Tag: comic books

Jonathan Hickman’s reimagining of Marvel’s cosmic comics adds ‘Imperial War’ one-shots

‘Imperial War: Black Panther’ and ‘Imperial War: Planet She-Hulk’ will arrive in August.

Jonathan Hickman, Iban Coello and Federico Vicentini’s Imperial project is growing in scope, as Marvel has announced the four-issue miniseries will be accompanied by five one-shots that “spotlight individual characters and groups as they navigate the startling developments and explosive conflicts sweeping the stars.”

In case you missed it, Imperial is the latest project from Hickman, the architect of Marvel’s very successful Ultimate Comics relaunch as well as the Krakoa era of the X-Men line. He’s working with Coello and Vicentini to redefine Marvel’s cosmic characters in this new miniseries that kicks off in June.

From what’s been revealed so far, Imperial looks like it’ll showcase a huge battle between various cosmic factions, including the Kree/Skrull Alliance, The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda and New Sakaar, which will bring characters like Hulk, She-Hulk and Amadeus Cho into space.

The first two one-shots will help flesh out Black Panther and She-Hulk’s roles in the story. Hickman will work with writer Victor LaValle and artist CAFU on Imperial War: Black Panther.

“Working with Jonathan Hickman on an interstellar epic—who wouldn’t be thrilled by that idea?” LaValle said. “I’m excited to start working on the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda because there’s not enough stories about Black folks in outer space. There could always be more. By the time I’m done, T’Challa and Shuri will have constellations named after them, in some distant galaxy.”

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G. Willow Wilson + Gleb Melnikov steal the spotlight with a new Black Cat series

Felicia Hardy has a change of heart, maybe, in her new solo series as a superhero.

Career thief Felicia Hardy will have a change of heart* in her new solo series by G. Willow Wilson and Gleb Melnikov this summer, as the former super thief takes on some of Spider-Man’s deadliest foes.

The new series will debut in August from Marvel. The stopry will spin out of Joe Kelly and John Romita Jr.’s run on Amazing Spider-Man, as the notorious cat burglar will have a change of heart after Spider-Man’s upcoming battle with the new villain Hellgate. “But is her most recent change of heart for purely altruistic reasons or simply a way to pull off her greatest heist yet?” Well, why can’t it be both?

“As soon as Spider-Man: Black Suit & Blood dropped and people saw the Black Cat story, readers began to ask me, ‘When are you going to write more Felicia?’ Well, the answer is: right now,” Wilson said. “Black Cat is so much fun to work with. She’s a supporting character with main character energy. And she has such a rich history that there are tons of tantalizing story threads to pull on.”

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Jeph Loeb + Simone Di Meo resurrect the ‘Age of Apocalypse’ this fall

‘X-Men of Apocalypse’ will bring Blink, Sabretooth, Morph and other Age of Apocalypse characters to the 616.

Marvel will return to one of the most popular X-Men crossover events from the 1990s in the upcoming X-Men of Apocalypse miniseries by Jeph Loeb and Simone Di Meo.

The story will be set up in this summer’s Giant-Size Age of Apocalypse, one of several one-shots that’ll explore past X-Men-related events. Loeb and Di Meo will have a back-up story in that issue. Loeb worked on the original Age of Apocalypse storyline, as he wrote the X-Man miniseries and co-created the character with artist Steve Skroce.

Also, in a nod to the original crossover, the story will start with an “alpha” issue, followed by a four-issue miniseries, and will conclude with an “omega” issue.

“Thirty years ago, The X-Men of Apocalypse took the comics world by storm and I was lucky enough to be part of it,” Loeb said. “There were new characters! New designs! Heroes who were villains and villains who were heroes! Now, for the 30th anniversary, an all-new, all-different story with spectacular art by Simone Di Meo brings us to this uncanny team that shouldn’t even exist — and they are coming here! Join Gambit, Sabretooth & Wild Child, Blink, Forge and Morph and more as they try to save one universe without dooming another!”

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Mad Cave Studios will serve up ‘Eat Your Young’ this summer

There can be only one in the new series by Brian Buccellato, Mattia Monaco and Buddy Beaudoin.

The battle for immortality will begin in August in Eat Your Young, a knock down, drag out free-for-all between members of an immortal family. The six-issue miniseries by writer Brian Buccellato, artist Mattia Monaco and letterer Buddy Beaudoin will begin in August.

“Eat Your Young is my kind of chaos—immortal family feuds, bloody betrayals, and a violent journey through the pop culture that raised me,” said Buccellato. “It’s been incredible collaborating with Mattia again and bringing it all to life with Mad Cave fully behind us.”

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Greg Rucka + Nicola Scott reunite for a Justice League heist story

‘Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League’ features a group of villains targeting the Justice League Watchtower.

The Black Magick team of Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott will re-team for Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League, a heist story featuring a group of villains robbing the Justice League Watchtower.

Rucka and Scott will be joined by colorist Annette Kwok and letterer Troy Peteri on the six-issue DC All In series.

“I won’t bury the lede,” said Rucka. “This is a crew of villains, or at least nominal bad guys. Not one of them has access to—let alone would be welcomed aboard—the Justice League Watchtower. We’re not making this easy on them. But for Cheetah especially, this is an all-or-nothing play—she needs to do this job, and she’s not going to let anything, or anyone, keep her from getting what she’s after.”

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Turns out it was ‘New Avengers’ all along

Appropriately, there’s a twist to the New Thunderbolts* comic as well.

Much like the film of the same name that debuted last week, Marvel has revealed that it’s upcoming New Thunderbolts* title won’t actually be called New Thunderbolts.

In a synergistic move, the new title is actually called New Avengers.

“Plot twist, it’s been New Avengers all along,” said writer Sam Humphries. “I promised surprises, and this is the first of many. It’s a thrill and an honor to continue the grand New Avengers tradition of team dynamics that are as explosive as the threats. And this era has two combustible teams: the New Avengers and the Killuminati!”

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Smash Pages Q&A | Corinna Bechko on EC Comics’ ‘Blood Type’

The accomplished writer talks about writing the first-ever continuation of an EC Comics anthology short, which gets a preview this weekend on Free Comic Book Day.

The revival of EC Comics has been one of the most interesting and fun things to happen in comics this past year. Oni Press has done a tremendous job of paying tribute to the notorious publisher while also making it feel fresh and different.

Speaking of which, their revival will take another turn this summer as they debut Blood Type. Following the various anthologies Oni has released under the EC Comics banner this past year, Blood Type is the first-ever continuation of an EC Comics anthology short, “picking up the thread of how one lone vampire lost at sea will soon wash ashore on a tropical isle, where she is not the only creature with a taste for flesh and blood,” according to Oni Publisher Hunter Gorinson.

Ada, the lone vampire in question, made her debut in Epitaphs from the Abyss #3, in a story by Corinna Bechko and Jonathan Case. That story will appear in EC Comics Presents Blood Type #0, a Free Comic Book Day offering that’ll be available this Saturday. Bechko, in fact, has a store signing at Collector’s Paradise in Winnetka, California on May 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., signing alongside creators Rodney Barnes (Killadelphia) and Patrick Horvath (Free For All, Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees).

For the miniseries, Bechko is working with artist Andrea Sorrentino and colorist Dave Stewart to continue the story of Ada. It will kick off on June 18.

I spoke with Bechko about the new series, its historical significance, her love for the horror genre and more.

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Look, up in the sky, it’s … Wilbur? Galaxy Man arrives in ‘Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest’ #335

Check out a preview of a new story by Dan Parent coming next month from Archie Comics.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to share a preview of Betty & Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #335, which arrives in stores June 4.

The digest’s new story, written and drawn by Dan Parent, features an all-star red carpet for the opening of the Galaxy Man movie, with appearances by the Mighty Crusaders, Katy Keene and … Wilbur Wilkin? Wilbur lands a gig dressing up as the movie’s hero, but when he runs into trouble, he needs a hero of his own. Inker Bob Smith, colorist Glenn Whitmore and letterer Jack Morelli join Parent on this story.

Check out the preview below, along with some classic Archie material that’ll appear in the digest.

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DC adds another autobiographical story to this year’s DC Pride anthology

Black Lightning co-creator Jenny Blake will team with artist Sara Soler on the personal story ‘Master Planner.’

DC has announced that their upcoming DC Pride special has grown in scope with the addition of an autobiographical story by Jenny Blake and Sara Soler, with lettering by Jodie Troutman.

Blake came out as transgender earlier this year after working “over half-a-century in the comic-book industry” and co-creating characters like Black Lightning and Black Goliath. She follows in the footsteps of Kevin Conroy and Phil Jimenez, who wrote personal stories for previous volumes of DC Pride.

“When I came out as transgender, the comics community was overwhelmingly loving and supportive,” Blake said. “Being asked to contribute to this anthology was unexpected and so affirming. I’ve done a lot of cool things in my 50-plus years in comics, but this story is one of the things I’m most proud of. I see myself in this story and I hope readers see something of themselves in it. I had a wonderful time writing my story, and I hope the readers enjoy it as much as I did.”

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Slugfest | Gotham City Sirens reunite for a stellar heist in DC’s July solicitations

Plus: Andy Diggle and Leandro Fernandez revisit ‘Gotham by Gaslight,’ The Flash battles Eclipso, the Superman family takes a vacation and … the Legends of Tomorrow?

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. This edition focuses on DC’s July 2025 solicitations. Hit the links for more information.

The Gotham City Sirens will reunite in July for another weekly miniseries, this one subtitled “Unfit for Orbit.” Poison Ivy, Catwoman and Harley Quinn target a new space-themed nightclub in Gotham, which leads to a confrontation with the club’s owner — Despero.

Leah Williams, who wrote last year’s Gotham City Sirens miniseries, returns for this five-part series, working with artist Haining. Terry and Rachel Dodson provide the main covers for each issue:

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Space Ghost Summer: David Pepose + Jonathan Lau relaunch the classic hero in July

Following an annual in June, Dynamite will bring back the scion of the spaceways for another run.

Speed Racer isn’t the only cartoon from my childhood that David Pepose is helping bring to comics. Following the 12-issue Space Ghost series by Pepose and artist Jonathan Lau that ended earlier this year, Dynamite will wrap up the first year’s storyline with an annual in June, which will also bridge to a second series that’ll begin in July.

Starting with the annual, it will bring the Robo Corp storyline that’s been running through the title to a close, as readers learn the truth behind Dr. Xander Ibal’s plans for Blip.

“From the very beginning, Space Ghost has been a true labor of love from me and artist Jonathan Lau, bringing together the best parts of superheroes and science fiction — and we’re so excited for readers to finally witness the epic showdown that we’ve been building up to all along!,” said series writer David Pepose. “We’ve been so lucky to have an army of creators, fans, retailers, and press tirelessly champion our work, and I can’t wait for everyone to see what Jonathan and I have coming next. The future couldn’t be more exciting — or more dangerous — for Space Ghost and his intergalactic found family!”

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You better look alive: ‘Speed Racer’ returns to comics this July

Mad Cave will preview the rebooted property on Free Comic Book Day.

Writer David Pepose and artist Davide Tinto will chart a new path for Speed Racer, as Mad Cave Studios launches a new ongoing series for the popular character from Tatsunoko Production’s classic anime Mach GoGoGo in July

Mad Cave and Tatsunoko announced last year their plans to reboot Speed Racer as a comic series, following their partnership on Gatchaman comics. Pepose and Tinto will be joined by colorist Rex Locus and letterer Buddy Beaudoin.

“Buckle your seatbelts, comic fans… we’re putting the pedal to the metal with the return of Speed Racer,” Pepose said. “I couldn’t be more excited to launch this brand-new series based on the classic cartoon — think of Rocky in a race car, as we push Speed to his absolute limits and beyond in the high-octane Formula X Championship League. As he drives the legendary Mach 5, can even Speed move fast enough to save his family and bring justice back to the tracks? Starting this Free Comic Book Day, get ready for more action, heart and car chases than you can imagine in the pages of Speed Racer!”

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