Author: JK Parkin

Super genius Amadeus Cho gets a 20th anniversary special from Marvel this May

Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa reunite for new stories featuring the character they debuted in 2005’s ‘Amazing Fantasy’ #15.

Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa, the creators of the super-boy-genius-turned-gamma-irradiated-hero Amadeus Cho, will reunite for a new anthology special that celebrates the character’s 20th anniversary.

Amadeus Cho first appeared in 2005’s Amazing Fantasy #15, also an anthology, in a story titled “Mastermind Excello.” Other characters and concepts introduced in the special include the organization known as G.R.A.M.P.A., the duo known as Blackjack, Positron and a new version of Monstro — although I don’t think any of them will be getting their own 20th anniversary special.

Amadeus Cho has gone on to appear in Incredible Hulk, Incredible Hercules and Champions, and gained gamma powers along the way as the hero Brawn.

“I’m a little stunned that Amadeus Cho has been around 20 years now and absolutely thrilled that we’re celebrating with this big one-shot,” Pak said. “I knew we had something special when Tak Miyazawa sent in his very first awesome designs of Amadeus and his pup and scooter back when, but I don’t think any of us could have predicted how the character would absolutely take off.”

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ALA announces its annual ‘best graphic novels’ reading lists

‘The Deviant,’ ‘Barnstormers,’ ‘Plain Jane and the Mermaids’ and more appear on the American Library Association’s lists for 2024.

The American Library Association has announced its annual lists of the best graphic novels for adults and for kids — spotlighting 100 really great graphic novels published in 2024.

The ALA’s Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table annually assembles the list, each made up of 50 titles. They also release a “top 10” for each category, with an aim to “increase awareness of the graphic novel medium, raise voices of diverse comics creators and aid library staff in the development of graphic novel collections.”

“I want to congratulate the committee on selecting this exceptional list of comics and graphic novels for young people.,” GNCRT President Shira Pilarski said. “These titles don’t just foster development of literacy skills, and they don’t just provide countless hours of entertainment for fans of graphic nonfiction, memoir, poetry and fiction. They are also beautifully illustrated works of art.”

If you’re looking for a gift for a child in your life, or even for something to read yourself, you can’t go wrong with these lists. You can find the “top ten” for adults and then for children below.

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | It’s Doom’s world, we’re just living in it

Check out new comics arriving this week by Ryan North, RB Silva, Jeremy Adams, Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar, Paulina Ganucheau 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. With Diamond going through bankruptcy proceedings, distribution has become even more tumultuous, with deliveries and arrival dates changing. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop.

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Vision + Scarlet Witch reunite in a new miniseries coming in May

Steve Orlando, Lorenzo Tammetta and Jacopo Camagni bring the iconic — and ultimately tragic — couple back together to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Steve Orlando will continue to tell stories featuring the Scarlet Witch in a new miniseries that reunites her with her ex. The Vision & the Scarlet Witch features the iconic couple in a new story drawn by artists Lorenzo Tammetta and Jacopo Camagni.

The miniseries marks the 50th anniversary of the couple’s wedding in Giant-Size Avengers #4 by Steve Englehart, Don Heck, John Tartaglione and Petra Goldberg. From there the couple appeared consistently in the Avengers, eventually scored their own miniseries and finally broke up in the pages of West Coast Avengers. Despite some rough times since — Avengers Disassembled, anyone? — the couple seems to be in a better place now, as seen in recent issues of Avengers and Scarlet Witch.

“When it comes to the Scarlet Witch, anything’s possible!” Orlando said. “Now, on the 50th Anniversary of their wedding, the Vision and the Scarlet Witch reunite to face a creeping, corrosive evil from beyond not just the grave, but beyond the universe itself. Wanda and Vision remain one of Marvel’s most iconic couples — and not just for their marriage, but for everything since.”

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Quick Hits | Rest in peace, KC Carlson

Plus: Rob Liefeld, Neil Gaiman, DSTLRY, convention news and more!

Former Superman and Legion of Super-Heroes editor KC Carlson has passed away. His wife, Johanna Carlson-Draper, reported the news on her blog.

A longtime comics fan, Carlson came into prominence as an editor at DC in the early 1990s, working on Legion of Super-Heroes, its sister title Legionnaires, Who’s Who in the DC Universe, Zero Hour, the Superman titles and collected editions of V for Vendetta and Sandman, among other titles. In addition, he also worked in comics distribution for Capital City and for mail-order retailer Westfield Comics as a blogger.

“Sad to hear of the passing of KC Carlson, one of the gentlest effective editors DC had in my decades,” wrote former DC executive Paul Levitz. “KC had a love for comics that came out in all his work in the field, in all his writing about comics, and in the open encouragement he offered creators. He did a stint guiding the Legion after my second run, and while it wasn’t to my taste (what parent likes the approach of adoptive ones to their kids?), it’s a time many Legion fans recall fondly.”

We offer our condolences to Johanna for her loss, as well as KC’s other family, friends and fans.

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The New Crusaders face a small problem in this preview of ‘Archie Jumbo Comics Digest’

Check out a preview of a new story by Dan Parent coming next week from Archie Comics.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to share a preview of a new story appearing in next week’s Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #358.

Dan Parent writes and draws this one, joined by inker Bob Smith, colorist Glenn Whitmore and letterer Jack Morelli. In it, the New Crusaders are due to attend an event at the MLJ Museum, but they are nowhere to be found — until Archie’s friend Stacy Banks “figures” out what might be amiss.

You can check out the preview below, along with a complete “classic” Archie story by Frank Doyle and Stan Goldberg.

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Hourly Comics Day 2025: One day, countless stories

Check out comics by Ethan Aldridge, Mike Dawson, Mel Gillman, Hannah Templer and more.

Cartoonists worldwide picked up their pens this past weekend for #HourlyComicsDay, the annual challenge where creators commit to making and posting a comic every hour for a day.

Hourly Comics Day has a different rhythm than 24-Hour Comics Day, where artists try to create a complete comic in one day. Due to the quick turnaround of posting a new comic every hour, these pieces typically take the form of autobiographical or personal journal entries, with participants documenting their day through sequential art.

You can discover this year’s entries by searching for “Hourly Comics Day” or “#HourlyComicsDay” on various social platforms like BlueSky, Tumblr, Instagram, Patreon and more.. The diverse range of artistic styles and daily experiences shared makes for fascinating reading.

Here are a few I enjoyed this weekend:

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | It’s the end of an era in ‘Batman’ #157

See what comics will arrive in stores this week by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez, Mike Mignola, Shobo and Shof Coker, 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. With Diamond going through bankruptcy proceedings, distribution has become even more tumultuous, with deliveries and arrival dates changing. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop.

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Exclusive Preview | Betty steps into the spotlight in ‘Archie is Mr. Justice’ #3

The penultimate issue of the premium event series will arrive in March.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to share an exclusive first look at Kenny Porter and Maria Laura Sanapo’s work on Archie is Mr. Justice #3, which will arrive in stores in March.

The premium event miniseries reimagines Archie Andrews as a hero who has left his mark on Riverdale and gone away, leaving his friends to remember his exploits. Each issue has focused on a different character in Archie’s life and has been created by a different creative team, with Porter and Sanapo presenting Betty’s perspective.

“Maria’s artwork brings the story to life,” Porter said.. “All of the emotional storytelling she does with the characters’ gestures and her slick art style really makes this feel like an all-time classic. I tried my best to make sure that people could read this issue of Betty on its own, and Maria made it a showstopper that anyone can enjoy.”

The modern take will show that Betty is more than just the girl next door in Mr. Justice’s story.

“Drawing Betty in this issue has been especially important for me,” Sanapo said. “You discover a side of her that you never expected. Behind her softheartedness, her strength comes out powerfully. She’s brave and despite the fact that she has no physical power, she chooses to help Mr. Justice, being a huge support for him. That makes her a super heroine, too!”

Check out the exclusive first look in black and white below, along with covers and character designs, below.

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Slugfest | Prepare for the ‘Summer of Superman’ in DC’s April solicitations

Plus: Fire & Ice, ‘We Are Yesterday’ and an uncrackable case for the Dark Knight!

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

With James Gunn’s Superman film arriving this summer, it’s no surprise that the Man of Steel is front and center in DC’s publishing plans for the year. The “Summer of Superman” will officially kick off in April with Summer of Superman Special #1.

The one-shot will be written by three writers — incoming Superman Unlimited writer Dan Slott, current Superman writer Joshua Williamson and all-around Krypton-ologist Mark Waid. They’ll be joined by artist Jorge Jiménez for a three-act story that will feature the wedding of Lana Lang and John Henry Irons.

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Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Celebrating 10 years of Marvel’s Star Wars revival

See what comics are expected to arrive at your local comic shop this week.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital. It’s a fifth week this week, as January has five Wednesdays in it, meaning there are less regular titles and more specials and one-shots.

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. With Diamond going through bankruptcy proceedings, things could be more tumultuous with deliveries and arrival dates, especially for small press books. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop.

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Slugfest | Godzilla continues to tear through the Marvel Universe in April

See what Marvel has planned in April for Daredevil, the Fantastic Four, Star Wars, Moon Girl, Deadpool and more.

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

Godzilla’s tour of terror through the Marvel Universe will continue in two one-shots this April: Godzilla vs. Hulk by Gerry Duggan and Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Godzilla vs. Spider-Man by Joe Kelly and Nick Bradshaw.

Godzilla vs. Hulk will feature a special anti-kaiju task force led by Thunderbolt Ross, which sets its sights on Godzilla:

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