Jessica Jones returns in ‘Alias: Red Band’

Sam Humphries and Geraldo Borges helm a five-issue, adult-oriented miniseries to celebrate the character’s 25-year anniversary.

Alias, the comic series that introduced Jessica Jones to the Marvel universe, turns 25 next year, and to mark the occasion Marvel will release Alias: Red Band, a five-issue miniseries by Sam Humphries and Geraldo Borges, with covers by David Mack.

“No one does it like Jessica Jones. She’s sharp, bitterly funny, and tenacious as hell. Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos snapped when they created her, a totally singular character with a unique POV on the superhero game,” Humphries said in an interview with Polygon. “I’m excited to push the limits of the kind of cases Jessica Jones can investigate, and how far she’ll go to solve them.”

He said making the series a Red Band series brings her “closer to her Max origins,” as the original series debuted as part of the adult-oriented Marvel line in 2001.

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Penguin Random House officially announces Comics Giveaway Day for May 2

The first ever Comics Giveaway Day will coincide with next year’s Free Comic Book Day.

Comics distributor Penguin Random House has officially announced Comics Giveaway Day, their competitor/compliment to Free Comic Book Day, the annual comics event that is now owned by Universal Distribution.

Last week we learned that Universal Distribution and Lunar Distribution had teamed up to bring Free Comic Book Day back to comic shops in 2026, following the bankruptcy and dissolution of Diamond Comics Distributors. They announced they would offer free titles by the various publishers they distribute, including DC, Image Comics, Archie, Dynamite and more.

Missing from the list were any publishers that are now distributed by Penguin Random House, and now we know why — titles by Marvel, BOOM!, Dark Horse and others will be released on Comics Giveaway Day, which just so happens to fall on May 2 as well.

So, everyone wins, right? Free comics for everybody, even if some of them will have a different events log on them.

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Skybound celebrates Invincible Month with Spider-Man/Invincible team-up reprint, more Battle Beast

Get ready for the return of the ‘Invincible’ animated series with several comic projects.

Skybound has declared next March as Invincible Month, which will coincide with the fourth season of the Invincible animated series on Amazon Prime. So far the publisher has announced two projects to help celebrate: a reprinting of an intercompany crossover and the return of Battle Beast.

Let’s start with that crossover. Back in 2005, Robert Kirkman was writing Marvel Team-Up and having a pretty good time with the title — while at the same time writing Invincible. Issue #14 of MTU turned out to be a very special issue for Kirkman fans, as he and Cory Walker brought their creator-owned character to the Marvel universe, teaming him up with Spider-Man (and the Avengers). It came at a time when Marvel wasn’t doing a lot of intercompany crossovers, so it was unexpected and fun.

The comic hasn’t ever been reprinted and was never collected by either Marvel or Image, for obvious reasons, but that changed earlier this year when Skybound introduced their “blind bag” variant cover program for Battle Beast #1 — and boy, these blind bag variant things have really taken off, haven’t they? Seems like just about every comic publisher is doing them. Anyway, Battle Beast took an interesting approach, not only offering variant covers, but also mixing in a few original comics for a few lucky fans who happened to buy the right bag — including the second issue of Battle Beast and copies of Marvel Team-Up #14.

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Marvel will publish a prequel to the upcoming Darth Maul animated series

‘Star Wars: Shadow of Maul’ kicks off in March from Benjamin Percy and Madibek Musabekov.

Disney+ will launch a new series featuring the fan-favorite Star Wars villain Darth Maul next year, but before it arrives, Benjamin Percy and Madibek Musabekov will present the prequel comic series Star Wars: Shadow of Maul.

The animated Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord doesn’t have a release date yet, but we know it’ll be set afetr the events of the animated Clone Wars series and, of course, will feature Darth Maul. Maul first appeared in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, where he supposedly died at the hands (and lightsaber) of Obi-Wan Kenobi. As we say in comics, “he got better” after being bisected, with some help from his brother and the Nightsister Mother Talzin, and appeared in not only Clone Wars but also in Solo: A Star Wars series. In comics, he most recently appeared in the Darth Maul: Black, White & Red anthology, which featured a story by Percy.

“I’ve said it before: I’m a giant Star Wars nerd,” Percy said. “My previous experience writing in a galaxy far, far away—Darth Maul: Black, White & Red—was an absolute delight. But those were one-shots. Flirtations with the franchise. With Shadow of Maul, I’m able to share a more expansive story about one of my favorite characters, while also exploring a fresh angle on the Star Wars universe.

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Dan Abnett + Marcelo Ferreira launch ‘Imperial Guardians’ in March

Gamora, Captain Marvel, Darkhawk and more will guard the galaxy next year.

Marvel has announced details on the next title spinning out of Imperial, the miniseries/event that restructured and relaunched Marvel’s cosmic line-up.

Imperial Guardians is a spiritual successor to Guardians of the Galaxy, as Gamora leads a team that includes Captain Marvel, Darkhawk, Amadeus Cho and Cosmic Ghost Rider. They’ve been recruited by Black Bolt’s evil brother, Maximus, to “protect the delicate balance of new Galactic Union by ANY means necessary.”

The best part? The title features the return of Dan Abnett to Marvel’s cosmic line, who teamed up with Andy Lanning on titles like Guardians of the Galaxy, Nova and various Annihilation era titles in the early 2000s. But as Abnett points out, it’s a whole new galaxy now …

“The Marvel Cosmic landscape after Imperial has got a very different feel, and it’s rewarding to play around with the aftermath of an event where ‘the good guys won.’ Or did they?” Abnett said. “No victory comes without back-room compromise, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the new Guardians remit.”

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Dani Moonstar headlines her first solo title

Ashley Allen and Edoardo Audino set a new course for the New Mutant.

Dani Moonstar has been a New Mutant, a Valkyrie and an X-Avenger, but now for the first time ever, she’s the star of her own solo title.

Marvel has announced Moonstar as part of their Shadows of Tomorrow line-up, as Ashley Allen, who wrote the character’s recent appearances in Magik, teams with Edoardo Audino on the series.

“I’m so excited to be returning to tell the next chapter of Dani’s story,” Allen said. “She has been such a monumental character in both the Marvel Universe and in people’s lives – exemplifying what it means to be a true leader. I can’t believe this is the character’s first-ever solo series and I can’t wait to show readers what adventure we have in store for Dani!”

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Slugfest | Simians + superheroes clash in Marvel’s February solicitations

Plus: Moon Knight! Ultraman! Predator! Shadows of Tomorrow! Black Panther! And … Jar Jar Binks?

Slugfest is a roundup of cool announcements about projects coming to a shelf near you. This edition focuses on Marvel’s February 2026 solicitations. Hit the links for more information.

Marvel’s First Family will explore a whole new planet — one filled with apes! — in February, marking the first-ever crossover between the Planet of the Apes franchise and the Marvel Universe. Which seems overdue, given that Marvel’s history with the franchise goes back to the 1970s.

Written by Josh Trujillo with art by Andrea di Vito, the four-issue Planet of the Apes vs. Fantastic Four finds Reed, Sue, Ben and Johnny traveling to Ape City, where they’ll encounter Cornelius, Zira, Dr. Zaius — and an array of their own familiar foes. (Like Red Ghost? This seems like a story tailor made for the Red Ghost and his crew).

“I grew up watching Planet of the Apes marathons on Saturday afternoons, so it’s a huge thrill to write for these iconic characters!” Trujillo said. “Having Marvel’s First Family butt heads with Cornelius, Zira and Dr. Zaius is just too much fun, and I can’t believe I’m the one who gets to tell this epic tale. It’s a mash-up decades in the making, and I hope you come along for the ride!”

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‘Daredevil’ returns next March by Stephanie Phillips + Lee Garbett

Matt Murdock gets a new job and is targeted by a new villain named Omen.

Marvel will relaunch Daredevil next year, as Stephanie Phillips and Lee Garbett head to Hell’s Kitchen for new stories featuring the introduction of a new villain named Omen. Also, Matt Murdock goes back to school!

“I’m taking on one of my favorite characters with one of my favorite artists, and together we’re exploring Daredevil’s noir sensibilities,” Phillips said. “Lee Garbett brings so much style and emotion to every page, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner to bring this version of Daredevil to life.”

Phillips and Garbett follow writer Saladin Ahmed’s run on the title, who worked with artists Aaron Kuder, Jose Luis and others over the course of 25 issues. Phillips is also the first woman to write the Daredevil ongoing series since Ann Nocenti’s run ended in 1991.

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Marvel + DC surprise release more crossover comics on their digital platforms

‘The Flash/Fantastic Four’ arrives on DC Universe Infinite, while ‘Thor/Shazam’ debuts on Marvel Unlimited.

Marvel and DC’s renewed bromance took a new form today, as both publishers debuted a new crossover comic on their respective digital platforms.

Thor/Shazam! by Al Ewing and Jethro Morales can be found on Marvel Unlimited, while The Flash/Fantastic Four by Jeremy Adams and Adrián Gutiérrez arrived on DC Universe Infinite. Both require a subscription, but if you’re subscribed to one of them, Marvel and DC are offering 30-day trials so you can check out the other if you like. Yes, Marvel is promoting DC Universe Infinite and DC is promoting Marvel Unlimited. Up is down, left is right … dogs and cats, living together, and all that. It’s nice to see them working together again, and these stories look like fun

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Brian Michael Bendis + Mark Bagley will team on a story for ‘Avengers’ #800

The ‘Avengers Assemble’ team will tell a story featuring Captain America, Thor, Iron Man and Hydra.

The Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers Assemble team is getting the band back together for a back-up story featuring Iron Man, Thor and Captain America for Avengers #800.

Marvel announced the milestone issue will arrive in January, as issue #34 marks the 800th issue of Avengers, if you ignore all the relaunches and renumbering. Bendis actually made his debut on the title roughly 300 issues ago, on Avengers #500, which started the “Avengers: Disassembled” storyline that resulted in the book’s relaunch as New Avengers.

“Returning to the pages of Marvel Comics has been an incredible experience,” Bendis said. “To reunite with the Avengers on the occasion of an anniversary is doubly wonderful because anniversary issues are where we really celebrate our love of the characters and legacy. I made my Avengers debut on Avengers #500. I love the symmetry.”

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Marvel changes an upcoming Captain America story to reintroduce SHIELD

Captain America will have different companions now for his trip to Latveria.

Marvel has announced that SHIELD, led by Nick Fury Jr., will return in Captain America #6, seemingly replacing the team of international superheroes that was set to debut in that issue.

The post-One World Under Doom story would have introduced a group of super soldiers sent to assist Captain America on a mission to Latveria, including Captain Kingdom, Captain France, The Star and a new Red Widow. But this week Marvel announced that issue will now feature a new iteration of SHIELD that will include Nick Fury Jr., Red Widow and several new SHIELD agents — all in the lead-up to Armageddon.

They even kept the same cover design by artist Valerio Schiti, replacing the “Captains” with SHIELD:

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‘Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon’ will lead into Marvel’s 2026 summer event

Chip Zdarsky and Luca Maresca send Wolverine on a mission that will “kick off the end of everything.”

Armageddon, Marvel’s big event helmed by Chip Zdarsky that’s coming next summer, will actually kick off in February with a prelude series — Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon.

Zdarsky will write the four-issue miniseries, which will feature artwork by Luca Maresca. The series will send Wolverine “on a pivotal mission to track down the latest victim of a new superhuman experimentation program,” something akin to the Weapon X program.

“The Road to Armageddon starts with super soldiers, starts with the Weapon X program. And Wolverine is going to kick off the end of everything,” Zdarsky said. “For readers of Captain America, this is essential! For readers who want to know where the Marvel Universe is going, same. I’m pretty thrilled to get to tell this massive story, starting in Cap and really kicking it off here in Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon!”

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