For a story about the end of humanity, this one is surprisingly full of life. We dig into how the series came together, from its strange and instantly compelling premise of a robotic Abraham Lincoln wandering a post-human world, to the deeper themes driving it. Rosenberg opens up about how the book grew out of his own creative evolution, how it responds to the current moment for artists, and why this isn’t a bleak dystopia so much as a story about connection, purpose, and trying to find meaning when the system no longer makes sense.

We also get into the craft behind it all, including the long development process, the collaboration with his brother Mark Elijah Rosenberg, and why artist Andy Macdonald might be doing some of the most exciting work in comics right now.

Of course, we also talk Spawn and what it means to step into that world, but the heart of this conversation is If Destruction Be Our Lot and why it might be Rosenberg’s most personal and layered work yet.

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NEWS

1. Sam Keith passed away
2. Claremont returns to tell Gambit's origin in 'Gambit: Wanted' #1
3. Marvel sheds light on 'Queen in Black' #1 blind bags covers and shares interior pages
4. Marvel Stormbreakers ‘What If…?’ variant covers celebrate 50 years of alternate marvel stories

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Sai: Dimensional Rivals #3 (Momoko, Mundo, Casagrande, Bengal)
2. Iron Man #3 (Joshua Williamson, Carmen Carnero)

Alex:​​

1. Is Ted Ok? #2 (Dave Chisholm)
2. Absolute Wonder Woman #18 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman) 
3. Sai: Dimensional Rivals #3 (Mike del Mundo story)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Punisher #2 (José Luis Soares Pinto)

Dave: Knull #3 (Al Ewing, Tom Waltz, Juanan Ramírez)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Daredevil #1 (Stephanie Phillips, Lee Garbett)
• Dave: Uri Tupka and the Gods: Another Story from Lands Unknown (info)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Bizarro: Year None #1 (Nick Pitarra Cover)
• Alex: Batman / Superman: World's Finest #50 Cover F Rahzzah Variant

Interview: Matthew Rosenberg - Out May 6, FOC Apr 13th

1. If Destruction Be Our Lot imagines a world where humanity is gone and robots are left behind. What drew you to telling a story from that perspective rather than focusing on the fall itself?
2. Can you talk a little about your collaboration with Mark Elijah Rosenberg?
3. Andy Macdonald’s art brings a lot of personality to these robots. How closely did you collaborate to shape the look and feel of this world?
4. Abe, a robotic Abraham Lincoln, is such a strange and compelling lead. What made him the right lens for exploring meaning, purpose, and identity in this world?
5. There’s a strong theme of searching for connection, even in a world without humans. What does “friendship” look like in a story populated entirely by machines?
6. You’ve tackled everything from crime to dark comedy. Where does this series sit creatively for you, and does it feel like a departure or a natural evolution?

On Spawn

1. You’re stepping into Spawn with a major time jump and a new status quo. What excited you most about taking on such an iconic title at this moment?
2. Favorite Spawn character?
3. Where are you at with In Good Hands With Bad Company?
   1. We're Taking Everyone Down With Us
4. Would you call A Rook Spy Thriller a label under your brand?

Fun / Silly Question

1. If Abe could befriend any object or appliance in this world, what would be his ultimate ride-or-die companion and why?

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NEWS

1. Marvel Comics 2026 June solicitations!
   1. Doctor Doom returns and drags Captain America into a new war ahead of ‘Avengers: Armageddon’
   2. 'Amazing Spider-Man' #30-31 reveal Spore debut and major twist ahead of issue #1000
   3. Marvel reveals 'Avengers: Armageddon' variants and Comics Giveaway Day preview
   4. ‘Jeff the Land Shark: Superstar’ announced by Marvel with Mojo and new X-Men cast
   5. Marvel reveals Wolverine's claws will shatter in June 2026 'Wolverine' series
2. Marvel’s Swimsuit Special returns this July with new ‘Beach Day’ and must-see pinups
3. Full June 2026 DC Comics solicitations:
   1. DC just flipped Superman’s origin and threw Supergirl into a nightmare universe
   2. DC announces Summer of Supergirl Special #1 with all-star creative team
   3. DC Pride 2026 reveals 'Justice League: Dream Girls' event starring Galaxy and Dreamer
4. Every monster imaginable takes over the world in Dark Horse’s new horror series ‘Kingdom of Earth’
5. The Rocketeer goes undercover in new WWII espionage series 'Infiltrator!'
6. Image Comics has a Spawn shake-up, as Todd McFarlane & Brett Booth leave early for a new creative team and a time jump
7. Joshua Williamson turns the Wolf Man into his most brutal and heartbreaking story yet
8. 'The Eye Collector' preview reveals eerie new cosmic horror out June 2026

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Lobo #1 (Skottie Young, Jorge Corona)
2. Sentry #1 (Paul Jenkins, Christian Rosado)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Flash #13 (Lemire, Haining)
2. Exquisite Corpses #11 (Che Grayson, Gavin Fullerton) 

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Super Creepshow #1 (Kieron Gillen, Rossi Gifford)

Dave: Infernal Hulk #5 (Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Kev Walker)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Is Ted Ok? #2 (Dave Chisholm)
• Dave: DC/Marvel: Superman / Spider-Man #1 (Many)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Iron Man #3 (Josemaria Casanovas)
• Alex: Superman #36 (Rod Reis)

American Caper Interview: Producer & Additional Writing Lazlow, Editor Shelly Bond, and Finishes Chris Anderson

1. Dan Houser described American Caper as being fueled by his fascination with “hypocrites, sociopaths, political idiots, dysfunctional families, and violence.” When you first saw the concept for this story, what immediately stood out to you as something that felt especially relevant to the moment we’re living in?

2. The series pulls together a wild mix of characters. A Mormon hitman, a gambling-addicted lawyer, escaped convicts in love, a billionaire playing cowboy. How did you approach balancing such a large ensemble so the story feels chaotic in a good way rather than overwhelming?

3. Verona, Wyoming feels like a pressure cooker where crime, politics, and personal drama all collide. What was important to you in making this small town feel believable while still allowing it to host such extreme characters and situations?

4. The book leans hard into satire, sometimes feeling like it’s taking shots at every side of the political spectrum. Was there ever a concern about walking that line between satire that provokes thought and satire that might alienate readers?

5. The story’s interconnected crimes and morally gray characters gave me flashes of crime epics like 100 Bullets, where one event ripples across many lives. When building a narrative this tangled, how do you keep track of the cause and effect between characters?

6. Lazlow, your background includes storytelling in massive open-world games like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption. Did working on a comic require a different approach to pacing and structure compared to interactive storytelling?

7. (Fun question) If each of you had to survive in Verona, Wyoming for a week, which of these characters would you trust the most to have your back, and which one would you avoid at all costs?

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NEWS

1. Ram V, Evan Cagle, and Anand RK reveal 'Deicidium' graphic novel coming to Image in 2026
2. Marvel reveals the tragic origin of Shalla-Bal in new 'Fantastic Four: First Foes' one-shot
3. Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara makes Marvel Comics writing debut in Pride special
4. Marvel reveals 'X-Men ’97: Season Two' prelude, continuing the animated series’ shocking cliffhanger
5. TOP 50 COMICS - FEBRUARY 2026

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Sirens: Love Hurts #2 (Tini Howard, Babs Tarr)
2. Absolute Batman #18 (Scott Snyder, Eric Canete)

Chris:​​

1. Die: Loaded #5 (Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans)
2. X-Men United #1 (Eve Ewing, Tiago Palma)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: A Quiet Place: Storm Warning #1 (Phil Hester, Ryan Kelly) 

Dave: Sirens: Love Hurts #2 (Tini Howard, Babs Tarr)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Chris: Lobo #1 (Skottie Young, Jorge Corona)
• Dave: Sentry #1 (Paul Jenkins, Christian Rosado)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: X-Men #27 (Gerald Parel Cover)
• Chris: Dead Teenagers #1 (Caitlin Yarsky's Variant)

Interview: Christian Ward - FOC Mar 16th - Out - Apr 22, 2026

1. You’re returning to the world of Event Horizon after Dark Descent. At what point did you know you had the green light to continue this story, and was Inferno always part of your long-term plan, or did it grow out of the response to the first series?

2. The solicitation pitches this as “Aliens meets Dante’s Inferno.” That’s a big swing. How consciously are you leaning into the structure or themes of Dante’s Inferno, and does this story descend through its own version of circles of Hell?

3. Setting the story two hundred years after the original incident gives you a massive time jump. What does that distance allow you to explore that you could not in Dark Descent?

5.5. You have a compelling mix of characters working for the billionaire. How do you balance their personalities and backstories? Do you flesh out a cast, then go, “hmmm i’m mixing X”?

4. The idea of a billionaire assembling a private star fleet to plunder the wreckage feels very modern in its cynicism. Were you intentionally tapping into contemporary anxieties about unchecked wealth and corporate ambition?

6. The gravity drive has always been the heart of the horror in Event Horizon. In Inferno, does the focus shift more toward the metaphysical implications of interdimensional travel, or are we going even harder into physical, visceral terror?

7. Rob Carey joins you on art for this series. What does he bring visually that makes this version of Event Horizon feel distinct from Dark Descent?

7.5. Love the suits these characters wear. How do you design something that’s new, but also as cool as something we’ve seen in a sci-fi movie before?

8. After revisiting this universe twice now, how do you personally define what “Hell” is in  Event Horizon? Is it a place, an entity, a force of nature, or something humanity carries with it into the stars?

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NEWS

1. Spider-Man, Hulk, and Punisher collide in Jonathan Hickman’s new Marvel event series
2. Bishop scores new solo miniseries starting June 2026
3. Marvel reveals new ‘Spider-Man/Superman’ #1 covers and interior art too
4. Venom Unleashed news!
5. Exclusive: Read the full first issue of 'The Untamed' as Stranger Comics reveals Emerald City Comic Con exclusives

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Amazing Spider-Man #23 (Joe Kelly, Ed McGuinness)
2. Lands Unknown: The Skinless Man #1 (Ben Stenbeck)

Chris:​​

1. Cult of the Lamb: Last Sacrament Special #1 (Alex Paknadel, Troy Little)
2. Narco #1 (Doug Wagner, Daniel Hillyard)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Cult of the Lamb: Last Sacrament Special #1 (Alex Paknadel, Troy Little)

Dave: DC K.O. #5 (Scott Snyder, Javier Fernandez)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Chris: Tigress Island #1 (Patrick Kindlon, EPHK)
• Dave: Assorted Crisis Events #9 (Deniz Camp, Eric Zawadzki)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Absolute Batman #18 (TONS of retailer covers but going with Dexter Soy)
• Chris: Logan: Black, White & Blood #3 (Chris Campana Variant)

Interview: Phillip Kennedy Johnson

1. On Horror as Hulk’s Natural State
With Infernal Hulk, you’ve fully repositioned Hulk as a horror icon rather than just a force of destruction. What makes horror such a natural lens for this character, and what aspects of Bruce and Hulk feel newly unlocked for you in that genre?

2. On Marvel Exclusivity & Timing

You’re now officially Marvel exclusive while also wrapping up Book of El at DC. Creatively, what does this moment represent for you? Does going exclusive feel like narrowing your focus, or opening up the sandbox in a bigger way?

3. On Bruce Without the Monster
One of the smartest pivots in this run has been stripping Bruce away from the Hulk and forcing him to watch the consequences. What fascinates you most about Bruce when he’s powerless and confronted with what the Hulk becomes without him?

4. On Writing Other Heroes Judging Bruce
You’ve written the wider Marvel Universe reacting to Bruce in a way that feels tense, even cruel at times. Why was it important that the heroes not simply rally around him?

6. On the Living City Concept
The Living City feels mythic, grotesque, and operatic all at once. What inspired that setting, and how important is it that Hulk’s world now feels almost biblical in scope?

7. On INFERNAL HULK #7 and the X-Men
In issue #7, Hulk exerts mysterious control over mutantkind and draws them into the Living City. That’s a bold escalation. What makes the X-Men the right foil for this version of Hulk, and how does their connection to identity and mutation complicate what Eldest is doing?

7. You and Ben Percy are both playing in Marvel’s darker corners right now, and “Dungeons of Doom” has that same horror-forward energy we’re seeing in Infernal Hulk. What’s it been like working alongside Ben in shaping that space, and how do you make sure your vision of horror and mythic stakes complements rather than overlaps with what he’s building?

8. Fun Silly Question
If Eldest decided to build the perfect army out of Marvel characters purely based on vibes, who would absolutely make the cut… and who would Eldest reject immediately for being “bad monster material”?

9. Any other projects you’d like to plug?

If you wanted the complete Orlando download, this is it.

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NEWS

1. ‘Sonic vs. Godzilla’ is finally happening, and it’s bigger than you think
2. See new Origin Box characters Hostilicus and Wonder Man from 'Reborn: Ultimate Impact'
3. Marvel’s WHAT IF? returns with wild twists for its 50th anniversary
4. Marvel brings 'Magic: The Gathering Spider-Man' art to new variant covers
5. 'JLA/Avengers' is coming back to comic shops this summer 2026
6. Oni Press unveils bold fall 2026 graphic novel lineup

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Infernal Hulk #4 (Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein)
2. The Mighty Thor #7 (Al Ewing, Pasqel Ferry)

Alex:​​

1. Power Fantasy #16 (Gillen, Wijnegaard)
2. Absolute Wonder Woman #17 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Sorcerer Supreme #3 (Bernard Chang, Ruth Redmond)

Dave: Hulk Smash Everything #3 (Ryan North, Vincenzo Carratu)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Moonstar #1 (Ashley Allen, Edoardo Audino) & Narco #1 (Doug Wagner, Daniel Hillyard)
• Dave: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #6 (Horvath Cover)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: The Amazing Spider-Man #23 (Taurin Clarke Cover) Or Maybe
• Alex: X-Men #26 (Gurihiru Marvel Monster Variant)

Interview: Steve Orlando

Deadweight (GUNGNIR Publishing) (with Bobby Lee & Matthew Medney)

1. Deadweight sounds completely unhinged in the best way, blending martial arts chaos, horror, and absurdist comedy. When you’re co-writing something that springs so directly from Bobby Lee’s comedic voice, how do you balance honoring that raw unpredictability while still building a story with emotional stakes and structure?

Valiant Beyond: X-O Manowar (out Feb 18)

1. In Valiant Beyond: X-O Manowar, Aric joins the PunX after millennia of isolation, and suddenly honor is tied to community rather than conquest. How has it been carving out your own corner of the Valiant universe?

Good Bones

1. Good Bones gathers your horror work into a single anthology, and many of the stories explore queer identity through transformation, secrecy, and bodily autonomy. When you write horror rooted in identity, are you consciously using the genre as metaphor, or does that symbolism emerge naturally through character?

Dragula (with Todd McFarlane)

1. You co-judged Dragula alongside Todd McFarlane, which feels like a collision of comics horror and performance art. Did that experience teach you anything about spectacle and theatricality, or inspire you when you’re comics work?

DC AEW

1. DC and AEW both thrive on spectacle, but they also rely heavily on character-driven drama and long-term storytelling. When writing DC x AEW #1, how did you balance the over-the-top, live-event energy with making sure the character pairings felt emotionally and thematically right, rather than just fun visual mashups?

Scarlet Witch

1. Can you talk about or tease the status of Wanda and Vision's relationship as of now?
2. Agatha Harkness is your main antagonist in Sorcerer Supreme, what makes her fun to write?
3. Agatha is the Vishanti's chosen sorcerer supreme, I was curious if you're drawing from any personal life experience having someone be picked over you when writing this story arc?
4. Your run on Scarlet Witch has been released via miniseries, are there advantages (and disadvantages) to this format?
5. Wanda Maximoff has worn a lot of labels over the years—Avenger, sorceress, reality shaper, occasional cosmic wildcard. How do you personally view her place in that ecosystem?

Additional General Questions

1. Your bibliography moves fluidly between superhero epics, indie horror, licensed work, and now chaotic comedy with Deadweight. How do you recalibrate your voice between projects without losing what makes a story feel unmistakably yours?

Marvel dropped its May 2026 solicitations, teased the beginning of the end in Avengers: Armageddon, confirmed Hulk War for 2027, revealed Infernal Hulk vs. the X-Men, and somehow still found time for Knull vs. Hela, a Spider-Man and Iron Man team-up, and Doctor Doom taking over OREO. Yes, really.

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NEWS

1. Marvel Solicitations May 2026
   1. Infernal Hulk declares war on the X-Men in explosive issue #7 reveal - EXCLUSIVE
   2. Marvel reveals a Spider-Man and Iron Man team up coming in issue #6
   3. Marvel teases “With Great Power…” as “Armageddon Assembles” this June
   4. Ultron crashes Wiccan and Hulkling’s anniversary in Marvel’s explosive Pride special
   5. Marvel teases 'The origin of the end' starts in 'Avengers: Armageddon' #1
   6. It's Knull vs. Hela in 'Hel on Earth' Marvel Comics event
      1. JULY: Queen in Black!
2. Doctor Doom takes over OREO in wild final Marvel Comics cookie collab
3. Marvel announces new series 'X-Men: Outback' revisiting the iconic Outback Era
4. Hulk War is coming: Marvel confirms Infernal Hulk finale in 2027
5. IDW is taking Godzilla back to 1954 and making it absolutely terrifying
6. 'Star Trek' #1 launches a bold new era as IDW unveils massive 60th anniversary comic plans
7. 'TMNT' #300 unleashes a massive new era, blind bag covers, and new 'Last Ronin’
8. DC Solicits May 2026
   1. DC Is going all-in on 'The Dark Knight Returns' for its 40th anniversary all year long
   2. DC and Sonic reunite for ‘Metal Legion’ this May 2026
9. DC unveils major 2026 publishing plans at ComicsPro: Vertigo, new Absolute titles, and more
10. Zorro and Tarzan are storming back to comics and we’ve got the exclusive first look
11. Gail Simone is entering the Spawn universe with a brutal new 'She-Spawn' series
12. New Image sci-fi series 'If Destruction Be Our Lot' features robo Abraham Lincoln finding purpose
13. Skybound announces ‘DC Silver Age Covers and Stories’ Artist Edition
14. M.A.S.K. joins the Energon Universe in explosive new series from Dan Watters and Pye Parr
15. Robert Kirkman returns to superheroes with 'Terminal' joined by Kubert, Finch, and Arthur Adams
16. James Tynion IV takes on white supremacy and Norse gods in brutal new 9-part horror, 'Odin'
17. 'The Cutting Garden' explores companionship, legacy, and sacrifice
18. Ghost Machine just revealed 'The Unbelievables' and its first massive crossover
19. EXCLUSIVE: Zack Kaplan unleashes three new Dark Horse series in 2026
20. Skateboarding is outlawed in new series 'Skate Ali' out June 2026
21. Jonathan Hickman’s ‘Three Worlds/Three Moons’ comes to Dark Horse this July
22. Archie is going compact with new Oni Press collections starting in September 2026
23. 'Ben 10' returns to comics this May with a new series from the original creators
24. Oni Press unleashes 'Super Mondo Mega Mutts' #1 this July
25. Oni Press announces Joe Palmer’s dystopian thriller 'Destination Kill' #1

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Absolute Batman #17  (Scott Snyder, Eric Canete)
2. Uncanny X-Men #24 (Gail Simone, David Marquez)

Alex:​​

1. Exquisite Corpses #10 (Jordie Bellaire, Marianna Ignazzi)
2. Dungeons of Doom #2 (PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON & BENJAMIN PERCY)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Uncanny X-Men #24 (Gail Simone, David Marquez)

Dave: Ultimate Spider-Man #24 (March Checchetto, Hickman)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Infernal Hulk #4 (Phillip KJ, Nic Klein) & Absolute Wonder Woman #17 (K Thompson, H Sherman)
• Dave: The Peril of the Brutal Dark #1 (Chris Condon, Jacob Phillips) but also Hulk Smash Everything #3

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Predator: Bloodshed #1 (Dan Panosian Virgin Cover)
• Alex: Power Fantasy #16 (Morgan Beem variant)

While the written 7-part series is still ongoing and will continue rolling out over the next two weeks, this episode gives listeners the complete conversation in its original flow. Kelly opens up about the emotional thesis behind his run, building new villains like Plague RX and Kintsugi, pushing Spider-Man into cosmic territory, and how Death Spiral directly sets the stage for Amazing Spider-Man #1000.

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!

NEWS

1. Cyclops’ team breaks, Storm’s daughter arrives, and Wolverine pays the price in Marvel’s May X-Men reveals
2. Knull and Mary Jane's Venom get new costumes in May and June 2026
3. Abrams ComicArts reveals wide-ranging Fall 2026 lineup spanning history, Marvel, manga, and classics
4. Secret origin of G.I. Joe Risk gets 3-issue arc starting in May 2026
5. DC announces ‘You’re A Superhero!’ lifting up heroes in everyday life
6. DC crowns Supergirl the star of Superman Day with 'Summer of Supergirl' publishing push
7. IDW launches new crime imprint with 3 titles: Seven Wives, Killer Influences, and Fixation

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Marc Spector: Moon Knight #1 (Jed MacKay, Devmalya Pramanik)
2. Absolute Wonder Woman Annual #1 (Kelly Thompson, Mattia de Iulis)

Chris:​​

1. Cyclops #1 (Alex Paknadel, Roge Antonio)
2. Jar Jar #1 (Ahmed Best, Marc Guggenheim, Kieron McKeown, and Laura Braga)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: A Star Called The Sun (Simon Roy)

Dave: Wade Wilson: Deadpool #1 (Ben Percy, Geoff Shaw)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Chris: The Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre #1 (Fred Kennedy, James Edward Clark)
• Dave: Absolute Batman #17 (Scott Snyder, Eric Canete)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: The Amazing Spider-Man #22 (Lee Bermejo Amazing Visions Virgin Cover)
• Chris: It’s Jeff Meets Daredevil #1 (Nic Klein Variant)

Interview: Joe Kelly Interview - ASM

1. Across every arc—hallucinations, Hellgate, the clone/mantle complications, and the cosmic crew—you keep returning to identity: who Peter is, who wears the mask, and what Spider-Man means to other people. Was that always the core of your plan, or did the run’s central theme reveal itself as you built each storyline?
2. A big throughline in your early issues is Peter’s youth trauma—middle school rebellion, underage drinking, that “ghost/orphan” feeling. What made you want to excavate that specific era of Peter, and what do you feel it reveals about adult Peter that we don’t always get to see?
3. You’ve got a great handle on Peter’s voice—the anxious humor, the scramble-thinking, the moral compass. What’s your “non-negotiable” for Spider-Man dialogue, especially when he’s scared or outmatched?
4. New villains have to feel dangerous fast. With Plague RX, you paired him with Tombstone and used him to escalate the sense that Peter’s absence is creating openings all over NYC. What is Plague RX’s core concept—what does he represent in the ecosystem of this run?
5. Without spoiling, where does Kintsugi fit into your larger thematic engine? The word implies brokenness repaired into something stronger—how consciously are you using that idea as a lens for Peter (and the other “Spider-Men” threads) in this era?
6. Looking ahead: Death Spiral is looming. From your perspective, what is Spider-Man’s emotional “pressure point” heading into that event—what fear or flaw does the event squeeze that readers might not expect?
7. With the upcoming Death Spiral event on the horizon, a lot of your current themes—identity fractures, moral erosion, escalation—feel like they’re converging.
8. How does Death Spiral build on what you’ve been laying down in Amazing Spider-Man, and what should readers emotionally brace for?
9.  We recently lost Sal Buscema, whose work helped define Spider-Man’s physicality, emotion, and readability for generations.
10. As someone contributing to Spidey’s evolving legacy, what does Sal Buscema’s influence mean to you—either directly or indirectly—as a Spider-Man storyteller?

It’s a candid, wide-ranging conversation that explores the creative and emotional core of First Freedom, offering early insight into the themes, challenges, and storytelling choices behind one of the year’s most meaningful graphic novels.

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NEWS

1. 'Spider-Man/Superman' #1 expands with shock creative reveals and legendary backup stories
2. New 10-part 'Doomquest' announced with Dr. Doom reshaping history
3. Marvel just revealed Doom’s ultimate weapon — and it sparks Armageddon in May 2026
4. Spider-Man teams with celebrity chef José Andrés in Marvel’s wildest food-fueled crossover yet
5. DC launches massive Absolute Universe reprint wave as demand continues to surge
6. Kelly Thompson reveals Absolute Suicide Squad designs and new villain details
7. Dynamite releases 'ThunderCats X SilverHawks' checklist and character designs
8. Oni Press levels up with major Penguin Random House deal ahead of big 2026 launches
9. Jason Pearson’s legendary 'Body Bags' returns in massive Artist’s Edition fans won’t want to miss

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Uncanny X-Men (2024) #23 (Gail Simone, David Marquez)
2. The Nice House by the Sea (2024) #7 (James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno)

Chris:​​

1. Knight City #1 (Matt Kindt, David Lapham)
2. Thundarr the Barbarian #1 (Jason Aaron, Kewber Baal)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Knight City #1 (Matt Kindt, David Lapham) EMAILED!

Dave: Wolverine #15 (Saladin Ahmed, Mike Henderson)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Chris: Jar Jar #1 (For Real)
• Dave: Barbarian Behind Bars #1 (Elliott Kalan  Andrea Mutti)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Black Cat #7 (Adam Hughes Virgin Cover)
• Chris: Marc Spector: Moon Knight #1 (Baldemar Rivas Variant)

Interview: Angelique Roche Interview (First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth out February 10

1. This is the first-ever graphic novel dedicated to the history and origin of Juneteenth. When you first realized the scope of that responsibility, what felt most important to get right from the very beginning?
2. You’ve spent years helping elevate underrepresented voices through Marvel’s Voices—both the podcast and the comics—creating space for creators to tell stories that might otherwise be sidelined. How did that experience inform the way you approached First Freedom, especially when it came to deciding whose voices and perspectives needed to be centered?
3. The book spans nearly 160 years of history, yet remains deeply personal. How did you decide when to zoom out to the larger historical context and when to stay tightly focused on Dr. Opal Lee’s lived experience?
4. There are moments in First Freedom where the art (Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe) carries the emotional weight as much as the words. Was there a scene where seeing the visuals for the first time changed or deepened how you felt about the story? P.S. I loved how your team used the mirror in the opening scene.
5. You worked directly with Dr. Opal Lee and her granddaughter, Dione Sims, including extensive in-person interviews. What surprised you most about Dr. Lee once you spent real time with her beyond the public image?
6. This book arrives during Black History Month and as part of a yearlong celebration of Dr. Lee’s 100th year—but it also makes clear that the fight for freedom and recognition is ongoing. What do you hope readers, especially younger readers, take away from that tension?
7. You’ve said this book is about much more than Juneteenth as a holiday—it’s about everyday acts of activism and becoming, as you put it, a “committee of one.” How do you hope this story reframes what activism can look like?
8. As a journalist, producer, and author, you’ve told many real-world stories across different media. What did the graphic novel format allow you to do emotionally or narratively that other formats wouldn’t?

NEWS

1. Sal Buscema’s superpower was clarity
2. Marvel teases the end of the Ultimate Universe, and how it may be "Reborn"
   1. Full announcement
3. Supergirl goes global: DC unites 15 countries for a new anthology
4. Invincible takes over Image Comics: Season 4 sparks a multiverse-wide celebration
5. 'Head Lopper' returns: Andrew MacLean gears cult-favorite for a 10-year anniversary relaunch
6. 'Lost Fantasy' ignites a new era as 'Fireborn' launches April 2026
7. ent
8. Image Comics unveils a twisted new obsession as 'In Your Skin' blends Bollywood, body horror, and fame
9. 'Sex Criminals' is coming to Prime Video and it's about to break time (and TV)
10. SCOOP: Oni Press goes all-in at ComicsPRO with Archie, Matt Kindt, and a wave of 2026 exclusives

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Absolute Batman #16 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)
2. Spirit of the Shadows #1 (Nick Cagnetti)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Flash #11 (Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles)
2. Malevolent #1 (Justin Jordan, John Bivens)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Infernal Hulk #3 (Phillip K Johnson, Kev Walker)

Dave: Iron Man #1 (Josh Williamson, Carmen Carnero)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Magik and Colossus #1 (Ashley Allen, German Peralta), The Nice House by the Sea #7 (James Tynion IV, Álvaro Martínez Bueno)
• Dave: DC K.O.: Boss Battle #1 (Various)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Batman #6 (Julian Totino Tedesco Card Stock Cover)
• Alex: Storm: Earths Mightiest Mutant #1 (Dike Ruan variant)

Interview: Joshua Williamson - Iron Man #1 out January 28th

1. You’ve spent years shaping the DC Universe—long runs, big swings, major characters. What did it feel like emotionally and creatively to finally step into a mainline Marvel ongoing like Iron Man, and did that change how you approached the book?
2. Carmen Carnero is bringing this story to life, and her work has such a strong sense of motion, emotion, and intensity. What did you see in her art that made her the right partner for this specific take on Iron Man?
3. Your tagline, “Tony Stark is the most dangerous weapon in the Marvel Universe,” is a loaded one. In your mind, what makes Tony more dangerous than gods, monsters, or cosmic tyrants?
4. The premise echoes Iron Man’s origin in a powerful way—“Tony built Tony in that cave. What if he had to go in again?” How did you think about revisiting that crucible without just retelling the origin story?
5. Madame Masque is positioned as a central force here, orchestrating the kidnapping of geniuses worldwide. She’s also currently making waves elsewhere in Marvel—especially in Venom. What drew you to her for this story, and how do you view her role in the larger Marvel landscape right now?

If you’ve been reading the book, you know the stakes have never been higher. With the shocking reveal of Ujigami’s true identity and the return of Splinter casting a long shadow over the Turtles, Gene joins us to unpack the heart of the story and why this arc is really about family, fear, and the consequences of overprotection.

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon! 

NEWS

1. Marvel just took over OREO with the biggest special-edition drop in cookie history
2. Marvel Solicitations April 2026
   1. Marvel revisits its most divisive event with 'Civil War: Unmasked'
   2. Marvel celebrates 50 years of the Eternals with a new character—and a Fall Out Boy creator
   3. Marvel brings back 'Ultimates' #1–6 just in time for the Ultimate Universe’s explosive finale
   4. Deadpool is taking over April Fool’s Day again—and the Marvel Universe might not survive it
   5. 'Alien: King Killer' drops humanity into its darkest nightmare yet
3. The Future Foundation returns in 'Fantastic Four' #11
4. DC Comics solicitations
   1. DC hands the keys to MAD, and lets Chip Zdarsky roast the entire universe
   2. After 35 years, DC restores the lost Swamp Thing epic fans never thought they’d read
5. Exclusive: Valiant’s April 2026 solicitations signal a bold new era with Valiant Beyond
6. Prime Video orders 'Lore Olympus' adult animated series, from WEBTOON and Jim Henson Company
7. From 'Mafia III' to Image Comics: William Harms unleashes a haunting new apocalypse with 'White Sky'
8. Cobra goes silent: Skybound brings back G.I. Joe’s most iconic storytelling, this time for the villains
9. A Murder in the middle: 'Neighborhood Watch' turns a gated community into a powder keg
10. 'Hello Body Horror' #1 brings the most unsettling stories from BOOM! Studios’ 'Hello Darkness'
11. Exclusive: Dark Horse’s 'Did You Hear About Mimi Green?' turns cancel culture into surreal horro

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Assorted Crisis Events (2025) #8 (Deniz Camp, Eric Zawadzki)
2. X-Men Of Apocalypse (2025) #2 (Jeph Loeb, Simone Di Meo)

Chris:​​

1. Nights #17 (Wyatt Kennedy, Luigi Formisano) 
2. Good As Dead #5 (David and Maria Lapham)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Nights #17 (Wyatt Kennedy, Luigi Formisano) 

Dave: Exquisite Corpses #9 (art by Valentine De Landro with story by Tyler Boss)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Chris: Iron Man #1 (Joshua Williamson, Carmen Carnero)
• Dave: Absolute Wonder Woman #16 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Absolute Martian Manhunter #8 (Eric Canete Variant)
• Chris: Conan the Barbarian #28 (Gerardo Zaffino Main Cover)

Interview: Gene Luen Yang - TMNT #14 out January 14 

1. Issue #13 drops a massive bombshell with Ujigami’s true identity being Splinter. When you decided to make him the force hunting the Turtles’ enemies, what was the emotional core you wanted readers to feel first — shock, tragedy, or inevitability?

2. Ujigami isn’t just a villain; he’s a moral crisis for the Turtles. Was your goal to make this run less about defeating an enemy and more about redefining what justice means for the team?

3. In #14, the brothers split up to protect their former enemies from Splinter. That’s such a powerful reversal of classic TMNT dynamics — what does this say about how the Turtles have grown since their early days of black-and-white morality?

4. You’ve written a lot about identity and duality in your career. How did that background influence your approach to Splinter becoming Ujigami — a mentor turning into something almost mythic and terrifying?

5. Shinigami’s introduction brings in mysticism from the 2012 animated series. What made this moment in your run feel right for folding her into IDW continuity, and how did you retool her to fit the tone of your story?

6. Your first two issues lean hard into supernatural elements — ninja mythology, death spirits, and destiny. Was that a conscious pivot from recent TMNT runs that focused more on politics and street-level crime?

8. You’ve said the Turtles work in any genre. With Ujigami and Shinigami, you’re clearly leaning into horror and dark fantasy — were there specific myths, folktales, or manga influences that shaped this arc?

9. You and Freddie E. Williams II are creating some striking, eerie imagery in these issues. How did your collaboration evolve once you realized this arc would live in such a darker, more mystical space?

10. With Ujigami revealed and Shinigami now in play, it feels like the table has finally been set for the larger story you and Freddie have planned. Without giving anything away, what should readers be emotionally bracing for as this arc unfolds — heartbreak, redemption, or something even more unexpected?

11. If the Turtles had to explain Ujigami to April in the most “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” way possible — full of bad metaphors and half-accurate summaries — which brother would do the worst job, and what would his explanation sound like?

NEWS

1. Marvel’s Ultimate Universe is ending — April 2026 solicits hints how the epic two-year experiment goes out
2. Doom vs. Ultron in 2099! Marvel unleashes a villain showdown fans didn’t see coming
   1. First details revealed for Marvel and DC’s ‘Spider-Man/Superman’ crossover out April 2026
   2. April 2026 solicits reveal Marvel’s ‘Road to Armageddon’ for Captain America and Wolverine
   3. Jubilee takes center stage in a powerful new Marvel one-shot celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
   4. X-23 steps out of Wolverine’s shadow as Marvel teases deadly new Weapon X threats
   5. Marvel unveils April’s massive 2026 X-Men lineup as the Shadows of Tomorrow takes shape
   6. Spider-Man becomes Spider-Carnage — Marvel’s 'Death Spiral' ends with a jaw-dropping twist
   7. Marvel previews April 2026 Spider-Man chaos as 'Death Spiral' hits its final chapters
   8. Norman Osborn trains the Spider-Verse in Marvel’s wild new Spider-Man mini
   9. Star Wars brings the original trilogy to Galaxy’s Edge in major new Marvel comic story
3. From 'The Conjuring' to comics, Michael Chaves unleashes a dark fantasy epic with 'Corpse Knight'
4. Ghost Machine opens the vault with a massive official guide to its growing universe in April 2026
5. DC turns the world upside down with Kevin Smith’s bizarre new origin for 'Bizarro: Year None'
6. DC’s Next Level grows again with new ‘Zatanna’ and ‘Firestorm’ series for 2026
7. DC HAD #1 COMIC STORE MARKET SHARE IN Q4 2025

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #5 (Patrick Horvath)
2. Logan: Black, White & Blood #1 (Various)

Alex:​​

1. Uncanny X-Men #22 (Simone, David Marquez)
2. Sai: Dimensional Rivals #1 (Momoko, Iban Coello, Stan Sakai)b

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex:  Logan: Black, White & Blood (Larry Hama, Dave Wichter)

Dave: DC K.O. #3 and Transformers #28

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Power Fantasy #15 (Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard)
• Dave: Captain America #6 (Chip Zdarsky,  Delio Diaz)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Black Panther: Intergalactic #2 (E.M. Gist Cover) and Witchblade #18 (1:25 Jason Alexander Virgin Cover)
• Alex: Wiccan: Witches' Road #2 (Meghan Hetrick) and I am LEGALLY REQUIRED to also name Travis Moore’s  Nightwing #134

Interview: Jason Aaron - Thundarr - Out Jan 21, 2026 

You’ve called Thundarr the Barbarian a “fundamental component of your DNA as a writer.” What about that world or those characters spoke to you most deeply as a kid — and how has that stayed with you?

This is a property with DNA from comic legends like Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, and Steve Gerber. How do you honor that legacy while still making Thundarr feel like a Jason Aaron story?

You’ve written some of the biggest mythic heroes in comics — Thor, Conan, Avengers. Where does Thundarr fit into that heroic lineage for you?

The original cartoon blended post-apocalyptic sci-fi with sorcery and swordplay in a way that was rare even then. How are you capturing that same balance in the comic — and are you updating it for modern readers in any way?

You’ve said this story will reveal Thundarr’s origin for the first time. What can fans expect from that reveal, and how did you approach filling in a piece of lore that’s been left blank for over 40 years?

You’re collaborating with artist Kewber Baal, who’s got a dynamic and muscular style that fits Thundarr perfectly. What’s the creative chemistry been like between you two so far?

Classic villains like Gemini and Mindok are returning. Did you treat this like a “greatest hits” of Thundarr adversaries, or did you want to expand their mythology too?

Fun/Silly Question: If you had Thundarr’s Sunsword for a day, what’s the first totally irresponsible thing you’d use it for — and what’s the first heroic thing you’d do after? 

NEWS

1. Marvel reveals who’s still standing in 'Ultimate Endgame' #5, plus new covers & interior art for issue #2
2. Ryan Stegman reveals he's done with X-Men, save for one last project
3. DC stacks Free Comic Book Day 2026 with Next Level debuts, Sonic crossover, and horror hits
4. Skybound and Hasbro announce Energon Universe Special 2026 for Free Comic Book Day
5. Ram V, Anand Radhakrishnan, and Evan Cagle sign massive global deal for new graphic novel series with Morgen
6. 'Baby Garfield' is here — and it’s the cutest new comic you’ll read all year
7. Exclusive: 'Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees Artist’s Edition' reveal

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Absolute Superman #15 (Jason Aaron, Juan Ferreyra)
2. Marvel: Black, White & Blood and Guts (2025) #4 (Various)

Coplan:​​

1. Ultimate Wolverine #13 (Chris Condon, Domenico Carbone, Bryan Valenza)
2. Absolute Batman: Ark M Special #1 (Scott Snyder, Frank Tieri, Josh Hixson, etc.)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Coplan:  Ultimate Wolverine #13 (Chris Condon, Domenico Carbone, Bryan Valenza) 

Dave: Venom #253 (Al Ewing, Carlos Gomez)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Coplan: Alice Forever After #1 (Dan Panosian, Giorgio Spalletta)
• Dave: Pig Wife (Abbey Luck)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Space Ghost #7 (Michael Cho)
• Coplan: DC K.O. #3 (DWJ Variant)

Interview: Jordan D. White - Venom Unleashed #15 uncut!

Let’s dig into our two poll questions. The first was:

Jordan hinted that one moment in Death Spiral has been locked in since the very beginning of planning the event. What are you most excited to see when that moment arrives?

A whopping 40% said they’d like to see a major MJ’s symbiote relationship (30.8% said a big Eddie vs. Carnage throwdown). Given how strongly readers responded to the idea of Mary Jane’s symbiote journey, what was it about pairing MJ with a symbiote that felt essential to Death Spiral, and how early did that relationship start shaping the story?

AIPT: For the second poll, we asked:

Jordan suggests MJ might be shifting from “anti-hero” to something else entirely. What do YOU think her 2026 role will look like?

Over 50% of the answers said they want something they haven’t even guessed yet (second place was a full street-level hero arc with 32%). Might they be on the right track? 

AIPT: Venom #253 is out now (January 7th), and with it’s a whole new ballgame with AIM. Madame Masque is a character not often used, at least in the last decade. Might you have a favorite story she’s kicked butt in?

AIPT: And for our monthly gotcha question: What’s a better TV show, Buddies or Friends?

Onto fan questions:

• Spencer asks: What can you tell us about Torment?
• One more about Torment from Patrick: Was the name of Death Spiral's villain, Torment, inspired by the Todd McFarlane story, or is it a coincidence that the name has a history with Spider-Man?
• Ol’ Monster-Face asks: Last time you got asked about taking the story in a space opera direction… What about a Wild West theme? "Death Spiral" does look like it could set up a classic "The Good The Bad And The Ugly" standoff…
• Barrett asks: With two big Spider / Symbiote events coming up very soon will the main ASM book and Venom books both be tie-ins for the foreseeable future?
• Anonomous asks: Will Dylan and Sleeper be an important role in Death Spiral? They are related to both Eddie and the Venom symbiote after all.
• Murphy asks: Did you look at any prior stories when writing the Rick Jones and Toxin bond? It reminds me of the relationship he had with Genis, especially when he went off the rails.
• Garlador asks: As a repository of host memories, Venom is uniquely aware of many characters current conflicted feelings - Peter, MJ, Eddie, Dylan, Flash, etc. That’s been an off-limits locked box issue with MJ, but can we expect to see Venom share more of prior hosts’ buried feelings with her soon, or is that too messy for now?
• RadiantBlue asks: Which Venom host is your favorite?
• Midnighter82 asks: Symbie, Spider-Man's symbiote companion in his galactic adventure, is he bound to a host or not? 
• Jimmy has a food and calories question: So, what is it like for Mary Jane in her daily life? The symbiote probably weighs at least twice her weight and leaves a bunch of goop all over after fights, so presumably that would be lots more food than she would be used to having.
• Anonomous asks: Its kinda frustrating seeing VENOM everywhere and no Carnage. If you could would you tackle a carnageverse? Besides the Anne Lethal Protector universe, are there worlds where carnage is an anti-hero? 
• Jeduwin asks: As a fan of Eventuality, how much is it kept in mind when you're writing Eddie Brock? Its existence seems like it shifts where Eddie's stories are headed, since all roads lead to the King in Black.
• Another Flash question from Symbiobro: In All-New Venom #10, we got to see a deep dive into both MJ's and the symbiotes relationship with Eddie, but Flash Thompson also played a big role in both these people's lives. Can we expect a similar delve into how he helped shape the symbiote into what it is today?

NEWS

1. Marvel’s 'Ultimate Endgame' Blind Bags went from collectible to straight-up lottery ticket
2. Scott Snyder reveals Jonah Hex on the way:
   1. But now to have it be like a load bearing book at DC, or a book that generates excitement and money for them in a way that allows us more creative latitude on other books, the things that it’s engendered for Next Level—I can’t wait for you to see these books. I mean, all of them are really creator forward. They’re real big swings, Lobo and Deathstroke. They’re big over the top epic books. Batwoman, real, real great swing by Greg Rucka and Dani. Zatanna really levels Zatanna up. Firestorm and Shadow of the Bat. I mean, there are just so many good ones. There really are. Legion of Superheroes and Jonah Hex and there’s just a ton coming that we can’t wait for you to see. And they’re all passion projects. And a lot of that is born out of you guys supporting things that are riskier, that are different, that hopefully feel yours. And it’s the best time I’ve ever had in superhero comics. I’m so, so grateful to you guys and so proud of what we’re able to do right now at DC. So first, let me start this end of year thing by just saying thank you.

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Punisher: Red Band #4 (Ben Percy, Julius Ohta)
2. Escape #5 (Rick Remender, Daniel Acuna)

Coplan:​​

1. Ultimate Endgame #1 (Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf)
2. Lost Fantasy #6 (Curt Pires, Maxi Dallo)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Coplan: Ultimate Endgame #1 (Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf)

Dave: Ultimate Endgame #1 (Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Coplan: Toxic Avenger Comics #6 (Matt Bors, Fred Harper)
• Dave: X-Men #23 (Jed MacKay, Tony Daniel)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (Sara Pichelli Variant)
• Coplan: Twilight Zone #3 (James Stokoe Main)

Interview: Andrew Joustra - Tales of TMNT #4 (out Mar 18, 2026, FOC Feb 9th)

Recently he wrote the theatrical animated short Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 - Lost in New Jersey for Paramount and is currently writing the Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series for IDW Publishing.

Andrew has dwelled in the sewer for a while now, having been the script & recording coordinator for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and currently working as the script supervisor for its sequel.

1. Andrew’s comics debut

Andrew, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4 marks your comic-writing debut and kicks off a three-issue arc. What did it feel like to finally see your name on a TMNT comic page after working in animation for so long?

2. Transition from screen to page

You’ve worked as Script Coordinator and Script Manager on Mutant Mayhem and its sequel—what muscles did you have to retrain (or unlearn) when shifting from screenwriting to writing comics?

3. Working with Louie Joyce

Can you talk about collaborating with Louie Joyce on this arc? How did your scripts leave room for visual storytelling, especially with action and emotion?

4. Fugitoid’s debut in Tales

This arc introduces Fugitoid into the Tales of the TMNT universe. What made him the right character to bring into this specific corner of TMNT, and what excites you most about using him in this format?

5. Anti-AI themes and “Chrome Alone 2”

Andrew, you recently wrote the animated short Chrome Alone 2, which has a clear anti-AI message. Without getting into anything off-limits, how important is it for you to sneak big ideas and values into genre storytelling?

6. Franchise stewardship

What’s exciting about Tales of the TMNT specifically as a space for experimentation and tone shifts within the brand?

7. Entry point for new readers

For readers who might be jumping into Tales of the TMNT for the first time, what do you think makes this arc—between your voice, Louie’s art, and Fugitoid’s arrival—a great onboarding point?

8. Fun / silly closer: Last one: If the Turtles were brutally honest, which one would give the worst notes on your script—and why would it definitely be Michelangelo?

Dave: Assorted Crisis Events #1 (Deniz Camp, Eric Zawadki)

Alex: The Power Fantasy #13 (Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard)

Chris: The Voice Said Kill #4 (Si Spurrier, Vanesa R. Del Rey)

Best Graphic Novel

Dave: Drome

Alex: Young Men in Love: New Romance

Chris: Trumpets of Death

Best Writer

Dave: Deniz Camp

Alex: Kieron Gillen

Chris: Zac Thompson 

Best Artist

Dave: Hayden Sherman

Alex: Evan Cagle

Chris: Dani 

Best Series 

Dave: Absolute Batman (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)

Alex: Absolute Wonder Woman (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Mattia De Iulis)

Chris: The Amazing Spider-Man (2025)

Best Anthology

Dave: Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch

Alex: DC Pride 2025

Chris: Hello Darkness

Best Letterer

Dave: Lucas Gattoni

Alex: Adiyta Bidikar

Chris: Clayton Cowles

Best Colors

Dave: Jordie Bellaire

Alex: Javier Rodriguez (Absolute MM)

Chris: Mike Spicer

Best Comics film or TV?

Dave: Thunderbolts

Alex: Marvel Zombies

Chris: Superman

Best Comics Event?

Dave: DC K.O.

Alex: Ugh…. none

Chris: Ultimate Endgame

Best Horror
Dave: Event Horizon: Dark Descent (2025) (Christian Ward, Tristan Jones)

Alex: Exquisite Corpses (Tynion, Walsh)

Chris: Exorcism Island (Jordan Thomas, Chris Matthews)

Wild card options: 

Biggest Stinker

Dave: Revelation

Alex: Every Revelation tie-in (especially Laura Kinney and Iron & Frost)

Chris: I, Tyrant 

Most gruesome death 

Dave: The alien killer in Cruel Universe 2 #2 (Riley Rossmo, David Wielgosz)

Alex: Most of the kills in Predator vs Marvel Universe

Chris: Batman “dies” in DC K.O. 

Best couple

Dave: Gambit and Rogue

Alex: Mister Miracle and Big Barda

Chris: Melvin and June Waring (Ancestral Recall)

Best Reboot/Relaunch

Dave: Punisher: Red Band

Alex: Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma

Chris: Toxic Crusaders

Best Plot Twist

Dave: Batman/Deadpool - Grant Morrison writes themselves into the story

Alex: Etienne dying

Chris: Doom’s Death/Return (In, like, four weeks time)

Most Anticipated Series of Next Year

Dave: Death Spiral

Alex: Mushroom Knight Vol. 3 (Oliver Bly)

Chris: Is Ted OK?

NEWS

1. Full Marvel Solicits March 2026 (Tuesday!)
   1. Marvel reveals March 2025 covers and solicits as the Ultimate Universe heads toward its Endgame
   2. Jessica Jones returns in Marvel’s darkest, bloodiest 'Alias' story yet
   3. Carnage knows Spider-Man’s secret, and Peter learns Mary Jane is Venom in the March 2026 solicts
   4. Wonder Man heads back to Hollywood, and his past is ready for a comeback of its own
   5. Marvel brings the Sentry home as creator Paul Jenkins returns for a high-stakes new series
2. Marvel goes all-out for 2026 with Comics Giveaway Day, teasing 'Amazing Spider-Man' #1000, & more
3. Marvel turns ‘Daredevil’ #1 into a Blind-Bag gamble with rare variants and secret sketch covers
4. Marvel’s most thunderous art gets the deluxe treatment in a massive new Thor book
5. DC solicits March 2026
   1. 'DC K.O.' was just the warm-up: DC ALL IN goes NEXT LEVEL with Lobo, Batwoman, Deathstroke & More
   2. DC Next Level begins in March 2026 with Wonder War and Superboys Rising
6. Image Comics announces 'Tigress Island' a pulp-fueled fever dream
7. Archie gets a radical relaunch as Oni Press reimagines Riverdale for a new era
8. Tarzan swings back into comics, and he’s older, wiser, and facing pirates who want immortality

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Star Trek: The Last Starship #3 (Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Adrin Bonilla)
2. The Bat-Man: Second Knight #2 (Dan Jurgens, Mike Perkins)

Alex:​​

1. Die: Loaded #2 (Gillen, Hans)
2. Power Fantasy #14 (Gillen, Wijngaard)
3. Honorable Mentions: Author Immortal, 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun, Exquisite Corpses

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Rogue Storm #3 (Murewa Ayodele, Roland Boschi)

Dave: Alien vs. Captain America (2025) #2 (Frank Tieri, Stefano Raffaele)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Absolute Wonder Woman #15 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman) & Event Horizon #4 (Christian Ward, Tristan Jones)
• Dave: The Will of Doom #1 (Chip Zdarsky, Cafu)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Hello Darkness #17 (1:10 Full Art Puebla Cover)
• Alex: DC K.O.: The Joker vs. Red Hood #1 (Dustin Nguyen Variant)

Interview: Torunn Grønbekk - Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Shiver of Christmas Town - Out Jan 7, 2026

1. Expanding the World

What’s it like contributing to a Tim Burton universe project?

What excited you most about the chance to tell a new story within The Nightmare Before Christmas universe, and how did you approach capturing that distinct mix of spooky and sweet?

2. Character Focus
Sally takes center stage in this series. What aspects of her character did you want to explore or expand on that fans haven’t seen before?

3. The New Creation
Dr. Finkelstein’s latest creation, Shiver, sounds like a charming new addition to Halloween Town. What inspired this character, and what role does Shiver play in the story’s themes?

4. Trick-or-Treat Trio Trouble
Lock, Shock, and Barrel are fan favorites for their chaotic energy. How was it writing for those three troublemakers, especially as they head off to Christmas Town?

5. Visual Collaboration
Edu Menna’s art brings a lot of gothic personality to the book. How did you two work together to strike the balance between Burton-esque atmosphere and the fun of a family-friendly adventure?

6. Tone and Audience
The series is described as “perfect for all ages.” How did you balance writing something that works for longtime fans of the film and younger readers discovering Nightmare Before Christmas for the first time?

7. Franchise Legacy
The Shiver of Christmas Town follows Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: The Graphic Novel. How does this story build on that ongoing relationship between Dynamite and Disney’s Nightmare Before Christmas world?

8. The Magic of Halloween (and Christmas)
Without giving too much away, what do you hope readers take away from this story about the magic—or mischief—of the holiday spirit?

9. Character and Tone Your work often blends grit and introspection—how are you approaching Selina Kyle’s duality as both a thief and protector in your  Catwoman run, and what new sides of her character are you most excited to explore?

NEWS

1. 'Superman/Spider-Man' #1 gets full creative team reveal and first cover look
2. Marvel’s X-Men enter a dangerous new era as Shadows of Tomorrow' begins: March 2026 covers & launches revealed
3. Darth Maul returns in a brutal new era, and Marvel’s prequel series reveals his darkest plan yet
4. Marvel’s next huge event is already underway and Wolverine & Captain America hold the keys to ARMAGEDDON
5. Ultimate Universe shocker: Hickman opens up as Marvel debuts ‘Endgame’ preview + 9 never-seen sketch covers
6. DC Vertigo unveils first 2026 trailer—plus exclusive new Covers for March titles
7. The Viltrumites are coming for Battle Beast in a blood-soaked new arc in March 2026
8. Event Horizon is back from hell: Prequel sells out, sequel comic set 200 years later
9. WEBTOON just changed everything for creators: Massive 2026 overhaul announced!
10. Skeletor just leveled up: Masters of the Universe becomes an ongoing series in 2026

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Amazing Spider-Man #17 (Pepe Larraz, Joe Kelly)
2. The End 2099 #1 (Steve Orlando, Ibraim Roberson)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Batman #15 (Scott Snyder, Jock)
2. Our Soot Stained Heart #1 (Joni Hägg, Stipan Morian)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Ultimate Wolverine #12 (Condon, Cappuccio)
Dave: Absolute Batman #15 (Scott Snyder, Jock)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: The Power Fantasy #14 (Gillen, Wijngaard) & DIE: Loaded #2 (Gillen, Hans)
2. Dave: Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #5 (W. Maxwell Prince, Martín Morazzo)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Book of Revelation #3 (Ivan Shavrin but also Fabrizio De Tommaso)
2. Alex: Nightwing #133 (Dustin Nguyen variant)

Interview: Ben Percy talks The End Times and Punisher in 2026 (out in February)

1. Origin of the Project:
   Last we spoke we talked a bit about The End Times, but now the project sees the revival of Stephen King’s Bachman universe through Bad Hand Books, how’d that come to be?
2. Expanding the Bachman Lore:
   Claudia Inez Bachman has always been a shadowy figure in King’s mythos — how did it feel to help bring her to life as a writerly voice in her own right?
3. Collaboration with Stephen King:
   What was the collaboration process like with King himself? Did you two discuss tone, continuity, or the meta-narrative of Bachman’s legacy?
4. Post-Apocalyptic Themes:
   You’ve described this world as “the world has ended and it’s rebuilding.” What emotional or thematic space did you want to explore in that aftermath, compared to the usual “apocalypse in progress” stories?
5. Social Commentary:
   The project examines misinformation and the role of local journalism — how do those themes mirror our current media landscape, and what kind of response are you hoping to evoke from readers?
6. Physical vs. Digital Experience:
   With both a newspaper edition and a digital version available, what do you hope readers gain from physically holding this story in their hands versus reading it online?
7. Continuing the Bachman Tradition:
   Bachman’s work was often darker and more cynical than King’s mainline fiction. Does The End Times lean into that same spirit of anger and disillusionment?
8. (Fun / Silly Question):If The End Times really were the last surviving newspaper on Earth, what headline would you want your byline to appear under? (“Local Writer Saves Humanity”? “Coffee Shortage Ends Civilization”? 😄)

NEWS

1. DC just unlocked 35,000+ comics for millions of new readers
2. Jeff the Land Shark crashes into Hell’s Kitchen, and Daredevil will never be the same
3. Marvel unleashes a new Guardians team, and they’re more Dangerous Than Anything in Space
4. DC RUSHES BACK TO PRESS: 'Absolute Batman' hits 10th printing as 'DC K.O.' tie-ins sell out!
5. Top 50 comics of November

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Fantastic Four #6 (Ryan North, Humberto Ramos)
2. Duck Avenger (Nicolas Pothier, Luc “Batme” Collin) 

Chris:​​

1. The Voice Said Kill #4 (Si Spurrier, Vanesa R. Del Rey)
2. Briar: Night’s Terror #1 (Chris Cantwell, Alex Lins)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: DC K.O.: Superman vs. Captain Atom #1 (Joshua Williamson, Sean Izaakse, Trish Mulvihill, Hi-Fi) 

Dave: Hulk Smash Everything #1 (Ryan North, Vincenzo Carratu)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Our Soot Stained Heart #1 (Joni Hagg, Stipan Morian)
2. Dave: Absolute Batman #15 (Scott Snyder, Jock)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Absolute Batman #15 (Tyler Kirkham)
2. Chris: It Killed Everyone But Me #4 (Josh Hixson Main Cover)

Interview: Sam Humphries - New Avengers #7 out Dec 10

1. One of my favorite parts of issue #6 is the way Clea bounces off the rest of the team — she’s arrogant, dangerous, hilarious, and weirdly pragmatic. How important is Clea as a tone-setter for this team, and did you always intend for her to have this much presence, or did she just start taking over scenes once you started writing her?
2. In issue #6 you’ve still got Carnage on the board, even though Eddie Brock: Carnage is wrapping up soon. You told me before you basically had to negotiate for every character. How are you keeping Carnage meaningfully involved long-term — not just as shock value, but as an actual team member — without breaking what Charles Soule did with him in his own corner?
3. By issue #6, it feels like New Avengers is fully embracing chaos — you’ve got Bucky trying to lead a team of killers, liars, and literal monsters, while the line between heroism and survival keeps getting blurrier. How much of this book is about what it really means to be an Avenger when the ideals that title stands for just don’t work anymore?
4. We see Iron Apex actively working to bust out more members of the Kiluminati — Lord Britain and Rapunzel — while the team is still trying to figure out how to survive Evil Doctor Strange. How big is the Kiluminati conspiracy compared to what we’ve seen so far? Are we still at the “first wave,” or are you already building toward something closer to a war between their dark Illuminati and Bucky’s crew?
5. Guru Strange in issue #6 is… a lot. He’s powerful, unhinged, and kind of grossly horny in a way that makes him instantly memorable. How did you find the voice for these twisted “duplicates”? Are you treating each Kiluminati member like a dark-mirror riff, or are you building them as full-on new villains with their own agendas beyond “evil version of X”?
6. You’ve already said you wanted these New Avengers to feel like a Fast & Furious family — volatile, high-powered, kind of toxic, but ride-or-die when it counts. At this point in the story, do you see them actually becoming a “family,” or are they only ever going to be a barely-controlled disaster pointed at bigger disasters?
7. The book’s really leaning into sex and intimacy — especially with Black Widow and Winter Soldier in issue #6 — but it doesn’t feel like empty heat. It feels messy and fragile and dangerous. Is Bucky/Nat the emotional core of this book going forward, and how hard are you planning to break them to test that core?
8. Sensitivity coordinator
9. You’ve talked about how continuity on this book is basically “Marvel Universe on steroids,” with characters being borrowed from multiple offices. Now that you’re this deep — Hulk, Carnage, Clea, Bucky, etc. — what’s the biggest creative win from that shared custody? Has any other office (or creator) dropped something in your lap that made you go, “Oh, that just unlocked the next arc”?
10. Leadership in New Avengers feels like a losing battle — what would Cap say about Bucky’s job so far as team leader?
11. Extremely serious journalism question to close: If the New Avengers and the Kiluminati had to compete on a Bravo-style dating show where everyone is forced to live in one mansion and hook up or strategize, who (A) immediately starts sleeping with the enemy, (B) is secretly there just to stab someone, and (C) wins the whole thing without anyone realizing they were playing?

NEWS

• Dani Moonstar finally gets her first solo series, and it’s packed with magic, monsters, and a terrifying new foe
• Marvel set to blow up the X-Men status quo and rebuild it into the wildest mutant school ever
• Marvel finally does the impossible: Fantastic Four crash into Planet of the Apes in a crossover 50 years in the making!
• Archie meets Evil Dead?! Riverdale goes full Deadite in the wildest crossover of 2026
• Image/Top Cow resurrects a terrifying Lovecraft classic, but with a twist fans won’t see coming

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

The Infernal Hulk #1 (Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein)

Escape #4 (Rick Remender, Daniel Acuna)

Chris:​​

Devil on My Shoulder #1 (Kyle Starks and Piotr Kowalski)

DC K.O. #2 (Joshua Williamson, Javier Ferndandez, Scott Snyder, Xermanico, et al.)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Cemetery Kids Run Rabid #4 (Zac Thompson and Daniel Irizarri)

Dave: Absolute Batman #14 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Chris: The Voice Said Kill #4 (Si Spurrier and Vanesa R. Del Rey)

Dave: The Terminator: Santa Claus is Coming to Town #1 (PAULINA GANUCHEAU and KENDALL GOODE)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Wiccan: Witches' Road #1 (Luciano Vecchio)

Chris: DC K.O.: Superman vs. Captain Atom #1 (Jorge Corona and Sarah Stern)

Interview: Christos Gage Battleworld chat (#3 out this week)

Returning to BattleworldThis is the first time Battleworld has been explored since Secret Wars (2015)—what excited you most about revisiting that concept, and how did you want your version to feel distinct?

From CrossGen to Star Brand, you’re pulling characters and worlds readers haven’t seen in years. How do you balance fan-service deep cuts with making the story accessible to newer readers?

Hank Pym at the CenterIn the first issue, Hank Pym feels like the central character. What drew you to spotlight him, and what does his perspective bring to a chaotic mashup world like this?

The Korvac FactorKorvac looms behind it all—what made him the right choice as the architect (or manipulator) of Battleworld, and how did you approach his voice and menace?

Marcus To’s ArtMarcus To brings a sleek, kinetic energy to the book. What’s your collaboration like—were there moments where his art surprised you or even changed how you wrote a scene?

The “Surprising Costume Reveal”Solicits tease the most surprising costume reveal in 40 years. Without spoiling, how did you approach delivering something that lives up to that kind of hype?

The Larger Marvel TapestryDo you see Battleworld as a self-contained throwback, or does it intentionally connect to current Marvel continuity and the broader multiverse storytelling happening now?

Fun QuestionIf you yourself were thrown onto Battleworld, what obscure Marvel power set or artifact would you grab to survive? Fabian Stankowitz 

Items that deliver the most substance for their cost — thick trades, box sets, digital bundles, or multi-use gear. (Example: an Omnibus Edition, Marvel Unlimited, or a good pair of Bluetooth headphones for audiobook listening.)

Dave:

1. The Transformers Compendium Vol. 1 (Order here: $38 on Amazon for 44 issues!)
2. Superman: The Golden Age Omnibus Vol. 1 (Order here: 2025 Edition)

Alex: 

1. Marvel Unlimited ($69/year) & DC Universe ($74.99)
2. X-Men Fatal Attractions Omnibus (Order here: 47% off on Amazon!)

2. 🖼️ Shelf Candy (Best Display or Design Piece)

Books, collectibles, or art prints that look incredible on a shelf. Could include deluxe hardcovers, vinyl soundtracks, statues, or even minimalist poster series.

Dave:

1. The Fantastic Four: First Steps Poster (more info)
2. McFarlane Toys - Marvel Venom 1:6th Scale Collectible with Scene & Comic (Order here: more info)

Alex:

1. Jumbo Size Funko Superman
2. Mondo X-Men ‘97 Storm Figure

3. 💥 The Hype Pick (What Everyone’s Talking About)

This year’s buzziest thing — a trending comic, toy line, show, or crossover event. Great for conversation starters and “must-have” energy.

Dave: All the Absolute comics! Absolute Batman (link), Absolute Wonder Woman (link), Absolute Superman (link), Absolute Martian Manhunter (link), Absolute Green Lantern (link). 

Alex: Ultimate Universe Box Set: 1,000 pages, $84.99, from a cover price of $120. (Order here: Discounted on Amazon)

4. 🕹️ The Experience Buy (Immersive or Interactive Purchases)

Games, tabletop sets, or hobby kits that offer hours of engagement. Could include LEGO kits, or VR titles — anything that rewards time spent.

Dave:

1. The Mortal Coil Shuffle (more info)
2. Arkham Asylum Lego (more info)

Alex:

1. Tickets to Emerald City Comic Con
2. Rolife book nooks

5. 🎁 The Perfect Gift (Universal Crowd-Pleasers)

Accessible, fun items that make ideal gifts for fans or newcomers alike — art books, indie trades, collectible card sets, or streaming subscriptions.

Dave:

1. JLA Earth 2 Deluxe Edition (more info) 
2. Alex Ross Marvel Super Villains Mural 2025 Oversized Wall Calendar (more info)

Alex: Absolute Wonder Woman Vol. 1, gift card to MyComicShop.com

6. 🔥 The Deep Cut (For Hardcore Collectors)

Rare editions, imports, signed items, or niche merchandise that appeals to completists and superfans. 

Dave: Jim Aparo's DC Classics Artist's Edition (or any Artist’s Edition for that matter!)

Alex: Taschen X-Men edition (more info)

7. 🎧 The Rich Friend Buy (Stuff That Most Can’t Afford)

Nuff said.

Dave: Wolverine: Weapon X statue (more info), or if you really wanna splurge. 

Alex: X-Men Danger Room and all Stephen King Marvel Omnibus collected.

8. 🌀 The Wild Card

Anything offbeat, surprising, or delightfully weird — a novelty figure, indie zine, retro collectible, or something you didn’t expect to love but now can’t stop recommending.

Dave: The End Times (Info here) and PeePee PooPoo #100,000 (more info)

Alex: Any comic from Silver Sprocket, like Of Thunder & Lightning and the Chromatic Fantasy, also, just go to your LCS and look for vintage figures!

And that's a wrap on our gift guide. We hope you enjoy the podcast explanations for why we picked them, and we'll be back on our regular scheduled weekly basis a week after next!

NEWS

1. 'Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon' by Chip Zdarsky and Luca Maresca, a lead-in series to next summer's 'Armageddon' event, arrives in February 2026.
2. The Iron Fist reborn: Lin Lie leads Marvel’s greatest martial artists in 'Deadly Hands of K’un-Lun' #1!
3. S.H.I.E.L.D. returns in the next chapter of Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti's 'Captain America'
4. Moonstar solo comic coming January 2026
5. BOOM! Studios saddles up for new ‘My Little Pony’ adventures
6. Rob Liefeld’s 'Youngblood' returns — and It’s already sold out
7. Vault Comics and Matt Dinniman’s 'Dungeon Crawler Carl: Crocodile' smashes crowdfunding records
8. October 2025 sales figures are in

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Ice Cream Man: The Mortal Coil (W. Maxwell Prince, Martín Morazzo)
2. Alien vs. Captain America (2025) #1 (Frank Tieri, Stefano Raffaele)

Alex:​​

1. Poison Ivy #38 (Wilson, Takara)
2. Amazing Spider-Man #15 (Joe Kelley, Emilio Laiso, Marte Garcia)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex:  Binary #2 (Giada Belviso)

Dave: Amazing Spider-Man #15 (Joe Kelley, Emilio Laiso, Marte Garcia)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: DIE: Loaded #1 (Kieron Gillen, Stephanie Hans) & Predator: Badlands #1 (Ethan Sacks, Elvin Ching, Oren Junior)
2. Dave: We're Taking Everyone Down with Us #6 (Matthew Rosenberg, Stefano Landini)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Sinister's Six #2 (Ivan Shavrin Variant)
2. Alex: Batman: Dark Patterns #12 (Hayden Sherman)

Interview: Paul Pope talks his career and Total THB out November 11, 2025

1. Total THB has always felt like a living piece of your imagination—something that evolved alongside you. Now that you’re returning to it after thirty years, what does it mean to finally see it presented as the definitive version you always envisioned?

7. In your introduction, you mention artists like Bruegel, Motherwell, and Rodin alongside Kirby, Moebius, and Miyazaki. That’s a fascinating cross-section of influences—how do you see Total THB sitting at the intersection of those worlds now?

2. In your introduction, you talk about the seed idea—“small things exploding into big things.” How has that core concept shaped your storytelling and visual philosophy across your entire career, and how does it feel to return to it now with decades of experience behind you?

8. Total THB is set on a divided Mars, a world of art versus bureaucracy, chaos versus control. Given how global politics and culture have evolved since the ’90s, do you see new relevance—or new warnings—in the story’s setting and themes?

5. The relationship between HR and THB—the sheltered daughter and her enigmatic bodyguard—feels both intimate and mythic. How do you see their dynamic now, and what new layers do you hope readers discover in this remastered edition?

6. You’ve described superheroes before as modern myths — figures that blend pulp with poetry. Having moved between corporate superhero universes and your own creator-owned worlds, what do you think mainstream superhero comics could still learn from the spirit of self-publishing that birthed THB*?*

1. Wanda Maximoff ascends as Marvel’s new Sorcerer Supreme in December 2025
2. Marvel teases “ARMAGEDDON” — Chip Zdarsky’s universe-shattering event
3. Frank Castle returns in Benjamin Percy and José Luis’ new ongoing 'Punisher' series
4. Marvel’s Ultraman saga reaches its epic finale in 'The Fall of Ultraman' in February 2026
5. ‘Spread’ creators reunite for new horror-sci-fi series ‘Malevolent’
6. Grant Morrison announces new ‘Sebastian O’ Vertigo adventure
7. Dynamite and Warner Bros. reveal $100 mystery blind bags packed with rare comic gold
8. ICV2 market share info released

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Absolute Batman Annual #1 (Daniel Warren Johnson, James Harren, Meredith McClaren)
2. Barbaric: The Black Knight (Michael Moreci, Gui Balbi)

Chris:​​

1. Nights #16 (Wyatt Kennedy, Luigi Formisano)
2. Cult of The Lamb: Schism Special #1 (Alex Paknadel, Troy Little)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris:  Absolute Batman Annual #1 (Daniel Warren Johnson, James Harren, Meredith McClaren) 

Dave: Robowolf #2 (Jake Smith)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: DC K.O.: Knightfight #1 (Joshua Williamson, Dan Mora)
2. Dave: Alien vs. Captain America #1 (Frank Tieri,  Stefano Raffaele)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Amazing X-Men #2 (Stephanie Hans Variant)
2. Chris: Harley and Ivy: Life and Crimes #1 (Erica Henderson Main)

Interview Questions – Grant Sandground / Skybox Metal Universe Batman - Upper Deck VP of Product Development out 11/5

1. Batman has an 85-year legacy filled with reinvention. What made now the right time to bring the Dark Knight into the Skybox Metal Universe, and why was he chosen as the first DC hero to headline this line?

2. Metal Universe is known for its cutting-edge printing innovations — from etched foil to die-cuts and lenticular cards. Can you walk us through the technology that makes these cards stand out physically in-hand and how that translates to the Gotham aesthetic?

3. Each Metal Universe line has its own visual identity, whether cosmic, heroic, or elemental. How did your team translate Batman’s world — all shadow, grit, and neon — into the visual language of the brand?

4. This set spans decades of Gotham history. What was the process for selecting which eras, storylines, and character designs to include, and how did you balance nostalgia with innovation?

5. The set features signatures from legendary creators like Gail Simone and Marv Wolfman. What does it mean to have the actual architects of Gotham’s mythology participate in this project, and how do their cards fit into the collector experience?

6. How do you feel about people selling these on ebay?

7. How do you pick out art?

8. Your thoughts on the use of a.i. art?

8. Can you tease any product on the way?

9. (Fun one!) If you were designing your own “Grant Sandground” insert card for the set, what kind of foil finish or chase rarity would it have — and which Gotham character would you want to share a dual card with?

1. Indies dominate and fan favorites surprise at the 2025 Ringo Awards
2. 'Rick and Morty: The End' #1 goes “Blind Bag-Less” — because who needs plastic when you have chaos?
3. ‘Something is Killing the Children’ is coming to life: Blumhouse secures film and TV rights to James Tynion IV’s horror hit
4. Marvel Solicitations January 2026
   1. Peach Momoko expands her universe with 'SAI: Dimensional Rivals'
   2. Marvel celebrates 'Avengers' #800 with Jed MacKay’s explosive finale and a star-studded lineup of legends
   3. Marvel’s K-pop superhero returns! Luna Snow battles a sinister new idol in 'World Tour' #1
5. Knullified covers, which is your favorite CJ?!
6. DC Comics solicitations January 2026

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Absolute Wonder Woman #13 (Kelly Thompson, Matias Bergara)
2. Escape #3 (Rick Remender, Daniel Acuna) 

CJ:​​

1. The Ultimates #17 (Deniz Camp, Phil Noto)
2. Immortal Legend Batman #3 (Kyle Higgins, Mat Groom, Erica D’Urso, Daniel Bayliss & Dan Mora - what a team!)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

CJ: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #12 (Juan Ferreyra)

Dave: Marvel Zombies Red Band 2 (Jan Bazaldua)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. CJ: Black Cat #3 (G. Willow Wilson, Gleb Melnikov)
2. Dave: Absolute Batman Annual #1 (Daniel Warren Johnson AND “Sanctuary” by James Harren, Dave Stewart and Cowles; “Let’s Learn About Bats!” by Meredith McClaren

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: DISNEY VILLAINS: MALEFICENT VOL. 2 #1 (Paulina Ganucheau)
2. CJ: RADIANT BLACK #38 (Marcelo Costa)

Interview: Boulet Brothers: Dragula Titans Season 2 (Mondays at midnight et), comics, and more:

1. Callback to comics: Back on the AIPT Comics Podcast (Episode 141 October 2021), I feel like we bonded over Scarlet Witch and your love of darker comic storylines. If Titans Season 2 were a comic book arc, what title or event would it resemble?
2. As horror experts reinventing what horror means to so many, and horror being more prevalent with the return of EC Comics at Oni, and even Marvel going deeper into gore with polybagged Red Band comics, do you feel like Dragula is part of that same movement of pushing boundaries — treating horror as a living, evolving genre rather than a fixed set of tropes?
3. Evolution of tone: You once described earlier Dragula seasons as DIY, campy, or serious horror. With Titans Season 2 blending those flavors, how would you describe the “recipe” of this new season?
4. With Steve Orlando and Todd McFarlane judging on Titans Season 2 I feel like there more comic book representation on TV than ever, why were they important to weave into your show?
5. Fright Feats twist: The extermination challenges are gone, replaced by mandatory Fright Feats. Why did you feel now was the right time to evolve that part of the competition, and how do you expect it to push the competitors differently?
6. The first challenge is rooted in a spooky staple: reinventing classic Halloween costumes with a return of the Halloween house party. Not to give anything away, but do you have a favorite challenge of the season, and might you say which episodes #’s they are?
7. Making comics is nothing new for you with your Heavy Metal Magazine takeover back in 2021, and a story in DC Horror Presents #1 and Hello Darkness #10! Do you see future opportunities where Dragula and comics collide again — perhaps a Dragula: Titansgraphic novel?

NEWS

1. NYCC leftovers:
   1. NYCC 2025 featured new wave of Marvel/Disney projects at WEBTOON
   2. Swamp Thing is Killing the Children
2. PSYLOCKE vs. ELEKTRA?! Marvel reveals a lost chapter of X-Men history in ‘Psylocke: Ninja’
3. Doctor Strange returns: Skybound to release rare Paul Smith Artist’s Edition for the 1st time ever
4. Deniz Camp talks about the official end of the Ultimate Universe
5. Rob Liefeld goes full manga mode with black-and-white “Blood-Red” editions for 'Youngblood'
6. Hellboy’s family feud erupts! Mike and Todd Mignola unite for 'The Crown: A Tale of Hell'
7. ‘Archie’s Valentine’s Spectacular’ goes full K-Pop, coming January 2026
8. ‘TMNT’ #13 received more than 100k orders
9. ‘Murder Drones’ just made Kickstarter history: $1.5 million raised for Oni Press’ graphic novel

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Sinister's Six (2025) #1 (David Marquez, Rafael Loureiro)
2. Unbreakable X-Men (2025) #1 (Gail Simone, Lucas Werneck)

Alex:​​

1. New Gods #11 (Ram V, Evan Cagle, Denys Cowan)
2. Iron & Frost #1 (Cavan Scott, Ruairí Coleman, Roberto Poggi)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #4 (Duggan, Paco Medina, Javier Garron)

Dave: One World Under Doom #8 (Ryan North, R.B. Silva)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: The Ultimates #17 (Deniz Camp, Phil Noto) & Radioactive Spider-Man (Joe Kelly, Kev Walker)
2. Dave: The Terminator: Metal #1 (Declan Shalvey, Lorenzo Re)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #3 (Leinil Francis Yu)
2. Alex: Absolute Wonder Woman #13 (David Talaski Variant)

Interview: Gail Simone  - Unbreakable X-Men, Uncanny X-Men 

1. Your Uncanny X-Men story reintroduced you to Marvel’s mutants after a long time away, and now Unbreakable X-Men feels like an even deeper dive. What was it like returning to the X-office — and what new creative muscles did you want to flex with this run?
2. The title Unbreakable X-Men is powerful — it implies resilience, unity, maybe even defiance. What does “unbreakable” mean to you in the context of this particular team, and how does that theme shape the story’s tone?
3. Both Uncanny and Unbreakable highlight complex, emotionally rich women like Rogue. How do you approach writing these characters in ways that balance their vulnerability with their strength — especially amid the chaos of mutantkind’s latest era?
4. You’ve always had a gift for team dynamics — the humor, friction, and found-family energy that make an ensemble tick. What did you want to explore about the X-Men’s internal relationships here, and are there any pairings (friendly or otherwise) you especially loved writing?
5. The X-Men have always represented survival and identity, and your run lands during a moment when the franchise is reexamining what those mean. How do you see Unbreakable X-Men contributing to that larger conversation about legacy and what it means to be a mutant now?
6. You’ve written some of comics’ most beloved team books — from Birds of Prey (with an Omnibus out this week!) to Secret Six. How does your time on Uncanny/Unbreakable X-Men compare to those experiences? And if you could take this team of mutants anywhere next, what kind of story would you tell?

Rapid Fire Question Round so that you are "known":

• Best sandwich?
• What's one thing you own that you really should throw out?
• Apples or oranges?
• What is the scariest animal?
• Have you ever asked someone for their autograph?
• What do you think happens when we die?
• Favorite action movie?
• Favorite smell?
• Least favorite smell?
• Flat or sparkling?
• Most used app on your phone?
• If you could have dinner with any three characters you’ve written before, who would they be and why?
• You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life: what is it?
• What number am I thinking of?
• Describe the rest of your life in 5 words?

NEWS

1. NYCC News!
   1. Marvel reveals!
      1. Spidery: NYCC 2025: 'Amazing Spider-Man and his Venomous Friends' panel reveals art and story details
      2. Marvel unleashes 'Death Spiral, a deadly new Spider-Man/Venom crossover
      3. X-Men panel 
      4. Next Big Thing reveals
   2. DC reveals!
      1. DC Vertigo and some more detail
      2. Absolute Catwoman: Selina Kyle as the Batman of the Absolute Universe, and Sirens
      3. WTF DC Comics?!
         1. DC KO scoops
            1. Found out about some fights, but also…
            2. Next Level and Batwoman
2. Logan’s bloodiest stories coming in Marvel’s new 'Black, White & Blood' series
3. Godzilla takes his rampage to the stars in 'Godzilla: Infinity Roar' out February 2026
4. Post Malone’s 'Big Rig' returns in 2026 with 'Book 2: Damned'
5. Jason Aaron brings Thundarr the barbarian to comics for the first time ever in 2026
6. Gargoyles and Darkwing Duck collide in first ever disney comics crossover event
7. Ben 10 comics are back, and the original creators are making it “Ultimate”
8. Thundercats comics head into the future in 2026 with shocking revelations in ‘Lost in Time’
9. Oni Press just dropped a brand-new logo ahead of NYCC 2025
10. Matt Kindt brings Flux House to Oni Press with new comics and full media empire
11. IDW Dark unleashing four chilling new horror series in 2026
12. Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen unleash 'Crowbound', a blood-soaked dark fantasy revenge epic
13. TOP 50 COMICS - SEPTEMBER 2025

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Amazing X-Men (2025) #1 (Jed MacKay, Mahmud Asrar)
2. Creepshow (2022): Super Creepshow Special (Various)

Alex:​​

1. DC KO (Scott Snyder, Javi Fernandez)
2. Binary #1 (Stephanie Phillips, Giada Belviso)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: DC KO (Scott Snyder, Javi Fernandez)

Dave: Batman: The Long Halloween: The Last Halloween (2024) #9 (Chris Samnee)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: Absolute Flash #8 (Lemire, Moore) & New Gods #11 (Ram V, Denys Cowen)
2. Dave: Yuletide (More info)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Sonja Reborn #2 (Stuart Sayge) OR THIS!
2. Alex: Rogue Storm #1 (Ivan Talavera Variant)

Interview: Patrick McDonnell  - The Gift of Everything out October 7

Check out:

https://mutts.com/pages/patrickmcdonnellart-superhero

1. What inspired you to return to Mooch and Earl’s gift-giving adventures 20 years later in The Gift of Everything?
2. The Heart of the Story
   At its core, this book celebrates gratitude and the joy of being alive. Why do you think themes of thankfulness and simplicity resonate so deeply with children — and adults?
3. Crafting in Rhyme
   This story uses a joyful rhyming style. What draws you to rhyme as a storytelling device, and what challenges or delights come with writing in verse?
4. Holiday Spirit
   You’ve said you’ve always loved the holiday season. What specific memories or traditions helped shape the spirit of The Gift of Everything?
5. Mooch & Earl’s Timeless Appeal
   Mooch and Earl have been beloved characters in MUTTS for decades. What do you think it is about their personalities that allows them to connect so effortlessly with readers across generations?
6. From Page to Stage
   Several of your works, including The Gift of Nothing and Me…Jane, have been adapted as musicals at the Kennedy Center. How does it feel to see your stories reimagined in another medium?
7. Visual Storytelling
   Your illustrations have a deceptively simple elegance. How do you balance keeping the art playful for children while also layering in emotion and meaning for older readers?
8. Longevity and Legacy
9. MUTTS has been running for 30 years and has inspired praise from legends like Charles Schulz and Jane Goodall. Looking back, how do you see your evolution as both a cartoonist and a children’s book author?
10. Fun/Silly Question: If Mooch and Earl were invited to a holiday gift exchange in real life, what do you think each of them would bring — and what would they secretly hope to get?

1. Superman and Spider-Man reunite: DC & Marvel extend crossover through 2026
2. The Invincible Woman debuts in Ryan North’s ‘Fantastic Four’ #6
3. Knull breaks free: Marvel teases epic showdown with the Queen in Black
4. Oni Press brings secrets, surprises, and a star-studded lineup to NYCC 2025
5. Win free comics, meet stars, and score a Kindle: Inside Comixology’s wild NYCC 2025 plans

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Starship Godzilla #1 (Chris Gooch, Oliver Ono)
2. Department of Truth #0 (James Tynion, Scott Snyder, Joshua Hixson, Martin Simmonds)

Alex:​​

1. X-Men: Age of Revelation Overture #1 (Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman)
2. The Author Immortal #1 (Frank J. Barbiere, Morgan Beem)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Absolute Evil #1 (Al Ewing, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi)

Dave: Absolute Green Lantern #7 (Al Ewing, Riley Rossmo, Jason Howard)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: Red Book #1 (Tynion IV, Michael Oeming) & The Power Fantasy #12 (Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard)
2. Dave: DC K.O. #1 (Snyder, Javier Fernandez)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Amazing Spider-Man Torn #1 (Adam Hughes)
2. Alex: World of Revelation #1 (Giada Belviso Variant)

Interview - Ronda Rousey - EXPECTING THE UNEXPECTED is in all bookstores on Tuesday, October 7

Ronda is attending NYCC with AWA — she will be at our booth for signings and a panel on Friday, October 10

1. What inspired you to write Expecting the Unexpected?
2. How did your experiences in UFC, WWE, and Hollywood inform the story and its tone?
3. What was the most surprising or challenging part of making a graphic novel?
4. What kind of tone or energy did you want the art to capture? Gritty realism, over-the-top stylized action, comedy?
5. Do you see “Mom” as a reflection of yourself, a heightened version of you, or something else entirely?
6. Do you see yourself writing more comics or expanding this universe into other media—film, animation, etc.?

NEWS

1. Batman #1 sells 500,000 copies
2. December 2025 DC comics solicitations!
   1. DC turns December into “All Fight Month” with ‘DC K.O.’
   2. Absolute Joker is frightening!
3. Scott Snyder unleashes 'Absolute Arkham': A terrifying horror special with shocking surprises
4. Batman Day 2025 brings tours, rare comics, LEGO reveals, and a new animated series
5. Red Sonja battles snow panthers & ice giants in brutal New Year’s Special from Dan Panosian
6. Terminator turns Christmas into Judgment Day in new holiday horror comic
7. Mad Cave announces new Christmas fantasy series Our Soot Stained Heart 
8. 'ThunderCats Ho!(liday) Special' celebrates the season in December 2025
9. Dynamite Comics joins Neon Ichiban: 'The Boys', 'Red Sonja', 'ThunderCats' & more go digital
10. Sleeping Beauty’s darkest retelling reaches its finale in 'Briar: Night’s Terror' #1 this December
11. Invincible finally teams up with Spider-Man again in massive omnibus collection
12. EXCLUSIVE: ‘Radioactive Spider-Man’ #1 reveals a twisted Peter Parker with a surprising X-Men connection
13. X-Men editor confirms 'Magik' creative team will return in 2026
14. Marvel Comics solicitations December 2025!
    1. Knull returns: Marvel launching first-ever solo series for the King in Black in 2026
    2. Marvel’s swimsuit tradition gets frosty with 'Winter Break Special' #1 this December
       1. With a main cover by Greg FUCKING Land
15. Marvel teases new hero Logo from 'Deadpool/Batman' #1
16. Marvel unleashes 3 New X-Men solo series in 2026 — Cyclops, Deadpool & Psylocke!
17. After 'Age of Revelation' Marvel reveals 'Shadows of Tomorrow' X-Men teaser
18. From the Ultimate Universe to Marvel’s core: Miles Morales carries a dangerous secret
19. 'The Darkness' relaunches in December with Marc Silvestri & Image Comics relaunch
20. SCOOP: BOOM! Studios unveils ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Zord Quest’ #1
21. Kyle Starks brings the smackdown in 'Wrestle Heist' from Image Comics
22. Dark Horse Comics and Crystal Dynamics reunite for 'Tomb Raider: Sacred Artifacts' #1

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Ultimates #16 (Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri)
2. Amazing Spider-Man (2025) #12 (Joe Kelly, Ed McGuinness)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Flash #7 (Jeff Lemire, Travis Moore)
2. The New Gods #10 (Ram V, Evan Cagle, Simon Parr)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1 (Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Jan Bazaldua, Erick Arciniega) 2-for-1 kapow!!

Dave: This Ends Tonight #3 (Gerry Duggan, Kelvin Mao, Jae Lee)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man #2 (James Tynion IV, Dani)
2. Dave: Ice Cream Man #47 (W. Maxwell Prince, Martin Morazzo)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Maybe, or, or
2. Alex: Wynd: The Power of Blood #5 (Peach Momoko & Taurin Clarke)

Interview: B. Earl and Taboo on Ultimate Hawkeye one-shot - September 24, 2025 - Indigenous Voices book 

1. Ultimate Hawkeye #1 is the first solo one-shot of the new Ultimate line — what excited you most about giving Charli Ramsey their own spotlight outside of Ultimates?

2. Taboo, you’ve mentioned this issue is dedicated to your Indigenous relative Jeffrey Veregge — how did that dedication influence the tone or themes of the story?

3. The reveal of an all-new Ultimate Ronin is huge — without spoiling too much, how did you want to reimagine this identity for the Ultimate Universe?

4. You’ve both tackled grounded, character-driven Marvel stories before (Daredevil & Echo, Werewolf by Night). How did those past experiences shape your approach to writing in the heightened, alternate-reality stakes of the Ultimate Universe?

5. This book also has a framing story by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri — how did you coordinate with them to make sure the one-shot felt both self-contained and part of the bigger Ultimate Endgame build-up?

6. The Ultimate line has always been about bold reinvention — what’s one thing you think this current era is doing better or differently than the original 2000s run?

7. Michael Sta. Maria’s art really pops in the preview pages — what kinds of visual cues or storytelling beats did you build into the script knowing his style?

NEWS

1. DC cancels all future issues of new 'Red Hood' series after issue #1 drops
2. Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman get official U.S. Mint coins — see the designs and prices here
3. SELL OUT of Batman and X-Men
4. X-Men Monday news!
5. 'X-Men of Apocalypse' #2 covers reveal classic X-Men vs. war-torn survivors
6. Doctor Doom falls, but Marvel’s next villain could be even worse in 'The Will of Doom' #1
7. 'Gargoyles / Fantastic Four' crossover unites two legends November 2025
8. 'The Lion King' roars into comics with Mufasa & young Simba’s untold adventures
9. Oni Press teases, and then announces, 'The End' for 'Rick and Morty' coming December 2025
10. Hellboy creator Mike Mignola brings a supernatural western to life in ‘Carmen Red Claw’
11. Medieval Spawn collides with the Massive-Verse in 'Rogue Sun' #30
12. Image reveals four more 'Youngblood' #1 covers including 'Absolute Batman' homage

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Punisher #1 (Benjamin Percy, Julius Ohta)
2. Absolute Batman #12 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Batman #12 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)
2. Imperial War: Nova – Centurion #1 (Hickman, MacKay, Matteo Della Fonte)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Ultimate Wolverine #9 (Chris Condon, Allesandro Capuccio)

Dave: X-Men of Apocalypse Alpha #1 (Jeph Loeb, Simone Di Meo)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #2 (Percy, Marcelo Ferreira)
2. Dave: Deadpool/Batman #1 (Various)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Deadpool/Batman #1 (Ryan Stegman Cover)
2. Alex: Exquisite Corpses #5 (Alex Eckman-Lawn) YOU MEANT TO PICK THIS

Interview: Kelly Knievel and Rylend Grant - The Last Gladiator Kickstarter

1. Kelly, as Evel Knievel’s son and brand manager, what does it mean to you to see your father’s legacy brought to life in his first-ever full-length comic series?

2. Rylend, what drew you to Evel Knievel as a character for a comic, and how did you approach blending historical fact with fictional storytelling?

3. The series is set during the lead-up to the Caesars Palace fountain jump. How did you decide which real-life events to keep and which moments to fictionalize?

4. For readers who may not be familiar with Evel beyond the stunts, what do you hope The Last Gladiator will teach them about who he was as a person?

5. The comic promises high-octane action and a modern-day Western feel. Can you walk us through the visual and narrative choices that give the series that unique tone?

6. Evel Knievel has inspired movies, documentaries, and countless imitators. What makes comics the right medium to tell this particular story?

7. (Fun) If Evel Knievel were still at it today, what stunt do you think he’d attempt just to outdo himself — and how would you put it in the comic?

NEWS

1. Marvel’s Stormbreakers unleash wild new costumes for your favorite heroes
2. Black Panther goes cosmic in explosive new Marvel era after Hickman’s 'Imperial' #4
3. Ultimate Universe Preview: 'Ultimate Endgame' kicks off in December with 5 issues, new story details, and secret blind bags
4. Steve Ditko’s ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ gets an Act 4 Artist’s Edition in 2026
5. Super Sonic Monthly: Your fast track to IDW’s Sonic comics
6. 'TMNT' #13 kicks off a new era with Blind Bag Variants and a deadly new villain
7. Dynamite Entertainment updates Vampirella Kickstarter pricing for blind bags and more
8. Liam Sharp brings back 'Spawn: The Dark Ages' with a gritty new miniseries
9. Popeye sets sail for 'I Hate Fairyland' in the wildest crossover yet
10. Comics legends tease Lex Luthor’s iconic suit for James Gunn’s sequel 'Man of Tomorrow'
11. DC returns to NYCC 2025 with panels, exclusives, and a celebration of 100 Years

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Amazing Spider-Man #11 (Various)
2. Ultrawild: An Audacious Plan for Rewilding Every City on Earth OGN (Steve Mushin)

Chris:​​

1. Blood Honey #1 (Sean Peacock)
2. TexArcanum #2 (Christopher Monfette, Miguel Martos)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Toxic Crusaders #1 (Matt Bors, Tristan Wright)
2. Dave: Absolute Batman #12 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Eddie Brock: Carnage #8 (Pete Woods Cover)
2. Chris:  Powers 25 #1 (David Mack Variant)

Interview: Everything Dead & Dying #1 out September 3, 2025 - Jacob Phillips, Tate Brombal

1. This is your first collaboration together—what drew you both to Everything Dead & Dying, and what made now the right time to tell this story?
2. Jacob, you’ve built a reputation for capturing grit, loneliness, and eerie atmosphere in books like That Texas Blood and Newburn. What visual tone were you aiming for with Everything Dead & Dying?
3. The book has been described as The Last of Us meets Yellowstone. How did you strike a balance between horror, western, and emotional drama without tipping too far into genre cliché?
4. How did you both approach the undead in this world? Are they metaphors, monsters, or something else entirely?
5. The series clearly explores themes of love, loss, and survival. Was there a particular moment or relationship in the book that was especially personal or meaningful for either of you to write or draw?
6. Tate, this marks your Image Comics debut. What freedoms—or challenges—did working at Image bring compared to your previous work in the DC and BOOM! Worlds?
7. You’re working with an amazing lineup of variant artists, including Sean Phillips and Joshua Hixson. How involved were you in curating that roster, and what do those covers add to the tone of the series?
8. With just five issues to tell the story, how are you approaching pacing and world-building to ensure it still hits with emotional and thematic weight?
9. If you had to live with one undead pop culture character as your roommate—zombie, vampire, ghost, whatever—who would it be and why? Bonus points if you argue over the dishes.

NEWS

1. First Look: Dan Mora assembles all 32 fighters in informative ‘DC K.O.’ #1 variant cover
2. Can he beat the entire universe? Marvel unleashes Hulk like never before in 'Smash Everything'
3. The Maker’s return nears, and a cosmic Daredevil arrives December 2025
4. Eat like an Avenger: Marvel’s 'Meals to Astonish' #1 brings superhero recipes to life
5. First look: Ryan Stegman & superstar artists redefine the X-Men in Age of Revelation covers
6. Exclusive: Corin Howell’s ‘Lilith’ returns as an ongoing series in 2026
7. Todd McFarlane and Steve Orlando bring comics power to The Boulet Brothers’ 'Dragula: Titans' season 2

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #2 (Patrick Horvath)
2. Death Of The Silver Surfer #3 (Greg Pak, Sumit Kumar)

Chris:​​

1. The Voice Said Kill #2 (Si Spurrier, Vanesa R. Del Rey)
2. The Man Who Dreamed The Impossible #1 (Mario Freitas, Lucas Pereira)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: The Mortal Thor #1 (Al Ewing, Pasqual Ferry)

Dave: Gehenna Naked Aggression (2025) #3 (Patrick Kindlon, Maurizio Rosenzweig)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Everything Dead & Dying #1 (Tate Brombal, Jacob Phillips) 
2. Dave: The Amazing Spider-Man #11 (Joe Kelly, Pepe Larraz)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: TMNT #11 (Javier Rodriguez) or ASM #11 (Lee Bermejo)
2. Chris: Star Trek: Red Shirts #2 (Chris Shehan Main Cover)

Interview: Mike del Mundo about career and The Marvel Art of Mike Del Mundo. You still have a few days to back this project!

1. You’ve long been known for your concept-driven, highly stylized covers—how does it feel to see your Marvel career collected in such a high-end format like The Marvel Art of Mike Del Mundo?
2. Looking back at your early breakout work, like your X-Men Legacy covers, how do you think your style or approach has evolved since then?
3. The new art book includes never-before-seen pieces and a companion sketchbook—can you walk us through your process from sketch to final composition?
4. How does your mindset shift when moving from cover art to sequential work?
5. How do you balance surrealism, symbolism, and storytelling in a single image—especially when working on iconic characters with decades of history?
6. Of all the covers and interiors featured in the book, is there one piece that holds particular personal meaning for you?
7. What do you hope readers and fans take away from seeing your sketches alongside the final printed pieces?
8. You’ve also been doing incredible world-building in 3 Worlds / 3 Moons with Jonathan Hickman—how does that creator-owned space challenge or expand your approach compared to Marvel work?
9. What advice would you give to artists trying to push boundaries or find their own visual voice within superhero comics today?
10. If you could design a cover for any Marvel character doing something completely unexpected—like Hulk as a ballet dancer or Doctor Doom hosting a cooking show—what would it be, and how would you make it look cool?

NEWS

1. Marvel Comics November 2025 solicitations 
   1. Feast your eyes on four 'X-Men of Apocalypse' #1 covers
   2. In 'Captain America' #6, meet the United Captains: Marvel’s most controversial super-team?
   3. Marvel gives Echo a shocking new power in 'Echo: Seeker of Truth' #1
   4. Marvel finally gives Wiccan his first solo series in a dark new 5-issue magical saga
   5. Marvel’s first-ever blind bags launch with 'Ultimate Endgame' #1, and fans could pull secret covers
2. ‘DC K.O.’ #1 to launch with mystery ‘Lights Out’ polybags packed with rare foil variants
3. DC unleashes a deadly new villain in 'Wonder Woman' #25, meet the Matriarch
4. Jeff Lemire reveals ‘JSA: Year One’ taking the team to the Golden Age
5. Frank Miller & Todd McFarlane reunite for first Spawn cover collaboration in 30+ years
6. ​​Image Comics to reprint All-Negro Comics, the 1947 milestone in Black comics history
7. Marjorie Liu and Garry Brown launch ‘BRZRKR: The Bleeding Tide’ this fall

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Detective Comics #1100 (Various)
2. Absolute Batman #11 (Scott Snyder, Clay Mann)

Chris:​​

1. Escape #1 (Rick Remender and Daniel Acuña)
2. Bloodletter #3 (Joseph Illidge, Tim Seeley, and Christian Rosado)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Escape #1 (Rick Remender and Daniel Acuña)

Dave: New Avengers #3 (Sam Humphries, Ton Lima)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Immortal Legend Batman #1 (Kyle Higgins, Mat Groom, and Erica D'Urso)
2. Dave: Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man #1 (James Tynion IV, Dani)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Invisible Man #1 (Rosemary Valero-O'Connell)
2. Chris: Imperial War: Planet She-Hulk #1 (Nimit Malavia variant)

Interview Soo Lee - Wizard of Oz (September 30)

1. This year marks the 85th anniversary of the 1939 Wizard of Oz film. How did that milestone influence your approach to adapting the story?

2. You’ve been granted access to the film’s archives—what kind of reference material or behind-the-scenes details most inspired your adaptation?

3. You’re launching a Kickstarter for this project this month—what can backers expect in terms of rewards, exclusives, or behind-the-scenes content?

4. You’re handling writing, art, and covers. How did balancing all three roles shape the way you told this story?

5. You’ve described this as “not reinventing the wheel” but adding your interpretation. Can you share some of the ways you’ve put your own creative stamp on the classic?

9. How do you hope this adaptation will resonate with younger readers who may be discovering The Wizard of Oz for the first time?

10. What was the biggest artistic or storytelling challenge you faced in bringing Oz to life on the page?

7. Any desire to make it fresh?

11. (Fun) If you could click your heels and instantly visit any fictional world besides Oz, where would you go, and who would you bring with you?

NEWS

1. DC Comics Solicitations November 2025
   1. New 'Batman/Deadpool' #1 details reveal wild DC/Marvel team-ups & creative teams
   2. DC’s Batman Beyond meets Static in explosive new elseworlds Series
2. Infernal Hulk coming later this year
3. Two Spider-Men, deadly new villains: Amazing Spider-Man’s road to #1000 heats up
4. Strange new realms: Doctor Strange Becomes Asgard’s Sorcerer Supreme in December
5. Marvel revives ‘90s X-Men chaos with 'X-Men: Tales from the Age of Apocalypse' #1
6. New Avengers #6 news
7. Disney & Marvel Comics are coming to WEBTOON with 100+ titles and all-new stories
8. Exclusive interview: Rodney Barnes on the real-life horrors behind Oni Press’ ‘Crownsville’
9. 'Dracula: Book III — The Count' reveals the vampire’s dark London hideaway
10. TMNT, Godzilla, Star Trek & more: IDW brings massive exclusives and surprises to NYCC 2025
11. New urban fantasy 'Under York' coming November 2025

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #1 (Percy, Marcelo Ferreira & Daniel Picciotto)
2. Batman: Dark Patterns #9 (Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman)

Alex:​​

1. Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #1 (Percy, Marcelo Ferreira & Daniel Picciotto)
2. Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: The Ultimates #15 (Camp, VON RANDAL)

Dave: X-Men #20 (Netho Diaz, Jed MacKay)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: Absolute Flash #6 (Lemire, Robles) & Exquisite Corpses #4 (Tynion, Walsh, Che Grayson, Adam Gorham)
2. Dave: Absolute Batman #11 (Scott Snyder, Clay Mann)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Event Horizon: Dark Descent #1 (Christian Ward)
2. Alex: Nightwing #129 (Serg Acuña Variant)

Interview: Chris Condon - Ultimate Wolverine, Green Arrow, and News From The Fallout

**Regarding News From The Fallout, you mentioned wanting to highlight Jeffrey Alan Love’s distinctive, iconographic style and push the boundaries of readability and emotional impact in black-and-white—how did you balance that visual ambition with your scriptwriting?**

1. **Humor in horror was a conscious choice—especially Otis's repeated animal-shooing gag—in order to keep the tone varied and impactful. How do you view the role of levity in darker narratives, and was that hard to weave into the story?**
2. **Green Arrow has taken on a grounded, street‑level tone, focusing on character interactions and big‑pharma themes. How did you adapt Ollie’s voice and moral compass to fit that setting while keeping iconic elements intact?**
3. Between writing for Green Arrow, scripting Ultimate Wolverine, and launching News From The Fallout, you’re balancing very different tones and genres. How do you switch creative gears between mainstream superhero work and experimental creator-owned stories?
4. Ultimate Wolverine launched early this year—what fresh angles or emotional truths are you exploring compared to past Wolverine iterations?
5. Your work this year traverses themes of isolation (Fallout), social justice (Green Arrow), and visceral heroism (Wolverine). How are you threading your personal storytelling voice through these varied genres and publishers?
6. Looking back at your 2025 slate so far—what’s been the biggest creative challenge, and which project pushed you most as a writer?
7. Between Otis shooing raccoons in News From The Fallout and Green Arrow’s trick arrows, it seems like you have a knack for writing characters who could survive in the weirdest camping trip imaginable. So: if you had to survive a weekend in the desert with Wolverine, Green Arrow, and Otis—who’s cooking, who’s in charge of the firewood, and who’s most likely to accidentally summon a threat to the camp?

NEWS

1. Marvel Knights returns with Jimmy Palmiotti headlining new 'Daredevil/Punisher' series
2. Marvel reveals epic Inhyuk Lee “Street-Verse Variant Covers”
3. Marvel sheds new light on '1776' #1 celebrating America
4. Marvel Unveils Toy Story Homage Covers to Celebrate 30 Years of Pixar’s Iconic Film
5. Marvel could have Gwenpool erase one of Spider-Man
6. DC Black Label launches ‘Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia’ for November 2025
7. Hayden Sherman talks ‘Absolute Wonder Woman’, Batman, and DC’s Absolute Universe at FAN EXPO Boston 2025
8. Skybound and Act 4 launch Kickstarter for J. Scott Campbell’s 'Danger Girl Artist’s Edition'
9. Die is coming back, with new series Die: Loaded from Image
10. Maleficent returns in a dark new comic series from Dynamite for October 2025
11. Top Comics July 2025

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Cruel Universe 2 #1 (Various)
2. Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch #5 (Juni Ba)

Alex:​​

1. Poison Ivy #35 (G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara)
2. One World Under Doom #6 (Ryan North, R. B. Silva)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Uncanny X-Men #19 (Simone, Marquez)

Dave: Ultimate Wolverine #8 (Chris Condon, Alessandro Cappuccio)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: The UnChosen #2 (David Marquez)
2. Dave: Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 (W. Maxwell Prince, Martin Morazzo)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Eddie Brock: Carnage #7 (Ivan Shavrin Variant Cover)
2. Alex: Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1 (Alex Eckman-Lawn & Juan Ferreyra)

Interview: Ben Percy - Talking Predator, Punisher, and more!

1. In Predator Kills the Marvel Universe, you’ve teased a meditative tone as much as a brutal one. Can you talk about how you approached giving emotional weight to what could easily be a pure spectacle series?

2. We know Frank Castle is at a low point in Punisher: Red Band, but you’ve also said it’s a story about who Frank becomes when he has nothing left. What’s the most surprising aspect of Frank you think readers will discover in this series?

3. We here at AIPT have covered the use of the Punisher symbol via 3rd party swag outside of Disney, we even saw its use in the recent Daredevil show, what’s your take on the Punisher logo and its use?

4. With both Red Band and Predator Kills launching this year, you’re leaning into stories with serious ultraviolence. As a writer, how do you decide when violence is meaningful versus when it's gratuitous?

5. You mentioned in the Predator Kills the Marvel Universe press release that some heroes are more “killable” than others. Without giving anything away, was there a particular Marvel character that was the hardest to write a death for—either logistically or emotionally?

6. You’ve done a lot of work balancing character legacy with reinvention—especially with Hellverine and now Red Hulk. How do you decide what to preserve and what to explode when you're writing these kinds of legacy figures?

7. Spider-Man and Predator is a wild matchup. Can you tease what their conflict reveals about Peter Parker that we haven’t seen before?

8. Both Red Hulk and Hellverine feel like "dark mirror" characters—but wildly different in tone and execution. Do you see thematic overlap between them? How do you avoid them becoming just monstrous versions of other heroes?

9. You’re clearly building (or helping shape) a kind of hyper-violent sublabel within Marvel between Red Band, Predator crossovers, and these monstrous anti-heroes. Would you want to keep expanding this “Percy-verse”? And if so, who would you tap next?

10. (Fun one): If Predator could take on one Marvel team in a cooking competition, who would it be—and what’s Predator’s signature dish?

• Short novel as a newspaper - subscribe - start November - post-apocalyptic  “The End Times” Station 11 meets our town
• badhandbooks.com

NEWS

1. SDCC: Ultimate Comics reveals!
2. Marvel just revealed the end of 2099, and the debut of Spider-Man 3099 will blow your mind
3. A new symbiote era begins this fall in 'Battleworld' #3 and 'Venom' #252
4. Marvel RPG and Marvel Rivals collide in new tabletop one-shot coming in March 2026
5. Exclusive: Vault unveils official 'Dungeon Crawler Carl' graphic novel

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Ultimate Spider-Man #19 (Hickman, Marco Checchetto)
2. Batman: The Long Halloween: The Last Halloween #8 (Jeph Loeb, Becky Cloonan)

Chris:​​

1. I, Tyrant #1 (ee zann, Godfarr)
2. Out of Alcatraz #5 (Christopher Cantwell, Tyler Crook)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: I, Tyrant #1 (ee zann, Godfarr) 

Dave: DC's Kal-El-Fornia Love (2025) #1 (Story by Christof Bogacs and Jacob Salcedo)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone #1 (Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Pablo Tunica)
2. Dave: Blink and You'll Miss It #1 (Ethan S. Parker  Griffin Sheridan  Keith Browning)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: All-New Venom #9 (Juan Ferreyra Variant Cover)
2. Chris: Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #11 (Davide Paratore Main Cover)

Interview: Cullen Bunn talks Deluge #1 out Oct 8, 2025

1. SDCC biggest reveals:
   1. Marvel reveals
2. 'Buffy' and 'Angel' make comic comeback with Kelly Thompson at the helm
3. Dean and Sam hit the road again in new 'Supernatural' comic launching October 2025
4. Swat Kats returns with first-ever comic series, launching on Kickstarter this fall
5. New era of TMNT launches December 2025 with Gene Luen Yang and Freddie E. Williams II
6. Rob Liefeld's 'Youngblood' #1 flexes with star-studded variant covers
7. Vault Comics surprises retailers with free bonus boxes for 'Big Rig' #1
8. Barbaric returns this October with brutal new one-shot ‘The Black Knight’
9. Mad Cave Studios launching tech-horror anthology 'Terrorbytes' for fall 2025
10. Tyler Kirkham launches high-octane action series ‘Final Boss’ out November 2025
11. 'GTA' and 'Red Dead' writer Dan Houser launches new crime comic 'American Caper' for November 2025
12. October Marvel Comics solicitations!
    1. Amazing Spider-Man swings into cosmic chaos and Goblin danger in new look at ASM #13 & #14
    2. Marvel celebrates Latin Heritage Month with 'White Tiger Reborn' one-shot Spotlighting Hector and Ava Ayala
    3. Marvel and DC’s forgotten hero returns: 'Spider-Boy' #1 reprinted after nearly 30 years
    4. Marvel brings magic and mayhem in October 2025 in 'Strange Tales'
    5. Marvel celebrates 70 Years of 'The Muppets' with new variant covers in October
    6. Marvel Knights expands with brutal new Punisher series starting October 2025

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Exquisite Corpses (2025) #3 (Pornsak Pichetshote, James Tynion IV, Valentine De Landro, Michael Walsh)
2. The Seasons (2024) #6 (Rick Remender, Paul Azaceta)

Chris:​​

1. The Voice Said Kill #1 (Si Spurrier, Vanesa R. Del Rey)
2. Dark Honor #3 (Brian DeCubellis,  K.S. Bruce, Ethan Sacks, David Messina) 

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Godzila #1 (Tim Seeley, Nikola Čižmešija)

Dave: Absolute Martian Manhunter #5 (Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: News from the Fallout #2 (Chris Condon, Jeffrey Alan Love) | DC's Kal-El-Fornia #1 (Various)
2. Dave: Godzilla vs. America: Boston (various) and Batman: The Long Halloween - The Last Halloween #8 (Becky Cloonan, Jeph Loeb)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Assorted Crisis Events #5 (1:25 Alvaro Martinez Bueno Cover)
2. Chris: The Savage Wolverine #1 (Tom Parkinson-Morgan Cover)

NEWS

1. Marvel unleashes Age of Revelation: A radical X-Men future begins October 2025
   1. Marvel’s AGE OF REVELATION grows with even more new series reveals out October 2025
   2. Four more Age of Revelation series announced: Wolverine, Spider-Man, and more
   3. Final 'Age of Revelation' X-Men series details revealed
2. Marvel reveals the end is near for the Ultimate Universe in 'Endgame' event teaser
   1. More info!
3. Marvel and Gargoyles collide in first-ever crossover October 2025
4. Marvel's next cosmic war begins: Hickman's Imperial finale teases shocking new players
5. Marvel unveils SDCC 2025 panels, giveaways, and more
6. IDW reveals massive plans for San Diego Comic-Con 2025 *
7. Dark Horse Comics reveals SDCC 2025 plans: Panels, signings, freebies & more *
8. Image Comics reveals SDCC 2025 exclusive Merch, panels, and signings
9. DC Comics Solicitations October 2025
   1. DC expands the Absolute Universe in October 2025 with milestone issues and two one-shots
   2. The new ultimate showdown: DC launching cosmic tournament event ‘DC K.O.’ for fall 2025
   3. 'Gotham Academy' returns with new series 'First Year' launching October 2025
10. Oni Press and EC Comics revive western mayhem in 'Outlaw Showdown' #1 *
11. 'Paper Girls' gets a bold new format with stylish “Backpack Editions”
12. 'Ice Cream Man' ditches pages for playing cards in bold new one-shot experiment
13. 'Super Creepshow Special' #1 unleashes twisted superhero horror in October *
14. Peter Cannon: Thunderbolt returns for November 2025 in new series
15. 'The Terminator: Metal' launches October 2025 with a deadly new ally and a twist

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Post Malone's Big Rig #1 (Adrian Wassel, Nate Gooden, Post Malone)
2. Absolute Batman #10 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Flash #5 (Lemire, Kaplan)
2. X-Men: Age of Revelation #0 (Mackay, Ramos)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: This Ends Tonight #1 (Gerry Duggan, et al., Jae Lee)

Runner up: (Duggan, JAVIER GARRÓN)

Dave: New Gods #8 (Ram V, Evan Cagle)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: Exquisite Corpses #3 (Tynion, Walsh, Pichetshote, Valentin de Landro) & shoutout to X-Women (Psylocke #9, Storm #10, Phoenix #13)
2. Dave: Doom 2099 #1 (Various)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Absolute Martian Manhunter #5 (all the covers!!!)
2. Alex: Psylocke #9 (Maria Wolf variant)

NEWS

1. Marvel reveals the new Age of Apocalypse, and 1 mutant is now in charge
2. Marvel unleashes the ‘Violent Era’ of Ghost Rider this October in Spirits of Violence
3. Hulk returns to Sakaar this October in a special anniversary one-shot
4. Marvel unleashes 'Black, White & Blood and Guts' Halloween 2025
5. Marvel unveils final 'Imperial War' one-shot starring cosmic dream team
6. Jack Kirby honored with “Jack Kirby Way” on NYC’s Lower East Side
7. DC takes over San Diego Comic-Con 2025 with panels, retro vibes, and first-ever collabs
8. Skybound reveals SDCC 2025 panels and more
9. Ted Raimi joins ‘Creepshow Vol. 4’ #2 comic for Halloween, and it’s creepy AF
10. Your devotion will be tested again: 'Cult of the Lamb' comic returns in October 2025
11. G.I. Joe’s loudest adventure yet rocks comic shops this October 2025
12. June sales figures are in!

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Superman Treasury 2025: Hero for All #1 (Dan Jurgens, Bruno Redondo)
2. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 (Patrick Horvath)

Alex:​​

1. Predator: Black, White, & Blood #1 (Joe Kelly, Alvaro Lopez, etc)
2. The UnChosen #1 (David Marquez)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Uncanny X-Men #17

Dave: The Unchosen #1 (David Marquez)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: Absolute Flash #5 (Lemire, AL Kaplan), Marvel Knights: The World To Come #2 (Christopher Priest, Joe Quesada)
2. Dave: Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #1 (Gerry Duggan, Javier Garron)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Detective Comics #1099 (Jae Lee)
2. Alex: Ultimate X-Men #17 (Nic Klein variant)

Interview: Christian Ward (Event Horizon: Dark Descent #1 out August 20 - Artist: Tristan Jones):

What drew you to Event Horizon as a storyteller? Was there a particular theme or visual that made you say, “Yes, I need to write this”?

How closely did you work with the original film’s team or studio? Were there any specific mandates or was the universe yours to expand freely?

You’ve described this as taking “big gory swings.” What kind of boundaries were you hoping to push with this prequel that the film only hinted at?

Tristan Jones’ art and Pip Martin’s colors amplify the discomfort and dread on every page. How did your collaboration with them shape the tone and feel of the book?

The crew in Dark Descent each seems to be running from something. How did you approach building characters whose inner demons might mirror the horrors they’ll face externally?

Paimon, the eyeless King of Hell, is a new addition. How did you land on this particular figure as the face of evil? What does he bring thematically to the world of Event Horizon?

The first issue builds such thick atmosphere and creeping dread. What’s the key to sustaining that across a miniseries without letting the horror peak too early?

[Fun/silly question] Let’s say you're stuck aboard the Event Horizon with one other comic book character of your choosing. Who would it be and why?

FOC July 14

NEWS

1. RIP Jim Shooter: The comic book prodigy who changed Marvel forever
2. Skybound and Image expand the Invincible Universe for fall 2025
3. Marvel Launches 'Fantastic Four Bookazine', blending comics, film, and history
4. Thor falls… and rises again as a mortal in Al Ewing’s ‘Mortal Thor’ #1
5. Marvel teases new X-Men era ‘Age of Revelation’
6. Doctor Doom’s final stand: Marvel teases universe-shaking showdown in ‘One World Under Doom’ #8

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Gehenna Naked Aggression #1 (Patrick Kindlo, Maurizio Rosenzweig)
2. Bring On The Bad Guys: Green Goblin #1 (Ethan Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Matteo Della Fonte)

Chris:​​

1. Captain America #1 (Chip Zdarsky, Valerio Schiti, Frank Martin)
2. The Amazing Spider-Man #7 (Joe Kelly, John Romita, Jr., Scott Hanna, etc.)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Absolute Green Lantern #4 (Al Ewing, Jahnoy Lindsay)

Dave: All-New Venom #8 (Al Ewing, Carlos Gomez)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #1 (Patrick Horvath)
2. Dave: Predator: Black, White & Blood #1 (Various)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave:  MARVEL SWIMSUIT SPECIAL: FRIENDS, FOES & RIVALS #1 (Russell Dauterman)
2. Chris: Batman: Gotham By Gaslight - A League for Justice #1 (Christopher Mitten Variant)

Interview: Taboo and CTG Sports Brian Amlani - Comics and Kicks Podcast

1. Comics and Kicks is such a unique blend—what was the “origin story” behind launching this podcast, and how long had it been percolating?

2. You’ve got deep roots in both hip-hop and geek culture—how do you see comic books and sneakers as forms of self-expression, and where do they overlap for you?

3. The show dives into conversations with creators, collectors, and innovators—what voices are you most excited to spotlight that we might not hear from in typical mainstream media?

4. What were the first comic book and first pair of kicks that made you feel something—like, “This is part of who I am”?

5. You've done work with Marvel and even co-created a Native American superhero—how has your experience as a comics creator shaped the way you approach these podcast conversations?

6. The sneaker world can be just as passionate and obsessive as the comic book scene. How do you navigate the hype, history, and authenticity in both spaces?

7. As someone who's broken barriers in music, representation, and now podcasting—what does success look like for Comics and Kicks? What impact do you hope it leaves behind?

8. If you could design your dream crossover—a comic series and sneaker drop happening side by side—what characters and shoe would headline that launch?

NEWS

1. Robert Kirkman and Dan Mora take the wheel on Transformers with issue #25
2. Lee Bermejo kicks off 25 'Amazing Visions' variant cover series ending with #1000
3. Marvel fleshes out 'Marvel Zombies: Red Band' due out September 2025
4. Marvel’s ultimate universe explodes in October 2025, and the Maker is back
5. Vault unveils ATHANASIA, a haunting superhero graphic novel from Daniel Kraus and Dani
6. Werewolves clash with Vikings in Image Comics’ new horror series 'Viking Moon'
7. New series 'Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' launches October 2025

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Tramps of the Apocalypse #1 (Alice Darrow)
2. Absolute Martian Manhunter #4 (Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez)

Chris:​​

1. News from the Fallout #1 (Chris Condon, Jeffrey Alan Love)
2. Feral #14 (Tony Fleecs, Tone Rodriguez, and Trish Forstner)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Green Arrow #25 - Chris Condon, Montos

Dave: Ultimate Spider-Man #18 (Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checchetto)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Gehenna: Naked Aggression #1 (Patrick Kindlon, Maurizio Rosenzweig)
2. Dave: Captain America #1 (Chip Zdarsky, Valerio Schiti)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave:  Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time #4 (Davide Paratore)
2. Chris: Godzilla vs. Thor #1 (Aaron Kuder Main Cover)

Interview: Ethan Parker and Griffin Sheridan, covering their upcoming Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone #1, Blink and You’ll Miss It #1, and Bring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin (July 02, 2025) - June 30th

1. Let’s start with Bring on the Bad Guys: Green Goblin — Norman Osborn is such a rich, terrifying character. What part of his history were you most excited to dig into, and what makes your take on the Goblin stand out?
2. Norman’s been a villain, a businessman, a politician, and sometimes even a twisted version of a hero. How do you approach writing a character who’s constantly shifting between personas?
   Your Godzilla: Escape the Deadzone series introduces a walled-off wasteland, kaiju lore, and the myth of a half-man, half-kaiju survivor. How did you approach building suspense and worldbuilding in this isolated, almost post-apocalyptic setting?
3. Writing Godzilla means balancing spectacle with humanity. What’s your approach to telling grounded stories in the shadow of kaiju-level destruction?
4. Now onto Blink and You’ll Miss It — the tone and premise feel so personal and unique. How did this story come together, and what inspired you to tell a love story with a sci-fi twist?
   There’s a big emotional core in Blink and You’ll Miss It, but also some wild time-manipulation ideas. How did you balance the heart with the high-concept hook?
5. You’re juggling three very different projects — a Marvel villain origin, a giant monster epic, and a bittersweet romantic mini. How do you shift your mindset between such wildly different tones and genres?
6. All three books deal with identity in some form — Norman’s fractured psyche, a couple navigating time, and characters caught between humanity and monsters. Is that a theme you’re consciously exploring across your work, or something that just naturally emerges?
7. Fun one to wrap things up: If the Green Goblin got his own kaiju-sized glider and showed up in the Godzilla universe… how long would he last, and which monster would absolutely wreck him first?

NEWS

1. Marvel September 2025 solicitations
   1. New series 'Battleworld' announced for September 2025
   2. Marvel unveils 616 Day celebration plans, teaser and more
      1. Teaser reveal is…At 6:16 ET Marvel reveals Knull will return in 'Venom' #250
   3. Spider-Man to split in two with one going cosmic starting in September 2025
   4. 'Spider-Man ’94' #1 jumps into the scene in September 2025
   5. J. Michael Straczynski's 'Amazing Spider-Man: Torn' #1 announced
   6. Everything we know about Ultimate Universe titles in September 2025
   7. Boba Fett AND Han Solo get new series
2. Marvel/DC crossover expands with new creators and character team-ups revealed
3. Upper Deck launches Superman-themed NASCAR trading cards in new 23XI Racing collab
4. DC Comics Solicitations
   1. Jason Todd to survive Hush 2 with adult 'Red Hood' solo series in 2025
   2. Batman getting a polybag program
   3. DC to introduce new heroes in 'C.O.R.T.: Children of the Round Table'
5. Robert Kirkman and David Finch embark on 'Skinbreaker' in September 2025
6. IDW announces gritty new Star Trek series ‘The Last Starship'
7. 'No Man’s Land' #1 thriller coming September 2025
8. Blue Falcon & Dynomutt return in new Dynamite comic in September 2025
9. Action rom-com spy series 'The Guy in the Chair' coming October 2025
10. Soo Lee brings ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with OGN adaptation from Dynamite
11. Mike Mignola and Bruce Zick launch time-bending new Hellboy universe series
12. Brombal and Phillips launch horror-western hybrid 'Everything Dead & Dying'
13. Dark Horse and Wizards of the Coast launch ‘Dungeons & Dragons: The Fallbacks’

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Benjamin #1 (Ben H. Winters, Leomacs)
2. Fantastic Four Fanfare (2025) #2 (Various)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Flash #4 (Lemire, AL Kaplan)
2. Exquisite Corpses #2 (Tynion IV, Walsh, Marianna Ignazzi)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Gwenpool #2 (Cavan Scott, Stefano Nesi)

Dave: Emma Frost: White Queen #1

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: The Seasons #5 (Rick Remender, Paul Azaceta), News from the Fallout #1 (Chris Condon, Jeffrey Alan Love)
2. Dave: Fantastic Four #33 (Ryan North, Cory Smith)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Ultimate Spider-Man #18 (Terry Dodson Variant Cover)
2. Alex: Absolute Martian Manhunter #4 (Marguerite Sauvage)

Best Comics of the Year…so far!

Alex: 

Pick 3 series:

1. Absolute Flash (Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles)
2. Storm (Murewa Ayodele & Lucas Werneck)
3. Exquisite Corpses (James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, et al.)

Pick a graphic novel or collection:  

The Nice House by the Sea Vol. 1 (Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno)

Dave: 

Pick 3 series:

1. Assorted Crisis Events (2025) #1 (Deniz Camp, Eric Zawadzki) (3 issues out)
2. Absolute Martian Manhunter (Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez) (3 issues out)
3. Absolute Batman (2024) (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Marcos Martin) (6 issues out this year)
4. 27

Pick a graphic novel or collection: 

Bowling With Corpses and Other Strange Tales From Lands Unknown. Written by Mike Mignola. Art by Mike Mignola. Colors by Dave Stewart. 

Chris: 

Pick 3 series:

1. The Amazing Spider-Man (Joe Kelly, Pepe Larraz) (6 issues in 2025)
2. 11
3. The Moon Is Following Us (DWJ and Riley Rossmo) (6 issues in 2025)
4. Jumpscare (Cullen Bunn and Danny Luckert) (4 issues in 2025)

Pick a graphic novel or collection: 

Low Orbit (Writer-artist Kazimir Lee)

1. 'The Undead Iron Fist' resurrects Danny Rand in new series
2. New 'Imperial War' tie-ins announced for Exiles and Nova Centurion
3. Marvel details Storm's "Thunder War" three-part 2025 event
4. Mr. Fantastic vs. Doctor Doom in 'One World Under Doom' #7
5. Marvel reveals ‘Marvel Knights: The World to Come’ #4 details
6. Everything to know about September 2025 'One World Under Doom' tie-ins
7. Nacelleverse grows with new series 'The C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa'
8. WEBTOON and Dark Horse partner for webcomics in 2025
9. New 'The Twilight Zone' launching at IDW September 2025
10. Tom King and Mitch Gerads' 'Mister Miracle' gets adult animation order

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Robin & Batman: Jason Todd (2025) #1 (Jeff Lemire, Dustin Nguyen)
2. Giant-Size Spider-Man (Various) AND Absolute Batman #9 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)

Alex:​​

1. The Umbrella Academy: Plan B #1 (Gerard Way, Gabriel Ba)
2. Runaways #1 (Rainbow Rowell, Elena Casagrande) 

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Marvel United: A Pride Special #1 (Good Night, Blue Rose from Wyatt Kennedy & Bayleigh Underwood)

Dave: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #9 (Jason Aaron, Juan Ferreyra)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Aliens vs. Avengers #4 (Hickman, Ribic), Absolute Flash #4 (Lemire, Robles)
• Dave: Exquisite Corpses #2 (James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, Marianna Ignazzi)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: X-Men #18 (Corin Howell)
• Alex: Every cover for Exquisite Corpses #2 (Tynion, Walsh)

Archie vs. Minor Threats Interview: Timmy Heague, Scott Koblis, Jordan Blum, Patton Oswalt - August 06, 2025

“How the hell is that gonna work?”

Jordan, you’ve said that’s the right response to this crossover. What was the original spark that made you all say, “Actually…this could work”?

Colliding Tones: Hopeful vs. Dirty

How did you navigate blending the wholesomeness of Riverdale with the gritty world of Twilight City without undercutting either tone—or letting one overpower the other?

The Role of Sabrina

Sabrina is the hinge point between both universes. How did you land on her as the “bridge,” and what made her magic the right kind of chaos to kick off the crossover?

Playtime (Frankie Follis) vs. Archie

Playtime and Archie are about as different as two protagonists can be. What were the most surprising character parallels—or contrasts—that emerged as you wrote their interactions?

Deep Cuts and Fan Favorites

This series packs in everything from Salem the Cat to the annoying Reggie. How did you decide which characters to include—and how deep into both universes’ lore did you dig?

Implications for the Minor Threats Universe

Jordan and Patton, you’ve said this story has long-term consequences for Playtime. Without spoiling anything, can you tease what ripple effects this Archie encounter sets in motion?

Archie Breaks Bad

The idea of Archie "breaking bad" is hilarious and a little terrifying. What was it like writing Archie with a criminal edge—and how far did you all consider pushing it?

Why Comics?

Jordan mentioned this is a story that only works in comics. What elements of this crossover could only have been done in this medium—not TV, not film, not prose?

I’d be remiss not to ask, is there any romance in the series?

Milkshakes & Mayhem (Fun Question)

Let’s say the Riverdale crew and the Minor Threats gang go out for milkshakes together after all this chaos—who’s the last one standing in the milkshake chugging contest?

And finally, Archie is also crossing over with Jay and Silent Bob, could you guys see a similar crossover with Kevin Smith’s characters?

NEWS

1. Street Sharks is coming to IDW
2. The Unchosen is coming to Image Comics (and more detail)
3. Image Comics celebrates 10, 20, 30 year milestones with facsimile issues
4. 'The Man Who Dreamt the Impossible' honors Jack Kirby in August 2025
5. Jason Aaron returns for ‘Uncle Scrooge: Earth’s Mightiest Duck’ #1
6. Marvel dishes new details on ‘Marvel Swimsuit Special’ out July 9
7. Marvel announces new 2025 Stormbreakers class
8. Top 50 Comics May 2025

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #3 (Ram V, Butch Guice)
2. Amazing Spider-Man #5 (Joe Kelly, Pepe Larraz)

Chris:​​

1. The Moon Is Following Us #10 (DWJ, Riley Rossmo)
2. Jumpscare #4 (Cullen Bunn and Danny Luckert)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris - The Moon Is Following Us #10 (DWJ, Riley Rossmo)

Dave - Ghost Rider vs. Galactus #1(J. Michael Straczynski, Juan Ferreyra)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Batman: Dark Patterns #7 (Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman)
2. Dave: Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Various)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Eddie Brock: Carnage #5 (Juan Ferrerya)
2. Chris: Death of the Silver Surfer #1 (Tradd Moore Variant)

Interview: Sam Humphries Interview about New Avengers #1 (June 11):

1. Let’s start with the surprising MCU connection, titled New Avengers it was originally solicited as Thunderbolts, does this mean you were in on the MCU connection from the start?
2. This team lineup—Winter Soldier, Black Widow, Carnage, Hulk, Namor, Clea, and Wolverine—reads like a powder keg. What’s the dynamic like between these “loners,” and how do you keep them from exploding on each other before they can even face a threat?
3. Can you walk us through the creation of the Killuminati? What makes these Illuminati clones more dangerous—or more unhinged—than the originals?
4. You've worked with teams and antiheroes before. What unique storytelling opportunities does this specific mix of personalities and power sets offer that you haven't tackled before?
5. You mentioned in the announcement there are many surprises ahead—can you tease one upcoming twist, without giving the game away?
6. Fans are always down for romance, how hot and heavy are we getting with this new team?
7. Ton Lima’s art brings serious energy to the series. What was it like collaborating with him, and how do his visuals shape the tone of New Avengers?

Character & Fan Engagement

1. Which team member surprised you the most once you started writing them in this group dynamic?
2. Did any of them take on a larger role than you expected?
   Fun/Silly Question
3. Let’s say the New Avengers are forced to compete in a bake-off against the Killuminati. Who burns their cookies, who makes a mean soufflé, and who tries to assassinate the judges?
    

1. Writer Peter David has died
2. 'Deadpool/Batman' and 'Batman/Deadpool coming late 2025
3. Mark Millar's ‘Psychic Sam’ comic and movie announced
4. 'Skullkickers' returns with Oni Press Compact Attack Editions in 2026
5. 'Nightmare Before Christmas' novel gets graphic novel in June 2025
6. Toxic Crusaders #1 announced
7. Dark Horse celebrates Jack Kirby with ‘The Art of Fantastic Four’ out September 2025
8. ‘Masters of the Universe: The Sword of Flaws’ announced for September 2025

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Absolute Martian Manhunter #3 (Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez)
2. The Power Fantasy #9 (Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard)

Chris:​​

1. Feral #13 (Tony Fleecs, Tone Rodriguez, Trish Forstner)
2. Green Arrow #24 (Chris Condon, Montos)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris - Absolute Martian Manhunter #3 (Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez)

Dave - Absolute Wonder Woman #8 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: The Moon Is Following Us #10 (Daniel Warren Johnson, Riley Rossmo)
2. Dave: DC Pride 2025 #1 (Various)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Amazing Spider-Man #5 (Pepe Larraz)
2. Chris: Imperial #1 (Javier Garron Connecting Variant)

Interview: Co-writer Adrian Wassel and artist Nathan Gooden about Big Rig #1 July 9 - FOC June 9

1. What was the spark that lit the fire for Big Rig?
   How did this story evolve from Post Malone’s original idea into the medieval demon-slaying road trip we see in Chapter 1?
2. How did the collaboration with Post Malone work on a day-to-day level?
   Was he sending notes from the studio? Storyboarding demon fights on tour?
3. The idea of an 18-wheeler crashing into medieval Europe is wild in the best way.
   How did you work to ground that concept emotionally and thematically?
4. What makes her essential to the story, and how does she play off Trucker?
5. What kind of research or inspiration shaped the design of The Rig itself?
   Did you draw from real-life trucking culture, heavy metal, religious iconography, or all of the above?
6. This book is described as Evil Dead meets Fury Road.
   What’s your approach to balancing horror, action, and dark comedy on the page?
7. Nathan, your art often feels like it’s in motion even when the panels are still.
   What visual challenges or opportunities did Big Rig present compared to something like Barbaric?
8. What was most important to you both in setting the tone for this first chapter?

⚙️ Segment Break: "Load It or Leave It"

Purpose: A rapid-fire segment where they say whether the following elements are "loaded" onto The Rig (i.e., present in the series) or "left behind" (not part of the story). This lets you transition into a worldbuilding breakdown in a fun way.

You say the element, they say "Load It" or "Leave It" — and optionally expand briefly.

Examples:

• Romance
• Chainsaws
• Holy relics
• Time travel
• Interdimensional truck stops
• Talking weapons
• Demon puke
• Flashbacks
• Post Malone cameos
• God

Wrap up the segment by picking one they said “Load It” on and asking them to expand:
“Okay, you said ‘Load It’ to talking weapons. Tell us more.”

Final Questions

1. (Fun one) If Trucker had a mixtape in the Rig’s cab, what three songs would be on it — and does Post have to be on there at least once?

NEWS

1. New ‘X-Men Hellfire Gala Vigil’ #1 costume designs revealed
2. Marvel Comics Solicitations August 2025!
   1. Doctor Strange #450 milestone issue!
   2. Venom symbiote increases the danger in 'Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe' #2 
   3. Marvel teases a rock will save the Marvel universe in 'Fantastic Four' #1
   4. Ultimate Hawkeye scores one-shot in September 2025
3. Frank Castle returns in 'Punisher: Red Band' #1
4. DC GO! is leveling up this July with six bold new digital-first webcomics
5. EXCLUSIVE: 'Blink and You'll Miss It' unravels romance and reality this summer
6. DC and Gaylord Texan Unite for ‘Universe of Light: Lost in the Pages’ comic experience
7. Find Krypto’s Golden Biscuit, win a trip to the ‘Superman’ premiere
8. New space opera ‘Red Vector’ announced for August 2025
9. Skybound reveals new Act 4 Wally Wood and Hellboy Artist Editions

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Amazing Spider-Man #4 (Pepe Larraz, Joe Kelly)
2. Into the Unbeing (2024): Part Two #4 (Zac Thompson, Hayden Sherman)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Flash #3 (Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles)
2. Doom Academy #4 (Mackenzie Cadenhead, Pasqual FerryJoao M.P. Lemos)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex - Fantastic Four #34 (Ryan North, Cory Smith)

Dave - Robowolf #1 Jake Smith

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us #3 (Rosenberg, Landini) and Magik #5 (Allen, Peralta)
2. Dave: Mr. Terrific Year One #1 (Al Letson, Valentine De Landro)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Absolute Wonder Woman #8 (Stephanie Hans)
2. Alex: Martian Manhunter #3 (Shawn Crystal Variant)

Interview: Mark Russell Interview:

1. Polis is out this week from AWA, can you tell us what it’s about?
2. Polis is part of The Protopias Collection. Could you elaborate on the concept of 'protopia' and how it influences the narrative and themes within Polis?
3. How did your collaboration with artist Laci and colorist Marco Lesko shape the visual storytelling of Polis? Were there specific elements you emphasized to bring the floating city of Miragua to life?​
4. AWA Studios future projects?
5. On the reverse side your X-Factor run has also had satirical elements from current events like social media and corporate negligence, are there any other themes you explored in X-Factor I’m missing?
6. There’s some new mutants in X-Factor as well, went went into creating them with Bob Quinn?
7. Your run on X-Factor balanced biting commentary with genuine emotional depth—was there a theme or character arc you didn’t get to fully explore in the ten issues that you wish you had more time with?
8. Out May 07, each issue of Vanishing Point is a standalone story—how did that format influence the way you approached worldbuilding and character development in the first issue, particularly with Jim’s psychological arc?
9. The story captures the emotional toll of isolation and obligation in a haunting way—were there any personal experiences or real-world parallels that shaped Jim’s descent or the overall tone of the series?

NEWS

1. Spider-Gwen gets 'Brand New Day' in new series launch
2. Marvel reveals cover and Quesada talks 'Marvel Knights' The World to Come' #3
3. 'Marvel All-On-One' #1 anniversary one-shot coming August 2025
4. 'Imperial' gets new teaser promising spin-off one-shots, and issue 3 solicit
5. Sequel 'Cemetery Kids Run Rabid' #1 set for August release
6. Skybound and Universal reteam for 'The Invisible Man'
7. Casey Jones gets a solo series
8. Scott Snyder reveals new look at Bane and ‘Absolute Batman’ vol. 2 title
9. DC Comics solicitaitons for August!
   1. New existential horror 'Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum' coming August 2025
10. 2025 Eisner Awards nominees are in!

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Absolute Batman #8 (Scott Snyder, Marcos Martin)
2. Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse (2025) #1 (Mat Groom, Kyle Higgins, Luciano Vecchio)

Alex:​​

1. Exquisite Corpses #1 (Tynion, Michael Walsh)
2. All-New, All-Deadly Gwenpool #1 (Cavan Scott, Stefano Nesi)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex - Doom Snikt in OOUD #4

Dave - Battle Beast #1 (Robert Kirkman, Ryan Ottley)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: The Vision & the Scarlet Witch #1 (Orlando, Lorenzo Tammetta), Absolute Flash #3 (Lemire, Robles)
2. Dave: Into the Unbeing Part 2 #4 (Zac Thompson, Hayden Sherman)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: The New Gods #6 (Nimit Malavia)
2. Alex: The Ultimates #12 (Inhyuk Lee variant)

Interview: James Tynion - Exquisite Corpses #1 out May 14, 2025

1. What drew you to the exquisite corpse method as a structural framework—and how did it shape your writing process across collaborators?

2. You’ve said before that horror lets you explore personal fears in metaphorical ways—what fear sits at the heart of Exquisite Corpses for you personally?

3. This project is filled with shifting tones and visual voices—how did you maintain thematic cohesion across multiple artists and chapters?

4. You’ve tackled horror through multiple lenses—from psychological horror in The Nice House on the Lake to body horror in Something is Killing the Children. Where does Exquisite Corpses fall on your personal horror spectrum?

5. You’ve spoken about burnout and choosing joy in your writing—did this collaborative process reawaken anything in you creatively?

6. There’s a class warfare element baked into the DNA of Exquisite Corpses. How important was it for you to make that commentary explicit rather than just subtext?

7. You’re known for big ideas in genre fiction. Was there ever a version of Exquisite Corpses that could’ve been a prose project or TV pitch—or was comics always the only way this could work?

8. What’s one element in Exquisite Corpses—a character, twist, or scene—that you’re most excited for readers to finally experience, but can’t say anything about yet?

NEWS

1. New 'Black Cat' ongoing series launching August 2025
2. Age of Apocalypse returns! Teaser, details for 'The X-Men of Apocalypse'
3. 'Wolverine by Chris Claremont' #1 announced
4. Chandler Poling - Uncanny Experience
5. Marvel mimics the MCU retitling 'Thunderbolts*' to 'New Avengers' 
6. Marvel celebrates America's 250th anniversary with homage variant covers
7. New villain group Killuminati revealed in 'New Avengers' variant covers
8. 'Giant-Size Spider-Man' #1 reveals preview with new hero Rapid
9. IDW announces 'Event Horizon: Dark Descent' prequel for August 2025
10. New heist series 'Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League' announced
11. ‘All-Star Superman’ scores audiobook with full cast
12. Top 50 comics of April 2025

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #2 (Ram V, Butch Galice, Anand Radhakrishnan)
2. Absolute Superman #7 (Jason Aaron, Carmine Di Giandomenico)

Chris:​​

1. Jumpscare #3 (Cullen Bunn, Danny Luckert)
2. Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma #2 (Ram V, Butch Galice, Anand Radhakrishnan)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris - The Amazing Spider-Man 3 (Joe Kelly and Pepe Larraz), Spidey and Itsy Bitsy Bridge Scene

Dave - All-New Venom #6 (Al Ewing, Carlos Gomez)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Supergirl #1 (Sophie Campbell, Tamra Bonvillain)
2. Dave: Exquisite Corpses #1 (James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Phoenix #11 (Lucas Werneck)
2. Chris: Daredevil #21 (John Romita, Jr., Scott Hanna, and Marcio Menyz)

Interview: Scott Snyder talks Absolute Batman!

If readers were to read Absolute Batman alongside your original Black Mirror arc, what emotional or thematic throughline do you think would emerge? Is there a hidden continuity of self that ties those works together?

You've mentioned that Absolute Batman aims to confront contemporary fears. How do you balance integrating real-world issues like mass violence into a superhero narrative without it becoming overwhelming for readers?

This version of Bane is described as having a “true form” that’s finally revealed. Was there a moment early on in this series—or in your own Batman run—where you first imagined this version of Bane, or did he evolve uniquely within the Absolute Batman framework

Ark m in Absolute Batman seems less like a building and more like a state of consciousness. How did you want to reinvent the idea of 'asylum' in this story?

This series has played with identity, memory, and repressed trauma—common Snyder themes—but how has fatherhood and your recent creator-owned work influenced how you're writing Batman now, years after your first run?

You’ve said in past interviews that Batman is a character who builds. Does this arc tear him down in a way that still honors that core idea—or are you challenging that philosophy head-on?

With the Absolute line reimagining iconic characters, what can readers anticipate in future installments, and how do you envision the evolution of this universe?

NEWS

1. Superman gets a U.S. Coin—Batman and more coming soon
2. DC Comics adds new 'DC Pride 2025' story and shares details
3. TMNT Tuesday #13: TMNT: Shredder series announced
4. New 'Criminal' graphic novel announced for August 2025: 'The Knives'
5. Even more IDW comics coming to Webtoon with weekly release schedule
6. Get hype: Marvel releases new 'Imperial' #1 teaser
7. 'Star Wars: Tales from the Nightlands' horror series arrives September 2025
8. Diamond finds a home
9. James Tynion IV sets 'Exquisite Corpses' 2025 tour

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Ultimate Spider-Man #16 (Jonathan Hickman, Marco Checcheto)
2. Heavy Metal Magazine #1 (Various)

Chris:​​

1. We're Taking Everyone Down with Us #2 (Matthew Rosenberg, Stefano Landini)
2. Nights #15 (Wyatt Kennedy, Luigi Formisano)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris - Joker "Hammer Scene" from Batman/Superman World's Finest 2025 Annual #1

Dave - Godzilla vs. Los Angeles - Gabriel Hardman

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Absolute Green Lantern #2 (Al Ewing, Jahnoy Lindsay)
2. Dave: Absolute Superman #7 (Jason Aaron, Carmine Di Giandomenico)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Red Sonja Attacks Mars #2 (Joseph Michael Linsner)
2. Chris: Captain Planet #1 (Mark Spears Main Cover)

Interview: Al Ewing talks Detective Comics 2025 Annual #1 - Out April 30 

1. You stepped in for Tom Taylor on this annual—can you walk us through how that came about? Was this a story you had to write quickly, or did you have some room to breathe and make it your own? 

2. The story kicks off with a classic locked-room mystery—an impossible murder in a high-tech safe room. What drew you to that kind of puzzle, and how did you approach building a detective narrative worthy of Batman?

3. There’s a moment where Batman’s costume subtly shifts from black to blue once he’s in London. Is that just a visual cue, or is there something more symbolic going on there?

4. What’s your take on the annual format? Do you see it as a chance to tell something self-contained and weird, or a pressure cooker to do a lot in a single oversized issue?

5. You’re working with a trio of incredible artists—Stefano Raffaele, John McCrea, and Fico Ossio. How did you decide who handled which parts of the story, and what did each artist bring to the table stylistically?

6. This annual flirts with the idea of Batman not just solving crimes but confronting the nature of reality. How far is too far for Batman, in your mind, when it comes to stories that push past the physical world?

7. UK mythology and angels? John Dee’s magic - Elizabethan 

8. Maybe the most important question of them all, what is Batman’s favorite tea and how does he take it?

NEWS

1. Godzilla comes to Boston in 'Godzilla vs. Boston' out July 2025
2. Marvel Comics solicitations
   1. New details emerge for Jonathan Hickman’s ‘Imperial’ #2
   2. Moon Knight gets over-sized 250th milestone issue in 'Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu' #10
   3. Spider-Man’s ‘most desperate’ battle with Hellgate to begin in July 2025
   4. 'Doomed 2099' one-shot comes to the present in July 2025
   5. Matt Fraction headlining 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' tie-in comic
3. Post Malone and Vault Comics release promo for Free Comic Book Day (May 3rd)
4. ​​'Undiscover’d' comic books line announced at Amazing Comics
5. Kevin Smith's 'Quick Stops' gets third volume starting August 2025

Our Top Books of the Week

Dave:

1. Absolute Martian Manhunter #2 (Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez)
2. Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #3 (Mark Waid, Bryan Hitch)

Alex:​​

1. Arcana Royale #1 (Cullen Bunn, A. C. Zamudio)
2. Avengers #25 (Jed MacKay, Valerio Schiti)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex - Minor Threats: Welcome to Twilight #2 (Brian Michael Bendis, Soo Lee)

Dave - Eddie Brock: Carnage #3 (Charles Soule, Jesus Saiz)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: We're Taking Everyone Down with Us #2 (Matthew Rosenberg, Stefano Landini)
2. Dave: Detective Comics 2025 Annual #1 (Al Ewing, John McCrea, Stefano Raffaele, Fico Ossio)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Ultimate Spider-Man #16 (Marco Chacchetto)
2. Alex: Lost Fantasy #1 (Luca Casalanguida)