Robert Kirkman + Ryan Ottley return to the Invincible Universe for ‘Battle Beast’

The series, which kicks off in April, will fill in the gaps of Battle Beast’s story between ‘Invincible’ #19 and #55.

If you’ve been missing Skybound’s Invincible, never fear — Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley will reunite for a new Invincible Universe: Battle Beast series next April.

The series will follow the adventures of the popular character Thokk, a.k.a. Battle Beast, and show what he was up to when he wasn’t appearing on panel in the original Invincible series.

“What can I say? I just can’t get enough of the Invincible Universe!” said Robert Kirkman. “Moving from the comic series directly to the animated series, I haven’t really had a break. That said, while adapting the series to animation, I’ve been itching to do something new! Longtime fans will know there’s a massive gap in Battle Beast’s appearances in the series between Invincible issue 19 and issue 55. There’s a lot of story to tell and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Battle Beast co-creator Ryan Ottley on board to tell it with me!”  

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‘Fire Power’ will conclude with issue #30

Robert Kirkman, Chris Samnee and company bring the story of Owen Johnson and his family to a close in December.

Fire Power, the Skybound title published by Image Comics and created by Robert Kirkman, Chris Samnee, Matthew Wilson and Rus Wooton, will end with issue #30 this December.

The 56-page oversized issue will wrap up the story of Owen Johnson and his fireball-wielding family, which began back in 2020.

“It’s all been building to this. From the humble beginnings of Owen’s journey for the truth about his parents, to a world-spanning battle with a gargantuan ancient evil that threatens to destroy the world,” Kirkman said. “It’s been a real thrill to work with Chris for these last few years, building this world and working toward this dramatic conclusion. I can’t believe we’re finally here! I can’t wait for people to see it!” 

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Larry Hama’s ‘G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero’ will continue at Skybound

Chris Mooneyham joins Hama on the series, which will pick up with issue #301 in November.

When Skybound announced they will work with Hasbro on a new universe featuring Transformers and G.I. Joe, many fans wondered what that meant for Larry Hama, whose name has been synonymous with the G.I. Joe comics since the 1980s. Today Skybound confirmed something Hama had already mentioned on social media — that they will continue to publish G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, and will even keep the legacy numbering.

“Several years ago, a fan at SDCC asked me how long Larry Hama would be writing G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero comics,” said Michael Kelly, VP of Global Publishing at Hasbro. “My response was the only appropriate answer for someone in my position: ‘for as long as Larry wants to keep writing them.’ It’s exciting to be continuing this journey that started back in 1982, and I’m grateful to the great team at Skybound for helping me keep that promise.” 

Hama will be joined by artist Chris Mooneyham and colorist Francesco Segala, with G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #301 coming to shops in November. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was originally published by Marvel in 1982 and then revived by IDW in 2010.

“I am delighted to be continuing the saga of G.I. Joe with the good folks at Skybound and totally amped to be taking the G.I. Joe team to issue #301 and beyond,” said Hama. “Little did I know back in 1982 that I would be associated with the Real American Hero for over 40 years. My thanks to the whole crew at Skybound for allowing me to continue to chronicle the exploits of characters who have become like a family to me.” 

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Skybound ‘stealth launches’ a new Transformers/G.I. Joe universe

‘Void Rivals,’ which arrived in stores today, also kicked off the Energon Universe, which will feature both Hasbro properties.

If you’ve read the new Skybound title Void Rivals today, then you know it’s actually part of a bigger Energon Universe launch — a universe that includes both G.I. Joe and Transformers.

Last seen in comics in 2022 as IDW wrapped up their work on both properties, early rumors and speculation mentioned Skybound as a potential new home. Now, through a license with Hasbro, Skybound has launched them in a way that only the company who once put out fake solicitations to keep the ending of The Walking Dead a secret could — as a surprise. Surprise!

“It’s a tremendous honor to be able to reintroduce this world to a new audience under the Skybound banner,” said Kirkman. “I’ve loved these characters for most of my life and to have the opportunity to add to the already rich tapestry Hasbro has built with the all-new Void Rivals is an unbelievable opportunity. If you look at everything done with Transformers and G.I. Joe, you can see the inkling of a vast universe with tremendous potential for crossovers and interaction that will enhance the fan experience while staying true to the individual identities of both concepts. I look forward to exploring that potential for years to come.” 

In addition to Void Rivals, Skybound has plans for three additional titles, including a Transformers title written and drawn by Daniel Warren Johnson of Do A Powerbomb and Beta Ray Bill fame.

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Slugfest | Groo goes wild in a new miniseries

Plus: Batman Beyond, more Birdking, Thor vs. M.O.D.O.K., the return of ‘Fire Power,’ Hellfire Gala fashion and more.

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

Sergio Aragonés and Mark Evanier will reunite for Groo: In the Wild, a new miniseries that kicks off in July.

The duo is joined by letterer Stan Sakai and colorist Carrie Strachan for a story that sees the barbarian and his dog looking for food. Things go downhill from there, in typical Groo fashion.

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Kirkman + De Felici re-team for ‘Void Rivals’

The creators of ‘Oblivion Song’ will bring a new shared universe to Skybound starting in June.

The Walking Dead writer Robert Kirkman will team with his Oblivion Song collaborator Lorenzo De Felici for a new series, Void Rivals, that kicks off in June — and also kicks off a new shared universe. They’ll be joined on the new series by colorist Matheus Lopes.

“With every project I do, I’m always trying to challenge myself. One thing I’ve always loved doing is starting small with a story and expanding the depth, scope and stakes as we progress,” Kirkman said. “With Void Rivals we’ll be going bigger than I ever have and at a much faster pace. This project is going to be monumental. I can’t wait for people to see what Lorenzo and I have cooking.”  

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Skybound Xpo reveals new comic series, teases ‘Skybound X’

Creators appeared to discuss ‘Rick Grimes 2000,’ ‘Everyday Hero Machine Boy,’ ‘Clementine’ and more.

Robert Kirkman’s Skybound held one of its online Xpo events today, revealing a comic adaption of the video game Trover Saves the Universe as well as some addition details and preview art from the upcoming Skybound X miniseries.

Trover Saves the Universe is a video game created by Justin Roiland, co-creator of the hit cartoon series Rick & Morty. Skybound has enlisted Tess Stone to work with Roiland on the miniseries.

“When Skybound mentioned they were interested in doing a Trover Saves the Universe comic with the help of Tess Stone, I knew it was going to be something of high quality,” said Roiland, who is also CEO and co-founder of Squanch Games. “Important cosmic jobs is such fertile soil for storytelling, and Tess has successfully expanded it beyond the game’s DLC to create a whole new crazy adventure for Trover fans to follow.”

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Skybound will celebrate its 10th anniversary with ‘Skybound X’

New stories featuring Rick Grimes, Clementine, Science Dog, Ultramega and more will appear in the five-issue weekly anthology series.

To celebrate its 10-year anniversary, Robert Kirkman’s Skybound will publish a five-issue miniseries featuring character from across their line, including a few new ones.

Skybound X will run weekly in July and will include new stories featuring The Walking Dead, Ultramega, Manifest Destiny, Rednecks, Stillwater, Excellence, Birthright and more. Each issue will feature a Rick Grimes 2000 story, which spins out of The Walking Dead #75 and features the re-teaming of Invincible creators Kirkman and Ryan Ottley for a different take on The Walking Dead saga. Also, Clementine from The Walking Dead Telltale Games will make her comic book debut.

“Surprise! Did you really think we would let Skybound’s 10-year anniversary pass us by without bringing back some of our favorite characters?” Kirkman said. “We are forever thankful for our community’s support over the past decade and are honored to share this special series with the larger Skybound family. None of these characters have such monumental journeys without the fans, so Skybound X is for all of you!”

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Mail Call | Black Cat kicks off Marvel’s ‘Infinite Destinies’ event this summer

Plus more news from Marvel, DC, Image, AfterShock, Dark Horse and more.

Mail Call is a roundup of the announcements we’ve received from comics publishers in our mailboxes recently that we haven’t already covered. Hit the links for more information.

Last summer the “Infinite Destinies” storyline was supposed to run through several Marvel annuals, including Iron Man, Captain America, Black Cat and Thor, among others. The story revolves around the returning “infinity stones,” those pesky don’t-call-them-infinity-gems MacGuffins that regularly take center stage at Marvel.

Anyway, like with many other things, the COVID pandemic and comics industry shutdown threw a wrench in Marvel’s plans, and those annuals were never released. But now it looks like they are back on the schedule for 2021, with an added prelude comic to kick things off — Black Cat #8 by Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa.

“Felicia Hardy- the Black Cat- gets tangled up with the Infinity Stones, some of the most dangerous prizes in the universe. Felicia may be the most accomplished jewel thief on the planet, but when those jewels hold the power of the cosmos, it’s a whole new ball game. Felicia is in a race against the others who would seek to control the stones for their own ends- like Nick Fury (and a secret someone you won’t see coming!),” MacKay said. “Who can cross the world’s most dangerous men, wrangle a pack of villains hopped up on fragments of infinite power, (hopefully) get the job done and look great all the while? The Black Cat, that’s who!”

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Out of thin air, Kirkman + Ottley’s ‘Solid Blood’ #17 arrives in comic shops this week

‘Confusing’ find at the printer has the creators scratching their heads.

Robert Kirkman posted a video to his new YouTube channel last week to reveal a “confusing” find at the printer — a palette of Solid Blood #17, a comic by Kirkman, Ryan Ottley, Cliff Rathburn and Rus Wooten. And low and behold, the comic is on this week’s list of comics coming out from Diamond, despite the fact that it was never announced nor solicited.

You can watch the video below:

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‘The Walking Dead’ will be re-released in full color

Dave McCaig will color the popular series that launched a media empire.

Skybound has announced plans to re-release the entire Walking Dead comics series in color, starting in October.

Colorist Dave McCaig has been tapped to apply his coloring skills to The Walking Dead Deluxe, adding a new dimension to the original story by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard. McCaig tweeted that he’s already colored more than 2,000 pages.

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Mail Call | Defend-ing the Hero Initiative, new ‘Bad Karma’ and more

Plus: News from DC, Image, Humble Bundle and more.

Mail Call is a roundup of the announcements we’ve received from publishers in our mailboxes recently. Hit the links for more information.

DC Comics has announced a change in the variant covers for the upcoming The Dreaming: Waking Hours #1. The cover shown below, by Yanick Paquette and Nathan Fairbairn, will replace one from Bill Sienkiewicz that they first showed us in May.

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