Tradd Moore’s ‘Touch Me Someplace Nowhere’ launches next year from Oni Press

The cartoonist behind ‘Doctor Strange: Fall Sunrise’ and ‘Luther Strode’ will write, draw and color this NYC gangland epic.

Oni Press has announced Touch Me Someplace Nowhere, a new creator-owned series written, illustrated and colored entirely by Tradd Moore that’ll come out in 2027.

The series follows Kelly Muir, the prodigal child of a powerful New York City crime family, on a self-destructive, lovesick bender through drug-infused Brooklyn after dark. Set in an alternate New York City where street gangs compete for dominance and literal wild animals roam the streets, the comic follows a cascading cast of outsiders through violent and turbulent misadventures across a single night.

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Jhonen Vasquez says he wasn’t consulted on new BOOM! Studios ‘Invader Zim’ comics

“You’d have to be special kind of oblivious to not understand why it still sucks to not have control over something you see as ‘yours.'”

A planned revival of Invader Zim as a comic series by BOOM! Studios has met with controversy, as the cartoon’s creator, Jhonen Vasquez, said on social media that he is not involved in the comic, nor was he consulted on it.

BOOM! revealed the new Invader Zim comic last week, with plans to bring back out-of-print collections alongside new stories later this year. The announcement promised “entirely new invasions, conspiracies, and catastrophically ridiculous adventures” featuring Zim, GIR, Dib and Gaz. The original Invader Zim animated series ran on Nickelodeon and is owned by Paramount.

“I have no involvement in any of the comics, nor was I told they were gonna be happening so I was never offered a chance to throw my voice into the mix in some way,” he said in a long statement posted to Threads and other platforms.

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Smash Pages Q&A | Katie Skelly on ‘Heaven’

The creator of ‘Nurse Nurse,’ ‘Maids and more talks about her newest graphic novel, the end of her “cool girls” era and what she’s planning next.

Katie Skelly has spent more than a decade creating stylish graphic novels centered on unforgettable women navigating worlds of horror, desire and mystery. From My Pretty Vampire and Operation Margarine to Nurse Nurse, Skelly has developed a visual style all her own, blending cute images with bold colors, emotional honesty and, at times, brutal violence.

Katie Skelly photo
Katie Skelly

Her latest graphic novel, Heaven, is her first in about six years, following 2020’s Maids. It arrives in stores today courtesy of Fantagraphics. The supernatural strip joint story follows Dolly, a young woman searching for purpose who is drawn to “Heaven,” a mysterious club on the outskirts of town.

Combining supernatural horror with themes of identity and belonging, Heaven also marks the end of an era for Skelly. As she recently revealed, it’s the final story she’ll tell featuring the “cool girl” protagonists who have defined much of her work over the past decade.

I spoke with Skelly about the origins of Heaven and why this graphic novel felt like the right place to close one creative chapter before beginning another.

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Nakama Press brings Man Tsang’s ‘The Zeros’ to English readers this September

The espionage graphic novel follows a retired assassin forced back into a deadly world of covert operations and unfinished business.

Nakama Press, the manga/manhua imprint of Mad Cave Studios, will publish an English-language edition of The Zeros by creator Man Tsang in September.

The action-espionage graphic novel follows Pak Ling, a former assassin for an organization known as Karma. He abandoned his violent past after a mission ended in tragedy, but as they say, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” His attempt at a quiet life is shattered when new threats force him back into a world of covert operations, dangerous alliances and old enemies.

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Chainsaws in space: Daniel Warren Johnson will unleash ‘Chainkata’ on an undeserving world in November

Nine years in the making, the Eisner Award-winning creator of ‘Do a Powerbomb’ and ‘Transformers’ introduces a chainsaw-wielding warrior queen seeking peace in a violent universe.

There’s nothing like getting July started off right as we build toward the big San Diego Comic-Con later this month. Image Comics and Daniel Warren Johnson are coming out swinging with a new ongoing series, Chainkata, which the Do a Powerbomb creator will write and draw. The first issue comes out in November.

The series follows Luma, a chainsaw-wielding warrior queen searching for an unknown power in the vastness of space. All she wants is peace, but violence and terror seem to follow her through every black hole.

“Ever since my start in comics, I’ve wanted to make a science fiction book that truly felt different from everything already out there,” Johnson said. “It was 2017 when I drew the first sketch of Luma, Chainkata‘s main character. From that point, it took me NINE years to come up with a story that I felt was worthy of being on the stands, and Chainkata is the end result of that journey. I have pushed myself narratively and artistically further than I ever have before, and I believe it shows in the pages you’ll be reading this fall. Please join me for an epic like none other. The Chain awaits you.”

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Art Baltazar expands the Aw Yeah! Universe in ‘Meteor Mite: Up & At ‘Em!’

The cartoonist behind ‘Tiny Titans’ introduces a cosmic origin story years in the making, arriving from Papercutz this September.

The Aw Yeah! comics universe continues to grow — in this case, by a smidge — as Papercutz has announced Meteor Mite: Up & At ‘Em! The original graphic novel from Aw Yeah! co-founder Art Baltazar introduces Meteor Mite, a very small but very powerful addition to the Aw Yeah! Universe.

The story follows Mikey, an ordinary kid whose life changes when a mysterious enchanted crystal from space chooses him as its champion, making him the most powerful hero on Earth. The book follows Mikey as he figures out how to be a superhero while accidentally making enemies along the way.

Baltazar said he’s had this “all-powerful cosmic super hero” in his sketchbook for years. “Meteor Mite is inspired by all the superhero cartoons I watched as a kid,” he said. “Through the years, I wrote and drew bits of his story and created aliens and bad guys along the way. And now it’s finally all coming together!”

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Judge Dredd + the Biker Mice From Mars collide in new crossover from Oni Press + Rebellion

The two-issue series by Dan Watters, Ryan O’Sullivan and Jordi Tarragona launches in December as part of a broader publishing and merchandise partnership.

Judge Dredd is about to meet his match in the form of the Biker Mice From Mars. Oni Press and Rebellion will bring together the two unlikely science fiction franchises for a two-issue series launching this December.

Announced in the lead-up to the San Diego Comic Con, Oni Press, Rebellion and Biker Mice From Mars owners The Nacelle Company have revealed Judge Dredd / Biker Mice From Mars #1, written by Dan Watters and Ryan O’Sullivan with artwork by Jordi Tarragona. The crossover also marks the beginning of a new partnership between Rebellion and Nacelle that will include action figures and other collectibles.

“Mutants and mayhem are two of the founding pillars of Judge Dredd’s world, so when Oni and Nacelle approached us about a crossover with the Biker Mice From Mars we knew this would be exactly our kind of Thrillpower,” said Ben Smith, head of publishing for Rebellion. “The Biker Mice From Mars are the perfect fit for Dredd’s radical, radioactive vision of the future, and this is going to be a revved-up, all-action spectacular for fans. To take this crossover off the page into a new toy range is next-level exciting – Rebellion and 2000 AD are delighted to bring this new partnership with our new partners Oni Press and Nacelle into fifth gear.”

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Smash Pages Q&A | Phillip Sevy + Christie Porter on ‘She Comes With Magic’

The creators discuss launching their adults-only fantasy series on Kickstarter, balancing epic adventure with explicit storytelling and bringing Maeve’s magical quest to life.

Known for his work on comics like Tomb Raider, X-Men Infinity Comics and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, among other titles, artist and writer Phillip Sevy is taking a decidedly different path with She Comes With Magic, a creator-owned fantasy series that launches on Kickstarter today.

Co-created with journalist/comics writer Christie Porter, the comic features Maeve, a powerful wizard who channels her magic through sex. She embarks on an epic quest to stop the Starving King in an adults-only fantasy that blends action, humor, romance and explicit sexuality, in the vein of comics like Sunstone, White Tree, Sex Criminals and Money Shot.

While the book’s high-concept premise is sure to grab attention, Sevy and Porter are committed to making She Comes With Magic work as a fantasy story first. Building a world with real stakes, memorable characters and emotional weight was just as important as embracing the book’s titilating premise, resulting in a series that aims to balance comedy, epic adventure and sex without sacrificing any one element.

I spoke with Sevy and Porter about bringing the first issue to Kickstarter, collaborating on the story, Porter’s transition from journalism to comics, finding the right tone for an erotic fantasy and more. While the book is definitely aimed at adults and is NSFW, this interview includes SFW artwork from the comic by Porter, Sevy and colorist Gibran Ferdian, along with a variant cover by Stjepan Šejić.

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Fred Van Lente + Luca Pizzari raise the black flag in ‘Vampyrates!’

New comics and graphic novels arrive this week by Katie Skelly, Mike Maihack, Ngozi Ukazu, Scott Snyder, Francesco Francavilla, Gabriel Hardman, Dean Kotz, Kelly Thompson, Soo Lee, Nathan Fillion and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what’s coming to your local comic shop this week. Vampires are everywhere this week, from the swashbuckling horror of BOOM!’s Vampyrates to the World War II action of IDW’s Operation: Iron Coffin. We’ve also got new graphic novels by Katie Skelly, Ngozi Ukazu, Mike Maihack and more.

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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Picture + Panel | Abby Denson + Matthew Loux talk about Japan

Check out our interview in advance of a live question-and-answer session between the two creators in Boston tonight.

We’re happy to continue our interview series with creators speaking at the monthly Picture + Panel event in Boston, which brings together two comic creators to talk about a specific topic. This time we have Abby Denson and Matthew Loux joining us to talk about Japan.

Omega Au, convention chair of Anime Boston 2026, will host a conversation with Loux and Denson tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern at the Boston Figurative Arts Center in Somerville, Massachusetts. The event is brought to you by the Boston Comic Arts Foundation, Porter Square Books and the Boston Figurative Arts Center.

Abby Denson photo by Shigeo Kikuchi

Abby Denson is the author of Uniquely Japan; the Kitty Sweet Tooth books, illustrated by Utomaru; Cool Tokyo Guide; Cool Japan Guide; Dolltopia; and Tough Love. She has written for comics series such as The Powerpuff Girls, The Simpsons, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and The Amazing Spider-Man Family. Her work has garnered the International Manga Award, Moonbeam Children’s Book Award and the IPPY Award. Abby has taught and lectured at various venues, including the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art, The New School and Sophia University in Tokyo. Abby goes to Japan whenever she gets the chance.

Matthew Loux photo

Matthew Loux is author and artist of the graphic novels The Time Museum Vol. 1, published by First Second Books; Sidescrollers; and the five volume series Salt Water Taffy, originally published by Oni Press. Matthew has also illustrated the graphic novels F-Stop and Good Night Gabbaland, and has contributed cover artwork for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Matthew resides in New York.

Big thanks as always to Gina Gagliano and Jason Viola, who organize the monthly series in Boston and brought this Q&A series to Smash Pages.

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‘Radiant Black’ debuts as Image Comics’ first-ever audiobook

Massive-Verse architect Kyle Higgins writes, directs and narrates the production, with ‘Boy Meets World’ co-stars Rider Strong and Will Friedle heading the cast.

Kyle Higgins’ Massive-verse keeps finding ways to become more massive, and now they’ve expanded off the comic page and into your ear with an audiobook adaptation.

Radiant Black: The Audiobook, Volume One is now available on Spotify, LibroFM, Everand and other platforms. This marks the first audiobook adaptation of not just the Massive-verse titles, but also an Image Comics title.

The production, from Black Market Narrative, is written, directed and narrated by Radiant Black co-creator Kyle Higgins, with Rider Strong and Will Friedle from the sitcom Boy Meets World voicing leads Nathan Burnett and Marshall Ward. Friedle previously voiced Marshall Ward in the secret animated short that was hidden behind a QR code in Radiant Black #15. The audiobook features cinematic sound design by Higgins and an original score by Sam Ewing, who worked on the music for The Walking Dead.

“When Eric Stephenson and Lorelei Bunjes first pitched me the idea of doing Radiant Black in audio, I knew that to do it right would be a huge undertaking,” Higgins said. “This project has been a true labor of love for our team. From assembling our amazing cast to recording, design, narration, score, and our final mix, this has been an incredible experience at every turn. I never thought I would be back in the world of audio, but to be able to work in one of my favorite mediums and take advantage of all the possibilities it affords has been more than worth it.”

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Crowdpuncher | ‘Outlaw’s Apprentice,’ ‘Heartbreak Manor’ + more comic crowdfunding projects

Check out crowdfunding campaigns featuring the work of Chris Schweizer, Steve Niles, Damien Worm, Joan Boix 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.

Cartoonist Chris Schweizer has been serializing Outlaw’s Apprentice weekly on Webtoon and Patreon, and now he’s bringing the first collected arc to print. The 208-page Appalachian-inspired swashbuckling fantasy follows Otis, a teenage artist-in-training, and Erska, the former mercenary who took him on as an apprentice, as an injustice sends them both on the run.

Schweizer, who has earned three Eisner Award nominations for his previous work on books like the Crogan Adventures series, is publishing the book in mass market paperback format.

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