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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It’s open season on super heroes in ‘Predator Kills the Marvel Universe’

Benjamin Percy and Marcelo Ferreira continue the hunt across the 616 in August.

If there’s anything left of the Marvel Universe after Godzilla and Deadpool get done with it, they’ll face another threat, as the Predator expands his hunt to include just about everybody.

Writer Benjamin Percy will continue the bloodshed unleashed in Predator vs. Wolverine, Predator vs. Black Panther, Predator vs. Godzilla — wait, forget that one — and the current Predator vs. Spider-Man. He’ll team with the latter book’s artist, Marcelo Ferreira, for a collision that sees “the heroes of the Marvel Universe join forces to defend the world from an entire army of the galaxy’s greatest hunters.”

“That title? It’s not misdirection,” Percy said. “This one’s gonna hurt. Your favorite heroes and villains will fall — even as others rise up against this extinction-level event. The Predator King is here — the Yautja are armed with vibranium — and Earth is now a hunting preserve.”

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Garth Ennis + Becky Cloonan’s ‘The War’ jumps from ‘Hello Darkness’ to its own series

A story from the BOOM! Studios anthology will expand into its own miniseries, beginning in July.

After a three-part run in BOOM! Studios’ horror anthology Hello Darkness, The War by Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan will launch into its own series this July.

The three-part story by the two legendary creators explored themes of nuclear war and societal collapse, and will continue to do so this summer.

“As the world around us slides further into ruin, what better time to revisit the cheery subject of atomic obliteration?” Ennis said. “And who better to accompany me on this joyous journey than the wonderfully talented Becky Cloonan?”

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Patrick Horvath returns to Woodbrook for more cozy terror in ‘Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rites of Spring’

IDW will release the sequel miniseries, set 10 years after the first series, in July.

Patrick Horvath’s “cozy horror” series about a Richard Scarey-esque bear who likes murder will return with a sequel series this summer. IDW will publish the six-issue Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rites of Spring beginning in July.

The original series, which debuted in late 2023, was nominated for several awards in both 2024 and 2025, and made my personal “best of” list for 2024. It featured a teddy bear/serial killer named Samantha, who took down a rival killer in her small town. In the new series, “there are no secrets in the age of the internet… and those who lost loved ones to her dark temptations are still searching for justice.”

“I’m supremely excited to return to the quaint town of Woodbrook to continue the story of our psychopath bear, Samantha Strong,” remarked Horvath. “I continue to be blown away by the response to the first book. In my wildest dreams I never thought it would have caught such a huge wave that spread out to other countries and languages. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees continues to be a huge gift to me, and I’m grateful for all of the immense support from IDW, the retailers, critics, and fans.”

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The X-Men pay tribute to Krakoa in ‘X-Men: Hellfire Vigil’

Gail Simone, Jed MacKay, Stephanie Phillips and more will contribute to the one-shot.

With Krakoa gone, there’s no Hellfire Gala planned for this year, but the X-Men will mark the occasion with a vigil for their lost nation.

X-Men: Hellfire Vigil sounds more solemn than what we saw in the party-filled Hellfire Gala specials of years past. But Marvel is promising “a night of joyous celebration, delicious drama, and, of course, super hero high fashion,” so maybe it won’t be as depressing as it sounds.

The one-shot will feature the work of several current X-Men creators, including Gail Simone, Jed MacKay, Eve Ewing, Stephanie Phillips and more.

“We’ve been working towards the Hellfire Vigil for a year now, and all of the assorted X-creators came together to make this a moment of significance for the X-Men and their world as a whole,” X-Men Editor Tom Brevoort said. “If you’ve been wondering when somebody was going to encounter somebody else, the answer is right here in this book! It’s a capstone to events that began in From The Ashes and sets up major movements that will be playing out across the coming months. Plus it’s full-packed with great art and great character moments.”

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Corner box art will return just in time for the ‘Summer of Superman’

This summer’s Superman titles will feature an old staple with new art by Dan Mora.

Comic fans of a certain era will remember the days when a comic cover from Marvel or DC included not only a logo, but also a corner box that included the price, the Comics Code Authority symbol and artwork featuring the characters in the book. DC is bringing them back this summer as part of their “Summer of Superman” initiative, featuring stellar artwork from Dan Mora.

DC revealed five new Superman-themed corner boxes that will appear on Supergirl, Superman Unlimited, Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton, Superman and Action Comics. The new corner box images “celebrate the classic look of beloved DC comic book covers, which traditionally featured at least one of the stars of the title in miniature on the upper left corner of the comic,” according to DC.

Here’s a look at the revised cover for Supergirl #1, which features artwork by Sophie Campbell:

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