DC's furry friends are about to get spotlighted in a pretty adorable way. As part of DC's August 2024 solicitations, the publisher announced the first details surrounding Super-Pets Special: Bitedentity Crisis #1. The 48-page anthology will feature multiple stories surrounding DC's pets, with Nightwing's dog Haley at the center. Super-Pets Special: Bitedentity Crisis #1 will be released wherever comics are sold on Wednesday, July 30th.

SUPER-PETS SPECIAL: BITEDENTITY CRISIS

• Written by TONY FLEECS, ALEXIS QUASARANO, MICHAEL CONRAD, DAN WATTERS, and KYLE STARKS
• Art by MIKE NORTON, PJ HOLDEN, SAMI BASRI, CHRIS MITTEN, and KYLE STARKS
• Cover by PETE WOODS
• Variant covers by TONY FLEECS and KARL KERSCHEL
• 1:25 variant cover by GUSTAVO DUARTE
• $5.99 USD | 48 pages | Variant $6.99 (card stock)
• ON SALE 7/30/24

The Super-Pets are back--and this time, they're all BITE! Haley, the beloved bark-out star of NIGHTWING, finds herself to be a fish out of water when she arrives on Kent Farm. As our big-city mutt tries to adjust to country living, she's shocked to discover a kennel of courageous critters is already waiting for her! Bitewing, meet the SUPER-PETS--and you might want to hold on tight because things are about to get hairy! Also featuring--stories of misch-woof and mutt-hem! The dark side of the dog bed! The many pets of Damian Wayne! You'll have to squeak it to believe it!

Is Nightwing Ending?

DC has already announced "Fallen Grayson", a new story arc that will culminate writer Tom Taylor and artist Bruno Redondo's time on Nightwing. "Fallen Grayson" will be a five-part arc beginning in Nightwing #114, which will be available wherever comics are sold on Tuesday, May 21st. In it, the culmination of Heartless's sabotage on Nightwing reaches its dramatic climax when Nightwing loses his ability to leap, impeding his duties to be the superhero we know and love.

"We're pretty damn proud of our guy," Taylor revealed. "and I'm very proud of our whole team on our 40+ issues of Nightwing. Everything we've worked on since issue #78 has been leading to this story. The villain, Heartless (working with Tony Zucco--the man who killed Dicks' parents), has planned what comes next for a very long time. He has watched a city changed for the better by one hero, and he has waited for the moment when tearing out the heart of Bludhaven would hurt the most. Bruno and I wanted to put Nightwing on a pedestal. We wanted to show how high this flying Grayson could soar. Now, it's time for him to fall."

As mentioned above, Super-Pets Special: Bitedentity Crisis #1 will be released wherever comics are sold on Wednesday, July 30th.

The ComicBook Nation crew breaks down the X-Men '97 Season 1 Finale and discusses all the reveals about the Season 2 storyline. We also review the new movie IF (2024).

PLUS: Geek News includes some big renewal news for some of streaming's hottest shows; a breakdown of Amazon's The Rings of Power Season 2 Trailer, and the Spider-Verse expands with Nic Cage's Spider-Man Noir TV show - even as Amazon's Silk: Spider Society series dies in development.

IF (2024) Review

ComicBook critic Jamie Jirak's IF movie review gives the film 3.5 out of 5 stars:

The film does a good job of reminding its audience that there's a kid in all of us, and that time can never truly take away your imagination. It's been a while since I looked around in a theater and saw multiple grown men shedding a tear. Krasinski knows how to appeal to parents, especially dads. While IF may not be a perfectly pieced-together movie, there's enough heart embedded in its core to make it a worthy trip to the cinema for families. The cast is delightful, the IFs are magical, and the warmth is undeniable.

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Each episode has a deep dive into the current biggest discussion topics and debates within geek culture: movies, tv, comics, and video games are regular features, with genres like sci-fi, anime, and wrestling also featured regularly. The ONLY show covering ALL THINGS Geek Culture!

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X-Men's Storm is getting a new look in her own solo series from Marvel. Murewa Ayodele and Lucas Werneck team on STORM this October. This is a return to Marvel for Ayodele after the delightful Moon Knight: Black, White & Blood last year. For Werneck, he's been around the block with the mutants during his run on Immortal X-Men. Of the former Krakoa residents, few of them are as popular as Storm and in the aftermath of the haven's destruction, she's tasked with saving the planet with her new team. As leader, Storm's choices will end up having massive consequences for Earth-dwellers, and beyond! Adding to the intrigue is the fact that she's an Avenger now as well. So, that also adds to the wild times ahead in this solo series.

"I still can't believe that Marvel gave me this gift," Werneck mused. "Storm is a character that I love, and I have so much respect for what this character represents to people. We're working with so much love and devotion on this project, and I hope that fans enjoy it as much as we're enjoying making it."

STORM #1

Written by MUREWA AYODELE
Art by LUCAS WERNECK
Cover by MATEUS MANHANINI
On Sale 10/2

"We are building towards gargantuan conflicts that will shake the universe from Planet Earth to the Dimension of Manifestations," Ayodele would. "We are crafting stories filled to the brim with humanity, love, mystery, adventure, heartbreak, and ALL-OUT ACTION. Tom Brevoort, the editor behind Marvel's most universe-shattering events, Lucas Werneck, the incredible artist known for his genius-level attention to design and character work, and I are cooking with supernovas on this series. So join us on this journey that promises to be exciting till the bitter-sweet end. Get ready for an ETERNAL STORM."

Storm Remains An X-Men Fan-Favorite

As evidenced by the love-fest surrounding X-Men '97, people dearly care about the Weather Goddess. This is a fact that Ayodele is well-aware of and aims to do right by the fans who show up for any of her solo adventures or focus moments among large-scale stories.

"As a fan of Storm, her duties to the X-Men, and what she stands for in various real-world communities, I would like to assure the audience that Storm is in danger. Extremely so. We love Ororo Munroe, and that is why we have crafted a thrilling story that will put the strength of her character on wide-open display," the writer argues. "But when you're an Omega-level mutant, few things can test your limits, and even fewer things can shatter those limits. For our STORM series, one thing we would like fans to remember is that there are threats that are beyond Omega. Prepare yourselves for an extraordinary display of superheroism that leaves knuckles bloody, knees bashed in, and mountains cratered."

STORM ascends to the clouds this October.

Do you love that Storm is getting her own solo series in the midst of X-Men fever? Catch all of our pop culture discussion at @ComicBook on social media!

One of the most iconic battles in DC history is back with a new collector's edition, and we've got your exclusive first look! In 1978 fans were introduced to one of the most unexpected throwdowns ever in Superman vs. Muhammad Ali, who were battling in order to determine who humanity's Champion would be against an alien race named the Scrubb. To celebrate that fight, DC is releasing Superman vs. Muhammad Ali Collectors' Edition Facsimile Edition, which will present the battle In 14' x 10' format and will feature Neal Adams' gorgeous wraparound cover as well as a special Foil variant, and you can check it out in the image below.

As you can see in the image, the cover remains as iconic as ever, and features a host of familiar faces (and favorite comic creators) in the crowd. Both editions will include 72 pages, with the standard edition retailing for $14.99 and the variant edition retailing for $17.99. You can check out the cover and the official description below.

Superman vs. Muhammad Ali Collectors' Edition Facsimile Edition
On Sale August 27
Written by DENNIS O'NEIL
Art by NEAL ADAMS and DICK GIORDANO
Cover by NEAL ADAMS
Foil variant cover by NEAL ADAMS
$14.99 US | 72 pages | Variant $17.99 US

The greatest heavyweight prizefight in the history of comics is returning in a full-size tabloid (14' x 10') facsimile edition!

With a space armada threatening to destroy the Earth if it loses a contest against the evil Rat'lar's chosen fighter, Superman and Muhammad Ali must first box each other to determine humanity's champion for that intergalactic bout. Includes the iconic wraparound cover by Neal Adams with a who's who of famous people (and comic book creators) in attendance at the fight of the century, also available as a foil variant at participating comic book retailers.

You can check out the cover for the Superman vs. Muhammad Ali Collectors' Edition Facsimile Edition above, and it will hit comic stores on August 27th.

Are you excited for Superman vs. Muhammad Ali? You can talk all things comics and DC with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

"After Flashpoint, Superman's uncle Zor-El, escaped Krypton's destruction, thanks to Collector of Worlds Brainiac. Subjected to cybernetic augmentations that deranged his personality, Zor-El became Cyborg Superman--Brainiac's scout for a stronger species in the universe. He attempted to conquer Earth, battling Superman and his own daughter Kara Zor-El, but somehow escaped the black hole doom that befell Brainiac. Also surviving the Rebirth event, Cyborg Superman reanimated the dead Krytponians of Argo City and again attacked Earth, only to be defeated by Supergirl and Superman."

In other McFarlane Toys news, last week saw the release of several new figures, including a new Tim Drake Robin, a Batman vs Bane 2-pack, and a Batman Hush Sketch Edition Gold Label exclusive in the DC Multiverse lineup. There's also a Batman '66 wave in their DC Retro collection. Details about the figures can be found below.

• DC Multiverse Batman Hush Sketch Gold Label 7-Inch Scale Action Figure - Limited to 4800 Pieces ($29.99) - Entertainment Earth Exclusive / Available Now: "The Caped Crusader plummets from the pages of Batman: Hush with sketch-edition deco! Batman comes with extra hands, 2 batarangs, display base, and card stand. Also included is an exclusive art card featuring Batman on one side and a numbered certificate of authenticity on the other. Fully articulated, the black-and-white Dark Knight is showcased in designer window-box packaging with an exclusive card stand and a Batman logo display base."
• DC Retro Batman 1966 6-inch Action Figures ($19.99 each) - See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon: The wave includes Nightwing, Alfred, Bookworm, Space Batman, and Wax Robin in a mix of figures inspired by the comics and the classic TV show. There's also a Batman 66 - Batmobile with Joker Gold Label set that you can find here on Amazon now.
• DC Direct DC Designer Series Batman by Dan Mora Resin Statue ($249.99) - See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon: "From the pages of Detective Comics #1045, comes the next stunning DC Designer Series statue featuring Dan Mora's take on the caped crusader. This dynamic piece, features Batman flying through the air over the streets of Gotham City. Great sculptural detail highlights the cape and striking pose. Standing at approximately 15 1/2-inches tall, this limited edition resin statue is a must have for any Batman collector. Statue is in 1:6 scale."
  
• DC Multiverse Batman vs Bane / Batman: Knightfall 2-pack - See at Entertainment Earth / GameStop / Amazon
• DC Multiverse Tim Drake Robin 7-inch Scale Action Figure - See at Entertainment Earth / Amazon: Note that this figure is an upgrade to the Tim Drake Robin that was released last year.

Finally, pre-orders for the DC Multiverse Batman: Futures End Jokerbot figure launched recently as a standalone, Gold Label, glow-in-the-dark version of a Target exclusive Build-A-Figure from a few years back. This time around, it's an Amazon exclusive that you can pre-order right here for $29.99 with a release date set for July 26th.

It's a crazy figure from a really intriguing 2014 DC storyline in which Bruce Wayne is merged with the Joker to form a cyber soldier. That's why you'll find the Joker's visage on one side of the head of this figure and Batman's on the other. In addition to the glow-in-the-dark paint, the figure will also include and art card and a base.

Don Perlin, a prolific comic book creator whose work includes co-creating Marvel's Moon Knight, has passed away at the age of 94. The news was broken via a Facebook post from Perlin's daughter, Elaine, who revealed that he passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 14th. Perlin had a decades-long career in the industry as an artist, writer, and editor, including multiple decades of working with Marvel.

"I am devastated to report the death of an amazing man," Elaine's post reads. "My father Don Perlin passed away peacefully yesterday at the age of 94. He ws an amazing father husband grandfather and great grandfather. We will all miss him terribly. He was an amazing artist and considered a legend in the comic world. To me he was my best friend. I will miss him so much."

Born on August 27, 1929 in New York City, Perlin started in the comic industry with a Fox Features story in the late 1940s. Going into the 1950s, he found a groove penciling horror comics for publishers like Atlas (which would become Marvel Comics), and Harvey Comics, as well as war comics for Charlton. He later worked almost exclusively on art for Charlton for eleven years, a tenure that began in 1962. Perlin's time at Marvel began in the early 1970s, eventually leading to him getting a full-time position drawing for the company.

"I was going for a job interview with another company to do paste-ups and mechanicals," Perlin explained in an interview with NerdTeam30. "This was before computers. I was going in on Monday morning and Sunday morning I got a call from Roy Thomas. I'd been doing some comic book work in the evenings when I got home from working at the different day jobs that I had. Roy had seen some of the horror stories that I had done for DC. He told me about two books that they were looking for artists for and asked if would I be interested? One of them was Werewolf by Night and the other was Morbius, the Living Vampire. When I went to Marvel and spoke to them I was told that Werewolf was a monthly and Morbius was a bi-monthly so I took the monthly book deciding that would be a great job....So, from then on, I worked for Marvel and didn't miss a day. I went from the Werewolf to Ghost Rider and Defenders and Transformers. I worked on most of the characters that Marvel had while I was there. Then I went to Valiant."

This role included illustrating Werewolf by Night from 1974 through 1974, including Werewolf by Night #32, which serves as the first appearance of Moon Knight. His work with Marvel subsequently spanned Ghost Rider, Man-Thing, The Defenders, Transformers, and the Beauty and the Beast miniseries.

By 1991, Perlin left Marvel to join Valiant Comics, where he co-created the character Bloodshot. Other titles he worked on at the company, both as an artist and an editor, included Solar, Man of the Atom, Shadowman, and Magnus Robot Fighter.

While Perlin went into semi-retirement by the mid-1990s, he occasionally contributed stories to DC and Valiant.

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

DC is paying tribute to legendary comic artist Ramona Fradon, following her passing in February. The publisher has unveiled a two-page story honoring Fradon and her work across the DC Universe, titled "Ramona & Me". "Ramona & Me", which is being published in DC's May 14th books, is written by DC editor Brittany Holzherr with art by June Brigman and Roy Richardson. The story sees Holzherr recount some of her memories of Fradon, including bonding over one of her creations, Rex Mason / Metamorpho, heading to the big screen in 2025's Superman movie.

"Ramona's body of work entertained generations of comics fans who grew up on her artistry on The Brave and the Bold, Aquaman, Super Friends, and more," Jim Lee said in a statement. "Not only did she co-create Aqualad--she also brought into this sad, gray world arguably one of the most colorful, odd, and powerful superheroes in the DC Universe in Metamorpho--a character who always freaked me out when I was a young kid reading DC Comics! Even after recently retiring this year at the sage age of 97, Ramona's passion for comics never waned, as her presence was a highlight at many comic cons. Ramona's legacy is one of creativity, dedication, and timeless characters. Rest in power, Ramona. Your work, creations, and influence will live on!"

Fradon had a prolific career in the comic space, spanning from her debut in 1950 through her retirement in 2024. This largely included work at DC, which included co-creating Metamorpho and Aqualad and illustrating Plastic Man, Freedom Fighters, and Super Friends. She then took over as artist on the strip Brenda Starr, Reporter, from 1980 through 1995. She officially retired rom the industry just prior to her passing, after years of doing commissions and sketch art.

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

Who Is DC's Metamorpho?

Created by Bob Haney and Ramona Fradon in The Brave and the Bold #57, Rex Mason is an adventurer and archaeologist who accidentally gets exposed to a radioactive meteorite and turned into Metamorpho, the Element Man. Able to shape-shift into virtually any element or combination of elements, Metamorpho uses his powers to fight alongside The Outsiders, the Justice League, and The Terrifics. The character will be played by Anthony Carrigan in James Gunn's Superman movie.

"I certainly think that at least in the source material, Metamorpho, when he was transformed into his superhero state, I think he was very reluctant to have it because he felt like he was a freak and he felt like he was no longer who he was," Carrigan explained in an interview last year. "I can certainly kind of relate to that, in terms of my alopecia. So, that's definitely something that I'll be channeling and am excited to bring to the character itself."

"Especially with something of this magnitude, it can be very easy to get in your head and get psyched out," Carrigan added. "But at the end of the day, you just try to find truth with the character, and align yourself as much as you can with what you're saying, and try not to forget your lines."

Dazzler is setting off on a musical world tour in a new X-Men spinoff series. Alison Blaire is an accomplished musician and proud member of the X-Men, and she's had to juggle both of her responsibilities throughout her Marvel tenure. Readers back in the 1980s will remember Marvel's long-running Dazzler series, as well as her pivotal story arcs and many makeovers throughout the years, such as during Brian Michael Bendis' All-New X-Men and Uncanny X-Men, which teased Dazzler's future as President of the United States. Dazzler will take part in the X-Men: From the Ashes relaunch with a new solo series.

After teasing Dazzler and Storm solo series and Storm's addition to the Avengers roster, Marvel officially revealed the creative team on Dazzler, a four-issue miniseries launching in September. Dazzler comes from writer Jason Loo (Sentry, Infinity Paws) and Marvel newcomer artist Rafael Loureiro. The comic will follow Dazzler as she looks to inspire a new generation of fans during a musical tour, spreading a message of love and acceptance one sold-out show at a time. Joining her on this adventure are some of her fellow mutants - head of security Domino, personal guard Strong Guy, one-man roadie Multiple Man, drummer Shark-Girl, and expert publicist Wind Dancer.

Is Dazzler in Deadpool & Wolverine?

While Dazzler certainly has her legion of loyal fans, it is interesting that Marvel has chosen her to headline a solo series. Part of that could come from Dazzler's rumored appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine, with pop star Taylor Swift rumored to be playing Dazzler alongside Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy spoke about the Swift rumors, and teased that fans will definitely be surprised by all of the cameos once the film hits theaters.

"I can't even believe that you would dare ask me a question that you know I can't answer," Levy replied. "You know I can't answer. All of America knows I can't answer that. I will say as I said earlier here at CinemaCon. The proliferation of rumors about who is and isn't in this movie is fabulous. Because no one will ever know the truth until July 26th."

What is Marvel's Dazzler series about?

OUT & PROUD AS A MUTANT AND BACK ON THE ROAD! Dazzler, Marvel's glittering mutant songstress, has been in and out of the limelight over the years - but now the time has finally come for her to take center stage! Dazzler embarks on a new world tour, the culmination and celebration of her entire musical career. But while Dazzler may be ready to focus on her music, her celebrity-mutant status and a violent attack may sideline the entire endeavor before it's even begun...

"Rafael and I are giving everyone backstage access to the greatest show of the decade: the Dazzler World Tour!" Loo said. "Sounds exciting? Not for Dazzler when she's facing tons of pressure from all sorts of people trying to cancel her shows. But she's not going down without a fight."

"Ever since I can remember, I've been crazy about two things: music and drawing comics. To think that I would be able to combine both passions in my Marvel debut is beyond my wildest dreams. Not only that, but with such an amazing X-Men character as Dazzler--I absolutely had to jump at the chance!" Loureiro shared. "When I read Jason's script, I kept thinking to myself 'Oh, I'm gonna have so much fun with this!' Now, Dazzler has a special place in my heart, and I can almost hear her singing inside my head with every page that I draw. I'm honored to be a part of this project, bringing her into the spotlight for all readers and lifting her to her rightful place as a super star!"

Dazzler #1 goes on sale September 18th.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are getting in on the multiverse craze with a "Turtle-Verse' style crossover in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures. The twelfth issue of IDW Publishing's all-ages series concluded with an exciting final page, which saw the series' Turtle protagonists, based on the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, drawn by the omnipotent Mister Ogg into a contest with a dream team of Turtles from various iterations of the TMNT series, including Leonardo from Kevin Eastman and Peter Larid's original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics, Donatello from the 2003 cartoon series, Michelangelo from the CG-animated 2012 television series, Raphael from Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Jennika from IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles timeline.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans are likely eager to find out how the story turns out in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #13, which goes on sale on May 22nd. ComicBook had the chance to ask some questions of writer Erik Burnham and artist Sarah Myer. Here's what they told us about the epic Turtles crossover (minor spoilers may follow):

First, how did you choose which Turtles from each reality to use?

Erik Burnham: The whittling down started by asking if every iteration was on the table. All of the versions that appeared on TV were open to use, which meant we didn't need to make any pitches for the movie versions (the live-action designs from the 1990s or Michael Bay-produced films, the 2007 CG movie, or the recent Mutant Mayhem) because the TV series gave us three very different worlds to play with right there. I didn't know if Nickelodeon would have been open to allowing any of the movie versions, but since we already had three very distinct designs (and I wanted to include Mirage representation, bringing us to 4) it wasn't something we had to stress over. The alternates were covered! Raph from Rise of the TMNT was chosen first because he had the most distinct size and design. 2012 Mikey was chosen because... I liked 2012 Mikey. Mirage's Leonardo and 2k3 Donatello just felt like the right choices... and we also included one of IDW's contributions to the lore, Jennika. She is a mutant ninja turtle, she's been around for a while, and she's a curveball. Something our guys would not have expected. Yes, some fans noted that that makes it 5:4 and wondered if we would call that imbalance out (we--or rather, Raph--sure did)! It felt like the right mix. I was almost tempted to ask for a bit with the Red Sky designs, but we got a LOT going on in this issue as is, no sense going meta with different designs of the exact same characters.

It was interesting that you turned what many would consider one of the sillier aspects of the '87 Turtles - that they never really use their weapons as weapons - into an almost philosophical difference between them and their more aggressive counterparts. Can you talk a bit about how you came upon that theme?

EB: The '87 TMNT show seemed to have had stricter rules with Standards and Practices over the weapons--that's speculation on my part, but considering Michelangelo's nunchucks went away midway through season 4, I think I might be onto something. And though we don't fully shy away from our Turtles using their weapons, they surely aren't going to be using them to the extent or in the same way that the Mirage or IDW versions do. Any character from those universes or one with a window to the Multiverse (from all-powerful characters like Ogg to interdimensional time travelers like Renet to those that can tap into the collective unconscious like Creepy Eddie) would have that perspective, so it makes sense to bring it up. I like the challenge of finding ways to take down the bad guys without just violence, and it's a thing that fits this version of the Turtles well and is fun to contrast with everything else. Looking for a way to make it feel character-based as much as anything is a thing Team SMA has been looking to do from go.

I loved the little metatextual, Easter egg-like nods, be it the use of different TMNT logos or Raphael joking about Leo's dialog. Were there any ideas for references that didn't make it in, or ones that did make it in that you think fans may not notice?

Sarah Myer: I had an absolute blast drawing from the script- there are a lot of great easter eggs mentioned for my reference whenever I open a TMNT SMA script and I look forward to it always, but for this particular arc and issue it was especially fun. The fourth wall breaking that the '87 show is known for gets taken to a new level in this issue with Michelangelo literally getting thrown through the panels after being punched by Rise Raph due to being duped by 2012 Mikey; that's a sentence I never thought I'd be able to say in context for an actual thing that I had the privilege to draw as opposed to a fever dream, but here we are. There are a few visual nods to famous Mirage TMNT shots with Raphael and Mirage Leo, too. I got such a kick out of drawing our cameos which Erik mentioned; I decided to give us banners which implies we are the ONLY ones rooting for the Turtles in a sea of Ogg fans with a little Ninja Rap nod.

EB: One of the things I love about working with Nickelodeon on this particular project is how much fun we get to have--the different logos were one thing, in particular, we giggled over. But make no mistake, everything we sneak in for readers isn't really snuck in--it's approved the same as everything else... In fact, some of my favorite suggestions for visual gags, easter eggs, and meta punchlines, both in this story and in this series have come from Nickelodeon! We're all working to live up to the spirit of this corner of the franchise and include everything we can from the wider Turtles universe that makes sense, so a TON of ideas get thrown around by all parties through the process, which means anything that didn't make the cut was usually replaced by something better, leaving me to forget whatever the original, non-used gag was! I will say, I was happy Sarah got us into the Ogglympics crowd. Tickets must've been insane.

Sarah, tell me a bit about drawing the various Turtles. Was there a particular challenge to ensuring they look like they came from their respective realities, with all their different styles?

MYER: As a fan of TMNT since the '87 show and through the different iterations afterward, it was such a bucket list item checked off and a dream come true to draw these different versions in the same issue. I'm gonna put in a little shameless plug for a piece of fan art I did a few years ago in which I drew different versions of Donatello. Back when I drew that, I had no idea I was technically getting in some early practice for this issue. But it's one thing to draw the different iterations for a personal piece and another entirely to draw them for a specific comic story which understandably needs to be approved by IDW and Nickelodeon, and that challenge was incredibly fun for me. I guess one of the challenges was figuring out exactly how tall in relation to making each of the iterations; the proportions of, say, the Mirage Turtles, look pretty close to how the '87 versions were adapted height-wise, but there's a lot more muscle definition and slightly more sinewy limbs to the Mirage look, for example, that might make them appear taller if I wasn't careful about the size relationship when drawing the scenes with Raphael and Mirage Leo. The 2003 turtles are short compared to April and Casey in their show, in about the same height gap as the '87 turtles are to their April. But Turtles Forever (2009), for example, made the '87 turtles appear much shorter than 2003. But a roughly 5'0" 1987 Donatello looks less bulky and muscular than a probably-about-5'0" 2003 Donatello, ignoring that the '03 Turtles did grow taller in the later seasons. And even after determining which size relationship to go with, then there are those practical comic storytelling decisions such as panel layout to fit some of these actions in, plus room for speech balloons, etc. And I loved the chance to place lots of spot blacks and drop shadows as well as screentones in any shot of Mirage Leo.

Outside of work, just in general, I love analyzing different animators' and artists' styles in my favorite cartoons and animation characters (Ask me at a con about Fred Moore's Mickey Mouse vs Andreas Deja or the Australian unit for episodes of Darkwing Duck for example, and I might never stop talking) so it felt like I got the incredible opportunity to really explore that further in drawing these different iterations. I personally found maybe... Rise? to be the most challenging to draw but it's really cool to analyze the curve strokes and strong lines present in those designs! I found myself drawing way more from the elbow and shoulder whenever I had to draw Rise Raph to get those big, sweeping line arcs for his poses. As an aside, there's a whole world of "How bulky are each iteration's shells? Are there carapace bridges in the x or y version?" that I could ramble about, and happily so, but maybe another time. And it's important to keep in mind that this particular meeting of the different turtles is in a different dimension from the '87 turtles' NYC. It's not like Jennika suddenly pops up within their NYC. So when you think about THAT possibility, that would have been a different curveball. This story was solely the other iterations appearing as they appear, rather than those different turtles being translated INTO the 1987 universe. For example, it wasn't like the 2012 "Manhattan Project" episode situation where there was a translation of 2012 characters into the 1987 Fred Wolf cartoon style (or one of them, anyway!). If there were any changes needed to the art, with these characters and this franchise, I did and still do get star-struck. I don't just get to change a line or two on any character, it's THESE characters. Any challenge in this job is an absolute privilege, and I would not have it any other way.

Having delivered one Turtle-verse style story, what are the chances we see a follow-up down the line? Or are such crossovers, as Ogg says, too much paperwork?

EB: They can be a trick, but I'd love to be involved in a crossover with more of the Turtles, without any of the shenanigans used in this story, because I love writing that kind of interaction. It'd be great to see the dynamics of a lotta Leos or mixing and matching the teams. I honestly don't know when or if such an opportunity will arise, but I'm up for it if asked!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #13 goes on sale May 22nd.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #13
• (W) Erik Burnham (A/CA) Sarah Myer
• The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have beaten Mr. Ogg's first game, but he's too genre-savvy to give up that easily! With two more challenges to go, there's still enough time for him to make a comeback. The good guys may always win, but the scheming trickster from Dimension Z has found a catch: what if the Heroes in a Half-Shell aren't the only good guys in the room? The games continue in part two of "The Ogglympics!"
• In Shops: May 22, 2024
• SRP: $3.99

Monolith #1 is part of a push to really make Spawn's universe a thing again - an agenda that creator Todd McFarlane has been pushing for years. The truth is, most Spawn things in the 21st century are sort of like Grethen Weiners and "Fetch." It's just not going to happen. Perhaps a solo Spawn relaunch with an enticing creative team aimed at new fans could get the ball rolling, but that's not what's going on here. This initiative is simply building out a universe that largely disappeared from public interest decades ago.

None of that is the fault of Lewis, Giangiordanao, or the other folks contributing to Monolith #1, but it puts them at a disadvantage from the get-go. They were tasked with getting readers to commit to a small side character they probably don't remember from a comic franchise most of them haven't paid much attention to for some time. That's a tough ask for anyone. They do an admirable job, but it's simply not enough to get anyone hooked into this story.

Monolith takes place in the year 3030, set on a prison colony where the titular character is held. He spends the first several pages of the issue tearing apart his fellow prisoners,"fallen warriors of conquered planets," in an effort to escape and track down Omega. It's later revealed he was trying to return to the past to keep the Hellspawns from losing the fight for their universe, but Omega stopped him and hid him away on the colony.

Ultimately, it's a whole mess of plot to set up a "heroic journey" for Monolith going forward. He's really on a revenge quest for most of it, though, and only decides to play the hero when a last minute monologue from the Mother of Nature tells him to choose his humanity over his bloodthirsty urges.

The majority of this issue boils down to a couple of big fights that lead to a whole lot of nothing by the time it's all said and done. What could've been handled in a few pages is stretched to a couple dozen, and you're not left with any substantial reason to care about what Monolith will do next. He's provided a clean slate and open ending to go out into the universe and make something of himself, but the front cover lets you know this is only a three-issue miniseries. So there's clearly not that much left in store for him, despite this ending feeling like the launchpad for a brand new hero.

Giangiordanao does some wonderful work bringing the gruesome violence of the fight sequences to life, though. They're visceral and often entertaining. But that's just not enough to compel anyone to come back for more. If Image is sold on the idea of bringing Spawn back to life, there have to be some better ways to go about it.

Published by Image Comics

On May 15, 2024

Written by Sean Lewis

Art by Valerio Giangiordano

Colors by Ulises Arreola

Letters by Andworld Design

Cover by Valerio Giangiordano

The issue opens with Doom shattered amongst cosmic debris in detail-laden splashes that speak to Greene's mastery of the form. Doom's figure informs his character as much as his actions and speech, with layers of twisted armor covering hideous scars and unblinking eyes. It's an impressive depiction of the fearsome figure. Greene depicts a possible future in which so much has gone wrong and the rich complexity of their settings allows readers to instantly understand the tone of this tale, even if the details of how it came to be arrive later in the telling.

Readers familiar with Doom's lore or Hickman's seminal Fantastic Four run won't be surprised to discover who the key players are or how they relate to one another with both Valeria Richards and Galactus playing key roles. It's not the concept of an apocalyptic battle ravaging the Marvel Comics universe that impresses (that story has been delivered too many times to count), it's the way it's told that's bound to astonish.

Hickman's investment in Valeria and Doom's relationship was one of the best inventions of their Fantastic Four and it provides a humanizing lens for Doom here. Rather than reducing him to a monster with a soft spot, it reveals his character by providing him with a single person he respects and can openly address. Admiration and esteem define Doom's ability to relate to others and Valeria's intelligence provides even this narcissistic despot with some nuance.

Here it also offers a sense of pathos as Valeria recounts to her Uncle Doom how the universe came to meet its fate. Greene's spreads in this flashback narration make the telling a thrill. He summons spectacular intergalactic battles featuring nearly all of Marvel's most powerful and popular characters in a fashion that rivals some of George P?rez and Ron Lim's best work in superhero spectacle. Valeria's narration stitches the images together, but readers will be well served to lose themself in the details before returning to the story at hand.

As Valeria and Doom stand at the end of all things, the merits of Doom's characters grow increasingly apparent. Despite their hubris, readers are reminded of the many accomplishments and abilities it is founded upon and the adamantium-quality of willpower that undergirds them. There is something admirable to be found even in this arch-villain and Doom #1 presents a story in which Doom may be heroic, if not a hero. It deepens our appreciation for the character without seeking to rewrite or undermine their inner ugliness.

The sweep and scope of Doom #1 is every bit as grandiose as Victor von Doom has always envisioned their own life. Greene's imagery of a future defined by planet-shattering battles and the most fearsome forces of Marvel Comics at war matches those titanic aspirations on each and every page honed to focus on an eponymous character who avoids human attachments. It is a character study that captures both what makes Doom so fearsome and undeniably alluring. For any fan of Doctor Doom, Doom #1 is an obvious triumph that presents this comics icon at their absolute best.

Published by Marvel Comics

On May 15, 2024

Written by Sanford Greene and Jonathan Hickman

Art by Sanford Greene and Jonathan Hickman

Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg with Sanford Greene

Letters by Joe Caramagna

Cover by Sanford Greene and Matthew Wilson

Let's just start with the obvious: X-Men '97 has been killing it, and that latest episode has everybody on the edge of their seats! Spoiler warning for those who haven't seen it, as the top 3 books this week relate directly to that episode. There is also another book that has spiked thanks to the show; there are no spoilers for that one! In other Marvel news, books related to Deadpool and Wolverine are starting to heat up again, and so is a recent surprise variant! Spider-Woman is back, and a red band ratio cover also adds to Marvel's takeover. Two indy books also make the top ten, thanks to recent announcements of their future in cinema and television!

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

Top 10 Comic Books Rising in Value for the Week of 05/13/24

#10: Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #1 - Gabriele Dell'Otto - Surprise (1 Per Store): Deadpool and Wolverine are two of the most popular characters in comics right now. Their movie is just around the corner and is one of the most highly anticipated MCU films in quite some time. This book has a ton of stuff going for it. It is a key introducing a new villain and a new Wade Wilson variant. It also has an amazing cover illustrated by popular artist Gabriele Dell'Otto. On top of all that, this book is a secret variant, given to retailers as a surprise and limited to 1-per-store. The way to identify this book from the regular covers is the lettering. The book's title is colored in bronze/orange for the surprise variant, versus the red "Deadpool" lettering in the regular variant. Fans of these characters have been chasing this limited variant, buying over 27 copies throughout this past week. We tracked it at a high sale of $150 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $27.

#9: Spider-Woman #7 | MARVEL | 2024: Last week, three of the variants for this book made the top ten! Todd Nuack's cover was reigning supreme, but this week, we see Yu's cover holding strong while the other variants have fallen off our top ten. This book was so popular when it debuted it was already earmarked for a 2nd printing, which is sure to sell out just as quickly. In the meantime, fans are still chasing down the first appearance of The Assembly and this amazing Yu cover! We tracked 26 copies sold, at a 7-day trend of 34%, with a high sale of $31 for a raw NM copy and a current raw NM FMV of $12.

#8: X-Men '97 #1 | MARVEL | 2024: This book was going to be popular; there was no doubt about it. The animated X-Men '97 series has been wildly popular, and those fans had their eyes on this book when it launched. It has laid dormant for a month, but as we approach the grand finale of the series, fans are looking to pick up a copy of this book once more! We're all at the edge of our seats as the series comes to a close, and buying this book might just soften the blow of events to come! We tracked it at a high sale of $90 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $18.

#7: Blood Hunt: Red Band Edition #1 - Leinil Francis Yu - Crime SuspenStories #22 Homage | MARVEL | 2024: This book has been on a wild ride, to say the least. When it debuted, it quickly soared in price, hitting $200 by the end of the first week. This past week, the hunt continues as collectors are still picking up tons of copies of this book despite the price hike in FMV. It seems that, for now, fans aren't holding any reservations about dropping huge amounts of cash on this Redband Marvel event! We tracked it at a high sale of $600 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $208.

#6: Revival #1 | IMAGE | 2012: Revival joins the speculation books this week with SyFy recently announcing that they are adapting the series into a TV series. The series is expected to launch sometime in 2025. If you haven't heard of this series, it is a story about the reanimated dead. No, not another zombie story! Instead, the "revived" is about the dead coming back to life in their original state. The story plays out like a crime thriller when a sudden murder causes everyone to be a suspect. If this is your type of story, this show is for you! We tracked it at a high sale of $20 for a raw NM copy and a current raw NM FMV of 19.

#5: Avengelyne #1 | Maximum Press | 1995: Avengelyne is the next book on the speculation list! Back in April, it was announced that Olivia Wilde would be directing an adaptation of the series produced by the British-American media company LuckyChap. Interestingly, Margot Robbie is one of the co-founders of this production company, which is focused on producing quality female-focused film and television productions. Needless to say, the project has a lot of star power behind it, and the hype is prevalent! We tracked it at a high sale of $22 for a raw NM+ copy and a current raw NM FMV of $14.

#4: The New Mutants #98 | MARVEL | 1991: As we mentioned a few months ago, the closer we get to the debut of Deadpool & Wolverine, the more sales we are going to see. This book is ramping up again, generating tons of heat as we get closer to the release date of the highly anticipated MCU film! There's really not much else to say other than, "Have you already secured your first appearance of the merc-with-a-mouth?" We tracked it at a high sale of $1175 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $352.

#3: Wolverine #75 | MARVEL | 1993: **HUGE SPOILER ALERT for X-Men' 97!** After the events in the last episode, Wolverine's future is uncertain. If they follow the events of the source material, we might see a very different, more feral version of Logan. However, this show has been full of twists and turns, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. One thing is certain: Wolverine will debut his bone claws for the first time in the animated series! We tracked it at a high sale of $95 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $16.

#2: X-Men #25 | MARVEL | 1993: **HUGE SPOILER ALERT for X-Men '97!** There's no way to talk about this book without spoiling the latest episode. It is nearly an exact replica of poor Wolverine's tragic event. In the culmination of the episode, we see Magneto reach the end of his patience with Wolverine. He does the unthinkable and rips the adamantium straight from Wolverine's bones. The episode ends with a still image of the event, leaving us all in shock and collectors chasing the book where this first took place. We tracked it at a high sale of $115 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $22.

#1: X-Men #53 | MARVEL | 1996: **HUGE SPOILER ALERT for X-Men '97!** This past episode of X-Men '97 was mind-blowing and surprising. It was brutal and chilling, ripped directly from the pages of the comics. All books related to this event have received a bump in interest and price. Many believe that Prof Xavier will respond to Magneto's horrific act in the same way it was done in the comic books. If so, this response will result in the birth of the titanic villain, Onslaught. We'll know if the story stays true to the source material this week, but in the meantime, Onslaught has taken over the aftermarket! We tracked it at a high sale of $128 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $9.

The roster of Earth's Mightiest Heroes is growing with the addition of a pivotal member of the X-Men. The Marvel Universe is currently dealing with the Fall of X and the vampire-centric Blood Hunt event, with both storylines greatly impacting both the X-Men and Avengers. With conclusions comes the opportunity for fresh starts, and that's exactly what Marvel is planning for both franchises. We already know that the next X-Men era post-Krakoa is "From the Ashes," with a number of new series launching throughout the year. As for the Avengers ongoing series, the end of Blood Hunt will see Valerio Schiti join as the new series artist, and Storm recruited as Earth's Mightiest Mutant.

Storm's first issue as an Avenger comes in August's Avengers #17. Valerio Schiti comes fresh off of his work on G.O.D.S. alongside Jonathan Hickman. "Krakoa's tragic fall has made the Avengers realize how vital a mutant voice on the team is, and they'll settle for nothing less than the most prominent and beloved mutant super hero on the planet!" Marvel's press release for Avengers #17 reads. "A pop culture icon, Storm has assembled with the Avengers before--in both comics as well as other forms of media--but never like this! Not only will the Avengers need her Omega-level power for the battles ahead, but they'll need to rely on her unique expertise and leadership skills as MacKay's overarching plots involving Kang, the Twilight Court, and more kick into high gear."

Avengers creative team on bringing Storm into the Marvel series

"When we were putting together thoughts for X-Men, one problem kept coming up--Storm needed to have a presence in a book befitting her status, but it would be weird for her to be on an X-Men team if she wasn't the leader," Jed MacKay said about the decision to add Storm to the lineup. "The solution was simple--she needed to be on the global stage, among equals, and what better place for that than the Avengers? We're excited to bring Storm back to the Avengers and show what adventures she'll get up to as part of Earth's Mightiest Heroes!"

On being the new Avengers artist, Schiti said, "As a reader, I am a great fan of Jed's run, and I really love the way he writes the team: not just as fellow soldiers, but as a group of friends with a shared past. At the same time he doesn't hold back on action and fight scenes! The balance between these two moods is exactly what excites me the most when I have to start a new gig!"

"I have a soft spot for the mutants, so you can imagine my happiness when I knew that Storm was joining the team," Schiti continued. "It's always fun to draw her powers, her body language, and her outfits. There's just one challenge: you always have to remember that she's not just a mutant, she's a goddess!"

Fans can also look forward to Storm starring in an X-Men solo spinoff series, also set to be announced later this week. Avengers #17 goes on sale August 7th.

As long as there are superhero comics, there will be stories hoping to challenge the conventions of superhero comics. More often than not, I have found myself championing those kinds of stories, especially those that reframe our own understanding beyond the tights and fights that our popular culture takes for granted. The current volume of Outsiders has been delivering in that regard, and Outsiders #7 plunges an already fascinating series head-first into even weirder, and potentially even more meaningful, territory.

Outsiders #7 pulls back the curtain on the series' elusive Drummer, who was revealed in the previous issue to really be former Planetary member Jakita Wagner. As we learn what pulled Jakita into this current corner of the DC multiverse, her journey leads to some surprising discoveries that might challenge the way readers see superhero comics.

This run of Outsiders certainly isn't the first, nor will it be the last, mainstream comic to take a metatextual approach to the conventions of superhero storytelling. As the past six issues of Outsiders have proven, the DC universe alone has an entire pantheon of ways to turn the reader, the protagonist, the canon around them, and even the literal page into some sort of myth or form of higher thinking. But, for both the reader and for the character, there's a difference between knowing those structures can exist and actually believing in them. Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing's script tackles that dilemma wholeheartedly, as Jakita wrestles with her massive personal losses in fluctuating degrees of hope and despair. The end result is a sort of comforting nihilism that feels fitting, both for a refugee of the Wildstorm universe and for a DC universe that seems torn between remembering everything and starting fresh once again. There are even moments where, depending on your interpretation, Jakita is either speaking to some omnipotent unseen character, or to the readership themself.

That sense of ambiguity has been prevalent throughout Outsiders thus far - something that has undoubtedly been met with a mixed-to-frustrated response, especially when the series is nearing its four-issue final act. But there is something admirable about that lack of clarity, especially when many of the storytelling steps along the way have been filled with such great heights. Even this issue's approach to DC lore--Jakita's colleagues in Planetary, as well as a handful of other cameos and larger connections--is approached from such an intriguing angle. It all gives me confidence that, once Outsiders builds to the bizarre finale it has been teasing thus far, all of those possibilities will culminate in something remarkable.

Robert Carey's art, which has been a grungy but multifaceted delight throughout Outsiders, is really given a chance to shine in this issue. Double-page spreads dotted with a dozen heroes are treated with the same majesty and thoughtfulness as introspective moments solely involving Jakita, but even then, Carey's intimate close-ups help us start to realize just how much we're missing outside of the panel. Valentina Taddeo's colors bounce between virtually every context and shade, but even those extremes with a sense of warm uniformity. Tom Napolitano's lettering is unfussy, but helpful in conveying the wide array of emotions on display.

Outsiders has been subverting reader expectations from the second it launched - weaving from the threats Kate Kane and Luke Fox are investigating to the fact that they aren't the sole focus of the series' story. While that approach might not be for every reader, Outsiders #7 is a valiant and largely-successful example of how it can be made to work. Even if Outsiders doesn't have a massive impact on the canon of the DC universe when all is said and done, I'm at least thankful that it is reframing how I look at those stories.

Published by DC Comics

On May 14, 2024

Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing

Art by Robert Carey

Colors by Valentina Taddeo

Letters by Tom Napolitano

Cover by Roger Cruz with Adriano Lucas

Two members of the X-Men are getting solo series during the franchise's "From the Ashes" relaunch. The new era of X-Men comics begins this summer, with three flagship titles leading the way: X-Men by Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman; Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone and David Marquez; and Exceptional X-Men by Eve L. Ewing and Carmen Carnero. While other ensemble books have already been announced, the only solo-starring titles have been Phoenix and Wolverine. However, that's about to change, because they're getting some company in the form of Dazzler and Storm.

Marvel released the title treatment for the solo Dazzler and Storm series, as well as the addition of an X-Man in Avengers. "Stay tuned this week for announcements of two all-new X-Men solo titles launching in the From the Ashes era: Dazzler and Storm!" the Marvel press release reads. Plus, find out which X-Man will be joining Earth's Mightiest Heroes starting in Avengers #17." We should assume the creative teams for each individual series will be announced later this week, but at least for now we can check out how their logos will look. We also have slogans for Dazzler and Storm, which read, "Her World Tour Begins!" and "Mutants No Longer Have a Homeland. But They Still Have a Queen," respectively.

Is Dazzler in Deadpool & Wolverine?

While Dazzler certainly has her legion of loyal fans, it is interesting that Marvel has chosen her to headline a solo series. Part of that could come from Dazzler's rumored appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine, with pop star Taylor Swift rumored to be playing Dazzler. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy spoke about the Swift rumors, and teased that fans will definitely be surprised by all of the cameos once the film hits theaters.

"I can't even believe that you would dare ask me a question that you know I can't answer," Levy replied. "You know I can't answer. All of America knows I can't answer that. I will say as I said earlier here at CinemaCon. The proliferation of rumors about who is and isn't in this movie is fabulous. Because no one will ever know the truth until July 26th."

When specifically asked about Swift, Levy continued, "That is hardly confirmed nor denied in this interview. I'm going to literally walk about of the frame and save myself, otherwise Ryan's taking a hit [out] on me... All that's known is that I went to a football game, and those hours were well-documented and that's all I'm gonna say. What can I say? I think intrigue is fun."

Stay tuned to ComicBook for more information regarding X-Men: From the Ashes.

Beginning in June, Frozen and The Angry Birds Movie star Josh Gad will release his first comic book, Dark Horse Comics's The Writer, which teams Gad with storytellers Ben and Max Berkowitz (The Forever House), veteran Marvel artist Ariel Olivetti, and letterer Frank Cvetkovic (Count Crowley). The Writer combines the fantastical elements of cultural folklore with the real-life challenges of the creative process, and the Final Order Cutoff date for the series is today. If you're interested in getting copies of The Writer in your subscription box, now's the time to reach out to your local comics retailer.

You can check out a trailer for The Writer, voiced by Gad, here. Gad and the Berkowitz brothers sat down with ComicBook to tease a little about the project, which brings the Jewish faith and Old Testament mysticism and mythology very much front and center.

"What's interesting is at the core of the story is a guy, Stan, who in many ways struggles with his own faith and identity, dealing with people who very much want to vanquish him based on that same faith," Gad told ComicBook. "The story involves Nazis, and in a way that was always meant to be an homage to kind of one of the big things that inspired us, which was Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the use of Old Testament mythology to sort of build out something that feels fresh, and new, and steeped in its own sort of mysticism, a unique mysticism that doesn't often get portrayed in the comic book world, or for that matter, in the television and film world."

In The Writer, Stan Siegel is an established storyteller known for comic book stories of the heroic and fantastical. However, his life takes an unexpected and dark turn when he is plunged into a Nazi occult-fueled nightmare. In a whirlwind of folklore and magic, Stan's hunger for answers unveils hidden identities amid demonic chaos and high-speed chases. This thrilling saga is a race against time, with Stan compelled to stop the rising tide of terror by becoming the hero from his pages.

"There's a meta text [in The Writer] of following a writer dealing with their own anxiety as they explore this journey, trying to build a story themselves," Ben Berkowitz explained. "So it's like, 'How much can they do? How much can they save?' So there's that kind of element to this story. The idea is to build this greater universe that we'll hopefully be able to tap into."

That universe would include untold wonders and horrors from Jewish folklore, and a superhero-ish character -- drawn to resemble Gad -- who can take on the ability of those creatures and characters by writing down a super power and then swallowing the word.

"In Judaism, Hebrew and words in general are incredibly important. They have the ability to change and create," Berkowitz said. "I'm actually getting a tattoo of the Sword of Moses, which is a mystical book that can access this weapon, but it's built on the power of words, and that's kind of the emphasis of our story, but then there's also the backstory. The way-backstory, where I was a kid and I actually ate a mini Torah when I was, I don't know, I must've been like six."

"You're not supposed to drop them, let alone eat them!" Gad interjected.

"But that was also the inspiration for our character Stan, where he actually has to physically write down the superpower, swallow it, and then he temporarily gains that power," Berkowitz said. "So it was inspired by that and then the story of the Golem, where a rabbi would also insert the power, the word of life into the mouth, to bring it to life."

Of Stan's mother who steps in to guide him in the story, Max Berkowitz added, "And we also wanted to put our mom into this, and see how she would interact with a character like Josh. When she met Josh, she was like, 'He's very handsome!'"

The first issue of The Writer hits comic shops and digital retailers on June 19.

If you decide to go with the full 61 Doctor Who comic book bundle, you'll be treated to adventures from the Doctors portrayed by Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, and Ncuti Gatwa in the modern era (Doctors 9-15 along with a handful of titles featuring classic Doctors Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Sylvester McCoy, and Paul McGann (Doctors 3.4,7,and 8). There are also a few crossover titles featuring multiple Doctors.

The Doctor Who comics will be available to download in PDF and CBZ formats, so they'll be readable on any device. You can take advantage of the offer here at Humble Bundle while it lasts. Note that a portion of the proceeds go to support charity, in this case BBC Children in Need.

What Is Doctor Who's New Season About?

This season of Doctor Who follows the Doctor and Ruby Sunday through infinite adventures across time and space in the TARDIS. From the Regency era in England to war-torn futures, the duo champion the forces of good while encountering incredible friends and dangerous foes.

"At last, it's my great delight to unleash a whole new season of the Doctor and Ruby's adventures together," showrunner, executive producer, and writer Russell T. Davies said in a statement. "Monsters! Chases! Villains! Mysteries! And a terrifying secret that's been spanning time and space for decades. Don't miss a second!"

Who Is the New Doctor Who?

Gatwa, whose work includes Sex Education and Barbie, was announced to be portraying The Doctor in May of 2022. He made his debut as the character in the third 60th Anniversary special, "The Giggle," last fall.

"There aren't quite the words to describe how I'm feeling," Gatwa explained at the time. "A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared. This role and show means so much to so many around the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavour my upmost to do the same. Russell T Davies is almost as iconic as the Doctor himself and being able to work with him is a dream come true. His writing is dynamic, exciting, incredibly intelligent and fizzing with danger. An actor's metaphorical playground. The entire team have been so welcoming and truly give their hearts to the show. And so as much as it's daunting, I'm aware I'm joining a really supportive family. Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart but I am giving it all to this show."

New episodes of Doctor Who debut on Fridays exclusively on Disney+.

The worlds of North American comic books and Japanese manga have been meeting more times than we can count in recent years. While not an official crossover, DC Comics' Jim Lee has recently shared a new art piece that demonstrates what the legendary comic book artist's talent might have looked like were they dedicated to Weekly Shonen Jump. In a surprise release, Lee has shared his take on Son Goku, honoring both the long-running anime character and the recently deceased Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama.

This take on Son Goku is far from the first time that Jim Lee has tackled creating anime character with his unique style. In the past, Lee has shared sketches of Berserk's Guts, Ultraman, My Hero Academia's All Might, and more. This latest art isn't even the first time that the DC Comics artist has tried his hand at Son Goku as he first tried to depict the Saiyan in his Super Saiyan form back in 2018. It's been quite some time since Lee was handling artistic duties on a monthly comic book having moved up the ranks to be a major player in DC's future, but it's clear that his art hasn't suffered as a result.

DC x Dragon Ball

Recently, Jim Lee once again created official art for the comic book world thanks to creating the cover of the DC Versus Marvel Omnibus. Thanks to the various stories that were a part of the various crossovers, the cover let Lee tackle some of the biggest characters from both characters in one major pin-up. With Lee being more than willing to dive into the anime world, it will be interesting to see if he is able to create an official piece of Dragon Ball Z art in the future.

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A post shared by Jim Lee (@jimlee)

Following the tragic loss of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, the anime world, anime fans, and even world leaders have paid tribute to the legendary mangaka. At present, the manga remains on indefinite hiatus as fans continue to speculate if Dragon Ball Super will continue under artist Toyotaro or if the last chapter released might just be its last.

Want to see if Jim Lee takes on more anime characters in the future? Follow along with Team Anime on ComicBook for all the latest updates on anime crossovers and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.

X-Men: From the Ashes will introduce readers to three new mutants trying to navigate the X-Men's world post-Krakoa. The relaunch of the X-Men franchise will have three flagship titles: X-Men by Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman; Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone and David Marquez, and Exceptional X-Men by Eve L. Ewing and Carmen Carnero. Marvel has already revealed story details for the first two series, and now we have additional information for Exceptional X-Men. Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost are co-headliners in the title, as they work together to train a new generation of emerging mutants in a world that still hates and fears them.

Exceptional X-Men features the debuts of three all-new mutants: the metallic and whip-wielding Bronze, the emotion-stirring Axo, and the stealth-skilled fighter Melee. We also learn that after some of the actions Kitty took during the Fall of X, Kitty Pryde has relocated to Chicago and is attempting to lead a simple life as a bartender. But as what typically happens, an X-Man can never escape all of the drama that comes with being an X-Man.

What is Exceptional X-Men about?

The synopsis for Exceptional X-Men reads, "Exceptional X-Men begins with Kitty trying to get as far away from all things X as she possibly can. After the actions she took during Fall of X, Kitty craves normalcy and takes a job as a regular-degular bartender. She's definitely NOT getting ready to head up an all-new team of wayward young mutants while avoiding the watchful gaze of Emma Frost. Nothing but work, dating and staving off depression. That's it. Let's see how long it lasts...

"Longtime fans of Kitty Pryde can count on the kinds of adventures you expect from her as a classic favorite, while I hope new and old readers alike will get to love this all-new team of young mutants," Ewing shared. "Kitty, the one-time kid sister figure of the X-Men, has to reckon with her own memories--good and bad--of being a child of Xavier as she navigates a role as leader and mentor for a new generation of mutants who are trying to make their way in a time of crisis."

"The story Eve brought up really hooked me from the beginning," Carnero said. "I found it very interesting to see Kitty away from the X-Men and trying to live a normal life in Chicago, but finding herself with young mutants who have to deal with this post-Krakoa world and Emma's plans."

Ewing also shared how the new cast will connect with both new and longtime X-Men fans: "I always try to strike a chord between appealing to veteran comics fans and new readers, but since so many people fell in love with the X-Men as teens and this book is about a team of young folks, that feels especially important to me here."

Exceptional X-Men #1 goes on sale September 4th.

Wolverine turns his back on humanity, mutantkind, and the X-Men in a new ongoing series. Logan has been a central figure in the X-Men's Krakoan era, with writer Benjamin Percy charting Wolverine's adventures in the self-titled Wolverine series, as well as in the pages of X-Force. As "Sabretooth War" and the Fall of X wrap up, Wolverine will embark on a thrilling adventure in a new ongoing series with a new creative team behind the scenes. This year also happens to be Wolverine's 50th anniversary, so you know Marvel has some big things planned for everyone's favorite X-Man.

The new Wolverine ongoing series is from writer Saladin Ahmed (Daredevil) and Marvel Stormbreaker artist Mart?n C?ccolo (Immortal Thor). It takes Logan back to his roots in the Canadian wilderness, where he embraces the animal deep inside him. It appears Nightcrawler will have a presence in the series, reaching out to remind Wolverine of his humanity and family with the X-Men. Marvel is also teasing the involvement of an ancient villain who has been bubbling under the surface of the Marvel Universe.

What is Marvel's new Wolverine series about?

The description of the Wolverine solo series reads, "There's a killer in the woods - and as Wolverine's attempt at peace is shattered, an old enemy will re-emerge as a new villain rises that will bring Logan to the brink of his berserker rage. But Nightcrawler knows his old friend is capable of doing what's right, and before long, Logan will have to unleash his claws, push his healing factor to the limit and demonstrate he's the best there is at what he does once and for all - nice be damned! Note to collectors: the new series kicks off with a key first appearance and a major addition to the lore of Wolverine!"

"When I was a kid, Wolverine was the coolest character in comics," Ahmed shared. "That hasn't changed a whole lot for me, so when Marvel approached me about a new solo Logan book, it was an instant YES."

"Logan is simultaneously a mythic hero, an abused animal, and a man of flesh, blood, and adamantium," he continued. "Our story is about what happens when these parts of him all pull in opposite directions - and threaten to rip Logan to pieces that won't come back together again."

"I could talk for hours about why I decided to take this relaunch, but you want my real answer? It's Wolverine. That's it," C?ccolo shared. "It's a dream come true for me, and I can't believe I get to tell my younger self every day that I'm drawing WOLVERINE. Saladin's exploration of the character and the story is incredibly exciting as a concept as well as visually engaging, and I can't wait for people to finally see it!"

Wolverine #1 goes on sale September 11th.

Chip Zdarsky's Batman run has led to some pretty wild new developments for The Dark Knight - and Batman #147 is no exception.

(SPOILERS) "Dark Prisons Part Three" sees Bruce Wayne on the run and all alone, with his Batman mantle having been usurped by his militant alternate persona, the Batman of Zur En Arrh. Zur built himself an unstoppable android body called Failsafe and downloaded his persona from Bruce's mind into the robot, convincing the world he is the "failsafe" backup plan of a now-dead Bruce Wayne.

In Batman #147, Zur's plan gets complicated when Bruce escapes from the secret prison his alternate persona has built. Zur also has to contend with Amanda Waller, who sends a strike team to Wayne Manor to take him out. Damian Wayne handles Waller's forces, still under the belief that his father is inside the robot.

However, Zur tips his hand after revealing to Damian that he's building an army of Amazo androids, and downloading personas for Batman variants from across the multiverse into them. Damian quickly deduces that it couldn't be Bruce's consciousness and must be variants of Zur; Damian rebels against Zur, only to find out that his heel turn was predicted, and planned for.

Zur snares Damian in some coils and reveals that he already has a countermeasure in place: a Robin that he creates himself.

We only get the brief reveal of this new Robin (Robin of Zur En Arrh?), but it's easy to presume that it is some kind of android made to look like Damian - or maybe a composite of the former Robins (Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake). The new Robin carries a glaive and has a sinister look in his eye like he won't be afraid to use it.

The Batman of Zur En Arrh is defined as being the more efficient and focused version of a Batman, one that's been distilled from any of the "Bruce Wayne" personas. Zdarsky creates an interesting parallel in Batman #147, wherein both Bruce and Zur come to respective revelations that the 'dark loner Batman' way of doing things is insufficient, and allies are necessary. But while Bruce is headed toward a lighter place (including a return to a classic color scheme), Zur's Robin seems to hint the renegade persona is spiraling down into a darker abyss.

Batman #147 is on sale at DC.

Batman has a new costume, and DC is going the throwback route with the suit's design!

Writer Chip Zdarsky has taken Bruce Wayne/Batman on one of the craziest self-reflective journeys possible. Batman's militant secondary persona "The Batman of Zur En Arrh" took control of Bruce's body, and used him to bring an android body named Failsafe online, with Zur ultimately "downloading" his consciousness into the robot body. The Zur/Failsafe hybrid has usurped the Batman mantle, convincing the world and Justice League that he is Bruce, having died and become an android as a backup plan.

In Batman #147, Bruce is alone and on the run after escaping from Zur's private prison. The context of that situation makes Bruce reflect on who he's been and should be - namely, seeing what Zur has become makes Bruce deeply question the "gruff loner" version of Batman he often resorts to being.

The choice Bruce needs to make gets driven home when Tim Drake, Robin III, turns out to know Bruce so well that he deduces that Thomas Wayne's old cabin is where Bruce would hide. With Batman and Robin (III) back together again, Bruce and Tim prepare for war against Zur. Bruce confesses that he's realized that Zur had been manipulating him for a long time, psychologically seeding him with doubts about his relationships, and the concept that Batman's "strength" is in operating alone. With that kind of perspective, Bruce decides to go in the other direction to fight Zur: relying on his family and allies as his strength.

That kind of 'new Batman' attitude needs a new costume to match - so Bruce makes one:

The new suit Bruce designs goes back to the gray-and-blue color scheme of Silver Age Batman, with a yellow utility belt. That said, even though the color scheme is classic, and the Utility Belt and briefs on the outside are classic touches, the actual aesthetic of the costume is new age, with an armor-plated design to the shirt piece. The cowl incorporates both blue and gray colors and has medium-long ears.

The idea that Zdarsky seems to be building toward with his "Dark Prisons" story arc, is that Batman is heading for a new era, in which he's a bit "lighter" in the sense of working with others and embracing his role as a father figure and leader. With Batman lore having taken on a darker tint since the late 1980s, there are probably a lot of fans ready for that kind of change.

Batman #147 is now on sale.

The fate of Doctor Strange is revealed in the latest Blood Hunt tie-in from Marvel Comics. The vampire-centric event officially kicked off last week, and Blood Hunt's first entry definitely left readers stunned and shocked at the betrayals and apparent deaths. Doctor Strange is a veteran at dealing with the occult, which is where vampires generally are grouped. He's even fought side-by-side with Bladeagainst the vampires, but as we quickly learned in the final moments of Blood Hunt #1, Blade is responsible for the vampire uprising. So with Blade driving a literal blade through Doctor Strange's chest, where does that leave our Sorcerer Supreme? Let's find out.

*WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Doctor Strange #15. Continue reading at your own risk!

Doctor Strange #15 comes from the creative team of Jed MacKay, Pasqual Ferry, Heather Moore, and VC's Cory Petit. With Jed MacKay also writing the main Blood Hunt series, it only makes sense for Doctor Strange to also be a major tie-in for the event. It begins right where Blood Hunt #1 left off, with Blade's bloody betrayal of Doctor Strange. Except now we get more dialogue between Blade and Clea, with Blade also delivering a vampiric bite to Stephen Strange's neck. He states he has no intention of letting Doctor Strange die, with his real goal to turn the hero into a vampire under his control.

Blade and Clea have a brief battle, where Blade reveals the reason why he's taken out Doctor Strange: he and Clea were planning to use the Montesi Formula to rid the Earth of all vampires. Blade couldn't allow that to happen, so he turned Doctor Strange. Clea can't exactly conjure a spell to rid the world of vampires when her husband is a vampire also. Clea eventually uses a spell to pull Doctor Strange's consciousness out of his vampire body, and they must work together to find another solution to their Blood Hunt problems.

What is Doctor Strange #15 about?

The synopsis for Doctor Strange #15 reads, "A BLOOD HUNT TIE-IN! Picking up immediately after the shocking events of BLOOD HUNT #1, Strange and Clea must help the heroes of Earth fight back against the vampire army! But is it already too late for our Sorcerer Supreme?"

Doctor Strange #15 lets readers know to follow the story in Blood Hunt #2, and in the next issue of Doctor Strange, it's Vampire Strange vs. Wong.

So which heroes does this anthology-style series follow? The first story sees Clint Barton hiding out from recent events in his life with Natasha Romanov in New York City but must now contend with a pandemic of blood suckers. The second tale sees an unorthodox father and son trying to survive the endless night as J. Jonah Jameson teams up with his son John as his hairy alter-ego, Man-Wolf. Finally, Tandy Brown, a.k.a. Dagger (usually paired with heroic partner Cloak), finds her powers quite beneficial in fighting against opponents that aren't thrilled to see the sunlight, or the light that emanates from her projectiles.

As a fan of some lesser-seen heroes and villains in any comic book universe, Blood Hunters scratches one of my itches in devoting time to characters that would otherwise lack the chance to shine. Hawkeye is clearly the most popular of the trio, though this fact doesn't take away from Tandy or John. As mentioned previously, Blood Hunt is a deadly serious crossover that doesn't have much room for humor, which is why Blood Hunters is so effective here, showing fans the "lighter" side of a vampire invasion.

Reviewing anthology stories is always tricky, but as I become more familiar with the formats challenges and opportunities, it's about finding your favorites, reviewing each story individually, and then combining the scores into an overall rating. Blood Hunters' best showing is "Blood Relations," not just in its fast-paced action and spot-on humor, but in delivering something readers definitely haven't seen before. J. Jonah Jameson would routinely talk trash about Spider-Man from the comfort of his offices at the Daily Bugle but not leap into the action, minus the occasional Spider Slayer tour. This time around, Jonah is able to team up with his son in Man-Wolf form as they try their best at both slaying the undead and staying alive.

The art for each of the stories is rock solid as the likes of Bob Quinn, Javier Garron, and Bernard Chang capture the horror of vampires tormenting Marvel heroes and the energy of battles that compose this first anthology issue. Of the three, perhaps Garron shines brightest here as he is able to deliver some inventive sequences with the direction and panels for a story that features a wild team-up across the Jameson clan.

This isn't to say that Clint and Tandy's stories were sub-par, though the latter felt like it missed the mark a bit more than Blood Hunters' other two entries. Hawkeye's story is the most humorous of the bunch, playing up Clint Barton's status as an urban hero that was well established in the now-legendary Matt Fraction and David Aja run. Dagger's story has some stellar artwork and some interesting character work but it doesn't read as fun as Clint and John's stories, throwing a dagger in the heart of the comic holding a consistent overall tone. What Dagger's story does is set the stage for the next issue as another Marvel hero is set to take Tandy on a vampire-killing tour.

Blood Hunters #1 works to further examine the ramifications of a vampire outbreak in Marvel Comics, giving readers the chance to catch up on the lives of heroes they otherwise might not have seen in this event. While not every story is a home run, there's enough here to give Marvel fans something to sink their teeth into whether they're fans of the undead, Wolf Gods, light-baring superheroines, or moustache-sporting marksmen.

Published by Marvel Comics

On May 8, 2024

Written by Mark Russell, Christos Gage, and Erica Schultz

Art by Bob Quinn, Javier Garron, and Bernard Chang

Colors by Matt Milla, Morry Hollowell, and Marcelo Maiolo

Letters by Joe Caramagna

Cover by Greg Land

The most impactful story in Energon Universe 2024 Special is the Megatron-focused Transformers story by writer Darren Warren Johnson and artist Ryan Ottley. In the issue, we not only see what happened to Megatron to explain his absence in the main Transformers series, but also witness his escape from Cobra Headquarters. Johnson and Ottley continue to lean into death and dismemberment in their Transformers stories, with Megatron offing another Autobot and losing both arms and multiple eyes in the process. On the one hand, robots shooting lasers and carrying laser-axes should be a bit more deadly than what we see in the gentler Transformers cartoons. However, the fixation on robots dying in brutal fashion gives the series an unintended parallel to the Michael Bay movies, which always featured some robot getting crunched up in near-comical fashion.

The Void Rivals story brings in another Transformer to interact with the alien elements of the Energon Universe, with Hot Rod appearing to look into a missing (and so far unnamed) ally. To this point, the main Void Rivals series by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Lorenzo De Felici has mostly kept itself isolated from the Transformers universe, with only occasional appearances by Autobots, Decepticons, and other related creatures. Still, it seems that the comic will be fast approaching a crossroads, although Kirkman's slow and steady approach should pay dividends in building out a different universe than what we've known in past Transformers comics.

Finally, the GI Joe story plays on the spy angles of the paramilitary agency, with Duke recruiting Baroness to join his new team. The surprise here is that Duke isn't the only agent in the field in this series, and it appears that the new GI Joe storyline will have more tension and explore the spywork of the GI Joes compared to past comics.

While I'm not as familiar with GI Joe as I am the Transformers, I enjoyed the GI Joe storyline in part because it had the same feel as the other two comics. While all three comics are unique, they clearly present a dirtier, distrustful version of these toy franchises, one where there are no "sacred cows" or lines that can't be crossed. One thing I've generally disliked about licensed series is that they have to play it safe and stay within obvious parameters, but it appears that Skybound is being given more leeway with both its body count and general tone, which helps the Energon Universe emerge as its own distinctive story.

Another interesting part of the issue is that, while the Energon Universe 2024 Special is billed as a look within the universe, the comic makes clear that there are multiple story angles playing out across different theaters. While it would be tempting to build toward some kind of joint threat or big event with a comic like this, I think that establishing the universe is more beneficial in the long run and makes the inevitable crossover an even bigger deal when it comes. This comic is still laying out the pieces of the world and that's more useful than pushing towards an immediate event of some sort.

If you want to try a different kind of shared universe, Energon Universe 2024 Special certainly delivers a strong case for its featured comics. I'm curious as to how Skybound will approach this world in the long term, but this one-shot is all about intrigue and possibility, which is perhaps the strongest sales pitch you can make for a still nascent shared universe.

Published by Image Comics

On May 8, 2024

Written by Daniel Warren Johnson, Robert Kirkman, and Joshua Williamson

Art by Ryan Ottley, Lorenzo De Felici, and Jason Howard

Colors by Annalisa Leoni, Matheus Lopes, and Mike Spicer

Letters by Rus Wooton

Cover by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer

Bastion, Avengelyne, Blood Coven, and Weapon XIII (13) are either new or old characters dominating the market this week! Many have little familiarity with most of this list, and that's awesome! We've seen the same faces, names, and storylines dominating the aftermarket for months, and change is good. However, Deadpool, Wolverine, and Dazzler still make their presence known, with Spider-Woman also featured heavily. First 'team' appearances outshined individual character's first appearances for the first time in forever. Variety is the name of the game on this week's Top Ten!

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

#10: The Uncanny X-Men #333 | MARVEL | 1996: We welcome another under-the-radar character to our lists, and this week, it's Bastion. He first appeared in this book and is an odd combination of humanoid sentinel destruction. With the newest episode of X-Men 97,' they're truly bringing into focus how much of a threat Bastion is. With a whole new audience indulging in the character, there are bound to be fans who feel the urge to visit the aftermarket in search of a copy of his first appearance! We tracked it at a high sale of $28 for a raw NM copy and a current raw NM FMV of $10.

#9: Wolverine #154 | MARVEL | 2000: Typically, issue #155 gets all the love, but this book is where the fun begins. In an early meet-up between Deadpool and Wolverine, shenanigans are bound to arise, much like they appear to be doing in the upcoming Deadpool and Wolverine. It also features a gaggle of first appearances like Geronimo Crowe, Cargo, Hardwire, Shooter, the Administrator, AND the first team appearance of the Scourge. The rumor mill is turning regarding the Scourge and their potential appearance in the film or down the line. Numerous fans opted to be cautious, picking up a copy before the hype train could reach new heights. We tracked it at a high sale of $30 for a raw NM copy and a current raw NM FMV of $29.

#8: Spider-Woman #7 - Leinil Francis Yu | MARVEL | 2024: Spider-Woman sure was hot last week! They made some serious moves in the story and added a new team to the lexicon with the Assembly. Fans were on board, with a resounding "more please" coming from fans of the run. It sold out quickly with many local comic shops, resulting in collectors turning to the aftermarket to secure a copy. Spider-Woman has her fans and they were out in force for this book! We tracked it at a high sale of $20 for a raw NM copy and a current raw NM FMV of $12.

#7: Avengelyne #1 | MAXIMUM PRESS | 1995: This book was hot a few weeks ago when it was announced Oliva Wilde was set to direct an adaptation of the series. Avengelyne is a fallen angel, which lends itself well to the screen. Then, rumors began circulating that Margot Robbie was in talks to portray the character. As many know, she also lends herself well to the screen, which caused a spike in aftermarket search and sales for the first appearance of Avengelyne! We tracked it at a high sale of $30 for a raw NM copy and a current raw NM FMV of $21.

#6: Spider-Woman #7 - Peach Momoko - Black Costume | MARVEL | 2024: Three fandoms collide with this book. You have your Spider-Woman, Momoko, and Black Suit fans feasting. This variant sports an amazing cover and also features a new super squad with an intriguing roster, including Titan, Cadet Marvel, Moon Squire, Liberty, and Hellrune. We tracked it at a high sale of $25 for a raw NM copy and a current raw NM FMV of $17.

#5: Spider-Woman #7 - Todd Nauck | MARVEL | 2024: We've touched on this book already, but this is the version fans are clamoring for. With only three covers to choose from, fans often pivot to the one that features the team or individual character. This book does mostly that, featuring Moon Squire, Hellrune, and Cadet Marvel front and center behind Spider-Woman. With all variations trending for roughly the same price, this is the one the fandom has settled on as a must-have. We tracked it at a high sale of $25 for a raw NM copy and a current raw NM FMV of $19.

#4: Dazzler #1 | MARVEL | 1981: Geez, this book has been hot for months! The rumors of Taylor Swift portraying the character in Deadpool and Wolverine just won't quit. It almost feels like Swift has been leaning into it for the past few months. She's appeared publicly with the stars of the film as well as producers, dodged questions regarding the project, AND the last word on her newest album was "Dazzling," for Pete's sake! Until we get an official yes or no, or the movie comes out, expect this book to trend for a while longer, despite it feeling like the world's worst-kept secret. We tracked it at a high sale of $23 for a raw VF copy and a current raw NM FMV of $19.

#3: Blood Hunt: Red Band Edition #1 - Pepe Larraz | MARVEL | 2024: Marvel doesn't typically lean into the extreme violence in their comics, but something has to give when you're dealing with the Marvel Universe versus vampires. Blood Hunt was the recent darling of NCBD and Free Comic Book Day, drawing in oodles of fans who wanted a taste. Some were lucky enough to secure this variation of the book, which immediately found a healthy aftermarket for those who missed out. We tracked it at a high sale of $16 for a raw NM copy and a current raw NM FMV of $13.

#2: New X-Men #128 | MARVEL | 2002: This book features the first appearance of Fantomex, or Weapon XIII (13). He's an under-the-radar character that's jumped in popularity recently. The Weapon X program is rumored to be featured in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World, which naturally sends fans on a Weapon X hunt. There is a ton of hype surrounding the character, as a subset of collectors has been eager to see him adapted to the screen for years. If that does happen, those who spent last week picking up this book are in a good spot! We tracked it at a high sale of $129 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw NM FMV of $28.

#1: Blood Hunt: Red Band Edition #1 - Leinil Francis Yu - Crime Suspense Stories #22 Homage (1:25) | MARVEL | 2024: The Marvel Universe VS Vampires? Yeah, sign us up. The fandom embraced the idea and ran with it, making this the hottest book of last week! Fans are all in and were after this variant from Yu hard, thanks to the wonderful homage to a time long past that many consider the golden age of horror comics, and it is the only variant available for this book. It also features the first full appearance of Blood Coven, which consists of Megrim, Smoke Eater, Unusual, Cruel, and Damascene. It has a ton going on and helps scratch the itch some collectors feel toward Marvel, IE, the lack of hard-hitting, violent, over-the-top action series. It was a risk for Marvel, but it is one worth taking! We tracked it at a high sale of $125 for a raw NM copy and a current raw NM FMV of $116.

Marvel has announced the roster and creative team for the new X-Factor series launching out of the X-Men: From the Ashes relaunch. The new era of X-Men comics begins this summer, and there's already a stacked lineup of titles for readers to digest. Marvel is making sure each X-Men series is unique and offers a different perspective on the franchise, which is where the premise of X-Factor comes in. The series is going back to its roots as a government-sanctioned mutant team, except this time fame and fortune are part of the deal.

X-Factor is written by Eisner winner Mark Russell (Fantastic Four: Life Story, The Flintstones) and illustrated by veteran X-Men artist Bob Quinn (Captain America, Knights of X). It features Angel and Havok as co-leaders, with Pyro, Frenzy, Feral, and more as part of their recruits. So it sounds like X-Factor could have a rotating cast of characters, with each member called in for specific missions. The press release describes the team as part "special agents for missions that require an arsenal of superpowers and part celebrity propaganda machine," and also teases some of the threats X-Factor will face, like the Mutant Underground and X-Term.

X-Factor creative team discusses new X-Men series

"The thing I've always loved about the X-Men is that they're characters first, super heroes second," Russell shared. "So being able to write characters like Havok and Angel and Frenzy in a post-Krakoa reality is an opportunity to write about what I really care about, which is how do we help each other survive the apathy of the world we live in?"

"It's so exciting to be back and drawing mutants in the X-Men universe again, and doubly exciting to work with Mark again," Quinn added. "To my mind, Mark's mix of humor and ability to shine a light on the peculiarities of modern society make him the perfect writer to tackle the relaunch of X-FACTOR. Drawing this team and every unexpected twist and turn of the story has been a blast so far, and I can't wait for readers to get their hands on it."

What is X-Factor about?

Formed by the government in response to a post-Krakoa outbreak of mutant paramilitary, ops squads, and mercenary teams, X-FACTOR will be co-led by Angel and Havok and include recruits like Pyro, Frenzy, Feral, and more. Part special agents for missions that require an arsenal of superpowers and part celebrity propaganda machine, X-FACTOR will wage war against emerging factions like the Mutant Underground and X-Term. Whether they believe in their actions or are just doing it for a check, the members of X-Factor are no fools when it comes to shady politics. As hidden agendas rear their ugly head, they'll fight against the dark consequences and disastrous public opinion from the inside!

FAME, FORTUNE, MUTANTS! From the ashes of Krakoa, a new mutant arms race sweeps the globe! International governments are building their own mutant armies. But only America's X-Factor has the most powerful, most patriotic, most marketable mutant heroes to stem the tide and make the world safe for democracy! Join them as they go from one death-defying mission to another. Who will die? Who will fall in love? Who will be the first to sell out? Like, comment and subscribe to find out!

X-Factor #1 goes on sale August 14th.

Below you'll find a breakdown of the new Marvel Legends releases along with release dates and pre-order links where applicable. Note that this article will be updated with additional launch dates and links when the info becomes available.

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES WOLVERINE (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $24.99 / Available here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon: "With unstoppable healing powers and adamantium metal claws, the astonishing Wolverine battles threats alongside the mutant X-Men team. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES WOLVERINE (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) figure. This quality 6-inch scale figure features deco inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel's Astonishing X-Men comics. The figure features extensive articulation and is highly posable for display and play. Includes figure and 6 comics-inspired accessories including masked and unmasked heads and hands with and without claws."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $29.99 / Available here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon: "When Doc Ock swaps bodies with Peter Parker, gaining his powers and conscience, he becomes the unlikely hero Superior Spider-Man. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN (85th ANNIVERSARY) figure. This quality 6-inch scale figure features deco inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel's The Superior Spider-Man comics. The figure features extensive articulation and is highly posable for display and play. Includes figure and 11 comics-inspired accessories including alternate head and Spider-Arms with removable backpack."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES IRON FIST AND LUKE CAGE (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $49.99 / Available here at Entertainment Earth and here on Amazon: "Luke Cage and Iron Fist reach new heights as heroes when they're called to join the roster of New Avengers, teaming up to fight for justice. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES IRON FIST AND LUKE CAGE (85TH ANNIVERSARY) 2-pack. These quality 6-inch scale figures feature deco inspired by the characters' appearances in Marvel's The New Avengers comics. The figures feature extensive articulation and are highly posable for display and play. Includes 2 figures and 12 comics-inspired accessories including alternate head and hands for each figure."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES GHOST RIDER (DANNY KETCH) (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $49.99 / Pre-orders will launch on 4/30 at 10am PT / 1pm ET here at Entertainment Earth / Amazon: "When Danny Ketch crosses paths with a cursed motorcycle, he is transformed into the Spirit of Vengeance, wielding supernatural powers as Ghost Rider. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES GHOST RIDER (DANNY KETCH) (85TH ANNIVERSARY) figure set. This quality 6-inch scale figure and vehicle features deco inspired by their appearances in Marvel's Ghost Rider comics. The figure features extensive articulation and is highly posable for display and play. Set comes with 6-inch scale Hell Cycle vehicle with moveable foot peg, semi-translucent fire wheels, and fire stands for displaying on 2 wheels or 1. Includes figure, bike and 9 comics-inspired accessories including motorcycle display pieces and alternate hands and chain for figure".

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES VENOM (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $24.99 - This Walmart Exclusive is expected to launch on July 25th or 26th during Walmart's next SDCC Collector Con event. When it does drop, you'll be able to find it here. "When Spider-Man breaks free from an alien symbiote, it latches onto Daily Bugle reporter Eddie Brock - who becomes the supervillain Venom, seeking revenge on the web-slinger. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES VENOM (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) figure. This quality 6-inch scale figure features deco inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel's Spider-Man comics. The figure features extensive articulation, is highly posable for display and play and comes on collectible cardback packaging with retro-inspired design. Includes figure and 3 comics-inspired accessories including alternate hands and an alternate head."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES SKAAR, SON OF HULK (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $39.99 / Fan Channel Exclusive / Release Date TBA: A born fighter from the brutal world of Sakaar, the Son of Hulk seeks the power needed to destroy his enemies. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES SKAAR, SON OF HULK (85th ANNIVERSARY) figure. For the first time, fans can add Skaar, the son of Hulk to their collection. This quality 6-inch scale deluxe figure stands 8 inches tall and features deco inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel's Skaar: Son of Hulk comics. The figure features extensive articulation and is highly posable for display and play. Includes figure and 5 comics-inspired accessories including alternate head, hands, and weapons accessories."

MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES MARVEL'S WARBIRD (MARVEL 85TH ANNIVERSARY) - $24.99 / Target Exclusive / Release Date TBA: "After damaging her powers while saving Earth's sun, Carol Danvers joins a team of Avengers and takes on the codename of Warbird. Celebrate the MARVEL UNIVERSE and 85 years of MARVEL COMICS with this MARVEL LEGENDS SERIES MARVEL'S WARBIRD (85th ANNIVERSARY) figure. For the first time, fans can add Carol Danvers as Marvel's Warbird to their collection. This quality 6-inch scale figure features deco inspired by the character's appearance in Marvel's Avengers comics with her black Warbird-era costume from her time on the Avengers team. The figure features extensive articulation and is highly posable for display and play. Includes figure and 5 comics-inspired accessories including alternate head, hands, and power FX."