Slugfest | Here Comes the DOOM! in Marvel’s February solicitations

Doom’s new order faces resistance from ‘Weapon X-Men,’ Deadpool and Miles Morales clash, and more.

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

Marvel’s One World Under Doom will kick into high gear in February, as the world’s savior in this past summer’s Blood Hunt event puts his new powers to use as the sorcerer supreme. Marvel announced the event back in October, which will be anchored by a miniseries by Ryan North and R.B. Silva. Originally that miniseries was going to be called The Rise of Emperor Doom, but it looks like Marvel elected to keep things simple and have changed the name of the series to match the event — One World Under Doom. That’s a good choice, although now it doesn’t have a reference to the classic David Michelinie/Bob Hall Marvel Graphic Novel Emperor Doom.

One World Under Doom is a story I’ve been working on since 2023,” North shared. “This huge head start is such a gift when telling a story like this: I can make sure it all hangs together properly, and for other artists working on tie-ins with their books, I can share completed scripts instead of just an idea of what happens.”

Continue reading “Slugfest | Here Comes the DOOM! in Marvel’s February solicitations”

Can’t Wait for Wednesday | ‘G.I. Joe’ brings its battle against Cobra to the Energon Universe

Check out new comics and graphic novels arriving in stores this week by Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, Brandon Thomas, Fico Ossio, Joe Kelly, Ed McGuinness, Melissa Flores, Michael Yg, Ryan North, Derek Charm, Tom Siddell, Alyssa Wong 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 don’t have much to say this week, so let’s get to it!

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. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | ‘G.I. Joe’ brings its battle against Cobra to the Energon Universe”

Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Let’s get spooky

Check out new comics and graphic novels arriving this week by Becky Cloonan, Jay Stephens, G. Willow Wilson, Mike Perkins, Cullen Bunn, Joe Bocardo, Adam Warren, Joey Vazquez, Chris Ware, Josh Simmons and more.

Happy Halloween week and welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital.

With Halloween on the horizon, I’ve called out several horror-themed titles to help you celebrate the season, including a new anthology spearheaded by Becky Cloonan and a special that marks the return of Jay Stephens’ Dwellings. Beyond the spooky stuff, this week also brings the first DC vs. Marvel omnibus, a new Sectaurs comic, the end of Zeb Wells’ run on Amazing Spider-Man and more.

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. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Let’s get spooky”

SDCC | Doom takes his rightful place at the top of the Marvel food chain

And that brings repercussions for Spider-Man and more.

Readers of Marvel’s Blood Hunt know that Doctor Doom is up to something, and in San Diego today Marvel gave us a glimpse of what’s to come for the Latverian monarch and his plans for the entire Marvel Universe.

One World Under Doom is described as a new “status quo” for the 616, and it’ll feature … well, something that’s a spoiler for the finale of Blood Hunt, but some of us have already seen it coming.

But hey, SPOILERS AHOY …

Continue reading “SDCC | Doom takes his rightful place at the top of the Marvel food chain”

Bloodhunting 2 | Tie-ins, heel turns and plot complications

The Smash Pages crew sinks their fangs into the second issue of Marvel’s ‘Blood Hunt,’ as well as some of the crossover issues.

Marvel’s Blood Hunt crossover is in full swing, with a second issue, several crossover issues and a few tie-in miniseries hitting shelves over the last few weeks.

Once again, the Smash Pages team — myself, Shane Bailey and Tom Bondurant — has come together to talk about the event, with our second “Bloodhunting” roundtable. You can read our thoughts on the first issue here.

This time around we talk about Blood Hunt #2, as well as crossover issues featuring Spider-Man, the Avengers, Doctor Strange, the Blood Hunters and Dracula. Please note there are blood-soaked SPOILERS in this discussion related to the story, so only enter if you dare — or if you’re in your astral form, and are thus protected from all things spoiler-y. I’m pretty sure that’s how it works.

Continue reading “Bloodhunting 2 | Tie-ins, heel turns and plot complications”

Can’t Wait for Wednesday | ‘White Boat’ sets sail from Scott Snyder + Francesco Francavilla

Check out comics and graphic novels arriving in shops this week by Stephanie Phillips, Chris Campana, Joe Casey, Paul Fry, Tom Taylor, Bruce Redondo, Vera Brosgol, Kyle Starks, Jed MacKay, Pepe Larraz 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 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. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | ‘White Boat’ sets sail from Scott Snyder + Francesco Francavilla”

Thanos plagues the Marvel Universe this summer in ‘The Infinity Watch’ crossover

The Mad Titan and the Infinity Stones return in an event that runs through Marvel’s annuals.

Thanos’ ongoing quest to control the Infinity Gems Stones returns to prominence this summer in nine of Marvel’s 2024 annuals. The crossover event, spearheaded by writer Derek Landy, will begin in Thanos Annual #1 and continue through Amazing Spider-Man, Immortal Thor and more.

Landy will write some of the main stories in the annuals and all of the back-up stories, which will be drawn by Sara Pichelli.

Now, if you’re not up on your Infinity Stones lore, they are indeed the powerful artifacts formerly known as the Infinity Gems, which Thanos once used to form the Infinity Gauntlet and wipe out half the population of the universe, back in the Infinity Gauntlet series by Jim Starlin, George Perez and Ron Lim. More recently, in the Infinite Destinies event (which itself ran through several Marvel annuals a few years back and happens to be on sale on Comixology today), the stones were grafted into “the very bodies and souls of a few of Marvel’s up-and-coming heroes and villains.” These included Star, who has appeared in Captain Marvel and was on a recent team of Thunderbolts; Prince of Power, who appeared in Al Ewing’s run on Guardians of the Galaxy; Multitude; and Overtime. Overall, though, they’ve been under the radar since the Infinite Destinies event.

Continue reading “Thanos plagues the Marvel Universe this summer in ‘The Infinity Watch’ crossover”

Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Conan draws his ‘Savage Sword’ once again

Check out new comics and graphic novels by Kevin Sacco, Mark Doox, Jeremy Whitley, Megan Huang, Jeremy Holt and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics Wednesday, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital. And yes, with DC’s announcement last week that they plan to return to a Wednesday release date for their comics every week, I am proactively changing the name of this feature back to its original moniker — even if the change won’t occur until July.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights 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. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Wednesday | Conan draws his ‘Savage Sword’ once again”

‘Blood Hunt’ tie-ins bring a new team of Avengers, vampire Doctor Strange and more

The vampire apocalypse will rage through many Marvel titles this summer.

Marvel’s Blood Hunt event continues to spread in scope; in addition to the eight tie-in miniseries they announced last week, they’ve also announced the seven regular titles that will take part in Marvel’s big vampire apocalypse.

Given that the main Blood Hunt book is written by Jed MacKay, it’s not surprising to see Doctor Strange, Avengers and Vengeance of the Moon Knight will tie into the bigger story. There’s also three Spider-Family titles on the list, which is rounded out by the Fantastic Four.

Here are a few things you can expect from the tie-ins:

  • With the current Avengers roster involved in the main Blood Hunt title, the Avengers ongoing will instead focus on a ragtag team put together by the guy who invented ragtag teams of Avengers, Steve Rogers. This 2024 version of Cap’s kooky quartet is actually a quintet, as it’ll feature Quicksilver, Hawkeye, Hercules and Hazmat.
  • Blade will show up in a number of places during the crossover, including in Miles Morales: Spider-Man.
  • The Venom issues will see the resurrection of a former host of the symbiote Venom — Lee Price, who became Venom in 2016 but was killed off in 2019 after Eddie Brock took the suit back.
  • Black Panther isn’t the only hero to become a vampire, as Doctor Strange will also be infected.
  • But don’t worry, T’Challa and Stephen — Mr. Fantastic is on the case, as he searches for a cure for vampirism in Fantastic Four.

Six of the ongoing series tie-ins will run for multiple issues, with the only exception being Amazing Spider-Man, which just gets a single issue before spinning its story off into the Amazing Spider-Man: Blood Hunt miniseries. You can find covers for the May issues, along with descriptions and creative teams, below.

Continue reading “‘Blood Hunt’ tie-ins bring a new team of Avengers, vampire Doctor Strange and more”

Can’t Wait for Comics | ‘Tis the season to be scary

Check out new comics and graphic novels arriving this week by R.L. Stine, Cullen Bunn, Jesús Hervás, Christine Larsen, Matt Smith, Mike Mignola, Pius Bak, Jeff Parker, Michele Bandini and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital. And with this being December, we’re getting a big wave of Christmas-themed comics, many of which fall itno the horror genre.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights 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. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Comics | ‘Tis the season to be scary”

Can’t Wait for Comics | ‘Beast World,’ ‘Gang War’ and more of this week’s comics

Check out new comics and graphic novels arriving this week by Tom Taylor, Ivan Reis, Dav Pilkey, Maria Llovet, Keanu Reeves, Mattson Tomlin, Rebekah Isaacs and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital. Both Marvel and DC have new crossovers kicking off this week, while Dav Pilkey returns with another session of Cat Kid Comics Club. Maria Llovet is back with a new miniseries, while an unexpected movie tie-in arrives.

I’ve pulled out some of the highlights 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. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.

Continue reading “Can’t Wait for Comics | ‘Beast World,’ ‘Gang War’ and more of this week’s comics”

Mary Jane hits the Jackpot in the upcoming ‘Gang War’ crossover

At NYCC, Marvel reveals more details about the upcoming storyline that springs from ‘Amazing Spider-Man.’

Today at the New York Comic Con, Marvel shared more about the upcoming Gang War crossover that’ll run through Amazing Spider-Man and related titles.

The crossover, which kicks off in December after a month of set-up in November, was first announced this summer at the San Diego Comic Con. The story will feature the gang lords of New York, including the Owl, Hobgoblin and Mr. Negative, as well as factions like AIM and Hydra, waging war against each other. It’ll be up to two Spider-Men, Peter Parker and Miles Morales, as well as She-Hulk, Spider-Woman, Daredevil and more, to stop them.

At NYCC, Marvel announced that Mary Jane Watson will get involved in the war, starring a Jackpot one-shot by Celeste Bronfman and Joey Vazquez. It features a cover by Pablo Villalobos, and it hits stores on Jan. 17:

Continue reading “Mary Jane hits the Jackpot in the upcoming ‘Gang War’ crossover”