Month: January 2025

Can’t Wait for Wednesday | ‘Resurgence of the Valiant Universe’ comes to its conclusion

Check out comics and graphic novels arriving this week by Brian Michael Bendis, Bill Walko, Fred Van Lente, J. Michael Straczynski, Will Robson, Erik Larsen, Ryan North, Steve Cummings, Kami Garcia, Brittney Williams 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 other 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 always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | ‘Resurgence of the Valiant Universe’ comes to its conclusion”

This year’s DC Power special leads into a reboot of the Power Company

Bryan Edward Hill, Khary Randolph and Alitha Martinez bring a new team of heroes together in ‘The Power Company: Recharged.’

The Power Company, a team from the early aughts created by Kurt Busiek and Tom Grummett, will get a reboot later this month in DC Power: Rise of the Power Company.

DC has released several DC Power specials in recent years in conjunction with Black History Month, which takes place in February here in the United States. This year the special will not only kick off a new iteration of The Power Company, but will feature stories starring the new line-up for the team — who will go on to appear in a one-shot this April.

“Company Man” is a two-part prelude to April’s The Power Company: Recharged, by Black Lightning writer Brandon Thomas with art by Charles Stewart III, Anthony Fowler Jr., and Ulises Arreola. If you’ve been reading Thomas’ excellent Black Lightning series, you’ve seen Josiah Power, the founder of The Power Company, in his reintroduction to the DC Universe. Thigns aren’t going well for him:

As Power grieves over the death of his nephew Daniel due to the actions of Amanda Waller, and as his own energy-manipulating powers are growing out of control, he quickly realizes that a new iteration of the Power Company may be the only solution to the problem of growing anti-meta sentiment, and Jefferson Pierce, a.k.a. Black Lightning, is the key.

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John Jennings + Jethro Morales present a rematch between Ironheart + Khem in ‘Ironheart: Bad Chemistry’

The one-shot arrives from Marvel in April.

John Jennings will once again bring Ironheart and the villainous Khem together in a new one-shot, Ironheart: Bad Chemistry, with artist Jethro Morales.

Jennings and artist Paris Alleyne first introduced Khem in the 2023 Marvel’s Voices Free Comic Book Day issue. She has ties to the old Power Man and Iron Fist villain Chemistro, and this story has her stealing “a legendary Marvel artifact” to upgrade her own alchemical powers.

“When Marvel asked me to revisit working on Ironheart and expanding her rivalry with Khem, I was overjoyed!” Jennings said. “I got a chance to revisit their conflict and really explore Khem’s background and motivations. I had a blast working on this book with such amazing talent and I hope the fans enjoy the ride!”

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Marvel will celebrate 50 years of Storm this April

‘Storm’ #7 by Murewa Ayodele and Luciano Vecchio will bring the thunder.

It’s been 50 years since the debut of Giant Size X-Men #1, which introduced us to several new X-Men, including Colossus, Nightcrawler and a weather-controlling mutant from Africa named Storm. With this year marking her golden anniversary, Marvel will celebrate with a special issue of Storm in April by pitting her against a whole legion of thunder gods, including Thor.

Writer Murewa Ayodele will team with guest artist Luciano Vecchio for the issue.

“Creative giants, Len Wein and Dave Cockrum, changed the Marvel and mutant landscape with Giant Size X-Men #1. This year, we’ll do the same with Storm #7,” Ayodele said. “Bold words, I know. But that’s because I’ve read the illustrated issue.”

Storm’s profile in the Marvel Universe has certainly been raised over the past year with the launch of her ongoing series and her membership in the Avengers. But she’s always played a big part in not only the X-titles, but in the broader Marvel Universe.

“For the past five decades of publication, Storm has been an X-Man, Wakandan, Fantastic Four member, Avenger and so much more. As she steps into this new phase of her life, her role morphs into becoming one with the Marvel Universe as she faces soul-crushing, cosmic labors to protect all we hold dear. But first, a brutal brawl with thunder deities from powerful pantheons,” Ayodele said.

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Mark Millar + Rafael Albuquerque’s ‘Huck’ returns at Dark Horse

‘Huck: Big Bad World’ brings back the heartwarming hero who just wants to do good deeds.

Mark Millar and Rafael Albuquerque will return to the small-town heroics of Huck later this year, as Dark Horse will publish the six-issue sequel miniseries Huck: Big Bad World beginning in May. They’re joined by colorist Dave McCaig and letterer Clem Robins.

The original Huck miniseries kicked off in 2015 and was published by Image Comics. The story centered on a man with super powers living in a small town who took it upon himself to do one good deed a day. Things go awry when the rest of the world discovers Huck and his mom.

“Stoked to team up again with Mark on the sequel of our very first collaboration,” Albuquerque said. “I missed these characters so much, and about 10 years later, returning to them still feels fresh and exciting.”

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The battle lines are drawn in this preview of next week’s ‘Resurgence of the Valiant Universe: Finale’

Fred Van Lente, Diego Giribaldi and Tomas Aira bring the event to a close next Wednesday — and set up what’s to come.

It all comes down to this, as they say. The war between Dr. Silk’s forces and Ivar the Timewalker’s allies comes to a head in next week’s finale of Resurgence of the Valiant Universe.

Writer Fred Van Lente and artists Diego Giribaldi and Tomas Aira have brought both sides of the conflict into the Faraway, the mystical realm with ties to all the immortal beings running around the Valiant Universe. And it’s time to fight! Meanwhile, Shadowman, Punk Mambo and an unexpected ally look to stop Silk’s ally, Master Darque.

This final bombastic issue sets up two future events coming from Alien Books: the Valiant reboot, Valiant Beyond, which kicks off in March; and Valiant Zombies: Resurrection, coming on Free Comic Book Day.

You can check out the preview below, along with the issue’s covers by Guillermo Fajardo, Nico Di Mattia and Richard Ortiz.

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DC’s 2025 Free Comic Book Day plans include ‘Superman Unlimited,’ Absolute Universe + more

The publisher has announced plans for three titles that’ll be available for the event on May 3.

Earlier today DC revealed some of their Free Comic Book Day plans when they announced Superman Unlimited, and they’ve followed that with an announcement about their full plans for 2025 — which will include three FCBD titles.

DC All In/Absolute Universe 2025 FCBD Special Edition will be a flipbook containing two stories — the previously announced “zero issue” of Superman Unlimited written by Dan Slott with art by Rafael Albuquerque and Marcelo Maiolo, and a new story set in the Absolute Universe by Absolute Flash writer Jeff Lemire, with art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Stefano Nesi.

The other two titles will preview upcoming graphic novels — the early-reader targeted Superman’s Good Guy Gang and the middle-grade OGN Kanga-U: Tests and Tournaments.

You can find more information on all three titles below. Free Comic Book Day is May 3.

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Things heat up between The Crusaders and the Archie gang in this preview of ‘Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics’ #332

Check out our preview of a new story by Dan Parent coming in February from Archie Comics.

The New Crusaders may face their toughest challenge yet this February, as they enter a hot sauce showdown against Archie, Betty, Veronica and the obvious MVP here, Jughead. Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #332 arrives in stores Feb. 19.

Dan Parent, Bob Smith, Glenn Whitmore and Jack Morelli bring the two teams face-to-face on an episode of Toni Topaz’s new show, “You’re So Hot.” They’ll each have to try a series of hot sauces in what should be a scorcher.

You can check out a preview of the new story below, along with a complete classic story from the digest by George Gladir and Dan DeCarlo Jr., and, as a bonus, four classic one-page shorts from the issue as well.

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Dan Slott + Rafael Albuquerque team for ‘Superman Unlimited’ this May

The new title signals the ‘Summer of Superman’ is coming.

Longtime Marve;/Spider-scribe Dan Slott is “all in” at DC this summer, as he and artist Rafael Albuquerque will launch a new Superman ongoing series, Superman Unlimited, in May.

DC will share a preview of the new series in DC All In 2025 FCBD Special Edition #1, as part of their Free Comic Book Day offering. They haven’t officially announced their FCBD plans yet, so it’s possible they could have other books as well.

Superman Unlimited is part of a bigger publishing initiative for the Superman family this summer, which they’re appropriately calling the “Summer of Superman.” Which of course lines up nicely with the big Superman movie by James Gunn that’s coming in July.

This isn’t Slott’s first time writing the character, as he wrote some issues of Superman Adventures early in his career. But writing an ongoing Superman title is something he’s been waiting to do ever since. His story already sounds like he’s taking a “Big Time” approach, as “Green K” begins transforming the world, the Daily Planet expands its reach and footprint under Lois Lane, and they even get a new IT pro from Gorilla City.

“He’s the first and the greatest superhero of all-time, and I’ve been waiting my whole life to tell stories about him,” said Slott, “Not just because of all the amazing powers he has, but because of who he is inside. Rafael Albuquerque and I are going to take him—and you—to places you’ll want to escape to every month. Millions of surprising ideas for Superman, Lois, the supporting cast, classic rogues, and all-new friends and foes too. If you’ve never read a Superman book, a DC book, or any comic book before—or if you’ve been a Superman fan your entire life—you couldn’t ask for a better place to take the leap and go all in than Superman Unlimited #1.”

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Doom assembles his own Avengers team in ‘Superior Avengers’

The six-issue miniseries ties into ‘One World Under Doom’ and kicks off in April.

In the spirit of Dark Avengers, Doctor Doom will assemble his own team of Avengers during the One World Under Doom crossover event that officially kicks off next month.

The six-issue Superior Avengers by Steve Foxe and Luca Maresca will bring together a team sporting the names of familiar villains, as they help implement Doom’s new world order.

“Introducing any new character to the Marvel Universe—let alone an entire cast of them—is both an honor and no small terror, so when editor Wil Moss reached out about developing an intense, secretive team of Avengers for One World Under Doom, I knew I had to swing for the fences,” Foxe said. “The Avengers that readers are going to meet here may have familiar names, but you’ll quickly come to learn why they consider themselves superior to other teams. This book features some of the most ruthless, wide-scale action I’ve ever written at Marvel, and I’m so thrilled to be telling this story alongside Luca Maresca. Luca nails both the subtler mind games at play in our story and the (sometimes literally) breakneck action.”

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Diamond Comics Distributors files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

The once-dominant comics distributor is ‘looking at potential buyers for their … business units.’

Diamond Comics Distributors, which spent decades as the primary comics distributor in North America, has announced they’ve filed for “a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court.”

This means they’ve filed for protection from those they are indebted to as they reorganize their business, keeping them operational as they attempt to pay back their creditors. This is different than Chapter 7 bankruptcy, where a company goes completely under, is sold for parts and the money is used to pay back those they owe.

As a part of their restructuring, Diamond says they’ve already started negotiations to sell their Alliance Game Distributors business to Universal Distribution. It sounds like Universal could be a potential buyer for their Diamond UK business as well. They also said they’re looking at potential buyers for their other business units, including Diamond Book Distributors, Collectible Grading Authority and Diamond Select Toys, as well as their main comic, toy and collectible distribution lines.

“Diamond has been a linchpin of the comic book industry for over four decades. Our priority has always been to provide quality service to publishers, retailers, and, ultimately, comic fans, and we remain committed to finding additional buyers for our businesses,” said Diamond President Chuck Parker in the announcement.

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Wolverine snikts his way through the Ultimate Universe

New comics and graphic novels arrive this week by Chris Condon, Alessandro Cappuccio, Chris Roberson, Michael Avon Oeming, John Ridley, Inaki Miranda, Vita Ayala, Skylar Patridge, Tim Seeley, Zulema Lavina, Al Ewing, Scott Snyder, Jock, Rick Geary, Tim Sale and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital. This week brings a new addition to Marvel’s Ultimate line-up, a new creative team to Action Comics and a fun graphic novel from Rick Geary.

I’ve pulled out some of the other 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 always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Wolverine snikts his way through the Ultimate Universe”