Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Spider-Man + Superman, together again!

Check out new comics arriving this week by Mark Waid, Jorge Jimenez, Ryan North, Dan Slott, Peter Bagge, Jeremy Adams, Phil Noto and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what’s coming to your local comic shop this week.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights for this week below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:

As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop this week.

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Rest in peace, Sam Kieth

The creator of ‘The Maxx’ and co-creator of ‘The Sandman’ has passed away at the age of 63.

Sam Kieth, the visionary comic book artist, writer and creator of The Maxx, passed away on March 15, at the age of 63, following complications from Lewy body dementia.

Former Wildstorm and IDW editor Scott Dunbier confirmed the news on social media and shared a statement from Kieth’s family. As per Kieth’s wishes, there will be no memorial service, and in lieu of flowers, his family has asked for donations to be made in his name to the Hero Initiative, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund or the Lewy Body Dementia Association.

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Smash Pages Q&A | Ben H. Winters on ‘Benjamin’

The creator of TV’s ‘Tracker’ talks dead sci-fi authors, sunny noir and why comics let you do “any damn crazy-ass thing you want to.”

Ben H. Winters has built a career out of defying easy categorization. He’s the Philip K. Dick Award-winning novelist behind The Last Policeman trilogy and Underground Airlines, a TV writer whose credits include FX’s Legion and Apple TV’s Manhunt, and the creator of Tracker, currently one of the biggest hits on CBS. If that sounds like a lot, it is, yet somehow he’s also found time to dive headfirst into comics.

After contributing to Oni Press’s acclaimed revival of the EC Comics line, Winters has now made his miniseries debut with Benjamin, illustrated by the Leomacs. The book follows Benjamin J. Carp, brilliant, slightly self-destructive sci-fi author who died in 1982, as he wakes up inexplicably alive in 2025 Los Angeles, forced to investigate the impossible mystery of his own existence. It’s surreal, funny and deeply strange in the best possible way. The trade paperback collection of Benjamin is out now from Oni Press.

I got the chance to talk to Winters about how he came to comics, what makes Benjamin tick, and what it’s like to bounce between network television and deeply weird graphic novels. He also let slip some details about what’s coming next.

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Usagi Yojimbo goes to the ’80s

New comics and graphic novels arrive this week by Zack Rosenberg, Jared Cullum, Eve L. Ewing, Tiago Palma, Mark Waid, Skylar Patridge, Sophie Campbell, Robert Kirkman, Dan Mora, Mike Maihack and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what’s coming to your local comic shop this week.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights for this week below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:

As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop this week.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Usagi Yojimbo goes to the ’80s”

Slugfest | Dark Horse turns the tables on dungeon-crawling with ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Total Party Killers’ in July

Today’s round-up brings milestone issues, beloved licenses and monster adventurers to comic shops this spring and summer.

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. Hit the links for more info.

As announced at this weekend’s Emerald City Comic Con, Dark Horse Comics will publish Dungeons & Dragons: Total Party Killers, a four-issue series arriving in July that flips the script and makes the monsters the heroes.

Written by Christopher Hastings and illustrated by Denis Medri, the series follows a lycanthrope, gelatinous cube, mind flayer, death knight and baby beholder who must band together to protect the lair of their recently deceased wizard master — or find a way to trick someone into setting them free.

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‘Gaysians,’ ‘Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices’ win at the GLAAD Media Awards

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation recognized comics from Marvel and Algonquin Books in their 37th annual Media Awards.

Gaysians and Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices were among the winners at the 37th annual GLAAD Media Awards, which recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the LGBTQ+ community and the issues that affect their lives.

GLAAD recognizes the comic arts in two categories — “Outstanding Comic Book” and “Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology.” The awards were given out Thursday night in Los Angeles, across categories that recognized film, television, video games and more. Other winners included the TV show Heated Rivalry and the video game Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.

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Founder Mike Richardson out at Dark Horse Comics after 40 years as Embracer installs interim CEO

The founder of one of comics’ most influential independent publishers was removed from his position this week by parent company Embracer Group, which purchased Dark Horse in 2022.

Mike Richardson, who founded Dark Horse Comics in 1986 and served as CEO ever since, has been removed from his position by parent company Embracer Group. Gaming executive Jay Komas, who previously served as head of Embracer’s Middle Earth Enterprises division, will serve as interim CEO.

The Hollywood Reporter shared a statement Embracer sent to business partners and creators regarding the news:

“As part of our long-term vision to better align Dark Horse within a more connected and forward-looking group structure, we are implementing changes to modernize the business and strengthen collaboration across publishing, games, film, merchandise and other key areas,” Embracer said. “Our goal is simple: to ensure Dark Horse is positioned for sustained success while continuing to serve creators, partners and fans at the highest level.”

Richardson’s long road in comics started off in comcis retail with his Oregon-based store Pegasus Fantasy Books, which was later renamed Things From Another World. In 1986, he began publishing comics with a concerted effort to protect creators’ rights.

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Jeff Lemire signs five-book deal with HarperCollins’ Harper Alley imprint

The deal kicks off with a three-volume series illustrated by Teddy Kristiansen, followed by two standalone graphic novels.

Jeff Lemire has signed a five-book deal with HarperCollins’ Harper Alley imprint as part of the publisher’s inaugural line of original graphic novels for adults, the super-prolific Canadian cartoonist announced on his Substack newsletter.

The deal kicks off with Mr. Oblivion, a three-volume supernatural detective series with artist Teddy Kristiansen. The duo previously worked together on Black Hammer: Spiral City.

The series follows Marty McCabe, who was once the world’s greatest occult detective. But 20 years later, he sells real estate in the suburbs and struggles with middle age, marriage and a teenage daughter. When the demons of his past return, Marty must put on the fabled Merlin Mask to save his family, even if it eats his soul alive.

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Exclusive | Take a look at the cover for ‘Babs: The Black Road South’ #6, the finale of Garth Ennis + Jacen Burrows’ barbarian comedy

The six-issue series from Ahoy Comics wraps up in June in a fittingly volcanic fashion.

Courtesy of Ahoy Comics, we’ve got an exclusive first look at the cover of Babs: The Black Road South #6, the finale of the second Babs miniseries from writer Garth Ennis and artist Jacen Burrows. The issue arrives June 24.

Babs: The Black Road South is the follow-up to last year’s Babs, which introduced sharp-tongued, sharper-sworded barbarian Babs and her partner-in-barbarism Izzy. The new six-issue series picks up after a gladiator arena victory lands the pair an unexpected windfall, which has even more unexpected consequences.

The finale’s solicit promises an intense showdown, with Babs inside a live volcano, dodging flame and steel while facing an infinitely powerful artifact, an undead swordswoman and what the solicit describes only as “one distressingly kinky hobbit.” The cover is by Burrows, which you can see below:

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Saladin Ahmed + Mario Santoro dig into Bishop’s family history in a new miniseries

The five-issue miniseries reunites Bishop with his sister Shard as a new villain group from his future travels to the present to eliminate him.

The displaced-from-the-future X-Man known as Bishop will star in a five-issue miniseries written by Saladin Ahmed and illustrated by Mario Santoro. The first issue will arrive in June.

The series follows in the footsteps of recent standalone X-Men miniseries like Rogue and Cyclops, delivering a self-contained story that digs into the character’s history while putting him through his paces. In this case, Bishop will reunite with his sister Shard, who appeared in X-Factor and seemingly died in a previous Bishop series.

“I’m having a blast doing a deep dive into the dark corners of Lucas Bishop’s time-travel traumatized mind!” Ahmed said. “I’m a writer who loves both family drama and spectacle, so getting to juxtapose the big visual comic book elements of temporal warping and explosive powers with the quiet pain and joy of sibling relationships is my happy place.”

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Jonathan Hickman + Adam Kubert reunite for ‘Spider-Man: Long Way Home’

The creative team behind ‘Wolverine: Revenge’ put Spider-Man, Punisher and Hulk on a three-way collision course.

Marvel has announced Spider-Man: Long Way Home, a five-issue miniseries written by Jonathan Hickman and illustrated by Adam Kubert, beginning June 17.

The series reunites the creative team behind 2024’s Wolverine: Revenge and follows that same formula as a self-contained, continuity-free story designed to be accessible to all readers. Hickman and Kubert are joined by colorist Frank Martin on the project.

“I’m so happy to be working with Adam Kubert again and even happier that we’re getting to work on Spider-Man: Long Way Home,” Hickman said. “Absolutely no one is going to see this one coming.”

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Rest in peace, Jacopo Camagni

The artist of ‘Generation X-23,’ ‘Nomen Omen’ and more passed away after complications from heart surgery.

As reported by Bleeding Cool and several Italian outlets, comic artist Jacopo Camagni died this past Sunday following complications from heart surgery. He was 48 years old.

Camagni’s work spanned continents, as he began working in the industry in Italy in the late 1990s and eventually found success in the United States working for Marvel, most recently on Generation X-23, which launched in February. His final Marvel work, Generation X-23 #2–4, is scheduled for release in March, April and May.

“We are deeply saddened to share artist Jacopo Camagni has passed away,” Marvel said in a statement on social media. “To those who experienced his work, he brought undeniable energy both on and off the page. He was Marvel family and a dear friend to so many more. We will be honoring his memory and work in the weeks to come.”

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