Category: Comic Books

‘Batman: Urban Legends’ anthology title launches in March

First issue will feature stories about Batman and his entourage by Chip Zdarsky, Eddy Barrows, Stephanie Phillips and more.

DC has announced a new, monthly anthology title focused on Batman and all his Gotham City friends.

The first six issues will include a story by Chip Zdarsky and Eddy Barrows, featuring a team-up between Batman and the Red Hood.

“… this has been a ton of fun to work on,” Zdarsky said in his email newsletter. “I’m not going to lie, growing up on the comics, TV shows and movies, it was like Batman raised me. Like he was a father to me and I was simply another one of his Robins, trained to fight in daddy’s war.”

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Daniel Warren Johnson will write and draw a new ‘Beta Ray Bill’ miniseries

The new series spins out of ‘King in Black’ and ‘Thor,’ with Mike Spicer providing colors.

Beta Ray Bill will jump into the spotlight once again, courtesy of Wonder Woman: Dead Earth creator Daniel Warren Johnson. Johnson will write and draw a new limited series starring the worthy Korbinite, which spins out of recent events in both Thor and King in Black.

Colorist Mike Spicer joins Johnson on the title, which naturally will feature Fin Fang Foom.

“Beta Ray Bill is literally my favorite Marvel character, so it’s a dream come true, and there are images in this book I’ve been wanting to illustrate for years. It’s even more exciting that I get to write this series in the context of the current Thor universe,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot to unpack with Beta Ray and I can’t wait to share my story with you all.”

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‘Silk’ will debut from Marvel in March

Originally announced for last July, the new title starring Cindy Moon is by Novelist Maurene Goo and artist Takeshi Miyazawa.

Marvel’s delayed Silk title by novelist Maurene Goo and artist Takeshi Miyazawa, which was originally scheduled for last July, will make its way into comic shops in March.

The title as originally announced at this year’s C2E2, back when we still had comics conventions.

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Marvel announces ‘Thor & Loki: Double Trouble’

Mariko Tamaki and Gurihiru will reteam for a miniseries featuring Asgard’s favorite brothers.

Writer Mariko Tamaki will team up with art team Gurihiru for a new miniseries featuring Loki and Thor doing what they do best — getting into, and getting out of, respectively, trouble.

“Gurihiru are awesome. This comic is so deeply adorable it’s RIDICULOUS,” Tamaki told Marvel.com. “Very excited to get to write some more adventures with Marvel characters, ESPECIALLY Thor and Loki.”

From the cover art alone, it looks pretty fun:

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Dark Horse to publish a new ‘kung-fu epic’ from James Stokoe

‘Orphan and the Five Beasts’ kicks off in March.

Orc Stain and Sobek creator James Stokoe has a new “kung-fu epic” arriving next year from Dark Horse Comics, titled Orphan and the Five Beasts. The four-issue miniseries features Orphan Mo, who uses her kung fu to find and kill five former disciples of her master who broke bad.

“If there’s one consistent thing more than any other that’s been an influence on my work throughout the years, it has to be the incredible worlds and adventure stories found in classic Hong Kong action films,” Stokoe said. “With Orphan and the Five Beasts, I’m looking to bring that love forward in a new fantasy comic that pays homage to the great films that have given me so much joy in life, while hopefully bringing something unique to the shelves.”

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Rob Liefeld to create a new ‘Mighty Crusaders’ miniseries at Archie

Four-issue miniseries will re-imagine the Shield, the Comet and more.

Archie Comics has announced that the Might Crusaders will return next year in a new miniseries by Deadpool/Brigade creator Rob Liefeld.

“I’ve been chomping at the bit to work with the folks at Archie and do something with these legendary characters,” Liefeld said. “The Shield is the first patriotic comic book icon, pre-dating Captain America. These are the original comic book superheroes, with a glorious history behind them. I’m so psyched to tell this story and turn my fans on to these characters!”

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DC’s Crime Syndicate steals its own miniseries in March

Andy Schmidt and Kieran McKeown will build a new Earth-3 and Crime Syndicate next year.

We know that the end of Dark Nights: Death Metal will set us up for DC Future State in January, but it will also set up the return of the DC Multiverse — and a new Earth-3, the home of the villainous Crime Syndicate. And this “anti-Justice League” will receive its own miniseries in March, by writer Andy Schmidt and artist Kieran McKeown.

Schmidt said they plan to rebuild Earth-3 from the ground up, showcasing new versions of Ultraman, Super Woman, Owlman, Power Ring/Emerald Knight, Johnny Quick and Atomica (she’s the evil version of the Atom, if the name isn’t as familiar as the others).

“Kieran and I were given a once a lifetime opportunity to build a world from the ground up,” said writer Andy Schmidt. “We’re establishing the Crime Syndicate’s origin story for the first time—how and why they came together. And we’re not taking it lightly. You’ll find that you’ve entered a fully realized world—this is the story of the Crime Syndicate, but it’s also the story of Earth-3 and it moves fast and pulls no punches.”

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The Joker break out into his own monthly series in March

Jim Gordon, Punchline and Harper Row will feature heavily in the new series.

Batman’s worst enemy and best ally will get the spotlight in a new monthly series starting in March. While the Joker gets his name on the marquee, the new comic by James Tynion IV and Guillem March will also prominently feature Jim Gordon.

But wait, there’s more: Each issue will also feature a back-up story by Tynion IV, co-writer Sam Johns and artist Mirka Andolfo, starring the Joker’s latest sidekick, Punchline, and Harper Row, a.k.a. Bluebird.

“When I was approached by DC about the concept of an ongoing series spotlighting The Joker, I thought, ‘What would that book even look like?,’” said Tynion. “I’m excited to share this story in a way that honors everything that a series about The Joker can be, while coming at it from an exciting, unexpected angle. I’m also thrilled to continue working with Sam and Mirka to expand the Punchline story we began in November as a back-up feature in this new ongoing Joker series. The Joker War was only the beginning of the terror and mayhem we’re creating!”

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Morrison + Child + Franquiz + Bonvillain take a trip down ‘Proctor Valley Road’

The horror miniseries debuts from BOOM! Studios in March.

BOOM! Studios has announced Proctor Valley Road, a new miniseries from the team of Grant Morrison, TV writer Alex Child, artist Naomi Franquiz and colorist Tamra Bonvillain. The comic is being developed in partnership with NBCUniversal, who hope to turn it into a TV series.

“I fell in love with these characters when I read Alex’s original series proposal and I’ve had an amazing time working with him and with Naomi to bring them to life for a spooky rollercoaster ride that feels like Nancy Drew on ‘shrooms!” said Morrison. “Get your kicks…on Proctor Valley Road!”

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Out of thin air, Kirkman + Ottley’s ‘Solid Blood’ #17 arrives in comic shops this week

‘Confusing’ find at the printer has the creators scratching their heads.

Robert Kirkman posted a video to his new YouTube channel last week to reveal a “confusing” find at the printer — a palette of Solid Blood #17, a comic by Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, Cliff Rathburn and Rus Wooten. And low and behold, the comic is on this week’s list of comics coming out from Diamond, despite the fact that it was never announced nor solicited.

You can watch the video below:

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What Are You Reading? | ‘Silver Surfer,’ ‘Usagi Yojimbo’ and more

See what the Smash Pages crew has been reading lately.

Welcome to What Are You Reading?, our weekly look at what the Smash Pages crew has been reading lately. In this edition, we talk about the new storyline kicking off in Usagi Yojimbo, the intersection of Slott/Allred’s Silver Surfer with Doctor Who, and more.

Let us know what you read this week in the comments or on social media.

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Soule + Sliney + Rosenberg will create ‘Hell to Pay’ in real time on Twitch

The new Image Comics series will launch next year — and will be created live on Twitch.

Charles Soule, Will Sliney and Rachelle Rosenberg have a new comic coming out from Image Comics called Hell to Pay, but it’s not quite done — and that’s where the fun begins. The creative team will give fans a direct view into their process by live-creating the comic on Twitch.

Both Sliney and Rosenberg plan to livestream their work on the platform. Soule plans to join them “to workshop design and story elements” in real time.

“Hell to Pay is a combination of a lot of things I love and one thing I don’t: supernatural adventure, treasure hunt stories, and the harsh consequences of late-stage capitalism! I think there’s a lot to say about money—everyone on earth is affected by cash in one way or another. Looking at it through a demonic lens is a fun way to play with the concept,” said Soule. “I’m also so excited to try something new by creating the book live on Twitch. Will and Rachelle are fantastic—this will be like being in a band, performing live every night as we come up with new ideas and implement them right then and there. I can’t wait—especially to do it in front of an audience. Scary? Maybe a little—but I do love a challenge.”

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