Bloodhunting 3 | The quiet and then the storm

The Smash Pages crew plants a stake into the third and fourth issues of Marvel’s ‘Blood Hunt,’ as well as some of the crossover issues.

Marvel’s Blood Hunt crossover is more than halfway over now and heading toward its final issue. Once again, the Smash Pages team — myself, Shane Bailey and Tom Bondurant — has come together to talk about the event, with our third “Bloodhunting” roundtable. You can read our thoughts on the first issue here and the second one here.

In this edition, we talk about Blood Hunt #3 and #4, as well as crossover issues featuring Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom, Moon Knight and more. Please note there are un-polybagged SPOILERS in this discussion related to the story, so only enter if you dare — or if you’ve just been freed from an Asgardian prison, and need to catch up on things quickly.

Continue reading “Bloodhunting 3 | The quiet and then the storm”

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 | Skottie Young + Jorge Corona take the battle to Death itself in ‘Ain’t No Grave’

Check out new comics and graphic novels coming this week by Juni Ba, Ann Nocenti, Lee Ferguson, Corrado Mastantuono, Claudio Sanchez, Patrick Horvath, Jay Stephens 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 | Skottie Young + Jorge Corona take the battle to Death itself in ‘Ain’t No Grave’”

Can’t Wait for Wednesday | The next generation of Ninja Turtles returns

Check out new comics and graphic novels arriving this week by Kevin Eastman, Tom Waltz, Ben Bishop, Peach Momoko, Dan Jurgens, Mike Perkins, Derek Kirk Kim, Greg Weisman, Humberto Ramos, Eduardo Risso, Paul Reiser, Lara Pickle, Johnny Ryan, Katie Cook 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. It’s a pretty big week, with the launch of a sequel to last year’s best-selling superhero graphic novel, not to mention another new Ultimate Universe title from Marvel, a new take on classic Bat-Man and the return of Derek Kirk Kim to comics. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

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 | The next generation of Ninja Turtles returns”

‘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”

Get a better look at the characters from ‘G.O.D.S.’

Several variant covers arriving in August offer a look at the cast of the new series coming from Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti.

A series of variant covers released by Marvel gives us our first good look at the characters who will appear in the upcoming G.O.D.S. by Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti.

The upcoming series, which will launch sometime in the fall, was previewed on Free Comic Book Day, where we got out first look at a character named Wyn. But the variant covers, all of which will land in August, reveal several more characters interacting with some old favorites from the Marvel U.

“When I came back to Marvel a few years ago, I wrote two series bibles. The first was House of X and the other one was G.O.D.S.,” Hickman said back in March. “To say that I’m excited to finally be able to share this story with everyone is a massive understatement. G.O.D.S. takes place in its own special corner of the Marvel Universe — in the cracks that lie at the intersection of science and magic — and revisits some characters and concepts that we’ve reimagined for a more modern, continuity-driven audience.”

Here’s a look at the covers:

Continue reading “Get a better look at the characters from ‘G.O.D.S.’”

What Are You Reading? | ‘Unstoppable Doom Patrol,’ ‘Gotham Central’ and more

See what the Smash Pages crew has been reading lately.

Welcome to What Are You Reading?, our look at what the Smash Pages crew has been checking off their “to read” list lately. Today’s reviews include Gotham Central, Doctor Strange, Unstoppable Doom Patrol and Don’t Spit in the Wind.

Let us know what you’ve been reading lately in the comments below or by tagging us on social media.

Continue reading “What Are You Reading? | ‘Unstoppable Doom Patrol,’ ‘Gotham Central’ and more”

Hickman + Schiti will redefine the ‘G.O.D.S.’ in the Marvel Universe

The new title will debut in the fall, with a preview arriving on Free Comic Book Day.

Marvel has announced G.O.D.S., a new series from Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti that will “build a new Marvel mythology overflowing with daring concepts, intricate systems and fascinating new characters.”

It sounds right up Hickman’s alley, based on his work on Fantastic Four, Avengers and his 3 Worlds/3 Moons publishing line on Substack. This is something he’s been planning since he first came back to Marvel to tackle the X-Men, and it “feels like something old, but pushes the Marvel Universe in an exciting new direction.”

“When I came back to Marvel a few years ago, I wrote two series bibles. The first was House of X and the other one was G.O.D.S.,” Hickman told Marvel.com. “To say that I’m excited to finally be able to share this story with everyone is a massive understatement. G.O.D.S. takes place in its own special corner of the Marvel Universe — in the cracks that lie at the intersection of science and magic — and revisits some characters and concepts that we’ve reimagined for a more modern, continuity-driven audience.” 

Continue reading “Hickman + Schiti will redefine the ‘G.O.D.S.’ in the Marvel Universe”

Can’t Wait for Comics | ‘Doctor Strange’ is back on call

Check out new comics and graphic novels arriving this week by Jim Starlin, Rags Morales, Jed MacKay, Pasqual Ferry, Tom Taylor, Ivan Reis, Luciano Vecchio, Wes Molebash and more.

Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics, 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 Comics | ‘Doctor Strange’ is back on call”

Slugfest | Scholastic outlines their plans for the new ‘Dog Man’ book

Plus: The Oloris, Poison Ivy, The X-Cellent, Whistleblowers, Patrick McDonnell and more.

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. Hit the links for more information.

The graphic novel phenomenon Dog Man will return at the end of the month with a new book, Dog Man: Twenty Thousand Fleas Under the Sea, continuing the adventures of our hero, Li’l Petey, 80-HD and the rest of the gang.

Scholastic has announced their promotional plans for Dav Pilkey’s latest, which include a Free Comic Book Day issue, the return of Dog Man: The Musical and Dog Man Day celebrations.

Continue reading “Slugfest | Scholastic outlines their plans for the new ‘Dog Man’ book”

What Are You Reading? | In ‘Miracleman,’ ‘the character work alone would be worth the read’

See what the Smash Pages crew has been reading lately, including Dark Web, Doctor Strange, Aquaman and more.

Welcome to What Are You Reading?, our look at what the Smash Pages crew has been checking off their “to read” list lately. Today’s reviews include recent issues of Miracleman and Mary Jane & Black Cat, some classic Doctor Strange and Aquaman, and some new/classic Bishop stories.

Let us know what you’ve been reading lately in the comments below or by tagging us on social media.

Continue reading “What Are You Reading? | In ‘Miracleman,’ ‘the character work alone would be worth the read’”

Stephen Strange returns to life and his own title next year

Jed MacKay and Pasqual Ferry will resurrect the Sorcerer Supreme in March.

The Doctor Strange story Jed MacKay has been telling over the past year or so will come to a head next March as Stephen Strange will officially return from the dead in a new Doctor Strange title.

MacKay seemingly killed Doctor Strange off in the pages of The Death of Doctor Strange, then replaced him with his wife, Clea, in the pages of Strange. But readers of that title know that death was not the end for the good doctor, who took on a new role serving Death as the Harvestman.

MacKay will be joined by veteran artist Pasqual Ferry on the title, who has always wanted to draw Doctor Strange.

“When I started working for Marvel a long time ago, there were three comics I had always wanted to draw: Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange,” Ferry said. “Why Doctor Strange? Because his stories include all the elements I love as an artist—the fantasy, science fiction, and imagination. Above all, the fact that I could look at Steve Ditko’s work as a reference really motivates me! When he drew Doctor Strange, all the utopian and imaginary sceneries  were incredible. So this is a very special moment in my career, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the character is going to take us with this new narrative. I know a lot of artists, including myself, consider Doctor Strange a challenge, like there is a need to add something new to the character because it offers you that possibility. For me, Doctor Strange is a big challenge, but I embrace it.”

Continue reading “Stephen Strange returns to life and his own title next year”