Marvel is teasing that Iron Man's latest armor upgrade will come with an X-Men twist!

Previews for upcoming collections of Marvel Comics books include the current storyline for Invincible Iron Man, in which Tony Stark has gotten close with The White Queen (Emma Frost), just as the X-Men's mutant nation of Krakoa was obliterated by the anti-mutant organization Orchis, and nearly every mutant was banished from the Earth. Well, Tony Stark and The Avengers are aiding the X-Men in their darkest hour, and it looks like Iron Man will get a new version of his armor, made from the new mutant metal known as Mysterium!

Here are the teaser synopses for Invincible Iron Man vol. 2 and vol. 3:

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN VOL. 2: THE WEDDING OF TONY STARK AND EMMA FROST
Gerry Duggan,
On Sale Date: 27 February 2024 $19.99 144 pages
Acclaimed writer Gerry Duggan continues his exciting run on Iron Man, as Tony Stark teams up with the X-Men! Invincible meets uncanny as Iron Man and the X-Men cross paths! When the cosmically enhanced Feilong attacks the latest Hellfire Gala, it's up to Tony Stark to save the mutants! Featuring a brand new status quo for Tony, complete with a shiny new armor!

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN VOL. 3
On Sale Date: 02 July 2024 $15.99 112 pages
Gerry Duggan continues to intertwine the worlds of Iron Man and the X-Men! Tony Stark's relationship with Emma Frost develops further, as they must team up on a search to find the elusive metal known as Mysterium in order to fight back against the deadly threats of Feilong and Orchis! COLLECTING: Invincible Iron Man (2022) 13-17

What Is Marvel's Mysterium?

When the X-Men established their mutant nation of Krakoa, S.W.O.R.D. became a mutant astronautics and orbital defense program, run by Abigail Brand. Brand organized "The Six," a group of mutant teleporters and power boosters/converters who were capable of reaching the very end of creation in order to retrieve an artifact that only exists there: Mysterium.

Since its discovery and retrieval, Mysterium has proven to be a major game-changer Marvel metal. It's as durable as Adamantium (in its "secondary" form); it's one of the most efficient conductors of electricity ever seen, while also being radiation-proof.

One of the most distinct things about Mysterium is that it is more resonant with magic than other Marvel metals. Mysterium can instantly break or negate even the most powerful Marvel magic spells - including possession. Its profound effects on magic have shaken up the Marvel magical community, as many sorcerers/supernatural beings (Clea, Selene) are learning how vulnerable it makes them.

Mysterium is currently viewed as the most valuable material in the galaxy, due to the near-impossibility of obtaining it, its profound powers, and its technological potential.

With an Iron Man armor made of Mysterium, Tony Stark is about to get an upgrade that makes him ready to face all the threats of the Marvel/X-Men Universe: from Orchis and rival industrialist Feilong to all the mystical threats lurking in the wings.

Invincible Iron Man is on sale at Marvel Comics.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is now in theaters and the animated movie lovingly references the almost 40-year history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in several ways. There are Easter eggs calling back to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys from the 1990s and Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman even gets a Stan Lee-like cameo in the film. However, that voice cameo isn't the only way that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem honors Eastman and his fellow TMNT co-creator Peter Laird. The film pays homage in multiple ways, including with name drops and allusions to their original work on the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. SPOILERS follow for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.

As mentioned, Eastman has a voice cameo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. He's credited as "Good Human," the human who helps Splinter up during the film's climactic battle with Superfly. Eastman also lends his name to the school April O'Neil attends, Eastman High School.

Mutant Mayhem references Laird with a large sign for "The Laird" that stands above April and the Turtles while they share a pizza after their first meeting. It's unclear what "The Laird" is, but the name on the sign is a clear reference to the Turtles' creator.

The film also nods to the Turtles' creators with some visual shifts in the movie. In the beginning, we see the Turtles through Leonardo's imagination, and their eyes are whited out under their masks. That appears to be a reference to how Eastman and Laird drew the characters in their original, self-published comics, which had a more gritty and serious tone. Similarly, when the Turtles imagine what life would be like if they got to go to high school, the art style is clearly reminiscent of those old comics

Eastman and Laird co-created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1984. Together, they created the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series and oversaw the franchise during the height of Turtlemania after the 1987 cartoon debuted. In 2000, after their relationship became strained, Eastman sold his share of the Turtles to Laird. Laird involved himself in the creation of the second Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, which debuted in 2003, and continued creating and publishing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics. In 2009, Laird sold the Turtles to Viacom (now Paramount) but continued publishing his Turtles comics through 2014. Following the sale to Viacom, Eastman began getting involved with the Turtles again, especially the IDW Publishing comics line. In recent years, Eastman and Laird have seemingly made amends and rekindled their friendship.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem marks the latest movie in the long-running media franchise, and a new reboot for four turtle brothers. Seth Rogen produced the movie, and lends his voice to its huge ensemble cast. In the film, the titular heroes venture out into the real world after years of living isolated in the sewers. Though they try to be recognized as normal teenagers by their heroics, a crime syndicate with an army of mutants makes everything more difficult for them and threatens their plans for joining society. The voice cast for the film includes Micah Abbey as Donatello, Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo, Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo, and Brady Noon as Raphael. TMNT: Mutant Mayhem includes a slew of celebrities as well like Ayo Edebiri as April O'Neil, Jackie Chan as Splinter, Seth Rogen as Bebop, John Cena as Rocksteady, Ice Cube as Superfly, Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman, Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko, and Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem opened in theaters on August 2nd.

In 1985, the milestone Uncanny X-Men #200 established a new status quo for Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Chris Claremont's classic "Trial of Magneto" saw the master of magnetism stand before the International Court of Justice and face charges of crimes against humanity for his super-villainy -- Magneto's attempts to protect homo superior from extermination by becoming humankind's would-be conqueror. Xavier, suffering from a failing heart that could be treated only by the Shi'ar Empire's advanced alien technology, left Earth with Empress Lilandra and entrusted Magneto with a great responsibility: carry on in Xavier's place as headmaster and teach the New Mutants.

"His last wish was that I take his place -- and try my best to fulfill his dream of a world wherein human and mutant may live together in peace," the reformed Magneto told Xavier's students in The New Mutants #35. As he sought redemption, Magneto led the New Mutants -- Cannonball, Cypher, Karma, Magik, Magma, Mirage, Sunspot, Wolfsbane, and Warlock -- and fought alongside the X-Men as an ally.

Marvel Comics revisits '80s era X-Men in August's Magneto Vol. 4 #1, set during Magneto's tenure as headmaster to the New Mutants. Written by J.M. DeMatteis with art by Todd Nauck, "Evil Mutant Chapter One: Things Past" finds the reformed supervillain reflecting on his path as a mutant terrorist-turned-teacher of the next generation of X-Men. He recalls the attack on the Cape Citadel missile base (in 1963's X-Men #1) and how he revealed Magneto to the world as "the total manifestation of humanity's mutant nightmares," forcing Xavier's X-Men out of the shadows.

But as he reckons with the past and the ghosts of the Auschwitz death camps where Max Eisenhardt's family was murdered, Magneto finds the X-Mansion invaded and the New Mutants beaten unconscious. Their attacker is a woman, aged 18 or 19, who wields flame the way Magneto manipulates metal. "Oh, Magneto -- I have dreamed of this encounter for years -- ever since we first met," she tells her victim, who does not recognize her. "I was beneath your notice then! But I assure you that this encounter is one you'll never forget."

With that, her flames siphon negative feelings -- ugliness, brutality, rage -- literally tearing a "dark tsunami" from Magneto's soul. The woman gleefully absorbs "a lifetime of anger" that he worked to repress -- only to use it as a weapon, unleashing it on Magneto and rendering him unconscious. "Max Eisenhardt. Erik Lehnsherr. Magnus. Michael Xavier. The names you've hidden behind! The roles you've played! It's no wonder you're confused about your identity! Your purpose! But there's only one name that reflects the fiery reality -- of who you truly are."

Magneto awakes on the island-nation of Santo Marco to find Irae, Queen of Wrath, and her Sisterhood of Evil Mutants kneeling and hailing Lord Magneto.

"Magneto may be the single most complex character in the Marvel Universe: a man of dizzying contradictions who has endured, and caused, extraordinary suffering. Who's been both villain and hero. Whose long, tangled history invites endless exploration," DeMatteis told Marvel.com. "Our new Magneto series allows us to look at all aspects of Erik Lehnsherr's soul and psyche--at a period when he was trying to put his life as a so-called 'evil' mutant behind him and step, somewhat reluctantly, into Charles Xavier's shoes, attempting to guide a new generation of mutants. We also get to look back at the early days of the X-Men--one of my favorite periods in Marvel history--and introduce a new villain, born in the cauldron of Magneto's dark past."

Marvel's Magneto #1, the first of a four-issue limited series, is out now.

Before James Gunn and Peter Safran reboot the DC Universe, DC Comics will reprint two stories that influenced the new DCU. Next summer, the publisher will release new editions of All-Star Superman and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which Gunn and Safran named as their inspiration for two of the films comprising Gods and Monsters, the upcoming first chapter of the new DC Universe film and television slate. Writer Grant Morrison and artist Frank Quitely's 12-issue All-Star run influences the Gunn-directed Superman: Legacy, out July 11th, 2025, while Woman of Tomorrow will adapt DC's eight-issue Supergirl mini-series of the same name.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow: The Deluxe Edition, a new deluxe hardcover edition, will be available July 23rd, 2024; Absolute All-Star Superman: New Edition, collecting Morrison and Quitely's award-winning series in an over-sized slipcased hardcover, releases a week later on July 30th.

Previous editions of the books became best sellers and temporarily sold out online after Gunn and Safran announced the DC Studios slate in January. Along with Superman: Legacy and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, other film projects revealed to be in the works include The Authority, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Swamp Thing. (Morrison's Batman Omnibus Vol. 1 also topped best-seller lists and was temporarily unavailable to buy online after Gunn named that run, introducing Bruce Wayne's son Damian, as inspiration for The Brave and the Bold.)

All-Star Superman and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow are included on DC's official Gods and Monsters reading list, a handy reference for the comics and graphic novels that inspired the film and TV projects in the new DCU.

While Legacy is not an adaptation of All-Star Superman -- Gunn has already cast supporting superheroes Mister Terrific, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and the Guy Gardner Green Lantern -- the Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker has said Legacy is "very inspired by All-Star Superman."

In All-Star, after a trip to the Sun exposes the Kryptonian to critical levels of stellar radiation, Superman is dying from the very source of his superpowers. Clark Kent -- described by his Daily Planet co-worker Lois Lane as a bumbling, "big country lummox" -- reveals he's secretly Superman, and goes on to face such classic foes as Lex Luthor, Parasite, and the sentinent star Solaris as he sets out to accomplish the Twelve Labors of Superman. Like Morrison's charmingly old-fashioned Man of Steel, the DCU Superman will be "the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way," according to Safran, with Legacy focusing "on Superman balancing his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing."

The new editions of Absolute All-Star Superman and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow release July 2024 from DC Comics.

The final page of 1994's Aquaman #0 ended with a dramatic reveal: Arthur Curry, the ruler of Atlantis and King of the Seven Seas, emerging from the depths of the Aquacave with a harpoon for a hand. After the villain Charybdis shockingly fed his hand to flesh-eating piranhas in Aquaman #2, the sea king decided he needed a symbol: "So the sea creatures know I'm of the surface, and the surface men know that the sea can turn their weapons against them." So decreed the writer who reinvented the fish-speaking Super Friend as an edgier, harpoon-handed badass: Peter David, who scripted DC's Aquaman: Time and Tide mini-series and a definitive run on Marvel's The Incredible Hulk.

DC Comics will collect David's influential run on Aquaman in the new Aquaman by Peter David Omnibus, scheduled for release on July 16th, 2024. Details are sparse, but the 1,464-page collection is expected to include Aquaman Vol. 5 #0-46 and Annuals 1-4, published during David's tenure on the title between 1994 and 1998. David previously scripted the seven-issue Atlantis Chronicles (1990) and the four-issue Time and Tide, a mini-series chronicling Aquaman's origins.

"[DC] were satisfied enough with the work I did that they felt I could handle the ongoing book," David recalled in a 2018 interview with webzine DC in the '80s. "I started trying to think of ways to make Aquaman interesting, because you have to understand -- that at the time that I was taking over Aquaman -- the general public had zero interest in him. I mean, when I told fans that I was going to be writing Aquaman, the most asked question was, 'Why?' He was seen as one of the lamest characters. Certainly his portrayal in Super Friends didn't help."

While the run -- with art from a lineup of artists that included Martin Egeland, Gene Gonzales, Jim Calafiore, Casey Jones, and Joe St. Pierre -- retained Aquaman's iconic orange-scaled suit and green gloves, the character had a beard and a longer-haired look that would inspire Jason Momoa's burly badass in the DC Extended Universe.

"I decided that I had to radically change his appearance, that that would be a good start. So I gave him the long hair and I gave him the beard, and I developed the idea of him losing his right hand and having it replaced with a harpoon. I thought that would make him look a lot more dynamic," David said. "I mean, if the old Aquaman walks into a room, you'd go, 'Hey Aquaman! What's going on?' If the long-haired bearded guy with a scowl walks in and he's got a harpoon on his arm, you're gonna go, 'Um, yes? What can I do to help you, sir? don't kill me.' I wanted that kind of gravity to his appearance -- so that when this guy walked into a room -- you KNEW he was a bad-ass. He was NOT someone you wanted to screw with."

Over more than four dozen issues, David introduced Koryak -- the son of Arthur and a human woman -- pit the hero against such villains as the Piranha-Man, the Deep Six, Thanatos, Neron, and Ocean Master, and featured guest spots by the Justice League, Wonder Woman, Lobo, Superboy, and the Kyle Rayner Green Lantern. David also fleshed out Aquaman's supporting cast: his sidekick, Aqualad, the scientist Vulko, the silver-haired woman called Dolphin, and Mera, Queen of Atlantis.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom surfaces December 20th in theaters. Aquaman by Peter David Omnibus is available July 16th, 2024, from DC Comics.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem opened in theaters this weekend and is off to a stellar start worldwide. The Seth Rogen-produced and co-written film put a fresh spin on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which began life as Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's indie comics sensation. It then became a multimedia franchise that is now nearing its 40th anniversary. Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon have already announced plans for a second Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem movie, most likely featuring a certain iconic villain mostly missing from the first film, as well as two seasons of a Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series on Paramount+ bridging the gap between the two movies.

But for those looking for more Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles goodness as soon as they leave the movie theaters, parsing four decades of TMNT games, movies, TV shows, and comics can be a little intimidating. Where to help out and point you in the direction of your next favorite piece of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles media in each of those categories. Grab your ninja weapon of choice and let's begin:

What show to watch: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Part of the charm of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is seeing the Turtles depicted as "actual teenagers" trying to figure out who they are, what they want, and what their place is in the world. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the TMNT television series that comes closest to matching that tone. It presents the Turtles as still raw and figuring out their team dynamic (Raphael leads the team instead of Leonardo). The show ran for two seasons (which are streaming on Paramount+) and culminated in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (streaming on Netflix).

Keep watching?: The 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, which launched the "Turtlemania" era, will soon be airing on Nickelodeon. The show's plots don't hold up very well, but the characterizations are character-defining (Donatello does machines, Michelangelo is a party due, etc.) and the zany humor is charming. If you want a series with more mature storytelling, try either the 2003 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, which is still the closest adaptation of Eastman and Laird's original comics, or the 2012 Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, which used CG animation. Both shows were recently re-released on Blu-ray and are streaming on Paramount+.

What movie to watch: Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated movie, which adapts a comic book with the same premise, is better than it has any right to be. The plot is pretty simple: Shredder and the Foot Clan are working with a mysterious partner and making moves in Gotham. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles head to Gotham to investigate and run afoul of Batman. A top-notch voice cast makes the interactions between the various characters genuinely funny, and the script wisely jettisons the comic's convoluted explanation for how the Ninja Turtles and the Batman Family are existing in the same universe and instead focuses on the essentials. The movie earns its PG-13 rating with surprisingly brutal violence accompanied by blood, meaning parents and older viewers might do well to make sure younger viewers are prepared for that. Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles isn't streaming anywhere but is available to rent on demand. It's also available on physical media, including a 4k UlHD Blu-ray release.

Movie marathon: You could always watch all of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies in order. Otherwise, the original live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie put a surprisingly dark and gritty spin on a franchise that was mostly known for being a toy-selling cartoon behemoth and it holds up well today. Its first sequel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze, is a movie goofy enough to be a fun time, with vibes closer to the 1987 cartoon, down to the unforgettable "Ninja Rap" needle drop. Both films are streaming on Paramount+ and Max. If you'd like to stick to animated movies, 2007's TMNT was the franchise's first attempt at 3D animation. It acts as a sequel to the original live-action trilogy but stands alone well enough, beginning with Shredder already defeated and the Ninja Turtles divided and directionless until a new threat emerges. The movie remains divisive to this day, and while I'm personally not a fan, its proponents swear by it, meaning it may be worth checking out on Paramount+ or Max.

What game to Play: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge is, as our review suggests, a loving homage to classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time and, for my money, one of the best games of 2022. Shredder's Revenge perfectly modernizes the core gameplay of those TMNT arcade classics while updating the elements that haven't aged well or only ever worked when someone was plunking quarters into a machine. It has gorgeous retro graphics, a story mode, countless ways to customize your play experience, and an incredible soundtrack with talents like Mike Patton and Ghostface Killah contributing. The game is available to play on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and even PC, Linux, and, for Netflix users, mobile devices. On top of all of that, the upcoming Dimension Shellshock DLC will add a new game mode, new looks for all of the existing characters, and new playable characters, including longtime TMNT crossover ally Miyamoto Usagi from Usagi Yojimbo.

Continue?: If you'd rather play the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade games, then check out Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The collection includes 13 games that Konami produced during the height of Turtlemania in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time, complete with online multiplayer. With its extensive archives of promotional material and design documents, it's an impressively comprehensive collection that should please any old-school Turtles fan and gamer.

What comic to read: IDW Publishing's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles began in comics, and there are plenty of quality ones to choose from. If there's one we'd recommend for longtime fans and newcomers alike it's IDW Publishing's ongoing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series and its spinoffs, which has been going since 2011. IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is set in a distinct universe separate from any other iteration, which allows it to take the best of every version of the Turtles and bring them together in a way that feels cohesive, with stories that have stakes and meaning. It's been one of my favorite comics to follow for years and I can't recommend it enough to anyone who likes long-form comics storytelling. The best way to read the series is via the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection series of volumes, which collect the entire main Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ongoing series and all of its spinoffs and satellite series into their proper reading order. IDW has been reprinting the collection from the beginning in a more affordable paperback format, which makes it the perfect time to start reading. However, if even that sounds like too much of an investment, you can pick up the main series trade paperbacks to get the core story, beginning with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Volume 1: Change is Constant. Alternatively, if you want to get caught up with the series more quickly, start with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Reborn, Vol. 1 - From The Ashes, which begins collecting the series where Sophie Campbell took over as its main writer following a massive shift in the Ninja Turtles' status quo.

Further reading: If you'd prefer something self-contained, check out the hugely popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, which is set in a dark future and serves as an ending to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' story (sequel notwithstanding). It couldn't be further from Mutant Mayhem in terms of tone, but it is based on an original, unproduced idea that Eastman and Laird came up with during their original run, which makes it even more essential for diehard fans. If you want lighter fare, IDW's recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures tells new stories based on the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon. If you want more of the non-turtle mutants from Mutant Mayhem, look for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures, collecting the surprisingly good Archie Comics Ninja Turtles series from the 1990s, which features those characters prominently. It's hard to find in print these days but is easily available in digital form. Finally, Eastman and Laird's original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics are excellent and it's almost a shame that they are sometimes overshadowed by the franchise that they spawned. Readers can find those comics in IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection series.

Did we miss anything? Let us know what Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, movies, games, or shows you'd recommend! after seeing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem marks the latest movie in the long-running media franchise, and a new reboot for four turtle brothers. Seth Rogen produced the movie and lends his voice to its huge ensemble cast. In the film, the titular heroes venture out into the real world after years of living isolated in the sewers. Though they try to be recognized as normal teenagers by their heroics, a crime syndicate with an army of mutants makes everything more difficult for them and threatens their plans for joining the society. The voice cast for the film includes Micah Abbey as Donatello, Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo, Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo, and Brady Noon as Raphael. TMNT: Mutant Mayhem includes a slew of celebrities as well like Ayo Edebiri as April O'Neil, Jackie Chan as Splinter, Seth Rogen as Bebop, John Cena as Rocksteady, Ice Cube as Superfly, Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman, Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko, and Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem opened in theaters on August 2nd.

On October 8th, 2003, Image Comics published The Walking Dead #1, the first issue of Robert Kirkman's zombie saga. Written by Kirkman with art by Tony Moore, the black-and-white comic book saw comatose cop Rick Grimes wake up after an epidemic of apocalyptic proportions swept the globe -- causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. Originally conceived as "the zombie movie that never ends," The Walking Dead comic book spawned one-shots, specials, spin-offs, and a live-action AMC television series that launched its own ongoing TWD Universe. But in 2019, without warning, Kirkman and artist Charlie Adlard ended their long-running comic book after 193 issues.

To mark the 20th anniversary of The Walking Dead comic book this October, Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment will release four limited edition box sets collecting all 193 issues across 32 volumes. Each spanning eight trade paperback volumes of the original black-and-white comics -- not the colorized reprintings in the ongoing Walking Dead Deluxe -- the four box sets are sold separately and will retail for $125. Pre-orders are available on Amazon now.

Below, we've detailed what's contained in the four individual box sets scheduled to release weekly throughout October.

The Walking Dead 20th Anniversary Box Set #1 (October 4th, 2023)

• Volume 1: Days Gone Bye (issues #1-6)
  
• Volume 2: Miles Behind Us (issues #7-12)
• Volume 3: Safety Behind Bars (issues #13-18)
  
• Volume 4: The Heart's Desire (issues #19-24)
  
• Volume 5: The Best Defense (issues #25-30)
  
• Volume 6: This Sorrowful Life (issues #31-36)
  
• Volume 7: The Calm Before (issues #37-42)
  
• Volume 8: Made to Suffer (issues #43-48)

The Walking Dead 20th Anniversary Box Set #2 (October 11th, 2023)

• Volume 9: Here We Remain (issues #49-54)
• Volume 10: What We Become (issues #55-60)
• Volume 11: Fear the Hunters (issues #61-66)
• Volume 12: Life Among Them (issues #67-72)
• Volume 13: Too Far Gone (issues #73-78)
• Volume 14: No Way Out (issues #79-84)
• Volume 15: We Find Ourselves (issues #85-90)
• Volume 16: A Larger World (issues #91-96)
  

The Walking Dead 20th Anniversary Box Set #3 (October 18th, 2023)

• Volume 17: Something to Fear (issues #97-102)
• Volume 18: What Comes After (issues #103-108)
• Volume 19: March to War (issues #109-114)
• Volume 20: All Out War - Part One (issues #115-120)
• Volume 21: All Out War - Part Two (issues #121-126)
  
• Volume 22: A New Beginning (issues #127-132)
• Volume 23: Whispers Into Screams (issues #133-138)
• Volume 24: Life and Death (issues #139-144)

The Walking Dead 20th Anniversary Box Set #4 (October 25th, 2023)

• Volume 25: No Turning Back (issues #145-150)
• Volume 26: Call to Arms (issues #151-156)
• Volume 27: The Whisperer War (issues #157-162)
• Volume 28: A Certain Doom (issues #163-168)
• Volume 29: Lines We Cross (issues #169-174)
• Volume 30: New World Order (issues #175-180)
• Volume 31: The Rotten Core (issues #181-186)
• Volume 32: Rest in Peace (issues #187-193)
  

The Walking Dead 20th Anniversary box sets will hit stores just as The Walking Dead Deluxe reaches the milestone issue #75 in October. Along with the limited-edition box sets, Image Comics will reprint The Walking Dead Deluxe #1 (2020) as a new Newsprint Edition. The Walking Dead Deluxe issues #72-75 and their variant covers will feature the "20 Years" emblem depicting the katana-wielding Michonne.

"I can't believe we're already celebrating 20 years of The Walking Dead!" Kirkman exclusively told ComicBook in a statement. "What an insane benchmark for us to reach and to have the deluxe color reprint series reaching its 75th issue in this moment is just staggering. These are the greatest fans in the world and their support of this world is unprecedented. I'm so thankful for all the things they've allowed us to accomplish."

Added editor Amanda LaFranco, "We're thrilled to be bringing readers a packed month of The Walking Dead this October! For 20 years, the iconic series has been with us, and what better way to celebrate than with TWD Deluxe in your shop weekly and new iconic images to boot! Leading up to the explosive 75th issue, we're excited to feature a series of covers with grisly walkers and the high-stakes moments the series is beloved for." (See The Walking Dead 20th Anniversary variant covers here.)

Stay tuned to ComicBook/TWD and follow @CameronBonomolo and @NewsOfTheDead on Twitter for more TWD Universe coverage.

Star Trek: The Next Generation occurs about a century after Star Trek: The Original Series. Yet, it still managed to feature appearances by members of the original USS Enterprise crew. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) appeared in the second part of the two-part "Unifcation" story to celebrate Star Trek's 25th anniversary. Mr. Scott (James Doohan) appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Relics" in the following season. However, Star Trek: The Next Generation did not reunite the two Star Trek icons. The latest issue of Star Trek: Defiant, the most recent chapter of the Star Trek: Day of Blood crossover with the flagship Star Trek series, rectified that oversight, bringing the two former Enterprise crewmembers together for the first time in decades.

Star Trek, which, along with Defiant, is being written as if in canon between the end of Star Trek: Voyager and the film Star Trek: Nemesis, established that Mr. Scott returned to Starfleet after being rescued from a transporter buffer by the Enterrpise-D crew. "Relics" showed that Scott felt left behind by the era's new technology. Luckily, Starfleet had the perfect project for him in refitting the USS Theseus, the experimental ship first introduced in Star Trek: Year Five, IDW's series that served as a concluding arc to Star Trek: The Original Series. Captain Benjamin Sisko returned from the Celestial Temple and took command of the Theseus to hunt down whoever had been killing gods in the galaxy. Scotty has served as the ship's Chief Engineer during its mission.

Worf was also part of the Theseus' crew until Sisko proved willing to sacrifice Worf's son to stop the deicidal killer, revealed to Emperor Kahless II. Worf went AWOL, stealing the USS Defiant to pursue Kahless in another way. Stealing a Starfleet vessel is no easy task. Worf got help from Spock, who now serves as First Officer aboard the stolen ship.

Sisko's and Worf's crews are forced to join forces after the Defiant uncovers Kahless's plans. They meet on Qo'noS, the Klingon homeworld, where Kahless plans to make a bloody statement that the galaxy cannot ignore. The Defiant lands on the planet's surface, and most of the crews of both ships form an away team. Scott is left to keep the Theseus from being destroyed in the planet's orbit. When things get scary, Spock beams aboard the Theseus to offer his old friend a hand.

It's plain in the panels that Scott and Spock are happy to see one another. However, Spock is still Spock and stops short of granting Scotty's request for a hug.

Star Trek: Defiant #6 is on sale now. Star Trek: Day of Blood continues in Star Trek #11, releasing August 11th.

• Star Trek: Defiant #6
• MAY231386
• (W) Christopher Cantwell (A) Angel Unzueta (CA) Malachi Ward
• The crossover event between Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant continues here in part two of Day of Blood! Worf and Sisko begin their trek to Kahless' spire to stop the false prophet's siege of Qo'noS with each other being the last man either wants to rely on. Meanwhile, Spock takes the bridge of the Theseus, reuniting with his old friend Captain Montgomery Scott and desperately attempting to keep the Red Path's Bloodwings at bay.
• Rated T
• In Shops: Aug 02, 2023
• SRP: $4.99

A new era is on the horizon for the DC Universe, with James Gunn and Peter Safran stepping in to spearhead DC Studios' movies and TV shows going forward. As fans look forward to these new DCU projects, one interesting enigma is the franchise's planned reboot of Batman, set to begin with a The Brave and the Bold movie. While details around that film are few and far between amid the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, we now have a look at some of Gunn's personal touchstones.

In a recent post on Threads, Gunn shared a number of Batman-related titles that he loves: Batman: The Long Halloween, Grant Morrison' Batman run, and even the recent One Bad Day: The Riddler one-shot written by DC Studios writers room member Tom King.

What Would The Brave and the Bold Be About?

The Brave and the Bold is confirmed to star Bruce Wayne / Batman and Damian Wayne / Robin, with Gunn and Safran teasing that the film might feature other characters from the larger "Bat-family."

"This is the introduction of the DCU's Batman..." Gunn explained to reporters in January of this year. "This is the story of Damian Wayne, who is Batman's actual son who we didn't know existed for the first eight to 10 years of his life. He was raised as a little murderer and assassin. He's a little son of a bitch. He's my favorite Robin. It's based on the Grant Morrison comic book's run, which is one of my favorite Batman runs, and we are putting that all together right now."

"And this is obviously a feature film, and it's going to feature other members of the extended 'Bat-family', just because we feel like they've been left out of the Batman stories in the theater for far too long," Safran added.

Who Is Directing DC's Batman Reboot?

Earlier this summer, it was confirmed that The Flash director Andy Muschietti will be helming The Brave and the Bold. A release date for the film has yet to be set.

"We saw The Flash; even before taking the reins at DC Studios, and knew we were in the hands of not only a visionary director but a massive DC fan," Gunn and Safran said in a statement when the news was announced. "It's a magnificent film - funny, emotional, thrilling - and Andy's affinity and passion for these characters and this world just resonates through every frame. So, when it came time to find a director for The Brave and the Bold, there was really only one choice. Luckily, Andy said yes. Barbara signed on to produce with us and we were on our way. They're an extraordinary team, and we couldn't have better or more inspiring partners as we embark on this thrilling new adventure in the DCU."

What do you think of James Gunn's favorite Batman comics? Are you excited for The Brave and the Bold? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

The ComicBook Nation Crew breaks down the Loki Season 2 trailer, talks about that Fantastic Four casting rumor and Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman 3 announcement, then we look at Sony's Spider-Man Universe release date changes, review the new TMNT movie, and discuss the Barbie Movie in full spoilers! PLUS: Futurama is BACK, and we talk new TV shows worth watching, including Special Ops: Lioness, and Harley Quinn Season 4!

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Each episode has a deep dive into the current biggest discussion topics and debates within geek culture: movies, tv, comics, and video games are regular features, with genres like sci-fi, anime, and wrestling also featured regularly. The ONLY show covering ALL THINGS Geek Culture!

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In 1993's Daredevil #321, the horn-headed hero of Hell's Kitchen donned a red-and-black armor in battle against his demonic doppelganger: Hellspawn. The six-part "Fall From Grace" storyline by writer D.G. Chichester and artist Scott McDaniels only spanned Daredevil #319-#325, but the character wouldn't return to his traditional red costume until 1995's Daredevil #345. As revealed during San Diego Comic-Con in July, Matt Murdock is back in black -- and back in the '90s -- in Daredevil: Black Armor. Launching November 22nd, the four-issue limited series is set during Chichester's original run on the title between 1991 and 1998.

Marvel Comics on Friday revealed the Daredevil: Black Armor #1 cover by Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley and a variant by PlayStation's God of War art director Rafael Grassetti (below). The throwback run teams Chichester with penciler Netho Diaz (Thunderbolts, Legion of X) and inker JP Mayer (Spider-Man 2099: Exodus, Sabretooth).

"If someone told me earlier that I'd have another chance to put on Daredevil's horns (let alone horns attached to a suit of black armor) I'd have thought they'd taken one too many whacks to the head with a billy club. But apparently my passport to Hell's Kitchen still works just fine!" Chichester told Marvel.com. "It's an unexpected (but welcome!) thrill to visit Matt Murdock's neighborhood again, and to work with Marvel on going back in time to discover a new adventure for the man without fear.

"The Daredevil office has been incredibly encouraging in taking some wild swings with this series," Chichester continued. "Returning to Matt and Daredevil and that costume where I left them -- as the writer I am now -- has been an amazing experience. It's knowing how to jump off a rooftop -- but accepting the challenge that you don't always know where you're going to land. I hope fans of my 'Fall From Grace' and 'Fall of the Kingpin' stories find more to enjoy in my take on hyper senses and heightened action -- especially seen in an entirely new way thanks to the dynamite art and visual storytelling of Netho Diaz and JP Mayer."

The official description: "When civilians, heroes, and villains alike are disappearing into the dark depths of Hell's Kitchen underground, Matt Murdock will need to push his extraordinary senses and his armored suit beyond their limits to find out who's responsible. Throughout the saga, Daredevil will be pitted against a who's who of Marvel's deadliest villains including Hobgoblin, Sabretooth and more--all building towards an explosive confrontation with the mysterious evil that's pulling all the strings! Matt's armor will have to work overtime as the series delivers nonstop intense action and brutal fighting in extreme 90s' fashion!"

DAREDEVIL: BLACK ARMOR #1 (OF 4)
Written by D.G. CHICHESTER
Art by NETHO DIAZ Cover by MARK BAGLEY
Variant Cover by RAFAEL GRASSETTI
On Sale 11/22

Star Wars may finally be answering a long-lingering question in the story of Kylo Ren: namely, how he ended up with Darth Vader's helmet in his possession!

The new anthology book Star Wars: Return of the Jedi - From A Certain Point of View tells a variety of short stories from around the time period when the events of Return of the Jedi took place (5 ABY). One of those short stories, "The Steadfast Soldier" by Adam Christopher, seems to be exploring a key moment during the Battle of Endor and The Rebel Alliance's attack on the Death Star II. As one excerpt describes:

This was not glory. And it most certainly was not victory. They had... lost.

Pryde felt his heart kick into high gear as he remembered, the shock suddenly bringing him out of his daze, as effectively as a job from a bantha prod.

They had lost, and the lights in the sky, visible despite the dawn, were not fireworks or meteor storm. They were the last burning remnants of the greatest fleet the Empire had ever assembled, the blasted debris raining down across the entire Endor System.

Star Wars fans are now taking some big leaps, based on this simple description. It's clear the story is about an Imperial soldier named "Pryde" stationed on a planet in the Endor System (where the Empire hid the shield-generating base for the Death Star II); what is less clear, however, is what relevance this story will have in the larger Star Wars Saga.

The setting of the Endor System during the destruction of the Death Star II and Imperial Fleet would obviously yield one potentially-important artifact: Darth Vader's helmet.

Why Kylo Ren's Darth Vader Helmet Is A Star Wars Mystery

Kylo Ren having Darth Vader's severely damaged helmet in Star Wars: The Force Awakens never really made sense within the canon. Kylo Ren/Ben Solo never set foot onto the Death Star until Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and wasn't even born when the Battle of Endor was fought (he would be six months later). Vader took off his helmet in his last moments of life after Luke Skywalker's battle with Emperor Palpatine, but Luke Skywalker returned it to his head before placing his father's body on a funeral pyre at the end of the film.

Could "The Steadfast Soldier" reveal a scene where Imperial soldier "Pryde" stumbles upon Vader's remains and retrieves the helmet? If that's the case, it could explain how Vader's helmet made it off of Endor and into Kylo Ren's possession years later.

In fact, "The Steadfast Soldier" could connect back to another Star Wars short story: "The Perfect Weapon" by Delilah S. Dawson, which was included in the Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens short-story anthology. That New Republic-era story followed mercenary Bazine Netal (the woman who led The First Order to Maz Katna's castle in Force Awakens) on a suspicious mission: recovering a mystery package from the corpse of a former Imperial Stormtrooper captain named Jor Tribulus. Netal delivered the case to a mysterious client and established a direct line to the leadership of the First Order as one of their spies.

It's long been theorized that Tribulus was keeping Vader's helmet in that case and that Bazine Netal got it back for Kylo Ren. "The Steadfast Soldier" could concievably be the preceding piece of that story, which shows how Imperial remnants around Endor first stole the helmet, and how it ended up in Tribulus' hands, as commander.

Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi - From A Certain Point of View will be released on August 29th.

25 years after Terry McGinnis suited up as the Dark Knight of the future in the Batman Beyond animated series, DC Comics is coming out with a new comic book collection that's totally schway. Releasing March 5th, 2024, DC's Batman Beyond: The Animated Series Classics Compendium is a massive 700-page paperback collecting issues of the animated show's original tie-in comic book set in the DC Animated Universe with the same art style. Batman Beyond launched as a six-issue limited series in 1999, with a second volume publishing another 24 issues until the TV series ended after 52 episodes in 2001.

The official description: "In 1999, fans met Terry McGinnis for the first time in the Batman Beyond animated series--a new Batman for a new era, mentored by Bruce Wayne and fighting crime in a futuristic Gotham City! That same year, Terry made his comic book debut, encountering threats such as Blight, Inque, and the Jokerz! These stories -- including the unprecedented meeting between Batman Beyond and the Batman of the present -- return in this massive compendium collection!"

DCAU veteran Hilary J. Bader -- whose credits include dozens of episodes of Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures, and Batman Beyond -- wrote 27 of the original 30 issues, with art by Rick Burchett (Batman Adventures), Joe Staton (Adventure Comics), Craig Rousseau (Harley Quinn), and Min S. Ku (Justice League Adventures). The two volumes featured covers by Bruce Timm, co-creator of Batman: The Animated Series and Batman Beyond, Brian Stelfreeze (Batman: Shadow of the Bat), James Tucker (Justice League Unlimited), Bob Smith (Scooby-Doo), Terry Beatty (Batman: Gotham Adventures), and Darwyn Cooke (The New Frontier).

Stories collected in the compendium are a who's who of Batman Beyond's rogue's gallery -- the issues pit Batman against the Royal Flush Gang, Spellbinder, Terminal, Shriek, Stalker, and Splicers -- and feature guest stars like Barbara Gordon, Etrigan the Demon, Aquagirl, and Justice League Unlimited members Warhawk, Big Barda, and the Kai-Ro Green Lantern.

Also on the way from DC Comics is the Batman Adventures: Vol. 1 Omnibus, a 1200-page new edition collecting the first 36 issues of The Batman Adventures. The omnibus releases September 5th, 2023, followed by the Batman Beyond: The Animated Series Classics Compendium on March 5th, 2024.

Beginning in January, Image Comics will partner with Simon & Schuster for an exclusive international distribution deal in the bookstore market, the publisher announced today. The deal will go into place in January 2024, for titles on sale that month (which will be solicited in the direct market beginning in October). Previously exclusive to Diamond Book Distributors, Image Comics will join Viz Media, Boom Studios, and many other graphic novel publishers on the Simon & Schuster distribution client list. Image Comics will continue its relationship with Diamond Book Distributors to serve the UK and International Book Market.

Simon & Schuster offers a wide range of distribution services to independent publishers, including sales, fulfillment, production, digital support services, and more. The "Book Market" comprises chain bookstores like Barnes & Noble, Indigo, Books-a-Million, as well as Amazon, independent bookstores, libraries, and non-comic shop brick-and-mortar and online retailers where physical books are sold.

"For the past 20 years we have been able to establish a foothold for our trade paperbacks and graphic novels in the book market thanks in no small part to the support and efforts of Diamond Book Distributors," said Eric Stephenson, Publisher at Image Comics. "Over time, our needs and backlist of titles have grown and our increasing footprint in the marketplace has us excited to take this next step with Simon & Schuster to build a more robust infrastructure for our titles there."

"We are delighted to welcome Image Comics to our family of distribution clients," said Michael Perlman, Senior Vice President, General Manager of Simon & Schuster Publisher Services. "We look forward to partnering with them to help share their graphic novels with readers throughout North America."

Image, founded in 1991, is the largest creator-owned publisher of comics and graphic novels in North America. It is the publisher for titles like Spawn, Invincible, Savage Dragon, The Walking Dead, Saga, and Nocterra. Image Comics' "Direct Market"/comic shop distribution is currently serviced by Lunar Distribution and is unaffected by this change. Image Comics' Digital/ebook distribution is currently serviced by IPG and is unaffected by this change.

Simon & Schuster, a Paramount company, is a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world's most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Adams Media, Avid Reader Press, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and Simon & Schuster Audio.

Marvel Comics thawed out a new subspecies of Xenomorphs in Alien (2023) -- but an even greater threat is about to burst free in the new Alien #1. On stands November 15th from Marvel Comics' 20th Century Studios imprint, the Alien title relaunch re-teams writer Declan Shalvey and artist Andrea Broccardo, who will conclude their "Thaw" storyline with Alien (2023) #5 on August 16th. After a pale-white Xenomorph began terrorizing a scientific base on the frozen moon LV-695, it will be Alien vs. Alien when the Xenomorph war unfolds in October's Alien Annual #1.

The double-sized standalone issue, on sale October 4th, pits the Xenomophs against their deadlier descendants and sets up the next era of Alien comic book storytelling. Then, in November, Marvel's Alien #1 launches the "Descendant" story arc, which is connected to the current series but offers a fresh start for new readers.

"It's such a joy to continue to build out our own little corner of Marvel Comics' Alien universe with this new 'Descendant' story arc," Shalvey told Marvel.com. "We're building on what we've done before (with some nods to previous stories) and get to dig a bit deeper in this arc (both figuratively and literally). It's also a real treat for me to draw a section of the story."

The new series takes place in two time periods, with Shalvey drawing flashback scenes of a doomed earlier crew in each issue. As readers learn more about the mistakes and goals of the first mission (with art by Broccardo), they'll discover the full unsettling scope of what the present-day protagonists have gotten themselves into. Here's how Marvel describes the Alien renumbering:

Everyone will hear you scream! The next great Alien story starts in Alien Annual #1 and continues in the all-new Alien #1! In deep space spins a world infected by the universe's greatest killers. Most people - sane people - would construct a barrier thicker than the hulls of ten Nostromos and leave it to rot. But where most people see a death trap, Weyland-Yutani sees the biggest payout in the history of civilization. And if it costs a few human lives to secure? Those come cheap here. Prepare for more corporate corruption, personal betrayals and extraordinary violence!

The current ongoing 2023 Alien series is set in the year 2195 and follows Talbot Engineering Inc. scientist Batya Zahn, her partner Dayton, and her daughter Zasha, who arrive on the frigid moon to research its water resources. After the five-part "Thaw" story arc concludes in August's Alien (2023) #5, October's Alien Annual (2023) #1 starts a new chapter that will explore the darker depths of the Alien mythos in November's all-new Alien #1. See the official solicits below.

ALIEN ANNUAL #1 (2023)
Written by DECLAN SHALVEY Art by DANNY EARLS
Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
On Sale 10/4

ALIEN #1
Written by DECLAN SHALVEY
Art by ANDREA BROCCARDO & DECLAN SHALVEY
Cover by JAVI FERN?NDEZ
On Sale 11/15

This Howl-oween, Capwolf is putting the "howl" back in the Howling Commandos. Marvel Comics on Friday announced Capwolf and the Howling Commandos, a four-issue limited series from writer Stephanie Phillips (Cosmic Ghost Rider, Rogue & Gambit) and artist Carlos Magno (Captain America: Cold War Alpha, Savage Avengers). The World War II-set story teams Sgt. Nick Fury and his Howling Commandos -- Corporal Dum Dum Dugan, Gabriel "Gabe" Jones, Robert "Rebel" Ralston, Jonathan "Junior" Juniper, Izzy Cohen, and Dino Manelli -- with Steve Rogers, the Sentinel of Liberty, who becomes the Sentinel of Lycanthropy!

"This is the kind of story I was dying to tell at Marvel, blending my love of historical fiction with the incredible history of the characters in the Marvel Universe," Phillips told AiPT. "CapWolf and the Howling Commandos may be a war story, but it also has horror, romance, and a few new characters that we introduce along the way. And just wait until you see Carlos Magno's incredible artwork on this series..."

Marvel Comics describes Capwolf and the Howling Commandos:

This four-issue limited series will tell an all-new story where Steve becomes a terrifying werewolf during an early World War II mission. Luckily, his fiercest allies are by his side -- Nick Fury and the Howling Commandos! After years of combat, this elite squad of soldiers thought they've seen it all but this might be their wildest adventure yet as the series captures the spirit of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's classic wartime storytelling with a modern mystical twist! When Captain America is transformed into a werewolf on the front lines of World War II, he'll need the help of the Howling Commandos to take down a band of Nazi cultists who intend to use supernatural forces to turn the tide of battle. But can Cap control the skeptical, jaded Commandos when he can barely control himself?

The werewolf Captain Americawas introduced by writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Rik Levins in 1992's Captain America Vol. 1 #405 (above), where Doctor Nightshade and Dredmund the Druid turned Steve Rogers into a wolf-man. Using a potion derived from Jack Russell, the Werewolf by Night, the combination of Nightshade's mutagenic chemicals and the Super-Soldier Serum created Capwolf: the extra-strong wolfen form of Captain America.

CAPWOLF & THE HOWLING COMMANDOS #1 (OF 4) Written by STEPHANIE PHILLIPS
Art by CARLOS MAGNO
Cover by RYAN BROWN Variant Cover by GARY FRANK
Variant Cover by DECLAN SHALVEY
Wraparound Hidden Gem Variant Cover by JACK KIRBY
On Sale 10/11

CAPWOLF & THE HOWLING COMMANDOS #2 (OF 4)
Written by STEPHANIE PHILLIPS Art by CARLOS MAGNO
Cover by RYAN BROWN
On Sale 11/15

Exactly 31 years after Batman: The Animated Series premiered in September 1992, DC Comics will reprint The Batman Adventures in a new omnibus edition. Available on September 5th, the 1200-page omnibus collects all 36 issues of The Batman Adventures, the comic book run based on the Emmy award-winning animated series produced by Bruce Timm, Paul Dini, Alan Burnett, and Eric Radomski. DC Comics launched the 32-page, all-ages tie-in comic in October 1995, after Batman: TAS concluded its run with 85 episodes across two seasons. (The Batman Adventures was relaunched as Batman & Robin Adventures and later Batman: Gotham Adventures, with stories featuring the Bat-Family as seen in The New Batman Adventures animated series.)

Pre-orders for the Batman Adventures: Vol. 1 omnibus display 1995's Batman Adventures #1 as the cover, but that appears to be a placeholder. Richard Starkings, a comic book letterer on The Batman Adventures, revealed the official cover artwork on Facebook (see it below).

The artwork highlights the striking, black-and-red imagery of Batman: The Animated Series, showing the silhouette of the Dark Knight. You can practically hear Danny Elfman's main title theme.

A first look at be upcoming Batman Adventures Omnibus from @RichStarkings FB page pic.twitter.com/EMDK4kD8UO

-- Cool Comic Art (@CoolComicArt) August 2, 2023

"I've worked on a lot of Batman books, but this might be my favorite," Starkings shared on Facebook. "[Comicraft co-founder] John Roshell and I were pioneering digital lettering and creating an art deco look for this title that the creative team, including the brilliant [writer] Mike Parobeck, very enthusiastically responded to... we were so sad when the title was cancelled."

"[Who] would've thought this bumper collection would exist all these years later?" Starkings added. "Me. I thought it would."

From writers Kelley Puckett and Martin Pasko, and artists Ty Templeton, Rick Burchett, Brad Rader, and Mike Parobeck, The Batman Adventures: Vol. 1 omnibus collects The Batman Adventures #1-36, The Batman Adventures Annual #1, The Batman Adventures Annual #2, The Batman Adventures Holiday Special #1, The Batman Adventures: Mad Love #1, and stories from Batman: Black & White Omnibus. The collection includes the first comic book appearance of Harley Quinn, the Dini and Timm co-creation who debuted in the "Joker's Favor" episode of the animated series.

DC describes the first volume: "From the padded cells of Arkham Asylum to the mean streets of Crime Alley, one truth is whispered wherever evil gathers: Gotham City belongs to the Batman. Until now! The crimelord formerly known as the Penguin is now Mayor Oswald Cobblepot -- elected to be Gotham's leader by promising to outlaw vigilantes and villains alike. The immortal mastermind Ra's al Ghul has ordered an invasion of assassins - not to destroy the Dark Knight, but to eliminate his enemies...permanently. And a two-bit hood called the Black Mask is forming a deadly new masked mob. Outlawed. Outnumbered. On the run. Batman's greatest battle for the soul of Gotham City is about to begin!"

The Batman Adventures: Vol. 1 Omnibus is on sale September 5th from DC Comics.

SDCC is behind us, but we're still seeing a few exclusives on our list in the form of Transformers, Spider-Man, and Spawn. In addition to these exclusives, we see the return of a familiar cover in the first appearance of Spider-Man 2099. The rest of our top ten are all awesome newbies! Invading our list is the first appearance from a certain Skrull in Secret Invasion. Just ahead is 90s nostalgia in the form of Biker Mice. We also have the debut of a new villain in last week's Hulk and a Dark Knight, ashcan! The latest MCU buzz has Daredevil fans in a frenzy as they rush to pick up the first appearance of a rumored Disney+ villain!

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.

#10: MEET THE SKRULLS #1 | MARVEL | 2019 | SECRET INVASION FINALE SPOILER | If you haven't completed the critically debated Disney+ Secret Invasion series, here's fair warning that spoilers are ahead! G'iah (played by Emilia Clarke) plays a central role in the progression of the series. There was tons of buzz about what the future of this character would be and how it would play out in the series. Out of all the rumors that were floating around, none of them revolved around G'iah becoming a super Skrull. Hundreds of articles (okay, maybe tens of) discuss her power/abilities compared to other Avengers. Has G'iah become the strongest character in the MCU? Even if she isn't, her longevity in the MCU has been cemented, and fans are ready to collect her first appearance. We tracked it at a high sale of $130 for a CGC 9.8 and a raw NM FMV of $14.

#9: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #25 - J. SCOTT CAMPBELL - 2023 SDCC - PHOTO BOOTH SECRET COVER (LIMITED 2000) | MARVEL | 2023 | What an interesting book. This issue was long advertised to be the big reveal of what happened between MJ and Peter. The story takes you through a roller coaster of emotions and is done quite well. However, most of this series issues remain at FMV, while some retailer incentives have dropped in value. Why is this particular issue so valuable and desired? J. Scott Campbell is one of the most prominent artists in the comic industry. His covers are already highly collectible, let alone being a convention exclusive with a secret reveal. Additionally, this book was limited to a sizeable 2000 copies. Once these start hitting CGC, it will be interesting to see how many 9.8s will be selling at a premium! For now, we tracked it at a high sale of $150 for an NM raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $101.

#8: SPAWN #1 - PUPPETEER LEE - 2023 SDCC | IMAGE | 2023 | Once again, Spawn makes it to the top, and-- wait, your eyes do not deceive you--this is an entirely new cover. SPAWN #1 is already one of the best-selling comic books in history, as we readily see every time we feature it on our top lists. Puppeteer Lee delivered an epic remastered cover of Spawn, and it took off at this year's SDCC. We tracked it at a high sale of $275 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $95.

#7: BIKER MICE FROM MARS #1 | MARVEL | 1993 | Let's Rock n Ride! If you're a 90s kid, you likely grew up in the age of anthropomorphic heroes: Mighty Ducks, S.W.A.T. Kats, Street Sharks, Extreme Dinosaurs, and, of course, Biker Mice from Mars! The Biker Mice are making a return to the new age, thanks to none other than Ryan Reynolds. The hype is real; fans are picking up copies of this first issue to refresh their memories. We tracked it at a high sale of $300 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw VF FMV of $20.

#6: THE INCREDIBLE HULK #2 - LEINIL FRANCIS YU (1:25) | MARVEL | 2023 | Here's an interesting addition to our list. THE INCREDIBLE HULK #2 was released this past week and quickly became a top-selling comic. Why? Well, this issue is a key issue with the first appearance of Sister Sadie. Sister Sadie is depicted as this zombie corpse cult leader in a remote town. Following a series of misfortunes, Sadie has her followers sacrifice Bruce on an altar. Unfortunately for her, she realizes that she has encountered a "fractured son." Bruce transforms into Hulk, and the rest is left to the next issue. The story is well-written, and the artwork is phenomenal. The debut for this villain was quite strong, enough for fans to begin collecting the retailer incentive of her first appearance. We tracked it at a high sale of $79.19 for an NM raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $52.

#5: SPIDER-MAN 2099 #1 | MARVEL | 1992 | There is no special 2023 SDCC re-release of this issue. There is no new information about Miguel or Beyond the Spider-Verse. Spider-Man 2099 is just that cool; he was cool this whole time. Although this book sometimes falls a few spaces, it always bounces back up and remains a consistent member of our top ten and runner-ups. We tracked it at a high sale of $189 for a CGC 9.8 and a current raw NM FMV of $21.

#4: TRANSFORMERS #1 - 2023 SDCC | IMAGE | 2023 | The bridge between the Transformers and G.I. Joe has been created in VOID RIVALS #1! With the Transformers now in a shared universe, the Autobots are in a good place for renewed interest in the property. The release of Transformers: Beast Wars has also sparked even more interest in the robots in disguise. What makes this issue so unique? Well, fans received a treat with the release of an exclusive SDCC cover. Within days, this book became a highly coveted collector's item. We tracked it at a high sale of $125 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $85.

#3: DAREDEVIL #14 | MARVEL | 2016 | While DAREDEVIL #11 is the first appearance of The Muse, this issue is the first cover appearance of the villain. Additionally, this copy is moving at about the same FMV as the first appearance for an NM raw copy. We tracked it at a high sale of $29.99 for an NM raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $25.

#2: BATMAN: GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM #1 - ASHCAN | DC | 2023 | While this series doesn't release for another couple of months, fans of The Dark Knight can preview the story with this "one per store" ashcan. GARGOYLES OF GOTHAM will be Rafael Grampa's DC writing debut. The series is touted to explore the darkest side of Batman. According to the synopsis, Batman has chosen to kill off his alter ego and embrace being Batman full-time. This leads to a confrontation with an all-new rogues gallery of deranged villains. It looks like a wild ride is in store, and everyone is seeking a sneak peek into the storyline! We tracked it at a high sale of $90 for an NM+ raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $35.

#1: DAREDEVIL #11 - RON GARNEY | MARVEL | 2016 | Every week, we see the power of rumors and speculation on the value of books. Daredevil is not immune to these swings in the market. With the release of Daredevil: Born Again on the horizon, rumors are beginning to circulate. One of the biggest rumors was the reveal of one of the series's villains, The Muse. The Muse is a sadistic and deadly villain who uses his victims' body parts to create his deranged forms of art. This rumor, if true, confirms two things. First, the Disney+ series will remain faithful to the tone of the Netflix series (after all, The Muse is a truly demented and brutal killer). Second, the series would see Wilson Fisk running for Mayor. The Muse's second run-in with Daredevil was during the election of Wilson Fisk and during the anti-vigilantism rhetoric that Fisk was using to win over the public. Until the rumor is confirmed, fans will just have to have fun speculating on Daredevil's return! We tracked it at a high sale of $65.80 for an NM+ raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $29.

And that's your TOP 10 COMICS OF THE WEEK for 8/1/23! Want to know what your comic books are worth? COVRPRICE.COM offers the ULTIMATE price guide with LIVE ungraded (raw) and graded sales for today's market trends. Manage your collection and track your portfolio's overall value with our robust tracking systems. With a free 10-day trial and several affordable price tiers, discover the value of your comics and sign up today! CHECK OUT THE TOP 10 ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!

Marvel's X-Men Universe got dealt a near-fatal blow during the 2023 Hellfire Gala, where the human organization Orchis launched a surprise attack against the mutant nation of Krakoa, slaughtering even some of the most powerful X-Men characters, banishing nearly every mutant from the Earth, and framing mutants for their own "Mutant Massacre." The surviving X-Men have been left on the run and/or going into hiding - except for Kitty Pryde, who takes up a very dark and brutal mission of war...

X-Men #25 SPOILERS FOLLOW!

The story of X-Men #25 jumps back and forth between the immediate aftermath of the Hellfire Gala attack, and several weeks (months) later, when the surviving X-Men have settled into a new dystopian status quo. Emma Frost takes on a new public identity as Tony Stark's secretary, while the Avengers and X-Men meet in the Morlock tunnels in the sewers to mount resistance efforts.

One of the biggest questions to come out of the Hellfire Gala was what happened to Kitty (Kate) Pryde. After never being able to use Krakoa's warp gate portals, Kitty discovered (purely by error) that Orchis's hacking of the gates has literally and figuratively opened the doors for her. Unfortunately, last we saw, Kitty ended up in Jerusalem, surrounded by a squad of Orchis agents.

X-Men #25 drags out the mystery of how Kitty got away until the climax, spending more of its page time conveying how Kitty's new "Shaodwkat" persona has made her a ruthless wartime spy. However, in the climatic reveal of the issue, we see that Kitty became "Shadowkat" by pulling off some of the most brutal mutant power kills we've ever seen!

In a flashback scene, we see Kitty face the Orchis agents in Jerusalem and give them the ultimatum to stand down - or else. Even though Kitty is a high-value target due to her phasing powers, the Orchis agents are far from intimidated by her - with the commander trying to shoot her down in cold blood; however, Kitty Pryde was once trained by Wolverine's ninja master, Ogun, and isn't an easy kill. Realizing that her ability to move through the closed portal gates is one of the only major tactical advantages that mutantkind has now, Kitty decides she has to dispatch every Orchis agent who witnessed her secret - with extreme prejudice.

What takes place neck is the most fearsome display of Shadowkat's mutant phasing powers: phasing the squad commander's pistol barrel into his brain; partially phasing other soldiers into solid objects; phasing two other soldiers into one horrific Cronenberg fused body, punching out a heart - even phasing two grenades into the bodies of soldiers who promptly exploded in masses of blood and guts. The most horrific thing about it all is that afterward we're told that Kitty covered the slaughter by phasing the carnage into the floor, leaving no trace.

This brutal incident definitely transforms "Kate Pryde" into "Shadowkat" - i.e. giving the heroine her own "Ronin" phase. The cold survivalist demeanor Shadowkat has is a nice change to the character - the closest she's arguably ever been to her Age of Apocalypse counterpart. Pirate "Kate" was a lot of fun - "Shadowkat" is poised for a much darker arc - starting with her misguided mission to take out the X-Men's double agent inside Orchis, Firestar.

X-Men #25 is on sale at Marvel Comics.

Throughout its history, the Star Wars saga has delivered audiences plenty of adventure, fantasy, and sci-fi themes, with one genre it typically overlooks being horror. Even though Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine are monstrous villains, they are balanced out by heroic figures, but with the all-new comic miniseries Star Wars: Dark Droids, writer Charles Soule detailed that the book will explore the darker corners of the galaxy far, far away for a more unsettling experience. While speaking with StarWars.com, Soule revealed the inspirations he had for his work, which include films like Evil Dead, The Thing, and Alien. Star Wars: Dark Droids #1 is on sale now.

"Dark Droids draws inspiration from horror masterpieces like Frankenstein, The Thing, and the Evil Dead series, among many more," Soule detailed to the outlet. "I often put reference images into my scripts. Usually, they're things like, 'Here's the specific model of stormtrooper I'd like to use' or 'This is what Burryaga's lightsaber hilt looks like.' For Dark Droids, though, the reference images were key shots from horror films designed to evoke mood or moments -- something from Alien, and even things like the music video for Herbie Hancock's 'Rockit.'"

He added, "I am a big fan of horror across all mediums, and getting a chance to import that into Star Wars has been a fantastic opportunity. Series artist Luke Ross has been doing a spectacular job of bringing the scares to the book -- Dark Droids doesn't look like anything else out there, within Star Wars or without."

The new series is described, "In Dark Droids, a mysterious new threat called the Scourge corrupts droids, cyborgs, and everything in-between, spreading chaos throughout the galaxy. Ajax Sigma, who first appeared in last year's Star Wars: Revelations #1, will play a role in the saga -- though his true intentions remain unknown."

Even though horror might not be the first genre audiences think of in connection to Star Wars, this isn't the galaxy far, far away's first foray into the realm. In recent years, various incarnations of Vader's Castle stories from IDW Comics have told anthological tales of terror that allow for more overtly unsettling subject matter to be delivered, which even led to the development of the LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales, a Disney+ special that similarly used Vader's Castle as a jumping-off point.

Rather than just straightforward horror, Soule teased other sci-fi elements he aimed to explore with the new series.

"Dark Droids doesn't shy away from examining the way droids exist in Star Wars, which for me, as a writer of science fiction, is really exciting," the writer explained. "We're reckoning with a moment in the real world where 'droid intelligence,' a.k.a. AI, is something we're being forced to stare at with open eyes. If created sentience can exist, what will we think about it once it arrives? More importantly -- and this is the central question of the series -- what will it think of us?"

He continued, "By the end, the story touches many parts of the Star Wars universe and draws in all your favorite characters from the era. I'm really glad I got to write something like this as part of my work in the galaxy and can't wait for the reader to see what I, Luke Ross, and the rest of the team have built."

Star Wars: Dark Droids #1 is on sale now.

What do you think of the story? Let us know in the comments or contact Patrick Cavanaugh directly on Twitter to talk all things horror and Star Wars!

Who is Spider-Boy? It's the question fans have been asking since Spider-Man's long-lost sidekick swung into the pages of Dan Slott and Mark Bagley's Spider-Man #7 (2022). "End of the Spider-Verse" pit Peter Parker and his Spider-allies against the ancient Wasp totem Shathra, who used the Totem Dagger to erase Spiders from across the Spider-Verse out of existence in her quest to dominate the Web of Life and Destiny. That includes the Jessica Drew Spider-Woman, the Kaine Parker Scarlet Spider -- and the last Spider severed from the Great Web, a young boy named Bailey Briggs.

When Ara?a rewove the fabric of reality, restoring the erased Spiders, the psychic Madame Web confirmed that Spider-Boy belongs to the mainstream Earth-616... but no one remembers him. Slott and artist Humberto Ramos fleshed out the character in the "Nobody Knows Who You Are" story in Edge of Spider-Verse #3 (2023), where the tween superhero realized that everyone -- even his partners in crime-fighting, Peter Parker and Miles Morales -- magically forgot Spider-Boy.

Starting in November, Marvel's Spider-Boy will unmask the mystery of Bailey Briggs in his first solo series from Slott and artist Paco Medina (X-Men: Before the Fall - Sinister Four).

"Spider-Man isn't supposed to have a sidekick. That's just wrong on so many levels. And that is exactly why we are going to have so much fun with this," Slott told Marvel.com. "Both this character--and this new title--are going to break all the rules. Bailey Briggs is going to have over-the-top adventures in the Spider-Man corner of the Marvel Universe. He'll be facing off against a mix of both all-new villains and fan-favorite Spidey bad guys. The one thing we can promise you, whenever you pick up a copy of Spider-Boy, we are going to take the weirdest and wildest swings with every single story! Our goal is to get every reader to ask two questions: 'What in the hell did I just read?!' and 'When is the NEXT one coming out?!'"

The publisher has revealed two new Spider-Boy #1 variant covers ahead of the book's November debut, which features a standard cover by co-creator Ramos. The first, from David Aja (Daredevil, X-Corp), highlights the unique way Spider-Boy traverses the city -- with spider-like parkour powered by his unstable molecules shoes invented by Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four -- and the second depicts Spider-Boy in the signature style of artist John Tyler Christopher (Old Man Quill).

Marvel Comics describes the new ongoing series: "Spinning directly out of Spider-Man, the new series will dive headfirst into Spider-Boy's untold past by introducing his arch-nemesis and further exploring his connections to the Spider-Man mythos. Join Spider-Boy as he battles to restore his destiny and retake his place amongst the great heroes of the Marvel Universe!"

In other Spider-Verse news: Spider-Man is back in black and on the hunt for Kraven in The Amazing Spider-Man; Hallows' Eve plans to spring Chasm, a.k.a. Spider-clone Ben Reilly, out of Madelyne Pryor's Limbo Embassy prison in Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2023 #1; and the Carnage symbiote is on a mission to kill all Venoms across the multiverse in Death of the Venomverse #1.

Marvel's Spider-Boy #1 is on sale November 1st.

The current timeline of Star Wars comics at Marvel has adventures unfolding between the events of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Back in 2021, fans were thrilled by the kickoff of the "War of the Bounty Hunters" crossover event, as it confirmed that Qi'ra from Solo: A Star Wars Story was not only still alive, but was leading the Crimson Dawn organization. Despite the thrilling potential of this reveal, "War of the Bounty Hunters" and the subsequent crossovers "Crimson Reign" and "Hidden Empire" all failed to match the excitement of that Qi'ra reveal. In other words, times have been tough for fans of Star Wars comics when it comes to crossover events, and while the kickoff to the latest crossover, Star Wars: Dark Droids #1, doesn't deliver anything as exciting as Qi'ra's return, it does plant the seed for some uncharted territory in a galaxy far, far away.

Under the command of the Galactic Empire, a lowly KX-series security droid (think K-2SO from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) comes across a medallion containing the identity of a self-aware droid, which latches onto the security droid. When it returns to its Star Destroyer, it quickly spreads throughout the rest of the droids on the ship, igniting a revolt, with this organic eradication igniting interest from a sect of other self-aware droids in another part of the galaxy. Given the destructive nature of this entity, these self-aware droids know the danger it possesses, while the prevalence of droids throughout the galaxy could spell doom for the seeming owners of such droids.

Throughout the original trilogy of Star Wars films, droids were seen as bumbling and hapless figures who mainly existed to help move the story forward by offering up the exact services required of any character at any time. Whether it be the prequel trilogy displaying the weaponization of such droids or Rogue One showing that these figures could have their own motivations that didn't align with human owners, the perception of droids has changed over the years, though they are still often depicted as one-dimensional figures. As soon as the name "Dark Droids" was announced as a crossover event, fans were immediately skeptical that it would be a silly and superficial outing, and while those apprehensions could still be warranted, this debut issue teases the potential of much more existential themes being explored.

While it largely felt like it was played for laughs, Solo: A Star Wars Story delivered the droid L3-37, who not only had a seemingly emotional and physical relationship with Lando Calrissian, but also fought for droid rights. The character was so effective, in fact, that when L3-37's operating system was transferred into the Millennium Falcon, many audiences claimed that this was a fate worse than death. With Star Wars: Dark Droids #1, writer Charles Soule looks to be mining that vein of storytelling with a destination that's entirely unknown at this point.

The power and dangers of A.I. in our world has become a hot topic, not only with demonstrations of what these operating systems are capable of, but also in all of the ways they fail to replicate human insight. Dark Droids doesn't feel like it was an attempt to cash in on the topical trend, more serving as an eerie and prescient reminder of an eventuality. Throughout much of the Star Wars saga and all of its mediums, droids are often defined by human characters, regardless of whether those droids exist in support of or in opposition to those human characters' objectives. Dark Droids looks to uncover what these figures would pursue in a world devoid of humans.

This debut issue is a bit of a messy blend of thematic threads, as it delivers a somewhat absurd sect of droids that have had something akin to a religious awakening, while also delivering a mechanical massacre. We're being given both computational carnage and philosophical functioning, along with the tease of beloved characters being overtaken by nefarious motivations. These themes shouldn't really work together in concept, but Soule's storytelling and integration of the two narrative threads work in harmony with one another, allowing readers to avoid scoffing at the absurdity of the premise. The issue's intro does also attempt to retroactively add significance to the events of Star Wars: Hidden Empire, claiming it was a plan from Qi'ra that led to this dark entity being unleashed, though this seems more like an attempt to justify the events of that crossover and a bit superfluous to what unfolds in this debut issue.

Similarly helping elevate the inherent limitations of the material is the art from illustrator Luke Ross and colorist Alex Sinclair. Some of the most iconic elements of Star Wars have been the scenes in which droids, namely R2-D2, have been able to tap into the computer systems of the Galactic Empire, with Dark Droids #1 finding a way to visualize how this data mining could look to the droid in way that authentically honors the retro spirit of the series. Much like Soule, Ross is a proven talent in the galaxy far, far away, so while it's no surprise that his more literal depictions of characters in the book or compelling, it's the ways in which the book highlights a droid's perspective and visualizes algorithmic computations that are the standout components.

Where this Dark Droids story, or the whole crossover event, goes from here is yet to be seen and it's entirely possible that the concept could devolve back into superficial silliness or high-concept nonsense, but this debut issue provides more gravitas to the initiative than expected. The creative team on this title are all-star collaborators in the galaxy far, far away, so we can hope that this core Dark Droids title maintains some consistency and fares better than previous title-spanning storylines, though we also can't yet predict how fulfilling tie-ins will be. Despite inherent challenges, Star Wars: Dark Droids #1 proves that the most ambitious creatives in the game can find unconventional approaches to the most challenging and complex concepts and deliver something that is both superficially entertaining while also sparking existential themes of identity.

Published by Marvel Comics

On August 2, 2023

Written by Charles Soule

Art by Luke Ross

Colors by Alex Sinclair

Letters by Travis Lanham

Cover by Leinil Francis Yu and Romulo Fajardo Jr.

What readers may anticipate encountering here are introductions to two very different adolescent protagonists who define two very different aspects of a fantastic new place. The first is an unnamed young man (or rather, blue-feathered humanoid) simply referred to as "the boy" or "son" - the titular Sacrificer, which is mentioned but not explained. He comes from a rural class of people living in an idyllic farm except for the boy kept and neglected in the barn. The second is Soluna, the daughter of god-like figures who seem to embody the sun and moon, finally reaching adulthood and curious to learn more about the world.

Although The Sacrificers #1 makes it clear the narrative centers on these deuteragonists (at least for now), it doesn't possess sufficient space to do much more than sketch their personalities given the decompressed nature of each sequence often allowing for multiple panels of silence. Soluna is rebellious and clever; the boy is gentle and resolved. Yet there's enough for readers to sympathize with them both.

While the purposeful pacing withholds plenty of information, it promises to pay dividends as it establishes a strong foundation for these character's stories and the mysteries of their world to unfold. Although the boy is never named, the abundant space provided for readers to observe family prayers, typical suppertime encounters, and the terrible cognitive-dissonance exhibited by his father, paint a clear picture of where he comes from. Despite the bird-like cast and wondrous sort of sun, it resembles farm life in specific and effective fashion.

Max Fiumara steeps each panel in detail that encourages a reader's eye to linger and take in this new space. Even the seemingly modest nature of the boy's home is filled with life and history. Details found in the actions of these brief introductions fill in a great deal of information and reward repeated readings.

Much of the provided exposition is neatly reserved for Soluna's section where it enhances the wondrous world she occupies. Resplendent golds and reds in Dave McCaig's coloring evoke both the magical, godlike nature of these entities and tie them to a sense of class as they contrast with the boy's rural home.

In taking its time The Sacrificers #1 proves to be an excellent introduction to the ambition contained in any high fantasy saga worth its salt. Much like the first chapter of a memorable novel, it provides details that will leave readers yearning to learn more. Following Soluna and the boy on their distinct paths in very different circumstances promises to reveal a world filled with both beauty and horror; The Sacrificers #1 establishes the first steps into that world wonderfully.

Published by Image Comics

On August 2, 2023

Written by Rick Remender

Art by Max Fiumara

Colors by Dave McCaig

Letters by Rus Wooton

Cover by Max Fiumara and Dave McCaig

The witch Thessaly is a powerful, compelling character introduced in the pages of The Sandman. The Sandman Universe Special: Thessaly #1 pairs her with Tommi, a woman who is her polar opposite. Tommi is a woman caught in the wake of the world around her, moving at whatever pace, in whatever direction her lover or boss might set for her. Thessaly is a woman who moves and expects the universe to move with her or get out of the way. "The universe moves, and you move with it," she tells Tommi late in the story. "When I move, I move the universe," she concludes, while the arcane energies summoned to support her assertion flow around her like a river upon which she floats.

Thessaly hasn't lived for centuries and gained this much power by chance. As revealed in the chronicle of her life told via text pages created by AndWorld Design, which change form from scrawled parchment to illuminated manuscripts, and finally a screenplay on a laptop screen to track her passage through the ages, it took many bargains to extend Thessaly's life for this long. Tommi is about to make her first.

Deals with devils are a topic of conversation from the issue's first page. Tommi, who works in the entertainment industry, and her lover, Mike, consider how attitudes towards the occult have changed over the years. Where the demonic were once clear villains, agents of evil, now we wave "teenage witch" shows where the "likable lead characters" are "worshipping Satan" and the protagonist is "literally signing away her soul to the devil." One is left to wonder on which axis those changes have turned. It's a seemingly hypothetical exercise that bores Tommi but becomes increasingly relevant as the story progresses and the subject takes on more practical applications in her life.

Tommi's willingness to consider such bargains are plain from those opening pages. As Tommi and Mike share a kiss, the world drops away, and artist Maria Llovet frames her lush, fleshy linework in a plain white background, making the kiss both singular and empty. It happens again shortly after, becoming one with the negative space of the page's gutter. Both contrast with the kiss Tommi shares with her boss, backlit by a warning shade of yellow.

As Tommi spends time with Thessaly, the witch's singular focus and force of will begins to appeal to her. Thessaly offers to share a taste of that lived experience with Tommi, but at what cost? The warnings are present in the subtly suggestive colors, with wafting Fuchsia vapors and lavender backgrounds as Thessaly teases Tommi's unspoken yearning out of her and turns to hot pink like an alert as she finally speaks the words. How does one learn to define and reach for what they want without becoming a slave to Desire?

The first hint of an answer to that question reaches Thessaly through surprising means, and she is not pleased with its implications. Writer James Tynion IV knows what buttons to press, ones that strike at Thessaly's very perception of herself while sending chills down the spines of any longtime Sandman reader with what they may foreshadow, and casting Thessaly's role in The Sandman saga in a new light. She thought that pursuing what she wanted regardless of cost had made her strong and freed her of the forces that bound mere mortals. But what if walking that path put her in the thrall of another she had not expected? Well, Thessaly has (seemingly) already gotten away with being involved in one act of whatever is beyond deicide. What's to stop her from becoming a repeat offender?

And yet, for all that the issue suggests that Thessaly may have built the bars of her cage, it also implies that there's something valuable in the strength that Tommi gains from her encounter with Thessaly. She kisses Mike again, and the world doesn't fall away. Their surroundings remain real. She doesn't meekly submit to Mike's wishes but asserts her desires. It seems she got something worthwhile from her dalliance with the devil.

Watching this slow-burn, character-focused story, punctuated with disturbing moments of horror, play out as engrossingly as one might expect coming from Tynion, a writer who has now won three consecutive Eisner Awards for writing, and Llovet's artistic style makes it all feel seductive - like the reader is being put under one of Thessaly's spells. The Sandman Universe Special: Thessaly #1 is an issue that holds up perfectly well by itself, yet by the end, the full consequences of Thessaly's transaction with Tommi remain uncertain, and that's a story readers will likely have a great desire to follow.

Published by DC Comics

On August 1, 2023

Written by James Tynion IV

Art by Maria Llovet

Colors by Maria Llovet

Letters by Simon Bowland

Cover by Reiko Murakami

In recent years, Christopher Smith / Peacemaker has become an accidental household name, thanks to John Cena's hilarious portrayal of him in live-action. That success has bled over into the pages of DC's comics, where the character is currently starring in the Black Label miniseries Peacemaker Tries Hard!. The four issues out thus far have been filled with plenty of twists and turns -- including Peacemaker going toe-to-toe with one of DC's weirdest villains ever. Spoilers for Peacemaker Tries Hard! #4 from Kyle Starks, Steve Pugh, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey below! Only look if you want to know!

The issue sees Peacemaker and his unlikely band of heroes working to sneak into General Immortus' base -- only for them to get kidnapped and make things worse. The kidnapper proves to be none other than Snowflame, DC's cocaine-powered supervillain. After a lot of supervillain monologuing, Peacemaker gets free of his restraints and fights Snowflame, which proves to be a challenge given the massive superpowers the latter gets from his substance of choice. Ultimately, Snowflame chokes to death on a mountain of cocaine, which was polluted with a poison frog.

Who Is DC's Snowflame?

Created by Steve Englehart and Cary Bates in 1988's New Guardians #2, Snowflame was established as a Colombian supervillain who gains superhuman abilities from ingesting cocaine. This premise got increasingly-problematic as the issue went along, ultimately culminating in his death by the story's end. Snowflame remained in comics infamy for decades, and later was reintroduced as a drug lord in Isla Nevada in the recent Catwoman run.

Just recently, it was confirmed that Snowflame is making his animated debut in the fourth season of Harley Quinn, voiced by James Adomian.

Will there be a Peacemaker Season 2?

While a sophomore season of Peacemaker has been confirmed to be in the works, it is not expected to arrive right away, especially now that series creator James Gunn is co-shepherding the larger DC Universe. In the interim, there will be Waller, a new spinoff bridging the gap of the narrative between both seasons, and focusing on Viola Davis' Amanda Waller. It's safe to assume that the series will build upon Waller's status quo at the end of the Season 1 finale of Peacemaker. In that HBO Max series, Waller's work with Task Force X and the Suicide Squad were outed to the public by her own daughter, Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks). In the time since that episode aired, fans had wondered what that decision could mean for the Suicide Squad going forward, and for Waller's own role within the DC universe.

"This is also going to have some of Team Peacemaker in it, as the regulars on the show," Gunn told reporters when announcing the DCU slate. "This basically follows up to Peacemaker and is going to be done. We have two great creatives working on it. Christal Henry, who is a writer on Watchmen and Jeremy Carver, who created Doom Patrol, have this incredibly marvelous story worked out that I think is really fantastic and HBO loves. So they're putting this all together."

What do you think of Peacemaker fighting DC's Snowflame? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

DC has debuted a new Batman costume - with a twist. The latest DC comic book crossover event "Knight Terrors" has brought a unique threat to the DC Universe: a villainous entity called "Insomnia" who has the power to enter and influence dreams, bring nightmares into the real world, and put all the DC heroes and villains into a coma-like sleep.

The problem has only been compounded for Batman: not only does he fall under the sway of Insomnia's sleep attack, but he also has his physical body hijacked by Deadman, who is leading the charge against Insomnia. In Knight Terrors: Batman #2 Bruce Wayne has to go to the dark depths of his own psyche to exorcise some ghosts - both figuratively and literally!

SPOILERS FOLLOW!

Batman's extensive psychological training has The Dark Knight ready to defend his dreams - but unweaving the complicated strands of both Insomnia's spell and Deadman's influence is a challenge - even for the Batman. The challenge gets that much greater when Insomnia invades Batman's head and starts trying to thwart the vigilante's efforts directly.

Bruce confronts Insomnia with the fact that he's aware of the dreamscape - and knows exactly how to fight him. In classic Batman fashion, Bruce seeks to be even scarier than the villains he faces and manifests a new suit meant for a version of Batman that can haunt Insomnia's dreams.

Batman's Knight Terrors suit is a solid uniform style of thick interwoven mesh, of grayish-bluish color with black mesh fabric lines all over it. It looks like one mesh alloy exoskeleton skin, with much curvier Bat-shaped ears on the cowl, and a thicker bat-shaped insignia on the chest.

The Knight Terrors suit is, obviously, not made of actual physical material; however, it does serve an important function: reinforcing Bruce's mind and identity so that "Batman" can fight against the invader in his psyche. The suit is Bruce's self-proclaimed way of scaring a lord of nightmares - while showing no fear of his deepest personal wounds and fears - manifested as a giant bat creature with a gun in its head.

Not only does this psychological armor let Batman fight the Knight Terrors Insomnia unleashes upon him, it helps him achieve Matrix-style mastery of the dreamscape, stopping bullets in mid-air in a clear ode to Keanu Reeves' Neo.

Like everything else with this Knight Terrors story arc, it's hard to judge if there is any kind of permanence with the ideas being introduced. Will this new suit Batman manifest make its way into the real world? It would be an interesting design shift. But given the psychological shifts that Bruce experiences to make it out of his nightmare, it's not out of the question.

Knight Terrors is happening now in various DC comic books.

Kevin Smith took to YouTube last week to offer fans a chance to make Jay & Silent Bob's Secret Stash their "local comic shop." Colloquially called "The Stash," the comic shop is located in Red Bank, New Jersey, and features all the regular stuff a comic shop might carry...as well as dozens of specialty items based on Smith's movies, TV shows, comics, and more. Smith is offering fans in the continental United States a chance to have their pull list delivered to their house from the Stash, and to get 15% off comics, graphic novels, and other merchandise. It isn't immediately clear if those discounts are available on specialty items in-store, or just things you order through your Diamond Comics Distributors pull list.

Smith introduced the idea in a YouTube video, and launched a new "Reservist" tab on the Stash's home page. From there, fans can reach out to the store employees via phone or email to get their box set up.

You can see Smith's video below.

Smith opened the Secret Stash in 1997, the same year he released Chasing Amy. The store is best known for being featured on AMC's Comic Book Men, an unscripted series that featured Smith, his friends, and employees running the store and interacting with celebrity guests, many of whom would come and admire Smith's movie paraphernalia around the shop.

Smith and company closed down the original Stash and moved a few doors down the street in 2020. During a visit to the new store this weekend, this reporter saw swatches of the original store's carpet being sold, mounted on cards to celebrate the 23 years they spent at the original location. Last year, Smith also announced that he had bought a stake in a local movie theater, which he rebranded to Smodcastle Cinemas, and has been doing regular "special events," including a script reading of his 1996 Superman Lives screenplay, in order to supplement the theater's income.

Kickstarter, the world's largest creative crowdfunding platform, announced a new policy today, set to go into effect at the end of the month, which will govern how campaigns can use artificial intelligence in creating their art going forward. Saying that their policy is "iterative," and promising that it will be periodically reviewed to keep pace with current developments, Kickstarter does not forbid AI from being used in their campaigns, but instead requires creators to disclose what AI is being used for, the nature of those uses, and whether the creators have secured the permission wherever possible from the artists whose work is being scraped.

In other words, don't expect to have AI generate a fake Jim Lee cover for your comic, unless you have also made a deal with the real Lee. But if, for some reason, Lee were to agree to that...well, go nuts.

"We spent months talking to you - Kickstarter creators and backers - as well as other platform leaders, and our own staff," Kickstarter wrote in an email sent to account holders today. "These conversations helped us shape an AI policy that promotes transparency between creators and their backers and sets a standard for how creators can continue to support the humans behind creative work as they embrace this evolving technology."

Here's how they summarize the new policy, which you can read in full here:

• To be allowed on Kickstarter, projects utilizing AI tools for generating images, text, or any other output must disclose relevant details on their project page. This includes information about how the creator plans to use AI content in their project, as well as which elements of their project will be wholly original work and which elements will be created using AI outputs.
• Projects developing AI technology, tools, or software must disclose information about any databases and data the creator intends to use. The creator must also indicate how these sources handle consent and credit for the data they utilize. If the sources don't have processes or safeguards in place to manage consent, such as through an opt-out or opt-in mechanism, then Kickstarter is unlikely to allow the project.

The new system will include some new questions during the project setup form. That means before a project goes life, somebody at Kickstarter will be reviewing the answers to those AI questions and making a determination as to whether it syncs up with the new policy. Otherwise, presumably, they will reach out to the applicant with questions.

The new policy launches on August 29.

DC's latest comic book crossover event "Knight Terrors" has seen a new villain named Insomnia place the entire Earth (and most of its superheroes and villains) into a coma-style sleep. Insomnia has been tearing through both the dream world and real world looking for a MacGuffin called "The Nightmare Stone," a counterpart to the infamous "Dreamstone" used by Doctor Destiny.

In Knight Terrors: Joker #2 we return to Joker's nightmare reality where Batman has died (randomly) and left Joker living on as "Johann," a middle-management executive of Wayne Enterprises, who lives with his Joker-fied wife Lena and son Albert.

However, as we saw in the first issue, Joker's normal life is indeed the worst nightmare he can imagine, as a world without a Batman is also a world with no need for a Joker. The stress of missing his rival makes "Johann's" psyche fracture: he starts having blackouts where he moonlights as his own murderous version of Batman, who brutally dispatches criminals while reciting demented "jokes."

Joker's nightmare gets shattered when a manifestation of Bruce Wayne brings him to dinner and confronts him with his psychological dilemma: if Batman is ever truly dead, The Joker is screwed. The "Johann" person finally breaks and the Joker-Batman takes over - only to find himself overrun by an army of citizens in Joker masks and/or makeup.

Joker's last words in the nightmare are "Wait! You can't kill Batman! You need him! We need him!" With that latter part ("We need him...") carrying over into the real world.

Will Knight Terrors Change Batman & Joker's Relationship?

The question with this Knight Terrors crossover is just how effectively this particular comic book story trope (characters trapped in mind/dream worlds) is used to tweak various DC status quos.

Obviously what takes place in the "Knightmare" worlds of each character isn't all that important, since most of it will be 'just a dream.' What could be important, however, is how those dreams affect each dreamer, and make them look at the world/life/their own ways, thereafter. Writer Joshua Williamson has poised DC for a 'psychological reboot' of sorts, which could be interesting to see playout.

In the case of Batman and The Joker: It will be interesting to see how Joker behaves now that he's fixated on the idea of "needing" Batman in order to validate his own existence. Joker trying to be an ally or even "friend" to Batman could be even more twisted and depraved than the usual cop-and-crook routine they've done for years. Joker could do some pretty horrific things to the people of Gotham, just to give Batman "meaning" and "purpose" in his mission. Imagine how what a new mind-screw that would be for The Dark Knight - whose mind seems to be getting more treacherous by the minute (see: Batman comics).

DC's Knight Terrors is currently unfolding in various DC comic books.

Coheed and Cambria lead singer Claudio Sanchez confirmed to ComicBook.com at San Diego Comic-Con that work on the next volume of The Amory Wars comics, adapting the science fiction story told primarily through the band's music, is well underway. Boom Studios published the latest volume of The Amory Wars comics, adapting Coheed and Cambria's 2005 album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness, in 2017-2018. Boom then collected the entire 12-issue series into a single hardcover graphic novel, The Amory Wars: Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV Ultimate Edition, in 2019. Sanchez tells us that scripts are done and art on the way for the next story arc of The Amory Wars saga comic books, adapting Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow.

"At the moment we're illustrating the follow-up to Good Apollo [Volume] One: Fear Through the Eyes of Madness," Sanchez says. "We're doing No World for Tomorrow right now. It's a 12-issue maxiseries We're about a few issues in terms of the illustrations. The scripts are finished. So yeah, we are working on it. Amory Wars is always at the forefront. It is the nucleus of all the things I do in comics, so it's always there."

The Amory Wars graphic novels

The Amory Wars comics adaptation in its current form began with The Amory Wars: The Second Stage Turbine Blade, adapting Coheed and Cambria's first studio album, 2002's The Second Stage Turbine Blade. Sanchez wrote the series, which several artists worked on, including Gus Vasquez, Mike S. Miller, and Gabriel Guzman. Boom Studios published the "Ultimate Edition" hardcover collecting the entire The Amory Wars: The Second Stage Turbine Blade series.

The Amory Wars: In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 followed, a comic book series adapting Coheed and Cambria's second album, 2003's In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3. Peter David co-wrote the series with Sanchez, with Chris Burnham and Aaron Kuder providing the artwork. Boom has also published The Amory Wars: In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3 series in the ultimate edition format.

The Amory Wars: Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV came next, adapting the third album in The Amory Wars saga. Sanchez and Echert wrote that series, with art by Rags Morales.

Sanchez's most recent comic book release is based on his solo music project, The Prize Fighter Inferno. My Brother's Blood Machine, adapting The Prize Fighter Inferno's 2006 debut album, was released earlier this year through his publishing company, Evil Ink. Sanchez told ComicBook.com at Comic-Con that the series serves nicely as a lead into his 2024 tour. "We did finally release the comics component of My Brother's Blood Machine just recently," he says, "so, I thought, 'Well, why not? This makes a lot of sense now."

Marvel just dealt mutants another genocidal blow, as revealed in X-Men: Hellfire Gala (2023). SPOILERS FOLLOW: This year's gala thrown by the mutant nation of Krakoa was set to carry on the annual tradition of selecting and debuting the latest X-Men team roster; instead, the mutant-hating organization ORCHIS crashed the party, finally launching a strike they'd been planning since Krakoa started.

ORCHIS (and old X-Men AI foe, Nimrod) murdered most of the new X-Men team, and either maimed, crippled, or killed quite a few of the most powerful veterans. Professor X was captured and coerced into making nearly all mutants leave Earth - seemingly transporting them to their deaths. ORCHIS's latest has reset the X-Men's status quo to one where a desperate few are fighting to survive - but is it really the change fans needed at this point?

Marvel Loves A Mutant Massacre

The ORCHIS Mutant Massacre isn't the first time Marvel's mutants have faced near-extinction. Going back to the alternate future of "Days of Future Past," where Sentinels hunted down mutants to near-extinction, there have been stories both iconic (Mr. Sinister's Morlock Massacre - the first X-Men crossover event - or M-Day/House of M) and infamous (New X-Men's Genoshan Mutant Massacre) about just how dark times get for mutants, when humanity's (or other enemies') bloodlust surges.

Admittedly, mutant massacres have always been a questionable trope of the X-Men Universe, allowing creators an easy "out," for reducing mutants' presence in the franchise, and then bringing them back in an entirely new status quo. This time it arguably hits very differently, though. The Krakoa Era of X-Men has been one of the longest-lasting creative runs with the characters (four years), not to mention one of the most revolutionary and immersive.

The Krakoa Massacre Hits Different

With "House of X" and "Powers of X," writer Jonathan Hickman introduced an entirely new take on mutant culture, history, and how mutant powers were used. The Krakoa experiment (welcoming both "good" and "evil" mutants into the mutant nation) sparked intrigue as different factions built and schemed around Krakoa's Quiet Council government. The new world order that Hickman built into X-men inspired Marvel Comics creators to revise Hickman's original (shorter) timetable for a three-act plan for Krakoa's rise and fall; just building out the new X-Men Universe and all the characters and stories it touched kept Marvel busy for at least three years.

The point here is that there was clearly a lot of fun to be had with the Krakoa Era of X-Men, and even though the various comics and storylines were a hit-or-miss mix, the high points really resonated with fans - as did certain ideas, characters, and overarching story ideas that Hickman and co. put in place.

That's why a lot of Marvel fans are feeling like this Krakoa Mutant Massacre is something akin to a chess player simply swiping the game pieces off the board in the middle of an intricate game. Granted, the story is still unfolding, but it feels like Hellfire Gala (2023) really did signal the end of the Krakoa Era as we knew it, along with all the deeper and more challenging themes and stories of trying to create, maintain and protect all facets of a sovereign nation, in the midst of a superhero universe, all while trying to avoid and/or change numerous timelines leading to extinction.

The run-and-gun survival stories of the X-Men have their own proud legacies, and the upcoming "Fall of X" could turn out to be another one. But once again taking Earth's mutant population down, the X-Men franchise has lost one of the most intriguing story hooks it's had in years, and a whole lot of originality with it.

X-Men comics are on sale at Marvel.

1990's "Treehouse of Horror" -- the first of the annual, Halloween-themed episodes of The Simpsons -- ended with Marge assuring Homer: "They're just children's stories. They can't hurt you." But they can scare you. In keeping with the yearly "Treehouse" tradition, creator Matt Groening's Bongo Comics launched the "scarifying" first issue of Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror (later retitled The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror with issue #14) in 1995. The horror anthology spanned 23 issues between 1995 and 2017, all of which are being collected across three volumes of The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus.

The first volume, titled The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus Vol. 1: Scary Tales & Scarier Tentacles, arrived in 2022. And on August 1st, 2023, fans can get their tentacles on The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus Vol. 2: Deadtime Stories for Boos & Ghouls. Like the first volume, the over-sized omnibus is packaged in a deluxe, die-cut slipcase that glows in the dark. (A third and final omnibus volume collecting the remaining material from the Treehouse of Horror comics is expected to release in 2024.)

While some issues adapted the TV episodes, most told new stories written and illustrated by some of the biggest names in comics, including Kyle Baker (Why I Hate Saturn), Ian Boothby (Futurama Comics), Dan Brereton (The Nocturnals), Gerry Duggan (Marvel's Deadpool), Pia Guerra (Y: The Last Man), Peter Kuper (Spy vs. Spy), Carol Lay (Way Lay), Nina Matsumoto (Y?kaiden), Terry Moore (Strangers in Paradise), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Brian Posehn (Deadpool), James Robinson (Starman), Tone Rodriguez (Radioactive Man), Scott Shaw! (Simpsons Comics), and Jim Woodring (Jim and Frank).

"I've been looking at comics since before I could read. I had an older brother, Mark ... who turned me onto all the great comics of the fifties: Mad, when it was still a comic, Donald Duck, Uncle Scrooge, Little Lulu, Tales From The Crypt -- all that stuff," Groening recalled in a 1995 issue of Flux magazine. "He and his buddies had a secret clubhouse up in this little room in a garage down the street and you had to climb a ladder and crawl across a beam in order to get in there. That was the comics reading room, so there was definitely a taste of the forbidden just getting to this secret room to read the comics. They wouldn't let in while they were there so I had to wait until they were out shooting slingshots at squirrels until I could sneak in and read all these great comics."

That's the inspiration behind Bart's treehouse, and in turn, Treehouse of Horror.

According to Groening: "Comics are meant to be read in one of two places; either in a treehouse or under the covers late at night with a flashlight in your mouth and a little transistor radio with one of those little plastic earphones."

The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Ominous Omnibus Vol. 2: Deadtime Stories for Boos & Ghouls is out August 1st.

Star Wars is shining a whole new kind of light on its droid characters - and it is a dark light indeed!

Star Wars: Dark Droids is the new Star Wars comic book series Marvel Comics is going to be releasing in August, and the preview pages reveal how this new story is being built out of the recent events in the larger Star Wars comics universe, which include writer Charles Soule's "Qi'ra Trilogy" story arc, which included War of the Bounty Hunters, Crimson Reign, and Hidden Empire.

(MILD SPOILERS) Lady Qi'ra returned to the galaxy during the Galactic Civil War (following events of The Empire Strikes Back). Qi'ra brought back a refitted version of Darth Maul's criminal organization Crimson Dawn, which became a secret army of spies, infiltrators and influencers, embedded in every organization in the galaxy. Qi'ra sowed conflict and disruption with one main goal: defeating the Sith Lords that she had learned were controlling the galaxy through the Empire. Part of her plan used an ancient piece of AI tech called the Spark Eternal, that an ancient race (the Ascendant cult) used to fight the Sith Order. In the aftermath of Qi'ra's failed uprising, the Spark Enternal escaped into a disc of tech even the Sith had banned from use, gaining new machine sentience as "The Scourge"

Well, the Star Wars Universe will see its droids become a nightmare army, when the Scourge finally takes control.

What Is Star Wars: Dark Droids About?

As per Marvel Comics' description:

STAR WARS: DARK DROIDS will unfold in a main series by writer Charles Soule and artist Luke Ross, the team behind other STAR WARS comic crossover epics like WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS as well as a spinoff limited series, STAR WARS: DARK DROIDS - D-SQUAD, and tie into the four ongoing series that are currently bridging the gap between the films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi: STAR WARS, STAR WARS: DARTH VADER, STAR WARS: DOCTOR APHRA, and STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS.

The horror-fueled story promises to be unlike any told in Star Wars history, as droids of all allegiances and roles become highjacked by the new entity created by the merging of two technologies introduced in both DOCTOR APHRA (The Spark Eternal) and STAR WARS: HIDDEN EMPIRE. This terrifying threat was first teased in STAR WARS: REVELATIONS, which debuted Ajax Sigma, a warrior droid with free will whose attempt at a droid revolution was brutally crushed by the Jedi during the High Republic era.

Star Wars: Dark Droids #1 Preview

Star Wars: Dark Droids #1

A STAR WARS EPIC LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE!

"SCOURGE OF THE DROIDS!" A STAR WARS EPIC LIKE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE! Who or what is THE SCOURGE, and why is no droid safe? As a corruption spreads from one droid to the next THE REBELLION and THE EMPIRE face chaos! What role does AJAX SIGMA play in all of this? And whose side is he on? Find out when horror comes to a galaxy far, far away! Charles Soule continues his legendary run on STAR WARS with the most ambitious event in STAR WARS comics history! Joined by his WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS collaborator Luke Ross, the superstar team carves a new path for the future!

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Luke Ross, Alex Sinclair
Cover by: Leinil Francis Yu, Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Page Count: 36 Pages
Release Date: August 2, 2023

The hunter is becoming the hunted in The Amazing Spider-Man. Decades after Sergei Kravinoff took his life in Kraven's Last Hunt, Kraven returned in The Grim Hunt when the Kravinoffs clan -- his wife, Sasha, and his children, Anastasia and Alexei Kravinoff -- resurrected Sergei to kill his archenemy, Spider-Man. Cursed with "unlife" unless he dies by Spider-Man's hand, Kraven once again set his sights on the wall-crawler in the six-part "Hunted" arc in Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 5. Sergei's "Great Hunt" ended with his second death breaking the curse -- not by Spider-Man, but by Sergei's cloned offspring, the Last Son of Kraven.

But in September's Amazing Spider-Man #33 -- from writer Zeb Wells and artist Patrick Gleason, with a cover by John Romita Jr. -- Kraven is once again tangled in Spider-Man's web. Recently revealed cover art shows Spider-Man, clad in his classic '80s black-and-white costume, stalking his prey on the streets of New York.

"There's a lot of history between Spider-Man and Kraven. Something happens in Spider-Man's life that puts him in a bad mood, and he decides that he's going to get revenge on Kraven and hunt him down," Wells teased during Marvel Comics' panel at San Diego Comic-Con. "So it's a fun reversal of the usual [dynamic], and it's fun to see Spider-Man get some revenge for Kraven's Last Hunt."

The special over-sized issue Amazing Spider-Man #31 (on stands August 9th) sets up the "big Spider-Event" of Wells and Romita's second year on Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 6, according to Marvel, and will feature more preludes and glimpses of some of the biggest unannounced Spider-projects to come. Amazing Spider-Man #32 (on sale August 23rd) teams Kraven with the Queen Goblin before "Spider-Man's First Hunt" begins in Amazing Spider-Man #33 (on sale September 6th).

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #33

ZEB WELLS (W) o PATRICK GLEASON (A)

Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.

SPIDER-MAN'S FIRST HUNT!

o The hunter is now the prey.

o Can Kraven survive?

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #34

ZEB WELLS (W) o PATRICK GLEASON (A)

SPIDER-MAN'S HUNT CONTINUES!

o Who is Peter's next victim?

o The penultimate chapter of a story you'll never forget!

Marvel has released a new X-Men preview that teases the return of Kitty Pryde in her new "Shadowkat" persona, which will debut in X-Men #25. (SPOILERS) After the latest Mutant Massacre carried out by the ORCHIS organization during the 2023 Hellfire Gala, the mutant nation of Krakoa has been nearly wiped out, and the surviving members of the X-Men are scattered.

Last we saw Kate Pryde, she had escaped with Emma Frost and a few other key figures from Krakoa. However, Kitty's longtime problem of not being able to use Krakoan warp gates suddenly took a reversal, when a gate she was leaning against suddenly activated and she ended up falling into a whole squad of ORCHIS agents that are occupying the Krakoan embassy in Jerusalem, Israel.

From the preview pages of X-Men #25 that Marvel has released, it's looking like part of the immediate fallout of the ORCHIS Mutant Massacre will see Kitty having to get herself out of a sticky situation trapped behind enemy lines. That kind of trial will require Kitty to leave the pirate persona behind and get back to her ninja ways!

As the preview pages remind us, the classic Kitty Pryde and Wolverine limited series saw Kitty train with Wolverine's ninja mentor Ogun - a side of herself that is still very much intact. With Kitty being one of the most powerful and dangerous mutants still at large, she'll need her fiercest persona to handle ORCHIS.

X-Men fans can't help but notice that this "Shadowkat" persona looks very much in line with her "Age of Apocalypse" timeline persona. As a leader of the "Generation Next" team of young mutant heroes, Kitty had her own Wolverine claws and a much more ruthless ninja persona. It was one of the most badass versions of "Shadowcat" that we've seen - but this looks like it could be another one.

Check out the official details of X-Men #25 below:

X-Men #25

Now, as a new X-Men team finds their way through their darkest hour...SHADOWKAT emerges!

THE FALL. She's been known as Kitty, Sprite, Ariel, Red Queen and Captain Kate. Now, as a new X-Men team finds their way through their darkest hour...SHADOWKAT emerges!

Written by: Gerry Duggan
Art by: Stefano Caselli, Marte Gracia
Cover by: Joshua Cassara, Alex Sinclair
Page Count: 52 Pages
Release Date: August 2, 2023

By the time AMC aired the "Tell It to the Frogs" episode of The Walking Dead TV show in 2010, Image Comics had published 78 issues of Robert Kirkman's Walking Dead comic book -- and not a single issue featured brothers Merle and Daryl Dixon. Played by Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus, the Dixon brothers were created by series developer and then-showrunner Frank Darabont for AMC's adaptation of the comic books. Daryl would go on to become one of the television show's most popular characters -- and will lead his already-renewed solo spin-off, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, premiering this fall -- so why wasn't Daryl in the comics?

"While I had a hand in creating Daryl and Merle, it was very much a team effort involving other season one writers Jack LoGiudice and Charles H. Eglee, as well as Frank Darabont (who originated and named them)," Kirkman wrote of the Dixon duo in the letters page in The Walking Dead Deluxe #67. "A cool thing in TV is that the actors also have a huge hand in who their characters become just in the way they interpret lines. Surprising line reads inspire the writers to write the characters completely differently as the series progresses. So, I'd also credit Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus with a lot of what makes those characters work."

Reedus initially auditioned for the Merle role. (While casting directors "loved" the Boondock Saints actor, he "wasn't a perfect fit" for the racist, redneck drug dealer -- so Darabont created Daryl for Reedus.)

Kirkman added that there were "logistical issues" that barred bringing TV show characters into the comics, but did not specify what those might be. "I would never have done it because it would feel wrong to bring the work of so many other people into the comic," Kirkman explained. "I never wanted the show to change the comic, since the comic is what made the show possible, and I worried it could turn into a snake eating its own tail."

The Walking Dead issue #98, published in 2012, introduced Dwight, a disfigured member of the Saviors who wielded TV Daryl's weapon of choice: a crossbow. "All that said," Kirkman wrote, "doing fun things like making comic readers think Dwight might be Daryl when introducing him? That kind of stuff is fun."

During a 2018 panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Kirkman remarked that there were "Norman Reedus likeness rights" that barred Daryl Dixon from the comic book. "I love the fact that there is something, if you read the comics, there would be an absence of Daryl and I feel like that adds to the mystery of the comic and makes it more appealing," Kirkman said at the time.

The Walking Dead Deluxe #68 is on stands August 2nd from Skybound and Image Comics.

Marvel is returning to Battleworld for the 40th anniversary of the classic Secret Wars series. Created by Jim Shooter, Mike Zeck, and Bob Layton and first published by Marvel in 1984, the original Secret Wars pit Marvel's heroes and villains against the seemingly omnipotent Beyonder, setting the bar for decades of Marvel event series that followed. Marvel will celebrate that legacy with the four-issue Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Battleworld, beginning in November. As announced at San Diego Comic-Con, former Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Tom DeFalco, who worked as the editor overseeing the first Secret Wars, returns to Marvel to write the series, joined by artist Pat Oliffe.

Secret Wars: Battleworld will reveal secrets from the first Secret Wars event, including "revelations beyond the Beyonder's true motives, shocking appearances by characters that you didn't even know fought in the Secret Wars, and more." With Marvel heroes Spider-Man and the Human Torch cast in the lead roles, Secret Wars: Battleworld is designed to fit within Marvel continuity and between the pages of the original Marvel Comics event. Here's the synopsis from Marvel:

"The mysteries of the Secret Wars deepen! Get ready for an all-new cataclysmic battle from when Spider-Man first got his alien costume and a mysterious being called the Beyonder assembled super heroes and villains from Earth to do battle on a patchwork planet. Witness now an untold adventure set during the original Secret Wars!

"Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars set the standard for Marvel Comics events (as well as action figures and the characters existing at the forefront of pop culture), and this new story will at last reveal some secret connections and missing characters going back to the original series! What secret test are the Beyonders conducting...and how will Spider-Man, the Human Torch and the whole cast determine the fate of the universe? (PLUS: Surprise super villain appearances inside!)"

In a press release, DeFalco says, "Pat Olliffe and I were handed a daunting creative challenge. We were asked to do a sequel/new tale of a classic Marvel story that first saw print 40 years ago and created ripples that are still felt throughout the universe today. Since we share a kinship with a certain web-swinger (and his family), we were also compelled to do a story that ripped to his core and defined his unique place in the Marvel Universe while examining the budding relationship with his new black costume. With the aid of editors Mark Basso and Drew Baumgartner, Pat and I constructed a tale that we believe has repercussions for today's readers and creative ripples that we hope will still be felt 40 years from now."

Editor Mark Basso adds, "The original Secret Wars was so multi-dimensional, it's been thrilling to add new dimensions to the saga! While the new story fully stands alone, I can tease that the connection to the original Secret Wars goes even further than just the comics pages...Old-school fans will know what I'm talking about...!"

Secret Wars: Battleworld #1 goes on sale on November 22nd. See covers to the issue, including an homage variant by Ryan Stegman, the first in a series of connecting covers by Todd Nauck, and a cover by Olliffe above.

MARVEL SUPER HEROES SECRET WARS: BATTLEWORLD #1 (OF 4)

• Written by TOM DEFALCO
• Art by PAT OLLIFFE
• Cover by GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI
• Variant Cover by PAT OLLIFFE
• Variant Cover by FRANCESCO MOBILI
• Homage Variant Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
• Virgin Homage Variant Cover by RYAN STEGMAN
• Connecting Variant Cover by TODD NAUCK
• On Sale 11/22