Smash Pages Q&A | MK Reed + Jonathan Hill on ‘Budding Crisis’

The creators of ‘Americus’ reunite for a new fantasy series from Comixology Originals.

MK Reed and Jonathan Hill are no strangers to collaboration. Having previously joined forces on graphic novels like Americus and Science Comics: Wild Weather, they’ve established themselves as a formidable creative duo. Now, they’re venturing into new territory with their latest digital comic series, Budding Crisis, for Comixology Originals.

This fantasy epic plunges readers into a world where the Onamanthe plant—whose seeds possess the extraordinary power to grant wishes—has become extinct. When the remaining seeds aboard a ship called The Eclipse are stolen in the Bay of Cygnus, the Dureni people must race against time to recover this irreplaceable treasure. As they hunt for both the magical seeds and the thieves who took them, they stumble upon a conspiracy far greater than they could have imagined.

I spoke with Reed and Hill about the origins of this new series, their creative process and the unique challenges of crafting a fantasy world where the most precious resource is rapidly disappearing. The second issue arrived on Amazon today.

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Yadsendew Rof Tiaw T’nac | ‘Zatanna’ returns to the spotlight

Check out new comics and graphic novels arriving this week by Jamal Campbell, Jose Pimienta, Dean Stuart, Dave Dwonch, Travis Hymel, James Tynion IV and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital.

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. With Diamond going through bankruptcy proceedings, distribution has become even more tumultuous, with deliveries and arrival dates changing. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop.

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‘Aquamanatee’ joins DC’s 2025 all-ages graphic novel line-up

Ben Clanton and Cassandra Federman introduce a new undersea hero who craves adventure and toots a lot.

Narwhal and Jelly creator Ben Clanton is teaming with This Is a Sea Cow illustrator Cassandra Federman for a fun, all-ages graphic novel from DC, titled Aquamanatee.

The story will introduce Marlow the manatee, who has visions of adventure and super-heroics that come true when he gains super powers and teams up with his idol, Aquaman.

Here’s the full description:

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Super genius Amadeus Cho gets a 20th anniversary special from Marvel this May

Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa reunite for new stories featuring the character they debuted in 2005’s ‘Amazing Fantasy’ #15.

Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa, the creators of the super-boy-genius-turned-gamma-irradiated-hero Amadeus Cho, will reunite for a new anthology special that celebrates the character’s 20th anniversary.

Amadeus Cho first appeared in 2005’s Amazing Fantasy #15, also an anthology, in a story titled “Mastermind Excello.” Other characters and concepts introduced in the special include the organization known as G.R.A.M.P.A., the duo known as Blackjack, Positron and a new version of Monstro — although I don’t think any of them will be getting their own 20th anniversary special.

Amadeus Cho has gone on to appear in Incredible Hulk, Incredible Hercules and Champions, and gained gamma powers along the way as the hero Brawn.

“I’m a little stunned that Amadeus Cho has been around 20 years now and absolutely thrilled that we’re celebrating with this big one-shot,” Pak said. “I knew we had something special when Tak Miyazawa sent in his very first awesome designs of Amadeus and his pup and scooter back when, but I don’t think any of us could have predicted how the character would absolutely take off.”

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ALA announces its annual ‘best graphic novels’ reading lists

‘The Deviant,’ ‘Barnstormers,’ ‘Plain Jane and the Mermaids’ and more appear on the American Library Association’s lists for 2024.

The American Library Association has announced its annual lists of the best graphic novels for adults and for kids — spotlighting 100 really great graphic novels published in 2024.

The ALA’s Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table annually assembles the list, each made up of 50 titles. They also release a “top 10” for each category, with an aim to “increase awareness of the graphic novel medium, raise voices of diverse comics creators and aid library staff in the development of graphic novel collections.”

“I want to congratulate the committee on selecting this exceptional list of comics and graphic novels for young people.,” GNCRT President Shira Pilarski said. “These titles don’t just foster development of literacy skills, and they don’t just provide countless hours of entertainment for fans of graphic nonfiction, memoir, poetry and fiction. They are also beautifully illustrated works of art.”

If you’re looking for a gift for a child in your life, or even for something to read yourself, you can’t go wrong with these lists. You can find the “top ten” for adults and then for children below.

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | It’s Doom’s world, we’re just living in it

Check out new comics arriving this week by Ryan North, RB Silva, Jeremy Adams, Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar, Paulina Ganucheau and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital.

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. With Diamond going through bankruptcy proceedings, distribution has become even more tumultuous, with deliveries and arrival dates changing. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop.

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Vision + Scarlet Witch reunite in a new miniseries coming in May

Steve Orlando, Lorenzo Tammetta and Jacopo Camagni bring the iconic — and ultimately tragic — couple back together to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Steve Orlando will continue to tell stories featuring the Scarlet Witch in a new miniseries that reunites her with her ex. The Vision & the Scarlet Witch features the iconic couple in a new story drawn by artists Lorenzo Tammetta and Jacopo Camagni.

The miniseries marks the 50th anniversary of the couple’s wedding in Giant-Size Avengers #4 by Steve Englehart, Don Heck, John Tartaglione and Petra Goldberg. From there the couple appeared consistently in the Avengers, eventually scored their own miniseries and finally broke up in the pages of West Coast Avengers. Despite some rough times since — Avengers Disassembled, anyone? — the couple seems to be in a better place now, as seen in recent issues of Avengers and Scarlet Witch.

“When it comes to the Scarlet Witch, anything’s possible!” Orlando said. “Now, on the 50th Anniversary of their wedding, the Vision and the Scarlet Witch reunite to face a creeping, corrosive evil from beyond not just the grave, but beyond the universe itself. Wanda and Vision remain one of Marvel’s most iconic couples — and not just for their marriage, but for everything since.”

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Quick Hits | Rest in peace, KC Carlson

Plus: Rob Liefeld, Neil Gaiman, DSTLRY, convention news and more!

Former Superman and Legion of Super-Heroes editor KC Carlson has passed away. His wife, Johanna Carlson-Draper, reported the news on her blog.

A longtime comics fan, Carlson came into prominence as an editor at DC in the early 1990s, working on Legion of Super-Heroes, its sister title Legionnaires, Who’s Who in the DC Universe, Zero Hour, the Superman titles and collected editions of V for Vendetta and Sandman, among other titles. In addition, he also worked in comics distribution for Capital City and for mail-order retailer Westfield Comics as a blogger.

“Sad to hear of the passing of KC Carlson, one of the gentlest effective editors DC had in my decades,” wrote former DC executive Paul Levitz. “KC had a love for comics that came out in all his work in the field, in all his writing about comics, and in the open encouragement he offered creators. He did a stint guiding the Legion after my second run, and while it wasn’t to my taste (what parent likes the approach of adoptive ones to their kids?), it’s a time many Legion fans recall fondly.”

We offer our condolences to Johanna for her loss, as well as KC’s other family, friends and fans.

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The New Crusaders face a small problem in this preview of ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest’

Check out a preview of a new story by Dan Parent coming next week from Archie Comics.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to share a preview of a new story appearing in next week’s Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #358.

Dan Parent writes and draws this one, joined by inker Bob Smith, colorist Glenn Whitmore and letterer Jack Morelli. In it, the New Crusaders are due to attend an event at the MLJ Museum, but they are nowhere to be found — until Archie’s friend Stacy Banks “figures” out what might be amiss.

You can check out the preview below, along with a complete “classic” Archie story by Frank Doyle and Stan Goldberg.

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Hourly Comics Day 2025: One day, countless stories

Check out comics by Ethan Aldridge, Mike Dawson, Mel Gillman, Hannah Templer and more.

Cartoonists worldwide picked up their pens this past weekend for #HourlyComicsDay, the annual challenge where creators commit to making and posting a comic every hour for a day.

Hourly Comics Day has a different rhythm than 24-Hour Comics Day, where artists try to create a complete comic in one day. Due to the quick turnaround of posting a new comic every hour, these pieces typically take the form of autobiographical or personal journal entries, with participants documenting their day through sequential art.

You can discover this year’s entries by searching for “Hourly Comics Day” or “#HourlyComicsDay” on various social platforms like BlueSky, Tumblr, Instagram, Patreon and more.. The diverse range of artistic styles and daily experiences shared makes for fascinating reading.

Here are a few I enjoyed this weekend:

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‘Don’t blame me, I voted for Lex’: A quick history of a billionaire’s brief presidency

At the turn of the millennium, the DC Universe faced unprecedented times when Lex Luthor became the 43rd president of the United States.

Some 25 years ago, the United States of America went through a gut-twisting presidential election, when Vice-President Al Gore faced off against Texas Governor George W. Bush. As that fateful November evening drew to a close, no one was quite sure what would happen …

… and then Lex Luthor won.

This is the story of the DC Universe’s 43rd President of the United States, Alexander Joseph “Lex” Luthor.

Now, keep in mind this is not quite the original Lex Luthor, introduced in April 1940’s Action Comics #23 by Superman’s creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. For decades, that character was a criminal scientist who (in a later incarnation) had resented Superman ever since their shared adolescence in Smallville. No, this was Luthor the once-and-future Metropolis tycoon, as rebooted by John Byrne, Marv Wolfman, Andy Helfer and company starting in the summer of 1986, who could not stand having to share the spotlight with some strange visitor from another planet.

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | It’s the end of an era in ‘Batman’ #157

See what comics will arrive in stores this week by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez, Mike Mignola, Shobo and Shof Coker, and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital.

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. With Diamond going through bankruptcy proceedings, distribution has become even more tumultuous, with deliveries and arrival dates changing. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | It’s the end of an era in ‘Batman’ #157”