April 2025 – SMASH PAGES

Diamond moves closer to having a new owner

The bankruptcy court approves the bid from Universal Distribution and Ad Populum, with a final closing date still pending.

It looks like Diamond is moving ever closer to having a new owner, and — surprise! — it’s not the top bidder in their bankruptcy auction.

Alliance Entertainment, “a global distributor and wholesaler specializing in music, movies, video games, electronics, arcades, and collectibles,” won the auction, which led to a bunch of drama that I’ll recount below. But after all sorts of shenanigans — is that a legal term? — the bid from Universal Distribution LLC and holding company Ad Populum has been approved by the court.

Under the agreement, Universal will acquire Alliance Game Distributors (a different company than Alliance Entertainment; things haven’t gotten that weird), and Ad Populum will acquire Diamond Comic Distributors, Diamond Book Distributors, Diamond Select Toys & Collectibles, Collectible Grading Authority and “other related assets.” Diamond UK remains separate from this sale process, and the transaction is subject to final closing.

The press release had quotes from all three entities, with Joel Weinshanker, managing director of Ad Populum, winning with the best one:

“Ever since I was young, I’ll never forget walking through the front door of my neighborhood shop and spotting those iconic Diamond Comic boxes, each one opening to reveal my dreams and ambitions,” said Joel Weinshanker, managing director of Ad Populum. “We’re incredibly excited to build on Diamond’s remarkable legacy by bringing Ad Populum’s best-in-class sales, marketing, and distribution to the next chapter.”

Ed Brubaker + Sean Phillips return to ‘Criminal’ with a new graphic novel

Image Comics will release ‘The Knives’ in August.

It’s been about half a decade since we’ve seen new Criminal material from Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, but that dry spell ends this year with The Knives, the first Criminal story since 2019.

The Knives arrives from Image Comics in August as an original graphic novel. Previous volumes of Criminal started as comic series that were eventually collected, so it’s a shift to the OGN format the duo has been excelling in for the past several years with Pulp, Night Fever and other projects.

“A few years ago someone reached out to me to return some of my uncle’s lost possessions, after his family estate had been plundered, and bizarrely, that sparked the inspiration for what I hope is the biggest and best Criminal book yet. A crime story about one generation growing up in the life, another growing older and trying to get out of it, and Hollywood, somehow, too,” said Brubaker. “This book is an epic, the longest original graphic novel we’ve ever done, and it’s been a joy to return to this series and these characters, especially after spending most of the last three years watching them come to life on set and screen. I can’t wait to get this book into readers’ hands.”

DC adds another autobiographical story to this year’s DC Pride anthology

Black Lightning co-creator Jenny Blake will team with artist Sara Soler on the personal story ‘Master Planner.’

DC has announced that their upcoming DC Pride special has grown in scope with the addition of an autobiographical story by Jenny Blake and Sara Soler, with lettering by Jodie Troutman.

Blake came out as transgender earlier this year after working “over half-a-century in the comic-book industry” and co-creating characters like Black Lightning and Black Goliath. She follows in the footsteps of Kevin Conroy and Phil Jimenez, who wrote personal stories for previous volumes of DC Pride.

“When I came out as transgender, the comics community was overwhelmingly loving and supportive,” Blake said. “Being asked to contribute to this anthology was unexpected and so affirming. I’ve done a lot of cool things in my 50-plus years in comics, but this story is one of the things I’m most proud of. I see myself in this story and I hope readers see something of themselves in it. I had a wonderful time writing my story, and I hope the readers enjoy it as much as I did.”

Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Discover ‘Lost Fantasy’ in stores this week

Check out new comics and graphic novels arriving this week by Curt Pires, Luca Casalanguida, Bryan Edward Hill, Khary Randolph, Alitha Martinez, R.L. Stine, Carola Borelli, Tom Taylor, Chris Claremont, Wes Craig, Lawrence Lindell, Laura Gao 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:

Penguin Random House (Marvel + IDW + Dark Horse + more)
Lunar Distribution (DC + Image + more)
Diamond’s PreviewsWorld (Dynamite + more)
ComicList (Pretty much all of the above)
Amazon/Kindle new releases (digital comics)

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.

Taiyō Matsumoto’s ‘Tokyo These Days’ wins an L.A. Times Book Prize

The critically acclaimed manga follows the story of a manga editor on the last day of his 30-year career.

The first volume of Tokyo These Days by Taiyō Matsumoto has won the 2025 L.A. Times Book prize in the Graphic Novel/Comics category.

Published by Viz, the manga was originally serialized in Japan from 2019 to 2023, appearing in the magazine Big Comic Original Zōkan. Viz published the first volume in the U.S. in January of 2024, followed by volume two in May and volume three in September, which completed the collection.

The story follows Kazuo Shiozawa, a veteran manga editor who resigns from a prestigious publishing company after 30 years. He spends his final day traveling around Tokyo visiting various creators he’s edited over the years, sharing wisdom and saying his goodbyes. Although Shiozawa begins the day believing he’s done with manga, he discovers that his connections to the community aren’t easily severed—and maybe manga isn’t done with him.

Picture + Panel | Anna Meyer + Michelle Fus discuss the draw of demonic possession

We continue our new interview series in advance of a question-and-answer session between the two creators in Boston next week.

Today we continue our new feature that brings together two comic creators to talk about a specific topic — in this case, stories about demonic possession.

Picture + Panel is a monthly conversation series that brings fantastic graphic novel creators to the Greater Boston area. Each conversation explores a specific topic, ranging from the fun and exciting to the strange or serious. Produced in partnership by the Boston Comic Arts Foundation, Porter Square Books and the Boston Figurative Arts Center, Picture + Panel provides thought-provoking discussions for the unique form of expression that is the comics medium.

We’re happy to bring some of that discussion online in advance of each session. On May 5, Anna Meyer and Michelle Fus will visit the Boston Figurative Arts Center in a Q&A moderated by Jordan Harris. You can find more details at the event’s website.

Anna Meyer was born in Northeast Ohio. She enjoys climbing, congregating in the kitchen, and coffee made by a loved one. Anna currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her partner, Bryan, and their two cats, sweet Ysif and not-so-sweet Oscar. Saint Catherine is her first graphic novel.

Michelle Fus graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 2011 for Computer Art and Animation, interned at Pixar, worked at Dreamworks, changed careers, and has dedicated the past 13 years to working on the sci-fi/fantasy comic called Ava’s Demon. She is a fan of aliens, horror, magic and all the fantastic things in-between.

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

Slugfest | Gotham City Sirens reunite for a stellar heist in DC’s July solicitations

Plus: Andy Diggle and Leandro Fernandez revisit ‘Gotham by Gaslight,’ The Flash battles Eclipso, the Superman family takes a vacation and … the Legends of Tomorrow?

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. This edition focuses on DC’s July 2025 solicitations. Hit the links for more information.

The Gotham City Sirens will reunite in July for another weekly miniseries, this one subtitled “Unfit for Orbit.” Poison Ivy, Catwoman and Harley Quinn target a new space-themed nightclub in Gotham, which leads to a confrontation with the club’s owner — Despero.

Leah Williams, who wrote last year’s Gotham City Sirens miniseries, returns for this five-part series, working with artist Haining. Terry and Rachel Dodson provide the main covers for each issue:

Space Ghost Summer: David Pepose + Jonathan Lau relaunch the classic hero in July

Following an annual in June, Dynamite will bring back the scion of the spaceways for another run.

Speed Racer isn’t the only cartoon from my childhood that David Pepose is helping bring to comics. Following the 12-issue Space Ghost series by Pepose and artist Jonathan Lau that ended earlier this year, Dynamite will wrap up the first year’s storyline with an annual in June, which will also bridge to a second series that’ll begin in July.

Starting with the annual, it will bring the Robo Corp storyline that’s been running through the title to a close, as readers learn the truth behind Dr. Xander Ibal’s plans for Blip.

“From the very beginning, Space Ghost has been a true labor of love from me and artist Jonathan Lau, bringing together the best parts of superheroes and science fiction — and we’re so excited for readers to finally witness the epic showdown that we’ve been building up to all along!,” said series writer David Pepose. “We’ve been so lucky to have an army of creators, fans, retailers, and press tirelessly champion our work, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what Jonathan and I have coming next. The future couldn’t be more exciting — or more dangerous — for Space Ghost and his intergalactic found family!”

You better look alive: ‘Speed Racer’ returns to comics this July

Mad Cave will preview the rebooted property on Free Comic Book Day.

Writer David Pepose and artist Davide Tinto will chart a new path for Speed Racer, as Mad Cave Studios launches a new ongoing series for the popular character from Tatsunoko Production’s classic anime Mach GoGoGo in July

Mad Cave and Tatsunoko announced last year their plans to reboot Speed Racer as a comic series, following their partnership on Gatchaman comics. Pepose and Tinto will be joined by colorist Rex Locus and letterer Buddy Beaudoin.

“Buckle your seatbelts, comic fans… we’re putting the pedal to the metal with the return of Speed Racer,” Pepose said. “I couldn’t be more excited to launch this brand-new series based on the classic cartoon — think of Rocky in a race car, as we push Speed to his absolute limits and beyond in the high-octane Formula X Championship League. As he drives the legendary Mach 5, can even Speed move fast enough to save his family and bring justice back to the tracks? Starting this Free Comic Book Day, get ready for more action, heart and car chases than you can imagine in the pages of Speed Racer!”

It’s open season on super heroes in ‘Predator Kills the Marvel Universe’

Benjamin Percy and Marcelo Ferreira continue the hunt across the 616 in August.

If there’s anything left of the Marvel Universe after Godzilla and Deadpool get done with it, they’ll face another threat, as the Predator expands his hunt to include just about everybody.

Writer Benjamin Percy will continue the bloodshed unleashed in Predator vs. Wolverine, Predator vs. Black Panther, Predator vs. Godzilla — wait, forget that one — and the current Predator vs. Spider-Man. He’ll team with the latter book’s artist, Marcelo Ferreira, for a collision that sees “the heroes of the Marvel Universe join forces to defend the world from an entire army of the galaxy’s greatest hunters.”

“That title? It’s not misdirection,” Percy said. “This one’s gonna hurt. Your favorite heroes and villains will fall — even as others rise up against this extinction-level event. The Predator King is here — the Yautja are armed with vibranium — and Earth is now a hunting preserve.”

Garth Ennis + Becky Cloonan’s ‘The War’ jumps from ‘Hello Darkness’ to its own series

A story from the BOOM! Studios anthology will expand into its own miniseries, beginning in July.

After a three-part run in BOOM! Studios’ horror anthology Hello Darkness, The War by Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan will launch into its own series this July.

The three-part story by the two legendary creators explored themes of nuclear war and societal collapse, and will continue to do so this summer.

“As the world around us slides further into ruin, what better time to revisit the cheery subject of atomic obliteration?” Ennis said. “And who better to accompany me on this joyous journey than the wonderfully talented Becky Cloonan?”

Patrick Horvath returns to Woodbrook for more cozy terror in ‘Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rites of Spring’

IDW will release the sequel miniseries, set 10 years after the first series, in July.

Patrick Horvath’s “cozy horror” series about a Richard Scarey-esque bear who likes murder will return with a sequel series this summer. IDW will publish the six-issue Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rites of Spring beginning in July.

The original series, which debuted in late 2023, was nominated for several awards in both 2024 and 2025, and made my personal “best of” list for 2024. It featured a teddy bear/serial killer named Samantha, who took down a rival killer in her small town. In the new series, “there are no secrets in the age of the internet… and those who lost loved ones to her dark temptations are still searching for justice.”

“I’m supremely excited to return to the quaint town of Woodbrook to continue the story of our psychopath bear, Samantha Strong,” remarked Horvath. “I continue to be blown away by the response to the first book. In my wildest dreams I never thought it would have caught such a huge wave that spread out to other countries and languages. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees continues to be a huge gift to me, and I’m grateful for all of the immense support from IDW, the retailers, critics, and fans.”

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