Tag: comic books

Harley Quinn + Elvira will meet in a crossover; chaos to ensue

Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner will bring the two icons together.

Two pop culture dynamos will meet up in a crossover series written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Amanda Conner this summer. Dynamite Entertainment has announced that Elvira, Mistress of the Dark will “pair up” with DC’s Harley Quinn.

“What do you get when you slam a Maid of Mischief and a Mistress of the Dark together?” Conner said. “Sheer chaos, escapades and fun! Holee pandemolee, who WOULDN’T wanna see the Vivacious Elvira and the Hijinky Harley Quinn get together for a bunch of wisecracking and clowning around? And a bit of naughtiness. Okay. Maybe a lot. I can’t wait to work on this book!”

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Smash Pages Q&A | MK Reed + Jonathan Hill on ‘Budding Crisis’

The creators of ‘Americus’ reunite for a new fantasy series from Comixology Originals.

MK Reed and Jonathan Hill are no strangers to collaboration. Having previously joined forces on graphic novels like Americus and Science Comics: Wild Weather, they’ve established themselves as a formidable creative duo. Now, they’re venturing into new territory with their latest digital comic series, Budding Crisis, for Comixology Originals.

This fantasy epic plunges readers into a world where the Onamanthe plant—whose seeds possess the extraordinary power to grant wishes—has become extinct. When the remaining seeds aboard a ship called The Eclipse are stolen in the Bay of Cygnus, the Dureni people must race against time to recover this irreplaceable treasure. As they hunt for both the magical seeds and the thieves who took them, they stumble upon a conspiracy far greater than they could have imagined.

I spoke with Reed and Hill about the origins of this new series, their creative process and the unique challenges of crafting a fantasy world where the most precious resource is rapidly disappearing. The second issue arrived on Amazon today.

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Super genius Amadeus Cho gets a 20th anniversary special from Marvel this May

Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa reunite for new stories featuring the character they debuted in 2005’s ‘Amazing Fantasy’ #15.

Greg Pak and Takeshi Miyazawa, the creators of the super-boy-genius-turned-gamma-irradiated-hero Amadeus Cho, will reunite for a new anthology special that celebrates the character’s 20th anniversary.

Amadeus Cho first appeared in 2005’s Amazing Fantasy #15, also an anthology, in a story titled “Mastermind Excello.” Other characters and concepts introduced in the special include the organization known as G.R.A.M.P.A., the duo known as Blackjack, Positron and a new version of Monstro — although I don’t think any of them will be getting their own 20th anniversary special.

Amadeus Cho has gone on to appear in Incredible Hulk, Incredible Hercules and Champions, and gained gamma powers along the way as the hero Brawn.

“I’m a little stunned that Amadeus Cho has been around 20 years now and absolutely thrilled that we’re celebrating with this big one-shot,” Pak said. “I knew we had something special when Tak Miyazawa sent in his very first awesome designs of Amadeus and his pup and scooter back when, but I don’t think any of us could have predicted how the character would absolutely take off.”

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Vision + Scarlet Witch reunite in a new miniseries coming in May

Steve Orlando, Lorenzo Tammetta and Jacopo Camagni bring the iconic — and ultimately tragic — couple back together to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Steve Orlando will continue to tell stories featuring the Scarlet Witch in a new miniseries that reunites her with her ex. The Vision & the Scarlet Witch features the iconic couple in a new story drawn by artists Lorenzo Tammetta and Jacopo Camagni.

The miniseries marks the 50th anniversary of the couple’s wedding in Giant-Size Avengers #4 by Steve Englehart, Don Heck, John Tartaglione and Petra Goldberg. From there the couple appeared consistently in the Avengers, eventually scored their own miniseries and finally broke up in the pages of West Coast Avengers. Despite some rough times since — Avengers Disassembled, anyone? — the couple seems to be in a better place now, as seen in recent issues of Avengers and Scarlet Witch.

“When it comes to the Scarlet Witch, anything’s possible!” Orlando said. “Now, on the 50th Anniversary of their wedding, the Vision and the Scarlet Witch reunite to face a creeping, corrosive evil from beyond not just the grave, but beyond the universe itself. Wanda and Vision remain one of Marvel’s most iconic couples — and not just for their marriage, but for everything since.”

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‘Don’t blame me, I voted for Lex’: A quick history of a billionaire’s brief presidency

At the turn of the millennium, the DC Universe faced unprecedented times when Lex Luthor became the 43rd president of the United States.

Some 25 years ago, the United States of America went through a gut-twisting presidential election, when Vice-President Al Gore faced off against Texas Governor George W. Bush. As that fateful November evening drew to a close, no one was quite sure what would happen …

… and then Lex Luthor won.

This is the story of the DC Universe’s 43rd President of the United States, Alexander Joseph “Lex” Luthor.

Now, keep in mind this is not quite the original Lex Luthor, introduced in April 1940’s Action Comics #23 by Superman’s creators Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. For decades, that character was a criminal scientist who (in a later incarnation) had resented Superman ever since their shared adolescence in Smallville. No, this was Luthor the once-and-future Metropolis tycoon, as rebooted by John Byrne, Marv Wolfman, Andy Helfer and company starting in the summer of 1986, who could not stand having to share the spotlight with some strange visitor from another planet.

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Exclusive Preview | Betty steps into the spotlight in ‘Archie is Mr. Justice’ #3

The penultimate issue of the premium event series will arrive in March.

Courtesy of Archie Comics, we’re pleased to share an exclusive first look at Kenny Porter and Maria Laura Sanapo’s work on Archie is Mr. Justice #3, which will arrive in stores in March.

The premium event miniseries reimagines Archie Andrews as a hero who has left his mark on Riverdale and gone away, leaving his friends to remember his exploits. Each issue has focused on a different character in Archie’s life and has been created by a different creative team, with Porter and Sanapo presenting Betty’s perspective.

“Maria’s artwork brings the story to life,” Porter said.. “All of the emotional storytelling she does with the characters’ gestures and her slick art style really makes this feel like an all-time classic. I tried my best to make sure that people could read this issue of Betty on its own, and Maria made it a showstopper that anyone can enjoy.”

The modern take will show that Betty is more than just the girl next door in Mr. Justice’s story.

“Drawing Betty in this issue has been especially important for me,” Sanapo said. “You discover a side of her that you never expected. Behind her softheartedness, her strength comes out powerfully. She’s brave and despite the fact that she has no physical power, she chooses to help Mr. Justice, being a huge support for him. That makes her a super heroine, too!”

Check out the exclusive first look in black and white below, along with covers and character designs, below.

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Slugfest | Godzilla continues to tear through the Marvel Universe in April

See what Marvel has planned in April for Daredevil, the Fantastic Four, Star Wars, Moon Girl, Deadpool and more.

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

Godzilla’s tour of terror through the Marvel Universe will continue in two one-shots this April: Godzilla vs. Hulk by Gerry Duggan and Giuseppe Camuncoli, and Godzilla vs. Spider-Man by Joe Kelly and Nick Bradshaw.

Godzilla vs. Hulk will feature a special anti-kaiju task force led by Thunderbolt Ross, which sets its sights on Godzilla:

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This year’s DC Power special leads into a reboot of the Power Company

Bryan Edward Hill, Khary Randolph and Alitha Martinez bring a new team of heroes together in ‘The Power Company: Recharged.’

The Power Company, a team from the early aughts created by Kurt Busiek and Tom Grummett, will get a reboot later this month in DC Power: Rise of the Power Company.

DC has released several DC Power specials in recent years in conjunction with Black History Month, which takes place in February here in the United States. This year the special will not only kick off a new iteration of The Power Company, but will feature stories starring the new line-up for the team — who will go on to appear in a one-shot this April.

“Company Man” is a two-part prelude to April’s The Power Company: Recharged, by Black Lightning writer Brandon Thomas with art by Charles Stewart III, Anthony Fowler Jr., and Ulises Arreola. If you’ve been reading Thomas’ excellent Black Lightning series, you’ve seen Josiah Power, the founder of The Power Company, in his reintroduction to the DC Universe. Thigns aren’t going well for him:

As Power grieves over the death of his nephew Daniel due to the actions of Amanda Waller, and as his own energy-manipulating powers are growing out of control, he quickly realizes that a new iteration of the Power Company may be the only solution to the problem of growing anti-meta sentiment, and Jefferson Pierce, a.k.a. Black Lightning, is the key.

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John Jennings + Jethro Morales present a rematch between Ironheart + Khem in ‘Ironheart: Bad Chemistry’

The one-shot arrives from Marvel in April.

John Jennings will once again bring Ironheart and the villainous Khem together in a new one-shot, Ironheart: Bad Chemistry, with artist Jethro Morales.

Jennings and artist Paris Alleyne first introduced Khem in the 2023 Marvel’s Voices Free Comic Book Day issue. She has ties to the old Power Man and Iron Fist villain Chemistro, and this story has her stealing “a legendary Marvel artifact” to upgrade her own alchemical powers.

“When Marvel asked me to revisit working on Ironheart and expanding her rivalry with Khem, I was overjoyed!” Jennings said. “I got a chance to revisit their conflict and really explore Khem’s background and motivations. I had a blast working on this book with such amazing talent and I hope the fans enjoy the ride!”

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Marvel will celebrate 50 years of Storm this April

‘Storm’ #7 by Murewa Ayodele and Luciano Vecchio will bring the thunder.

It’s been 50 years since the debut of Giant Size X-Men #1, which introduced us to several new X-Men, including Colossus, Nightcrawler and a weather-controlling mutant from Africa named Storm. With this year marking her golden anniversary, Marvel will celebrate with a special issue of Storm in April by pitting her against a whole legion of thunder gods, including Thor.

Writer Murewa Ayodele will team with guest artist Luciano Vecchio for the issue.

“Creative giants, Len Wein and Dave Cockrum, changed the Marvel and mutant landscape with Giant Size X-Men #1. This year, we’ll do the same with Storm #7,” Ayodele said. “Bold words, I know. But that’s because I’ve read the illustrated issue.”

Storm’s profile in the Marvel Universe has certainly been raised over the past year with the launch of her ongoing series and her membership in the Avengers. But she’s always played a big part in not only the X-titles, but in the broader Marvel Universe.

“For the past five decades of publication, Storm has been an X-Man, Wakandan, Fantastic Four member, Avenger and so much more. As she steps into this new phase of her life, her role morphs into becoming one with the Marvel Universe as she faces soul-crushing, cosmic labors to protect all we hold dear. But first, a brutal brawl with thunder deities from powerful pantheons,” Ayodele said.

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Mark Millar + Rafael Albuquerque’s ‘Huck’ returns at Dark Horse

‘Huck: Big Bad World’ brings back the heartwarming hero who just wants to do good deeds.

Mark Millar and Rafael Albuquerque will return to the small-town heroics of Huck later this year, as Dark Horse will publish the six-issue sequel miniseries Huck: Big Bad World beginning in May. They’re joined by colorist Dave McCaig and letterer Clem Robins.

The original Huck miniseries kicked off in 2015 and was published by Image Comics. The story centered on a man with super powers living in a small town who took it upon himself to do one good deed a day. Things go awry when the rest of the world discovers Huck and his mom.

“Stoked to team up again with Mark on the sequel of our very first collaboration,” Albuquerque said. “I missed these characters so much, and about 10 years later, returning to them still feels fresh and exciting.”

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The battle lines are drawn in this preview of next week’s ‘Resurgence of the Valiant Universe: Finale’

Fred Van Lente, Diego Giribaldi and Tomas Aira bring the event to a close next Wednesday — and set up what’s to come.

It all comes down to this, as they say. The war between Dr. Silk’s forces and Ivar the Timewalker’s allies comes to a head in next week’s finale of Resurgence of the Valiant Universe.

Writer Fred Van Lente and artists Diego Giribaldi and Tomas Aira have brought both sides of the conflict into the Faraway, the mystical realm with ties to all the immortal beings running around the Valiant Universe. And it’s time to fight! Meanwhile, Shadowman, Punk Mambo and an unexpected ally look to stop Silk’s ally, Master Darque.

This final bombastic issue sets up two future events coming from Alien Books: the Valiant reboot, Valiant Beyond, which kicks off in March; and Valiant Zombies: Resurrection, coming on Free Comic Book Day.

You can check out the preview below, along with the issue’s covers by Guillermo Fajardo, Nico Di Mattia and Richard Ortiz.

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