Rumors are the lifeblood of the aftermarket community. Well, that and first appearances. Both propel this list as the market divides its attention between the Ultimate Universe and what's to come. The Sentry pops up once again, we get a new version of Spider-Man, AND a Galactus-level threat is preparing to decimate the Marvel Universe. Of course, Deadpool 3 news and rumors are still elevating books, as many fans are resting their hats on the project. We detail all that and more in this week's Top Ten!

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: CAPTAIN MARVEL #5 - RUSSELL DAUTERMAN (1:25) | MARVEL | 2024: Marvel has been hyping the Undone, a Galactus-level threat, for months. Finally, the Undone has made its debut, which didn't disappoint! Dauterman rang in the occasion with this vibrant 1:25 variant featuring iterations of Captain Marvel, both past and present. It will take their combined might to take down the Undone should they live up to the hype! We tracked it at a high sale of $165 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $145.

#9: THE SENTRY #1 | MARVEL | 2000: Poor Steven Yuen. Robert Kirkman stated he would be playing the titular character of Sentry in the upcoming Thunderbolts movie. That was shot down, with Yuen leaving the project. A cloud hung over the film for months until recently. Now that filming has begun, the secrecy surrounding the Sentry has hit new heights. We don't know if he will be in the film. The rumors he will not only appear but will be the main villain are pushing this book into the aftermarket. The Sentry is an interesting character and could be a STAR in the MCU. Fans are grabbing up his first appearance before any more news, and rumors propel it even higher. We tracked it at a high sale of $350 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a raw NM FMV of $89.

#8: NEW X-MEN #114 - DIRECT EDITION | MARVEL | 2001: If you recall, you may have seen this book on this list now and again for months. The reason is that it features the first appearance of Cassandra Nova, the rumored villain for Deadpool 3. Fans have dissected every inch of the trailer and have landed on Cassandra Nova as the culprit behind the madness. There has been a heavy rumor that actress Emma Corrin will play the character since late last year, and those rumors persist to this day! We tracked it at a high sale of $160 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a raw NM FMV of $15.

#7: ULTIMATE UNIVERSE #1 | MARVEL | 2023: The Ultimate Universe is alive and well, thanks to Ultimate Spider-Man and the smashing follow-up that is Black Panther. Fans have begun to look to the past; however, they are returning to the launch point for the new Ultimate Universe. That falls upon this book, which features the first cameo for the all-new Maystorm, a character growing among fans rapidly. It's received less attention than the previously mentioned books, but its aftermarket has been extremely healthy. We tracked it at a high sale of $135 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $27.

#6: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 - MARCO CHECCHETTO - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2024: It's incredible to see this book maintaining its trajectory week after week. It speaks to fans' interest in the character, relaunch, and series. Issue #2 is hot out of the gates, which is a good indicator this series has legs. After the constant flashes in the pan, it's great to see fans and collectors warmly embrace a pillar of the comic community! We tracked it at a high sale of $248 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $84.

#5: ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #1 - STEFANO CASELLI - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2024: Despite being the hottest thing since sliced bread, this book is cooling. It debuts the new Ultimate Black Panther, a character fans immediately wanted a piece of after getting a taste of Ultimate Spider-Man. Paired with rumors that thousands of copies had been lost, the hype train for this book was at breakneck speed. It's still moving significantly on the aftermarket, but the hype has settled. We tracked it at a high sale of $42 for a raw copy and a current NM FMV of $36.

#4: SECRET WARS #5 - ALEX ROSS - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2015: From the moment it flashed across the screen in the Deadpool 3 trailer during the Superbowl, this book went bananas. It has slightly cooled as copies traded hands like lightning, and the market is growing scarcer. Still, it's been rising in value despite the community not knowing exactly what Marvel meant when they included it in the trailer. The consensus is currently leaning toward it being an easter egg and nothing more, but when this book can be had for under $30 in most cases, fans aren't willing to take a chance. We tracked it at a high sale of $285 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $32.

#3: EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE #1 - SURPRISE | MARVEL | 2024: The community sure does love a surprise! While the fanbase wanted to check on the all-new Weapon VIII (8), this cover was hard to resist. It was a surprise variant that Local Comic Shops received between one and three copies for collectors to acquire. The fact it's outselling the regular cover is incredible, as it's the only variant for issue #1 to hit this list. That classic Spidey look is always a plus! We tracked it at a high sale of $61 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $49.

#2: EDGE OF SPIDER-VERSE #1 - CHAD WAYNE HARDIN - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2024: What a callback! This book and cover feature the first appearance of Weapon VIII (8), an alternate-reality version of Spider-Man. Everything about the cover, from the color scheme to the goggles to even the 'Weapon VIII,' screams X-Men. Specifically, the 90s version returning soon. We tracked it at a high sale of $22 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $17.

#1: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #2 - MARCO CHECCHETTO - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2024: So far, the love for the new Ultimate Universe has been incredible. While it would be hard to match issue #1, issue #2 is trying its damnedest. It bears the distinction of being the first full in-story appearance of our new Spider-Man and the Shocker. An interesting story is playing out within the book, causing collectors to grab it in droves. We'll be keeping a close eye on this run! We tracked it at a high sale of $30 for a raw copy and a current NM FMV of $21.

And that's your TOP 10 COMICS OF THE WEEK for 2/26/24! 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!

J.R.R. Tolkien fans are about to experience The Hobbit in a new way thanks to a graphic novel release that features art by David Wenzel paired with a story that has been "carefully abridged from Tolkien's classic novel". The 144 page paperback book will collect the the three-issue series originally published by Eclipse Comics, which has been updated with new artwork.

The image below above will give you an idea about what to expect, but the book is currently priced at only $18.47 on Amazon (20% off) so it won't break the bank to add it to your collection. The book is in stock and shipping starting today, November 27th. While you're at it, you might want to check out The History of Middle-earth Box Set #1 and The History of Middle-earth Box Set #2 on Amazon, which are currently available to pre-order with release dates of Februrary 6th and April 2nd respectively. Both are discounted at the time of writing.

The The History of Middle-earth Box Set #1 features double-sided dustjackets-one side featuring artwork by John Howe, and the original graphic treatment on the other. It contains special editions of The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales reproducing the first edition text, together with the two volumes of The Book of Lost Tales.The The History of Middle-earth Box Set #2 adds The Lays of Beleriand, The Shaping of Middle-earth, and The Lost Road (Books 3-5 of The History of Middle-earth.

Speaking of Tolkien books with illustrations, a new edition of The Lord of the Rings launched in 2021 that includes illustrations, sketches, and maps from author J.R.R Tolkien himself. This was followed by The Hobbit Illustrated and the Silmarillion Illustrated Editions, all of which have been huge sellers. If you haven't picked them up yet, now would be a great time, All three books feature currently hefty discounts on Amazon:

• The Lord of the Rings Illustrated (Standard Edition) - See on Amazon (56% off)
• The Lord of the Rings Illustrated (Special Edition) - See on Amazon (41% off)
• The Silmarillion Illustrated - See on Amazon (52% off)
• The Hobbit Illustrated - See on Amazon (33% off)

A member of the Spider-Man family just found out their child has joined up with Hydra. "Gang War" is currently taking place in Amazing Spider-Man and a number of tie-ins and miniseries. One of the new ongoing series to launch out of "Gang War" is a new volume of Spider-Woman. It's been an eventful time for Jessica Drew. She was erased and then restored to the Web of Life and Destiny during the Spider-Man: End of the Spider-Verse event, which brought with it all sorts of complications for her and her son, Gerry. Now with a new villainous member of Hydra named the Green Mamba on the loose, Spider-Woman is in for the biggest shock of her life.

*WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Spider-Woman #4. Continue reading at your own risk!

Spider-Woman #4 is from the creative team of Steve Foxe, Carola Borelli, Arif Prianto, and VC's Joe Sabino. It picks up following the surprising conclusion of the last issue, where Spider-Woman was reunited with her grown-up son Gerry. Unfortunately for Jessica Drew, Gerry is Hydra's new Green Mamba and has a bone to pick with his mother. When Spider-Woman was erased from the Web of Life and Destiny, she theoretically ceased to exist. Because of this, everyone's memories of Gerry went with her. This means Gerry's babysitter, Roger Gocking aka Porcupine, left Gerry vulnerable for Hydra to kidnap him. Gerry was then aged up, similar to Spider-Woman, and brainwashed by Hydra. Obviously, this is a huge blow to Spider-Woman, who is now making it her mission to save her son Gerry at any cost.

Across the Spider-Verse's Spider-Woman to make Marvel Comics debut

Issa Rae's Jessica Drew from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is joining the Marvel Comics Universe. The Insecure star voiced Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman in the animated sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and will presumably return for the third movie in the franchise, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. This Jessica Drew is a Black woman with an afro, who proudly rode into battle pregnant and on a motorcycle. The Spider-Woman from the comics was at one time pregnant as well. Soon, fans will get to see Across the Spider-Verse's Spider-Woman adventures on the comics page.

The anthology series Edge of Spider-Verse is back with new adventures and new Spider heroes. Along with introducing readers to Weapon VIII, welcoming back Spider-Byte (another Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse star), and teasing Spider-Man 2099's involvement in the Spider-Society, we also got word that future issues of Edge of Spider-Verse will feature the comic debut of Spider-Woman from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

There's a very special wedding coming up in the X-Men corner of the Marvel Universe. The X-Men are currently counting down the final days of the Krakoa era in Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X, but that doesn't mean some happy stories aren't coming for fans. Mystique and Destiny have been at the center of some of the biggest events during this period of X-Men comics, and fans will get to witness the couple's wedding in a special edition of Marvel's Voices: Pride titled X-Men: The Wedding Special.

This year's Marvel's Voices: Pride will make history with Marvel's first woman-to-woman wedding. Kieron Gillen (Immortal X-Men) will write the Mystique and Destiny story in X-Men: The Wedding Special, which features the duo renewing their wedding vows while also taking readers on a trip through Raven Darkholme and Irene Adler's storied history. One of the highlights will be seeing just when and how Mystique and Destiny tied the knot.

"They've been through hell, mainly at my pen. Finally, giving these two a happy day? How can I say no," Gillen shared.

What is X-Men: The Wedding Special about?

The description of X-Men: The Wedding Special reads, "IT'S A MUTANT WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA! Mystique and Destiny are one of the most beloved - and longest-lasting - gay couples in comic book history. Together for over 100 years, the pair secretly married during their decades-long romance. See the event and the renewal of those vows for the first time on the page. This year, Marvel's Voices: Pride makes history with Marvel's first woman-to-woman wedding! And with a couple as complex as these two, you know there's a lot more to the story. In the classic tradition of Fantastic Four Annual #3 and X-Men #30, this anthology will be a must-read for every comics fan. We promise party crashing! Villainy! Romance! And so much more!"

Like previous installments of Marvel's Voices, X-Men: The Wedding Special will also feature a lineup of stories written and drawn by LGBTQIA+ talent, including Tini Howard and Wyatt Kennedy, plus the Marvel Comics debuts of acclaimed writers Tate Brombal (House of Slaughter) and Yoon Ha Lee (Ninefox Gambit, Machineries of Empire)! The stories will spotlight characters like Betsy Braddock & Rachel Summers, Loki, and many more.

X-Men: The Wedding Special goes on sale May 29th. Let us know your thoughts on the Marvel's Voices: Pride one-shot in the comments!

Josh Gad is entering the land of sequential storytelling. The Frozen star will soon make his comics' writing debut thanks to The Writer, a new series set for release by Dark Horse Comics later this summer. According to the publisher, The Writer will be a meta take on writing that combines creative processes with popular folklore tales.

"Teaming up with the brilliant Berkowitz brothers on 'The Writer' has been an absolute blast and an education," Gad said in a press release. "Here we are, diving headfirst into a universe where cultural folklore meets the high-octane adventures that defined our youth. It's like all those Saturdays spent watching action flicks and dreaming up stories are finally paying off. What makes this project truly special, though, is the chance to celebrate personal stories. We're talking about tales that not only entertain but resonate on a deeper level, reflecting a rich heritage and the kind of heroism that doesn't always wear a cape. The Writer isn't just a comic; it's a milestone for nerds like us, proving heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. Can't wait for you all to see what we have in store!"

DARK HORSE TO PUBLISH THE DEBUT COMICS WORK FROM ACTOR JOSH GAD AND THE DYNAMIC PRODUCER DUO OF BEN AND MAX BERKOWITZ! @DarkHorseComics #comics #comicboks https://t.co/SgBmdMmfSp pic.twitter.com/jrcukVTEgb

-- Comic Crusaders(TM) (@ComicCrusaders) February 24, 2024

Gad is writing the series alongside Benjamin and Max Berkowitz, with Ariel Olivetti taking the reins on art. Frank Cvetkovic is listed as the letterer across the series. At the center of the story is Stan Siegel, a writer who inadvertently finds himself thrust into a "Nazi occult-fueled nightmare."

Max Berkowitz added, "This series is our childhood dream realized, free of Dunkin' coffee spills (we promise). It's not just a comic; it's a celebration of our storytelling, past and present, and our hope to inspire more tales of heroism and humor. Get ready for an exhilarating, laugh-filled journey through our most fantastical dreams. Trust us, you won't want to miss this adventure."

Olivetti said he took on the project because of its "unforgivable" nature.

"I've lost count of how many comic books I've drawn over my career--artists and numbers aren't exactly best friends," the artist said. "Now, I'm in the lucky position to choose projects that truly resonate, the kind that leave a lasting impression both on me and the readers. When I first read the script from Josh and the Berkowitz Bros., it was clear this was one of those rare, unforgettable projects."

The Writer #1 is set for release on June 19th.

Ramona Fradon, comics artist best known for co-creating Metamorpho with writer Bob Haney as well as her long-running work on Aquaman, has died. She was 97 years old. Fradon's death was announced by comic book art dealer Catskill Comics -- which had also announced Fradon's retirement last month -- on Facebook.

"It comes with great sadness to announce that Ramona Fradon has passed away a few moments ago," the post reads. "Ramona was 97 and had a long career in the comic book industry and was still drawing just a few days ago. She was a remarkable person in so many ways. I will miss the great conversations and laughs we had. I am blessed that I was able to work with her on a professional level, but also able to call her my friend. If anyone who wishes to send a card to the family, please feel free to send them to Catskill Comics and I'll be happy to pass them along."

Fradon was born October 2, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in New York City where she graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1950 and, in 1951, was hired by DC Comics. She began her work on Aquaman that year, going on to co-create both Aqualad and Metamorpho, the latter of which is set to make their live action debut in James Gunn's upcoming Superman: Legacy. Fradon briefly left comics in 1965 to raise her daughter but returned to DC in 1972.

In addition to her work with DC, Fradon drew an issue of Fantastic Four for Marvel and in 1980 took over as lead artist on the comic strip "Brenda Starr, Reporter" where she worked until 1995 when she retired. However, even in retirement Fradon continued working, shifting to commissioned art, which she continued doing until she announced her retirement from that in January of this year.

"After an extremely long run in the comic industry, at 97 Ramona has decided it's time for her to retire," Catskill Comics shared in January about Fradon's retirement. "She will no longer be doing commissions. She apologizes to all the fans who have been waiting patiently on her wait list to get one. She did say though from time to time she'll do a drawing or two to put up for sale on the website."

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

2024 is proving to be a big year for DC's Dreamer. Last year, the eagerly anticipated graphic novel, Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story was given a release date and then, soon after that, DC announced that the character would be taking up a major role on an even large stage with the arrival of a new Suicide Squad ongoing series, Suicide Squad: Dream Team, which will see Dreamer/Nia Nal front and center of a new Task Force X. But it's not just a big year for Dreamer; both Bad Dream and Suicide Squad: Dream Team are written by Nicole Maines, who brought Nia Nal to life on The CW's Supergirl, blazing a trail as the first transgender superhero on television before bringing the character to the pages of DC.

Ahead of the arrival of Suicide Squad: Dream Team #1 on March 12th and Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story on April 2nd, ComicBook.com spoke with Maines about the next chapter in Dreamer's journey as well as her own in taking the character from screen to page.

ComicBook.com: The last time we spoke it was for Nia's Lazarus Planet experience and now she's tangled up with the Suicide Squad. This feels like a huge evolution for the character. Where is Nia as we walk into this much bigger stage?

Nicole Maines: This whole things sort of kicked off during the Beast World event when she and Jon Kent teamed up to evacuate the alien district of Metropolis and she helped bring them all back to Parthas, her hometown which is a secret alien refugee site where they would be safe and we have the Blue Earth movement going around with all their anti-alien crap, so she was like, let's give them a safe place to evacuate to. And during the course of those events, Amanda Waller became privy to Dreamer and to Parthas and is now using that as a bargaining chip. So, as we open on the Suicide Squad, we find Dreamer, who has been running missions for Amanda and growing tired of the lesser of two evils narrative that Amanda Waller subscribes to.

There's a moment in the issue that jumps out to me as cementing the idea that we're at a turning point for Dreamer -- it's the line 'do you really think your time as a hero is best spent playing Whack a Mole". What's kind of going on in Dreamer's head at this point because this really does feel like it is do or die.

It's difficult for her because, and you put it perfectly, on this much bigger stage. She is still this inexperienced 18-year-old girl who never thought she was going to have these powers, who doesn't really know how to use these powers, and she's doing her best to live up to the legacy set by her dearly departed mother. But she doesn't know how and so she's doing the best that she can and given the information that she has and what she sees in her visions, she's trying to use her best judgment and she's trying to do the right thing and protect the most people. It's a turning point for the character because that is sort of Dreamer's whole mission and seeing the future, it's, you know, go after the big target, don't, like, little hero of the week or whatever. If you see what's coming down the pipe you have a responsibility to stop it. It's very see something, say something but yeah. Amanda Waller.

You're getting to take on some truly iconic DC characters in this, Waller, Harley Quinn.

A lot of people I've seen online have been like, 'oh, it's gonna be a Harley Quinn story' or they're like, 'oh, it's a backdoor Dreamer story' and I'm like, wrong. Amanda Waller is the main character here, make no mistake. I'm having a blast writing Amanda. She's awesome.

How do you prepare for that? Amanda Waller is a really layered character when you really dig into her. How do you even approach this?

I think the most important part for me was making sure especially as we're moving into this new territory with her where she's really becoming this major villain within the DC Universe, I wanted to make sure that we allotted some amount of time to not reestablishing or reaffirming, but I think reminding people that she's just a human woman who has had a life. She's loved and she's lost. Everything she does comes from a place of hurt and a place of fear and desperate desire for control. I think the thing that interested me the most about her when I first started thinking about this were the similarities between her and Dreamer. They're both women who, through Amanda's position and through Dreamer's powers, have both seen the world come very close to ending a lot of times. And while Dreamer is in a position where she's like apologizing for her power, and she's trying not to abuse it, Amanda has no problem being like 'yeah, I have put myself in a position where I have a tremendous amount of power. I would be stupid not to abuse it.'

In the issue you actually talk about that. Waller calls out how similar they are and Dreamer is like 'no, we're not". I thought that was interesting. We're getting to see two sides of very much the same coin.

Accurate. One hundred percent they are. And that was intentional to make these two women feel like two sides of the same coin because a whole arc for Dreamer over this series is going to be 'do I subscribe to Amanda Waller's line of thinking to defeat this person to save the future or do I have to adopt this sort of greater good, break a few eggs to make an omelet mentality. She's kind of been stumbling around in this kind of idealistic young way and I think the nature of her powers and the situation she finds herself in is kind of demanding, like 'hey girl, you need to reevaluate some stuff and you need to decide what you want to do. Is your definition of being a hero going to save the day or does that need to change?' And that's true for everybody on the Squad.

It's going to be a wild ride.

I'm excited about this series because it really is looking at what is a hero. How do you act as a hero within the confines of something like the Suicide Squad? We're seeing that with Harley, we're seeing that with Deadeye, we're seeing that with Dreamer, Bizarro, less with Clock King. And Black Alice has reached a point post Lazarus Planet that is complete nihilism so it's sort of we have the full range of how do you be a hero. Do you even want to be a hero? Is there even a point and you know, sort of weighing the consequences of going against an oppressive force.

This is juxtaposed, for me, against Bad Dream. You've promised that we would get more of Dreamer's backstory, even when you were on Supergirl and brought her to life. Now we get that more. What's it been like for you to finally get here?

I started the process of the graphic novel in 2020. This was my pandemic baby. Bad Dream is so special because that was the passion project that was so much like blood, sweat and tears went into that and the writing.

I started, I went in with a plan and somewhere around Act Two, the entire thing fell apart and it just became a situation of I'm just going to write the thing as it comes. Dreamer, especially on the show, we didn't really get to dig into her backstory and now with the comics not being tied to the Arrowverse, I was free to kind of go in whatever direction I wanted. I think the thing that I was most excited about was getting to decide first of all what Parthas looked like, what that felt like and also Naltor. What rules do they have? What was that like for the people who defended it? With her mother, giving her a little bit more of a backstory and a history aside from oh yes, she very wise. She's been through things. She's broken some rules and it is not without consequence that she's here on Earth. It was just really fun to kind of get to flesh out what Dreamer's world looks like.

These stories are kind of leaning heavily on each other. Not a spoiler because her mother's death happened on Supergirl. But she has these flashbacks to all the failures in her life that are her fault and that's the thing about Bad Dream. We can say oh poor baby, sweetie, oh this wasn't your fault. It 100 percent was. We get why she did the things that she did, but it is her fault her mother is dead. And that's just something she has to live with and something she has to try to atone for so now, finding herself on Suicide Squad is the worst-case scenario.

What I love about Bad Dream is that we're not getting like on Supergirl where we meet her and she gets these powers as an adult. It's a completely different type of character arc to develop these powers as a teenager and experience a trauma and then still be a teenager trying to apply these powers and healing.

She has the training wheels on, she's like trying to do a triathlon on a training bike and everyone's faster and she's like 'I'm just afraid". And I think that's the thing people have to remember as the stories are unfolding. She's doing her best to put on the hero front and trying to remain in control of the situation. This is scary stuff for anybody, especially a teenager. And she so desperately wants to do the right thing and is right away confronted with oh no, I messed up and I enabled something terrible and it just gets worse. She just kind of hits every single thing on the way down. But it transforms her into what Paul Kaminski and I were talking about when we first started talking about this. He was like, 'I really want to see Dreamer as this Sarah Connor character.' And that's kind of what she becomes here.

You've had this very unique experience where you have gotten to take Dreamer and shepherd this character through two versions and really create her whole cloth. What is this like for you? If you went back to talk to the Nicole who was just cast as Dreamer, what would you say to her?

First of all, I'd be like 'girl, you have no idea how big a part of your life this character becomes.' When I got cast, I was 20 and came at a point in my life when there was so much, like, I was in such a transition period that I sort of came of age along with this character. And I think she and I kind of became entwined in a way that is very profound and hard for me to describe.

This character just means a lot to a lot of people. I just want to see her do cool stuff. And I'm excited to see her in the comics. It just keeps getting better and better and it's just like something that I never would have imagined and she has grown into this character that is so much bigger than I thought likely. I'm just really grateful that I've had the opportunity to work with so many amazing people who have said yes.

What do you hope people take away from both Bad Dream and Suicide Squad: Dream Team?

I want people to come away with either a new love for Dreamer or a reinvigorated love for Dreamer. I just want people to come away with more of a demand for this character. I want people to be like, 'yes, we love this. We love her, we love what she does. We love what she can do. We want to see her go more places.' I want to see what happens next in the story of Dreamer. It's interesting that Bad Dream and Suicide Squad are coming out at the same time because Bad Dream is like her start of everything and her origin and Suicide Squad is where we are now and in stark contrast.

Suicide Squad: Dream Team #1 arrives on March 12th. Bad Dream: A Dreamer Story arrives April 2nd.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

X-Men: The Animated Series is finally coming back in a big way. The beloved cartoon ran for five seasons in the '90s, and now a new sequel series is heading to Disney+. Marvel Studios' X-Men '97 is debuting next month, and it's going to pick up right where the original series left off in 1997. A tie-in comic for the series has also been announced, and the first issue is also debuting next month. X-Men '97 #1 is the official prelude comic set between the events of the "Graduation Day" series finale and the upcoming X-Men '97 revival on Disney+. The five-issue limited series, which was created in collaboration with X-Men '97 showrunner Beau DeMayo, is written by Steve Foxe (Dark X-Men, Dead X-Men) with art by Salva Esp?n (X-Men '92). Yesterday, Marvel.com shared a new look at the first issue.

"A special first look at X-MEN '97 (2024) #1 shows Magneto terrorizing a street full of people- until he is interrupted by an optic blast from Cyclops. When he turns, he finds Wolverine, Storm, Jubilee, and Bishop as well. Wolverine leaps into action, only to meet a rebuff by Magneto. In one page, Cyclops leads the team to the Danger Room, but quickly finds himself in an argument with Wolverine. In another page, the team swings back into action against some heavily armed foes. Finally, Storm shows off her new look for Jubilee," Marvel shared. You can check out the new image below:

When Does X-Men '97 Premiere?

As for the X-Men '97 series, the show is premiering on Disney+ on March 20th. X-Men '97 features the voices of original X-Men: The Animated Series cast members Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, George Buza, Alison Sealy-Smith, Chris Potter, Catherine Disher, Adrian Hough, Alyson Court, and Christopher Britton. The X-Men team includes Wolverine (Dodd), Storm (Smith), Rogue (Zann), Beast (Buza), Cyclops (Ray Chase), Jean Grey (Jennifer Hale), Jubilee (Holly Chou), Bishop, and Morph.

"This is the first X-Men title produced by Marvel Studios," Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios' Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation, said when announcing X-Men '97. "What an amazing first step to reintroduce audiences to the X-Men with a look at one of the most pinnacle eras of the X-Men comics, which was the '90s."

Added Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt, VP of Animation at Marvel Studios, "As an animated show, the original X-Men was the forerunner to some amazing action series. Everyone that is making X-Men '97, top-down, is a fan. On this project, instinctually, we knew exactly what this is. To bring this series forward and pick up that baton, and not just keep running at the same pace, but to really elevate. That's the responsibility."

Are you excited for X-Men '97? Will you be checking out the comic? Tell us in the comments!

Over the years, Catwoman has taken on many different roles in the DC Universe, operating as a villain, a hero, and everything in between. The recent Catwoman ongoing series has continued to add to Selina Kyle's lore in some unexpected ways -- and in the series' latest issue, that involved giving her a set of superpowers commonly associated with a completely different corner of DC canon. Spoilers for Catwoman #62 from Tini Howard, Carmine di Giandomenico, Veronica Gandini, and Lucas Gattoni below! Only look if you want to know!

The issue largely follows Selina in a brief stint joining the Suicide Squad, utilizing one of her extra lives to help make good on a debt she has owed to Amanda Waller. Catwoman her teammates are tasked with stealing an artifact from Black Adam in Khandaq -- which gets complicated when she finds her way towards a locked vault. In it, Selina is greeted by Bastet, the Egyptian goddess of cats, who promises to guide her on her future journeys. Bastet is flanked by a group of cats named Sobek, Hut, Ankh, Zoser, Aten, and Mau, which just so happens to spell out Shazam!. Later in the issue, when Selina is being accosted by Waller, she calls out the word Shazam! and gets the power to escape. While it's unclear exactly how long Selina will have these Shazam! powers going forward, they definitely add a new layer to her current globe-trotting quest.

What Are Catwoman's New Superpowers?

In addition to the power of Shazam!, the "Nine Lives" arc has explored Selina getting extra lives from Bastet, in the aftermath of last year's Gotham War crossover event.

"Comics thrive on team-ups. Whether it's a team of creators or a heroic partnership, all of my favorite stories are about two strong personalities and the space between them," Howard previously said of that event. "On the page, we've got one of comics' greatest love stories: the world's greatest detective and the world's greatest criminal. And they both love Gotham City. But the course of true love never did run smooth."

Who Is Writing Shazam!?

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that writer Josie Campbell and artist Emanuela Lupacchino will be taking over the main Shazam! title, with its current creative team of Mark Waid and Dan Mora shifting focus to the upcoming Absolute Power summer event. Campbell and Lupacchino's Shazam! run will begin with April's Shazam! #10.

"Moving Day!" the synopsis for Shazam! #10 reads. "After destroying the family home during an epic battle with Black Adam, Billy has hired the gods who grant him his powers to rebuild it. What surprises await the Shazam Family as they enter their new abode?"

What do you think of Catwoman getting her own version of Shazam!'s superpowers? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Catwoman #62 is now available wherever comics are sold.

Some popular comic runs featuring heroes such as Spider-Man, Deadpool, Ms. Marvel, and Thor will soon be available for fans to pick up... all for free! Looking to capitalize on the popularity of pop culture trends like the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer and Ms. Marvel's new status as a mutant, Marvel is gathering a new line of "Must-Haves" comics handpicked to get fans excited about the stories currently taking place in the pages of Marvel comics. "Must-Haves" will serve as the perfect jumping-on points for new readers, so they should be easily accessible to pick up and start reading. It doesn't hurt that they're also all free.

Marvel Must-Haves was officially announced yesterday at ComicsPRO the Comic Industry Conference. The first three issues that are going to be collected in the first Marvel Must-Haves one-shot include 2016's Spider-Man/Deadpool #1 by Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness; 2023's Immortal Thor #2 by Al Ewing and Martin Coccolo; and 2023's Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant #1 by Ms. Marvel actress Iman Vellani and Sabir Pirzada. The one-shot features more than 80 pages of exciting Marvel adventures and arrives at comic book shops in March.

Marvel reveals free Must-Have comic book stories

Below is a description of the stories that will be found in Marvel Must-Haves - March 2024 #1:

SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL #1 (2016)

• It's action, adventure and just a smattering of romance in this epic teaming up the Webbed Wonder and the Merc with a Mouth! Talk about a REAL dynamic duo! Brought to you by two Marvel superstars--Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness--it's a perfect tale for those looking forward to the Deadpool's return to the big screen.
• Dive into the full story in SPIDER-MAN/DEADPOOL MODERN ERA EPIC COLLECTION: ISN'T IT BROMANTIC? TPB (9781302951641)
  

IMMORTAL THOR #2 (2023)

• An Elder God of the Utgard-Realm had marked Thor for destruction - and a city with him. Yet the only power that could prevail carried its own terrible price. This is the story of THE IMMORTAL THOR...and the hour of his greatest trial. Following his masterful work on Immortal Hulk, Al Ewing is breaking mythology yet again in this acclaimed new run of the God of Thunder. Featuring breathtaking artwork by superstar Martin Coccolo.
• Dive into the full story in IMMORTAL THOR VOL. 1: ALL WEATHER TURNS TO STORM TPB (9781302954185)

MS. MARVEL: THE NEW MUTANT #1 (2023)

• Resurrected back into this world of hate and fear, Kamala Khan has a secret mission to pull off for the X-Men, all the while struggling to acclimate to this new part of her identity! Co-written by the MCU's own Kamala, Iman Vellani, and Sabir Pirzada of both Dark Web: Ms. Marvel and her Disney+ series! Don't miss this exciting evolution for one of Marvel's brightest young heroes!
• Dive into the full story in MS. MARVEL: THE NEW MUTANT VOL. 1 TPB (9781302954901)

A Venom War is heading to the Marvel Universe. The next saga for Eddie Brock and Dylan Brock will take place later this year in Venom War, a battle that pits father and son against each other to see who will be the last Venom standing. Of course, Eddie Brock is famously known for being Venom ever since he bonded with the alien symbiote and they started their vendetta against Spider-Man. Since then, Venom has gone from a villain to an anti-hero and now a straight-up superhero, fighting beside the likes of Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Captain America. However, Eddie has recently shared the Venom persona with his son Dylan, who has embarked on his own personal journey as the street-level Lethal Protector. Somehow, Eddie and Dylan Brock will come to blows, and there's new art previewing the epic battle.

Marvel released teaser art for Venom War by Philip Tan. The artwork features Eddie Brock and Dylan Brock as Venom, each leading their armies into battle reminiscent of the superhero showdown in Captain America: Civil War. On Team Eddie Brock we have Agent Anti-Venom, aka Flash Thompson, a former Venom, and Bedlam, one of Eddie Brock's most recent incarnations. On Team Dylan Brock is Red Goblin (Normie Osborn), Sleeper, and Black Widow, who is a new addition to the Venom mythos. Venom War is scheduled to take place in August, with more information to be released at a later date.

Venom co-creator David Michelinie writing new series

David Michelinie, one of Venom's co-creators alongside Todd McFarlane, is returning to the Lethal Protector to pen a throwback series. Venom: Separation Anxiety is set during Eddie's early days as a Lethal Protector, with the five-issue limited series pitting Eddie and the symbiote against a different kind of brain eater: the sinister mind-control powers of Zebediah Killgrave, the Purple Man.

"I'm always delighted to write a new Venom story in a retro background," said Michelinie, who previously returned to Marvel for another retro-set series, 2022's Venom: Lethal Protector. "With Separation Anxiety as the required theme, the problem became how to do something that's already been done -- have Eddie Brock separated from his symbiote 'other.' So I thought, what if there was a deeply creepy villain with a decidedly bloodthirsty agenda who was able to take bits of Eddie's symbiote away every time the two touched, with that enemy slowly growing stronger as Venom slowly grew weaker? And that was the nugget that became 'The King In Purple.'"

Are you excited for Venom War? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

McFarlane Toys was founded in 1994 with a mission to deliver the action figures that comic book creator Todd McFarlane wanted to see for his characters. Since then, the company has acquired licenses for huge brands like DC Comics, Disney, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Demon Slayer, Mortal Kombat and more. Of course, it all started with Spawn, so it's fitting that McFarlane Toys kicks off its 30th anniversary celebrations with a special wave of figures based on his iconic hellspawn. UPDATE 2: The figures have sold out at Entertainment Earth, but they have not gone live on Amazon at the time of this update (listed as "currently unavailable"). That could change at any moment. See the direct links in the list below.

The major highlight of the wave will undoubtedly be a 2-pack that includes a figure of Spawn based on early concept art paired with an action figure of Todd McFarlane himself. Needless to say, this set is going to be highly sought after by collectors and quick sellouts are likely. Pre-orders are expected to go live starting today, February 23rd at 9am PT / 12pm ET here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon. Additional Spawn 30th anniversary figures are also expected, and this article will be updated with those details after the launch. Stay tuned! UPDATE: The figures are live, and direct links are as follows:

• Spawn McFarlane Toys 30th Anniversary Spawn and Todd McFarlane Action Figure 2-Pack - See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon
• Spawn McFarlane Toys 30th Anniversary Commando Spawn Digitally Remastered Posed Figure - See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon
• Spawn McFarlane Toys 30th Anniversary Hellspawn Digitally Remastered Posed Figure - See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon
• Spawn McFarlane Toys 30th Anniversary Spawn #311 Posed Figure - See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon
• Spawn McFarlane Toys 30th Anniversary 7-Inch Scale Posed Figure Case of 6 - See at Entertainment Earth

"I've been with Spawn now for over 30 years. I know that seems like a long time," McFarlane explained in our interview, which you can check out here. "I've been with my wife for 45 years, and I think I still got another 40 with her, so I don't know. When you enjoy doing what it is you're doing, it's not work, it's easy. And I've said before, I need it in my life because I deal with so much other stuff, especially on the toy side where I deal with corporations and getting people's approvals and getting people to sign off. I need my little creative paradise that is all mine, that I can just wake up, come up with whatever is in my head and do it, and not need anybody's approval. It's my chicken noodle for my soul. I know people go 'Todd, how do you do it for so long?' I think I'd be half crazy if I didn't have it, in all honesty."

Is Spawn Getting a Movie Reboot?

Another facet of the Spawn franchise that fans have been excitedly following is the long-awaited Spawn movie reboot. Spawn will follow the journey of Al Simmons (portrayed by Jamie Foxx), a man who makes a deal with the devil and is reborn as a Hellspawn-turned-vigilante. The new Spawn movie has been in the works since early 2015, with McFarlane initially planning to write and direct it himself. In the years that have followed, Brian Tucker, Scott Silver, Malcolm Spellman, and Matthew Mixon have all been brought on to rewrite the script. Blumhouse's Jason Blum has previously told ComicBook.com that the film is targeting a 2025 release date.

"It's in very very active development," Blum explained in an interview last year. "What needs to happen is that my fellow friends the writers and the studios need to figure out their differences and get back to writing, but we've got a great group of folks putting it together, and my hope is that that movie -- my prediction is maybe we'll actually see a Spawn movie in '25. No promises, but that's my prediction."

The summer of Wolverine and Deadpool heats up with a new story running through a series of Marvel comics. The duo will famously team up for Deadpool & Wolverine, the first official X-Men movie to launch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film reunites Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as Deadpool and Wolverine, respectively, with the first Deadpool & Wolverine trailer dropping during the Super Bowl. Along with May's Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII, July will see the release of a Weapon X-Traction backup story starring Wolverine and Deadpool teaming up across eight Marvel titles this summer.

Written by Ryan North (Fantastic Four) and drawn by Javier Garr?n (Avengers), Weapon X-Traction will begin in July's Incredible Hulk #14. As an added bonus, Marvel isn't raising the prices of these comics with the Wolverine/Deadpool backup stories, so readers get to enjoy the extra action at no additional cost. At this time Marvel hasn't announced the other titles participating in the Weapon X-Traction story. A piece of promotional art by Javier Garr?n features Wolverine and Deadpool face-to-face, with Wolverine brandishing his Adamantium claws, and Deadpool holding a pistol in each hand.

What is Wolverine and Deadpool's WWIII project about?

"The most intensely mismatched team-up in comics and pop culture, the best there is and the merc with the mouth, undergoes a radical change in an all-new three-part, globe-spanning saga for the ages in Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #1. On stands this May, acclaimed writer Joe Kelly makes his return to Deadpool in the new series alongside legendary artist Adam Kubert," a description of Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII reads.

"The mysterious Delta believes in change. Change is good. But as he sets his sights on Deadpool, and Wolverine is caught up in the plot, is the third time really the charm, or the curse? Get ready for WWIII to erupt on the scene with the wildest duo in comics from legends Joe Kelly (Deadpool, Uncanny X-Men) and Adam Kubert (Wolverine, Uncanny X-Men)!"

"There were so many factors that made me say yes to writing this book," Kelly recently told IGN. "Adam Kubert was number one. I worked with Adam during my early Marvel career and have been a fan of his ever since - both as an artist and a human. So, working with him again? No brainer, yes please."

"The second reason was Wolverine," Kelly continued. "As much as this is a buddy-book, Logan is the entry point to the story, which gave me a chance to explore this character I love. His voice, his perspective on the world, all of it gave me a unique way to approach an epic team-up... And then, big number three... there's the body horror. Deadpool and Wolverine together allow for a bloody playground of a story. A tale of self-examination and introspection as told through some seriously jaw-dropping nastiness thanks to Adam's deft hands. It's a dark, funny, messy ride I hope everyone enjoys as much as I do."

Deadpool & Wolverine reveals first poster

The first poster for the freshly-titled Deadpool & Wolverine piggybacks on the name change of the film. Super Bowl LVIII finally delivered the highly-anticipated trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine, featuring the reunion between Ryan Reynolds' Merc With a Mouth and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine. Deadpool & Wolverine is the first X-Men-adjacent movie produced under Marvel Studios, officially bringing Deadpool into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While fans will be digesting every second of the trailer, Marvel Studios also revealed a Deadpool & Wolverine poster that reminds everyone how close the two of them really are.

"Wait till you see the Deadpool popcorn bucket," Ryan Reynolds wrote on X (formerly Twitter) when the Deadpool & Wolverine poster was unveiled. The poster features a split image of the Deadpool and Wolverine mask logos in the shape of a heart. The Deadpool side has the word "Best" while the Wolverine portion says "Friends." The bottom of the poster has the words, "Come Together" as well as the July 26th release date of Deadpool & Wolverine.

Marvel and DC have shaped the landscape of superhero media in some massive ways, and some of their greatest collaborations yet are about to head back into print. Earlier this month, DC and Marvel announced plans to print two new omnibuses of their previous crossovers: DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus. Both DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will be available at participating bookstores and local comic book shops on Tuesday, August 6th.

Now, as part of DC's presentation at the ComicsPRO Comic Industry Conference, some of the collections' covers have been revealed. This includes art by George Perez for the Mass Market versions of DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus, as well as the pencilled version of the Direct Market version of DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus from Jim Lee, Scott Williams, and Alex Sinclair.

What Is DC Versus Marvel Omnibus About?

Who would win: Superman versus Spider-Man? Batman versus Captain America? The X-Men meeting the Teen Titans? DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects crossovers between the core DC and Marvel characters, from 1976's Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man to 2000's Batman/Daredevil. Included are stories from some of comics' most revered talents, namely Dennis O'Neil, George P?rez, Dan Jurgens, Chris Claremont, Walter Simonson, J.M. DeMatteis, Mark Bagley, Gerry Conway, John Romita Jr., and more. DC and Marvel fans alike can't miss these thrilling pieces of unearthed comic book history!

DC Versus Marvel Omnibus collects Batman/Captain America #1, Batman/Daredevil #1, Batman/Punisher: Lake of Fire #1, Batman/Spider-Man #1, Daredevil/Batman #1, DC Special Series #27, Darkseid vs. Galactus: The Hunger #1, Green Lantern/Silver Surfer: Unholy Alliances #1, Incredible Hulk vs. Superman #1, Marvel and DC Present Featuring the Uncanny X-Men and the New Teen Titans #1, Marvel Treasury Edition #28, Punisher/Batman: Deadly Knights #1, Silver Surfer/Superman #1, Spider-Man and Batman #1, Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man #1, and Superman/Fantastic Four #1.

What Is DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus About?

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus features stories, first told in 1996, of the two superhero universes fused together into a new Amalgam Universe, combining DC's and Marvel's heroes, villains, and mythologies. The result was a series of unforgettable one-shot comic books starring the likes of Dark Claw (Batman and Wolverine), Super Soldier (Superman and Captain America), Iron Lantern (Iron Man and Green Lantern), and many more! These stories, from creators such as Peter David, Dan Jurgens, Mark Waid, Dave Gibbons, Ron Marz, Jos? Luis Garc?a-L?pez, Gary Frank, Bill Sienkiewicz, Claudio Castellini, and more, represent one of the most fun and unlikely periods in comic book history, and now are available in one omnibus. Included in this volume are the historic DC Versus Marvel miniseries and its sequels, perfect for fans of both DC and Marvel!

DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus collects DC Versus Marvel #1-4, DC/Marvel: All Access #1-4, Unlimited Access #1-4, Bat-Thing #1, Bruce Wayne: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, Bullets and Bracelets #1, Challengers of the Fantastic #1, Doctor Strangefate #1, Iron Lantern #1, Legends of the Dark Claw #1, Lobo the Duck #1, Speed Demon #1, Spider-Boy #1, Super Soldier #1, Thorion of the New Asgods #1, X-Patrol #1, and more, plus a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes material.

What do you think of these new DC and Marvel omnibus covers? Which one will you be picking up? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

As mentioned above, DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will both be released in participating bookstores and local comic book shops on Tuesday, August 6th.

Dragon Ball Super has finally come around to bringing Gohan back into the mix, after leaving him sidelined for years after Dragon Ball Z. Gohan made the jump to Dragon Ball Super power levels in the recent movie/manga arc Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero, which saw him unlock a radical new form called "Beast" when fighting a rematch against the Red Ribbon Army's Cell Max android.

Since Gohan's Beast form made its debut, the Dragon Ball fandom has been in heavy debate about how Gohan's power level now compares to his father Goku, or his "uncle" Vegeta. Both of the elder Saiyans have spent the time of Dragon Ball Super's run unlocking revolutionary new forms that go beyond Saiyan pride to touch divine powers only held by the likes of angels (Ultra Instinct) or Gods of Destruction (Ultra Ego).

In Chapter 102 of the Dragon Ball Super manga, Goku transports from Lord Beerus's planet back to Earth, after sensing the power output of Gohan's Beast form across the galaxy. Goku invites Gohan for a friendly sparring match to test out Beast - but Earth simply isn't viable. Goku ends up transporting himself, Gohan, Goten, Trunks, and the last of the Red Ribbon's leaders, Carmine, to Beerus's planet. After Gohan warms up sparring with Goten and Trunks, he and Goku have a first-round match, pitting Ultra Instinct against Beast - with father and son ending up pretty evenly matched.

However, during Gohan's sparring matches, the topic of his teachers is brought up. Gohan confirms that it was Goku who originally inspired the concept of a sudden and exponential jump in his power level, as Goku taught Gohan to always "be ready to fight at a moment's notice, and I finally got the message."

However, Gohan makes sure to let his "dad" know that it was Piccolo who taught him the actual method of control for harnessing it. Dragon Ball fans get the meta humor at that moment, as the debate of whether Goku or Piccolo has been more of a father and/or mentor to Gohan may never be settled.

But now that he's reached Beast, there's a big looming question...

Does Gohan Need A New Teacher?

The truth is, no one who has mentored Gohan to this point truly understands the full scope of his abilities, or how to harness them. Gohan's latent abilities and his "Ultimate Mode" (official name) are embodiments of the limits on his growth: Old Kai unlocked Gohan's potential in Dragon Ball Z's Buu Saga, while Goku and Piccolo have helped re-access it (before the Tournament of Power) and harness it.

However, it's clear from the wild aura it generates that Beast is still a version of Gohan wrestling with more power than he can control or fully apply - its raw power like Broly, just housed in a more mindful person, as Gohan is as intelligent as he is strong.

If Goku and Vegeta can reach literal godly levels of power, Gohan - who has been clearly positioned as stronger but less trained than them - can too. More to the point: Gohan could have power that threatens a god, which is even more reason that someone from the ranks of gods and angels would come to him as a teacher - if only to ensure that power gets aimed the right way.

That's all to say: it seems pretty clear that Gohan's next arc in Dragon Ball needs to be following in Goku and Vegeta's recent paths - namely, going off on his own and seeking his own unique form of training from a new instructor. It would be truly exciting to see what Beast evolves to after that.

DC is about to shake up the comic book industry once again. On Thursday, as part of their presentation at the ComicsPRO Comic Industry Conference, DC announced plans to move back to a Wednesday release schedule for their new weekly comics. This move will take effect on Wednesday, July 3rd, and will only affect single issues. New collected editions and graphic novels from DC will still be released on Tuesdays.

DC initially pivoted to Tuesday from the industry standard of Wednesday in 2020, amid supply chain disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. That initial decision also came amid the company's distribution move from Diamond Comics to Lunar Distribution and Penguin Random House, with other publishers like Marvel and IDW soon following suit.

What Is DC's Summer 2024 Event?

Also announced at ComicsPRO, this summer will bring the launch of Absolute Power, a new event miniseries shepherded by writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora, who have partnered on DC series such as Batman / Superman: World's Finest and Shazam!.

Absolute Power shows how Amanda Waller will use the strategic and military might of Failsafe and the otherworldly technology of the Brainiac Queen to steal all metahuman abilities from every super hero and super-villain around the globe, a threat so dire it will take the combined efforts of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Super Heroes of the DC Universe to defeat it.

Absolute Power will kick off with DC's Free Comic Book Day book, which will be available in participating comic shops on Saturday, May 4th. 2024 Absolute Power Free Comic Book Day Special Edition will be a 32-page comic featuring an original 12-page story by Waid with art by Mikel Jan?n, as well as a preview of Absolute Power's first issue. It will be followed by Absolute Power: Ground Zero, an official prelude that will debut in June and bridge the shocking conclusion of the Superman story "House of Brainiac" with Amanda Waller's machinations.

Is DC Reprinting the Amalgam Universe?

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that DC and Marvel will be joining forces to print two new omnibuses of their previous crossovers: DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus. Both DC Versus Marvel Omnibus and DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus will be available at participating bookstores and local comic book shops on Tuesday, August 6th.

As the title suggests, DC Versus Marvel Omnibus will reprint a number of iconic issues originally co-published by both DC and Marvel, which have united some of their characters and teams over the years. DC/Marvel: The Amalgam Age Omnibus, meanwhile, will reprint portions of the fan-favorite Amalgam Universe, which fused DC and Marvel's characters into some surprising combinations. Many of these stories have been out of print and hard to find for decades. This is the second time in recent years that DC and Marvel have joined forces to reprint a beloved crossover, after a limited run of JLA/Avengers with the help of Hero Initiative, to celebrate legendary creator George Perez.

What do you think of DC moving its New Comic Book Day back to Wednesdays? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Steamboat Willie and Plane Crazy, the two earliest Mickey Mouse cartoons from Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, fell into the public domain on January 1, and in the weeks since, the Disney mascot has been up to all sorts of shenanigans -- most of which involve being murderous. Now, his trail of blood is leading him to San Francisco -- specifically, the San Francisco of Savage Dragon, where Mickey appears to be the antagonist in an upcoming issue of the series. Erik Larsen took to social media to share the issue's cover, along with a teaser that fans can expect the story in June, suggesting that the series is getting (more or less) back on a monthly schedule after an uneven couple of years.

Bringing in public domain characters is nothing new for Larsen, who previously incorporated the Golden Age Daredevil and even Captain Tootsie into decent-sized roles in Savage Dragon. Mickey makes his first appearance in Savage Dragon #268, which is available in stores now.

"He'll be a recurring character for a bit," Larsen told ComicBook.com. "My spin on him is that he's an old actor who starred in Steamboat Willie and worked in Hollywood until his roles dried up."

In the first appearance, Mickey makes a pass at Maxine and Malcolm Dragon, suggesting that he's open to swinging with the couple. While it doesn't appear they are interested...well, it's hard to put anything past Maxine sometimes.

"I'm trying to keep him as on model as I can," Larsen said of the character. "This Mickey was pretty elastic in his own right, getting stretched and distorted when he was involved in any physical altercations. I'm going with that as the basis for the character. Later version's of Disney's Mickey Mouse were far more grounded and realistic in their own way. Because there's so little material in the public domain -- just Plane Crazy and Steamboat Willie -- I've had to build on that and make it my own."

Whether this cover is a misdirection, or if Mickey will be an actual villain, is anybody's guess. There are certainly power-enhancing substances in the world of Savage Dragon that could explain the "you know how dangerous he is" word balloon, if that's something that is to be taken literally.

Savage Dragon recently underwent a change of venue, with the lead characters moving back to the United States following several years in Toronto. They didn't return to Chicago, where the comic took place for its first 25 years or so, but instead moved to San Francisco, Larsen's own stomping grounds.

Savage Dragon #269 will continue the story in March.

Spawn got a new look at the end of the latest issue of his comic, and after years of being without a ruler, somebody new sits on the throne of Hell. The twist? Due to some of the cosmic shenanigans that have happened during Hell's years without a king, Spawn and the Scorched are seemingly left without functional powers by the end of the issue. That jives, we suppose, with a somewhat simpler look for Spawn. The version of the character we see at the end of the issue looks a lot like he did when the series started, and Al Simmons was just starting to figure out the whole "agent of Hell" thing.

Meanwhile, the new ruler of Hell has plans that seem like they're going to be very bad news for the rest of the world. Weird, we know -- you'd think being the ruler of Hell would make you a pretty chill person!

You can see Al's new look below.

McFarlane recently told ComicBook.com that Spawn #351 will have a short time-jump, picking up about six months after this issue and giving fans a clearer idea of the new status quo for the world of Spawn. The throne has been vacant for literally decades, and now that it's filled, that's going to set some things in motion -- and probably make a lot of people (and demons) pretty upset.

"We're not just going to go, 'Oh, okay, somebody's on the throne,' and then status quo," McFarlane explained. " Not going to be that easy. We're just saying that there's a cause and effect of all of this. And so now you saw leading up to #350, and then #350, you saw the cause of it, and now moving forward, you're going to see some of the effect of it. So, again, I've said before, I don't want people to have to feel like they're obligated to buy all the books to make it all make sense. So, it's sort of big sort of overarching thing that happens that affects everybody."

You can get Spawn at your local comic shop today. The Final Order Cutoff for Spawn #351 is coming up on Monday, so if you want to get in on the ground floor of the new era of Spawn, you have a few days left to do it.

Marvel is assembling the mightiest heroes of the Ultimate Universe for a new volume of Ultimates. Back in 2002, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch collaborated on Ultimates, transforming the way superhero stories were told. Their influence can be felt in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with Samuel L. Jackson's portrayal of Nick Fury coming straight from the Ultimates. Hitch and Jonathan Hickman came together to usher in a new wave of Ultimate comics in Ultimate Invasion, and the Ultimate Universe #1 one-shot laid the foundation for new launches like Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Black Panther, and next month's Ultimate X-Men. Now, it's time for Ultimates to join the roster of Ultimate titles.

Marvel has officially announced Ultimates #1 from writer Deniz Camp (Children of the Vault) and artist Juan Frigeri (Invincible Iron Man). The first issue launches in June and directly spins out of Ultimate Universe #1. "Months ago, Tony Stark sent Peter Parker a radioactive spider to set him back on the course to become Spider-Man," a description of Ultimates #1 reads. "Since then, Iron Lad (Stark), Captain America, Doom, Thor and Sifhave begun to do the same for other lost heroes, building a network of super-powered heroes hungry for change... Now they must band together to destroy the Maker's Council and restore freedom and free will to a world ruled from the shadows!"

Marvel reveals roster of new Ultimates team

"The new Ultimates line is the most exciting super hero comics event in years, and it's humbling to be a part of it!" Camp shared. "We are reinventing these classic characters and archetypes to be as surprising and vital as when they were first introduced. Our Ultimates is an evolution not just of the Avengers, but of the whole super hero team concept; from the grand and operatic to the small and personal, THE ULTIMATES will feel like no Avengers or Ultimates comic ever before! That's our ambition, anyway; tune in to find out if we succeed."

"On a personal note, my first big break in comics was winning the Millarworld talent competition, so there is a strange, sweet symmetry to taking on the title Mark and Bryan pioneered 20+ years ago," Camp added. "We're doing everything we can to live up to the 'Ultimates' name, and the high bar set by Jonathan, Marco [Checchetto], and all the Ultimate creative teams so far!"

A special sneak peek at Ultimates will be included in Free Comic Book Day 2024: Spider-Man & The Ultimate Universe #1, on sale for FCBD being held on May 4th. The cover by Dike Ruan features the new Ultimates team, which consists of Tony Stark's Iron Lad, Captain America, Doctor Doom, Thor, Sif, Ant-Man/Giant-Man, and Wasp. Fans got to see the majority of these characters interact in Ultimate Universe #1, but so far Ant-Man/Giant-Man and Wasp have not made appearances, so perhaps Ultimates #1 will be their official introduction to the Ultimate Universe.

Ultimates #1 goes on sale June 5th.

A Marvel Comics series by a fan-favorite creative team is nearing the end of the road. It's very rare to see a new franchise crop up in the Marvel Universe, considering the foundation of the publisher is built around titles such as Spider-Man, X-Men, Avengers, and Fantastic Four. It's also harder to introduce new characters that readers will actually care about and spend their hard-earned money on. But that doesn't mean creators aren't trying to break new ground, which is what we're getting in G.O.D.S. from writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Valerio Schiti.

G.O.D.S. has promised to revolutionize the science and magic corners of the Marvel Universe, and so far each issue has delivered on that promise. However, things may be ending in May just as they were starting to get interesting. Marvel released a teaser for May's G.O.D.S. #8, with the teaser reading, "To All Things, An Ending... For Now." The cover by Mateus Manhanini features Wyn, an avatar of The-Powers-That-Be, in a sword duel with a knight while also dodging gunfire from a gun-slinger. A biking character can also be seen, and they all appear to be variants of Wyn since they share the same hair color and white streak.

Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti revamp Marvel's Gods

One of the more interesting things to witness in Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti's G.O.D.S. is how they've redefined the visual look of a lot of Marvel cosmic beings, such as the In-Betweener, Living Tribunal, Oblivion, Master Chaos, Lord Order, Infinity, and Eternity. By the time G.O.D.S. ends, if it is truly an ending and not restarting with a new #1 issue, there should be a new status quo for a lot of these entities.

"One of the things we wanted to do was to take the universal abstracts and do a more street-level version of the character," Hickman explained in a special G.O.D.S. retailer conference. "That's the idea behind Valerio's redesigns. Valerio tweaked the massive god-like aspect of each of these celestial abstracts and then he also made a version of the character that is a more mundane version. So I guess in Marvel Universe terms, there's the Peter Parker version of all these character and then there's the Spider-Man version of all these characters now. And it's a very effective storytelling mechanism. It works very well in the way that we're using it. My belief is that it will make these characters more useable and more frequently appearing in other Marvel books as well."

"We already saw the Marvel gods a lot of times in the past, no surprises here. Or are there?" Schiti teased. "Maybe we saw what they wanted us to see, what our human brains can contain and understand without going insane so maybe there are different, weirder and scarier forms? And if they can change shape and size, what's stopping them from walking among us, hiding in the crowd, using a human form?"

Stay tuned to ComicBook.com to stay up to date on the future of G.O.D.S.

The Ultimate Universe is still reigning supreme! Black Panther and Spider-Man return with their cover A variants. They also bring in a BossLogic variant and a second printing cover. Also, the Ultimate Universe book that started it all returns to the top ten. The villains are also returning, as The Joker and Cassandra Nova appear in this week's list due to the new Deadpool trailer. The Deadpool & Wolverine trailer also drove attention to a comic book that was featured in a quick scene. The significance of this book is still unknown. Marvel also made a huge announcement about the casting of the Fantastic Four. Ironically, the family portrait created a ton of interest in a character that has yet to be officially cast. Read on below to find out which FF character is getting their own little spotlight!

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: BATMAN #142 - GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI - FOIL | DC | 2024: In the large ocean of Joker covers, a few immediately catch the collectors' interest. Fans of the Joker immediately wanted to collect the foil cover by Camuncoli. The sudden interest caused this book to surge in value and sales. The aftermarket is still chasing this cover, potentially making it another iconic cover of the Clown Prince of Crime. We tracked it at a high sale of $35 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $22.

#9: ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #1 - BOSSLOGIC - ULTIMATE SPECIAL | MARVEL | 2024: BossLogic has an enormous following, totaling over 2 million followers on Instagram. A huge following collected his artwork once he started producing official comic covers. This book was already trending because of the appearance of the new Ultimate Black Panther. Given that Cover A's are hard to find, collectors are opting for other variants, and who better to collect than BossLogic? We tracked it at a high sale of $50 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $29.

#8: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 - MARCO CHECCHETTO - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2024: This Spider-Man book is ceasing to slow down! While it is no longer in the number one spot, it is still selling enough to remain in our top ten. Marvel released the second print this past week, proving to be just as popular. This cover A still remains one of the highest-valued covers out of the set. Its value is nearing that of the 1:100 cover at a current FMV of $73 for a raw NM copy! We tracked it at a high sale of $203 for a CGC 9.8 copy.

#7: NEW X-MEN #114 - DIRECT EDITION | MARVEL | 2001: Now that the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer has been out for a week, fans have dissected it, analyzing every scene, and many fans noticed an ominous figure that may be the teased villain, Cassandra Nova. Emma Corrin is the rumored actress who will be portraying the role of the villain. Even with the new trailer, we still do not have official confirmation that this rumor is true. Even so, fans are still banking on her appearance and are picking up copies of her first appearance! We tracked it at a high sale of $190 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a raw NM FMV of $16.

#6: ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 - R. B. SILVA - 2ND PRINT | MARVEL | 2024: The 2nd print of this book has opened to a fast market. It immediately moved to the aftermarket, and fans could not get enough of Ultimate Spider-Man! The other ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 variants have fallen off the top ten, making room for this newcomer. This book will likely reappear next week as well. However, it is important to note that a 3rd print is on the way and will arrive on March 6th. The pre-sales for the virgin incentive cover have already started increasing in value! We'll see if the 2nd print will remain in the top ten once the next printing drops! We tracked it at a high sale of $24 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $12.

#5: ULTIMATE UNIVERSE #1 | MARVEL | 2023: As everyone is collecting the Ultimate Universe, an early book returns to the top ten. This book is starting to get notoriety due to being the first cameo appearance of Maystorm and the new Ultimate Black Panther. This book may have been overlooked when it was first released. However, since the popularity of the two characters has surged, this book deserves a second look! We tracked it at a high sale of $48 for a CGC 9.6 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $29.

#4: FANTASTIC FOUR #209 - NEWSSTAND | MARVEL | 1979: This past Valentine's Day, Marvel took to social media to casually announce the cast for Fantastic Four. Fans entered a frenzy with the project's first official news. One detail that fans noticed was the inclusion of H.E.R.B.I.E. in the family portrait. While the first appearance of the Fantastic Four is a grail that the majority cannot afford, the first appearance of H.E.R.B.I.E is well within most collector's reach. The newsstand copy is currently selling fewer copies than the direct edition, which may be due to the difficulty of finding a newsstand copy over a direct edition. We tracked it at a high sale of $63 for a CGC 9.2 copy and a current raw VF FMV of $10.

#3: ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #1 - STEFANO CASELLI - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2024: The new Ultimate Black Panther has been generating tons of heat. The book itself was already a hot cover before its release, thanks to the massive success of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1. There was also a rumor that a publisher had lost thousands of copies of this first issue. This rumor hasn't been verified or corroborated, but it was enough to keep the aftermarket buzzing. We tracked it at a high sale of $148 for a CGC 9.8 presale copy and a current raw NM FMV of $57.

#2: FANTASTIC FOUR #209 - DIRECT | MARVEL | 1979: H.E.R.B.I.E is here! While casting for the first family's robot was not announced, the family portrait included H.E.R.B.I.E. This led many fans to believe that the casting announcement also announced the inclusion of H.E.R.B.I.E in any future Fantastic Four productions. Although there isn't any official announcement for the ever-loving robot, fans are still banking on his appearance by picking up copies of this issue. The direct edition seems easier to obtain, as it sold nearly twice as much as the newsstand edition. We tracked it at a high sale of $350 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw FN FMV of $16.

#1: SECRET WARS #5 - ALEX ROSS - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2015: This book has a small key appearance of Night Machine, an alternate version of Nikola Tesla. However, this isn't the reason the book is trending. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted this cover in the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer. There hasn't been any official information about this easter egg, so purchase it with caution! We have no idea if this book was there to reference a specific storyline or simply a nod to the title "Secret Wars." Until we get official clues as to the purpose of this book, buying it at the current prices is a gamble! We tracked it at a high sale of $249 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $28.

And that's your TOP 10 COMICS OF THE WEEK for 2/19/24! 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!

Todd McFarlane has spent a lot of years since 1997 trying to get another live-action Spawn movie off the ground, and the character has gotten some pretty wild ideas for adaptation along the way.

ComicBook.com's The Collectibles Show got to visit McFarlane Studios recently - Todd McFarlane's production house, workshop and and personal playland. Of the many, many, wonders of geek and pop-culture history that host Chris Krillian saw, one of the most memorable (for better or worse) were the alternate designs for Spawn that some movie-makers considered going with!

As you can see in the video above, the concept art for these Spawn movie characters to some VERY big detours away from Todd McFarlane's artwork in the comic books - concepts even McFarlane describes as being "funky ideas." McFarlane described the "organic" look that a lot of movie-makers wanted to go with for Spawn, with some concepts going as far as looking like something out of the Alien franchise, with its horrific take on what forms "organic life" can take.

Even more striking are the concepts for Spawn's first nemesis Violator and his alter-ego the Clown. The concepts ranged from very comic-accurate versions of violator, to versions that look like the belong in legitimate serial killer and/or horror films. Not so much the lovable rascal version of Violator, played by John Leguizamo in the original film....

New Line Cinema is name-dropped as the studio that was entertaining some of these particular designs, but no breakdown on the artists was given - and really, at this point, that info is probably lost to obscurity. WATCH the FULL VIDEO interivew with Todd McFarlane below:

No doubt a lot of Spawn fans' eyes are going to gravitate toward the more horror-themed designs in artwork portfolio we see here. The 1997 Spawn film went with a superhero blockbuster movie approach - or at least what qualified as a "superhero blockbuster" at that time. Most subsequent discussions of a Spawn reboot film have angled toward the hope that it is much more of a supernatural-horror film than a "superhero" film; for his part, Todd McFarlane has spent over a decade pitching and developing the project as a mystery-horror film, with series policemen Sam and Twitch investigating what turns out to be the demonic figure of Spawn. That film is still currently in development, with Blumhouse Pictures in the scripting stages, as of earlier this year.

Issa Rae's Jessica Drew from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is joining the Marvel Comics Universe. The Insecure star voiced Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman in the animated sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and will presumably return for the third movie in the franchise, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. This Jessica Drew is a Black woman with an afro, who proudly rode into battle pregnant and on a motorcycle. The Spider-Woman from the comics was at one time pregnant as well. Soon, fans will get to see Across the Spider-Verse's Spider-Woman adventures on the comics page.

*WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Edge of Spider-Verse #1. Continue reading at your own risk!

The anthology series Edge of Spider-Verse is back with new adventures and new Spider heroes. Along with introducing readers to Weapon VIII, welcoming back Spider-Byte (another Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse star), and teasing Spider-Man 2099's involvement in the Spider-Society, we also got word that future issues of Edge of Spider-Verse will feature the comic debut of Spider-Woman from Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. A creative team for the short story will be revealed at a later date, but it should be fun finding out more of the background of Issa Rae's character.

Web of Spider-Man previews future Spider-Man stories

Peter Parker, Miles Morales, and more Spider-Verse heroes will be tangled in the Web of Spider-Man. Marvel Comics announced it will preview the next era of Spidey stories in the new Web of Spider-Man #1, laying out upcoming storylines in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, Miles Morales: Spider-Man, and Spectacular Spider-Men, the next team-up comic starring Peter and Miles. The new giant-sized one-shot relaunches Web of Spider-Man, which originally ran for more than 100 issues between 1985 and 1995, and the second volume that ran for another 12 issues in 2009.

Featuring a cover by artist Greg Capullo (Batman), Web of Spider-Man #1 includes Spider-stories from current Amazing Spider-Man writer Zeb Wells, Spider-Men writer Greg Weisman, Spider-Woman (Vol. 8) writer Steve Foxe, and Edge of Spider-Verse (Vol. 4) writer Alex Segura, and artists Ed McGuinness and John Romita Jr. (Amazing Spider-Man), Greg Land (Symbiote Spider-Man), and Salvador Larroca (Uncanny X-Men).

Web of Spider-Man #1 "invites hardcore Spidey fans and new readers into the world of Spider-Man comics with special stories that lay out all that's to come for Marvel's web-swinging icons," per the official synopsis. "Current and future Spidey scribes and artists team up to kickstart their most impactful storylines, spotlight the villains and Spider-Heroes who everyone will be talking about, and introduce the threads that will shake up the Spider-Verse in 2024."

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Walking Dead Deluxe #83.] "The thing to keep in mind about other people's children... they're not our children." With those words, Rick Grimes seemingly suggested abandoning Alexandria on the final page of The Walking Dead #82. Alexandria was overrun after its walls collapsed from the pressure of a massive walker herd, leaving the survivors holed up in a house -- Rick and Carl Grimes, Michonne, Maggie, Sophia, Denise, and Jessie and Ron Anderson -- with no way out.

"I don't mean to sound so insensitive... but if I have to choose between my child or someone else's child, I'm going to choose mine every single time," Rick elaborated in the first panel of issue #83, explaining they would evacuate and find a way to help the others still trapped by the horde. Rick then chopped up a roamer and turned sheets into guts-covered ponchos to disguise the living from the dead, a tactic that would allow the group to push through the zombie masses.

Maggie and Sophia stayed behind, leaving Rick, Carl, Michonne, Denise, and the Andersons to shamble through the horde. But when Ron (younger than his teenage TV counterpart) froze in fear, he drew attention... and was devoured by walkers. Jessie didn't let go of her son and nearly dragged Carl to death as she was eaten alive, forcing Rick to hack off her hand with his hatchet.

After escaping their clutches, Carl and Rick made a run for it... only for a swarmed Douglas Monroe to fire a stray bullet that shot out Carl's eye.

It was a bloody, brutal issue -- one made more horrific when printed in color for the first time in this week's The Walking Dead Deluxe #83. Series creator and script writer Robert Kirkman reflected on Jessie and Ron's deaths in the latest installment of "The Cutting Room Floor":

"This is the 'Carl-gets-his-eye-shot-out' issue. When I have a HUGE event like that in an issue, it's all just a matter of building to that moment," Kirkman wrote. "Also, I've got the Jessie and Ron deaths... which are ROUGH, possibly the saddest and most brutal deaths in the series. I mean, she sees a guy she trusts hack her hand off to kill her to save his son. Sheesh! Top 10 at least, right?"

The horror wouldn't end there. Carl's gunshot wound -- a full panel spread of Rick's son with a chunk of his head missing -- was inspired by Todd McFarlane's '90s Spider-Man run that depicted the aftermath of Kraven the Hunter's suicide by shotgun.

"I wanted to show a CHUNK missing out of Carl's head. A horrifyingly visible GAP, that was the idea," Kirkman wrote. "My inspiration for this moment? The 'Torment' storyline that ran through Spider-Man #1-5. In that story, Kraven has a giant circular void in his head where his eye once was. It, to my thirteen-year-old mind, was the craziest thing ever. So I wanted THAT visual, but I wanted it to be somewhat realistic."

Kirkman envisioned "Carl with his head turned with the wound away from us a little so we could see the gap but still assume there was enough head back there to keep the brain intact." But artist Charlie Adlard drew the straight-on shot that made it into the final issue (and the television series).

"Which honestly, we both know looks like a wound that is impossible to survive," Kirkman continued, "but it was so striking, powerful, and haunting... I just had to keep it unchanged ... I just love the shock and awareness of Carl's face. He KNOWS what happened, and he's terrified."

The Walking Dead Deluxe #83 is on sale now from Image Comics.

Todd McFarlane's Spawn has carved out a unique space in the comic landscape, building a massive mythology in the decades since its debut. The Image Comics series has not only birthed movies, an animated series, and multiple video game appearances, but a record-breaking 350 issues of sequential comics. During a recent interview on ComicBook.com's That Collectibles Show, McFarlane spoke about the tenure he has had on Spawn thus far, and outlined just how difficult it would be for any creator to surpass his current record.

"My first Spider-Man I ever bought, Amazing Spider-Man. I started collecting late, right?" McFarlane explained in our interview, which you can check out above. "I was like 16. The first Spider-Man I ever bought [was] Amazing Spider-Man #167. I have clarity of exactly where I was when I bought it. So #167, that means that comic book had only been around for like 14 years, 13-14 years. By the time I got to draw it, I had to grow up, teach myself, break into comic books, make my chops, and then be able to get to Amazing Spider-Man. And my first issue was #298 and now I'm at #350 with Spawn. So Spawn has got fifty more issues than when I, basically, did my first issue, or it's over double what it was when I bought the first issue of Amazing Spider-Man. And I thought Spider-Man had been around forever at those points. And I go "Wow, time is passing by." And given that we started in 1992, you just do the math, right? I now know that any human being on this planet who's 31 or younger has never spent a day on this planet where my character didn't exist."

"We're going to do math," McFarlane continued. "Let's do the math. You do 120 [issues] every ten years, okay? So at #360, I'm at 30 years. So if I go another 30 years, which I plan on doing it, then I'll be up to over 700 issues. So somebody needs to beat that record. You have to start at twenty [years old]. I don't even know who this, I don't even know who this 20 year-old is that exists. They have to be sitting there right now saying 'I know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna do it until I'm 81 years old, and I'm not gonna stop, and then I'll beat Todd."

Will Todd McFarlane Leave Spawn?

In a previous interview with ComicBook.com to promote Spawn #350, McFarlane indicated that he does not plan on leaving the book anytime soon, and argued that his ownership over the character provides a unique creative outlet.

"I've been with Spawn now for over 30 years. I know that seems like a long time," McFarlane explained in our interview. "I've been with my wife for 45 years, and I think I still got another 40 with her, so I don't know. When you enjoy doing what it is you're doing, it's not work, it's easy. And I've said before, I need it in my life because I deal with so much other stuff, especially on the toy side where I deal with corporations and getting people's approvals and getting people to sign off. I need my little creative paradise that is all mine, that I can just wake up, come up with whatever is in my head and do it, and not need anybody's approval. It's my chicken noodle for my soul. I know people go 'Todd, how do you do it for so long?' I think I'd be half crazy if I didn't have it, in all honesty."

Is Spawn Getting a Movie Reboot?

Another facet of the Spawn franchise that fans have been excitedly following is the long-awaited Spawn movie reboot. Spawn will follow the journey of Al Simmons (portrayed by Jamie Foxx), a man who makes a deal with the devil and is reborn as a Hellspawn-turned-vigilante. The new Spawn movie has been in the works since early 2015, with McFarlane initially planning to write and direct it himself. In the years that have followed, Brian Tucker, Scott Silver, Malcolm Spellman, and Matthew Mixon have all been brought on to rewrite the script. Blumhouse's Jason Blum has previously told ComicBook.com that the film is targeting a 2025 release date.

"It's in very very active development," Blum explained in an interview last year. "What needs to happen is that my fellow friends the writers and the studios need to figure out their differences and get back to writing, but we've got a great group of folks putting it together, and my hope is that that movie -- my prediction is maybe we'll actually see a Spawn movie in '25. No promises, but that's my prediction."

What do you think of Todd McFarlane's new comments about Spawn? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Spawn #350 is now available wherever comics are sold.

Marvel's Daredevil is giving new meaning to "sins of the father." Father Matt Murdock was born again as a Catholic priest after sacrificing his life to save the souls of his friends trapped in Hell by the Hand cult, mysteriously returning to life with little memory of his past as the horn-headed vigilante Daredevil. Saladin Ahmed and Aaron Kuder's Daredevil run then pit the hero of Hell's Kitchen against the demonic entities of Hell: the Seven Deadly Sins. The demon Sloth possessed Matt's ex-wife, the assassin Elektra; Envy corrupted his friend, newsman Ben Urich; and Gluttony consumed his ally, She-Hulk. Father Matt exorcised those demons... and now, the sorcerer Doctor Strange must help fight Daredevil's demons.

This week's Daredevil #6 begins with Father Matt praying for forgiveness. "I've been slothful in my duty. Envious of others' happiness. Sought escape in gluttony. And I've sinned against God in ways I've yet to recognize," he confesses. "I pray you'll help me root out those sins and repent of them. I've failed miserably at doing so myself." Father Javi gives Matt his penance: James 2:13.

"Mercy triumphs over judgement," Matt recites. And then, his prayers answered, Stephen Strange tells Matt he's come to remind him of his previous life as Daredevil. "You know exactly what trail these diabolical entities followed to get to Hell's Kitchen," Strange says, using his magic to show Matt that his demons followed him out of Hell. "And it seems they're here to drag you back."

Matt considers that he deserves to be damned, but the demons aren't just punishing him: Elektra, Ben, and She-Hulk all suffered from Matt Murdock's sins. "Why would God allow that?" he questions. Matt then questions why the Sorcerer Supreme can't exorcise the demons with magic, and the answer is that they're Matt's devils. Matt holds the key. Strange can only show him the door.

Strange conjures a mystical door that will only open when Matt names the one who summoned his misery. With a prayer -- "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" -- Matt says, "The sinner these devils followed out of Hell to torment the Kitchen, the man responsible for all of this... is me."

Matt unlocks his memories as Daredevil. The triumphs, the tragedies, the loves, the losses. Battlin' Jack Murdock. Foggy Nelson. Elektra. Karen. Stick. Kingpin. Bullseye. The accident that blinded him. The radioactive liquid that enhanced his remaining senses to make him the crusader for blind justice: Daredevil.

He's entered a place that is "Hell's Kitchen, but it's not," a realm that may be an illusion, or a vision, or a pocket dimension. In this hellish domain lorded over by a towering Devil, Matt is confronted by his tormentor: "FIRST CAST OUT THE BEAM OUT OF THINE OWN EYE. THEN SHALT THOU SEE CLEARLY," the Devil says. "DELIVER SUCH AN ONE UNTO SATAN FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FLESH, THAT THE SPIRIT MAY BE SAVED."

Matt falls into an abyss and faces the worst version of himself: the one who fears. This demonic Daredevil drags Matt into the dark depths of his soul, telling him that God has banished him to darkness. But Matt remembers that mercy is greater than judgment and expels the demon with the words: "God is light!"

And then... let there be light. Matt is reborn again as a purified Daredevil clad in an all-white costume. (Daredevil's newest white costume is a cleaner and sleeker version of the white suit he wore as "the hand of God" in Chip Zdarsky's "Red Fist Saga," which burned with flames of righteousness.) "In Him there is no darkness at all," Daredevil exclaims. God saved him from Hell, but the rest of Matt Murdock's mortal sins are still out there: Lust, Greed, Pride, and Wrath.

"Starting tonight, I'm driving the devils out of the Kitchen. Those born of Hell... and those born of Earth," Daredevil says, leaping into action to combat The Heat gang that have been running Hell's Kitchen during the city-wide Gang War. Daredevil tracks down The Heat's lieutenant to The Bar With No Name, a place where Matt Murdock has indulged in his Wrath more than once.

And so, too, has the next demonically-possessed sinner: a wrathful Wolverine, his unsheathed adamantium claws covered in blood.

Daredevil #6 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.

There was a time when Wolverine almost got a new costume from creator Todd McFarlane. The co-founder of Image Comics is still chugging along with Spawn, as the title reaches its milestone 350th issue today. McFarlane rose to fame as an artist for Marvel Comics, with a fan-favorite run on Spider-Man as one of his many highlights. Even though fans typically think of McFarlane's Image Comics co-founder Jim Lee when it comes to the X-Men and Wolverine, McFarlane reveals he was still tasked with coming up with a new costume for the Canadian X-Man.

Todd McFarlane was a recent guest on ComicBook.com's That Collectibles Show, where he showed off never-before-seen concept art for a new Wolverine costume he created. Marvel decided not to use the costume, but McFarlane still kept a design sheet he came up with. "At one point they wanted to revamp Wolverine's costume," Todd McFarlane said. "They said, 'Hey Todd, you wanna take a wack at a costume?' They never took it up, but that's what I sent to them." McFarlane held up a large sheet of artist paper revealing the Wolverine costume, and while it's only partially shown, you have to wonder how the artist changed Wolverine's classic look.

Inside the artist's studio, you can see some of his classic covers, including the cover of Spawn #1 which was released back in 1992. You can check out That Collectibles Show's full interview with Todd McFarlane in the video below:

Todd McFarlane talks Spawn #350

Ever since Al Simmons killed Malebolgia in Spawn #100, nobody has managed to take permanent control of Hell yet. After 250 issues, that's set to change -- and it's going to chart a new course for the foreseeable future of the Spawn family of titles, from creator Todd McFarlane. The series, which holds the Guinness world record for the longest-running American comic book, is starting 2024 with some big things planned.

Spawn #350 hails from writers Rory McConville and Todd McFarlane, with artists Carlo Barberi and Brett Booth (Booth's inks provided by Adelso Corona). Jay David Ramos provides colors for the issue, with Tom Orzechowski on letters.

"I think it's going to be in keeping with what I've done in the past; you're going to get a thick issue," McFarlane told ComicBook.com. "You're going to get terrific artwork. Brett Booth is coming on, he's going to be the new artist on the book. Carlo Barberi, who's been giving me years of his life, he's going to do one of the chapters on that before moving over to [Gunslinger Spawn]. So, visually, it's going to be a hell of a book, right? And then there's going to be... I don't know if it's a true twist ending, but hopefully there'll be a surprise to the end of it that people will go, 'What? Okay, cool.' But that surprise then, although it's a weird one, that although the story sort of culminates this 250 issues of Hell's Throne being vacant finally being filled, right? That's the punchline of the story. It gets filled."

During a tour of his studio for ComicBook.com's The Collectibles Show, artist and executive Todd McFarlane gave a look at a piece of art that had been censored at Marvel -- and apparently was the last straw before he decided to strike out on his own. Speaking with Chris Killian, McFarlane showed off a page from his Spider-Man/X-Force crossover with fellow Image Comics founder Rob Liefeld. It was a page that, according to McFarlane, wasn't meant to be a big statement, but ultimately ended up being one, after Marvel nixed it from publication based on their understanding of the Comics Code Authority's guidelines.

The Comics Code Authority (CCA) was formed in 1954 as a self-censoring organization meant to prevent comics from being regulated by the U.S. federal government following a series of high profile controversies. Most mainstream publishers adhered to the code for around 50 years, with Marvel sticking with it until 2001.

"You would have thought I killed a baby or something like that," McFarlane said. "All of a sudden I'm on the phone with like five editors, and a bunch of people going, 'Todd, you can't do it, you can't do it?' and it's like, why? And they said, 'Becuase it's in the Comics Code.' I said, 'The Comics Code? I've been asking for the Comics Code for three years. Why didn't somebody send me the Comics Code? What is the Comics Code? Is there even a copy, or are you guys just making this up?' And they were like, 'Well, we just don't think it'll work,' and then the absurd conversation I had...they just went, 'Todd, you can't stab people.' I can't stab people? What are you talking about? I just bought an issue of Frank Miller, and the cover is Bullsyee gutting Elektra through the gut. 'Ohh, well, you can do it in the stomach, you're doign it in the eye.'"

You can see the complete interview below.

McFarlane pantomimed various other locations around the body that it was or wasn't okay to stab a character, and then delivered the most important part of the story.

"So, I go, 'Here's what's going to happen -- I'm a couple of days from having the baby. I'm going to be a father; I don't know how much that's goign to eat my time....I'm done. I'm done."

McFarlane and Rob Liefeld have both long enjoyed sharing the story of how they marched into Marvel one day to announce they and five other superstar artists were leaving the company to go start their own comics publisher. Of Image's seven original founders, McFarlane has arguably had the most financial success post-Marvel, starting his own toy company as well as publishing comics. A feature film was made based on Spawn -- a comic McFarlane owns in full -- and a few years ago, DC started subcontracting the production of their action figures to McFarlane Toys.

The Spider-Society is swinging out of the Spider-Verse -- and into the Marvel Comics universe. The animated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse movie introduced the Spider-Society: an elite team of Spider-People founded by the Oscar Isaac-voiced Miguel O'Hara, the Spider-Man 2099 of Earth-928. This multiversal Spidey squad included the Gwen Stacy Spider-Woman of Earth-65 and the Jessica Drew Spider-Woman of Earth-332, but excluded canon-threatening anomalies like the Miles Morales of Earth-1610.

But there's a new canon event in this week's Edge of Spider-Verse #1 (2024). The fourth volume of the Spider-Verse anthology series features the story "Prologue," by writer Alex Segura and artist Salvador Larroca, which sees Julia Carpenter -- the psychic called Madame Web -- summon Miguel from the future to present-day New York on Earth-616. Madame Web weaves the Web of Life and Destiny that connects the Multiverse and all Spider-Totems, who are endangered by a mysterious threat. It's time to form the Spider-Society.

Miguel and Madame Web have been discussing the pros and cons of putting together a team of Spider-Heroes from across the multiverse, but her senses have alerted her to "something big" that is accelerating their timeline. "Whatever will be coming will be targeting our most powerful Spider-Heroes," she warns Miguel. "We need to keep this looming menace off-guard. We need to form a society of the unexpected. A task force built on the Spider-Heroes these villains would never see coming."

Their near-infinite options include Mayday Parker (Spider-Girl of Earth-982), A?a Coraz?n (Ara?a of Earth-616), Peter Porker (Spider-Ham of Earth-8311), Gwen Stacy (Ghost-Spider of Earth-65), Miles Morales (Spider-Man of Earth-616), Felicia Hardy (Night-Spider of Earth-194), Hobie Brown (Spider-Punk of Earth-138), Peter Parker (Spider-Man Noir of Earth-90214), Jessica Drew (Spider-Woman of Earth-616), Peter Parker (Weapon VIII of Earth-72), Zarina Zahari (Spider-UK of Earth-834), and Cooper Coen (Web-Weaver of Earth-71490).

Miguel needs time they don't have to choose his team. He immediately rules out Spider-Ham and selects the first member of the Spider-Society: Ara?a. Madame Web entrusts Miguel with picking wisely, and departs with an ominous warning: "For all our sakes, let's hope the threat I'm seeing isn't already here." With the fate of the universe depending on Spider-Man 2099's choices, he mulls over options for the Spider-Society roster: they'll need chemistry, especially if the threat is as serious and as sinister as Madame Web suggested.

Just then, the tentacle-like mechanical arms of Doctor Octopus -- a Doctor Octopus -- attack Miguel with two silhouetted villains: a Kraven the Hunter and a Green Goblin. "The Spider-Society will form. But they will barely stand a chance against us," the shadowy figure says. The Goblin responds: "Even a society cannot withstand... an army." This isn't a multiversal Sinister Six... it's a Sinister Society.

The next prelude to Marvel's Spider-Society event is in the pages of new one-shot Web of Spider-Man #1 (2024), on sale March 27 from Marvel Comics.

I have argued, more times than I can count, that it is a miracle the Guardians of the Galaxy are now household names. Over the past decade, James Gunn's live-action Marvel Studios movies catapulted the band of lesser-known space misfits into a bonafide phenomenon. Amid the trilogy of Guardians of the Galaxy movies, multiple video games, an animated series, and mountains of Groot-themed merchandise, audiences have grown to love and resonate with the team's ragtag ensemble of characters. Along the way, that newfound popularity has helped the Guardians evolve on the page, adding new team members and adopting new status quos. The most recent chapter for the team, this week's Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1, culminates the past year of storytelling in a poignant and expedited, but still satisfying fashion.

Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1 sees its titular team finally face-to-face in the conflict against Victoria of Spartax. Tasked with protecting themselves and the "Grootspace" they have begun to call home, the team wages a war filled with surprises and harrowing moments.

From the very first panel, to the afterword by series writers Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1 exhibits a sentimentality for the Guardians as a concept. While that has been exhibited across the space cowboy-influenced tone of the entire series, this grand finale balances that gunslinger style with a more comfortable approach. Even as the fate of the team hangs in the balance, and the issue legitimately pulls on readers' heartstrings a handful of times, the issue is still overwhelmed by the unique liveliness that fans have come to associate with the team. The issue's strongest moments, whether in the form of an epic monologue or a single wordless panel, turn that liveliness into a narrative lightning rod. It only harkens back to some of the most profound moments of the past year of Guardians of the Galaxy issues, but adds even more to the growing iconography of the team.

That isn't to say that every single narrative beat of Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1 is flawlessly executed, as the issue's twenty-plus pages only allow so much to be completely and confidently wrapped up. Without getting into overt spoilers, a few of the issue's twists and turns, while still emotionally resonant, require a bit more knowledge of the previous Guardians runs to really sing. In the process, some of the immediate story beats of the past twelve issues are truncated, ending in a fashion that is still sweet or sanguine, but could have benefited from more room to grow. While this certainly doesn't tank the narrative of Guardians of the Galaxy as an entire series, it does ever-so-slightly minimize its sense of catharsis.

As with essentially every prior issue in this Guardians of the Galaxy run, Kev Walker's art provides a scrappy and stylish aesthetic to this massive final battle. While the approach to panel construction isn't necessarily revolutionary, it creates an easy shorthand to help convey the majesty of what is displayed. The real selling point is Walker's approach to character design, taking a cute-but-grounded approach to an increasing number of characters, as well as some truly breathtaking backgrounds and detail work. Matt Hollingsworth's colors add directly to the grandiose energy of the issue, utilizing golds and pastel hues to convey brevity in the most necessary of moments. Cory Petit's lettering has also worked wonders in setting up Guardians of the Galaxy's tone, and it proves to be an unobtrusive but still inspired flourish across this finale.

Even at its most rushed or understated, Guardians of the Galaxy Annual #1 is still a magnificent culmination of the team's latest tale. Kelly and Lanzing's script delivers a tender, but chaotic battle that changes the team's standing in some major ways, while still remaining a well-earned and (largely) well-executed celebration. Walker's art helps the team's aesthetic flourish to wacky, but still recognizable heights, perfectly complimented by Hollingsworth's colors and Petit's lettering. While there's no telling what is next for the Guardians after today, this finale further proves why the team has become one of the crown jewels in Marvel's ever-evolving narrative.

Published by Marvel Comics

On February 21, 2024

Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing

Art by Kev Walker

Colors by Matt Hollingsworth

Letters by Cory Petit

Cover by Emilio Laiso and Bryan Valenza

Cemetery Kids Don't Die follows a group of four teenagers who are enraptured with the latest video game console of the day: The Dreamwave. Playing a role-playing game that perhaps most resembles the brutal indie game, Darkest Dungeon, the Cemetery Kids find themselves attempting to conquer this console entry dubbed "Nightmare Cemetery." Unfortunately, one teen named "Pik" finds himself not just struggling with the game, but the gruesome deaths that he faces in the game itself that appear to be bleeding into the real world. As Pik's gang of adventurers attempts to attain a certain target in the creepy video game landscape, things only go from bad to worse for Pik himself.

Writer Zac Thompson weaves an interesting story, creating a parallel between escaping reality in a world that seems far harsher on its surface, but whose escapism resonates with the teenagers. There's a darker secret that's alluded to here in subtle--and not so subtle--ways throughout the first issue, setting the stage for a thrilling mystery that will hopefully stick the landing in four issues. One caveat I found from the debut is that while Pik is explored well, I do wish that his supporting cast also had more of their individual characteristics spotlighted. It's a tricky feat to introduce all the moving pieces of a story, let alone a horror story, and Thompson does an admirable job. I only wish it was able to maintain a sprint along the way in giving readers more of each character.

Thompson's display is one that I'm a sucker for, as games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Darkest Dungeon have been my bread and butter in recent gaming years. While the Cemetery Kids might be in a virtual world, it still feels dangerous, especially when the effects of the game begin bleeding into the real world. That makes their digital analogs, and the instances where they enter the Nightmare Cemetery, that can most keep readers on edge. The ghastly monstrosities, as well as the dreary, Lovecraftian setting, help to hammer home the horror here.

Artist Daniel Irizarri and colorist Brittany Peer might just be the shining stars of this new horror series. The pair are able to work well in unison, both in the "real world" and the video game settings. They're able to capture the energy of youth in the main characters at high school, alongside the creeping terrors that they find themselves encountering in the Nightmare Cemetery. When the two worlds meet later in the first issue, it feels both natural and unnatural, while slamming home a quite unnerving page in the process as one grotesque sequence is made that much more effective. It can often be difficult to incorporate skin-crawling elements into a series, especially one where a creative team is attempting to take on a more energetic, "manga" style with its art, but the team behind Cemetery Kids Don't Die does so in spades.

Cemetery Kids Don't Die is a strong start for this miniseries. It's not perfect, but it does a fantastic job of dragging readers into its world while giving comic and horror fans alike quite a bit of grotesque eye-candy along the way. I'm anxious to see what territory the Oni Press series explores in its three remaining installments, and if it will open the door for more tales of terror from this talented creative team.

Published by Oni Press

On February 21, 2024

Written by Zac Thompson

Art by Daniel Irizarri

Colors by Brittany Peer

Letters by Andworld Design

Cover by Daniel Irizarri

Spider-Man faces his first super villain in the newest issue of his Ultimate Universe comic. The Ultimate Universe is back and better than ever, following the events of Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch's Ultimate Invasion. Marvel is doing a slow rollout of Ultimate Comics, with Ultimate Spider-Man leading the charge. The comic features a married Peter Parker who has two kids with Mary Jane Watson. Instead of following Spidey's wall-crawling adventures as a teenager, Ultimate Spider-Man has Peter gain his abilities much older in life. Since he's still learning on the job, it's time he squared off with a familiar villain from his rogues gallery.

*WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Ultimate Spider-Man #2. Continue reading at your own risk!

Ultimate Spider-Man #2 comes from the creative team of Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto, Matthew Wilson, and VC's Cory Petit. It begins with Peter testing his new abilities while wearing a black picotech suit, which scares his daughter May when she reads about him in the Daily Bugle. After reassuring May that it could all be Photoshop, Spider-Man returns to patrolling the nighttime streets of New York City, where he runs into the Ultimate Universe version of Shocker.

Ultimate Spider-Man vs. Ultimate Shocker

Shocker looks similar to his appearance in on Earth-616, with the only difference is his costume has a more real-world look to it. Aside from the black mask covering his face, his bodysuit still has the same yellow design and pattern to it, with his shock gauntlets strapped to his wrist. The first time Spider-Man confronts Shocker it appears he's reasoned with him and talked Shocker out of robbing a bank. Of course, it's all a ruse, and when the two go to shake hands, Shocker blasts Spider-Man off the rooftop and to a dumpster below.

Another night Spider-Man finds Shocker robbing another bank, and again Shocker outwits the naive Spider-Man by telling a tale about needing the money for his dying wife. Once again, Shocker blasts Spider-Man off another roof into another dumpster, all while the mysterious Green Goblin watches on from a distance.

Another villain looming large over Ultimate Spider-Man is Wilson Fisk, the owner of the Daily Bugle. After ousting Uncle Ben and J. Jonah Jameson from the paper, Fisk has become the target of a terror attack by the Green Goblin. Instead of having the Daily Bugle cover the assassination attempts, Fisk is using Spider-Man as a distraction to keep the public off his tail.

Let us know your thoughts on Ultimate Spider-Man #2 in the comments, and let us know what villains you'd like to see Spidey battle next.

The thing is, Taylor uses Batman to help tell Nightwing's story. Though it isn't necessarily a full origin, we see Dick's roots for the umpteenth time. That angle is far from necessary, yet it works. Not only that, it works exceptionally well as the story tugs at your heartstrings. Perhaps it's use of simultaneous timelines, mirroring Dick's upbringing and that of Iko Wahid. It's one gut punch after the next, and leaves you feeling for the young protagonist.

Then there's the work of the art team. Though they've each spent some time on Nightwing, the art of the issue really stands out. Between Batman and the setting shifting to Gotham, there's something about the grime and grit of Basri's lineart to pushes the story to an entirely different level. Hundreds of artists have drawn the Caped Crusader for DC Comics and frankly, this team should be among the best of the best to do it.

Most importantly, Nightwing #111 taps into exactly what made Taylor and Redondo's work on the series so great from the start. It's a hyperexamination of what it means to be a superhero, allowing readers to follow along as Dick Grayson's internal struggles are often bigger threats than the physical fights Nightwing finds himself in from issue to issue. Although Batman might not necessarily be the best one to offer therapeutic advice, there's something charming in Dick turning to his mentor to help the hero over a massive roadblock in his crime-fighting life. If this is the type of stories Taylor tells between now and the end of his story, Nightwing is going down as one of the best superhero stories ever told.

Published by DC Comics

On February 20, 2024

Written by Tom Taylor

Art by Sami Basri

Inks by Vicent Cifuentes

Colors by Adriano Lucas

Letters by Wes Abbott

Cover by Bruno Redondo

After becoming a formidable fan favorite in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Scarlet Witch's reign in the comics isn't slowing down. On Tuesday, Marvel Comics announced the first details surrounding the June 2024 relaunch of Scarlet Witch, the ongoing solo series spotlighting the titular hero. The new iteration of the series will be written by Steve Orlando, who penned the previous incarnation of Scarlet Witch as well as the currently-running Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver miniseries. Artist Jacopo Camagni (X-Men Red) will be joining the series. Russell Dauterman will be returning to provide covers for Scarlet Witch.

According to Marvel, the Scarlet Witch relaunch will continue to further develop Wanda's current status quo, as a shopkeeper and aide of the helpless with her magic abilities. Additionally, the series will dive into how the events of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver and the previous ongoing series have led to deadly consequences for Wanda.

What Is the New Scarlet Witch Series About?

In Scarlet Witch, the Scarlet Witch has carved out a haven for herself in upstate New York, but it's all about to go up in flames. Wanda's newfound peace has drawn the wrath of a primal force unlike anything she's ever faced before, and it won't stop until it razes Wanda's world to the ground. It's a clash of titans as Wanda and her allies fight for all she holds dear! What happens when an unstoppable force meets the end of all things? When pure chaos meets pure destruction? Wanda's about to find out - if she survives long enough.

"The news is out and I couldn't be more excited!" Orlando shared in a statement. "SCARLET WITCH has been a dream job, and getting to return to her once again and continue Wanda's adventures is something I could never say no to. And Wanda's going to keep climbing! Here, we'll be bringing the blockbuster storytelling of SCARLET WITCH AND QUICKSILVER to the focused, personal journey Wanda began in DARKHOLD and SCARLET WITCH. And standing in her way? Only one of Marvel's most powerful and climactic entities, bent on destroying everything Wanda stands for."

What Is Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver About?

Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver, which debuted its first issue earlier this month, is from Steve Orlando, Lorenzo Tammetta, Frank William, and VC's Ariana Maher. In it, the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver have been heroes, friends, family heads and occasionally villains, but, above all, they are twins who look out for each other. So when Wanda receives a letter from the recently deceased Magneto that would upset Pietro, she burns the letter before her brother can read it. But her choice drives them apart at the worst possible time: a new threat heralded by the Wizard - with a horrifying eldritch upgrade - is coming for their heads, and if they can't find a way to repair their damaged bond, it will cost them their lives."

"We've been doing so much work with Wanda and we wanted to spotlight the diversity of her powers and the dynamic things she can do... and it's really exciting to do the same, and give the same love, to Pietro during the 60th anniversary," Steve Orlando said when the series was announced. "But, it's not just about his powers! It's about who he is and bringing him back into this chosen family narrative we're doing. So, you won't just see Pietro back in the book, you'll see Pietro with members of the extended Maximoff family that he hasn't gotten a ton of time to spend with before!"

What do you think of the first details surrounding Marvel's new Scarlet Witch series? Will you be checking out the new relaunch? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Star Wars continues its deep-dive into the hears Luke Skywalker spent training as a Jedi between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Luke has been on a quest to learn more about the mysteries of the Kyber crystals as he seeks to forge his new lightsaber, after losing the duel with Darth Vader. Luke's quest has taken him inside the dark heart of a Sith Kyber crystal, where he's learned firsthand just how the Jedi's ancient enemy sacrifices their souls for the power of the dark side.

During a visit to a Sith Kyber crystal, Luke discovered an entire realm inside, where the "echo" of a mysterious Sith Lord resided. A big threat to the galaxy (the AI entity the scourge) distracted Luke from his mission, but the preview for Marvel Comics' Star Wars #43 reveals that his return to the crystal realm is a trap! And the soul of that mysterious Sith is looking to do more with Luke than a simple chat.

As stated, Star Wars has been putting considerable focus on filling in the story gaps about how Luke Skywalker went from being the inexperience Force user who faced Darth Vader in Empire Strikes Back, and the master Jedi who was wise enough to redeem his father by not fighting in Return of the Jedi. It's proven to be a much wider lane of creative opportunity than expected: Luke has not only gained new perspective and experience facing the Sith - he's also touched other realms of the Force, communed with Jedi from eras long past (The High Republic) and mastered his own life and mind since learning that Vader is Anakin, and losing his first fuel against the Sith Lord.

All in all, Luke's Jedi quest has helped to further establish him as the Jedi legend he ultimately becomes - it also does a subtle job of adding complexity to Luke's views and perspective on being a Jedi, which help make his future turn in the Sequel Trilogy feel more in line with the character.

Check out the synopsis and preview page(s) for Star Wars #43, below:

A SITH IN THE MIND'S EYE! LUKE SKYWALKER is trapped deep behind enemy lines, hunted by a rogue SITH who sees the nascent JEDI KNIGHT as his chance at new ascendancy. How will Luke survive...and who will he be if he does?

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Steven Cummings
Cover by: Stephen Segovia
Page Count: 28 Pages
Release Date: February 21, 2024

Batman: Year One from writer Frank Miller and illustrator David Mazzucchelli is widely regarded as one of the best and most influential Batman stories of all-time. It reimagines Bruce Wayne's first year on the job as Batman in Gotham, depicting a man that is far from the iconic crime-fighter that he would eventually become. It's a story that every comic book fan should read, and one that is certainly worthy of a super fancy deluxe edition that Batman fans can cherish for years to come.

David Mazzucchelli's Batman Year One Artist's Edition is a hardcover edition collects Batman #404-407 (1986) and presents them in the same 14 x 21 inch size as most of the pages were originally drawn. It also features a new introduction by Mazzucchelli along with the complete collection of layouts, giving readers "true insight into a master storytellers process from initial spark to completed page".

Of course, a super fancy deluxe edition such as this will have a price tag to match. At the time of writing, Batman Year One Artist's Edition is available to pre-order right here on Amazon for $135, which is 10% off the $150 list price. It will arrive on your doorstep on July 16th, and if the price goes down further between now and then, pre-order customers will automatically get the biggest discount. Additional Artist Edition pre-orders include:

• Jim Lee DC Legends Artist's Edition ($150) - See on Amazon
• Neal Adams Classic DC Artists Edition ($150) - See on Amazon
• Neal Adams Classic DC Artists Edition B ($150) - See on Amazon
• Chris Samnee's Black Widow Artist's Edition ($150 - See on Amazon

Official description of Batman: Year One: "Before Batman became synonymous with striking fear into the hearts of cowardly and superstitious criminals, there was just Bruce Wayne, an orphaned millionaire who was Gotham City's prodigal son by day and an angry vigilante by night. Despite his best efforts, Bruce knows that his nightly patrols have very little effect in making a difference in a city that has forgotten what justice is. In order to inspire real change, he will need to become something more than a man...he will need to become a symbol.

"Bruce isn't the only crusader trying to clean up the streets. Lieutenant James Gordon is a good cop who's tired of the corruption that has infiltrated every aspect of Gotham, including the GCPD. Together, these two might stand a chance of restoring some sense of order in Gotham City--if the mob or dirty cops don't take them out first!"

Note that Batman: Year One is available in a paperback graphic novel on Amazon for only $10. DC adapted "Batman: Year One" into a standalone, direct-to-video animated film released in 2011, with Ben McKenzie voicing Bruce Wayne / Batman and Bryan Cranston voicing Jim Gordon. You can order the 4K edition here on Amazon for $19.98.

A new era of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics is nearly upon us. In January, IDW Publishing announced that it would celebrate Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' 40th anniversary by relaunching its TMNT ongoing series with a new first issue. Eisner-award-winning writer Jason Aaron, a former Marvel architect known for his runs writing Thor and the Avengers, will write the new series. Aaron's run will begin with a 10-page prelude story in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Alpha #1 in June before the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 ships in July. Each of the first four issues of the series focuses on an individual Turtle, with art from different artists. Crucially for fans, the new series is a continuation of IDW Publishing's long-running Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles universe, which includes the longest-running Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series ever.

ComicBook.com had the opportunity to talk to Aaron over video chat and discuss his vision for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a series with "grit under its nails." He also hinted at answers to questions that some TMNT have been wondering about, including the fate of Jennika, the fifth Turtle introduced to the group in the IDW continuity. Here's what he shared with us:

Let's start with a simple but important question: We've got our four Turtles. We know which ones your artists are into based on which ones they drew here. Which one of these Turtles do you identify most with out of the four?

Jason Aaron: You're not the first person to ask me that, and I can't say I have an answer. I shouldn't have an answer, right? You don't want me to pick one Turtle over another. Certainly, at the beginning of the series, we're doing the first four issues, each one focusing on a different Turtle, drawn by a different amazing artist, so it's very much me getting to dig into each one of them. And I am enjoying each one of those stories for how very different the Turtles are, how very different the story is, the situation we find those guys in. So, I don't have a favorite yet. I would say at this point, this exact point in time, I haven't written all four of those yet, so technically I haven't written all four Turtles yet, but I will be there very, very soon. But I'm still not going to have a favorite, or at least I'm not going to tell you if I do.

Well, let's talk big picture then. This is a big relaunch. It's the 40th anniversary. When you started talking to IDW about relaunching the Ninja Turtles series, what was the vision you expressed to them? What's the big idea behind your take on the Ninja Turtles?

To me, it was nothing too overly complicated. I have loved the IDW run. I've loved how the books have expanded the cast of characters, the world, and the timeline with the Last Ronin stuff. Just as a fan, I have been reading those books the entire time from the very beginning and loved all that. I think for me coming in, especially here in the anniversary and launching a new book, you want to do something that is - not a reboot, that's the same continuity, it's a continuation of that story that's been going on for so many years now - but I'm just trying to go back to what is my connection point with the Turtles, which is that original Mirage Studios. Before the cartoon, before the movies, or anything.

I'm just going back to that original book. The first issue of Turtles I picked up was four in the original oversized format and started reading the book from there. That was the point where I just started to get into comics, and I was reading a little bit of everything, reading superhero stuff, but during that period in particular, in the '80s, it was just this explosion of smaller publishers, and I was eating all that up, and Turtles was at the forefront of that. And I just responded to this book because it seemed so completely different from anything else I read. It looked different, felt different. It felt like a book that was grungy and raw and had dirt and grime under its fingernails, and I loved all that.

So, if anything, I'm just trying to make this book feel like that. This is a new number one, a celebration of the Turtles' anniversary, honoring everything that's come before while also pointing back to where things started. And for me, just trying to do a book that has some of that same grit under its nails.

You mentioned that there was this explosion of indie comics at the time, and Turtles is the biggest success story to come out of that. I was wondering if you had thoughts or ideas about why Turtles? We're still talking about Ninja Turtles 40 years later when that is not the norm for what eventually became with those books.

It's not an accident. One, it was a cool idea that hit at the right time with a book that struck a nerve, and that, again, just seems so in your face and punk rock. And then everything that's come since then. What I have built my entire career on doing is taking characters that have been around for usually longer than me, for decades and decades, and there have been countless different stories told with them, and it's a question of how do you keep these characters relevant? How do you honor all those great stories from the past without just picking the bones of them but bringing something new to the table, bringing something of yourself, something that connects with you in a real emotional way and tells a new story?

And I think that the Turtles have been able to do that time and time again in all different ways, not just in comics, but in movies and TV and everything, which I think is... It's not just by accident. That takes a lot of people doing a lot of hard work. So, I love all that stuff. I love it when characters and stories are able to continue to grow and evolve over the years and stay relevant. For my part, I'm just excited to get to add my name to the list of people working to keep the Turtles alive.

So, you mentioned that this is not your first time coming in and working on storied characters, or long-running franchises, and in a way, it almost seems, at least from the outside, that it could have been easier to just hit the reboot button and start over. But instead, you're continuing the same continuity as the last 150 issues of this series. So, I'm wondering what extra challenges does that potentially pose? Are there those extra challenges? Was reboot ever a possibility, or were there just things in those 150 issues that you wanted to get to play with even as you're bringing Turtles back to that first brush you had with them?

In all my years in comics, I don't think I've ever really been a part of a straight-up reboot. I think it's always a matter of if it ain't broke, don't fix it. There's nothing broke about the Turtles comic universe and what IDW has been doing, people like Sophie and Tom Waltz, and all the awesome stories they've been telling. So why? There's no reason to do a reboot. Again, everything that I've done my entire career is how do you take all these years' worth of continuity and create a story with a number one on it that somebody can pick up and read and enjoy if they've never read any of that stuff before? So, I think it's always about we don't need to throw out everything that's been done. You take what is relevant and important and exciting about all those stories and you distill it down and put it on the page.

Even if you've read every single issue of the IDW run so far, or if you've read none of them, I want your experience with this first issue to be the same, with this new series, and I need to show my work, right? Pretty much everybody picking this up has a connection to the Turtles in some way or another, but maybe you've never read any of the comics. It doesn't matter. I need to distill, in the form of this story, why I think these characters are cool. What about each of them excites me? What about this world interests me, and what do I have an emotional response to? It needs to all be on the page so you can pick this up, again, regardless of your experience with the Turtles, and get exactly what you need right here in the form of this new book.

You wanted to show in this book the things that resonate with you from Turtles stories. What can you tell us about what some of those things are? The Turtles have done tons of different stories even just in the IDW universe from street-level crime stuff to space-faring stuff, and you've written all those kinds of stories. Where are we starting in terms of tone and genre when you launch the new book?

Yeah, it's a good question. I think it's a little hard for me to answer without giving away too much more, more than I would want to give away. I would say that the tone, in particular, is set right out of the gate in the alpha issue that comes out in June where I've got a 10-page story in that, a 10-page Donatello story with Chris Burnham. The most important part of that story for me was, this sets the tone. This tells you what my run on the book is going to be like. I don't want to tell you how it does that, where that story is set, or what it's about. Really, any of these first four issues where we pick up with each of the Turtles, I don't really want you to know where they're at, what they've been doing since the previous book ended, where we pick up with them.

I will just say that those four stories - five, really, including this alpha issue story - are, I think, stories, on the one hand, that point back to all the things I talked about that I love about that original Mirage Studios series while also taking those characters to places we haven't seen them in before. So, I think that the tone is really an important part, and also just where we can take these guys and how we can explore each of them at the core of who they are as they're each presented with challenges, unlike anything they've ever faced before.

The promotional art so far is focused really on the four Turtles who are the core, have been the core for 40 years of this franchise, but I know a lot of fans were immediately wondering, where's Jennika? Where are the other supporting characters? Can you say anything about what role those secondary characters are going to play in your run? Are they being sidelined a little bit to change the focus in the short term, or long term? Do you have plans?

Yeah, all I can say without giving everything away is, for Jennika in particular, there certainly are big plans, and I'll leave it up to IDW to reveal what those are as we go. In regard to the rest of the cast, certainly, there are plans for characters beyond just the four brothers, but coming out of the gate with this book, that's where the focus lies, really on exploring, again, who these guys are at this point in time, where they are in particular, which will be surprising in some cases in where that's going to lead things going forward. But like I said, I'm very excited about being a part of this universe that IDW has built with Sophie and Tom and everybody else who's worked on the series over the last several years, and none of that stuff is going away. None of those characters are going to be sidelined. That world will continue to stay rich and vibrant going forward.

You're coming to Turtles having spent years working on superhero stuff with their massive, shared universe. I'm wondering, given that Turtles is a long-running series but as far as the number of characters, relatively small in scale compared to the Marvel Universe and how vast that is, do you feel like your time working on those big superhero universes, the lessons learned there, are serving you well with the Turtles? Or is it a very different beast?

I don't think it's a different beast. I haven't really felt that about, I guess, anything I've done. Like you said, I worked at Marvel on an ongoing series for about 15, or 16 years, I guess. I worked at Star Wars during that time. Now I'm starting to do stuff at DC Comics for the first time. Especially, the last year for me since I stopped being exclusive to Marvel has been about spreading my wings and working in a lot of different places. So, I'm working for more companies now than I ever have at any point in my career. But none of it feels like something that's out of left field. Certainly, each character is its own challenge of just figuring out, "Who is this character to me? What is this world? What story do I want to tell?" That's always its own thing, but it's all still about telling good stories.

I've been reading comics obsessively since I first learned how to read. Below where I'm sitting here in my office is my basement which is filled with lots and lots of long boxes. Believe me, when I moved here, you appreciate just how many you got when you have to pick them up and carry them. So, I've been researching. I've been working towards this job literally my entire life; I've loved comics, and I eat, sleep, and breathe comics. So that part of me is just something that I've always done that I love to do. So, it all just, to me, it feels like comics, right? Tell good stories, craft interesting characters, and do something cool that we haven't seen before while, again, paying homage to what's made characters like this important and exciting in the first place.

We touched on Jennika and supporting characters, and I get the impression you're not going to tell me too much here, but obviously, all heroes need villains to clash against. I know in recent Turtles comics, Shredder has had a redemptive arc, they're going up against bigger threats. What can you say, broadly speaking, about the villains you're going to put the Turtles against in the coming series? Are you interested in recontextualizing old villains, or are you going to be introducing some new ones? What can you tell me about that?

It'll be a little bit of both. Certainly, there's a brand-new villain who's at the heart of the story that launches in issue one, but we're also not trying to completely reinvent the wheel there. I think part of going back and looking at what made me fall in love with Turtles in the first place in that original series, the Foot Clan is a big part of that right from the get-go. So, this is going to be a book that is still in some sense about mutant turtles fighting ninjas in the streets of New York City. We'll just get there in different ways, and there'll be a brand-new villain who, again, is at the heart of all that.

Can you say anything about the scale of this relaunch? You're writing this series, but traditionally, IDW has had at least two, maybe three Turtles series going at once. Are you pretty laser-focused on this one relaunch book? Do you have bigger plans in store, or is that more a question for IDW's editorial staff?

Certainly, there are big plans in store. I can't speak to the bigger publishing plan. In terms of me and what I'm doing, I am writing this one main title. So that Alpha issue that comes out in June will have a story by me, I believe stories by other folks as well, pointing the way towards what the overall plan going to look like. Then in July, you get Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 by me and Joelle Jones and we're off and running from there.

Speaking of Joelle Jones, you have an absolutely ridiculous lineup of artists here. As someone who currently has Leonardo socks on, the idea of Cliff Chang drawing Leonardo feels like a personal gift to me.

You're welcome. It was just for you.

Can you talk a little bit about assembling this art team? Were they all immediately eager? Did you handpick them? Did IDW already have them on call? Was there any fighting over who got to draw which Turtle? What was the situation like there?

I guess some of that, in terms of if there was any fighting, you'd have to ask my editor, Jamie Rich, and he's definitely responsible for putting together such an all-star team. He would just email me and say, "What about this person?" I'm like, "Are you kidding? Are you asking me? Yes. The answer is yes." It's an excess of riches. To launch with these four issues with these four artists is pretty insane. You get Joelle Jones doing issue one, Raphael Albuquerque doing issue two, which is the Michelangelo issue, and Cliff Chang, as you said, doing Leonardo, and then Chris Burnham doing Donatello in issue four and then also in the Alpha issue. So yeah, that's a pretty amazing list.

I've worked with Rafa on a short, 10-page Old Guard story. I think it's the only story I've done with any of these folks. I've known Cliff Chang pretty much my entire time in comics. We've never been able to work together. Joelle is just someone I've been a fan of her entire career, and I've tried to work with her and wanted to work with her on other occasions. This is the first time we've been able to make it happen. And Chris Burnham, the same way, I've always loved his stuff. He actually lives here in Kansas City, so we had lunch yesterday. He lives 10 minutes away from me, so that's good. We'll probably be hanging out and having more Turtles lunches in the future. But yeah, that's a ridiculously stellar lineup of artists, and to me, it just makes this launch, how we're doing it, all the more exciting that this is the group of artists we've got on board.

I'm going to leave you with one question that I think is fun. I want to lead in by saying this is hypothetical, so we're not leaking anything IDW has secret plans for. But IDW has done a lot of very cool intercompany crossovers with the Turtles - Batman/Turtles, Power Rangers/Turtles, that kind of stuff. If they handed you the reins, and they were like, "All right, let's do Turtles and X, something that you think it would be fun to mix the Turtles into," what would be your pick? What would be your pitch for a Turtles intercompany crossover, hypothetically speaking?

That's a good question. There've been so many good ones over the years. I'm not sure exactly which boxes have all been checked and which haven't. I think for me personally, if you're signing me up to write one, maybe if we wanted to do Turtles/Thor, I feel like I'm well-equipped to write that one. I think that'd be - I don't know, now my mind is jumping to Turtles and Asgard. So yeah, I think that'd probably be my pick. Although, has there been a Turtles/Godzilla book? Has that happened yet?

I don't think so, but that would be fairly incredible.

Well, there we go. Let's make that one happen. I'd write that too.

Although, I'm going to put you on the spot now because now you have me thinking about it: Which Turtles would be worthy of lifting the hammer?

Well, that's a great question. I think we have to answer that in the pages of the story, not here now before it even exists. Maybe all of them, maybe none of them. I don't know. If you've read my Thor stuff, that's always a big question of if Thor himself worthy to pick up the hammer.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Alpha goes on sale in June. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 follows in July.