue Beetle, Cyborg, The Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Robin, Shazam!, and Supergirl.

The partnership, which is being billed as the first of its kind for the U.S. Mint, will have characters depicted on 24-karat gold coins, .999 fine silver medals, and non-precious metal (clad) medals. The art direction for the coins is spearheaded by United States Mint Chief Engraver Joseph Menna.

"This opportunity with DC signals an exciting new era for the Mint as we continue our efforts to engage seasoned collectors, but also connect with younger, more diverse audiences," said the Honorable Ventris C. Gibson, Director of the Mint. "We are thrilled to highlight the role that comic books have played in upholding American values, and the fact that the American public will be a guiding force in shaping this coin and medal series makes it even more special."

"For me, the real gift of creating coins and comic book collectibles is how happy they make people. With that incredible honor comes great responsibility. Nothing beats bringing joy to peoples' lives," said Menna. "Comic books are my greatest inspiration. Comic books taught me how to draw, to dream, and got me through some of the most challenging times in my life. I am really looking forward to celebrating the impact of comic art through coins and medals. I see this as an opportunity for me to combine all the worlds I love together, bringing to the American people what I hope will be the greatest collectibles of all time."

"It is an honor to collaborate with the Mint and immortalize DC's iconic place in American pop culture with this incredible set of collectible coins featuring the DC 'Trinity': Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman," said Preston Kevin Lewis, Head of Consumer Products & Retail Strategy, The Americas for Warner Bros. Discovery. "While the first set of coins releases in time for DC's 90th anniversary in 2025, we're eager to see how fans vote this summer when they select the next DC characters joining this engaging collaboration with the Mint."

As mentioned above, The U.S. Mint's DC survey will be available at their website from now until Sunday, August 11th.

The Bazooka Bubble Gum x DC crossover has been delightful, and now the King of Atlantis is joining the party. A number of DC's biggest icons have joined the Bazookaverse, including Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Batman, and now it's Aquaman's time to step into the spotlight. When Arthur isn't defending his underwater kingdom or the world above, he's more than happy to spend some time in the Bazookaverse, even taking some time to provide some water to Bazooka Joe, Pesty, and Mort. You can check out the full comic below, and you can find the entire run of Bazooka Bubble Gum x DC comics on the official hub.

The King of Atlantis

In the new comic, Joe, Petty, Mort, and Aquaman are hanging out on the basketball court. Mort is taking a few practice shots while Pesty and Joe take a break and drink some water, courtesy of the King of Atlantis himself Arthur Curry. Mort can't seem to make a shot though and could use some extra height, which he mentions as the rest of the crew hangs out by the court. Bazooka Joe then has a great idea, saying, "Maybe you should try spring water!" You can check out the full comic below.

Welcome to the Bazookaverse

The Bazookaverse is welcoming in the entire DC Universe, with characters like Wonder Woman, Batman, Green Lantern, Superman, and more finally being introduced to Bazooka Joe's colorful crew. That includes characters like Mort, Herman, Petty, Toughie, Tex, Pat, Gloomy Gus, Jane, and more. More crossovers are coming, and new digital comics featuring these crossovers can be found on Bazooka's Instagram, Facebook, and BazookaJoe.com, as well as right here on ComicBook.

Bazooka Bubble Gum was first launched in the United States in 1947, followed by the debut of Bazooka Joe comics in 1953. New friends joined Bazooka Joe and the Gang in 1983, and the brand celebrated its 27th anniversary in 2022. Bazooka is still going strong in 2024 and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

"The BazookaverseTM celebrates the brand's deeply rooted legacy in the comic world while delivering an immersive experience for fans everywhere to enjoy," said Rebecca Silberfarb, Vice President of Marketing at Bazooka Companies, LLC. "Coming together to collaborate with DC to kick start this series was such a great fit given both brands' significant impact on pop culture. Today marks a huge milestone for Bazooka, and the adventure has only just begun!"

Which DC superhero should jump into the Bazookaverse next? You can talk all things DC with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

This week has been a busy one for new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figure releases with the debut of NECA Mirage Studios figures, NECA The Last Ronin figures, and The Loyal Subjects San Diego Comic-Con 2024 exclusives. Everything you need to know about these drops can be found right here.

First we have the collection of Loyal Subjects SDCC 2024 exclusives, which includes 5-inch scale figures inspired by the IDW Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic series. The lineup includes Jennika, an Elite Foot Clan Solider, and a 2-pack with Metalhead and Donatello that transforms and glows in the dark. Pre-orders are available via the links below with a release date set for August 12th.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Limited Edition Transforming Metalhead & Donatello 2-Pack ($40) - See on Amazon
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Limited Edition Foot Elite: Comic Noir Figure ($30) - See on Amazon
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Limited Edition Jennika: Battle Ready Figure ($30) - See on Amazon

Next up we have a wave of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin figures from NECA, which includes 7-inch scale figures of Synja Robots (2-pack), Elite Synja Bot, and a Battle-Damaged Last Ronin, as well as a Last Ronin Accessory Set. Pre-orders are available via the links below with a release date set for August. Note that U.S. shipping is free at Entertainment Earth on orders $79+, and you'll automatically save 10% on in-stock orders when using our exclusive links.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Last Ronin Synja Robots 2-Pack ($70.99) - See at Entertainment Earth
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Last Ronin Ultimate Elite SYNJA Patrol Bot ($36.99) - See at Entertainment Earth
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Last Ronin Battle Damaged Ronin ($36.99) - See at Entertainment Earth
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Last Ronin Accessory Set ($49.99) - See at Entertainment Earth

Last year, NECA released a 4-pack of 7-inch scale TMNT figures that were based on the "Return to New York" storyline in Eastman & Laird's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic books from Mirage Studios. The set currently fetches around $200 from third parties, but you can now purchase the figures individually for $36.99 each, or $147.96 for the collection.

The figures are available to pre-order here at Entertainment Earth (free U.S. shipping on orders $79+) with a release date set for October. The lineup includes figures of Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Donatello with the following accessories:

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mirage Comics Raphael - Raphael includes interchangeable hands, extra bandaged arm, Casey Jones mask, sais, hood, blaster, and extra mask tie.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mirage Comics Leonardo - Leonardo includes interchangeable hands, Utrom head, swords, ninja stars, bow & arrow, and extra mask tie.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mirage Comics Donatello - Donatello includes interchangeable hands, bo staff, Mouser, Utrom, spear, and space tools.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mirage Comics Michelangelo - Michelangelo includes interchangeable hands, nunchucks, ninja stars, Mouser, kusarigama, space cuffs, and extra mask tie.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Comic Book Relaunch

IDW Publishing recently revealed that advance orders for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 has exceeded 300,000 units, so it would seem that a lot of fans are on board for a new era of TMNT comics.

"Launching a new TMNT comic series in the midst of the characters' 40th anniversary is clearly one of those dream jobs of all comic book dream jobs," Jason Aaron said in a statement to ComicBook on the announcement of his TMNT gig. "Especially for me, a kid who first fell in love with the Turtles all those years ago because of that original Mirage Studios series, buying those groundbreaking issues fresh off the rack, comics that kicked you in the face with their action-packed grit and gloriously raw attitude. I couldn't be more honored and thrilled to get to add to that esteemed legacy of comic book face-kicking, especially as part of an amazing IDW run that has expanded the world and timeline of the Turtles in such daring and exciting ways. In terms of what's to come, the kid in me wants you to know that you can expect some good old-fashioned grit, a sprinkle of dark, new attitude and all the bone-cracking action that four mutated ninja brothers can possibly handle."

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 goes on sale July 24th.

It's 1966. An angel and a telepath are casually eating pizza on a street corner. The angel worries they will miss seeing The Lovin' Spoonful play live if they don't hurry. The telepath asserts that the ethical thing for them to do would be to take over the world. This is The Power Fantasy #1 from the reunited Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt team of writer Kieron Gillen and artist Caspar Wijngaard, an introduction to an alternate reality where the dawn of the nuclear age also heralded, not coincidentally, the age of "superpowers," a term now specifically used for a handful of beings who each possess the destructive power of a nuclear arsenal.

The most powerful people to have existed ever discussing world domination over a slice is perfectly emblematic of the dissonance at the heart of The Power Fantasy's premise. How do the mundane, the fun, and the beautiful continue to exist in the shadow of all-powerful beings who could turn everything to dust on a whim or when losing their temper? Except that's not a fantasy. That's how we live every day, in the shadow of billionaires, tyrants, and the military-industrial complex.

One could label The Power Fantasy as a thinking person's superhero comic. Gillen's penchants for irony and wordplay are on full display, leveraging the double meanings of words like "superpowers" (i.e. The fantastical abilities, or the entities upon which the axes of political power swivel?) and the very notion of a power fantasy (i.e. It's clear early that The Power Fantasy is not a comic book for escapist wish fulfillment but deconstructing notions of power and how it is wielded).

The entire first issue follows Etienne Lux, the telepath from the opening sequence. The Power Fantasy was born of ideas Gillen had while working on the X-Men during the second half of the Krakoan era. In that light, it's easy to see Etienne as being loosely inspired by (though crucially, not analogous to) Professor X. During his time writing Immortal X-Men, X-Men Forever, and Rise of the Powers of X, Gillen continually challenged the notion that Professor X is a good man, pushing the question of what awful things such a person who is that comfortable in his power and entirely certain of his righteousness might do, unchecked, to achieve what he considers the morally correct ends.

That interrogation continues in Etienne who, unlike Professor X, is all about keeping power in check. Knowing that any battle between the superpowers would undoubtedly lead to mass extinction, Etienne has seemingly memorized the writings of all the great ethical philosophers, wielding their teachings like variables in an equation he has written to solve for right and wrong. And yet, his tense conversation with the book's angel, Valentina, and his tendency to speak is qualified, realpolitik-accented doublespeak (the right to live should be extended to "as many people as possible," "lying unnecessarily is unethical") is unnerving, hinting that a more practical realist lurks beneath his benign and erudite demeanor, one who has the power to commit mass violence with a mere thought.

Yes, The Power Fantasy could be described as a thinking person's superhero comic that walks in the footsteps of works like Watchmen (which may come off as somewhat ironic to anyone who has read Gillen and Wijngaard's Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt). However, it is also a comic book for anyone who might enjoy seeing a superpowered hippy be incinerated by an orbital laser only to mend himself back together again in the aftermath.

With The Power Fantasy, Wijngaard has reined in some of the raucous energy of his most recent work, the weathered anarchy of Home Sick Pilots and brutal savagery of All Against All. It's still recognizable as his artwork, but more focused and controlled, with some of his sharpest linework. It's a visual style that fits a story where every violent action could mean the end of life. When violence does occur and the delicate balance of power comes precariously close to tipping, offering Wijngaard the opportunity to tap into the controlled chaos of some of his previous work, it makes those moments--such as when a man's insides are burning away like the flickering of paper turning to ash--that much more arresting.

Superhero fans love to ask which hero would win in a fight against another of their kind if they ever came to blows. With The Power Fantasy, Gillen and Wijngaard suggest the answer is that no one would be left alive to declare a victor. It is a world that ups Watchmen's Cold War game by multiplying the threat of Doctor Manhattan by six and balancing humanity's continued existence on their ability to self-police. The Power Fantasy #1 begins in 1966 with Etienne sharing pizza with an angel. It ends in 1999, with Etienne cutting an interview short, having committed multiple ethically correct murders before lunchtime. On the final page, depicting Etienne walking away, blank white negative space creeps up from the bottom right-hand corner, as if hinting at things already beginning to come apart.

By the end of The Power Fantasy #1, the reader is left with the impression they're waiting for a bomb to go off. Or perhaps six of them. It's intense, yet understated, and gripping. Ripe with the potential for drama, intrigue, nuance, depth, and meaning, The Power Fantasy is primed to explode superhero comics.

Published by Image Comics

On August 7, 2024

Written by Kieron Gillen

Art by Caspar Wijngaard

Colors by Caspar Wijngaard

Letters by Clayton Cowles

Cover by Caspar Wijngaard

If you've been waiting for a Destiny figure to add to your Marvel Legends lineup, Hasbro is about to deliver - albeit as part of a 2-pack with Rogue. Odds are that won't be an issue for fans who will likely scoop this set up quickly when it drops on July 11th, most likely at 10am PT / 1pm ET right here on Amazon as an exclusive. A direct link will be added to this post after the set goes live. Stay tuned! UPDATE: Direct link added.

The info comes from Hasbro's Dan Yun, though details on accessories and pricing wasn't available at the time of this update. While you wait for the launch, make sure to check out the lineup of Marvel 85th anniversary figures that Hasbro has recently released in the Marvel Legends lineup. Reveals include Superior Spider-Man. Warbird, an Iron Fist and Luke Cage 2-pack, Ghost Rider, Venom, and more. Details can be found below.

The most recent addition to the Marvel 85th anniversary lineup of Marvel Legends figures with a Deluxe, comic book-inspired Odin figure that's now available to pre-order here at Entertainment Earth (free U.S. shipping on orders $79+) and here on Amazon. It will include weapon accessories, swappable hands, helmets, and Odin's mythical ravens Munin and Hugin.

The Marvel Legends The Cabal 3-pack launched last week and is still available to pre-order here on Amazon as an exclusive priced at $74.99.

"Bring the excitement and wonder of the Marvel Universe to your collection with Hasbro Marvel Legends The Cabal figure 3-pack! In celebration of Marvel's 85th anniversary, these collectible Doctor Doom, Taskmaster, and Iron Patriot figures are detailed to look like the characters from Marvel's Siege: The Cabal comic book. 6-inch scale Marvel figures are fully articulated with poseable head, arms, and legs. Marvel action figure set comes with 17 accessories, including fabric cape, alternate heads and alternate hands. Hasbro Marvel action figures' 6 inch scale make them great for posing and displaying in fans' collections."

Hasbro's Hulkbuster figure is inspired by the Iron Man comics. It will stand at over 9 inches tall, and will include swappable hands, armor pieces, and a tony Stark head. Pre-orders for the figure are now available here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon priced at $59.99.

"Bring the excitement and wonder of the Marvel Universe to your collection with Hasbro Marvel Legends Hulkbuster figure! In celebration of Marvel's 85th anniversary, this collectible figure is detailed to look like the character from Marvel's The Invincible Iron Man comic books. 6-inch scale Marvel figures are fully articulated with poseable head, arms, and legs. Marvel action figure set comes with 7 pieces, including an alternate head. Hasbro Marvel action figures' 6 inch scale make them great for posing and displaying in fans' collections."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES WOLVERINE (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $24.99 / Available here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon: "With unstoppable healing powers and adamantium metal claws, the astonishing Wolverine battles threats alongside the mutant X-Men team. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES WOLVERINE (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) figure. This quality 6-inch scale figure features deco inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel's Astonishing X-Men comics. The figure features extensive articulation and is highly posable for display and play. Includes figure and 6 comics-inspired accessories including masked and unmasked heads and hands with and without claws."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $29.99 / Available here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon: "When Doc Ock swaps bodies with Peter Parker, gaining his powers and conscience, he becomes the unlikely hero Superior Spider-Man. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN (85th ANNIVERSARY) figure. This quality 6-inch scale figure features deco inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel's The Superior Spider-Man comics. The figure features extensive articulation and is highly posable for display and play. Includes figure and 11 comics-inspired accessories including alternate head and Spider-Arms with removable backpack."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES IRON FIST AND LUKE CAGE (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $49.99 / Available here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon: "Luke Cage and Iron Fist reach new heights as heroes when they're called to join the roster of New Avengers, teaming up to fight for justice. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES IRON FIST AND LUKE CAGE (85TH ANNIVERSARY) 2-pack. These quality 6-inch scale figures feature deco inspired by the characters' appearances in Marvel's The New Avengers comics. The figures feature extensive articulation and are highly posable for display and play. Includes 2 figures and 12 comics-inspired accessories including alternate head and hands for each figure."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES GHOST RIDER (DANNY KETCH) (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $49.99 / Available here at Entertainment Earth / Amazon: "When Danny Ketch crosses paths with a cursed motorcycle, he is transformed into the Spirit of Vengeance, wielding supernatural powers as Ghost Rider. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES GHOST RIDER (DANNY KETCH) (85TH ANNIVERSARY) figure set. This quality 6-inch scale figure and vehicle features deco inspired by their appearances in Marvel's Ghost Rider comics. The figure features extensive articulation and is highly posable for display and play. Set comes with 6-inch scale Hell Cycle vehicle with moveable foot peg, semi-translucent fire wheels, and fire stands for displaying on 2 wheels or 1. Includes figure, bike and 9 comics-inspired accessories including motorcycle display pieces and alternate hands and chain for figure".

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES SKAAR, SON OF HULK (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $39.99. See at Entertainment Earth: "Bring the excitement and wonder of the Marvel Universe to your collection with Hasbro Marvel Legends Skaar, Son of Hulk figure! In celebration of Marvel's 85th anniversary, this collectible figure is detailed to look like the character from Marvel's Skaar: Son of Hulk comic books. 6-inch scale Marvel figures are fully articulated with poseable head, arms, and legs. Marvel action figure set comes with 5 accessories, including alternate head and alternate hands. Hasbro Marvel action figures' 6 inch scale make them great for posing and displaying in fans' collections. Reimagine Marvel comics-inspired scenes on your shelf with Marvel Legends action figures."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES VENOM (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $24.99 - This Walmart Exclusive is expected to launch on July 25th or 26th during Walmart's next SDCC Collector Con event. When it does drop, you'll be able to find it here. "When Spider-Man breaks free from an alien symbiote, it latches onto Daily Bugle reporter Eddie Brock - who becomes the supervillain Venom, seeking revenge on the web-slinger. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES VENOM (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) figure. This quality 6-inch scale figure features deco inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel's Spider-Man comics. The figure features extensive articulation, is highly posable for display and play and comes on collectible cardback packaging with retro-inspired design. Includes figure and 3 comics-inspired accessories including alternate hands and an alternate head."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES MARVEL'S WARBIRD (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $24.99 / Target Exclusive / Release Date TBA: "After damaging her powers while saving Earth's sun, Carol Danvers joins a team of Avengers and takes on the codename of Warbird. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES MARVEL'S WARBIRD (85th ANNIVERSARY) figure. For the first time, fans can add Carol Danvers as Marvel's Warbird to their collection. This quality 6-inch scale figure features deco inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel's Avengers comics with her black Warbird-era costume from her time on the Avengers team. The figure features extensive articulation and is highly posable for display and play. Includes figure and 5 comics-inspired accessories including alternate head, hands, and power FX."

Michael Bay is making the move from the big to the small screen for Netflix's Barbaric. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the bombastic filmmaker known for big-budget franchise tentpoles like Transformers and Bad Boys is in talks to direct an adaption of the Vault Comics fantasy series Barbaric for Netflix. The streamer will team with A+E Studios to develop Barbaric. The series will be headlined by Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Daisy Jones & The Six) and Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek: Picard). Barbaric is one of the most popular comics for Vault, known for creator-owned science fiction, fantasy, and horror comics.

Barbaric is enlisting Sheldon Turner (Up in the Air, X-Men: First Class) as a writer and executive producer. Joining Turner as executive producer are his partner at 100% Studios Jennifer Klein, Vault Comics' F.J. DeSanto and Damian Wassel, Claflin via his production company Cusp Films as well as Luke Carroll and Michael Stevenson, and A+E Studios' Barry Jossen and Tana Jamieson.

What is Vault Comics' Barbaric about?

The description of Barbaric reads, "Owen The Barbarian has an axe. And he's gonna do good with it if he has to kill someone. Owen the Barbarian has been cursed to do good with what remains of his life. His bloodthirsty weapon, Axe, has become his moral compass with a drinking problem. Together they wander the realm, foredoomed to help any who seek assistance. But there is one thing Owen hates more than a life with rules: Witches. Welcome to the skull-cracking, blood-splattering, mayhem-loving comic brave enough to ask: How can a man sworn to do good do so much violence? Hah! F***ing with you. It's just...BARBARIC."

Barbaric is written by Michael Moreci with art by Nathan Gooden. It has sold over 500k copies, three collected volumes, and has spawned a spinoff series titled Queen of Swords.

Sam Claflin will star as Owen the Barbarian, with Patrick Stewart providing the voice of the demonic axe.

Michael Bay developing bounty hunter series for Amazon Prime Video

Michael Bay is already working with another streamer on a TV series. Bay will be executive producing and directing a new currently-untitled television series for Prime Video. The action drama project will mark the first time that Michael Bay is directing television. It is created and written by TV writer Joe Barton, and will center on an American bounty hunter working South of the border who finds himself in a desperate fight for survival when the man he's been chasing down lands them both in trouble with the Mexican cartel.

"I was inspired about 5 years ago hanging out down in Costa Rica, with a former US Federal Agent, who surfs every day, living the good life," Bay said about the project's origins. "He supports his fun, relaxed lifestyle in Costa Rica by tracking down 'Bad Gringos' hiding out down in South America."

"I couldn't be more excited to be partnering with Michael Bay and Amazon to bring this thrilling and action-filled show to the screen," Barton added.

Photo credit Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images, Vault Comics, Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Peabody Awards

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles turn 40 this year, the perfect age for a midlife crisis. Indeed, after a stellar 12 years of publishing the longest-running Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book in the franchise's history, IDW is relaunching the series with a brand-new first issue. Jason Aaron is writing the new series, which begins with four issues, each featuring a different artist, focused on a different Ninja Turtle. Joelle Jones goes first, drawing the Raphael-focused debut. In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1, Aaron and Jones offer longtime fans something that feels undeniably inspired by the original TMNT comics published by Mirage 40 years ago without being slavishly devoted to them, all while making the Turtles' wild and expansive universe easily digestible for new fans.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 finds Raphael in prison, having landed there after being caught doling out a particularly vicious dose of vigilante justice. He's brokered a deal with the warden to root out corruption among the security and staff at the facility. However, that plan becomes considerably more complicated when a group of new inmates turn out to be ninjas.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 featuring only one Ninja Turtle allows Aaron and Jones to tailor the story's execution to suit Raph's specific character. Aaron reaches back into his toolbox of noir tricks that he assembled during his Scalped days, giving Raphael an internal monologue illuminating what has happened to the Turtles in the months since the end of the previous Turtles series. More importantly, it lets readers into Raph's headspace and draws out his distinct voice, akin to a protagonist in a hard-boiled crime novel. Jones's artwork is slick and inky, with Ronda Pattison's washy colors giving everything a dreamlike, slightly liminal feel. The visual atmosphere helps reiterate that Raph is far removed from the world he knows and further establishes the issue's dark underworld atmosphere.

More than anything, having Raph spend most of the issue monologuing to himself while being visually set apart from all the other inmates highlights how alone he is, a recurring theme throughout the issue. One particularly melancholy page has a panel at the top that shows Raph's memory of leaping across the city skyline with his brothers, drawn with fierce, youthful energy. Beneath, we see Raphael in darkness, languidly dragging three inmates through a sewer tunnel like a mythic hero set a punitive task in the underworld after their death, emphasizing how far he's fallen since he and his family went their separate ways.

Some may be skeptical of the four-issues-four-artists-four-turtles approach but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 confirms that the format isn't some gimmick meant to produce airy one-offs to prolong the relaunch into a slow rollout. Rather, the structure is central to the narrative. Reading Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1--especially when taken in tandem with the prologue story in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Alpha #1--it becomes clear that the Turtles have split apart and are individually weaker for it. They're imprisoned and now the prey of their enemies. In these first four issues, readers will presumably be treated to a showcase of what makes each turtle tick before ultimately seeing them reunite as a family, growing stronger in the process.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 shows that you can streamline a long-running series to make it inviting to new readers, drawing inspiration from the past and the familiar without creating a story that feels regressive. Aaron, Jones, and Pattison have produced a comic book that feels undoubtedly indebted to the original TMNT stories that Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird made, channeling some of that same, as Aaron put it in an interview, "grit" that characterized the earliest TMNT era. And yet, the issue still feels like it is doing something fresh and new with the Turtles rather than simply playing the hits or becoming a pastiche, making Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 one of the best relaunches I've seen in a long while.

Published by IDW Publishing

On July 24, 2024

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by Joelle Jones

Colors by Ronda Pattison

Letters by Shawn Lee

Cover by Rafael Albuquerque

A member of the Young Avengers is the newest Marvel hero to join The Ultimates. The Ultimate Universe version of Earth's Mightiest Heroes are back in a new ongoing series, but this is not the same Ultimate Universe that longtime Marvel fans are used to. The Maker, an evil version of Reed Richards, has traveled back in time to create his ideal world by stopping heroes from reaching their true destinies. However, a group of superheroes led by Iron Lad (Tony Stark) have stepped up as a resistance. Though their numbers are small, the Ultimates are quickly adding to their ranks, and their newest recruit is another familiar face.

*WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for The Ultimates #2. Continue reading at your own risk!

The Ultimates #2 comes from the creative team of Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, Federico Blee, and VC's Travis Lanham. It focuses on the Ultimates storming the White House for a showdown against Midas. There are flashback scenes that feature Tony Stark giving Captain America a holographic history lesson on the United States of the Ultimate Universe. We get quick cameos of recognizable Marvel characters like Galactus meeting Maker, mutants protesting at the Capitol for equality, Iron Man and War Machine fighting Omega Red, a Roxxon plant polluting the Savage Land, Punisher and his followers, and more.

But it's what is in the lower levels of the White House that has the Ultimates' attention. When Iron Lad blasts the floor, Midas (wearing Howard Stark's original Iron Man armor) and the Ultimates fall below. It's here that we discover Midas is keeping a superhero captive and using her energy to power the country. Midas has bathed in her cosmic radiation for an hour per day, and she's never spoken a word during her imprisonment. We don't know her identity, but she's held inside a device and we can see the radiation creating the shape of a star. And there's one superhero who can create energy bursts in the shape of a star: America Chavez. To celebrate America Chavez's Ultimates debut, Marvel released a spoiler cover for Issue #2 by artist Inhyuk Lee.

How The Ultimates rescue America Chavez

As Midas beats and pounds on Captain America, Steve Rogers keeps repeating how he has to save America. This has a double meaning: yes, he wants to save America from Maker's evil council and turn it back into the country it was always destined to be. But saving America Chavez is also the mission that the Ultimates are undertaking. Just as it appears that Midas is getting the upper hand, Wasp blasts the controls of the device holding America Chavez. Captain America then breaks Midas' neck with his shield.

"A great injustice was done to you, but things will be better now," Captain America tells America Chavez. "Can you remember your name?" As the Ultimates walk away on the White House front lawn, the issue ends with America Chavez weakly stating, "America..."

The question remaining is will America Chavez take up the Ultimates' cause and join them? Or will she be an ally that comes and goes throughout this first year of The Ultimates series? The heroes only have 16 months before Maker emerges to reclaim what is being taken from him.

No longer are mutants the next step in human evolution. This week's X-Men #1, the first title in Marvel's X-Men: From the Ashes relaunch, sees Cyclops leading a new mutant strike team -- Beast, Psylocke, Magik, Temper, Kid Omega, and Juggernaut -- under Magneto. With Professor X imprisoned for crimes against humanity and Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters refitted into Graymalkin Prison, Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman's X-Men have set up shop in The Factory: an Alaska-based former Sentinel factory that manufactured the killer robots for the anti-mutant organization Orchis.

Spoilers for X-Men #1. The 34-page issue, "Fire-Baptized Species," sends the X-Men to Santo Marco after Cerebro detects six new mutants. There they battle an X-branded Orchis remnant, Fourth School, which was formed after the artificial intelligence-powered Nimrod and Omega Sentinel betrayed the human parts of Orchis in Rise of the Powers of X.

Fourth School is "a mishmash of Orchis science-propaganda and half-baked John Sublime U-Men memes," according to Juggernaut, referring to an ancient sentient bacteria that propagated the idea of a "Third Species" during the Grant Morrison-penned New X-Men in the early 2000s. Sublime's self-mutated U-Men utilized cosmetic-gene surgery to turn humans into mutants, calling this third species "Homo Perfectus."

The Orchis Fourth School cell believes that the "Third Species" predicted by Sublime is actually A.I. -- and so they must become the Fourth Species, a mix of human, A.I., and mutant. "The good news is that they no longer hate us," Temper says. "The bad news is that they want to become us by consuming us."

It turns out the new mutants are adults -- something that should be impossible because the mutant X-gene activates at puberty. And it's even more impossible that six X-genes would activate all at once in adults. Kid Omega's telepathic powers confirm that they're "real mutants" and not "Frankenstein graft-jobs," only for Fourth School's mutants to use their own powers against the X-Men.

Watching from off-panel is a shadowy group known only as 3K, which turned this sextet of spies and terrorists into man-made mutants. Back in Alaska, Cyclops hands over a severed arm for Beast to investigate how six adult Orchis Fourth School agents manifested active X-genes at the same time, and who might be behind the mysterious mutants.

While that's a question for upcoming issues, X-Men #1 ends with an exclusive stinger scene that is accessible only by QR code. Readers who scan the code are taken to a bonus scene not included in the issue itself (which you can see below), and it shows the mystery members of 3K at a table marked with an "X": The Zealot, The Doctor and her son, The Means, and The Chairman. And their "Great Work" has only just begun.

"Some mutants have reintegrated back into the human world. X-Men isn't about those mutants," MacKay wrote in an issue-ending letter page. "Ours are the ones who can't, won't, go back. Former mutant terrorists, villains, and assassins, our misfit X-Men have built a home and a base from the ruins of the previous age. Let the world hate and fear the X-Men. If the world has a problem, the world knows where to find them: a home built on the bones of shattered Sentinels, marked with an X. The dream is dead, and so new dreams rise."

MacKay added: "But among those dreams, like a shark in a shoal, is a nightmare: one called 3K."

Marvel's X-Men #1 is on stands now.

Michael Zulli, a beloved artist known for his work on titles like The Sandman, The Puma Blues, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, has passed away at the age of 71. Born on December 20, 1952, Zulli had a decades-spanning career as an artist and illustrator, both on mainstream comics and on cult-favorite work such as The Puma Blues.

"Just heard that Michael Zulli passed away," writer J.M. DeMatteis wrote on social media. "Michael and I worked on a number of projects together in the late 90s/early 2000s. He wasn't just a brilliant artist, he was a brilliant man: deep, passionate, philosophical. Condolences to his family. Safe travels, Michael."

Zulli's first published comic work was with Dave Sim on The Puma Blues, working on the series' entire initial run from 1986 through 1989. Beginning in 1988, Zulli also wrote and illustrated a trio of issues of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dubbed the "Soul's Trilogy" arc, which controversially rendered the iconic characters in a realistic style.

"The only training I ever had in comics was, believe it or not, I'd gone to the local bookstore and bought How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way," Zulli told The Comics Journal. "Which was a complete disaster, but I did learn a few things that I found technically appropriately. To this day I still cannot draw a comics page with blue pencil. I tried but I just hated the damn thing. The learning curve was daunting to say the least."

A year later, Zulli first joined Neil Gaiman on The Sandman #13, which introduced the beloved supporting character Hob Gadling. He then illustrated a total of seven issues of The Sandman, including the series' original finale "The Wake." Zulli's work on "The Wake" earned three Eisner nominations in 1996, for Best Serialized Story, Best Penciller/Inker, and Best Comics-Related Item. Zulli and Gaiman also collaborated on the 1994 adaptation of Alice Cooper's album The Last Temptation, and an unfinished Sweeney Todd story for Taboo. His other notorious unpublished work was an issue of Swamp Thing, which would have seen the character cross paths with Jesus Christ.

Zulli continued to work on comics into 2011, working on titles such as The Sandman Presents: Love Street, Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man, and Star Wars Tales.

Our thoughts are with Zulli's family, friends, and fans at this time.

Bigfoot is hanging on to this week's Top 10 after an announcement from Fox brought a book to the spotlight once more. In Reign II, Kaare Andrews revisits Spider-Man's future, leading to a new critical cover appearance. Nova also takes a spot in our top ten because of another key to chase. A DC team is still the favored rumor to appear opposite Superman in his upcoming film, and Doom continues his steady popularity streak. Deadpool & Wolverine is just around the corner, and three books relate to the heroes this week. A super sneaky Moon Knight variant has been making waves in the aftermarket, and a new rumor about Captain America: Brave New World brings back an old fan-favorite cover!

Want to know what comic books are trending each week and why? COVRPRICE.COM uses live sales analytics to identify and compile the most robust market price guide, highlighting the weekly top trending comics. No opinions. Just data. Each week, they present a newly updated list of the TOP 10 COMICS trending in the aftermarket. These trends are due to rumors, fan-favorite covers, story-driven content, and content-related news.

Top 10 Comic Books Rising in Value for the Week of 07/08/24

1: X-FORCE Vol.1 #1 | Marvel | June 1991: While anticipation for Deadpool & Wolverine is building towards the release date, Captain America: Brave New World has been putting out tons of news/rumors. This past week, a rumor was released about Giancarlo Esposito's character in the film. In case you missed it, the actor was cast late, and leaked set photos of the reshoots showed Esposito in what looked like a military/mercenary outfit. Fans were trying to pinpoint who the actor could be playing but could not find an answer. That is until a known insider tweeted that it was the character George Washington "G.W." Bridge. This character was a mercenary in a group called the Wild Pack, led by Cable. He later went on to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. Does this mean Esposito will be with the MCU for more than just this movie? Who knows. The only thing we know for certain is that the rumor caused a huge spike in interest for this cover (and all its card variants!). We tracked 26 copies sold, at a 7-day growth trend of 269%. This number is conservative, as we have broken down the book into separate entries for each card variant. This variant had a high sale of $75 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current NM raw FMV at $12.

2: MOON KNIGHT: FIST OF KHONSHU #0 - Alessandro Cappuccio - Secret (1 per store) | Marvel | July 2024: It seems that surprise variants have been the trend in comics for 2024. Marvel's secret one-per-store secret variants have always been extremely popular and done well in the aftermarket. Moon Knight is no exception. The new Moon Knight series is a highly anticipated book, and this prequel has drawn many eyes to it. However, no one expected a secret variant to be released under the radar. It immediately picked up speed and value, making it one of the best-selling books in the aftermarket this past week! We tracked it at a high sale of $48 for an NM copy and a current NM raw FMV at $44.

3: THE NEW MUTANTS #98 - Rob Liefeld - Regular | Marvel | February 1991: It seems like Deadpool & Wolverine has been the talk of the MCU for the past year... and it's true! Since this is the only film being released by Marvel this year, it has generated a ton of buzz. The rumor is that Deadpool will "reset" the MCU in a major way, paving the path for a new plan in the cinematic universe. If Deadpool really is "Marvel Jesus," then this book will be the holy grail of his legend. Many are counting on this movie putting this book out of reach and grabbing it before the fire gets too hot! We tracked it at a high sale of $1,059 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current NM raw FMV at $353.

4: WOLVERINE #88 - Direct Edition - Deluxe - $1.95 Price | Marvel | December 1994: Have you heard? Deadpool & Wolverine's release date is right around the corner. Early ticket sales reports show that it is on a trajectory to break many records in a short couple of weeks. Fans are rushing out to pick up iconic covers of the duo, and this book is one of the best! It depicts the first meeting and fight between Deadpool & Wolverine, sporting a phenomenal cover. The $1.95 price variant has been a top pick for collectors these past few weeks! We tracked it at a high sale of $425 for CGC 9.8 copy and a current NM raw FMV at $66.

5: DOOM #1 - Sanford Greene - Regular | Marvel | May 2024: Doom continues to trend between our Top 10 and our Runner-Ups! Doom's popularity as a character sent this book flying on the aftermarket. However, what fueled its staying power is the subtle, almost hidden tribute to late rapper MF Doom. The text in the first pages of the issue is directly pulled from the late rapper's lyrics. It's been nearly two months, and this book is still trending strongly. We tracked it at a high sale of $120 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current NM raw FMV at $38.

6: X-MEN #11 | Marvel | August 1992: Jim Lee stands tall as one of the most popular comic book artists of all time. Recently, the artist announced that he would open his commissions again after a 15-year hiatus. While the pricing may have surprised many in the community, it did shine a light back on the renowned artist. Jim Lee and Wolverine fans rushed to the aftermarket to pick up iconic pieces of his work. The prices on this book are extremely reasonable for such an iconic comic book cover. We tracked it at a high sale of $95 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current NM raw FMV at $10.

7: THE AUTHORITY #1 | DC | March 1999: The Authority is still a popular fan theory in the aftermarket. Speculation is that The Authority would debut in James Gunn's upcoming film, Superman. The Engineer has already been cast and confirmed to be in the film. In addition, more and more heroes are popping up in the film. This past week, we saw a leak of a set photo featuring Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl. With so many additional heroes making their appearance, the rumors that Superman will be facing a team of adversaries instead of a singular villain are sounding more reasonable. We tracked it at a high sale of $130 for a CGC 9.6 copy and a current NM raw FMV at $43.

8: ANNIHILATION 2099 #1 - Pete Woods - First Appearance (1:25) | Marvel | July 2024: All eyes are on the MCU as we prepare for the only MCU film of the year to debut later this month. Even though we only received one movie this year, other projects have continued to make progress. In early March, Marvel confirmed that they were still working on the Nova project. There isn't much known about this project, and nearly all Nova keys were hot on the aftermarket at some point this past year. This week, it looks like fans are chasing the latest Nova to debut - The Last Nova. The book is also a retailer incentive, making this key much more desirable. We tracked it at a high sale of $43 for an NM copy and a current NM raw FMV at $34.

9: SPIDER-MAN: REIGN 2 #1 - Lesley Leirix Li (1:25) | Marvel | July 2024: Many might remember the first iteration of Spider-Man: Reign. Its release divided fans; half applauded the storyline, while others questioned why certain parts were included (radioactive sperm, anyone?). It was also the first time Peter's web-slinger was put on display in the infamous "Nude Panel" of the first issue, which was quickly recalled. This issue brings us back to this world, introducing new characters to the universe. This issue debuts Kitty Cat, Black Cat's daughter, and Earth-70237 Miles Morales. In addition to these appearances, this book is also the first cover appearance of Kitty Cat, and it is a retailer incentive. In addition to all this issue has going on, the cover is also by an often chased cover artist, Leirix Li. We tracked it at a high sale of $16 for a VF copy and a current NM raw FMV at $27.

10: PROOF #1 | Image | October 2007: A new supernatural crime series is coming to Fox, and it involves an FBI agent partnering with Bigfoot. The two go on missions to protect the world from creatures of myth. It is a fun twist on the buddy-cop stories, often described as a cross between Men in Black and The X-Files. The series comes to Fox from writers Cory Goodman and Jeremy Lott, who previously worked on projects like Priest, Underworld: Blood Wars, and Bass Reeves. The premiere issue has generated tons of buzz, landing it on the Top 10 list this week! We tracked it at a high sale of $103 for an NM+ copy and a current NM raw FMV at $63.

ComicBook can report that comic book publisher BOOM! Studios has been acquired by Penguin Random House in a major shake-up for the comics world. This marks the latest behind-the-scenes change for BOOM! since the company's founding in 2005. More recently, 20th Century Fox purchased minority stake in the publisher in 2017, after they held the company's first-look deal for several years. That ownership later carried over to The Walt Disney Company following their 2019 acquisition of Fox's assets.

In recent years, Penguin Random House has become a growing player in the comics industry, handling distribution and marketing for DC and direct market distribution for Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, and more.

It is unclear how this deal affects BOOM!'s distribution deal with Diamond Comics Distributors, nor is it clear if layoffs are coming for the employees of the publisher. But ComicBook.com has learned that today, July 10th, is the last day of Filip Sablik, the President of Publishing and Marketing at BOOM! Studios.

This story is developing and will be updated as we learn more.

What Comics Does BOOM! Studios Publish?

Founded by Ross Richie and Andrew Cosby in 2005, BOOM! Studios has become a unique facet of the comics and graphic novel industry, publishing a wide array of concepts. This has included licensed franchises like Power Rangers, Magic: The Gathering, Dune, Firefly, Adventure Time, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The publisher has also produced a number of original hits, including Something Is Killing the Children, Lumberjanes, Slam!, Keanu Reeves' Brzrkr, and Damn Them All. BOOM! currently has four different imprints -- Boom!, KaBoom!, Archaia, and Boom! Box.

Is Netflix Working with BOOM!?

In 2020, it was announced that BOOM! would have a first-look deal with Netflix, with the company bringing on former Marvel Television executive Mark Ambrose to spearhead things. This has led to the recent David Fincher movie The Killer, as well as planned adaptations of Something Is Killing the Children and BRZRKR.

"It is exciting to have a seasoned veteran TV exec from the biggest comic book publisher, Marvel Entertainment, who supervised and launched shows with the biggest streamer, come over to BOOM! to build a deep, engaging slate with his former stomping grounds, Netflix," said BOOM! Founder and CEO Ross Richie. "This is exactly what we need to get to the next level and strengthen what was already an aggressive translational strategy. Mark was one of the executives at 20th Century Fox Television who supervised our TV deal so he knows what it's like to be on the studio side. He translated comics into TV shows multiple times successfully at Marvel. Mark checks the boxes for us in many many categories and Stephen and I are thrilled to have him onboard."

"I have had tremendous respect for the brand that Ross and Stephen have built at Boom since we first began working together during my time at 20th," said Ambrose. "As a comic fan, I've watched this company consistently release groundbreaking books from the most highly sought-after writers and artists in the industry. I could not be more excited about the opportunity to work with this talented group of people, and to have a chance to collaborate again with the great team at Netflix through our first-look deal."

Marvel today released a trailer for X-Men #1. Launching their "From the Ashes" era, the issue drops today from writer Jed MacKay and artist Ryan Stegman. The hope is that, spinning out of the wild events of the recently-concluded Krakoa era, X-Men #1 can be both a jumping-on point for new fans and an exciting turning point for the audience that's already been along for the ride. The launch trailer features art from MacKay and Stegman's best-selling debut issue, serving the purpose of the internet's beloved five-page previews, but this time with lights, cameras and...well, not really "action," per se, but some movement anyway.

Besides the release of the trailer, Marvel is also urging fans to keep an eye out for a From the Ahes checklist to help put the varios X-titles in order and context. Per the announcement, "each X-Title offers a different approach to mutant storytelling, ensuring there's something for every reader."

"This is very much a series about rebuilding," MacKay told IGN in a recent interview. "It's a series about finding your place in a world that you thought you'd left behind, and essentially taking the wreckage of something and trying to build something new from it, which we see sort of thematically and also quite literally. I mean, the X-Men are flying around in the Marauder, too. They're living in a Sentinel factory that they have salvaged - a former Orchis facility that they now live in. So this sort of scavenging and repurposing of what came before in order to construct a place for oneself in the world is very much a part of what our X-Men book is about."

Per its official synopsis, "X-Men #1 introduces a new team of X-Men operating out of a former sentinel factory in Alaska. Led by Cyclops, the lineup includes both classic mainstays, fan-favorite icons, and rising stars: Beast, Psylocke, Magik, Kid Omega, Temper, Juggernaut, and Magneto. In the wake of Krakoa's fall, these X-Men raise a flag of defiance! Deadly times call for radical action and as they battle for the destiny of the mutant species, Cyclops' team will confront new forces including the mysterious final remnant of the anti-mutant group Orchis!"

You can get the comic on digital platforms like ComiXology, or at your local comic shop.

The issue cannot be criticized for its construction. Zdarsky and Stott only require 20 pages to introduce a trio of protagonists, characterize their personalities, motives, and relationships, provide them with distinctive superpowers, and summon antagonists, both terrestrial and celestial. It's an impressive level of comic book craftsmanship that winks at the Big Two as it checks off every box for what constant readers seek out in a relaunched title.

It is a testament to Rachael Stott that this busy reimagining of a non-existent series is so capably delivered. Character designs effectively deliver transitions in both time and space allowing readers to keep up with compressed pacing. The few alien elements witnessed here range from adorable to imposing. An action sequence that simultaneously introduces an unfamiliar superpower is made effective in its focus on clarity. Additional examples of honed storytelling instincts abound throughout the issue.

For all of the confident artisan skill on display, The Domain #1 joins a world stuffed full of similarly well-crafted debuts - efficiently laying out a story that's been told in so many iterations before. When I finished reading the first issue, however, my first thoughts were not about what was to come in this story but how it related to Public Domain. For any faults I might find, it is a unique comic book filled with lifelike characters and genuine humor; it's a comic with heart and The Domain lacks that ephemeral quality.

The trio of protagonists may all be fairly qualified as sympathetic, imperfect, admirable, and relatable but they also all fall into the vaguely familiar zone of "nice, young superhero lead." Even as the issue frames themes of collaboration, readers are reminded of how much more fraught and funny those same ideas are in the pages of Public Domain. It's not that the two stories demand comparison--they are radically different in both genre and tone--but that their connection reminds readers of how stale this superhero formula has grown across more than a decade of repetition.

Lacking any cynical or satirical flair, The Domain #1 reads like an outstanding model for something current readers of superhero comics encounter seemingly every week. It is a testament to the craft brought by both Zdarsky and Stott, but lacks any essential element to differentiate itself from the crowd. This issue's only tragedy is that it's exactly the sort of thing it purports itself to be.

Published by Image Comics

On July 10, 2024

Written by Chip Zdarsky

Art by Rachael Stott

Colors by Eren Angiolini

Letters by Jeff Powell

Cover by Rachael Stott and Eren Angiolini

After reading X-Men comics--or even superhero comics more broadly--for long enough one may notice a pattern. Low sales or a lack of interest will create fertile ground for experimentation with a character or concept. A new, bold, exciting, and often divisive take will emerge and serve as a lightning rod attracting both excited fans and traditionalist critics. Then, for one reason or another, that moment of creative reinvention will end and is almost always followed by a "back to basics" relaunch that reverts to something close to a previous status quo that, in the minds of many fans, represents the platonic ideal of the character or team. "X-Men: From the Ashes" begins this week with X-Men #1, the latest such "back to basics" scaling down after the top-down reimagining of the mutant corner of the Marvel Universe that was the Krakoan era. As many expected, the comic book is ripe with nostalgia for past eras, but perhaps not those that were expected.

Written by Jed MacKay, with art by Ryan Stegman and inker JP Mayer, and colors by Marte Gracia, X-Men #1 begins 10 (or X in Roman numerals) months after the fall and disappearance of Krakoa. With their island home gone, mutants are again scattered and divided, with some trying to integrate back into human culture while others remain unwilling to reassimilate. Cyclops and his team represent the latter, making their base of operations an abandoned Orchis Sentinel factory on the outskirts of a small Alaskan town whose residents used to work there, a statement home if ever there was one. The team is mostly comprised of mutants with sordid pasts who may have difficulty reintegrating with humanity even if they wanted to since mutant immunity is a thing of the past. Instead, they've decided to lean into their outlaw status and take the protection of mutants as their mission, with few qualms about how this provokes their human neighbors.

Where many expected the "From the Ashes" era to be a hard throwback to the 1990s when the X-Men were at the peak of their push into wider popular culture, that's not the atmosphere of the first issue. With Cyclops leading a borderline paramilitary team of mutant heavy hitters with little regard for human rules, it has more in common with the Uncanny X-Men run that followed the events of Avengers vs. X-Men in the 2010s--much of the roster is the even same--but less bold. That may be down to MacKay's writing of Cyclops, who comes off as less revolutionary and more tired and embittered than the last time he played this role. There are also several callbacks to Grant Morrison's New X-Men run, from the re-emergence of the philosophies of John Sublime and the U-Men to the presence of Kid Omega and Xorn, to direct references to the events of stories like "Riot at Xavier's." It's still nostalgia, but not the nostalgia many were expecting.

It's an action-oriented debut, and Stegman and JP Mayer know how to deliver there. The page layouts and compositions do their best to be constantly in the reader's face. It's not the widescreen comics style of old that emphasized quiet grandeur and clean linework. Stegman's pages are busier, more frenetic, containing more superhero chaos. This visual density is reminiscent of 1990s X-Men comics, though Stegman manages to keep it more capably apace.

With a reasonably large cast of characters, X-Men #1 can only briefly summarize who these mutants are and why they're on Cyclops' team. Magik and Juggernaut want to smash things and have an unexpected, almost juvenile sibling-like bond going (I'd love to go behind the scenes and learn why Juggernaut was chosen for this comic book instead of Colossus, Magik's actual brother). Kid Omega is there because he doesn't have anywhere else to go. Temper is there to keep an eye on her ex and the rest of the X-Men, aiming to make them better than they have been (she spent a good chunk of the Krakoa era in a psychic prison hole). Psylocke is there because she's the proactive type. Cyclops, as mentioned, seems weary, while Magneto has already traded the soft touch he showed in the final days of Krakoa for high theatrics and intimidation. Meanwhile, Beast has been reset to factory settings after a complicated decade.

But the closest thing to a thesis statement in X-Men #1 may come not from a team member but from Wolverine, who gets rescued but then turns down an offer to join up as he's no longer interested in playing the "civilization game." This feels like a rejection of having a big, unifying concept for all the X-books to follow, as in the previous era. Rather we have a status quo that is more like the 1990s in that several groups of X-people approach human-mutant relations in different ways - Cyclops' team as the bold operators, Rogue's team more likely with a softer touch, Emma and Kitty doing the school thing again, X-Factor trying to place nice with the government, etc.

That could lead to interesting stories when the groups undoubtedly bump into each other. But can any of those ideas carry a series on its own merits? X-Men #1 isn't poorly crafted but is indebted to a version of the X-team we've seen in the past. X-Men #1 lacks a strong hook, seemingly hoping that simply sending out these characters under familiar circumstances will be enough to make its case. It's not. Perhaps that's overly critical--the issue is functional and capably sets the stage for future adventure, and it isn't a bad-looking comic--but it doesn't make much of a statement.

Published by Marvel Comics

On July 10, 2024

Written by Jed MacKay

Art by Ryan Stegman and JP Mayer

Colors by Marte Gracia

Letters by Clayton Cowles

Cover by Ryan Stegman

Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli have proven to be an all-star combination with past works like A Thing Called Truth, Alice in Leatherland, and The Least We Can Do, and now they are teaming up once again for a brand new series from Dark Horse Comics titled You Never Heard of Me. The new five-issue series will be released in November of 2024 and will feature covers, interior art, and colors by Romboli as well as story and letters by Zanfardino. The series will deliver a coming-of-age story with humor, romance, and lots of magic, as a boy named Will learns to navigate his new abilities of foresight and the stress that such an ability can cause. You can get an exclusive first look at the first cover in the image below.

You Never Heard of Me centers around a boy named Will, who has the ability to see the best and worst moments of a person's life with just a touch. Those moments can be from the past, present, or future, and depending on the circumstance, he might even be able to affect those moments and events directly, attempting to change them for the better.

The ability to directly affect someone's life in that manner also comes with its share of stress and anxiety and would be difficult to manage for anyone. When you're a teenager who is already dealing with a host of changes and day-to-day problems, that can quickly become overwhelming. With the potential to change someone's life, which lives do you change and how much change do you cause? You're playing with someone's existence after all, and decisions like that can come with a heavy toll, something Will is learning in real-time. You can find the official description below.

What Is You Never Heard of Me About?

"For Will, the ability to touch someone and see both the best and the worst moments of their life, be they past or future, means the ability to try to change things for the better. Such power can feel like a curse, especially if you're a teenage seer who thinks he has enough problems already! Intimate knowledge of people's darkest secrets, fears, and aspirations can be just as overwhelming as the choices and possibilities to make a difference. When every choice matters, how do you bear the weight of problems far older than you?"

You Never Heard of Me #1 (of 5) lands in comic stores on November 20th and can be pre-ordered now at your local comic store for $3.99.

Are you excited for You Never Heard of Me? You can talk all things comics with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

For the most part, Wilson succeeds, which shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has read... well, any of her work over the years. She's one of the best pure storytellers in the comics space and The Hunger and the Dusk gives her a massive canvas to create something exciting and different. So, while this launch of Book Two may not be propelling the action, it's a joy to watch a great writer use the resetting of a game board to deliver something compelling.

This first installment of The Hunger and the Dusk: Book Two picks up in the middle of the war against the dangerous Vangol forces, with the treaty between humans and orcs as shaky as ever. Relations between the sides are even more uncertain now because of what happened at the end of Book One: Callum and Tara's love story turned into a bitter fight and saw the latter depart the Last Men Standing. Tara returning to her kind has made many orcs and humans believe the treaty to be over, and that couldn't come at a worse time with the Vangol continuing their assault.

Callum's army continues to suffer, especially with Tara gone and no healer to help keep things together. Their numbers continue to dwindle until, finally, help arrives in the form of a new healer, a gorgeous woman with incredible talents and an eye for Callum.

The Hunger and the Dusk excels as a Dungeons & Dragons-esque fantasy adventure, but the comic book's real super power is how all of its great fantasy elements are just window dressing for a gripping love story. The first six issues created some fantastic tension with Callum and Tara's pseudo-enemies-to-lovers situation. The Book Two debut sets up a second, very different chapter of that love story.

"Everyone knows the old saying: you don't appreciate what you have until it's gone," Sev says in the issue's opening narration. It's a novel concept, but it sets the tone for that this entire comic book will be about, even if your attention is sometimes drawn to the greater conflict happening around the characters. While Book One saw these heroes grapple with hope and identity, Book Two focuses on their reckoning with grief and loss. Throughout every turn, whether it's at camp or on the battlefield, Wilson uses these characters to make you ponder the things you love, whether or not you appreciate them enough, and what life could look like if you lost them.

A neat little bow is put on that idea at the end of this first issue, bringing things full circle from the opening pages and doling out a hypothesis for the next five issues to come.

"Many things, when lost, cannot be recovered," Sev ponders on the final page. "Is love one of them? I sometimes think so. But try telling that to a man like Cal."

Pitting the narrator's answer to life's big questions directly against that of the story's lead character creates a situation of a man fighting against forces out of his control. Are Sev's words meant to set up a victorious, against-all-odds ending for Cal and Tara? Or is he foreshadowing a devastating tale in the issues ahead. With two perspectives in such stark contrast, it's impossible to tell, but I can't wait to find out.

Published by IDW Publishing

On July 10, 2024

Written by G. Willow Wilson

Art by Chris Wildgoose and Marc Laming

Colors by Msassyk

Letters by Simon Bowland

Cover by Chris Wildgoose and Msassyk

There is always something alluring about the road not taken, the story not told. In the world of comics, stories that shift outside of canon tend to make for particularly interesting explorations. While exploring the opposite side of the coin can be intriguing, it can also be challenging, leading to a mixed bag of results when taking on beloved characters and stories with significant outcomes. It's that challenge that faces From The DC Vault: Death in the Family - Robin Lives #1 this week as it kicks off a miniseries exploring what happens if Jason Todd (a.k.a. Robin) had survived the Joker's now-infamous attack in 1988's "Death in the Family." But it takes on that challenge admirably, offering not only a bit of nostalgia in its presentation but also an insightful and interesting reading experience.

Robin Lives #1 opens with breaking news that the Joker is dead and the news's impact upon Batman and Robin, before taking readers back in time to a period shortly after Jason's physical recover from the Joker's brutal attack. The story, narrated by a third-party introduced later in the issue, offers insight into the nature of trauma and mental illness. This emphasizes the complex situation Batman finds himself in trying to help Jason who might have recovered physically, but not emotionally after his ordeal. This approach to the writing by J.M DeMatteis is well done--particularly in that it allows for a seemingly neutral perspective and engage in dialogue with the story itself--as readers receive glimpses of character dynamics and reactions. What emerges is a well-crafted and interesting portrait that is a complete and quite good read. DeMatteis also does a good job, tonally, of keeping the story rooted in the late 1980s without it feeling like a gimmick. The comic book feels of the time, not like something created today.

That feeling continues with the artwork in this issue as well. Rick Leonardi does a fantastic job of capturing the visual energy of the "Death in the Family" time period without coming across as overly nostalgic. It also pairs beautifully with DeMatteis' writing. The comic book is, at no point, competing with itself. Instead, there is an almost perfect balance between images and words with the action offering just the right amount of energy where it's needed. Additionally, Rico Renzi's colors pop splendidly, while Taylor Esposito's letters are top-notch.

But between the balance of good writing and good art, all lengthier alternative histories or "what if" stories must have a distinct point, or purpose, or draw and that might be where Robin Lives #1 excels most. Going into this work the reader has knowledge of "what" has happened and "why" and maybe even "how," the psychological structure of the story--digging into things through the perspective of a professional helping Jason--suggests there is more to the story than a tale of trauma and revenge. The last page of the issue even goes to the place many readers do when thinking about Batman and his young sidekicks asking, "whatever possessed him to bring a child into the Batman's world?" It's a layer that makes the story more compelling and prompts readers to wonder what might actually be next, and thus makes this more than just a revisitation of roads not taken.

Looking back can be tricky, but From The DC Vault: Death in the Family - Robin Lives #1 does a fantastic job of taking an infamous story and providing it new life. By asking new questions and without leaning too much into nostalgia, the issue presents a compelling story that both scratches the "what if" itch and gives readers something entirely new they'll want to continue reading for issues to come.

Published by DC Comics

On July 10, 2024

Written by J.M. DeMatteis

Art by Rick Leonardi

Colors by Rico Renzi

Letters by Taylor Esposito

Cover by Rick Leonardi and Dave Stewart

BOOM! Studios will have a special surprise for fans at San Diego Comic-Con, and we've got all the exclusive details. Later this year Jeff Lemire will introduce fans to the world of Minor Arcana, and Lemire couldn't be more excited about the series. The series will kick off on September 4th, but fans will actually have the chance to purchase a Minor Arcana Ashcan at San Diego Comic-Con. Throughout the show, fans can stop by Booth #22229 and pick up the Ashcan, which will feature an extended first look at Minor Arcana #1 as well as an exclusive Tarot variant cover by Lemire, and you can check out the new cover below.

The SDCC-exclusive Ashcan will feature the gorgeous cover you see above, and it will also feature rounded corners to go along with the Tarot theme. Lemire will also be at the show to sign them, and you can pick up the exclusive Ashcan at the BOOM! Studios booth for $30 on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

"I can't wait to share Minor Arcana," said award-winning creator Jeff Lemire. "I've been putting everything into it and this exclusive SDCC ashcan will be a chance to share the story early. It's going to be an amazing-looking version of the book with rounded corners, mimicking a tarot card, and a new cover that will only be available at the con. I'll be there to sign them as well. So it's going to be an exciting San Diego!"

What Is Minor Arcana About?

"Theresa, the prodigal daughter of a small-town 'psychic' tarot reading fraud, begrudgingly returns home to care for her ailing mother after having left home for good - or so she thought. Arriving back in her childhood hometown seemingly untouched by time, Theresa learns that there may be more to the magic than she originally believed. And with that, she finds herself caught up in a town that desperately needs her help..."

"Minor Arcana has become my dream project. Combining small-town life with magical realism and supernatural mystery, it lets me stretch my wings and play with all the different kinds of characters and stories I've loved working on since Essex County and Sweet Tooth. Writing and drawing the book myself has allowed me to make it an immersive read that I hope will hook readers as much as it's hooked me," Lemire said.

"I have big plans for the series, having already plotted it through the first 22 issues. If Black Hammer was my love letter to the superhero comics I grew up reading, then Minor Arcana is my love letter to the classic Vertigo comics of my youth, but all filtered through my own style. I really want to get back to doing a true ongoing series that focuses on the importance of single issues again. I love writing and drawing this book and living in the world, and I can't wait to start sharing it," Lemire said.

Minor Arcana #1 will launch with covers by Lemire, Tula Lotay (Barnstormers), Dustin Nguyen (Descender), David Mack (American Gods), and more, and will hit comic stores on September 4th.

Are you excited for Minor Arcana? You can talk all things comics with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

Writer James Robinson and artist Tony Harris will reunite for a new Starman miniseries, according to a new report. The pair, whose original Starman series ran from 1994 until 2001, will apparently team up with colorist Gregory Wright for a Black Label miniseries. The bookstore-friendly label is home to projects like Superman: Year One, Strange Adventures, and The Bat-Man: First Knight, and caters to mature readers titles that are intended as evergreen titles in the trade paperback market. That's a market where Starman -- which has been in reprints more or less constantly since it ended -- fits right in.

According to Bleeding Cool, who broke the news, fans can expect a formal announcement from DC later this month at Comic Con International in San Diego. The story was "picked up from the gossip at today's London Film And Comic Con," per Bleeding Cool boss Rich Johnston.

Robinson and Harris's Starman centered on Jack Knight, the son of the Golden Age Starman, who battled villains in Opal City with the help of his cosmic staff. First appearing in Zero Hour #1 by Dan Jurgens, the character was nevertheless created by Harris and Robinson. Starman was one of a handful of series to spin out of Zero Hour -- an event that celebrates its 30th anniversary this year -- and it became far and away the longest-running and most successful.

Part of what made Jack Knight a compelling lead was his reluctance to take on the role. In Zero Hour, fans learned that Ted Knight (the Golden Age Starman) had two sons, David and Jack. In the story, Jack, who owns an antique store -- more of a junk shop, really -- and has no interest in taking on the family business. David, however, has always wanted to succeed his father as Starman, and is delighted to get the job. Unfortunately, in Starman #0, the first issue of the series, David takes off for his first night patrol and is immediately shot by someone on the ground, and dies. Jack takes on the name and role -- but not the costume -- of Starman to try to make things right.

Starman ran for 81 issues, and returned with a Blackest Night one-shot in 2010. After 2011's The New 52 reboot, the Starman villain The Shade headlined her own title by Robinson and a variety of big-name artists, including Darwyn Cooke (DC: The New Frontier), Frazer Irving (Batman & Robin), Gene Ha (Superman: Action Comics) Jill Thompson (The Sandman), Cully Hamner (RED) and Javier Pulido (Spider-Man). Starman has been collected in standard trade paperbacks as well as paperback and hardcover omnibuses. The series is widely regarded as one of DC's best comics of the last 30 years, and DC has rarely allowed any other writer to touch Jack Knight, seemingly saving him for Robinson and Harris's return -- a day that seemed like it might never come, but now could be right around the corner.

On Saturday at FanExpo Denver, Ghost Machine revealed the covers for its upcoming comics tied to its new horror universe, Hyde Street. During the panel, Ghost Machine -- the recently formed comics collective publishing through Image Comics -- revealed the cover for Hyde Street #1, the first issue of the monthly, ongoing Hyde Street series, and the It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour one-shot. The debuts are time to release when horror is at its yearly height, with Hyde Street #1 releasing on October 2nd and It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1 arriving on the eve of Halloween, October 30th. Ghost Machine will release solicits for both issues on July 19th.

Ghost Machine describes Hyde Street as a "new epic era in character-centered horror." The ongoing series is the latest collaboration by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis, who previously worked together on DC's Blackest Night and Aquaman. Hyde Street also features colors by Brad Anderson, inks by Danny Miki (a recent addition to the Ghost Machine bullpen), and lettering by Rob Leigh. Here's the series's synopsis:

"In every city and town, off every country road and metropolis avenue, if you make a wrong turn in your soul... you might find yourself on Hyde Street. But be careful who you talk to and what you do because the consequences make death itself seem like the easy way out. Introducing Mr. X-Ray, Pranky the World's Most Dangerous Scout, Miss Goodbody, and many more... Out to delight, fright and say good night. What is their secret and that of Hyde Street? Only they know. For now."

Reis created Hyde Street #1 Cover A and Gary Frank provided Cober B. Each cover features the mysterious character Mr. X-Ray. Cover D comes from Mike Deodato Jr., known for his work on DC and Marvel titles including Wonder Woman, Dark Avengers, Infinity Wars, The Incredible Hulk, and The Amazing Spider-Man. Marking his first Ghost Machine variant cover, Deodato drew another Hyde Street character, Pranky. Still to be revealed are additional Hyde Street #1 covers from Kelley Jones and Reis, respectively.

Where Hyde Street focuses on the many threats of this new horror universe, It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour spotlights one of their victims. Here's the synopsis:

"With an impending wedding, Lily needs to lose weight in order to fit into her wedding dress, and struggles to shed some pounds. And what's worse, her super-thin grandmother relentlessly disparages Lily's approach, instead lavishing praise upon a quick-fix miracle supplement called DEVOUR, as hawked by the mysterious health guru Miss Goodbody. Her motto? Get thin... or die trying! In this weight-loss nightmare, when it comes to Devour...all you need is one."

It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour is Maytal Zchut's comics writing debut. She's teaming with artist Leila Leiz, colorist Alex Sinclair, and letterer Rob Leigh. Reis drew Miss Goodbody for It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1's Cover A. Leiz drew Cover B, and Frank created Cover C.

In a press release from FanExpo Denver, Johns says, "Everyone at Ghost Machine is incredibly excited for fans to discover the Hyde Street universe. Ivan and I have wanted to collaborate on something new and original for a long time and Hyde Street was the perfect avenue for us to let a darker side of our imagination run wild. The characters will lure you into this world each in their own unnerving way and walking down any Hyde Street in your town will never feel the same again.

"We are so proud to call Maytal a founding Ghost Machine creator and she and Leila have created a truly haunting debut work that will stay with you long after you have devoured it. We can't wait for fans to discover Devour and the fresh and stirring perspective Maytal offers as a new creator."

Zchut adds: "Devourspeaks to the cycle of relentless self-criticism and insecurity many of us experience in relation to our bodies. Told through the horror lens, I explore the pressure to constantly strive for physical perfection that passes from one generation to the next. In collaboration with the endlessly talented Leila Leiz, and the support of the entire Ghost Machine family, I'm so grateful for how this story has come together. Leila's dynamic artwork adds depth to each word, with her brilliant penciling and inking bringing the characters to life. Every element is further enhanced with phenomenal color by Alex Sinclair. And to top it off we are so fortunate to have none other than legends Ivan Reis and Gary Frank crafting outstanding cover art for the book. I'm so excited to finally share Devour with the world!"

Leiz says, "When I read Devour for the first time, I immediately knew that it was a story that I wanted to draw, not only because it's a horror story, but because the theme of obsessive dieting is something that every woman can relate to on some level. Thinner is my favorite horror film. Maytal's rich and diverse writing style treats this complex subject matter with great maturity and sensitivity, which made me rediscover the joy of drawing all over again - and Alex Sinclair's coloring is the cherry on the top. We are surrounded by an amazing team at Ghost Machine, full of talent and passion. That is what makes make this adventure an absolute delight. This is a funny, captivating and really intense story and readers will want to devour the book leaving them with bittersweet taste."

Hyde Street #1 goes on sale on October 2nd. It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1 goes on sale October 30th.

The Marvel vs. Capcom series makes for a unique mashup of superpowered heroes, villains, and everyone in between, but it's been awhile since we've gotten a new game in the series. The last game in the series, for example, was Marvel vs: Capcom: Infinite which came out back in 2017 with only an upcoming collection of some of the older games announced since then. The lack of any new Marvel vs. Capcom news hasn't stopped Deadpool himself, however, from dropping a reference to the fictitious Marvel vs. Capcom 4, a game which is one that the fighting game community has been hopeful for over the years.

This Marvel vs. Capcom 4 reference from Deadpool comes courtesy of not the upcoming movie, Deadpool & Wolverine, and is instead found in the latest issue of the current Deadpool comic from writer Cody Ziglar. Deadpool #4 which released on July 3rd features a moment where Deadpool is engaged in an acrobatic shootout. He flips through the air, guns blasting the whole way, before ending up upside down.

Once the smoke clears, Deadpool comments on his high-flying move and says "They should put that move in Marvel vs Capcom 4." The page in question featuring that delivery can be seen below courtesy of Deadpool #4.

Of course, anyone who follows these fighting games and has been hoping for any news regarding new entries in the Marvel vs. Capcom series will know that there's no such thing as Marvel vs. Capcom 4, at least not in any official capacity. Rumors and supposed leaks have tried to say in the past that Marvel vs. Capcom 4 was in development, and it very well might be, but Deadpool's just dropping a cheeky, fourth wall-breaking reference here.

Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite is technically the fourth mainline entry in the series since it followed Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, though it's obviously named differently, so we still haven't gotten a Marvel vs. Capcom 4. There is at least something to look forward to, however, with Capcom announcing earlier this year the release of the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics collection. This release will include Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes and Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes as well as The Punisher, X-Men: Children of the Atom, Marvel Super Heroes, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, and Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter.

One of the fan-favorite figures from the Marvel Cinematic Universe is back from the dead in the comics. The Marvel Universe and the MCU are separate entities, though it's not uncommon to see one influence the other. A major example of this happened when Clark Gregg's Phil Coulson joined a Black Nick Fury in the comics. Agent Coulson died in the MCU and comics, though the MCU brought him back as a central part of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. And now we've reached the point where Agent Phil Coulson's comics return has arrived as well.

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Thanos Annual #1. Continue reading at your own risk!

Thanos Annual #1 comes from the creative team of Derek Landy, Salvador Larroca, Guru-eFX, and VC's Cory Petit, with a backup story by Landy, Sara Pichelli, Mattia Iacono, and VC's Travis Lanham. It kicks off the new "Infinity Watch" crossover that's taking place across Marvel Annuals this summer. It's Thanos Annual's backup story titled "The Death Stone Saga" we're concerned with today. It picks up immediately following the events in the main story in the Thanos Annual, with the new Death Stone leaving Thanos to seek out a human host.

Nighthawk is hot on the trail of the Death Stone, tracking it to a cemetery in Wisconsin using an Infinity Stone scanner. He's confused about there being a new Infinity Stone when there's only been six in existence. When Nighthawk reaches out to grab the stone, it zaps him with a bolt of energy and begins to transform, bringing a skeleton out of its grave and reanimating it. Once the Death Stone enters the chest of the skeleton, it begins forming skin and hair until it takes on the form of the formerly dead Agent Coulson. His gravestone reads, "RIP Phillip 'Cheese' Coulson. He loved heroes and was one."

How did Agent Coulson die in the Marvel Comics Universe?

Whereas Loki killed Phil Coulson in The Avengers, his comic book counterpart met an untimely fate ahead of Marvel's Secret Empire. The event featured a Hydra-influenced version of Captain America attempting to take over the world. Agent Coulson started to distrust Cap, and when our evil Captain America learned of Coulson's snooping, he ordered Deadpool to kill him. Even though Coulson and Deadpool were best buds, Deadpool was loyal to Cap and followed through on those orders.

Coulson also returned during Jason Aaron's tenure on Avengers, serving as a liaison for Mephisto's Squadron Supreme. During the second Heroes Reborn event, Mephisto banished Coulson inside an artifact called the Pandemonium Cube.

What is Marvel's Infinity Watch about?

"Infinity Watch" spans nine annuals this summer and is spearheaded by writer Derek Landy (Captain America/Iron Man). In addition to writing key chapters of the event, Landy will team up with artist Sara Pichelli on backup stories in each of the nine annuals that follow the creation and pursuit of the mysterious Death Stone-bearer who will be revealed in Thanos Annual #1. "The saga will follow up on previous Infinity Stone stories with the return of recent bearers including Star, Overtime, Prince of Power, Quantum, and Multitude, as well as introduce you to the new Mind Stone-Bearer, Worldmind, for the first time!" Marvel's press release reads. "As they deal with their god-like powers and mistrust from their peers, Thanos, fresh off his own dramatic transformation in Christopher Cantwell's recent Thanos limited series, begins a bloody march to claim his dark destiny once more."

"When you write for Marvel, it's all you can hope for to add your thread to the massive tapestry of stories that has been unfolding since 1961," Landy said. "To be asked, then, to spearhead this next chapter is a prospect beyond my paltry imagination. I get to work on characters I've never written before -- Thanos! Hulk! -- and drag them into the story beside the new generation of heroes like Ms. Marvel and Spider-Boy. Thankfully, there is absolutely no pressure because comic fans are a notoriously easy-going bunch who are prepared to forgive if--oh dear God."

There were a number of intriguing twists and turns throughout DC's Absolute Power, but one of the biggest surprises was a key betrayal from a former ally, making the heroes' defeat at the hands of Amanda Waller even more brutal. Spoilers are incoming regarding Absolute Power #1, so if you haven't read the issue you've been warned. Later in the issue, DC's heroes are already reeling from Waller's A.I. and Amazo assault, but things get even worse when Batman learns that Green Arrow is working with Waller on this whole operation. Oliver Queen then reveals to Batman that all of their possible avenues of escape have been cut off, twisting the knife even further.

A Painful Betrayal

As Batman and Robin try to communicate with the other separated heroes on a supposedly hidden frequency, someone interrupts and says "incorrect Bats". Batman recognizes the voice and asks Green Arrow if he's injured and where he is, and that leads to Oliver revealing that he's "on the right side of history." He then goes on to explain that he's been warning them about something like this for a long time, saying that "us humans don't appreciate being looked down on", but adding that they never listened to him.

"I'm sorry, I really am, but I've been warning all you super-folks for a long time that us humans don't appreciate being looked down on. And you wouldn't listen to me. Sure you're great at capping volcanoes...but fixing society's real problems? Actually empowering the powerless? Effecting actual change? You get an 'F'for effort," Queen says. Batman says, "Arrow, you're talking nonsense! You're one of us!" Queen replies, "Not anymore. I'm on Team Waller now. And we're coming for you."

The Full Plan

It's then revealed that this is just one part of an orchestrated plan by Waller to take down superheroes by taking the powers that make them super in the first place, and what better way to help make that happen than to recruit one of their longtime allies? It's then revealed that Waller has teamed up with the Brainiac Queen and Failsafe to create and upgrade an army of Amazo androids designed to take away the powers of their foes, and they manage to do just that once unleashed on the heroes they encounter.

Waller then reveals that, unlike previous confrontations with Amazos, there is no return function for those powers, meaning that effectively their powers are gone forever. Waller's forces have also found ways to absorb energy from technology and devices, and have also found a way to disrupt magic users by making them forget how to cast. They've also sealed off space thanks to the United Planets and have sealed off the time stream and micro-verse, so there appears to be nowhere to run for those left.

What did you think of Absolute Power #1? You can talk all things comics with me on Threads, Twitter, and Instagram @mattaguilarcb!

Jeff the Land Shark is about to be the next victim of Venom War. The symbiote-fueled event of 2024 will pit father vs. son, as Eddie and Dylan Brock go to war over who is the one, true Lethal Protector. Venom War will stretch its tendrils across the Marvel Universe, with several miniseries and tie-ins already announced. Marvel isn't limiting Venom War to just Earth's Mightiest Heroes, however, as Marvel's goodest boy Jeff the Land Shark joins the festivities. Fans have witnessed Jeff the Land Shark's adventures in the Infinity Comics on Marvel Unlimited, but his next big quest takes place inside the Venom War event.

ComicBook can exclusively reveal Venom War: It's Jeff #1 by writer Kelly Thompson and artist Gurihiru. The fan-favorite creative team is behind It's Jeff's hit Infinity Comic, and according to Thompson, they're excited to continue their collaboration while getting to work with some surprising guest stars.

"It's pure joy to work with Gurihiru on anything, and our It's Jeff collaborations are always extra fun," Thompson said in a statement. "But I confess that getting the chance to tell a longer and more complex story -- with an all-star supporting cast in Kate Bishop, Gwenpool, and American Chavez -- was an unexpected treat. And seeing another side of Jeff in this story as we do, felt like a really fun expansion of the character."

What is Venom War: It's Jeff #1 about?

The description for Venom War: It's Jeff #1 reads, "WHAT'S EATING JEFF...AND WHAT'S JEFF EATING?!? That's right--the crossover event of the summer finally reaches the real star of Marvel Comics--Jeff the Land Shark! When Jeff's night of fun is interrupted by the madness of the Venom War, is Marvel's goodest boy going to be able to keep his cool? Or...will he give in to the symbiote's temptations and EAT SOMEONE'S BRAINS?!?! The team behind the hit Infinity Comic brings us an over-sized all-new tale of the world's cutest predator!"

The cover by Gurihiru features Jeff sitting by a mirror on the floor, looking at different superhero costumes to try on. In Jeff's fins are Spider-Man's costume, and we can see costumes for Captain America, Wolverine, Deadpool, the Fantastic Four, Captain Marvel, Thor, Gwenpool, and Black Panther. However, lurking behind Jeff is a Venom symbiote ready to devour our favorite shark.

What is Marvel's Venom War about?

"LAST VENOM STANDING! The Venom Symbiote has bonded with both Eddie Brock and his son Dylan at different points. Now both Brocks are going head-to-head, determined to be the one, true Venom!" Marvel's description of Venom War reads. "Father versus son in a showdown of showdowns that threatens to tear the world asunder! From heavyweight talent champions Ewing and Coello comes a Battle for the 'Biote like you've never seen!"

"This is what we've been building to since the start of this wild and way-out symbiote odyssey - the fateful confrontation between father and son!" Venom writer Al Ewing explained. "Where better to have it than inside the squared circle? And who better to bring this all-action epic to the page with than my old buddy Iban Coello? I'm tellin' ya, goo believer -- this is vehemently varied Venom violence like never viewed, and only one host can wear the symbiote when the dust settles! Who's it gonna be?"

The intergalactic Nova Corps can now add Wolverine to its list of esteemed members. While Logan is famously known as one of the most popular members of the X-Men, he's also been an Avenger alongside Spider-Man when Brian Michael Bendis rebooted Earth's Mightiest Heroes. As for Nova, some of the mantle's most popular characters are Richard Rider and Sam Alexander. But one good thing about alternate timelines is they allow creators to examine characters under a different lens, and that's what is taking place with Marvel's 2099 future timeline. The latest event brings back the Annihilation title while also giving Wolverine a new moniker and mission statement.

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Annihilation 2099 #1. Continue reading at your own risk.

Annihilation 2099 #1 comes from the creative team of Steve Orlando, Ibraim Roberson, Neeraj Menon, Dale Eaglesham, Ra?l Angulo, and VC's Cory Petit. The issue doesn't really hide the fact that Wolverine is playing the part of Nova 2099, with his internal dialogue referencing a healing factor and his general physical appearance. Logan is the last Nova Corpsman in the cosmos, with the full power of the Nova Force at his disposal. And he is forced to use it against a gang of Knull followers.

The outlaws ride into a city feasting on the innocent citizens until Wolverine steps in. Just as it looks like they'd killed Wolverine, his healing factor kicks in and he uses his Adamantium claws to slice the head off the Knull set's leader, Murk. Logan then uses the Nova Force to obliterate the remaining symbiotes. Instead of sticking around for congratulations from one of the local bartenders, Wolverine as Nova flies off to continue roaming the stars.

How did Wolverine become Nova?

While the logistics of why Wolverine ended up on Xandar are blurry, we do know it involved losing an eye and an arm in a fight with Hulks. The wounds Wolverine suffered weren't healing, and the Nova Corps said they'd help. The galactic police force was starting a new program that infused living cells with the Nova Force, and Logan was their first lab rat. Instead of merely having 37 trillion cells in his body, Wolverine had 37 trillion tiny suns under his skin.

Before they could get to Phase Two, exo-parasites attacked Xandar looking to feast on the Nova Force. The exo-parasites infected every single person on Xandar except for Wolverine, who was forced to kill them before the alien infection spread across the galaxy. Wolverine carries the weight of his actions, and it's reminiscent of how Old Man Logan mistakenly murdered the X-Men due to the machinations of Mysterio.

Wolverine teams up with Deadpool on the big screen this summer

In Marvel Studios' Deadpool & Wolverine, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) will change the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Wolverine (Hugh Jackman). The film also stars Matthew Macfadyen as Paradox, and Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova, with the return of Deadpool alums Morena Baccarin as Vanessa Carlysle, Leslie Uggams as Blind Al, Karan Soni as Dopinder, Stefan Kapi?i? as Piotr Rasputin/Colossus, Brianna Hildebrand as Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Rob Delaney as Peter, and Lewis Tan as Shatterstar. Aaron Stanford is returning as Pyro from the X-Men film series, with Jennifer Garner rumored to return as Elektra Natchios.

Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D'Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Dewey and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers. Deadpool & Wolverine is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy. Deadpool & Wolverine will be released exclusively in theaters on July 26th.

Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, are promoting their upcoming G.I. Joe comic book series with a "Choose Your Side" initiative. The initiative will offer readers a chance to see their names in the pages of the all-new ongoing series G.I. Joe #1, by publicly declaring their loyalty to either G.I. Joe or Cobra. At least some participants will be featured alongside other Insiders in the series' house ads. The "Choose your side" gamification mirrors what Hasbro and Skybound recently did with a G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero reprint omnibus that they funded through Kickstarter.

Readers can pledge their affiliation by submitting a photo of themselves, along with their stated allegiance, to the "Choose Your Side" page on the Skybound Insiders website here.

"Choose Your Side is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be part of G.I. JOE history and our way of thanking all the amazing fans who have made the Energon Universe the hottest line of comics in the industry," said Arune Singh, VP Brand, Editorial, Skybound Entertainment. "So many fans - including all of us at Skybound - dreamt of having our names in our favorite comics and it's exciting to go one step further by giving Skybound Insiders a chance to see their faces side-by-side fellow members in the biggest new comic book launch of the year!"

"Fans are at the cornerstone of the G.I. Joe brand, and "Choose Your Side" is our way of thanking them for their relentless passion," said Alyse D'Antuono, Vice President, Global Brand Strategy & Management, Action Brands at Hasbro. "We also owe our thanks to our talented and creative partners at Skybound for shining a well-deserved light on our most dedicated fanbase and expanding G.I. JOE's immersive storytelling world. We can't wait to see this special issue unfold."

According to Skybound, every eligible submission will be included once in an issue of G.I. Joe, beginning with the series' launch in November. The ads will run until every eligible submission has been featured. The photo submission portal on Skybound Insiders is open now, and will close on September 8, 2024. To be eligible, users must have a verified Skybound Insiders account, and be 18+ and a legal resident of the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada (excluding Quebec).

Here's the official synopsis for the series:

From the superstar creative team of writer Joshua Williamson (Duke, Cobra Commander), artist Tom Reilly (Duke) and colorist Jordie Bellaire (W0rldtr33), the biggest comic book launch of the decade will introduce a bold new vision of G.I. Joe and Cobra to the Energon Universe in G.I. Joe #1 on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

Conrad Hauser, Codename Duke, has assembled a special force known as G.I. Joe to battle the rising power of the mysterious COBRA in the aftermath of the Autobots and Decepticons' arrival on Earth. But the enigmatic Cobra Commander has unleashed the power of Energon like never before! Featuring the First Appearance of an ALL-NEW character and many familiar faces, this is the comic that will change everything you think you know about G.I. Joe...and that's only half the surprises in store!

G.I. Joe will become another tentpole of the Energon Universe, the crown jewel of the historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, who has introduced a brand-new era of the Transformers and G.I. Joe franchises in one shared comic book universe. Fans should expect can't-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions from some of the biggest franchises in comics today.

G.I. Joe #1 will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

DC's long-awaited Absolute Power is finally here, and it did not disappoint. There's a lot to break down regarding the issue, and the first one up to bat is how Amanda Waller hit DC's heroes in a way they never expected. Spoilers are incoming for Absolute Power #1, so if you haven't read the issue yet you've been warned. Early on Amanda Waller reveals her assembled team of Queen Brainiac and Failsafe, and how they have together created Task Force VII. Task Force VII is the key to their plans, as they are designed after the former Justice League's power set, and since they are Amazos, they also have the ability to absorb the heroes' powers but have been given an upgrade. Waller takes away the very powers that make them superhuman, and the biggest reveal is that there's no way to get them back.

Superpowered No More

Working with Failsafe and the Brainiac Queen, Waller creates an army of Amazos that are able to steal away powers, and we see that happen with Superman, Connor, and Jonathan, as they all lose their powers and fall back to Earth. We also see the Justice Society of America affected as well as Aquaman and Doom Patrol. Mister Terrific, the Flash Family, and Wonder Woman are all confronted by this new army, and many are having their powers drained throughout the issue, though Waller isn't stopping there.

Not only is she taking powers, but she is also targeting other abilities and skill sets to complete her takeover. Task Force VII has been designed to take powers but also have the ability to drain devices, and we see that happen with Doctor Fate, who is having his helmet drained of its magical abilities. Speaking of magic, that isn't available either, as Waller reveals those who use magic will no longer remember how to conjure it, and that is presented through the disappearance of Spectre.

It's also revealed that Waller has sealed away the timestream and the micro-verse, so there's no escaping there either, but one more gut punch awaits the former Justice League. Waller says that unlike previous Amazos, these are completely new designs with new technology, so even if they manage to defeat them, there is no return mechanism for their powers. Their powers are never coming back, and that's where the issue ends.

New Readers Welcome

While the series does pull from those other books, those who haven't been keeping up with those other stories shouldn't hesitate to jump right into this. "A little bit, but I think we do a pretty good job making sure everything's in context and making sure everyone knows, and we spell out for new readers," Wait said. "Even if you haven't been reading DC comics for a couple of years, by the time you get to page eight or nine or whatever, I think you get a pretty good sense of what's at stake, who the players are, and what they want. So I would encourage you, even if you are a casual DC fan, not inclined to pick up everything, I think this is something that will scratch every itch."

What Is Absolute Power About?

"THE HEROES OF THE DC UNIVERSE ARE POWERLESS! THE TRINITY OF EVIL HAS WON! ...THE RESISTANCE MUST RISE! DC's epic summer event kicks off with a bang, as the combined might of FAILSAFE and the BRAINIAC QUEEN has at last given Amanda Waller the ability to steal the metahuman abilities of every hero and villain on planet Earth. As chaos erupts in the streets and a massive misinformation campaign sways public opinion to her side, the founder of the Suicide Squad methodically targets each superhero dynasty one at a time, starting with SUPERMAN. But even in this darkest of hours, a resistance is forming... and BATMAN is out for vengeance. It's a shocking blitzkrieg across the globe that is decades in the making - and will shape the course of the DC Universe for years to come! Brought to you by the superstar talents of MARK WAID and DAN MORA - it all starts here!"

What did you think of Absolute Power #1? You can talk all things comics with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Absolute Power #1.] "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound" no more: Superman is powerless. After weaponizing artificial intelligence to discredit superheroes using AI-generated deepfake videos, Amanda Waller -- head of the government's Bureau of Sovereignty -- wielded her unchecked powers to steal the superpowers of metahuman heroes and villains alike.

DC had been teasing that Absolute Power, from Batman/Superman: World's Finest creative team Mark Waid and Dan Mora, would depower the DC Universe's superheroes for the crossover event spanning a four-issue series (and tie-ins with ongoing runs of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, and Green Lantern). And in this week's issue, titled "Powerless," Waller -- with Failsafe, the Brainiac Queen, and Task Force VII, her own "Justice League" of power-stealing Amazo androids -- did just that.

As "The Wall" launched the blitzkrieg that stripped superheroes of their powers, the now-mortal Man of Steel lost his invulnerability to bullets just as Superman was shot by a panicked criminal's gun. Superboy and Jon Kent were nearby to rush the critically wounded Superman to a hospital, but they then lost their powers mid-flight. The issue ended with the depowered Superman bleeding out and the world's superheroes powerless to stop Waller's literal power grab.

The Absolute Power cliffhanger was resolved in a backup story in Batman #150 (written by Chip Zdarsky and drawn by Mike Hawthorne, also on stands Wednesday). The oversized milestone issue picks up where Absolute Power #1 left off: with the Dark Knight determined to stop Failsafe, the "uber-Batman" robot controlled by Bruce Wayne's backup personality, the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh.

Batman went to Titans Tower in Bl?dhaven in hopes that Cyborg could disable Waller's Task Force VII, only to find that Waller infected him with a virus. Cyborg revealed that Waller's power source is a Mother Box, a dangerous Apokolips-made supercomputer that Batman plans to steal with help from a thief: Catwoman.

There were two more revelations. First, the Flash is one of the only heroes who hasn't lost his powers, which he's used to stay on the move at super speed. Second, Superman survived with the help of Mr. Terrific, and he's recuperating in the silver-and-black Superman suit the Kryptonian wore when recovering in his return from the dead after The Death of Superman.

But Superman isn't the only powerless superhero getting a new look in coming issues of Absolute Power. Solicitations for future issues reveal that the Batman-led resistance -- including Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter -- armor up for their fight against the Trinity of Evil and their super-powered Task Force VII.

"The biggest thing was I wanted to create a real sense of peril and drama without endangering the universe," Waid told ComicBook in an exclusive interview. "Because those crossovers have been great, but it's not my wheelhouse exactly to do the big cosmic stories. So that was goal number one. Then I started thinking about it, and, 'What is the worst thing that you can do to these characters? What great sense of loss can you imprint upon universally all of them?' It's not just a matter of taking away their loved ones or their friends, because some of them have loved ones, some of them don't, or whatever. What's the one thing universally across the board you can do? And that's to make them stop being superheroes."

Absolute Power is the culmination of a story that has been building in of recent issues of DC's comics -- including Batman's "Dark Prisons" arc and Superman's "House of Brainiac" -- and 2022's Dark Crisis and 2023's Beast World consequential events.

Paying off those story threads "wasn't the challenging part, because a lot of that, especially in the case of the Titans, for instance, they were laying the groundwork [in Beast World]," Waid added. "For Flash, same thing -- laying the groundwork for Amanda Waller taking bigger swings. So that wasn't really an issue. Brainiac Queen being the third leg of the Trinity of Evil made perfect sense to us because she's able to bring something that Failsafe and Waller can't to the table."

As for more casual fans coming to DC's blockbuster event that started with a bang, Waid said readers immediately "get a pretty good sense of what's at stake, who the players are, and what they want. So I would encourage you, even if you are a casual DC fan, not inclined to pick up everything, I think this is something that will scratch every itch."

An upcoming Spider-Man story arc teases death for the wall-crawler. Writer Zeb Wells and artist John Romita Jr. are nearing the end of their run on The Amazing Spider-Man, so that means it's time for Marvel Comics to start marketing what's to follow. Readers have witnessed Mary Jane Watson start a new relationship with Paul, Norman Osborn take on a heroic identity as the Gold Goblin, Ben Reilly's transformation into the villainous Chasm, Ms. Marvel's death and resurrection, a Gang War, and much more. But now, the Grim Reaper is coming for the Spider-Man Family.

Marvel released a teaser for "The 8 Deaths of Spider-Man," a 10-issue arc launching this fall in Amazing Spider-Man that takes place following the end of Zeb Wells' run on the title. We also gained details on the creative team for "The 8 Deaths of Spider-Man." Per the Marvel press release, "Following Zeb Wells' landmark run, writer Joe Kelly and Justina Ireland alongside artists Ed McGuinness and Gleb Melnikov bring you a new Spidey epic titled THE 8 DEATHS OF SPIDER-MAN. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for more information on this 10-issue arc launching this fall!"

The 8 Deaths of Spider-Man teaser art revealed

The artwork for "The 8 Deaths of Spider-Man" features a red-stained sky with eight gravestones marked in the ground. Of course, these gravestones could signify the deaths of eight individuals in Peter Parker / Spider-Man's life. The web-slinger has worked hard to make it so he doesn't suffer any more losses, after being plagued by the tragic losses of Uncle Ben, Gwen Stacy, and many others.

There is also the controversial "Spider-Man: One More Day" story arc that saw Spider-Man make a deal with Mephisto to save the life of Aunt May. In return, Spider-Man had to give up his marriage to Mary Jane. In this scenario, Peter traded his marriage for Aunt May's safety.

What is Zeb Wells' final Spider-Man story about?

Marvel released teaser art for Amazing Spider-Man #58, which begins the final showdown with Tombstone. "Tombstone's revenge! Spanning multiple issues, Spidey's most brutal battle begins in Amazing Spider-Man #58," the press release reads. "Hitting stands in September, the visceral issue will kick off the climactic final arc of Zeb Wells and John Romita Jr.'s epic run!" The art by John Romita Jr. shows Spider-Man perching on a building in a pouring thunderstorm, with rain falling all across his costume. Fans may be wondering why Tombstone is the chosen villain to end this era of Spider-Man comics, but Wells has been setting this up ever since he helped relaunch Amazing Spider-Man.