Deceased X-Men will rise from the dead to bring the Krakoa era to an end in Dead X-Men. One of the many announcements to come out of Marvel's Next Big Thing panel at New York Comic Con this weekend was the reveal of Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X. The two interconnected series will span across space and time, stretching into all-new limited series. One of those books is Dead X-Men by writer Steve Foxe, and artists Vincenzo Carrat?. Bernard Chang, and Jonas Scharf.

Foxe is the current writer of Dark X-Men, which explores the twisted nature of mutantkind. Foxe teams up with this all-star lineup of artists to revisit the key moments in realities' past that paved the way to Krakoa as a team of fallen mutants are sent through history by Professor X on a desperate mission to reverse Krakoa's fate. Marvel is keeping the identity of Dead X-Men's cast a secret for now, but a cover of the first issue by Pere P?rez offers some clues.

What is Marvel's Dead X-Men series about?

The description of Dead X-Men #1 reads, "DEATH WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING! When the world turned against Krakoa, these five mutants lost their lives...but their mission as X-Men is just getting started. To preserve Xavier's dream, they must accomplish the impossible - or die again trying!"

Explaining the new series, Foxe said: "DEAD X-MEN is one of the most complex stories I've worked on at Marvel, but also one of purest: a small group of mutants who have to accomplish the impossible, which is the premise that made me fall in love with the X-Men in the first place. I've been working closely with Kieron [GIlen] and Jordan [White] to make sure that the mission these unexpected X-Men undertake has real repercussions for the line--and the very existence of Krakoa as we know it. I'm also stoked Marvel was up for the challenge of assembling such a big art team. There's a reason you'll see so many talented creators credited on the book, and I can't wait for readers to discover the secret behind DEAD X-MEN."

Ultimate Universe details revealed

After being teased during the lead-up to Ultimate Invasion, Marvel Comics has officially revealed its opening lineup of comics for its Ultimate Universe relaunch. The Ultimate Universe originally began as an imprint in the early 2000s and gave Marvel a way to tell updated origin stories for your favorite heroes. It even gave inspiration for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the Ultimate Invasion miniseries by Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch concluded, the publisher has revealed which heroes will be starring in new comics launching in the Ultimate Universe.

The first three comics are Ultimate Spider-Man #1 by writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Marco Checchetto; Ultimate Black Panther #1 by writer Bryan Hill and artist Stefano Caselli; and Ultimate X-Men #1 written and drawn by Peach Momoko. Checchetto recently wrapped up a fan-favorite run on Daredevil alongside Chip Zdarsky. Hill is the current writer of the new Blade ongoing series, and along with providing beautiful variant covers for various Marvel titles, Momoko is also the creative behind her Demon Wars miniseries.

Jeff the Land Shark, Alligator Loki, and more of your favorite super-powered pets will assemble for a new event series titled Infinity Paws. If you couldn't tell, the name is a callback to the iconic Infinity Gauntlet by Jim Starlin, George Perez, and Ron Lim. Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe got to see a version of this play out on the big screen in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Now it's time for a similar event to play out with fan-favorite animals like Jeff the Land Shark, Carol Danvers' feline companion Chewie, Alligator Loki, and Lucky the Pizza Dog.

Marvel announced Infinity Paws at its Next Big Thing panel at New York Comic Con over the weekend. Infinity Paws is a new Infinity Comic launching in spring 2024 on Marvel Unlimited, the publisher's digital subscription service. The upcoming event series is written by seasoned Infinity Comic creator Jason Loo (Lucky the Pizza Dog, X-Men Unlimited) and superstar artist and colorist Nao Fuji (Marvel Meow).

"Marvel Meow fans will be in for a treat! Or TREATS!" said Jason Loo. "Because we got almost all your favorite Marvel pets in this giant crossover, from the furry ones to the scaly ones. And I couldn't be more pleased to be joined by the delightfully talented Nao Fuji illustrating this series."

Marvel teases next crossover event Blood Hunt

Infinity Paws wasn't the only announcement to come out of New York Comic Con. Along with announcements for the Ultimate Universe and the end of the X-Men's Krakoa era was the reveal of Blood Hunt. It appears to be a vampire-themed event with the main series written by Moon Knight, Avengers, and Doctor Strange writer Jed MacKay with art by Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia.

"We have vampires in our books all the time, there's some bad blood there," MacKay said at New York Comic Con. "What happens if the shoe was on the other foot? We've got the Avengers, Moon Knight's Midnight Mission, Doctor Strange, Miles Morales, and of course, Blade, and there's going to be more vampires you can shake a stick at."

The description of Blood Hunt reads, "Vampires have always walked amongst the shadows of the Marvel Universe, but in Spring 2024, the long night arrives and these bloodsucking terrors will endure the spotlight like never before," the publisher said of the title. "The main event series will be brought to life by an A-team of Marvel talent: current Avengers scribe Jed MacKay and acclaimed X-Men artists Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia. In classic Marvel fashion, BLOOD HUNT will also spill out into a host of tie-in issues in Marvel's hottest current series and see the launch of all-new limited series, one-shots, and redefining status quos."

Straight from New York Comic Con, Marvel Comics has revealed new details on the upcoming Avengers: Twilight, a new mini-series from writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Daniel Acu?a, including a trailer for the upcoming event comic. It was previously confirmed that the new series will show off a new version of the future of the Marvel universe, and the Avengers: Twilight trailer gives us a look at what we can expect. Avengers: Twilight mostly seems to be focusing on Captain America, now an old man living in a world without an Avengers team. The first issue of Avenges: Twilight will be published on January 16th, with five more issues to follow afterward.

Avengers: Twilight is described as follows: "In a gleaming new world of prosperity, Captain America is no more. But Steve Rogers still exists, floating through an America where freedom is an illusion, where THE AVENGERS are strangers and his friends are long dead. But is the Dream? How do you assemble Avengers in a world that doesn't want them? PLUS: A behind-the-scenes look at the making of this issue!"

So what can we learn from the Avengers: Twilight trailer? One of the first big reveals is that Captain America appears to have run for the United States Senate at some point, as a "Senator Rogers" poster featuring him in costume can be seen. It's unclear if he was successful in his political endeavors, but we're going to venture a guess that no one is having a good time in Avengers: Twilight so he may not have succeeded on election day.

There's also the larger implications of the fate of The Avengers team themselves in Avengers: Twilight. Only a handful of characters are seen in the trailer, clearly in flashbacks. One sequence appears to show Tony Stark dead on the ground, or rather, the Iron Man armor on the ground and Tony Stark shrunk down to a smaller size by The Wasp hiding in some rubble. There also appears to be a descendant of Tony Stark's building a fleet of new Iron Man suits in the far future, plus appearances by what looks like Luke Cage and Kamala Khan.

Marvel's hometown convention has been as busy as ever. Saturday, the House of Ideas took to New York Comic Con to unveil plans to end the X-Men's Krakoa era while also revealing the first four titles in its new Ultimate Universe. On top of that, Marvel creators were on-hand to announce the first major comic event of 2024: the vampire-themed Blood Hunt. Featuring a vampiric tale, the event's main series will be by Jed MacKay, Pepe Larraz, and Marte Gracia while other creative teams will handle tie-in issues and spin-offs.

"We have vampires in our books all the time, there's some bad blood there," MacKay said at New York Comic Con. "What happens if the shoe was on the other foot? We've got the Avengers, Moon Knight's Midnight Mission, Doctor Strange, Miles Morales, and of course, Blade, and there's going to be more vampires you can shake a stick at."

What is Blood Hunt about?

According to Marvel, Blood Hunt will follow vampires as they try to take over the Marvel Universe.

"Vampires have always walked amongst the shadows of the Marvel Universe, but in Spring 2024, the long night arrives and these bloodsucking terrors will endure the spotlight like never before," the publisher said of the title. "The main event series will be brought to life by an A-team of Marvel talent: current Avengers scribe Jed MacKay and acclaimed X-Men artists Pepe Larraz and Marte Gracia. In classic Marvel fashion, BLOOD HUNT will also spill out into a host of tie-in issues in Marvel's hottest current series and see the launch of all-new limited series, one-shots, and redefining status quos.

It added, "Brimming with unsurmountable stakes, this startling saga will drag the world into darkness as your favorite heroes struggle to ward off the vampire race's cursed crusade of terror! Fans will have to wait with bated breath for more story details and information. In the meantime, sink your teeth into a special BLOOD HUNT trailer and a viciously visceral promotional image by Leinil Francis Yu and Sunny Gho!"

The Blood Hunt trailer can be seen above.

Blood Hunt launches in February.

With only one issue under its belt, Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham is already providing readers with a distinct vision for the DC Universe. The DC Black Label series, which is written and drawn by fan-favorite artist Rafael Gramp?, has already been buzzed-about -- and a new trailer is here to further the hype. The trailer was released during Saturday's "Gotham City Confidential" panel at New York Comic Con, which Gramp? attended to highlight what's next for the book. In particular, the trailer previews what fans can expect from Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #2, which will now be available wherever comics are sold on Tuesday, December 12th.

Gargoyle of Gotham has been teased in DC canon since December of last year, when a new multiverse map for the fictional universe designated the events of the series as happening on "Earth-46." The first issue was released on September 16th's Batman Day in North America, Brazil, Spain, Italy, and Germany.

What Is Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham About?

Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham follows a Gotham City where every day feels darker and more irredeemable than the last, Batman makes a definitive choice--to kill off the Bruce Wayne identity for good and embrace the cape and cowl full-time. But though he knows the streets of Gotham, Batman will soon come to find that he hardly knows himself. A serial killer is on the loose, and while the murder victims seem random at first, every clue draws Batman closer to the terrifying truth--that they are all connected, not just to each other, but to him as well. When an all-new rogues gallery of utterly depraved villains begins to emerge from the depths of the city, Batman will have to contend with the very nature of evil--including that which lurks in the darkest corners of his own heart--to face what is coming for the city he has sworn to protect.

"When his origin was introduced in Batman #1 in the 1940s, Bruce Wayne swore revenge by the spirits of his murdered parents and--driven by his belief in an omen--became Batman," said Gramp?. "For me, this subtle aspect of Bruce's belief system has always been the fundamental core of Batman, and through that lens I recognized this untold story. Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham explores 'who he is and why he came to be.' It makes my dream of bringing my own interpretation of Batman to life a reality as I delve into the darkest corners of his essence. I sincerely hope readers enjoy the ride."

What do you think of the new teaser trailer for Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

As mentioned above, Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #2 will be released wherever comics are sold on Tuesday, December 12th.

One of the most famous publishing initiatives that DC Comics ever pulled was when it let readers decide the fate of Batman's sidekick Robin. With 1988's Batman #426 the "A Death in the Family" storyline began, it started the event that allowed readers to make the choice, should Batman's current Robin Jason Todd live or die? Two phone numbers were put together allowing readers the opportunity to call in and make their voices heard. Considering how tight the publishing deadline would be for the series however, two versions of the comic were prepared for publication depending on the votes, and as readers know the version where Jason Todd died was the one that made it to stands. Now, the other is on the way.

Straight from New York Comic Con, DC Comics has confirmed that the alternate version of Batman #428 will be published later this year. DC made the announcement during the Gotham City Confidential, revealing that the version of Batman #428 prepared by writer Jim Starlin, penciler Jim Aparo, inker Mike DeCarlo, colorist Adrienne Roy, and letterer John Costanza, will be released in a "faux-simile" edition of Batman #428. Alongside other publishers, DC has previously released facsimile editions of notable issues from the past, but a faux-simile is a new one. This alternate version of Batman #428 will be published on December 12 of this year, just two months from now.

Considering what a major decision this was by a publisher, which has had ripple effects in DC Comics publishing to this day, fans may be surprised to learn that the voting margins for Jason Todd's fate were very slim. There were only 10,614 votes cast in the poll, with just 72 votes separating the "Robin lives" from "Robin doesn't survive" totals from each other. In the end only 5,271 voted in favor of Jason Todd staying alive while 5,343 voted for him to be killed.

The events of A Death in the Family and Jason Todd's death continue to influence DC Comics to this day in a number of ways. At the top of that list of course is that Jason Todd's death wasn't permanent as he eventually returned in the role of violent vigilante Red Hood, with his death at the hands of The Joker being his main driving force (even now this is critical to what's happening in Batman comics). The actual means of Jason's death, being beaten by a crowbar, is also a key component of DC lore, with Red Hood using it as a weapon and it even making appearances throughout the years in an allusion to the comic storyline.

An interactive movie version titled Batman: Death in the Family was released in 2020, giving viewers even more than just the choice of whether Jason Todd lives or dies. In the film DC fans have the choice about what Jason will do after being saved, including a branching path where Batman dies in his place instead.

After being teased during the lead-up to Ultimate Invasion, Marvel Comics has officially revealed its opening lineup of comics for its Ultimate Universe relaunch. The Ultimate Universe originally began as an imprint in the early 2000s and gave Marvel a way to tell updated origin stories for your favorite heroes. It even gave inspiration for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the Ultimate Invasion miniseries by Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch concluded, the publisher has revealed which heroes will be starring in new comics launching in the Ultimate Universe.

Marvel announced the first three Ultimate Universe comics during its Marvel: Next Big Thing panel at New York Comic Con Saturday afternoon. Those three comics are Ultimate Spider-Man #1 by writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Marco Checchetto; Ultimate Black Panther #1 by writer Bryan Hill and artist Stefano Caselli; and Ultimate X-Men #1 written and drawn by Peach Momoko. Checchetto recently wrapped up a fan-favorite run on Daredevil alongside Chip Zdarsky. Hill is the current writer of the new Blade ongoing series, and along with providing beautiful variant covers for various Marvel titles, Momoko is also the creative behind her Demon Wars miniseries.

First trailer for Marvel's new Ultimate Universe, starring with 4 new comic series:

o 'ULTIMATE UNIVERSE'
o 'ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN'
o 'ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER'
o 'ULTIMATE X-MEN' pic.twitter.com/gAQaqyClWh

-- DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 14, 2023

You can find the covers, trailer, and descriptions for Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (on sale January 10th), Ultimate Black Panther #1 (on sale February 7th), and Ultimate X-Men #1 (on sale March 6th) below.

Ultimate Spider-Man #1

• New ongoing series, on sale January 10
• Written by Jonathan Hickman
• Art and Cover by Marco Checchetto
• THE NEW ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN FOR A NEW ULTIMATE UNIVERSE! Visionary writer Jonathan Hickman (HOUSE OF X/POWERS OF X) and acclaimed artist Marco Checchetto (DAREDEVIL) bring you a bold new take on Spider-Man, with this, the debut title of the new line of Ultimate Comics! After the events of ULTIMATE INVASION, the world needs a hero...who will rise up to take on that responsibility? Prepare to be entangled in a web of mystery and excitement as the all-new ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN comic redefines the wall-crawler for the 21st Century!

Ultimate Black Panther #1

• New ongoing series, on sale February 7
• Written by Bryan Hill
• Art and Cover by Stefano Caselli
• THE NEW ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER! In the wake of ULTIMATE INVASION, Khonshu and Ra - the force known together as Moon Knight - are seeking to expand their brutal control of the continent of Africa. In response, the lone bulwark against them, the isolated nation of Wakanda, will send forth its champion...its king...the Black Panther! From the creative minds of Bryan Hill (BLADE, KILLMONGER) and Stefano Caselli (X-MEN RED, AVENGERS) comes a bold new take on the world of Black Panther and Wakanda!

Ultimate X-Men #1

• New ongoing Series, on sale March 6
• Written by Peach Momoko
• Art and Cover by Peach Momoko
• Peach Momoko's vision of mutantkind in the new Ultimate Universe. Stay tuned for more details!

Marvel Studios has revealed new details about the coming official end of the X-Men's Krakoa era. The Krakoan Age that began with 2019's House of X and Powers of X series will conclude with three previously teased miniseries: Fall of the House of X, Rise of the Powers of X, and Resurrection of Magneto. These series will then give way to the new X-Men era launching in 2024 under the editorial guidance of veteran Marvel executive editor Tom Brevoort, with more details about that shift teased for November. Marvel revealed Mark Brooks' teaser image for Krakoa's final chapter, covers for the first issues of each of the three miniseries, and a trailer during Marvel's Next Big Thing panel at New York Comic Con.

Current X-Men writer Gerry Duggan writes and Immortal X-Men artist Lucas Werneck draws Fall of the House of X. The new synopsis reveals Cyclops on trial and facing the death penalty as mutantkind prepares to make its last stand against Orchis.

The end of the X-Men's Krakoan age begins January 2024. #MarvelNYCC pic.twitter.com/uwXdNxrUfT

-- Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) October 14, 2023

Immortal X-Men writer Kieron Gillen and Powers of X artist R.B. Silva helm Rise of the Powers of X. The series takes place in a future where Orchis is victorious, but Nimrod and Omega Sentinel have other plans for ascension beyond mutants and humans.

In Resurrection of Magneto, by X-Men Red's Al Ewing and artist Luciano Vecchio, Storm must make a choice. Does she go against Magneto's wishes to bring the master of magnetism back from death? And will he survive the shock of what has happened to mutants since his death if she does?

What comes next is anyone's guess. It's safe to say that change is in the air for Marvel's X-Men.

You can see the covers and details below. The end of Krakoa begins in January.

• Fall of the House of X #1 (of 5)
• New Issue of limited series, on sale January 3
• Written by Gerry Duggan
• Art by Lucas Werneck
• Cover by Pepe Larraz
• KRAKOA HAS JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT! Mutantkind has never had a greater fall. From the highs of Krakoa - their own glorious nation, a place where they were safe and happy - to the lowest of lows. Outlawed, hunted, killed, most of their kind missing or dead, and now, one their greatest leaders, Cyclops, is on trial facing a death penalty. Ready or not, the time has come for the X-Men to make their final stand against the forces that have struck them low. The day is now. The place is here. The tale of the house Xavier built will long be told...and few will forget this darkest chapter. From writer Gerry Duggan (X-MEN, MARAUDERS, UNCANNY AVENGERS) and artist Lucas Werneck (IMMORTAL X-MEN, TRIAL OF MAGNETO) comes half of the story that will bring the Krakoa Age to its conclusion!

• Rise of the Powers of X #1 (of 5)
• New Issue of limited series, on sale January 10
• Written by Kieron Gillen
• Art and Cover by R.B. Silva
• THE FIGHT FOR KRAKOA HAS BEEN LOST! Ten years ago, the mutants returned from their exile to try and reclaim the Earth from the forces of Orchis. They failed. Now, within the victorious Orchis with their gauntlet choking the world, Nimrod and Omega Sentinel put their plan within a plan into action. They are to summon their binary god to consume everything in their accession. All that stands between them is the X-Men. What can they do? They're the X-Men. They'll find a way. That's their power. So begins a story beyond time and space, with the rise of powers beyond our petty human intelligence. From writer Kieron Gillen (IMMORTAL X-MEN, UNCANNY X-MEN) and artist R.B. Silva (POWERS OF X, CAPTAIN AMERICA: SYMBOL OF TRUTH) comes half of the story that will bring the Krakoa Age to its conclusion!



• Resurrection of Magneto #1 (of 4)
• New Issue of limited series, on sale January 24
• Written by Al Ewing
• Art by Luciano Vecchio
• Cover by Stefano Caselli
• LIFEDEATH! On Krakoa, resurrection from the dead was as easy as completing a circuit - but Krakoa fell. The time of easy miracles is over, and only the hard roads are left. Now it falls to Storm - as the epic conclusion to the Krakoan age looms - to bring their oldest enemy home to fight against the FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X...but after all he did, and all that was done to him, can Magneto bear to return?

Mortal Kombat 1 players got a new look at Omni-Man this week, the DLC character from the Invincible comics and TV series who'll be the first to arrive in the game as part of its first Kombat Pack. The fresh look at the violent character was shown off during New York Comic-Con's "Invincible & The Walking Dead Celebrate 20 Years!" panel which was the one that people were looking to for a Mortal Kombat 1 appearance anyway seeing how the game itself didn't have a dedicated spot at this year's event.

The trailer in question shown off to NYCC attendees gave us our best look yet at Omni-Man in Mortal Kombat 1 following his brief appearance in the Kombat Pack trailer shared earlier in the year. We also got a look at one of Omni-Man's Fatalities which should look very familiar to those who've watched Invincible.

Mortal Kombat 1's director and the co-creator of the fighting games, Ed Boon, teased the game's appearance at NYCC in the past, but he never said exactly what would be shown there. He did clarify afterwards that there would not be a gameplay trailer for Omni-Man at NYCC, though the specificity of that denial led some to believe that we might still get something pertaining to Omni-Man in Mortal Kombat 1 even if it wasn't a gameplay trailer like the ones that every Mortal Kombat fighter is treated to eventually.

The realms will tremble under the weight of the Viltrum Empire. #MK1 pic.twitter.com/x709ZtPLjY

-- Mortal Kombat 1 (@MortalKombat) October 14, 2023

Mortal Kombat 1 DLC

Quick to lay out the plans for the DLC, NetherRealm told Mortal Kombat 1 players before the game even came out what the first Kombat Pack would look like. Of course, players already had an idea of what was coming considering how pretty much every surprise Mortal Kombat 1 could offer seems to have leaked in advance, but news of the Kombat Pack confirmed three big guest appearances: Omni-Man from Invincible, Peacemaker from the DC show of the same name, and Homelander from Amazon's The Boys. All three were revealed during this year's San Diego Comic-Con, a fitting setting for the announcement given their comic connections, so it makes sense that New York Comic-Con would feature something about Omni-Man, too. It was also stated previously that Omni-Man would be the first Mortal Kombat 1 DLC character to be released which was why people were leaning towards a reveal focused on him at this year's convention.

Outside of Omni-Man and the other two comic characters, the first Kombat Pack will also include Quan-Chi, Ermac, and Takeda, each of which is a Mortal Kombat character who didn't make the cut for the launch roster but will at least be playable in the future, though no release dates for those fighters have been announced yet. Beyond that, another Kombat Pack is inevitable with plenty of leaked names to peruse when speculating who might be included in the next release, but we'll have to get through the first Kombat Pack first before we hear anything official about the next one.

Palladium Books has announced they are re-releasing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness, the classic tabletop RPG featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The "remastered" version of the game will feature a new cover by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Peter Laird along with new artwork presented fully in color. The sourcebooks will also feature never-before-seen info and tributes, including archival information provided by Laird and fellow TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman, along with comics creator Sophie Campbell and Freddie E. Williams II.

"This is incredibly exciting! I am 1000% onboard to help bring this historic and original TMNT Role Playing Game series back in a truly deluxe collector's edition that will thrill original fans and open the door for new ones," said Eastman in a press release announcing the new edition of the RPG. "I've made all my archives available for expanded behind-the-scenes content as well as a few top secret surprises you need to be part of. Stay tuned!"

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness was first released in 1985 and was one of the first licensed products for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, pre-dating the cartoon that made the franchise famous. Notably, the game drew heavily from the original comics, which were satirically dark, and the game contained several charts detailing mental illnesses and "sexual deviations" that were eventually removed from later printings after parents objected to the material appearing in a franchise made popular by Saturday morning cartoons.

The Kickstarter for the new edition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness will launch on October 31st. The RPG will be printed as two books, and extras included in the campaign include TMNT miniatures based on the role-playing game, dice sets, variant book covers, art prints by legacy TMNT creatives, a card deck, and more, including special stretch goals to entice role-playing fans and TMNT fans alike. The new edition will be released in 2024.

Damian Wayne may be a trained fighter and the son of Batman, but there's one thing he has no prior experience with: high school. Batman and Robin have always had a somewhat tricky relationship, but they have mended fences and are back to being a crimefighting duo once again. So there's no better time than now for DC to launch a new Batman and Robin series than now. However, one of the more surprising developments to take place inside the book's pages is Damian Wayne starting high school for the first time.

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Batman and Robin #2. Continue reading at your own risk!

Batman and Robin #2 comes from the creative team of Joshua Williamson, Simone Di Meo, and Steve Wands. A new villain called Shush is terrorizing Gotham, and the Dark Knight is victim to their latest attack when he is poisoned and bats attack him. While he and Robin lick their wounds back at Bruce Wayne's brownstone, he reminds Damian that there is a new challenge he wants his son to partake in. Of course, this challenge ends up being Damian's first day of school.

Even though Damian didn't grow up in a traditional school, he's very intelligent for his age. It helps to be the son of Batman and the Demon's Daughter, Talia al Ghul. Damian also did a lot of growing up during his short time on Lazarus Island, where he competed and fought against other kids his age. Bruce wants Damian to have the childhood and life he never got to experience, but Damian doesn't agree.

Damian Wayne isn't built to be a high schooler

The minute Damian Wayne steps foot inside the halls of Gotham City High School, all the kids start whispering about him. They gossip about everything from Damian being a rich kid, to wearing shades indoors, to being so "short." One kid takes it upon himself to take a look at Damian's fan fiction, starring a character named "Damian Vane." Damian threatens to break the kid's arm, and then we have a hilarious dream sequence where Damian effortlessly beats up all his bullies.

Once the principal and teacher settle things down, the teacher attempts to introduce Damian to the class. However, Damian sneaks out of the class through a window to investigate a case he's working on with Batman.

This probably isn't the last time we'll see Damian Wayne's adventures in high school. DC wouldn't set up this new status quo without exploring it further down the line. Plus, it gives readers more time with Damian when he's not out saving the world as Robin. Who knows... maybe he'll even get a girlfriend and go to prom, just like other regular high schoolers.

Batman and Robin live-action movie coming from DC Studios

One of the movies James Gunn and Peter Safran announced for the newly-formed DC Studios is The Brave and the Bold. The film will team Batman with his sidekick Robin, who will be the Damian Wayne version of the character, making his live-action debut. Gunn and Safran described the movie as an "unusual father-son story" based on Grant Morrison's comic series.

The Brave and the Bold "is going to feature other members of the extended Bat-Family," said Safran of Batman's partners in crimefighting, which has included such characters as Nightwing, Batgirl, Huntress, Batwoman, and the Red Hood. "Just because we feel like they've been left out of the Batman stories in the theater for far too long."

What do you think about Damian Wayne/Robin attending high school? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

There has been a long list of Marvel heroes and villains to don an alien Venom symbiote, and Black Widow is the latest to add her name to their ranks. After Spider-Man discarded the alien symbiote, Eddie Brock bonded with it to become Venom. Spider-Man and Venom had a long, bloody rivalry, but nowadays they both work together as heroes. The Venom mythos has also undergone a major transformation in recent years, with Eddie Brock and his son Dylan sharing the mantle of Lethal Protector. The Venom symbiote has produced several offspring, including the psychopath Carnage, but the latest has formed a union with the Avenger Black Widow.

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Venom #26. Continue reading at your own risk!

Venom #26 comes from the creative team of Torunn Gr?nbekk, Julius Ohta, Frank D'Armata, and VC's Clayton Cowles. It finds Black Widow on the hunt for a terrorist group called Noname, which is behind attacks at various Alchemax sites. While interrogating a former friend named Keith Walken, we get our first glimpse at the symbiote that has bonded with Black Widow. Another young kid named Bren Waters is the new host to the Toxin symbiote, and he and Venom run into Black Widow inside Venom's hivemind. Natasha Romanoff's symbiote takes the shape of tiny black widow spiders, making it seem like they are everywhere at once.

What does Black Widow's Venom look like?

Black Widow shows off her Venom symbiote in a full-page spread in Venom #26. Her costume pretty much stays the same, except now her face is covered in a Spider-Man/Venom-style black mask with red eyes. The color red is also found in her ponytail, wrist gauntlets, and spider emblem on her chest. We learn that her symbiote is a newborn, so their bond will be a lot different than the one between Eddie and Dylan Brock and Venom.

After Toxin is attacked, Venom and Black Widow decide to team up to save him and take down Noname. Black Widow could make for an interesting addition to the Venom corner of the Marvel Universe. We've had events like Venomverse and Venomized where other Marvel heroes have joined with a symbiote, but those were eventually reversed. It's possible Black Widow and her symbiote will remain together for the foreseeable future.

What do you think about Black Widow becoming a Venom? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Geoff Johns will spearhead a new, shared comics universe at Image Comics under the imprint "Ghost Machine." Johns, who previously published Geiger and Junkyard Joe at Image, will launch Ghost Machine with Gray Frank, Brad Meltzer, Bryan Hitch, Francis Manapul, Peter Tomasi, Jason Fabok, Lamont Magee, and Maytal Zchut. All of the creators have ties to DC, with every participant having written Batman, Superman, or Justice League comics except for Zchut and Magee, both of whom worked on TV series based on DC characters. Magee, who developed Young Jedi Adventures for television, previously served as a writer and producer on Black Lightning, while Zchut was a script supervisor on Johns's Stargirl show.

Ghost Machine is characterized as a creator-owned and creator-run company, although it isn't clear if all of the founders have an equal stake in all of the properties, or if each individual creator owns their individual properties. The latter has been the norm at Image for years, but Image has also worked with creators like Rob Liefeld, who runs a studio and owns the IP his employees work on.

"Our ambition for Ghost Machine is to push beyond superheroes, introducing new genres, characters and shared universes, completely co-owned by all the creators involved," the Ghost Machine founders said in a statement. "We see this as the future of how creatives will work and retain creative control and meaningfully participate in success like never before."

"Our passion is for the magic of graphic storytelling and the emotional resonance of compelling characters," they added. "But we are not just a comic book company - we are the first wholly creator-owned and operated media company of its kind, born out of a desire to create and succeed together."

That idea -- that Ghost Machine isn't just a publisher where you can develop screen-friendly IP, but actually a media company in itself, is an interesting one, and it likely suggests that they have plans to develop shows and movies based on the Ghost Machine characters pretty quickly.

In addition to Magee's and Zchut's work in TV, Johns and Meltzer have both run shows -- Stargirl for Johns (through Warner and Berlanti Productions) and Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum for Meltzer (via PBS Kids).

April 2024 appears to be the genesis for Ghost Machine: Fabok's Rook: Exodus will launch that month, as well as Redcoat (by Johns and Hitch). Johns and Frank's Geiger will resume then, as well. Later in the year, Zchut's Devour will launch in October, while Tomasi and Manapul's The Rockefellers, as well as First Ghost (Meltzer) and The Soulless (Magee) will launch at some point in 2024, with a release date not yet set.

Last weekend, a "Swift" trip to a Kansas City Chiefs football game sent the internet into a frenzy for more Dazzler books! That's not all. The release of Call of Duty's sixth season has also sent another book into our top ten. Rumors of a villain for the 2nd Batman movie have also propelled an old book forward for the Dark Knight. However, Black Canary doesn't need any rumors; she just needs bubble gum to make it into the top ten, unlike Wolverine, who merged with the Spirit of Vengeance to see his book pick up heat. Like Wolverine's Capullo cover, Transformers has also released a beautifully illustrated foil variant. Along with the resurgence of previous books, we see a brand new rumor propel a highly popular sci-fi storyline to our number 3 spot. Finally, after a month-long hiatus, Tynion returned to 'X' (Twitter) this past week to talk about a new variant on a fan-favorite series... causing the original copy to see a spike in interest!

Want to know what comic books are trending each week and why? COVRPRICE.COM uses live sales analytics to identify and compile the most robust market price guide, highlighting the weekly top trending comics. No opinions. Just data. Each week, they present a newly updated list of the TOP 10 COMICS trending in the aftermarket. These trends are due to rumors, fan-favorite covers, story-driven content, and content-related news.

#10: BIRDS OF PREY #2 - OTTO SCHMIDT (1:50) | DC | 2023 | Before release, we saw preorders for this book skyrocket for this bubblegum cover with a high sale of $199. Last week, we saw more of the same but hit as high as $276! Bubble gum covers have become a big collector's item, and this recent cover release proves the value it can pull. Schmidt illustrates a beautiful Black Canary cover that fans are all hunting down! We tracked it at a current raw NM FMV of $154.

#9: WOLVERINE #36 - RYAN STEGMAN - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2023 | Behold, an indestructible rage mutant, meets the spirit of vengeance! A force has never been so terrifying as that of the Hellverine. This book was hyped up before its release and nearly flew off the shelves when it debuted. The second print retailer incentives (1:25) are already reaching $70 for preorders! Most LCS are out of this book already, so your best bet at getting a copy will be in the aftermarket. Good luck finding this character's debut! We tracked it at a high sale of $170 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current NM FMV of $22. Find on eBay | Find on MCS

#8: BATMAN #609 | DC | 2002 | Back in 2022, a promotional website for The Batman had users solve puzzles that the Riddler had posted, with a video of Thomas Wayne's campaign promotions. The solved riddles unlocked this video, quickly flashing HUSH words across the screen. Fast forward to today, a recent interview with The Hot Mic with Jeff Sneider and John Rocha was very cryptic about Hush being the next villain. This was hardly a confirmation but rather more fuel to the already-established rumor. Nevertheless, this was enough fuel for fans to track down the first appearance of Thomas Elliot (who would later become the villain Hush). We tracked it at a high sale of $175 for a CGC 9.8 and a raw NM FMV of $39. Find on eBay | Find on MCS

#7: TRANSFORMERS #1 - IAN BERTRAM - FOIL (1:100) | IMAGE | 2023 | In July, Image released a TRANSFORMERS #1 ashcan edition that took SDCC by storm. The series' first issue was released three months later, and this retailer incentive 1:100 foil cover is just as popular! If you recall, the Transformers are now in a shared universe with G.I. Joe, a huge surprise to most. This also marks the premiere issue of an ongoing Transformers run at Image. If the 1:100 ratio cover is too far out of reach, try going for a 1:50 cover, which is also seeing heat! For the 1:100, we tracked it at a high sale of $180 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $137.

#6: THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1 - MARTIN SIMMONDS - COVER A | IMAGE | 2020 | It's old news that THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH was headed to Netflix in 2021. Due to extenuating circumstances, the writer's strike most recently halted production. There has been little news since then. This past week, rumors started floating around that Tynion himself had confirmed that the Netflix series was moving forward and was back in production. This came directly via his 9.26 Newsletter, where he stated, "Martin and I were coming up on what we knew was going to be a brief sabbatical on Department of Truth while I worked on the Television adaptation (which I'm excited to get back into now that it looks like the WGA strike is over." When you read that, there is no confirmation of continued traction on the project. Yet, the internet twisted his words a bit and ran with it. Recently, Tynion did return to 'X' (the site formally known as Twitter) after a one-month hiatus. This return was to promote a new 'bootleg' variant of THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH #1, which may have also helped spike a slight interest in this first print. We tracked it at a high sale of $85 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $16.

#5: WOLVERINE #37 - GREG CAPULLO - VIRGIN (1 PER STORE) | MARVEL | 2023 | Legendary modern-day artist Greg Capullo illustrates a Wolverine that leaps off the page. What makes this book so hard to find is that it was a thank you from distributors to retailers, and stores with a Diamond account and a Penguin Randomhouse account likely received copies from both. Nevertheless, this book sped from retailer shelves and vanished into the aftermarket. Tracking one down in the wild might be difficult. However, we still see many selling very well on eBay. We tracked it at a high sale of $858 for a raw copy and a current NM FMV of $64.

#4: X-MEN #130 - NEWSSTAND | MARVEL | 1980 | This book has a lot going for it. It is not only the first appearance of Dazzler but also the first appearance of Sebastian Shaw and the 2nd appearance of Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost. However, this week, we have seen a resurgence of Dazzler books, thanks to footage from a Kansas City Chiefs football game. Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Shawn Levy (Deadpool 3 director) were in attendance at this game. Joining them, most importantly, was Taylor Swift. While no other new rumors have surfaced, this was enough to spark a renewed interest in the Dazzler rumors! We tracked it at a high sale of $600 for a CGC 9.6 and a current raw FN FMV of $81 as copies flood and stay on the market.

#3: CYBERPUNK 2077: TRAUMA TEAM #1 | DARK HORSE | 2020 | Nothing will send a book into the spotlight like news that a live-action project is in the works. Last week, CD Projekt Red announced that the popular video game would soon be in production. However, whether this was to be a movie or a television series was not clarified. The showrunners are a company named Anonymous Content. They are the creators behind shows like Mr. Robot and True Detective, making it more likely that Cyberpunk 2077 will be a series. This first issue in the series is making waves, likely due to its relevance to the movie and its affordability as a key comic. We tracked it at a high sale of $91 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $16.

#2: SPAWN #1 | IMAGE | 1992 | This book is consistently moving through the top 20 lists every week. There is rarely a week where we aren't writing about Spawn, and for good reason. It is hands down one of the most affordable, most popular, and reasonably found books in the aftermarket. Additionally, Call of Duty released its 6th season this past week, containing 8 Spawn skins, including Al Simmons and the Violator in his true form. This exposure has sent Spawn to the top of the aftermarket list! We tracked it at a high sale of $180 for a CGC 9.8 and a raw NM FMV of $29.

#1: DAZZLER #1 | MARVEL | 1981 | This book continues to dazzle its way up the charts! Last Monday, Taylor Swift attended a Kansas City Chiefs game with her friends. Need more exciting news? Well, what if we said her friends were Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Hugh Jackman (Wolverine), and Shawn Levy (Deadpool 3 director)... now it gets interesting! Of course, it is important to remember that Taylor Swift is good friends with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. Ryan Reynolds is good friends with both Hugh Jackman and Shawn Levy... So, it's likely that this is simply a group of friends all hanging out with each other and having a good time. Or, we can speculate that this must be confirmation that Dazzler will appear in Deadpool 3! Whatever side of the speculation you stand on won't stop the upward trend this book is experiencing once more! We tracked it at a high sale of $258 for a CGC 9.8 and a current raw VF FMV of $15.

And that's your TOP 10 COMICS OF THE WEEK for 10/9/23! Want to know what your comic books are worth? COVRPRICE.COM offers the ULTIMATE price guide with LIVE ungraded (raw) and graded sales for today's market trends. Manage your collection and track your portfolio's overall value with our robust tracking systems. With a free 10-day trial and several affordable price tiers, discover the value of your comics and sign up today! CHECK OUT THE TOP 10 ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!

YouTuber Se?n 'Jacksepticeye' McLoughlin is launching a new comic book and he, appropriately, sat down with ComicBook.com to discuss it. Jacksepticeye is one of the biggest YouTubers on the planet with over 30.5 million subscribers. While he's largely known for his gaming content, he has used his platform to successfully catapult himself into other business opportunities. He has been in films like Free Guy, he's launched a coffee business, and now, he's entering the world of comics. In collaboration with comics publisher Bad Egg, Jacksepticeye has created a new comic book series known as Altrverse which is based on characters that have existed on his YouTube channel for a number of years now. The comics will focus on the likes of Marvin the Magnificent and Jackie-Boy Man. The issue titled Void Silver is written by Alejandro Arbona and art by Suzi Blake and the issue known as The Somewhat Incredible Jackie-Boy Man! was written byJames Asmus with prologue story art by Connie Daidone and main series art by Megan Huang.

Altrverse will release on November 22nd, 2023, but fans can pre-order the comic between October 20th and October 23rd on Bad Egg's website. During this pre-order period, there will be a variant foil cover and there will be additional variant covers after the pre-order window. ComicBook.com sat down with Jacksepticeye to talk about bringing his creations to a new medium, his appetite for things beyond YouTube, the landscape of content creation, and much more.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

ComicBook: How did this comic book come to be and what is your involvement in it?

Jacksepticeye: I had these characters sort of on my channel for the last few years, and I think since 2016, we've kind been building out this sort of universe and it started building itself at one point, and then I was like, "Okay, I'll take a foray into this and do it a bit more legitimately." I started doing short films based on it. I did a thing last year where we made a game, and people could play it live through YouTube chat, and then we had pre-recorded stuff in that universe. So I was just trying to think of other ways we could incorporate characters into it, and tell their stories without just doing the same type of media all the time. Comic books have always just been really cool, and I never really had a story to tell for a comic book, so I was like, "Well, I'm not going to do one."

Now we have two characters, Marvin and Jackie, that I really thought that they fit the sort of comic book tropes, if you will, one being a very stereotypical sort of superhero story and the other one being a magician. So I thought it would be a cool way to flesh out their stories and give a bit of background on them and get people into their characters a bit more, a bit easier, because some of them is very flashy and very over the top, and I'm like, I don't really have the budget or the time to be able to film this in live action right now. So just a way of tapping into those characters a bit more.

My involvement in it is that we created the characters and gave them all the information, all the background, all the sort of lore that we had on them, and then we teamed up with some writers to flesh out their stories a bit more, and people who knew the comic book space a bit better than I did, and some artists who are... I mean, I'm not a writer or an artist, so I delegate to people who are much better in those spaces than I am.

We found some really good partners in that, and then they've been developing it over the last few months, and I've given feedback every now and then with some of my partners to see if the story's going in the direction we wanted.

And I assume you're very happy with how it turned out?

Yes, very, very happy.

It seems like the comic book medium is expanding in such a big way. Paul Dano, who played the Riddler, just wrote a Riddler comic. It seems like everyone is kind of coming in and putting their own stamp on all these characters and stuff. Is there anyone who already exists that you would like to do something with?

Not really, because I feel like any of the ones that I would be into are a Batman or a Spider-Man, like the two that have been done to absolute death. So probably not that. I think right now I'd like to just tap into my own characters a bit more and flesh those out and see where they go and what they can take on. It gives me a bit more free reign to do whatever I want. I am fascinated by manga and graphic novels and just being able to tell stories in that sort of medium. I think it's a really cool thing to be able to do. So I wouldn't say I'm exclusively just on my own characters forever. I'm sure some other ideas will pop up into my head that will fit a bit better for something else. But yeah, I just think it's a cool thing to be able to do and I'm glad that I'm able to tap into it so readily.

You've done YouTube, social media, music, games, comics, and even coffee. There's so much going on. I'm curious, do you have aspirations for other things? I feel like that kind of hits all the boxes. I don't know what other mediums or industries that are left to hit.

I do more than I realize I'm doing half the time, because until you ream it off that I'm like, oh yeah, I have tapped into all those different types of things. But I think right now, I'm trying to just focus on the ones like a comic book. I would like to do a narrative podcast at some point in that same universe, and a movie TV show style of thing is always on the table for me, because I just love live action. I love directing and cinematography and that whole space. So I think those are the ones that I'm most keen on right now. Maybe tap into a video game here or there, make something in that universe as well on a smaller scale.

But other than that, not really. I've done clothing, the coffee keeps me really busy, and I'm trying to be better about not taking on everything just because I want to do it, and actually focus on the ones I am doing and try and do them well, and not half-ass those and then take on a bunch of other stuff and half-ass that. I think we've got a good balance going right now and I don't really want to tip it.

I've never had coffee, but how did you enter that business?

Well, first of all, you're missing out if you've never had coffee.

I've heard.

I was really into the idea of doing something kind of out of the box, because everybody had kind of done merch and clothing and stuff on YouTube for a while, and I was trying to think of other things that I could do that weren't in that space. I really like coffee. Ever since I played Alan Wake on my Xbox years ago, I really started enjoying coffee and watching Twin Peaks and they were all about it. I was like, "I'm going to force myself to like coffee," and then I did. So after a while I was like, "Well, I would like to do something else." We threw around a few ideas and coffee kind of stuck with me. Then I came up with the name Top of the Morning for the coffee, because that's my slogan and an Irish thing and everything. So I was like, "That's just way too perfect to not at least try it." So we started talking to vendors and people who could help out with that, and it all just sort of snowballed, and now we just hit our third birthday a couple of days ago. It's been going very well and I'm very happy with it.

I like how you're like, "I saw people drinking coffee, now I want to drink coffee," and some people are like, "I saw my favorite movie character smoking a cigarette and I wanted to smoke cigarettes."

[laughs] Yeah, thankfully it's a much better vice than some other things. I watched Breaking Bad and I got really into meth.

[Disclaimer: This is just a joke]

Have you always had an appetite for these kinds of different mediums and being creative? I'm curious what you wanted to do as a kid growing up before you did YouTube and stuff, and maybe how that has evolved.

Yeah, it's interesting, because I'm someone who gets overwhelmed really easily, so you would think that the types of things that I'm doing would be... I mean, it is hard to get me on the phone sometimes for these projects. My brain is just frazzled with it all. But I think when I was younger, I just really liked games and I liked movies and I liked universes and worlds and stories and all that kind of stuff and really getting into Dragon Ball and different anime like that. So I think the idea of telling creative stories was always kind of in my brain. I didn't know that I was going to be the one trying to tell them, and I think because I got so lucky with YouTube and I was able to tap into any industry that I want and I have a built-in audience and I'm very lucky to be able to attempt a lot of different things. I think it just opened up the doors for me to be able to try a bunch of different types of mediums and see what works and see what doesn't.

I've lucked out in that I'm able to try the ones that I'm really into, but I'm not going to chance my arm at stuff if I'm not into something, you're never going to be able to get me to do it. So I am trying to only do the ones that I'm really into, and even then, it's hard to get me to focus.

Do you still get excited by these kinds of massive opportunities or does some of it almost feel kind of normal now? And do they also allow you to prevent yourself from burning out with the variety?

Yeah, I think it's kind of like a 50/50. I think it's more what you make of it, because you can get really burnt out on doing it, and I have had that in the past where I took on too much, and half of it I didn't want to do, and then I got burnt out. I think now, consolidating everything down into more manageable things and stuff that I'm really passionate about makes it a lot easier. I think it can become really normalized if you allow it to be.

I think I am the type of person that always tries to remind myself of where things started and what I had before and thinking about me as a kid and things like that. So, when I think about stuff now, I try to still get excited about it. I still get excited about games that are coming out and movies that are coming out and that kind of stuff really fascinates me. I think with any of these projects, I try to keep it fun, instead of trying to make it too much like work. If it's just work, then it does become normal and it becomes a bit boring to do and then I won't do it to the best of my abilities.

I can empathize with that. As someone who writes about video games, it is a very strange blend of hobby and career.

It's like even recording YouTube videos. I get to play video games as my job, and that's like the dream. I have a lot of friends who do it kind of like an office nine to five job, and I see that and they kind of get burnt out on it. So, I've tried to learn lessons from things like that to still enjoy what I'm doing. I was definitely in that rut for a few years a while ago. Hopefully, I'm in a better space now where it is just fun to do, and trying to capture that initial feeling with it.

Do you see yourself moving away from content creation to pursue some of these other mediums, whether it be comics or something else in a more steady manner?

Eventually, probably yeah. I think it's hard to imagine myself still doing the same type of content creation I've been doing when I'm in my forties, which is just over six years from now. But I also didn't think I'd be doing it 11 years into what I'm doing now. So I don't really know how things are going to change. It's kind of up to me whatever I want to do, but whatever is the most fun to do at that time. I think I'm the type of person that's never going to get sick of video games no matter how old I am, but whether I want to keep recording them, whether YouTube changes and let's plays are just not as fun to do anymore or whatever, I just go wherever my passions are. So if that ends up not being content creation anymore, then maybe I'll move on from it. I'll always try and do stuff that the audience can pivot towards and still interact with them and still be on social media and interact with people that way. I think I'll always be creating and always making things.

I think a lot of people would ask someone like you, "Oh, can you give me some tips on how to make my channel bigger, and how do I get started?" What advice would you give to someone who has had success? I think it's a lot more rare than someone who doesn't make it.

I think that's a good question. It is true that whenever I go on tour or a meet and greet or something like that, it's always like, "How do I get started?" And "What do I do to get bigger?" And things like that. But now, people have talked till they're blue in the face about how to do that kind of stuff on YouTube these days. And people like Mr. Beast have made content creation a lot more accessible in terms of how things work now and what does work and what doesn't. So when it comes to being a big creator and how you manage that, for me it came with a lot of trial and error, a lot of practice, a lot of experience. But I think I've gotten very good at pumping the brakes whenever I feel like I need to, and that I think not being afraid of your audience is one thing, and not being afraid of disappearing.

Obviously I'm in a much more privileged position, because my channel was pretty massive by the time I started doing that, and not a lot of people can afford to actually take a break from that grind. So for me, it was just realizing that I'm burnt out, figuring out what I want to do about it, taking some time off, going to therapy, getting certain things like anxieties and depressions and ADHD and all that stuff figured out and medicated. I think just trying to understand myself a bit more helped me come back to my channel a bit stronger and deal with other people. If I can't even handle myself, how am I going to handle an audience of 30 million people?

So I think just knowing your limits, knowing your boundaries, setting those for yourself and for the other people who are watching you, and then taking that time away when you need it and not sort of being a slave to that grind all the time that people seem to think. Working yourself until you're dead is not healthy and it's not smart to do. When you do start off, it's really easy to think, "I'm just going to work all the time because I have the time and I have the energy," and that's great, but you will burn yourself out eventually, so you need to prepare for that or get some barriers in place so you can kind of stem the flow of it a little bit.

You had a somewhat rapid rise on YouTube. Do you think that's still a viable thing or have things become a bit more saturated now. I'm not saying that was common before either, but is it even harder for something like that to happen now?

I think, technically, it's probably easier than it's ever been. I think there's just so many more people doing it that when it happens, it's less noticeable. I think when it was happening to me and Markiplier and PewDiePie and all those people of that generation, I think it was just so much more noticeable because there were way less people doing it, way less people of that size doing it. And when stuff was growing, it was almost like people just flocked to the bigger channels, and then they didn't really go outside of that, because they're like, "I'm just going to follow the thing that's getting really big and stay there. And if everyone's playing the same games anyway, why would I go anywhere else?"

I think these days, it's gotten a lot better because there's a lot more diversity of people doing it. There's way more types of content, there's way more styles of content, the budget and the production value and everything is way higher. It's just a different space now, I think, with the amount of people who are growing. I think there are people who are still growing to that size, if not faster, but they just kind of blend in because there's so many people growing at that speed now. I remember when I was at a million subs, I was in the top 50 channels on the platform, and now if you have a million subs, you're probably not even in the top 2000. There's so many people hitting that milestone all the time. It's kind of crazy to think that when you hit a million subscribers for some people now, it's not even that big a deal to most people. It's still a huge accomplishment to be able to do, but when someone hits a million, it's like, "Yeah, whatever."

But you still have channels hitting tens of millions every month all the time. I just think there's so many that it's hard to keep up with it.

Yeah, I mean, like you said, a million people seems like no big deal. You look at TikTok, those numbers on that platform just across the board are so inflated.

I know. I remember when getting a million views on something was considered the pinnacle, and that was huge. And now if you get a million views on TikTok, it's like, "I did okay." Unless you're getting 20 million views on TikTok, that's when you go viral now. But going viral years ago was like 400K views. It's crazy.

Are you able to truly process the idea of 30 and a half million people? I've always told people who are smaller and only bring 10 viewers in on Twitch or whatever. I'm like, "Imagine 10 people in the room with you." Now, 30 and a half million, I'd probably not tell someone that.

That's a big f**ing room. No, I think after the first couple of hundred thousand, I think it was like 600K or something, it all started to not make sense to me. I think because I've always been sort of a heavy metal person growing up, so I've been to a bunch of concerts. I watched Green Days' DVD from Milton Keynes and Avenged Sevenfold at the LBC and things like that, so I was always aware of how many people were at those shows. And you think of things like Woodstock or that massive... There's a Pantera concert and a Metallica concert from years ago that just has a massive sea of people. And then that's like, yeah, that was 500,000 people. And it's like, I don't understand any of this anymore.

So I think at a million, it was crazy. And then 3 million and 6 million, and then after 10 million, it all... A million people versus 3 million people kind of feels the same from my end. So it's kind of hard to wrap my head around that. And then you start doing panels that packs that have a thousand people in the room, and that's already just a crazy amount. And then I went on tour and I think the most we did was like 3,500 people in one room, and that was more people than I've ever seen in one place personally. So I have no idea what it's like to have 30 million people in one place. That's a country. It's not a channel.

What do you want to see from the future of YouTube and other creators on the platform going forward?

The only thing I want to see is that homegrown factor not disappear. Maybe that's just a really old school mentality to have, and maybe it's better off that it's not like that, because like I said, the production values and the type of content that's being produced nowadays is just, it's crazy. People are making full television shows and full movies and everything and documentaries just on their own with home cameras. It's wild to see where the platform has come.

When I started YouTube, the idea of someone in their bedroom making content and it being able to reach millions of people was always a really cool aspect to why YouTube worked the way it did. That sort of direct connection with people and the fact that you can watch something on Netflix or TV or go to the movies or something, and it's hard to find that sense of community when it comes to that content, and you kind of have to go somewhere else for it.

But YouTube was just creators and communities sort of melded together and that one, or that two-way street, being able to chat with each other. I really liked that aspect of why YouTube takes off, and being able to chat with people. And I like the sort of normal person vibe that YouTube can have, and it would be a shame to see if production values and everything kept skyrocketing and kept going up and up and more networks and more channels started growing substantially. It would be a shame to see that kind of disappear. I don't know if that will happen or not. Things usually go in swings. You go from big phone to small phone and now we want big phones again, and same with watch sizes and iPads.

So I think when it comes to YouTube as well, before I started, it was kind of like people were rising, they were homegrown, and then it hit a peak, and then it got back to a more honest place, and now it's hitting a peak again. It'll probably go back to a more honest, genuine, homegrown space again. Who knows? But again, I need to preface this now. Every time I say something, that's just what I think.

It's just the way things are, and if it doesn't go that way, I don't really care one way or the other. That's just what I like about YouTube, and that's what made me start in the first place. So I would like other people at home to still be able to see that and think, "Hey, I can do it as well." But if you're watching somebody that has a team of 50 people who are making stuff that costs 4 million dollars to make, it's kind of hard to relate to that as a person just watching the channel.

I think Rooster Teeth and stuff like that has always existed and they're a company, but those were almost the exception. That was kind of something that came from something very small and grew into something very big. But now it definitely feels like there are things that start as 'We are a company first,' which seems not as great, like what you're saying.

Luckily, YouTube is such a big platform that both things can exist at the same time. It's such a diverse ecosystem that we can all kind of do whatever we want. There used to be a misnomer years ago that it was like, "Well, if somebody does something, then I can't do it, because they stole all the views," and that's just not how the platform works at all. So thankfully, there's room for all of us to be able to grow and do our own thing at the same time.

The Five Nights at Freddy's movie is a few weeks away, I just wanted to get your general thoughts on that. We've probably seen everything they're going to show now at this point.

I'm cautiously optimistic. I would love for it to do well. I would love for it to be a great movie, because I think that that success story is such a fun thing to happen, and we've been hearing about a Five Nights at Freddy's movie for five years, and now it's finally happening, and it would be so sad if it was just boring.

I was talking to my friend Ethan about it on our podcast that we were like, "I think it's going to be bad." From my point of view, I think it's just not something that I'll vibe with, but I really, really want to. I want to go in and have it be either so goofy that I just have a great time, but I am that type of person that loves intense horror, so I would love to see it a bit more intense. But Five Nights at Freddy's is a game designed for teenagers and kids and stuff like that, so I understand why it is the way it is. I just hope it's not bad. Actually, if it's bad, that's at least still something. If it's bad or it's great, it's something. But if it's just in the middle and it's boring and it's just full of cliches, then that's going to be the saddest fate for it. But it's going to do numbers. It's going to be huge at the box office and all the FNAF fans are going to watch it and they're going to love it, and I think that that's why they made the movie.

I think then it's a guaranteed success. It was probably shot at a very, very, very, very low budget. It'll make its profit by a large margin.

Yeah. I think they said that it was just 20 million dollars to make, and they've already made that back with the pre-sales. We're probably getting the sequel green-lit as we speak. Two and three are probably in the bag already.

Then you can go and direct it. You can go put your own spin on it.

Hell yeah, I'll direct something stupid. I'll run it into the ground real quick!

Any other movies and games you're excited for the rest of the year? We're closing out the year here soon.

From a comic book point of view, we have Spider-Man 2 coming out. I got to play two hours of it a few weeks back as part of a preview event, and it was incredible. I watched the initial footage of it and I was like, "Yeah, it looks fun. I'll play it,". And then when I actually had it in my hands, I was like, "This is phenomenal." I can't go back to the first one now because it feels so slow and clunky. The second one is so much fun.

But on top of that, Alan Wake II is coming out, and like I said, that's the reason I started drinking coffee. I love Alan Wake, even though I'm fully aware that the first game is a repetitive mess, but it's so near and dear to my heart, and I never thought we'd get a sequel. And now it's a survival horror game that looks so intense, and I'm so excited for it. I think despite Spider-Man 2 being the bigger game, I think Alan Wake II is my most anticipated one, because it hits all the boxes that I love, and I just love Remedy. They're such a fun developer.

Dynamite and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products announced today that they have partnered to release a range of comic books and graphic novels inspired by some of Warner's most popular franchises and characters, ranging from the feature-film version of The Wizard of Oz to Hanna Barbera classics like The Flintstones and Jonny Quest to more contemporary favorites like Powerpuff Girls and We Bare Bears. The partnership will kick off officially in February with ThunderCats from writer Declan Shalvey. According to Dynamite, fans can look forward to a diverse range of stories featuring top tier writers, and gorgeous art! Some of those beloved characters have never had their own comic or graphic novel before.

According to Dynamite, the initial slate of titles planned to be released across multiple formats include ThunderCats, The Flintstones, The Powerpuff Girls, Space Ghost, Jonny Quest, The Wizard of Oz, We Bare Bears, with more to come. It doesn't sound like all of these will be standard monthly comics, with Dynamite promising that they will release with formats appropriate to the property.

"Warner Bros. has been at the heart of entertainment in America and across the world for an incredible hundred years, and home to so many beloved stories and franchises," said Nick Barrucci, Dynamite CEO and Publisher, in a statement. "We're incredibly excited to bring many of them with the biggest and most passionate fanbases back to comics or for the first time, as we work with WBD and wonderful creators to bring all-new stories to the fans!"

Shalvey (Alien, Deadpool vs. Old Man Logan, Old Dog) will be joined by fan-favorite artist Drew Moss (Gargoyles: Dark Ages, Vampirella/Red Sonja, Copperhead), and letterer Jeff Eckleberry to reshape and revitalize the franchise for comic books starting this February.

Per the release, ThunderCats aims to be a refreshing yet timeless take on the classic mythos and characters, pulling from Shalvey's ability to weave complex narratives alongside the striking visuals from Moss. The initial storyline is currently planned to delve into the earliest days on Third Earth, the world that the ThunderCats are forced to survive on after escaping their original home. With an origin approach in part, the title will explore untold histories and new challenges for Lion-O, Cheetara, and the rest of the group.

Shalvey will dig deeper into the iconic character relationships and push further on the science fiction underpinnings, while Moss is set to portray the wondrous environments of Third Earth and the visually engaging action set pieces. With Lion-O at the center, following his journey toward becoming a worthy leader, the team will work together, combining their diverse talents, attitudes and learning about the magical power of the Eye of Thundera. But will they be able to accomplish these goals and growth, with Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living's eyes set on them? With the franchise's trademark blend of action, drama, and touches of science fiction, fans will not want to miss this all-new approach.

Amid a raft of high-profile announcements timed to New York Comic Con, Dynamite Entertainment this week announced that The Boys co-creator Garth Ennis will take on the writing chores for an all-new James Bond series, celebrating this year's 70th anniversary of Ian Fleming's super-spy character by setting up a new status quo for Bond early next year. The new series will launch in January, and will take on a version that's closer to the darker, more grounded Bond from Fleming's novels rather than the movie franchise.

Dynamite sought out UK native Ennis to develop the project in the hopes of giving James Bond #1 the kind of gravitas and credibility that a book with that designation deserves. For his part, Ennis said that digging into the novels helped him crack the code.

"When I took a look at the Bond of the Fleming novels, as opposed to the larger-than-life figure from the movies, I saw a great deal more potential -- a much darker character in a more interesting world," Ennis said in a statement.

This new story, titled "Your Cold, Cold Heart," finds Bond dealing with a disturbing silent killer. A relic of the Cold War, the deadly compound Stalvoda -- roughly meaning "steel water" in Russian -- is thought to have achieved the impossible - the holy grail of arms manufacturers: is it possible to kill an enemy without inflicting any visible damage and leaving no trace whatsoever? Right as the weapon is perfected, though, it escapes the lab. MI6 naturally assigns their top operative to the hunt.

Given that concept -- "a relic of the Cold War" -- it certainly feels like the new Bond will move into the modern day, rather than being set during the time of the novels.

In addition to appearances from fan-favorites such as M, Q, Moneypenny, and Felix Leiter, Ennis plans to readers to new character Archie Tryon. Described as an eccentric, old veteran who enjoys strolls into the sea, the man brought the earlier formula out of the Soviet Union in the first place. Bond will go to him and get more than he bargained for, perhaps seeing a glimpse of his own future, and the first clues to unravelling a conspiracy that traces back deep into the heart of MI6.

Dynamite has joined artist Rapha Lobosco, who has previously taken on 007 with Benjamin Percy's Black Box and an issue of Ale? Kot's The Body, to draw the series. With other credits including Dynamite's two crossovers with Tim Seeley's Hack/Slash, Lobosco is the perfect match here with a great sense of character and storytelling.

The series will also feature stunning covers by the Eisner Award-winning Dave Johnson, known for his contributions to 100 Bullets, Detective Comics, Deadpool, Punisher, and more. In addition to 70 years of Bond, this announcement coincides with 10 years of Bond at Dynamite.

Ennis, who created Preacher and did celebrated comics like The Punisher and Hellblazer, is best known The Boys, currently being adapted as a blockbuster TV franchise for Amazon's Prime. Amazon, through its recent purchase of MGM, is also set to become the streaming home of James Bond.

JAMES BOND #1 is solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' November 2023 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in January 2023. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the issue with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more.

Keith Giffen, a legendary comic creator known for his work on Justice League International and Legion of Super-Heroes, as well as co-creating characters like Rocket Raccoon, Lobo, and Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle, has passed away at the age of 70. Giffen reportedly suffered a stroke on Sunday, October 9th, before passing away one day later on Monday, October 10th. In accordance with his family's wishes, Giffen's Facebook page broke the news, with a statement reading:

"I told them I was sick...
Anything not to go to New York Comic Con
Thanx
Keith Giffen 1952-2023
Bwah ha ha ha ha"

Born in Queens, New York on November 30, 1952, Giffen first broke into comics with the text story "The Sword and The Star" in 1976's Marvel Preview #4. That same year, Giffen and Mantlo co-created the now-famous Guardians of the Galaxy member Rocket Raccoon in Marvel Preview #7. Over at DC, Giffen had a lengthy tenure writing and illustrating Legion of Super-Heroes, which included co-creating the "The Great Darkness Saga" storyline with Paul Levitz. Across the early and mid 1980s, Giffen worked on characters like Doctor Fate, Amethyst, Aquaman, Lobo (who he co-created with Roger Slifer), and Ambush Bug (who he solely created).

"Comic books, for such a small, incestuous, inbred, little business--and I mean that in a good way--we take this job so seriously," Giffen explained in a 2000 interview with the Jack Kirby Collector. "All the time I was doing Justice League, even when it was number one and outselling everything DC had, there was not a day that went by that I was not pressured to take the humor out. "It's destroying the book." People would yank their characters out of the book. "I don't want Keith getting them. He'll make fun of them." And the deal I had with people was when they walk in the door of the embassy they're mine, when they walk out I will return them to you in the same shape they were when they came in. But some people couldn't handle the idea that Batman had a wry sense of humor, or that Beetle and Booster could be bumpkins. They totally missed the point of the book. With Ambush Bug it was basically comic book Candide; innocent, but broad. It was deconstruction of comics and inviting people to come look under the rug. Maybe pointing out things the companies didn't want you to know. Like when we did our spoof on Crisis, we told the truth: Crisis on the only Earth we're allowed to use. It didn't go over big. There were a lot of people who got their feathers ruffled. Lobo was originally meant as an indictment of the grim and gritty hero with a gun. To me they were villains who were doing the right thing for the wrong reason. But boy, so many people missed the joke."

In 1987, he, J.M. DeMatteis, and Kevin Maguire began their run on Justice League, which became known as the Justice League International era. The run filled DC's iconic super-team with a string of lesser-known superheroes, spawning beloved elements like Maxwell Lord, as well as the iconic "One Punch" moment. In later years, Giffen's work included being the breakdown artist on DC's 52 and Countdown to Final Crisis, and the writer on Marvel's Annihilation event. He also was involved with the first solo series for Jaime Reyes / Blue Beetle, as well as Green Arrow, Justice League 3000, Infinity Man, and Forever People.

Our thoughts are with Giffen's family, friends, and fans at this time.

The Dark Knight Returns actor Tom Hardy will team with beloved Batman writer Scott Snyder, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 writer Frank Tieri, and Fortnite artist Ryan Smallman for Arcbound, a 12-issue limited series launching in 2024, with an eye toward creating a shared "Arcbound universe." Arcbound will have its own booth at New York Comic Con this week, where the creative team behind the comic will hold a signing on Saturday from 4:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Snyder, Tieri, and Smallman will host a panel where they will dig into what fans can expect from this new world.

The first issue of Arcbound is coming in March, but there will be an ashcan edition available at New York Comic Con. Fans can get their hands on that at the Arcbound booth (#3063).

"Arcbound is set apart not just by its original concept and narrative, but also by the team that's breathing life into it," Snyder told THR. "Frank is one of the best storytellers I know. His imaginative talent is amazing, but he's also an incredible structuralist. Ryan's style is so kinetic, so full of energy and passion. And Tom has been responsible for bringing some of my favorite characters to life on the screen - he's a true creative force. So, having the chance to work with all three of them in building a world and story of this scope...it's hugely exciting. Because Arcbound is not just a comic; it's a narrative expression reflecting our times."

Snyder shared a behind-the-scenes photo to celebrate the announcement, which you can see below.

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A post shared by Scott Snyder (@ssnyder1835)

"I've always been drawn to the creative process in all aspects of storytelling - and with comics, I find it's a fascinating playground to explore," Hardy said. "A place where as long as you have a great creative team and the ability to illustrate, write, and discuss - you can build epic worlds together. Worlds you have the distinct freedom to shape, modify, redefine, dismantle and rebuild without the constraints of limited budgets and resources. The canvas is limitless, a vast expanse to explore the human condition, character depth, and boundless realms, all only limited by our collective imagination. It's an honor to have the opportunity to work alongside such industry legends as Scott, Frank, and Ryan in helping to bring the Arcbound universe to life. They have created an epic world that is as exciting to explore for those who enjoy comics as it is for those who create them."

Here's the official synopsis from The Hollywood Reporter, where the news was first reported:

The formidable corporatocracy, Zynitec, harnesses the unmatched energy of Kronium to assert its dominion across the stars. The Arcbound series chronicles the journey of Kai, a resolute Mediator Captain, tasked with maintaining Zynitec's lifeline to Kronium. However, as he grapples with the morality of his role, revelations about Zynitec's dubious past thrust him into a poignant quandary: to remain loyal to the empire or to confront the forces that molded him into a tool of oppression.

sThree years after having her previous lawsuit against POW! Entertainment thrown out of court, Stan Lee's daughter J.C. Lee has filed a new one against the company. Whereas the previous suit was an attempt to claw back the rights to her father's name and likeness, this time around, Lee claims that her stake in POW! has been diluted by a series of "suspicious" transactions. The suit also alleges that Lee has not received payments under a previously-existing intellectual property agreement.

The lawsuit claims that Stan and Joan Lee owned nearly 45% of the company when it was formed in 2001, according to Variety. J.C. Lee claims that a series of questionable transactions have left the Lee Trust (of which she is the sole trustee) with only 15% of the company. The suit alleges that Camsing International Holdings, the majority owner of POW! Entertainment, intends to sell its stake in the company.

While the suit does not stipulate to whom Camsing might sell it, Disney would be an obvious buyer, since they have invested significant money in acquiring the rights to use Lee's name and likeness in media and at their theme parks. The alleged sale plans are what reportedly pushed Lee to seek access to business records from Camsing and POW!, which she says she never got.

Lee also alleges she is is owed money both for the sale of Stan Lee merchandise, and in the form of an annual salary in the amount of $125,000 that was negotiated by her father on her behalf.

Toward the end of his life, Lee signed over his name and likeness rights, as well as intellectual property rights to all of his creations, to POW!. There have been lawsuits, both between Stan Lee and POW! and later between J.C. Lee and POW!, over payments and terms. Stan Lee Media, Lee's company before joining up with POW!, also tried and failed to sue Marvel in the 2010s to terminate the copyright transfers on numerous characters created or co-created by Lee.

In 2019, J.C. Lee sued to reclaim her father's name and likeness, saying that her father had signed over the rights in perpetuity to Stan Lee Media. The legal theory was that after Stan Lee Media went out of business, her father never properly reacquired the rights before selling them a second time to POW!, but Judge Otis Wright wasn't buying it. He sanctioned Lee and her counsel, finding that the case was both frivolous and filed for an improper purpose.

The Court sanctioned J.C. Lee in the amount of $1,000,000, while holding her legal counsel jointly and severally liable for $250,000 in sanctions. The sanctions were later waived on appeal, but Wright's ruling in favor of POW! stood.

Since the start of her feud with POW!, Lee has alleged vague "criminality" on the part of the company, at one point trying to sever ties completely with the Chinese firm. Her suit sought to revive arguments made in a lawsuit that Stan Lee launched and then dropped in the last year of his life. When Camsing bought POW!, Stan Lee had claimed that POW! ownership and Camsing had conspired to steal his name and likeness. He later dropped the case without explanation.

In the last years of his life, after the loss of his wife and with his own health failing, Lee appeared to be surrounded by people and entities with competing and sometimes apparently criminal interests and agendas.

Various representatives for Lee spent months going back and forth with each other, with the police being called to his home at one point. Allegations of elder abuse surfaced not long before his death, and Lee himself appeared to be barely conscious at several convention appearances, with his agents and business partners keeping him busy in spite of what fans thought looked like exhaustion and poor health. His longtime business manager Keya Morgan was charged with elder abuse in 2019, the result of a nearly year-long look into allegations made against him before Lee's death. Those charges ended in a mistrial, and a judge dismissed them in 2022.

Lee herself has been at odds with her father's various business partners, and appears to have spent some of the time since he passed away trying to get more control over his affairs. In 2019, she sued Lee's longtime associate Max Anderson.

The streets of New York are at war -- and to the victor goes the city. Ahead of the "Marvel: Amazing Spider-Man - Gang War" panel at New York Comic Con on Friday, October 13th, Marvel Comics has released new promotional artwork showing the major players of the crime-ridden crossover with art by Ryan Stegman (Superior Spider-Man Returns). The street-level event, which officially kicks off in November's Amazing Spider-Man #37 and Amazing Spider-Man: Gang War First Strike #1, spans issues of Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, and tie-in series Daredevil: Gang War, Luke Cage: Gang War, and Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu: Gang War.

After a mystery player hired the assassin Shotgun to take out crime lord Tombstone in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man #31, the super-crime landscape of New York has been on edge. When Gang War erupts, it's going to take Spider-Man and his own gang of superheroes -- including Miles Morales, Elektra's Daredevil, the Jessica Drew Spider-Woman, She-Hulk, Luke Cage, and Bailey Briggs, the spectacular Spider-Boy -- to save the city.

Stegman's artwork assembles the crime lords and super-criminals at war, including Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin; the Hobgoblin; Tombstone; Hammerhead; Madame Masque; Crime Master; Black Mariah; the Owl; White Rabbit; Ringmaster; and Tombstone's daughter, Janice Lincoln, a.k.a. the Beetle.

Marvel Gang War Checklist

Gang War First Strike: November 2023
Amazing Spider-Man #37
Amazing Spider-Man #38
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #12
Amazing Spider-Man -- Gang War: First Strike #1
Spider-Woman #1
Luke Cage: Gang War #1 (of 4)

Gang War: December 2023
Amazing Spider-Man #39 (special upsized issue)
Amazing Spider-Man #40
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #13
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #14
Daredevil: Gang War #1 (of 4)
Spider-Woman #2
Luke Cage: Gang War #2 (of 4)
Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu: Gang War #1 (of 3)

Gang War: January 2024
Amazing Spider-Man #41
Amazing Spider-Man #42
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15
Daredevil: Gang War #2 (of 4)
Spider-Woman #3
Luke Cage: Gang War #3 (of 4)
Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu: Gang War #2 (of 3)

Gang War: February 2024
Amazing Spider-Man #43
Amazing Spider-Man #44
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16
Daredevil: Gang War #3 (of 4)
Spider-Woman #4
Luke Cage: Gang War #4 (of 4)
Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu: Gang War #3 (of 3)

Gang War: March 2024
Daredevil: Gang War #4 (of 4)

Amazing Spider-Man - Gang War Panel at NYCC 2023

3:15PM - 4:15PM EST | Room 409

Marvel Comics Executive Spider-Editor Nick Lowe web-slings by to host a scintillating symposium on everyone's favorite wall-crawler - and the latest mess of trouble he's gotten himself into in the thrilling Gang War comics crossover! A war has erupted among the gang lords of the Big Apple, and only Spidey's hand-picked team of heroes (including Miles Morales, She-Hulk, Daredevil, Spider-Woman, and Luke Cage) can stop them. So join Nick, Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski, and an array of other arachnid aficionados including Zeb Wells (Amazing Spider-Man), Erica Schultz (Daredevil: Gang War), and Greg Pak (Deadly Hands of Kung Fu: Gang War), to get the lay of the land for this showstopper of a crossover! PLUS, stay to the end for an exclusive giveaway!

Vampire stories come in a wide range of approaches, but at their core they all share one thing: vampire stories are ultimately about humanity. Sometimes the aspect of humanity takes the form of abandoning it, with horrific tales of monstrous bloodsuckers that have no regard for the creatures they once were. Others, the story centers around the imitation of humanity, with vampires trying to find a way to exist in the living world undetected and still others center around the quest to become human again. It's the latter take on humanity that is at the heart of Operation Sunshine. Published by Dark Horse Comics and written by The Last Podcast on the Left hosts Henry Zebrowski and Marcus Parks--along with artwork by David Rubin, colors by K.J. Diaz, and letters by Ferran Delgado--the first issue sets up the unexpected journey of two vampire-like creatures known as "bugs," Hex and Steve, who find themselves embroiled in a quest to find a magical relic from an "OV" (original vampire) and to be cured of the vampirism in the process. It's a fun premise with a fresh take on vampire lore and while the execution is a little rough at points, the issue sets up a blood sucking horror story that feels just new enough to venture into the light with.

The first issue of Operation Sunshine is, narratively, pretty dense. From a practical standpoint, the issue not only has to world build and set up some of the story mechanics, but also has to introduce our primary characters, their conflict, and send it all off to the races. It's a big task, but it gets done, offering a quick overview of the idea of "bugs" and "OVs" all while simultaneously introducing Hex, an eternal teenager just trying to scrape by in contemporary New. York where she's lived for centuries at this point. The transition to the next primary character's story is a little imprecise, taking readers to Steve, an office worker who is himself a newly made bug who has found a way to continue his human life by claiming to have a "skin condition". He and Hex collide when he uses an app he created, Bloodpool, to get a blood delivery that ends up having something more with it: information about some of the scariest of the OVs which in turn leads to an elder vampire and a quest for a stone that could very well cure Hex and Steve, giving them back their human lives.

What works is the inventiveness of that story. While we're not deep into events yet, the issue offers a solid overview of this take on vampirism, one where there are those born as vampires, those who are created, and what seems to be some sort of sadistic hunter/hunted dynamic between the two. Humans, at least thus far, seem to be secondary to the story. This is truly a vampire's tale. What works a little less well is that the characters feel more like caricature than fully developed characters with stories worth caring about. Steve is very much a nerdy, outcast stereotype and the elder vampire who they end up working with, Anwar Gobin, is a very campy Dracula riff. it's distracting, though hopefully future issues will flesh both characters out and use their more stereotypical aspects to play for comedy. There's also a lot of clich?d language used by all the characters, which contributes to an uneven read.

Art-wise, the style is certainly one that might not appeal to all tastes but works very well with the tone of this story. It's a little rough, a little cartoon-like - an approach that particularly works for the transformation between the human guise and the more monstrous forms of the bloodsuckers. The colors also play beautifully into the line work, giving the story a gritty vibe that fits the setting and, at times, even adds some depth to the characters that the actual writing hasn't offered yet.

Operation Sunshine #1 is a solid enough start to a story. While the first issues suffers from some rough transitions and some small issues with characterizations--and is overstuffed with information straight out of the gate--the story is promising and offers a fresher take on the classic stories about vampires and humanity. It's horror with humor and even a bit of fun. It will be interesting to see where this all goes and whether Hex and Steve really can see the sun again.

Published by Dark Horse Comics

On October 11, 2023

Written by Henry Zebrowski, Marcus Parks

Art by David Rubin

Colors by K.J. Diaz

Letters by Ferran Delgado

Cover by David Rubin

The first oversized issue reads remarkably quickly, with Batman and the Court of Owls both learning of a new threat to Gotham through separate means, while a young boy travels to the city for revenge and instead is recruited by a dark eldritch Batman. City of Madness is notably a Black Label book, set apart from DC continuity to allow Ward maximum freedom in picking and choosing which bits of Batman lore he wants to use. The comic is set apart from DC continuity in a few notable ways - Alfred is still alive, Arkham Asylum is still standing, and Batman is still based out of Wayne Manor. This is meant to be a more timeless version of Batman, albeit one that is still dealing with modern threats and challenges. In the first issue alone, Ward tackles climate change, police brutality and corruption, and economic inequities, using them all as signs of a corruption that Batman is poorly equipped to tackle. Keeping that in mind, it makes sense that the secondary villain of the series is the Court of Owls, who have discovered a gate to another dimension's Gotham has been breached by flooding of an underground river.

Ward's artwork and coloring is as vibrant as ever, which is an interesting choice given that eldritch horror tends to use muted colors when depicted in comics. Ward's writing skills and dialogue (especially Batman and Alfred's narrations) remind me heavily of Grant Morrison and Dave McKean's Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on a Serious Earth, which seems to be deliberate as Ward has previously referred to this comic as a pseudo-sequel. The main issue with this comic is that, despite its 48 page count, there's still a feeling that Ward is trying to accomplish too much in this issue, from introducing the cast and enemies to touching on different iconic Batman locations and characters. Because of this, it feels like the comic is only just getting started when it comes to an end with a pretty compelling final spread.

While I enjoyed City of Madness, I feel like the comic doesn't have the compelling hook it did a few years ago. DC has leaned heavily on "alternate universe Dark Batman" as a trope in recent years and the prospect of another story in that vein just doesn't hold much appeal. Likewise, the current Detective Comics has really leaned into eldritch horror aspects and angles and this comic (while definitely pursuing a different corner of that genre) seems like it shares tonal similarities, at the least. Luckily, Ward is a strong artist and this comic book can be enjoyed solely on the merits of his artwork. Hopefully, the next two issues of the series pick up the pace a bit, because Ward has set the tone for an epic story but has relatively few pages remaining to tell it.

Published by DC Comics

On October 10, 2023

Written by Christian Ward

Art by Christian Ward

Colors by Christian Ward

Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Cover by Christian Ward

In what amounts to being an issue #0, Doc Ock finally manages to create his own star, even though he doesn't remember he was the one to make it. The villain's memories as the Superior Spider-Man are scattered, and he's unable to remember much of the time he managed to take over Peter Parker's body.

With a story by Dan Slott, Christos Gage manages to turn in a script that's an intense character study of Otto Octavius. Readers see just how big of an egomaniac the character is as he goes to excruciatingly difficult lengths to get what he desires. The story itself is nothing revolutionary, with Octavius inadvertently creating a monster he can't control. Thankfully, readers have that character study to fall back on. The examination takes a while to get brewing, but once this over-sized one-shot gets it wheels greased, there's no stopping the steamroller that is this story.

Perhaps most importantly is the murderers' row of an art team included on this series. Even though Bagley, Stegman, Ramos, and Camuncoli each have their own distinct style, the inking from Dell, Mayer, and Olazaba and colors from Delgado manage to tie this issue a well-oiled story that meshes exceptionally well when transferring from one artist to another.

Story-wise, Superior Spider-Man #1 is nothing to write home about. The device about setting the story in the past is something that's now be done ad nauseum at the House of Ideas, almost to the point where's its now a tired trope. Between the exploration of Octavius' psyche and an expertly-paced script from Gage and this introductory issue to a new Superior Spider-Man tale has a leg up on the competition this week.

Published by Marvel Comics

On October 11, 2023

Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage

Pencils by Mark Bagley, Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos, and Giuseppe Camuncoli

Inks by John Dell, JP Mayer, and Victor Olazaba

Colors by Edgar Delgado

Letters by Joe Caramagna

Cover by Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer, and Edgar Delgado

A new era of Avengers comics kicked off earlier this year under the helm of writer Jed MacKay and artist C.F. Villa. The new team, led by Captain Marvel, is pitted against a new threat called the Ashen Combine, who are the first of the Tribulation Events. The Ashen Combine has proved themselves to be pretty formidable, with each Avenger fighting a different member of the group. The latest issue of Avengers looks to bring this conflict to a conclusion, but the outcome also changes the roster of Earth's Mightiest Heroes with an interesting addition.

WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for The Avengers #6. Continue reading at your own risk!

The Avengers #6 comes from the creative team of Jed MacKay, Ivan Fiorelli, Federico Blee, and VC's Cory Petit. While the main roster of the Avengers are off fighting the Ashen Combine, Captain America (Sam Wilson) and Black Panther have infiltrated the Impossible City, which is the Combine's sentient, orbiting fortress. Our heroes fighting on the front lines systematically take down their Ashen Combine opponents, stopping their attacks on different cities across the globe. With the Combine defeated, Black Panther is able to detonate bombs that were keeping the Impossible City under the Combine's control. Now free, the Impossible City decides that it wants to repay the Avengers by joining their ranks.

The Avengers recruit their largest teammate ever

It's not often that a superhero team can count a floating city as one of its members, but now the Avengers can. The threat of the Ashen Combine may be over, but there are more Tribulation Events to come in the future. The only reason the Avengers know about the Tribulation Events is because of Kang the Conqueror, who warned them back when the series relaunched.

The Ashen Combine were originally the prisoners of the Impossible City, but they escaped and enslaved it after the Impossible City's creators disappeared. Exactly who these creators are will have to remain a mystery for now, but it appears Marvel is setting up the Impossible City to be the new headquarters of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Just imagine how helpful it will be to have a floating city at the Avengers' disposal. It's reminiscent of their previous base, the carcass of a dead Celestial, during Jason Aaron's run.

Marvel teases Avengers Twilight story from Chip Zdarsky and Daniel Acuna

Marvel released a teaser image for Avengers: Twilight, from the creative team of writer Chip Zdarsky and artist Daniel Acuna. It's unknown if this is an ongoing, miniseries, or even an event. However, more details will be unveiled at the House of Idea's "Next Big Thing" panel at New York Comic-Con taking place this week.

Avengers: Twilight marks Zdarsky's first Marvel work since his Daredevil run wrapped up earlier this year, and the writer will soon be juggling both an Avengers title and the Batman ongoing series for DC.

The Avengers #6 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

Legendary comics writer J.M. DeMatteis, best known for his work on Spider-Man and Justice League International but also, importantly, the co-creator of the Creature Commandos at DC, confirmed on social media that he had recently met with James Gunn. Gunn, who is in charge of DC's film, TV, and video games for the foreseeable future, is developing an animated project based on Creature Commandos, and reportedly met with DeMatteis -- himself an animation veteran -- to talk about progress. Both Gunn and DeMatteis characterized the meeting as a positive experience, with DeMatteis saying on social media that he thinks DC is "in great hands" under Gunn and Peter Safran's leadership.

The revelation came after James Gunn posted to Threads that he had met with DeMatteis. After a fan asked DeMatteis for his take, the writer tweeted, "James and I had a very nice conversation about Creature Commandos and other things...but that's all it was: a pleasant conversation. I'm not involved in any upcoming projects. Let me add that I think the DC TV/movie universe is in great hands with James Gunn. He's a fan. He's understands and respects the source material and the creators."

Gunn is a self-professed fan of Justice League International, an '80s and '90s run scripted by DeMatteis along with his frequent collaborators Keith Giffen on plots and Kevin Maguire on pencils. That run, which starred Guy Gardner and Booster Gold, and had a "workplace comedy" vibe that differentiated it from other superhero books, feels like such a perfect fit for James Gunn's sensibilities that we suggested he should make that movie over a year ago.

Gunn's DC Universe, which spans film, TV, animation, and video games, will kick off in earnest with Superman: Legacy, but before that happens, there will be a less ostentatious opening in the form of Creature Commandos, an animated series with ties to Gunn's The Suicide Squad and based on a concept that originated with DeMatteis and Pat Broderick in 1980.

The series will center on a team led by Rick Flag's father, and including Nina Mazursky, Dr. Phosphorus, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, G.I. Robot, and Weasel. It seems as though it will give background as to how Weasel came to be in the possession of Amanda Waller at the start of The Suicide Squad.

"Creature Commandos is based on the great team from DC," Gunn explained. "What we're doing with the DCU is, we are having animation tied directly into live action. Television, movies, and games all intertwine within the same universe. We're going to cast actors that are going to be able to play the characters in this as well as in other things, some of which we've already cast. I've written all seven episodes of the show, and it's in production. So that's the first thing, and I love it."

"IDW is a legacy brand with an incredible history in both licensed and original content," Aub Driver said in a statement. "Walking into the 25th anniversary of the company, I couldn't be more excited to bring my experience to the table. There are new initiatives coming that we believe the comics market is going to appreciate and there are new projects coming to the table that will only bolster IDW's publishing line."

IDW Co-Publishers Tara McCrillis and Mark Doyle had high praise for Driver joining the team as well.

"Aub comes to IDW with a wealth of Marketing & Publicity experience and a passion for the medium," McCrillis noted. "I'm confident that Aub and the team are geared to change the way IDW approaches Marketing. Working closely with our licensors, creators, and internal teams, Aub will be focusing on fostering marketing that will set the stage for greater consumer awareness, engagement, and most of all, excitement for the amazing stories our talent are telling."

Doyle added, "Comics and their creators deserve the best marketing possible and Aub is perfectly poised to make that happen because he loves comics. You can see it in the way he talks with talent, works with licensors and editors... his passion comes through in the way he approaches each project with a tailor-made touch."

IDW Publishing will have a major presence at this weekend's New York Comic-Con including signings with G. Willow Wilson for THe Hunger and The Dusk, Scott Snyder for Dark Spaces, Stephen Graham Jones for Earthdivers, and Bishop, Tom Waltz, Isaac Escorza, Esau Escorza, and Kevin Eastman for TMNT: The Last Ronin. They will also have two panels specifically about the lines with "Star Trek: Boldly Going with IDW Publishing," set to take place Friday, October 13th; and "TMNT: The Next Mutation of Turtle Power from IDW Publishing" happening on Saturday, October 14th.

Just as Rob Liefeld has announced a New York Comic Con-exclusive variant that pays homage to it, the original art for Liefeld's Heroes Reborn ad featuring Captain Americais headed to auction. The image, which has become a meme representing the excesses, absurdities, and ultra-stylized art of 1990s comics, features the Heroes Reborn version of Captain America, standing in profile with his face turned to the audience. The gigantic proportions of Cap's chest and shoulders have made it a target for the internet, but in a funny way, it's likely that "meme-ification" has made the image much more famous than it otherwise would have been.

The cover is featured over at Heritage as part of a comics original art auction. Other artists featured in the event include Jim Lee and John Romita, Jr. There is no starting bid or projected value assigned to the lot yet, but that's not surprising since bidding doesn't even open for two weeks. Liefeld confirmed for ComicBook.com that he sold the art in 1999, meaning that this is at least the second time the image will have hit the market.

"I just wanted to draw a big, bold Captain America. Here's the deal: They blew that up at the Heroes Reborn conference in New York City at Marvel Comics," Liefeld said when the Whatnot variant was announced. "Jim Lee and myself flew out to New York. That was the image and people kept saying 'Oh, look at that Captain America.' I didn't hear anything negative about that image until the 2000s. It was like somebody decided, 'I'll meme it. I'll do it!' I don't mind it either. It doesn't shake, rattle or roll me."

(Of course, an old video of Liefeld in an episode of Panels to Pixels suggests that Jim Lee actually said something about it before it got to Marvel, but Liefeld didn't have time to adjust it.)

Here's how the auction describes the piece:

Rob Liefeld - Captain America "Heroes Reborn" Promotional Illustration Original Art (c. 1996).

This is it... the most infamous comic illustration ever created! Love him or hate him, Rob Liefeld has made a name for himself in the comics industry as a superstar artist and creator throughout his 35 years in comics. Liefeld worked on Captain America for the "Heroes Reborn" event, which marked his return to Marvel after leaving the comic giant to form Image Comics. His art style has been the focus of debate for fans over the years, with this promotional illustration for the title being an overwhelming favorite of people's love/ire. The piece spawned countless memes and populates any Google search involving "Liefeld" or "Captain America". It is unlikely that any other piece in comics history has been more talked about or gotten more attention, especially since the age of the internet! Ink over graphite on Image Bristol board with an image area of 9.5" x 15.25". Rough upper right side edge, whiteout corrections/touch-ups, blue pencil in the lower right corner, and light handling wear. Signed by Liefeld in the bottom left corner and in Excellent condition.

The Nacelle Company and Oni Press are collaborating on a new line of comics and graphic novels centered on the former's iconic toy and animation properties. Oni Press is a multiple Eisner, Harvey, and Ringo Award-winning publisher, while The Nacelle Company is the global pop-culture powerhouse behind The Movies That Made Us, The Toys That Made Us, A Toy Store Near You, and more. Ahead of New York Comic Con, Comicbook.com can exclusively reveal that Oni Press and Nacelle will partner for the interconnected NacelleVerse featuring properties such as Robo Force and Biker Mice From Mars.

The NacelleVerse will officially kick off in NacelleVerse #0 launching in spring 2024. The oversized, 40-page one-shot will be written by Melissa Flores (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers) with art by Diogenes Neves (Realm of X, Suicide Squad), alongside more all-star artists from the upcoming NacelleVerse series. Speaking of those future series, they include Robo Force, Biker Mice From Mars, Sectaurs, The Great Garloo, and Power Lords. Comic book legend Mike Deodato, Jr. (New Avengers, The Flash) will provide a wraparound cover. NacelleVerse will also consist of interconnected animated series beginning with 2024's Robo Force and Biker Mice From Mars, produced in partnership with Ryan Reynolds.

"This fantastic partnership with Oni Press helps us expand our storytelling capabilities in a way that we know resonates with fans - through the limitless power of comics and graphic novels. Building upon the rich history of the many fan-favorite toy lines that populate the NacelleVerse and building a roadmap for fans to enter the interconnected world of our upcoming animated series, these series will be tailor-made entry point for longtime fans and new readers. Before anyone hits play on one of our series, they'll know exactly what the events leading up to the first fade are," said Nacelle Founder and CEO, Brian Volk-Weiss.

The giant-sized NacelleVerse #0 - featuring the first comic book appearances of many of the NacelleVerse's biggest heroes and villains - will be followed by Robo Force #1 (of 3), which will introduce the 22nd century world of the NacelleVerse in the first of a new slate of interconnected limited series from writer Melissa Flores. The debut comic series will chart the rise of Robo Force - a scrappy, overworked team of once-thought-obsolete robots who might just be Earth's last, best chance at survival - in the lead-up to Nacelle's upcoming Robo Force animated series.

More series will follow in 2024, featuring the adventures of Biker Mice From Mars, Sectaurs, The Great Garloo, Power Lords, and the entirety of the NacelleVerse's biggest and most beloved properties.

"Toys and comics have a long and storied history of mutual admiration and cross-collaboration. From Transformers and Micronauts to G.I. Joe and ROM, some of the most impactful comics stories ever told have drawn inspiration from the world of toys. Alongside our partners at Nacelle and our amazing cast of creators, we're working to craft the next chapter in that time-tested legacy," said Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson. "Having seen firsthand Nacelle's exciting and ambitious plans for the future, I know toy fans and comic readers alike are going to have a lot to look forward to in the NacelleVerse."

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Avengers and to celebrate, Marvel is teaming up with livestream shopping platform Whatnot to give one lucky fan a chance to join the team -- at least in an Avengers comic. One fan will be immortalized on the cover of their very own Marvel Avengers comic.

According to Marvel and Whatnot, the winning fan will be depicted on the cover of the custom Marvel Comic alongside Iron Man, The Hulk, Captain America, and more while working with Marvel writers to shape the story itself. The book will be printed and released as a limited, collectible run with multiple cover variants each illustrated by superstar Marvel artists. For those attending New York Comic Con, fans will want to check out the Marvel Giveaway Livestream in partnership with Whatnot on Thursday, October 12th at 2 p.m. ET. Those not in attendance can tune in live to watch on Marvel LIVE! At New York Comic Con over on Marvel's YouTube or Twitch channels.

To enter the giveaway, fans can use the Whatnot app by navigating to the Marketplace tab and clicking Drops. Then, just click into the Marvel x Whatnot drop-card and click enter. The giveaway is free to enter, but you'll need to enter before October 15th at 6 p.m. ET. You can check out the complete rules here.

But even if you don't want to join up with the Avengers, the livestream event is still fun for Marvel fans. During the event, Jordan Hembrough will be showing off rare collectibles that will be given away on Whatnot. Fans must be in the Whatnot stream to win via the Whatnot app.

Rob Liefeld Recently Revealed Whatnot Exclusive Captain America #1 Cover

Last month, legendary Marvel creator Rob Liefeld revealed his Captain America cover homage for Captain America 1. The cover is a Whatnot exclusive for New York Comic Con features a reference to the infamous Heroes Reborn cover.

"I just wanted to draw a big, bold Captain America. Here's the deal: They blew that up at the Heroes Reborn conference in New York City at Marvel Comics. Jim Lee and myself flew out to New York. That was the image and people kept saying 'Oh, look at that Captain America.' I didn't hear anything negative about that image until the 2000s. It was like somebody decided, 'I'll meme it. I'll do it!' I don't mind it either. It doesn't shake, rattle or roll me," Liefeld told ComicBook.com. "I'll tell you this, I did not do an homage to that cover for 27 years. I just did one. I finally agreed to do an homage of that Captain America cover for the new Captain America. For the first time at New York Comic Con. You will be getting it for the first time at New York Comic-Con. I'm not sure if they told me there's a foil edition of it. So, we've tricked it out. You didn't know that I was going to give you that answer when you asked that question and I didn't know you were gonna ask that question."

The Marvel Giveaway Livestream in partnership with Whatnot takes place Thursday, October 12th at 2 p.m. ET. You can watch the event on Marvel LIVE! At New York Comic Con on Marvel's YouTube or Twitch channels and enter to win the Avengers giveaway via the Whatnot app.

Writer Greg Pak and artist Giulia Giacomino will launch a new, ongoing comics series based on the beloved Disney movie Lilo & Stitch. Set following the events of the iconic 2002 animated film, Experiment 626 -- the alien also known as Stitch -- has found his place in Hawaii with his 'ohana, which includes his best friend Lilo, Lilo's older sister Nani, Nani's boyfriend David, the aliens Dr. Jumba and Agent Pleakley, and social worker Cobra Bubbles. According to Dynamite's announcement, "With the support of this extended found family, Lilo and Stitch are learning to somewhat moderate their sometimes destructive impulses with a new sense of responsibility."

That is, until a new threat comes hunting for Stitch in the form of mysterious, giant robots seeking samples of Stitch's DNA for their own nefarious purposes. The series' main question is, will Stitch be able to protect his home and loved ones? And how can he ever be reunited with his 'ohana if his presence always seems to endanger them?

"The Lilo & Stitch movie blew me away back in the day with its gorgeous, organic animation and its hugely fun sci-fi elements," said Pak in a statement. "But above all else, I loved its focus on the everyday struggles of an incredibly relatable family on the edge and a little girl and a little monster who somehow manage to save each other. It's a thrill to have the chance to work on this new series with this tremendous team."

The kickoff to this first American Lilo & Stitch comic series features covers from four notable artists. David Nakayama delivers an incredible surf's up scene of the titular duo; Joshua Middleton depicts a quieter moment of embrace back on the beach; Jennifer L. Meyer's ethereal, dream-like style showcases the beautiful landscapes of Hawaii and Stitch's rocking guitar skills; and Craig Rousseau contributes a cool color bleed cover.

Lilo & Stitch #1 is solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' November 2023 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in January 2023. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the issue with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more.

In 2024, Dynamite Entertainment and Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original animated series with new stories...and spinoffs. In January, Weisman will work with artist Pasquale Qualano on the spinoff series Gargoyles Quest. The story will play off the events of Gargoyles #7, which reintroduced Demona and revealed the backstory that served as the driving force for the recent Gargoyles: Dark Ages miniseries. Now, she finds herself with a new mission: if she's able to take possession of the fabled "New Keys to Power," a set of ancient, magical artifacts, she will be granted with unimaginable and horrific powers.

Demona will be joined by her former partner in power and love, Goliath, the Manhattan Clan's powerful leader. Of course, Goliath will have the support and backup of the clan; beloved warriors of the night like Hudson, Brooklyn, Lexington, Broadway, and he and Demona's daughter, Angela. Their pursuit will be trying, as Demona somehow manages to always stay one step ahead of them.

"We all know Demona has it out for the human race, so the big question isn't, 'Why does she want the Three New Keys to Power?' but 'How is she going to use them to destroy her perceived enemies, i.e., humanity?'" Weisman said in a statement.

Weisman, who created Gargoyles and also has a following for his work on Young Justice, The Spectacular Spider-Man, and other projects across animation, comics, and beyond, is joined by Pasquale Qualano, known for titles like Dejah Thoris, Sonjaversal, DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War, and other recent hits starring Vampirella and Red Sonja. Letterer Jeff Eckleberry serves as the letterer, creating a consistent look across Dynamite's line of Disney comics.

According to a press release by Dynamite, editor Nate Cosby spent a lot of time figuring out the perfect fits for variant covers on the project. Clayton Crain's unique style is the perfect fit for the Manhattan Clan, capturing their nighttime setting and powerful figures. Jae Lee and colorist partner June Chung are back, following their run on the preceding flagship series. Lastly, Dark Ages interior artist Drew Moss continues his contributions with covers in the hit "color bleed" style. Each variant on the series also features cardstock covers.

Gargoyles Quest #1 is solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' November 2023 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in January 2023. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the issue with their local comic book retailers and digital platforms.

A new era of Carnage will dawn on the Marvel Universe in November when Marvel Comics launches a new Carnage series from writer Torunn Gr?nbekk and artist Pere P?rez. While the Venom symbiote is getting to know a new host over in Marvel's ongoing Venom series (also penned by Gr?nbekk), the new Carnage series sees the Carnage symbiote returning to the human it knows best, Cletus Kasady. While away, Carnage has been trying to rid itself of any weakness. One might assume that a reunion with Cletus would result in a killing spree, but things are more complicated than that.

ComicBook.com spoke to Gr?nbekk about the new Carnage series and what she has in store for the symbiote side of the Marvel universe. Here's what she told us about Carnage's quest for godhood.

Jamie Lovett, ComicBook.com: If someone's jumping into this series, what might they want to know about what Carnage has been up to recently?

Torunn Gr?nbekk: I think the main thing you need to know is that Carnage has been slowly trying to rid himself of any weaknesses, to the point where he's playing with the idea of being a god and maybe killing some gods. Is that the next level? And Cletus Kasady is not necessarily on board with that idea, but that's the main thing.

The announcement for this series made a big deal out of how this is a reunion for Cletus and Carnage. Why is that such a big deal? Venom seems to change host every other month. Why is this coming back to Cletus such an event?

Unlike a lot of the Symbiotes, Carnage and Cletus are intertwined in a very specific way, and I can only speak for myself here, but the thing that made me fall in love with Carnage was certainly Cletus. He's the most interesting part and I think in a lot of ways, Carnage knows that. Speaking to readers too, I think people feel like Cletus and Carnage, they're best together. We tried Carnage and he's done a bunch of other things, but we do bring Cletus back in a very specific way. I'm not sure how much I should say, but this is sort of a love letter to the original Cletus in many ways, and I do hope that people who enjoyed or fell in love with Carnage for Cletus will enjoy the series as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

You mentioned finding Cletus to be the most interesting part of Carnage. Can you talk a little about that? Because I feel like under the wrong writer, the impression can be he's a serial killer who likes to kill people, the end. What do you find more interesting about him that makes you want to write about this character and dig into him?

I think the thing is, he is a serial killer who likes to kill people. I'm not sure it's "the end," but it's certainly there. Going back and reading through a bunch of the '90s Cletus Kasady and Carnage comics, it became apparent that that is the throughline, the ode to the serial killer who likes to play with his food, and I suppose what's interesting is Cletus has always wanted to kill people, but no one ever gave him like, "Oh, it's because of his mother that he only kills women with blonde hair because blah, blah blah blah." He just enjoys the killing part, and I think the playing part, the playing with his food, and the victims and everything.

I do think he is the most interesting and believable serial killer in the Marvel universe. What I'm trying to do is, what do you do when the challenge is gone? What makes Cletus, Cletus? Because Carnage has been slowly taking away all the weaknesses, absorbing things to make sure that he can withstand fire and heat and sound, all the things that used to be a problem, and if he's invulnerable, is the challenge going to be there anymore? There must be a reason why he didn't go around killing ants before, right? Because there's no challenge to it. So, what's going to happen if you make him into a god? And what kind of a god would Cletus Kasady be? And for whom?

That's what we're playing with, the idea of what is a Carnage god, and how would that apply to the world today? I can say we're bringing Cletus back from the '90s. How will he feel about the world today, that it has, in many ways, been recreated in his image since the last time he was conscious?

You've written for Thor for Marvel. Has your experience working on those literal, fully formed gods affected your approach to Carnage asking these questions about his own pseudo-godhood?

Oh, absolutely. I think the thing you realize very fast when you're trying to write any mythology in anything is the limitations to godliness because no one has the actual powers of what we would consider the Christian God. Everyone has limitations and they are all failing. I suppose you can say that about the Christian God as well. If he had all of these powers that we can attribute him with, then why the fuck are we doing so poorly? That's the question.

I suppose when you work with Thor and everything, you get a sense they have to have something that's theirs that they care more about, and they feel a certain responsibility for. I'm trying to figure out what the scripture is according to Cletus. Who would look at Cletus Kasady and say, "Well, that's my god"? We try to answer that without being too cultish or literal about it. I feel like this is the most relevant comic for the time we're living in many ways. My approach to it is more about Cletus poking fun at patterns of humanity, the things we get obsessed with, the things we seem to consistently fail at, and expose that through his -- well, we're back to murdering -- his many, many murders because there will be some murders.

We have seen that cultish take on Carnage before. Can you talk more about how this take is different?

Well, it is the mystery of it all. And I think he's trying to create faith because that's what godliness is all about. To have faith, you have to have a mystery of some kind. Someone has to be, like, "No, I believe this thing," which makes it not literal but all about who will be tempted, who will be interested.

The thing is, Cletus Kasady makes some good points. That's what we're trying to get to. And he obviously does so in horrible, horrible ways. But the idea is to try to get around to people going, "Well, I mean, I can see it. I can see the scripture according to Carnage."

I think the team is amazing, the pages look stunning, and the subtlety of it all might be lost in all the blood and gore, but I do hope it's there. I do hope people will read it and think, "Well, there is something here." Carnage makes some points, is what I'm saying.

What atmosphere and tone are you and the art team trying to create? Are we looking a horror story? Something more noir? More action?

I would say we're going a little bit '90s. More realistic. There certainly are some symbiote nonsense horror pages. We have people being ripped apart. We have all the good stuff. But visually, I think it reads more '90s realism in many ways. And Pere, he gets it. Every single page is exactly where it's supposed to be. And our main -- I suppose you can say hero in this, I'm not sure what team we're playing on, at this point -- but we have Flash Thompson as our Carnage main adversary. Flash is one of those characters that can be a little too smooth, but Pere nails the expressions and the moodiness of it all. It's a joy, is what it is.

How would you say that Carnage is different from Venom? Because Venom now gets classified as an anti-hero, and I don't think anybody would use the word "hero" even with "anti" in front of it to describe Carnage. What is the separating factor between the two of them in your mind?

That's an interesting question. Venom, for the most part, is a hero who draws his own lines. Sometimes they're a little further out than you might want them to be, but he's also got a lot of love and respect for his host, especially in this run we're doing now. There is certainly a lot of care for both Dylan and Eddie. He misses Eddie. And I think Venom, in general -- if you look way beyond good and bad -- is not destructive in essence, while Carnage is. But there is certainly a lot of love between Carnage and Cletus, I would say, too. But in essence, Carnage is destructive while Venom is not.

You're also writing Venom, where Black Widow is coming in and getting that symbiote. Is this Carnage series intertwined with what's going on there? Are these characters on a collision course, or is it too early to talk about where those roads lead?

I don't want to say too much, but at some point, if you pay attention, there will certainly be some things. I think it makes complete sense to play around when you have the opportunity to do so, which we do. The two stories are set at the same time, in the same city, the same place, and you will certainly get a feel of that. Surely.

This may be getting into spoiler territory, but you mentioned two questions posed in this series: what is Carnage like as a god, and what happens after the challenge is gone for him? Can you offer any hint or tease as to what the answers might look like when he starts finding answers to those questions?

Well, I'll say that Carnage, the symbiote, begins the series by having these questions asked by -- someone asks him these questions. "What kind of god would you be if you were a god?" He doesn't have the answers. That's why he turns to Cletus Kasady, to get the answers, and Cletus takes on the challenge of figuring out what is scripture according to Cletus Kasady, or to Carnage, with passion. He really goes for it to try to figure it out.

I don't want to say too much. We do play around with the idea of faith and God and what that means to people now because we do live in a very interesting time when a lot of people are losing their faith, but they're still looking for spirituality. If the Marvel universe was real, and we knew that gods were real, and we had that confirmed several times, people would certainly turn to the gods they could find. But having said that, I do feel, in general, even though we are playing around with scripture and mythology and everything, it is, more than anything, a very human story. It's very human-centric, as that's what I like to do.

To me, I think this is the most relevant and interesting thing I've ever written for Marvel, and I sincerely hope that people will come along for the ride, even if you don't like Symbiotes. Trust me, there's some symbiote nonsense, but as long as you can get past Carnage throwing up a person, go with it, don't overthink the symbiote nonsense, and enjoy the other stuff.

Carnage #1 goes on sale on November 15th.

One of the few mutants still walking around New York City, Wolverine is hoping to take Orchis down once and for all. To do that, however, he'll need a little help; help that will arrive in the form of Captain America. In a new preview released by Marvel, Wolverine #8--due out this coming New Comic Book Day--will show the eponymous mutant team-up with Steve Rogers as the two hope to squash the anti-mutant conglomerate.

In the preview from the House of Ideas, the two meet up at the bar and Wolverine explains how he's managed to avoid capture by Orchis so far.

The issue is the second in the Last Mutant Standing story arc, one that leads directly into the highly anticipated Sabretooth War arc starting in January.

"It's a war decades in the making and it kicks off when Sabretooth revives a deadly tradition -- with some of Logan's loved ones in the crossfire. Only this time, he has an entire army behind him," Marvel previously said of Sabretooth War. "Get ready for the showdown to end all showdowns: Wolverine vs. Sabretooth! It's been years since these heavy hitters have crossed paths in the Marvel Universe, but as Krakoa falls, so rises Sabretooth -- and he's out for revenge! They threw Victor Creed in the Pit, but he's free and, wielding an army of Sabretooths, will prove once and for all why he is Logan's ultimate nemesis."

The full synopsis for Marvel's Wolverine #38 can be found below.

Wolverine #38

"REUNITED--CAPTAIN AMERICA AND WOLVERINE! You know those old friends, the ones that go way, way back who you can always rely on? That's STEVE ROGERS to LOGAN, whose friendship goes back to WORLD WAR II! It only stands to reason that as WOLVERINE faces the fallout from FALL OF X, that CAPTAIN AMERICA has his six! But as ORCHIS rises and LEGACY HOUSE takes advantage of the situation, who will fall? LAST MUTANT STANDING continues!"

Written by: Benjamin Percy
Art by: Juan Jose Ryp, Frank D'Armata
Cover by: Leinil Francis Yu, Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Page Count: 28 Pages
Release Date: October 11, 2023

Wolverine #38 is due out at your local comic shop on Wednesday, October 11th.

Jonathan Hickman begins his next Marvel Comics saga in G.O.D.S. #1, a title with a controversial lead-up due to its high price point and opaque prelude vignettes. Despite all of that, it's hard not to anticipate the next project from the writer behind the House of X/Powers of X reboot of the X-Men and the recent reinvention of the Ultimate Marvel universe, especially when he's teaming with a powerhouse art team like the one on G.O.D.S., that being artist Valerio SchIti and colorist Marte Gracia, who previously teamed on A.X.E.: Judgment Day. G.O.D.S. #1 meets and subverts expectations, leaning into some familiar Hickman tropes while shining the narrative spotlight in unexpected places.

G.O.D.S. #1 continues Hickman's fascination with the making and unmaking of universes that has colored much of his Marvel work from his Avengers run through Secret Wars and, most recently, Ultimate Invasion. The plot involves an upstart mage named Cubisk Core attempting to summon elder gods with the power of a dying universe while ranting about how the creator of this universe put them all into boxes that he's going to free everyone from. A wide array of Marvel Comics characters assemble to stop the rogue magician, with Doctor Strange taking a prominent role among them. However, it's G.O.D.S.'s new additions to the Marvel tapestry, the agents of The-Powers-That-Be and The-Natural-Order-Of-Things, who run the show. Wyn, Avatar of The-Powers-That-Be, is the main protagonist. While the Marvel heroes and the Centivars (servants of The-Natural-Order-Things) go for a direct approach to solving the problem, Wyn uses lateral thinking to trick Cubisk into defeating himself.

That approach is emblematic of Wyn's personality. He's immortal and has lived in his role of Avatar for a long time. He's gotten very good at it, even if he has come to hate it and grown jaded, especially after his wife, Aiko, divorced him a decade ago to take a promotion with the Centivars, who happen to serve his master's hated rivals. This has all given Wyn a too-cool-for-superheroes demeanor that masks a romantic heart. Especially when factoring in the long coat, he feels like an antihero shaped from the same mold as John Constantine, though acting from opposite origins: Wyn being an avatar of the powerful while John is a working-class hero.

G.O.D.S. #1 features familiar swings from Hickman as he drops phrases like "Babylon Event" into the mix without explanation and expects readers to roll with it. It's an effective worldbuilding tool for a preexisting shared universe since it gives the impression that these Centivars, Avatars, and their masters always existed, even if no one has mentioned them until now. Out of all Hickman's Marvel work, it is most reminiscent of SHIELD in that it creates a hidden history as told through the rivalry of two warring factions.

But for all of that, the boldest thing G.O.D.S. does is spend eight pages on a conversation. It's the talk between Wyn and Aiko that leads to their divorce. Through dialogue, it becomes clear that they love each other. Yet, neither is willing to lessen themself to be with the other, and their respective patrons are unlikely to let them get away with remaining together in their current functions. The conversational sequence relies heavily on the nine-panel grid to convey the regular cadence of the discussion but also applies a polyptych technique that both allows for a slow, lingering sense of time's passage and creates the impression that SchIti is panning his shot, dragging the reader's eye across the pages horizontally, and inviting readers to take in the moment fully. With Gracia's colors turning the lighting up to dramatic levels, it creates the atmosphere of a conversational drama. You have to respect the confidence it takes to put that brand of character-focused storytelling, especially involving two entirely new characters, into a $9.99 superhero comic, and the strong execution keeps it from feeling too indulgent.

Schiti and Gracia apply attention to immersive detail throughout the issue. As Wyn travels from one corner of the universe to another on his quest, the artists vary the qualities of each page's gutters, going from the slick yellow of the Collector's showroom to gnarled roots more appropriate to the Contemplator's Garden, taking a holistic approach that ensures the comic itself feels like a part of the story instead of a window to observe it through.

G.O.D.S. #1 ends where it begins. The issue starts with a conversation between Doctor Strange and Wyn about the tiresome war between good and evil and how Wyn is too old and weary to tell the difference between the two sides anymore. The issue's conclusion replays that scene and extends it to include a kiss that seemingly reminds Wyn of everything he'd forgotten, instantly lifting the weight from his appearance and bringing a rogueish smile to his face. That kiss and Wyn's reaction, as realized by SchIti and Gracia, undercuts the hyperbolically high stakes presented throughout the rest of the issue and feels like Hickman playfully winking at the reader, as if to peer through all the familiar trappings and stakes of the war between good and evil to smile and say, "Cheer up, we're having fun." If that's the energy readers can expect going forward, G.O.D.S. should remain a fascinating and unpredictable experience.

Published by Marvel Comics

On October 4, 2023

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Valerio SchIti

Colors by Marte Gracia

Letters by Travis Lanham

Cover by Mateus Manhanini

In this episode, the ComicBook Nation Crew reviews new horror films The Exorcist: Believer and Pet Sematary: Bloodlines as well as the much-anticipated premiere of Marvel's Loki Season 2. PLUS: Reactions to Gen V Episode 4, a full preview of WWE's Fastlane event, and the newest comics!

The Exorcist: Believer Review

In his 2-star review of Exorcist: Believer, ComicBook Nation host Kofi Outlaw said the following:

Exorcist: Believer captures the "legacy" of the original in name only - even after dragging the original film star Ellen Burstyn back into the franchise... an unbalanced mess of a story, that doesn't ever seem to know where to put its focus... The Exorcist: Believer feels like it will go down as an odd and misguided attempt at a direct sequel - one that fails to provide any new soul to the franchise...

Loki Season 2 Review

In her Loki Season 2 review, ComicBook.com's Nicole Drum said the following:

Loki may be one of the MCU's most innovative and significant offerings, and Season 2 of the series certainly maintains the spirit of the first season and pushes not only Loki's story but the future of the MCU forward. But like the Sacred Timeline itself, Loki Season 2 shows signs of coming apart in places with little bits that could stand refinement, reconsideration, or even just a strong bit of editing. Season 2 definitely doesn't suffer from some of the pitfalls that would make people continue to question if superhero fatigue is real or not, but through characterizations, pacing, and too much self-awareness, it definitely feels like a very different show. It's by no means bad, but it certainly feels like most of the fun will be in digesting each episode after the fact, rather than taking it in for what it is just while watching.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

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