Quick Hits | Diamond bankruptcy: Publishers to recover consigned comics after settlement

Plus: News on Dan Boultwood, the 2026 Small Press Expo, San Francisco’s Cartoon Art Museum, a Marvel Compact Comics line and more.

Legal | After months of stalemate, resolution came this week in the case of Diamond’s trustee Morgan W. Fisher and a group of publishers concerning consigned goods being held by Diamond and Sparkle Pop. The settlement will allow BOOM!, Dynamite, Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly and other publishers to recover their inventory from the Sparkle Pop-controlled warehouse, in exchange for waiving roughly $600,000 in claims. It also resolves a side dispute over money Sparkle Pop collected from unauthorized inventory sales during the fight.

The legal battle followed in the wake of Universal Distribution and Ad Populum’s purchase of several Diamond assets, including the comics distribution business, after Diamond declared bankruptcy. Graphic Policy has more.

Creators | Comic creator Dan Boultwood, who worked on Chu, It Came!, Baker Street Irregulars and more, was sentenced in London after pleading guilty to three counts of sexual activity with a child. Boultwood was sentenced to to three years’ imprisonment, which will be suspended for two years, as well as to rehabilitation activity, community service and sex-offender notification requirements in the United Kingdom. The offenses occurred in 2010 when Boultwood was 29 and the victim was 15; the case reached court after the victim reported it to police in 2023 and Boultwood was arrested in 2025.

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‘M.A.S.K.’ #3 delivers a surprise for the Energon Universe

Skybound and Hasbro expand the shared universe with a new arrival from classic toy history.

Spoiler warning: The following story discusses a major reveal from M.A.S.K. #3.

The Energon Universe just added another piece to its growing puzzle.

M.A.S.K. #3, which arrived in stores yesterday, introduced a major character from another classic Hasbro property into the shared universe.

BE WARNED: SPOILERS AHEAD

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Picture + Panel | Damian Alexander + Alex Krokus on expressing grief in their comics

The two cartoonists reflect on grief, memory and how personal stories can help readers feel a little less alone.

Grief, loss and the ways we carry them are deeply personal, but they’re also themes that have inspired some of comics’ most powerful stories. For its latest Picture + Panel discussion, the Boston Comic Arts Foundation brought together cartoonists Alex Krokus and Damian Alexander for a conversation about processing death and grief through their work, drawing on both their creative approaches and deeply personal experiences.

Damian Alexander is a cartoonist and storyteller who grew up around Boston. He created the graphic novels Hand-Me-Down, Other Boys and Absolutely Everything. When Damian isn’t doodling or making comics, he can be found rearranging his dollhouse and caring for his terrariums. Damian lives in New England with his husband and their cat and dog.

Alex Krokus is a cartoonist and animator based out of Brooklyn, New York. His work has been published by VICE, Buzzfeed, the New York Times, Comedy Central, the Tribeca Film Festival, and the Food and Drug Administration. The latest volume of his webcomic series, Loud & Smart, was published by Silver Sprocket in a volume titled Loudest & Smartest.

Our 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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Slugfest | Baby Darkseid? DC’s October solicits reveal the villain’s untold past

Scott Snyder, Joshua Williamson, Sanford Greene and Yasmine Putri revisit the origins of the DC Universe’s greatest villain in October. Plus: new Batman, Superman and Justice League specials.

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. This edition focuses on DC’s October titles. Hit the links for more info.

DC’s October solicitations came out during the Sam Diego Comic-Con, and I’ve been negligent and in doing this monthly round-up of the new stuff and highlights they contain. So, forgive me — I blame the con! And actually you’d think that after SDCC and all the news DC dropped that there wouldn’t be much to talk about, but don’t worry — there’s plenty, beyond even the stuff I already covered, like the new Demon and Jonah Hex titles.

Let’s start with one that was mentioned at SDCC, but the solicits give us a bit more info on it …

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With ‘Teen Titans: Together’ wrapped, Kami Garcia + Gabriel Picolo look to the future with a book tour, more graphic novels

Fans of the Young Adult graphic novel series will be happy to learn the team will next focus on a new series with Kid Flash and Blue Beetle.

Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo’s Teen Titans: Together arrives in stores today, wrapping up the Young Adult graphic novel series that started about eight years ago — back when DC was using the DC Zoom and DC Ink imprints for their graphic novels aimed at younger readers. In each volume, Garcia and Picolo slowly reintroduced each member of the Teen Titans, from Raven to Beast Boy to Raven AND Beast Boy, then Robin and Starfire, with the final volume bringing everyone together.

“This series changed my life,” said Picolo. “We’ve shared so many unforgettable moments with fans around the world, and we’re excited to celebrate this final chapter together. I see these characters as my friends. The more I draw them, the more fun it gets. Some of my favorite moments came from drawing these characters the same way I’d draw my own friends just hanging out, and Kami and I are always blown away when fans show up in cosplay inspired by those everyday looks from the books.”

The series out-survived its imprint, proving to be mega-popular and critically acclaimed.

“Teen Titans has been one of the most rewarding creative journeys of our careers,” said Garcia. “We’ve loved telling stories with these characters and watching readers connect with Raven, Beast Boy and the rest of the Titans over the years. We grew alongside these characters, and these characters grew alongside the readers who embraced them from the very beginning.”

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Iman Vellani + Marianna Ignazzi + Jordie Bellaire team for ‘Chachu’

Batman gets a gift from Alfred, Mary Jane Watson celebrates her 60th, Skeletor gets an origin story and DC K.O. gets collected in this week’s new comics. Plus: Piemageddon!

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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Dan Watters + Andrea Broccardo’s ‘Spider-Woman’ ongoing spins out of her 50th anniversary special

Jessica Drew teams with Ben Ulrich to take on hidden threats in New York in the new series, which kicks off in November.

Marvel will follow September’s Spider-Woman 50th Anniversary Special with a new series featuring Jessica Drew that takes her back to her roots as a private investigator.

Dan Watters and Andrea Broccardo will have Spider-Woman team with journalist Ben Ulrich to undercover hidden threats in the seedier parts of the Marvel universe. The new status quo will debut in the special, followed by Spider-Woman #1 in November.

“I’m over the moon that Andrea and I are continuing the story of the mysterious Spider-Woman we start in the Anniversary special,” Watters said. “Investigating leads too dangerous for the Daily Bugle’s journalists, Jess will uncover some of the strangest crimes in New York City. And in a town like this? That’s saying a lot.”

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John Arcudi, Mark Buckingham + Dave Stewart will bring Kull back to comics next year

Titan Comics revealed the creative team for the new title at San Diego Comic-Con last week.

Sometimes Comic-Con news can slip through the cracks amidst the huge wave of announcements that are made during the week. But hey, that’s what follow-up press releases are for. Case in point — at their panel last Saturday, Titan Comics announced the creative team for their upcoming Kull reboot.

Writer John Arcudi, artist Mark Buckingham and colorist Dave Stewart will bring the King of Atlantis back to comics in “early” 2027. Titan also shared a look at some art by Buckingham:

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Exclusive | First look at the ‘Loba Loca’ Slipcase Edition as Magnetic Press returns to the MFKZ universe

The world of the cult animated film expands with a road trip graphic novel about a teenager who uncovers dangerous family secrets.

Magnetic Press are preparing to crowdfund Loba Loca, a new graphic novel set in the MFKZ Universe from creators Guillaume “Run” Renard and Guillaume Singelin. The Kickstarter campaign will launch soon, and we’re happy to give an exclusive first look at the limited edition slipcase that’ll be available as a reward.

The book follows Guadalupe “Guada” Mayflower, a rebellious 17-year-old whose house arrest leads her to discover a diary that upends everything she thought she knew about her family, including the identity of her infamous father, a luchadore who once, maybe, saved the world. The revelation sends her on a dangerous road trip through a criminal underworld populated by other masked luchadores, underworld figures and (gasp!) reality show stars.

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Nominees announced for the 2026 Ringo Awards

Winners will be announced at the Baltimore Comic-Con in September.

I’m still getting over staying up too late covering the Eisner Awards, and it looks like it’s already time for the Ringos! The annual Mike Wieringo Comic Book Industry Awards, named for creator Mike Wieringo and sharing a nickname to boot, announced the nominees for their annual awards program across 18 categories.

Now in their 10th year, the final list was selected by an open call for nominees from fans, overseen by a panel of judges. The awards period included any materials published in 2025.

Winners will be announced on Sept. 26 at The Baltimore Comic-Con. Congrats to this year’s nominees:

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Take a look inside ‘Marvel Dimensions’ by Alex Ross

New preview pages from Ross’ upcoming graphic novel offer a glimpse at the Original Human Torch’s origin.

After giving San Diego Comic-Con attendees an early glimpse at his upcoming graphic novel Marvel Dimensions, Alex Ross has released the book’s first lettered interior pages online. The six-page preview, which leads up to the Original Human Torch’s origin, offers readers their first look inside the hardcover ahead of its Sept. 1 release from Abrams ComicArts.

The preview showcases the lush painted artwork Ross is known for while introducing readers to what initially appears to be a celebration of Marvel’s greatest heroes. But according to Abrams, appearances can be deceiving …

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Corin Howell’s Lilith returns in ‘Lilith: Blood & Burlesque’

The breakout sapphic horror series continues at Vault Comics in October as Lilith and Penelope face new monsters, old enemies and complicated feelings.

Corin Howell’s breakout horror series Lilith returns this October with Lilith: Blood & Burlesque, a new chapter that reunites Howell with colorist Warnia Sahadewa and letterer Haley Rose-Lyon.

Published by Vault Comics, the new series picks up shortly after the events of the original run, sending Lilith and Penelope into another supernatural adventure while their relationship continues to evolve.

“‘Blood and Burlesque‘ follows Lilith shortly after the end of our first chapter,” Howell said in the announcement. “Her journey home hits a snag when Penelope’s shop is in trouble, leading to sexy pinup calendars and pink princess pilates! But there’s a shadow on the horizon in the shape of old faces from Lilith’s past… But that’s nothing compared to Lilith’s biggest hurdle: facing her growing feelings for Penelope.”

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