Author: JK Parkin

Slugfest | The Thing takes on the world in Marvel’s August solicitations

Plus: Spider-Gwen gets a reboot, Venom goes black & white, and Uncle Scrooge returns!

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

For the past few years, Marvel has made a habit of releasing a one-shot in August to celebrate its anniversary. This year appropriately will feature Marvel’s First Family, whose first issue debuted in August of 1961, and more importantly are starring in the big summer blockbuster Fantastic Four: First Steps. So history and synergy make a fantastic combo.

The Thing takes center stage in Marvel All-On-One: The Thing vs. the Marvel Universe by Ryan North and Ed McGuinness — a play off the team-up title Marvel Two-In-One, which featured The Thing. In this special, though, Ben Grimm isn’t exactly teaming up with anyone — he returns from a solo mission in space to find the entire Marvel Universe wants to kill him. The story will be told in “all splash pages,” so expect a lot of action.

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It’s Godzilla’s world, and we’re all just living in it

Your favorite kaiju has numerous projects at several different publishers arriving this summer.

Over the years we’ve seen certain comic characters rise to a level where they just seem to be everywhere. Batman, of course, plus Wolverine (especially in the 1980s and 1990s), more recently Deadpool … But this summer we can crown a new king of that phenomenon, and given he’s the king of all monsters, I think he’s due.

Godzilla isn’t just appearing in a bunch of comics this summer — IDW has been publishing Godzilla books since 2010, I believe, so he’s never been absent from comic shelves — but this summer he’s expanded his appearances to multiple publishers.

Let’s have a look:

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Alan Scott takes center stage in DC’s annual Pride anthology

Plus: Marvel’s ‘Imperial’ launches a new era for their cosmic titles! The Justice League collides with Godzilla (again)! Miles Morales goes home (sort of)! And ‘The Sixth Gun’ returns!

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. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop this week.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Alan Scott takes center stage in DC’s annual Pride anthology”

Exclusive Preview | Check out the noir time-travel tale ‘Host Mortem’

The project is currently being crowdfunded through Kickstarter.

Courtesy of Clover Press, we’re pleased to present this exclusive preview from Host Mortem. The new graphic novel is currently being crowdfunded on Kickstarter.

Host Mortem is written by — and stars — Kevin Shinick, former host and time-traveling detective from the TV series Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego?, alongside actor/host Greg Lee. Both of them appear in the graphic novel, as an appearance at Comic-Con goes horribly wrong, and they find themselves transported back in time. After arriving in 1947, they find themselves involved in a murder mystery set against the Humphrey Bogart film The Big Sleep. When one of the stars winds up dead, Kevin and Greg’s knowledge of random trivia might be the key to solving this Hollywood caper.

“Between the two of us, Greg and I have hosted a number of game shows,” Shinick said. “As a result, we have a lot of random trivia floating around in our heads and I always wished I could put that knowledge to better use other than just, ‘Hey, did you know the singular of spaghetti is spaghetto?’ And since we both played fake detectives on Carmen Sandiego (me a time traveling detective and Greg a classic gumshoe detective) I got to wondering how we might fare with an actual murder? The ultimate question being, ‘Are hosts really smart? Or do they just have the answers?’”

The graphic novel is being brought to life by artists Damien Torres and Andrea Schiavone, colorist Pippa Bowland and letterer Taylor Esposito. Check out the preview and some of the variant covers available through the Kickstarter campaign below.

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DC + Marvel announce their first new crossover in two decades

Deadpool and Batman will collide in two issues coming later this year.

I wasn’t sure if we’d ever see this again in my lifetime, but here we are — Marvel and DC have announced their first crossover event in about 20 years, as Batman and Deadpool will met in two different issues this fall.

Marvel will kick things off in September with Deadpool/Batman by Zeb Wells and Greg Capullo. DC will follow in November with Batman/Deadpool by Grant Morrison and Dan Mora.

Each issue will also feature back-up stories starring different Marvel and DC characters by as-yet-unannounced creators.

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | 50 years of ‘Giant Size X-Men’

Plus: Mr. Terrific’s origin retold! Donald Duck becomes Iron Man! And Detective Kaiju is on the case!

Happy Memorial Day and 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. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop this week.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | 50 years of ‘Giant Size X-Men’”

Picture + Panel | Peter Kuper + Allison Conway share the buzz on insects

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

Whether you find bugs to be fascinating or just creepy, you’ll likely enjoy today’s Q&A with Peter Kuper and Allison Conway. We continue our new interview series in conjunction with the Boston Comic Arts Foundation as the creators of Insectopolis and A Pillbug Story talk about their big love for some of the world’s smallest creatures

Picture + Panel is a monthly conversation series that brings fantastic graphic novel creators to the Boston area. Each conversation explores a specific topic, ranging from the fun and exciting to the strange or serious — like demon possession or monsters. 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.

On June 2 at 7 p.m. Eastern, Kuper and Conway will be at the Boston Figurative Arts Center in Somerville, Massachusetts for a discussion on all things bug-related with Whit Farnum from the Farrell Lab at Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology. You can find more details on the event’s website.

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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Rest in peace, Peter David

The writer of ‘Incredible Hulk,’ ‘Young Justice,’ ‘Spider-Man 2099’ and more has passed away.

Peter David, the legendary “Writer of Stuff,” has passed away at the age of 68.

David’s long tenure as a writer included runs on Young Justice, X-Factor, Aquaman, various Spider-Man titles, Wolverine, She-Hulk, Supergirl and an epic decade+ run on Incredible Hulk, among many others. He was also a novelist and screenwriter, and for years contributed a column, “But I Digress,” to Comic Buyer’s Guide.

David passed away yesterday, according to his wife Kathleen O’Shea David. David’s health had been in decline for several years, as he suffered from kidney disease and some recent small strokes, according to a GoFundme page for his medical expenses.

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Slugfest | Justice League Red, Immortal Legend Batman + more launch in August

DC’s August solicitations bring a new Superman project by the team behind Image’s ‘Ice Cream Man,’ an ending for H2sh, a milestone issue of ‘Detective Comics’ and more.

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

The Justice League family of titles will continue to grow in August with Justice League Red by Saladin Ahmed and Clayton Henry.

(I guess the number of Justice League titles you can have is truly Unlimited, isn’t it? Bwahaha …)

The new title will feature a team run by Red Tornado that’s “so covert, the founders can’t know it exists.” It’ll include Power Girl, Huntress, Deadman, Green Lantern Simon Baz and Cyborg.

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Gilbert + Natalia Hernandez would like you to meet ‘Roy’

The new series by the father and daughter team will debut in August.

Gilbert Hernandez of Los Bros. Hernandez fame will team with another family member for a new comic series this summer — his daughter, Natalia.

The father-and-daughter duo are the creative behind Roy, a new series that will debut in April from Fantagraphics, publishers of the Hernandez Bros. long-running Love & Rockets (and other titles).

“Is there anything Roy can’t do? Of course not, he’s a comic book character, duh!” said Fantagraphics’ Eric Reynolds. “In the hands of a master like Gilbert Hernandez, anything is possible, and Roy is the perfect vehicle for his limitless imagination. The Hernandezes are America’s First Family of Comics, and that Roy #1 also welcomes Natalia Hernandez into the Love and Rockets fold makes the occasion extra special!”

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Al Ewing + Pasqual Ferry will relaunch ‘Thor’ in August

The launch follows the end of ‘Immortal Thor’ in July.

Al Ewing and Jan Bazaldua have been building toward something in Immortal Thor since the beginning — suggesting that may Thor isn’t quite as immortal as the title of the comic suggests. With Immortal Thor #25 set to end the current run of the title, Marvel has announced that August will bring the adjective-less Thor #1.

Described as a “new status quo for the God of Thunder unlike any in his 60+ year history,” the new title will be written by Ewing and drawn by veteran Thor artist Pasqual Ferry.

“Since the very first issue of Immortal Thor, Thor’s been facing the end of his tale… but that was only the end of Act One,” Ewing said. “As the next chapter begins, Thor must face threats he’s never faced, from a place he’s never been… until now. Is he alive? Is he dead? Is he immortal… or much, much more? You’ll have to join us to find out.”

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | ‘Superman Unlimited’ introduces a new status quo for the Man of Steel

New comics and graphic novels arrive this week by Dan Slott, Rafael Albuquerque, Marc Guggenheim, Kaare Andrews, Zander Cannon, Jake Smith, Alison Bechdel 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. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop this week.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | ‘Superman Unlimited’ introduces a new status quo for the Man of Steel”