Can’t Wait for Comics | Chu, Joker Wars, Bliss and more

New comics and graphic novels arrive this week from Tom Gauld, World Citizen Comics, Stan Sakai, John Layman, Al Ewing, Dan Slott, Sean Lewis and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics, a look at what’s hitting your comic shop, bookstore or digital platform of choice this week. We’ve got comics, we’ve got graphic novels, we’ve got comic strips … and yeah, that’s about it. Comics of all shapes and sizes.

You can check Comic List to see what’s arriving in your local shop, and the comiXology new releases page for what’s available digitally. As always, you should check with your local shop on their hours, curbside pick-up and mask restrictions, due to COVID-19. Stay safe out there and enjoy some comics.

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Valiant recruits Parker + Pulido for a new ‘Ninjak’ comic

The new title will launch next year.

Valiant Entertainment’s Ninjak will return in a new title next year from the creative team of Jeff Parker and Javier Pulido.

Ninjak, for the uninitiated, is Collin King, superspy/ninja, as the name implies. He was created in 1993 by Mark Moretti and Joe Quesada, and has headlined his own title several times since. The most recent version was written by Matt Kindt and published by Valiant in 2015.

Pulido’s always an interesting artist to watch, as he has such a unique style, and Parker’s really good at pulpy adventure stories. So this is a great match-up.

“I love how Javier’s mind works,” Parker said. “He comes up with the most brilliant panel progressions and layouts, and very striking compositions that look so simple but you have to be a next-level talent to attempt a lot of what he does.”

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‘Second Coming’ returns in December with ‘Only Begotten Son’

Mark Russell, Richard Pace and Leonard Kirk return for more stories about Jesus and his superhero roommate.

Ahoy Comics has announced a sequel to Second Coming subtitled “Only Begotten Son,” which will debut at the end of this year. Mark Russell, Richard Pace, Leonard Kirk and Andy Troy will return to tell the controversial — and also funny, touching and just plain awesome — story of Jesus and his roommate, the superhero Sunstar.

According to the solicitation text Ahoy shared, the new series will “turn back time to witness the interplanetary origin of Sunstar! Warning: portrays science denial, mass extinction and real estate sales!”

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Peyer + Robinson’s ‘Penultiman’ rescheduled for October

Ahoy Comics has a new release date for the comic, which was delayed due to the pandemic.

Ahoy Comics’s Penultiman has endured title changes, controversial contest endings and delays due to worldwide pandemics, but now “The Next-To-Last Stage in Human Evolution” looks like he might finally have a release date. Ahoy has announced the first issue by Tom Peyer and Alan Robinson will finally arrive in October.

“We’ve seen characters who represent the ultimate stage of human potential—Captain Comet and Warlock come to mind—but I don’t think we’ve met any who are just a little worse than the best,” Peyer told Alex Dueben in March. “Imagine being so advanced only to be outclassed. I guess a lot of science fiction that dealt with humans encountering extraterrestrials would have played on that anxiety, but I haven’t seen it played as comedy in a superhero comic.”

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Skybound announces a ‘Summoners War’ prequel comic

Justin Jordan and Luca Claretti will bring the mobile game to comics.

Skybound has announced a prequel comic for the hit mobile video game, Summoners War, by the creative team of Justin Jordan and Luca Claretti.

“Summoners War is one of the world’s top mobile games thanks to its rabid fanbase, roaring esports community and a rich in-game universe, so we’re expanding the IP into new frontiers by partnering with Skybound Entertainment on our first official comic book series, Summoners War: Legacy,” said John Nam, VP of IP Strategy Department at Com2uS, who make the mobile game. “Our friends at Skybound are a powerhouse of imagination and a perfect partner for helping Com2uS grow Summoners War in new directions.”

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Terry Moore announces new graphic novel ‘Ever: The Way Out’

The creator of ‘Strangers in Paradise’ and ‘Echo’ reveals his latest project — and teaches you to draw noses — on YouTube.

Terry Moore, who recently wrapped up the Terry Moore-iverse miniseries Five Years, has announced his next project — a graphic novel called Ever: The Way Out. He revealed the new title at the beginning of a YouTube tutorial on “How to Draw Noses.”

Moore, who self-publishes his work under the Abstract Studios banner, said this project would be different from his previous titles, as he’s releasing it as a full graphic novel rather than as single issues.

The 72-page graphic novel is about a half-angel/half-human girl who is turning 18 and finds out she’s “the key to opening the pit of darkness where … all the sinful angels are kept,” Moore said.

Watch the video below:

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What Are You Reading? | Jimmy Olsen says goodbye, plus Empyre, Gunland and more

See what the Smash Pages crew has checked off their “to read” list lately.

Welcome to What Are You Reading?, our weekly look at what the Smash Pages crew has been reading lately.

Marvel and DC’s big summer events are in full swing this week, as we look at new issues of Death Metal and Empyre, plus the wrap-up of Jimmy Olsen’s maxi-series. Also, Gunland! Do you know about Gunland? Michael May makes his long-awaited return with a look at a wonderful comic about cowboys who ride dinosaurs.

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

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Mail Call | BOOM! reveals plans for Power Rangers, Dune and more

See the latest news and announcements from DC, Marvel, BOOM!, Image and more.

Mail Call is a roundup of the announcements we’ve received from comics publishers in our mailboxes recently. Hit the links for more information.

BOOM! Studios has announced not just one but two different new series starring the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, both written by Ryan Parrott. The first, titled Mighty Morphin, will feature art by Marco Renna and the introduction of a mysterious Green Ranger:

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‘The Walking Dead’ will be re-released in full color

Dave McCaig will color the popular series that launched a media empire.

Skybound has announced plans to re-release the entire Walking Dead comics series in color, starting in October.

Colorist Dave McCaig has been tapped to apply his coloring skills to The Walking Dead Deluxe, adding a new dimension to the original story by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. McCaig tweeted that he’s already colored more than 2,000 pages.

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Rep. John Lewis, Civil Rights icon, passes away

Lewis told the story of the Civil Rights era in the graphic novel trilogy ‘March.’

John Lewis, the Civil Rights icon who marched for racial equality in the 1960s and served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1987, passed away today at the age of 80. Lewis had been fighting stage IV pancreatic cancer since December.

The congressman from Georgia was one of the original Freedom Riders and stood against racism, desegregation and discrimination his entire life — both in the streets and then later in Congress.

He helped organize, and spoke at, the famous 1963 March on Washington, and was arrested, jailed and beaten for challenging Jim Crow laws throughout the South. He was the last surviving member of the “Big Six” Civil Rights leaders, a group that included Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer, A. Phillip Randolph, Roy Wilkins and Whitney Young.

He was also an award-winning graphic novel writer.

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Keanu Reeves comes crashing into comics with ‘BRZRKR’

Reeves will team up with co-writer Matt Kindt and artist Alessandro Vitti for a 12-issue miniseries.

Actor Keanu Reeves of John Wick and Bill & Ted fame will make his comic co-writing debut on a new title from BOOM! Studios called BRZRKR.

“I guess I’m in the writing room,” Reeves told USA Today’s Brian Truitt. He said he’s having Skype sessions with his co-writer, Matt Kindt, fairly regularly as he also works on the fourth Matrix film.

Kindt and Reeves are joined on the 12-issue series by artist Alessandro Vitti, colorist Bill Crabtree and letterer Clem Robins.

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Cates + Shaw reteam for ‘Crossover’

The upcoming Image Comics title declares, “Superheroes aren’t myths….they’re viruses…and they’re spreading…”

Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw, who previously worked together on God Country, will reunite for a new Image Comics titled Crossover. They’ll be joined by Dee Cunniffe and John J. Hill.

“Superheroes aren’t myths….they’re viruses…and they’re spreading…” Cates posted on Twitter, then called it “An Anti-Event for the ages…”

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