Author: JK Parkin

Doug Wagner + Daniel Hillyard reunite for ‘I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits!’ at Clover Press

The ‘Plastic,’ ‘Plush’ and ‘Narco’ creators return with a supernatural horror comedy about zombies, psychics, Heaven and Hell, and homicidal chickens. Check out our exclusive preview.

The Fourth Leaf, the new creator-owned imprint from Clover Press, is officially getting underway with a graphic novel that seems tailor-made for the imprint’s promise of “bold, bloody and pulpy stories”: I Love Apocalyptic Zombie Misfits! by Doug Wagner and Daniel Hillyard.

The longtime collaborators behind Plastic, Plush, Vinyl and Narco are back together for a supernatural horror comedy that features a pacifist, a psychic kid, a really big serial killer, the forces of Heaven and Hell, and, of course, a squad of murderous chickens.

Courtesy of Clover Press, we’re pleased to offer an exclusive preview of the new graphic novel, which launched today on Kickstarter.

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Quick Hits | Warren Ellis, Small Press Expo, Dragon Awards

Plus: News on John Byrne’s ‘Elsewhen,’ Andy Fish and more.

Publishers | Image Comics has announced a new project by Warren Ellis, Ghost Drive Station, after stating that they would not work with him again until he made amends to his sexual misconduct victims. Ellis was one of many creators called out for their behavior in 2020, when his numerous victims created a website that outlined the allegations as well as a path to make amends.

Ellis lost work in the comics industry as a result, and has not had any new comics work published since then (although some of his past publishers have released collected editions that included his work). In 2021, artist Ben Templesmith announced plans for the return of Fell, his comic with Ellis, which led to Image offering a statement that said, “Image Comics will not be working with Warren on anything further until he has made amends to the satisfaction of all involved.”

The creators of the SoManyofUs website last updated it in 2023, stating that, “to the best of our knowledge, Warren Ellis took none of the steps we hoped he would. A mediated accountability process with Warren Ellis is not possible at present, and we do not anticipate our involvement in any progress he might make in the future.” It does not sound like any amends were ever made.

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Marvel + Star Wars to cross over for the first time in ‘Hope Assembles’

Kevin Smith and David Marquez bring Luke Skywalker, Spider-Man, Darth Vader, Doctor Doom and more together in a five-issue series.

Marvel and Lucasfilm have announced Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles, a five-issue limited series written by Kevin Smith and drawn by David Marquez that will bring the two universes together. The series launches in January 2027 as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the first Star Wars film.

The news comes via an exclusive to Entertainment Weekly. And yes, that means Luke Skywalker can finally meet Spider-Man, and Doctor Doom can compare armor-cleaning tips with Darth Vader. The images by Marquez shared in the article feature several different Marvel characters with characters from that first, original film. According to the article, a reality-shattering spell will bring the events of Star Wars: A New Hope to Earth-616, putting Marvel’s heroes in the middle of the Galactic Empire’s assault on the Rebel Alliance.

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | The Dynamic Duo is back in action

Check out comics and graphic novels arriving this week by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, Bryan Hill, Nico Leon, Mariko Tamaki, Mike Mignola, Kyle Baker, Marguerite Bennett and more.

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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Hell for the holidays: Dark Horse announces ‘Hellboy in Hell: Parade of Horrors’ for December

Mike Mignola and Márk László reunite for a two-issue series that sends Hellboy to the Devil’s funeral.

Dark Horse Comics has announced Hellboy in Hell: Parade of Horrors, a new two-issue series by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and artist Márk László, with colors by Dave Stewart and letters by Clem Robins. The series launches in December and immediately follows Hellboy in Hell: Nothing But Blood, which kicks off in October.

The series reunites Mignola with László, who previously worked with the creator on Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.: Time is a River.

“I hadn’t planned to return to Hellboy’s HELL — I certainly didn’t think I’d ever let anyone else in there. But I love Márk’s work, and when we met he said he wanted to do a story set there. Well, how could I say no?” Mignola said. “Fortunately, there were a couple big holes between the chapters I’d drawn and I thought Márk would have fun with those two dead soldiers we meet in ‘The Three Gold Whips’ — and he did! I only gave him a rough outline for a story, and he took it from there. And as things took shape, we found a place to introduce a bit more of the history of the place. Every time I think we are done with this thing it seems we find there are just a few more bits and pieces to explore, which I guess is a good thing.”

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Magik leads a mystical X-team in Marvel’s ‘X-Orcists’

Ashley Allen and Germán Peralta reunite for a five-issue miniseries that pits Magik, Juggernaut and Madelyne Pryor against a demonic invasion.

Ashley Allen and Germán Peralta, the creative team behind Magik and Magik & Colossus, will assemble a team led by Magik to battle a demonic invasion from Limbo this November in X-Orcists.

The five-issue miniseries sees Illyana Rasputin join forces with Juggernaut, Madelyne Pryor and others to stop a demon “unlike anything they’ve ever seen before” in the five-issue miniseries. This marks the third series by the creative team focused on the mystical mutant.

“Round three, baby!” Allen said. “In all seriousness, I’m incredibly grateful to continue this journey with Germán and the rest of the Magik team, telling the story of a character so close to my and fans’ hearts. Magik and Madelyne are both women who have been told what their paths should be, only to choose their own destinies. Exploring this has been such a powerful and rewarding experience and I’m excited for fans to see these two characters reclaim their power, evolve from their pasts, and discover what it means to truly wield themselves.”

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Exclusive | Meet the Toxic Avenger’s worst nightmare on the cover of ‘The Toxic Avenger vs. The Noxious Offender’ #2

Matt Bors’ cover for the second chapter of AHOY Comics and Troma Entertainment’s five-part showdown arrives ahead of its October debut.

The Toxic Avenger is about to meet his match in The Toxic Avenger vs. The Noxious Offender, and we’re happy to offer an exclusive first look at Matt Bors’ cover for the second issue.

The five-part series from AHOY Comics reunites Bors and artist Felipe Sobreiro for a showdown between Troma Entertainment’s favorite mutant hero and his murderous, multiversal doppelganger.

The Noxious Offender made his movie debut in Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV, but Toxie vs. Noxie marks the character’s first appearance in a comic book series. As Toxie deals with his increasingly complicated personal life and the forthcoming birth of his mutant baby, the arrival of his long-absent father forces Toxie to confront some of his own complicated family history. Meanwhile, Noxie takes over Tromaville and gives its residents permission to indulge in their darkest impulses.

Check out the cover:

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Mark Tatulli wins the Reuben Award

Stan Sakai, Liniers and more were presented with NCS Divisional Awards during the National Cartoonists Society’s annual awards program.

In a ceremony held last night, The National Cartoonists Society named Mark Tatulli, creator of the comic strips Lio and Heart of the City, as ‘Cartoonist of the Year” and presented him with the Reuben Award.

The National Cartoonists Society also announced the winners of their annual NCS Divisional awards, which recognize creators of comic strips, illustrations, comic books and more. Nominees were announced back in April, with winners were selected through a vote open to all NCS members. This is the 80th year for the awards program.

On the comics front, Usagi Yojimbo creator Stan Sakai won in the comic book category, while Sunder creator Pierre-Alexandre Comtois won in the graphic novel category.

You can see the complete list of winners below.

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Smash Pages Q&A | Matthew Dow Smith on ‘Amelia Shadows’ + ‘The October Girl’

The writer and artist talks about his newest book, ‘Amelia Shadows and the Monster in the Box,’ giving his editors nightmares with his creative process, and more.

Over the course of 30 years, Matthew Dow Smith has built a career that has taken him everywhere from Hellboy and The X-Files to DC and Marvel. But in recent years, the writer and artist has been able to work, as he says, “with the training wheels off,” embracing middle-grade and young adult graphic novels that better reflect the kinds of stories he’s always wanted to tell.

That creative shift has resulted in two growing fantasy series arriving just months apart. Amelia Shadows and the Monster in the Box debuted this week from Papercutz, continuing the adventures of the curious young heroine. Meanwhile, The October Girl Book Three arrives from Mad Cave’s Maverick imprint (in October, naturally), which expands the mythology of the supernatural world Smith has been developing for decades. I caught up with him to discuss both series, how all-ages comics unlocked a new level of creativity for him and how finding the right audience has transformed his career.

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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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