Category: Comic Publishers

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.”

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DC cancels ‘The Red Hood’ just one day after the first issue’s debut

The cancellation follows comments the writer made about the death of inflammatory activist Charlie Kirk on social media.

Just a day after the mature readers title arrived in stores, DC has cancelled all future issues of The Red Hood by Gretchen Felker-Martin, Jeff Spokes and Becca Carey.

DC told retailers that they were cancelling orders for issues #2 and #3, which were already solicited, and they will credit retailers for all invoiced copies of Red Hood #1, “inclusive of copies that may have already been sold.” The first issue was still available on the digital comics platform Comixology when I checked earlier this morning, but it appears to be no longer available.

The publisher issued a statement on the cancellation:

“At DC Comics, we place the highest value on our creators and community and affirm the right to peaceful, individual expression of personal viewpoints. Posts or public comments that can be viewed as promoting hostility or violence are inconsistent with DC’s standards of conduct.”

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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.”

Here’s the page:

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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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DC Go will add six new titles this year featuring Shazam!, Aquaman + more

Dc’s vertical-scrolling digital line will add new titles by Stephanie Williams, Josh Trujillo, Andrew Aydin, Steve Orlando and more.

DC Go, DC’s mobile-friendly digital comics initiative, will add six new titles to the platform beginning in July, along with “season renewals” for Harley Quinn in Paradise and Nothing Butt Nightwing.

DC announced DC Go, which is available on the DC Universe Infinite digital comics app, last year. In addition to original titles, they’ve also added vertical-scrolling editions of existing material, like All-Star Superman and some of the Absolute titles.

The new titles include:

  • Warriors and a Wee Wonder by Stephanie Williams, Jane Pica, and Emily Pearson;
  • Aquaman: Yo-Ho-Hold Onto Your Hook! by Josh Trujillo, Nicky Lelapi, Andrew Drilon, and Bradley Clayton;
  • Jon Kent: This Internship Is my Kryptonite by Sam Camp, Daimon Hampton, Seraji, and C.M. Cameron;
  • Taste of Justice by Andrew Aydin, Dominike “DOMO” Stanton, Aneke, and Nick Filardi;
  • My Little Warlord by Nina Gee, Madlen Mirjam, and Chi Ngo; and
  • The Magical Mysteries of Shazam! by Steve Orlando and Giopota.

You can find more details on each of them below.

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AfterShock Comics emerges from bankruptcy

The company plans to start publishing comics again.

In other bankruptcy news this week, AfterShock Comics has announced that they have emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to begin publishing comics again.

AfterShock, the publisher of Animosity, Bunny Mask, Babyteeth and more, filed for bankruptcy protection in late 2022 “due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the press release. They’ve been fairly quiet ever since, and honestly I figured we’d never hear from them again (although their website has never gone dark in that period).

“The pandemic and subsequent writer’s strike impacted our business in ways nobody could have predicted,” said AfterShock Comics CEO Jon Kramer. “While we still believe that securing financing in the spring of 2020 to grow out our business and keep everyone working was the correct strategic move, business conditions proved unstable and, in spite of positive interest on the investment front from numerous parties, the ongoing uncertainty amidst the prolonged pandemic disrupted our momentum.  Though recognizing the effect it might have on our extremely important relationships with creators, fans, distributors and retailers, the restructuring process was the best avenue we could have pursued to protect our assets and the work of all those who created content for AfterShock.”

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Alien Books will bring Zorro back to comics

The publisher will start by crowdfunding a hardcover collecting Alex Toth’s work on the pulp character.

Alien Books has announced they’ve acquired the license to publish comics featuring Zorro, the legendary swashbuckling rogue created by pulp writer Johnston McCulley more than 100 years ago.

They’ll start with a hardcover reprinting Alex Toth’s Zorro comic from 1958 with remastered colors and lettering, as well as a story by Howard Chaykin and Eduardo Risso, premiering for the first time in English. Toth first drew Zorro in Four Color #882, which was published by Dell and adapted the first two episodes of the Walt Disney TV series starring Guy Williams. Toth drew several other Zorro comics around that time, both for Four Color and for the Zorro title Dell published.

Alien will launch a Kickstarter for the deluxe hardcover on April 23.

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Mad Cave Studios will release benefit anthology for Los Angeles wildfire victims

‘L.A. Strong’ will include stories that celebrate ‘the city’s spirit and resilience.’

As several wildfires continue to burn in Los Angeles, resulting in the death of at least 11 people and burning down an estimated 12,000 homes and buildings, Mad Cave Studios has announced a benefit anthology to raise money for those impacted by the disaster.

“When tragedy strikes, we stand together. At Mad Cave Studios, we believe in the power of art to heal, inspire, and rebuild. With this anthology, we aim to honor the resilience of Los Angeles and provide much-needed support to those who have been impacted by these devastating fires,” said Mark London, Mad Cave Studios CEO, in the press release. “This is our opportunity to give back to the community that has given us so much, and we’re calling on creators and fans alike to join us in making a difference.”

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Mad Cave + Tatsunoko will partner on ‘Speed Racer’ comics

Speed, Trixie, Racer X and more will return to comics.

Mad Cave Studios and Tatsunoko Production will expand their partnership next year with a comic adaptation of Speed Racer, the popular manga-turned-anime that aired in the United States in the late 1960s.

No details have been shared yet on when a comic (or comics) will launch or who the creative team might be. Tatsunoko owns the license for Gatchaman, known to some as Battle of the Planets here in the U.S., and Mad Cave has been working with them on their new line of Gatchaman comics that debuted earlier this year.

“Speed Racer is one of Tatsunoko’s most beloved properties and we’re excited to partner with Mad Cave Studios to bring new and original stories to fans of all generations,” said Mari Yamauchi from Tatsunoko Production in a press statement. “Tatsunoko is incredibly happy with Mad Cave’s work on Gatchaman and we look forward to continuing our journey together with Speed Racer.”

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Vertigo will return as DC’s creator-owned imprint

Jim Lee announced the return of the iconic brand this weekend during the New York Comic Con.

At his Jim Lee & Friends Panel during this weekend’s New York Comic Con, DC Publisher Jim Lee announced plans to revive Vertigo, the long-running imprint that was home to comics like Preacher, Fables, Y the Last Man and more over its more than 25-year history.

The imprint will fall under editor Chris Conroy and will feature creator-owned titles.

“This is my editorial dream come true,” Conroy said on social media. He currently oversees DC’s Black Label imprint as well, and confirmed Vertigo isn’t replacing it.

“DC Black Label continues, with some red-hot stories for DC’s superhero characters still on the way for years to come,” Conroy said. “Vertigo puts us back into the creator-owned business in a very big way. Yes, I’m running both; no, I haven’t lost my mind yet.”

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NYCC | Marvel announces a new TPB line called the ‘Marvel Premier Collection’

Marvel says the new line will be ‘one of the best’ places for new fans to start reading.

Marvel has announced a new trade paperback line called the Marvel Premier Collection, which will offer material from “Marvel’s most celebrated and prestigious storylines and creators.”

The 6” x 9” formatted collections will be slightly bigger than DC’s Compact Comics line, but seems to be taking a similar approach — offering classic and recent beloved material from their back library. Marvel’s line will cost $5 more than DC’s, coming in at $14.99 each.

“We’ve all heard the age-old questions: ‘Where do I start? What is that one run you just cannot miss? What should I read before or after the next big movie or television show to have the best experience?’ The Marvel Premier Collection program is our answer to each of those questions,” said Dan Buckley, president of Marvel Comics and Franchise. “Comics are at the heart of everything we do at Marvel, so this collection will be our go-to publishing line for any and all fans looking for a way into — or further into — the Marvel Universe. These titles will not be the only place to start of course, but they will be one of the best.”

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Mad Cave announces a new manga imprint, Nakama Press

The first titles are expected to arrive next summer.

Mad Cave Studios is adding a manga imprint to their already impressive list of imprints. Nakama Press will publish original manga and licensed titles, along with manhwa from Korea, manhua from China and manfra, which are the French equivalent of OEL manga.

The release says they plan to partner with studios like Japanese animation company Tatsunoko Pro and The Rainbow Group, among others, to “deliver a compelling reading experience that appeals to manga enthusiasts and newcomers alike.”

“Our mission with Nakama Press is to connect readers with stories that resonate universally, transcending cultural boundaries,” said Mark Irwin, President of Mad Cave Studios, “We believe in the power of storytelling to bring people together, and Nakama Press is our way of celebrating that through the incredible world of manga and graphic novels.”

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