Comic Publishers – SMASH PAGES

Oni Press and Archie Comics announce wave of classic collections for fall 2026

The publishers will release seven collected editions spanning 85 years of Archie history, alongside the three new ongoing series that were previously announced.

Oni Press and Archie Comics have announced a robust slate of new collections timed to the 85th anniversary of Archie Andrews’ debut, with the first titles arriving in September 2026.

The announcement, made ahead of this week’s ComicsPro industry meeting, includes seven collected editions across two formats: a line of compact editions reprinting stories from the “New Riverdale” era, and a series of premium deluxe hardcovers spanning decades of Archie history.

The releases coincide with the three all-new series that Oni and Archie previously announced for this fall, including Archie by W. Maxwell Prince, Fábio Moon and Nick Cagnetti; Sabrina the Teenage Witch by Corinna Bechko and Kano; and Archie in Hell by Patrick Horvath and Tyler Crook.

“We’re so thrilled to be deepening Oni’s exciting new partnership with Archie Comics even further beyond our slate of brand-new, upcoming series and far into the most beloved corners of the Archie library with a selection of Riverdale’s most cherished stories from recent decades,” said Sierra Hahn, Oni Press Editor-in-Chief. “Whether you’re a longtime Archie devotee or a first-time reader, each of these volumes is a warm, welcome introduction to this storied cast of characters. And, over time, we’ll be reaching back even further into the vaults to spotlight and celebrate the long and influential legacy of Archie Comics in all its many forms. As we gear up for the new Archie #1 this fall, there’s never been a better time to visit Riverdale!”

Ghost Machine will launch its first crossover event this summer

‘Who Are the Unbelievables?’ rebrands the publisher’s Family Odysseys universe and introduces new characters like The Trillion Dollar Kid.

Ghost Machine, the Image Comics imprint of Geoff Johns and friends, will launch its first summer crossover event, “Who Are the Unbelievables?” The event will also formally rebrand one of Ghost Machine’s four original creator-owned universes, previously known as “Family Odysseys,” as “The Unbelievables.”

Ghost Machine was announced in 2023 by Geoff Johns and several frequent collaborators, built around the idea that creators would co-own all characters and universes developed within the imprint. Its four universes include the horror-themed “Hyde Street,” Johns’ “The Unnamed” universe featuring Geiger and Junkyard Joe, a science fiction universe featuring Johns and Jason Fabok’s Rook, and now “The Unbelievables,” which is anchored by The Rocketfellers by Peter J. Tomasi and Francis Manapul and Hornsby & Halo by Tomasi and Peter Snejbjerg.

The crossover will span four issues and introduce several new characters, chief among them The Trillion Dollar Kid, a 13-year-old secretly tracking individuals with extraordinary abilities whom he dubs “The Unbelievables.” The character was created by Johns, Tomasi and Manapul. Other new characters joining the universe include The Deadtones, described as a rock band of misfit monsters on the run, and Jean Genie, a genie navigating freedom after centuries of servitude.

Here’s a map detailing where they all live:

DC Comics will mark 40th anniversary of ‘The Dark Knight Returns’ with yearlong celebration

The landmark series by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley will be honored with new editions, variant covers, facsimile reprints and more.

DC Comics will honor the 40th anniversary of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, the landmark four-issue series by writer/artist Frank Miller, inker Klaus Janson and colorist Lynn Varley with a yearlong celebration that includes new editions, reprints, variant covers and more.

The celebration kicks off later this week at the ComicsPro meeting, where Miller and Janson will appear together for a panel for comics retailers. Then in February, DC will release monthly Facsimile Editions of The Dark Knight Returns #1–4, reproducing the single issues complete with their covers, original advertisements and back matter. A DC Compact Comics Edition will arrives April 7.

IDW will launch a new Crime imprint in May

The new imprint will launch with ‘Seven Wives’ by Zoe Tunnell, V Gagnon and Tesslyn Bergin-Dicoi.

IDW has announced a new imprint to complement IDW Dark, the horror line they announced last year. IDW Crime will feature — you guessed it — crime comics.

The line will feature stories about “twisted, everyday acts of humans that we just can’t look away from,” and will launch with projects by Zoe Tunnell, V Gagnon, Joey Esposito, Amy Chase and more.

“Crime has a deep, often under-celebrated history in comics, from hard-boiled noir to social thrillers that pushed the medium to be bolder, sharper and more adult,” said IDW Senior Group Editor Heather Antos. “With the IDW Crime imprint, we’re honoring that legacy while giving it a modern spotlight — elevating creator-driven stories that feel urgent, character-forward, and unapologetically human. These are stories about obsession, consequence and the ability to hold a mirror up to society, and we couldn’t be more excited to help bring them back to the forefront of mainstream comics.”

Here’s a look at the three titles IDW announced today:

Oni Press moves to Penguin Random House for comics, book distribution

The new deal will kick off in August.

Oni Press and Penguin Random House have announced that Oni will move all of their comics and book distribution to Penguin Random House beginning in August.

This includes Oni’s frontlist and backlist trade books, as well as single issue comics “across all sales channels worldwide,’ including the direct market. Oni Press is currently using Lunar Distribution for comics distribution, who they began working with back in 2021.

“There is simply no better partner than Penguin Random House in maintaining and growing Oni’s longstanding relationship with retailers and readers,” said David Steward II, Chairman of the Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group. “As the gold standard for both book market and direct market distribution, we’re proud to partner with PRHPS to increase the reach for Oni’s distinguished, award-winning library and hit the ground running in support of what is sure to be the company’s most formidable line-up of new releases across our long history.”

The deal also includes their sister publisher, Magnetic Press, whose graphic novels they began distributing last year and is now an imprint of Oni Press.

Free Comic Book Day 2026 will include titles from DC, Skybound, Titan, Vault + more

See what you can get for free on Saturday, May 2.

This year’s Free Comic Book Day is starting to take shape, with publishers announcing some titles and the FCBD website sharing many more. The titles have also popped up on the distributors’ websites, revealing some of the cover art you can expect to see in May.

Universal Distribution now owns Free Comic Book Day and its branding, having bought it in the wake of the Diamond Comics Distributors bankruptcy. They’ve teamed up with Lunar Distribution for the event, which will occur on May 2, which is the same day as Penguin Random House’s Comics Giveaway Day.

Here’s a look at what to expect:

Oni + Archie announce a publishing partnership

Oni will publish comic series, collections and graphic novels featuring the Archie characters beginning in the fall of 2026.

Oni Press has announced that they’re partnering with Archie Comics to publish a new line of comics and graphic novels featuring the Archie characters. The partnership will begin next fall.

“From the world of comics – where Archie’s stories led so many to pick up their very first comic book – to the long-running success of Riverdale, Archie’s cherished cast of characters have few rivals in terms of their visibility or influence on global pop culture,” said David Steward II, Chairman of the Oni-Lion Forge Publishing Group. “This new partnership is one of the most significant moments in Oni Press’ three decades as a leading publisher of independent comics, and, in collaboration with the Archie team, we look forward to writing a memorable new chapter in the history of these legendary characters that will set the stage for decades worth of stories yet to come.”

The first three series they’re teasing are Archie by W. Maxwell Prince, Fábio Moon and Nick Cagnetti; Sabrina the Teenage Witch by Corinna Bechko and Kano; and Archie in Hell by Patrick Horvath and Tyler Crook. Based on the creators invovled, these sound like they’ll continue the spirit of the “new” Archie and the Archie Horror lines we’ve seen in the past.

NYCC | Don’t sleep on IDW Dark’s 2026 slate of comic nightmares

The horror imprint’s lineup includes new tales from Hannah Rose May, Phil Hester, Ryan Kelly and more

IDW Publishing’s horror imprint, IDW Dark, is cranking up the terror for 2026 with four new series aimed at keeping you up all night.

The first-half lineup, revealed at New York Comic Con, includes movie tie-ins Smile: For the Camera and A Quiet Place: Storm Warning, the sequel The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace, and the IDW Original Operation: Iron Coffin.

Kicking things off in February, Smile: For the Camera brings the sinister “Smile Entity” to New York’s fabled Fashion Week in 2005. Written by Hannah Rose May and illustrated by Miriana Puglia, the series promises psychological horror with a glossy, pop-culture twist.

Create your own brackets for DC’s upcoming ‘DC K.O.’ crossover

Superman, Wonder Woman, Lobo or … Plastic Man? Make your picks on who will win the big tournament to become King Omega.

It may not be March, but if you like creating your own tournament brackets, then DC has you covered — they’ve launched a website that’ll let you pick the winners and losers in their upcoming “fight club” crossover comic DC K.O.

Thus far DC has told us that DC K.O. will involve heroes and villains battling it out, tournament style, for the right to become “King Omega” and gain enough power to take on a supped up Darkseid. They’ve revealed the 32 characters participating, and they showed us several of the issues coming in December where the big battles will go down. But until now they’ve been coy about who will fight who, so this new site gives us the first look at all the match-ups.

Disney + Webtoon are building a digital comics site together

Webtoon will manage the site, which will feature comics from Marvel, Disney, Star Wars and more.

Disney and Webtoon have announced a “non-binding term sheet” for the development of a new all-ages digital comics site. The site will be built and operated by Webtoon, and will feature “35,000 comics from Marvel, Star Wars, Disney, Pixar and 20th Century Studios.”

The press release says this is an expansion of Marvel Unlimited, Marvel’s current digital comics platform that is said to already host 30,000 comics, rather than a replacement. It also notes that Disney+ subscribers will have free access to a curated selection of comics through the site. It will include both vertical and traditional formats for archived comics and current comic book runs, as well as original comics.

“By uniting our unparalleled collection of comics across Marvel, Star Wars, Disney, Pixar and 20th Century Studios into a single digital platform, we’re giving fans unprecedented access to the adventures they love – all in one place,” said Josh D’Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences. “Through our expanded relationship with Webtoon, the global leader in digital comics, we’re opening doors to new audiences and deepening fan engagement.”

Alien Books, Mauro Mantella criticized for anti-trans passage in ‘Valiant Beyond: Bloodshot’ #1

The publisher posted an apology on social media, saying “We will do better,” as the author’s anti-trans social media history became evident.

Alien Books, the publisher of the Valiant comics line, and writer Mauro Mantella have received widespread criticism for a passage that appeared in Valiant Beyond: Bloodshot #1 that featured “thinly veiled transphobic metaphors,” as one comics creator put it.

The comic’s creative team includes Mantella and artists Fernando Heinz Furukawa and Juan Pablo Massa. It’s part of a line-wide reboot of the Valiant line, called Valiant Beyond, that was set to kick off earlier this year but was delayed due to the bankruptcy of Diamond. Valiant’s comics are now distributed by Penguin Random House via IDW Publishing.

What should have been a big launch for the publisher, as Bloodshot was the first Valiant Beyond title to hit comic shelves, was marred by panels whose words mirrored a false but common refrain by anti-trans bigots. For context, the comic features Bloodshot in a Japan plagued by vampires. “There are kids who want to be bitten to become vampires because their favorite influencer says they are one,” Bloodshot’s interior monologue reads. “And parents who force their children into that irreversible change just to feel modern … and believing that they’ll be thankful for it when they grow up.”

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