Jimmy Palmiotti, Dave Johnson + Juan Santacruz reignite the Sugar Wars in ‘Pop Kill: Big Candy’

The sequel to the satirical action series brings back Jon Pyle and Dina Deluxe as a secret candy consortium targets them over a revolutionary new sugar substitute.

Jimmy Palmiotti, Dave Johnson and Juan Santacruz are returning to their sugar-coated world of corporate conspiracies with Pop Kill: Big Candy, a new four-issue miniseries launching from Mad Cave Studios in October.

They’ll be joined by colorist Vittorio Astone and letterer Sean Konot for a story set eight months after the events of Pop Kill, which pitted rival soft drink empires against one another in a violent satire of corporate culture. In Pop Kill: Big Candy, the focus shifts from soda to candy, as Jon Pyle and Dina Deluxe find themselves caught in another deadly conspiracy.

“Pop Kill: Big Candy doesn’t just escalate—it detonates, erupting into a sugar-fueled riot of adult chaos that makes our first run look like a warm-up,” Palmiotti said. “Mad Cave gave us one directive: Go wild. So we ripped off the brakes and hurled Jon Pyle and Dina Deluxe into a world where sugar is worth more than gold.”

Continue reading “Jimmy Palmiotti, Dave Johnson + Juan Santacruz reignite the Sugar Wars in ‘Pop Kill: Big Candy’”

Toxic Avenger faces his evil twin in new series this October

Matt Bors and Felipe Sobreiro bring the Noxious Offender to comics in a five-part event.

The Toxic Avenger’s nemesis will soon pollute the pages of his comics, in addition to the movie screen. AHOY Comics and Troma Entertainment have announced The Toxic Avenger vs. The Noxious Offender, a five-issue series by writer Matt Bors and artist Felipe Sobreiro launching this October.

The series marks the first comic book appearance of the Noxious Offender, Toxie’s evil duplicate, who was introduced in the film Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV. In the story, the Offender’s arrival coincides with the reappearance of Toxie’s estranged father, and Toxie must confront his dark counterpart’s takeover of Tromaville while preparing to become a father himself as girlfriend’s pregnancy progresses.

Continue reading “Toxic Avenger faces his evil twin in new series this October”

Crowdpuncher | ‘Rise,’ ‘Another Realm’ and more projects to support

Check out comics and graphic novels you can support by Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz, Ryan Best, Kristyna Baczynski, Aaron Sammut, Lauren Marshall and more.

Welcome to Crowdpuncher, where we round up cool comics crowdfunding campaigns. If you’re looking to buy from or support a creator directly, you’ve come to the right place.

Trevor Fernandes-Lenkiewicz and Ryan Best are wrapping up the first arc of their superhero drama Rise with a fifth and final issue clocking in at 52 pages.

The series, published by Pocket Watch Press, follows Jonathan Prufrock, a man whose superpowers scale directly with his dopamine levels, so his ability to save the world depends entirely on his capacity to feel good about himself. It’s a premise that lets the book dig into masculinity, ego and the performance of heroism across five issues totaling more than 210 pages.

Continue reading “Crowdpuncher | ‘Rise,’ ‘Another Realm’ and more projects to support”

Matt Kindt will launch ‘Flux House Presents’ this October

The 64-page quarterly anthology brings together Brian Hurtt, David Lapham, Ella Kindt and Alison Sampson for three self-contained stories.

Matt Kindt’s Flux House imprint is adding to its line-up this fall, with the addition of a quarterly anthology titled Flux House Presents.

The 64-page debut issue, coming from Oni Press, features three stories: the double-sized first chapter of “Spark,” a two-parter about a young woman and her hunter-gatherer community fighting to survive a harsh change of seasons; “Room 101,” a Kindt/David Lapham collaboration about a derelict motel room that opens onto doorways across time and space; and a new tale spun out of Kindt and Brian Hurtt’s Fort Psycho. The anthology’s contributors also include Alison Sampson and Ella Kindt makes her interior art coloring debut on the issue, alongside artist .

“I really miss the weird anthology. From the classic DHP to the one-man show of Eightball, Negative Burn and Taboo,” Kindt said. “I want to channel that weird unexpected fun on every page with pulp and horror and sci-fi. I want to bring back short form comics — where even a 2-page story can change your life. And give creators a chance to play and experiment.”

Continue reading “Matt Kindt will launch ‘Flux House Presents’ this October”

Sam Alexander’s Nova returns to face the Ten Rings of Power this October

The young hero will star in a Marvel’s Voices one-shot celebrating Hispanic & Latin American Heritage Month.

Sam Alexander, the younger Nova introduced in 2011, is stepping back into the ring in a new one-shot — well, make that “rings.” Marvel has announced Nova: Return of the Rings #1, a Marvel’s Voices one-shot arriving in October that kicks off a new saga centered on the Ten Rings of Power and doubles as a celebration of Hispanic & Latin American Heritage Month.

Writer Josh Trujillo, who’s also writing Planet of the Apes Vs. Fantastic Four, is joined by Rafael Loureiro, known for his work on Dazzler. A bonus story by writer Juan Ponce and artist Andy Pereira rounds out the issue, focusing on how Sam balances heroics with family life.

If you’re not up on your recent Marvel lore, the Ten Rings of Power, once worn by The Mandarian, were blasted across space by Ironheart and Forge in the pages of Invincible Iron Man. Now one ring has returned with a new bearer determined to seize the Xandarian Worldmind, the sentient supercomputer that guides the Nova Corps, as the first step toward galactic domination. If you read the recent Nova series starring the older Nova, Richard Rider, you know the Worldmind is currently in his possession, so maybe we’ll see a guest appearance here?

Continue reading “Sam Alexander’s Nova returns to face the Ten Rings of Power this October”

Greg Pak + David Cousens take on the ThunderCats this October

Lion-O faces a mysterious ‘Feral King’ as Dynamite offers a fresh jumping-on point to the series.

Dynamite Entertainment is launching a new era of ThunderCats comics this fall, with writer Greg Pak and artist David Cousens helming ThunderCats #1 in October.

The series picks up with the ThunderCats on Third Earth, sharing the planet with their buddies the SilverHawks, their enemies the Mu’Tants and other as-yet-undiscovered entities. Lion-O, still maturing into his role as Lord of the ThunderCats, must contend with the arrival of the Feral King, who rides in on a meteor and whose intentions could break the fragile peace among Third Earth’s tribes.

Pak, known for his work on Planet Hulk and Darth Vader, said the new run leans into the franchise’s mix of science fiction and fantasy.

Continue reading “Greg Pak + David Cousens take on the ThunderCats this October”

Jared Cullum returns with ‘Kodi: A Place to Call Home’ this September

The follow-up to the Reuben Award-winning graphic novel arrives in September from Top Shelf.

Cartoonist Jared Cullum is back with a second volume in his Kodi series this fall. Kodi: A Place to Call Home arrives in SEptember from Top Shelf Productions, continuing the story of a boy and his bear.

In this new volume, Katya and Kodi are adjusting to life together in the city, but Katya is falling behind in school and Kodi is struggling to find his footing in his noisy new surroundings. When a greedy zookeeper sets out to separate them for good, Katya and her found family have to head back into the wild, confront their fears and figure out where they truly belong.

Cullum described the book as a continuation of a deeply personal story.

Continue reading “Jared Cullum returns with ‘Kodi: A Place to Call Home’ this September”

AJ Mendez, Aimee Garcia, Ildy Modrovich + Amilcar Pinna bring ‘East Side Saints’ to Ignition Press

The demon-hunting series debuts in 2027.

Ignition Press has announced East Side Saints, a new series co-created by writers AJ Mendez, Aimee Garcia and Ildy Modrovich with artist Amilcar Pinna and colorist Amanda Grazini.

The series follows 15-year-old Alex Gomez, who inherits her family’s demon-hunting business along with a bruja grandmother and a closely guarded family secret. Ignition describes it as a “coming-of-rage story” set on the streets of East L.A.

“East Side Saints is a story about becoming your own hero,” Mendez said. “When the system fails, power is corrupted and demons roam the streets, the East Side Saints will get their hands dirty in order to save Los Angeles. They might not be the heroes you asked for, they might make things worse, they might even charge you for saving your life, but damnit they’re all you’ve got, and I hear they take Venmo. This story is a love letter to the misfits, the troublemakers, and the rule-breakers, whose rough edges are the weapons that will save the world.”

Continue reading “AJ Mendez, Aimee Garcia, Ildy Modrovich + Amilcar Pinna bring ‘East Side Saints’ to Ignition Press”

Image is bringing back ‘Ice Cream Man’ #1 with a ‘decoder cover’ this October

The black-and-white edition includes a bonus story and a “hidden” cover you unlock with an included decoder lens.

W. Maxwell Prince and Martín Morazzo’s long-running Ice Cream Man series is getting a special Halloween treat: Image Comics will bring the series’ debut issue back to shelves this October as Ice Cream Man #1: Chocolate/Vanilla Twist, a black-and-white edition with an interactive, decoder-based cover.

The twist is that the cover art is hidden behind a “focal decoder” treatment that makes the Ice Cream Man himself disappear. Readers can view it, along with some newly added secret messages and images, using an included “Lookety Split” Decoder Lens.

“Ice Cream Man: Chocolate/Vanilla Twist is where two of my favorite things converge: Martín’s first pages of this strange little book that would, for reasons still unclear to me, go on to become a geriatric ongoing comic… and this insanely cool focal decoder technology, which I experienced for the first (and last) time in college, when Bright Eyes’ 2007 LP Cassadaga came into my dorm’s mailroom bearing my name,” Prince said. “Both of those things left me with my jaw on the floor, as both of those things are, to me, examples of the way in which visual art and musical logic can create an experience greater than the sum of its parts. (And that’s before Chris O. and Good Old Neon made Ice Cream Man #1 even lovelier…) To marry those two things—as Part One of a special-project-kickoff to Ice Cream Man’s December return to regular publication, and its march toward issue 50—is a blessing that means more to me than I can articulate in a press release. There must be a monkey’s paw somewhere running out of fingers.”

The new edition also comes with remastered lettering by the crew at Good Old Neon and a brand-new Ice Cream Man short story from the original creative team, which also includes colorist Chris O’Halloran. Here’s an explainer on how the cover works:

Continue reading “Image is bringing back ‘Ice Cream Man’ #1 with a ‘decoder cover’ this October”

Stephen Wacker returns to Marvel as editor-in-chief as C.B. Cebulski moves to a new role in Asia

The change follows Marvel’s recent executive restructuring that saw Brad Winderbaum take oversight of comics alongside television, animation and franchise.

Marvel has named Stephen Wacker its new editor-in-chief, bringing the longtime editor back to the company as C.B. Cebulski steps into a newly created role overseeing Marvel’s publishing efforts in Asia.

The announcement marks another major leadership change for Marvel’s publishing division following the leadership change announced in May. At that time, Marvel announced that longtime executive Dan Buckley would depart after nearly 30 years with the company, while Brad Winderbaum expanded his responsibilities from television and animation to oversee comics and franchise. Disney executive David Abdo also joined Marvel as general manager of comics and franchise.

Now, Wacker will take over as editor-in-chief, reporting to Winderbaum, while Cebulski relocates to Japan as editor of Asia Originals, where he will oversee Marvel’s original graphic fiction and manga initiatives in the region. Which is an interesting choice, to say the least, given that Cebulski once cosplayed as a Japanese man.

“Few editors have had as long and accomplished a career as C.B. I’m grateful for his partnership over the past decade and thrilled that he’ll be on the ground in Japan, connecting with local artists and overseeing Marvel’s original graphic fiction and manga in the region,” said Brad Winderbaum, Head of Marvel Television, Animation, Comics & Franchise. “At the same time, I’m excited to welcome Stephen Wacker back to Marvel. He is a tremendous editor, a passionate advocate for creators, and someone who deeply understands that Marvel Comics is the source code of our entire enterprise, with a publishing resume that includes some of our most beloved modern runs.”

Continue reading “Stephen Wacker returns to Marvel as editor-in-chief as C.B. Cebulski moves to a new role in Asia”

Hasta la vista, Betty: ‘Archie vs. The Terminator’ arrives this October

Skynet comes to Riverdale in a five-issue crossover from writer Rory McConville and artists Steven and Lily Butler.

The latest Archie Comics crossover will bring a new threat to Riverdale, as Dynamite Entertainment, Archie Comics and STUDIOCANAL announce Archie vs. The Terminator, a five-issue miniseries launching in October. The series brings a teenage John Connor to Riverdale High, which can only mean a relentless Terminator is not far behind.

Written by Rory McConville, who wrote Dynamite’s The Terminator: Metal, the series pairs the wholesome world of Archie Andrews with the deadly future war between humanity and Skynet from the Terminator film franchise. The father-and-daughter team of Steven Butler and Lily Butler, who combined have drawn countless Archie Comics stories, will provide art for the miniseries.

“Archie crossovers hold a very special place in comics, so I’m thrilled to be writing the gang’s first (maybe last?!) encounter with The Terminator,” McConville said. “Enrolling John Connor at Riverdale High felt like the perfect way to bring these two iconic franchises together and I can’t wait for readers to see what we have in store.”

Continue reading “Hasta la vista, Betty: ‘Archie vs. The Terminator’ arrives this October”

Smash Pages Q&A | Christian Ward on building ‘The Forever Home’

The writer discusses the premise behind his new Oni Press series, collaborating with Sami Kivelä and why every great story starts with its characters.

Christian Ward has built a career creating stunning visuals and unforgettable worlds, whether as the artist on books like Invisible Kingdom, Batman: City of Madness, Black Bolt and Spectregraph, or as a writer on Blood Stained Teeth and Machine Gun Wizards.

For his latest project, he’s building a house.

Coming from Oni Press this fall, The Forever Home reunites him with artist Sami Kivelä for a story that blends science fiction, horror and family drama. The series follows Henry D’mour, a man who built a home designed to survive a climate-ravaged future that exists almost outside of time itself. As years, and eventually centuries, pass beyond its walls, the family inside must confront not only the changing world, but the consequences of Henry’s choices and the secrets hidden within the house itself.

I spoke with Ward about the origins of The Forever Home, why he wanted to tell a story inspired by climate change and “billionaire bunker” culture, reuniting with Kivelä and more. My thanks for his time.

Continue reading “Smash Pages Q&A | Christian Ward on building ‘The Forever Home’”