Soon, Image Comics will be introducing readers to the world of Si Spurrier and Vanesa Del Rey’s The Voice Said Kill, a new series that feels like a collision of Fargo and Deliverance. Taking place in the Louisiana bayou, a pregnant park ranger, a criminal matriarch, and a shrooms-loaded hunter will find themselves all in each other’s immediate orbit, and it’s going to be absolute chaos. ComicBook has your exclusive first look at the anticipated new series thanks to a new preview, but it gets even better, as we’ve also got special commentary on each part of that preview from Spurrier and Del Rey, and you can check out the full preview and breakdown of The Voice Said Kill #1 below.

Let’s start with The Voice Said Kill #1 page 13, which depicts a key conversation between two mothers who would go to any lengths to protect their children. Neither one likes the other, and things will spiral between them later on, but at this point, things haven’t flown off the handle just yet.

“A conversational moment during issue 1. I love the way the smoke leads the eye across the page, dividing these two women from each other. In this scene we’re beginning to understand the stakes our leading ladies share. They couldn’t be more different, and yet they’re both mothers. They would do anything – anything – to protect their children, and although they despise each other they find a perilous common ground in that simple, savage maternal determination,” Spurrier said.

“This is one of the moments when Vanesa’s art becomes almost impressionistic, dreamlike, breaking down into cleverly arranged lines that imply the idea of an expression, the sensation of a person, rather than slavishly rendering everything in tedious realism. When things get nasty a couple pages after this, you better believe the detail ramps up and the room gets real claustrophobic real fast,” Spurrier said.

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Next, let’s take a look at page 28, which carries you effortlessly into the city and makes you feel as if you’re staring at the skyline from a nearby window. The immersiveness on display is impressive, and while the page is silent, it still says a lot for those paying attention.

“And here’s a silent page. So still and sultry. You can feel the stickiness of the air. The crickets tzz-tzz-ing in the long grass. This sleepy bayou town, crumbling and defeated, still bearing the signs of Katrina’s violence. So much of our story is about the human (specifically white American) arrogance of that old mythology: we can tame the wild. Spend any time in the bayou and you know what a load of shit that is. You can trick yourself, you can make your mark on the borders of the wilderness, but you know – deep down: the tide will rise. The moss will grow. The storms will come. A week, a month, a year: you were never here. Our heroine Marie understands this better than anyone. So when we crash-cut to her, puking her guts out, the only thing that feels alive and vibrant and painful in this tired old town, we know: this is big,” Spurrier said.

We also have the new Cover B variant for The Voice Said Kill #4, which was created by the talented Emma Price. “One final treat. Attached is the variant cover for issue #4 – as yet unseen. This is by our series designer, the multi-talented Emma Price, who has an uncanny knack for arresting images that make you stop, double-take and investigate. (Her work puts me in mind of Mike Del Mundo, which is no small compliment.) Designers are rightly becoming more visible as key elements of the collaborative team, and when one of them turns out to be a damn fine illustrator too, it’s nice to be able to give her a platform,” Spurrier said.

Vanesa Del Rey said, “The story involves psychedelics. I was inspired by actually taking psychedelics myself. The things I’ve seen in the sessions… The abstraction of the hanging trees, the moss, the patterns on the leaves and flowers remind me of fractals I’ve seen when I’ve taken psychedelics. The fact that it is set in an estuary ecosystem was part of that too. It makes the swamps kind of like an in-between place…and psychedelics take you outside of your body to sort of an in-between state. And in a way being pregnant does that too!”

The Voice Said Kill #1 will hit comic stores on July 23rd, and you can check out the official description below.

“Fargo meets Deliverance in a sweaty swamp-thriller from VANESA DEL REY (Black Widow, The Creeping Below) and SI SPURRIER (Coda, X-Men). The wet heat of the Louisiana bayou. Alligator poachers prowl the mudbug mire. A park ranger, heavily pregnant, raises a hateful mug of moonshine with a criminal matriarch. And one deadly sonuvabitch, out of his mind on shrooms and retribution, loads his rifle for the Human Hunt and screams down the stars. Presenting 4 extra-length issues of fever-dream cajun crime.”

Are you excited for the new series? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Image Comics All-Star Team Breaks Down The Voice Said Kill Preview (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Exquisite Corpses is a new horror series from Image Comicsby Michael Walsh and James Tynion IV. With an amazing concept and following a Battle Royale situation, Exquisite Corpses released with in bang in it’s giant-sized debut. To sum it up, 12 killers are dropped into a town that is closed off from help on Halloween night with one goal: be the last killer standing and your employer wins. What do their employers win? The ultimate prize of becoming the shadow leaders of the United States for the next four years. 12 different families from different states hire the best serial killers in the state with the promise of wiping their record. Closed off from the internet, phone signals, and help from the outside world, the killers make their moves until one remains.

Now after the release of the second issue, we’ve decided to rank all of the killers on their likeliness of survival. Most of this is speculative, though some of the selections on the list have already been killed. With our first two players down, they will naturally be the first two to make this ranking near the bottom. In addition to the theories, we will go over the weapon they were given, who the were killed by, and what states they reside from. With all of the rules out of the way, we begin our list.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Exquisite Corpses.

12) Leopold Strong

Leopold Strong is the hammer-based killer from North Carolina and is the first one out of the game. Upon finding his first would-be victim, Strong was shot at point blank range by Massachusetts’s The Lone Gunman. Strong was not given anytime to shine as someone had to be the first to go. He may have drawn the shortest straw in the luck department but he’ll be remembered most as first blood.

While Strong was killed first some of his stats include being the most physically imposing as well as having 23 confirmed kills. We do not know much of anything about Strong but we could always learn more during flashbacks. Alternatively the book has announced a tie in trading-card game, and while ot much is known at the moment but we could learn more on him there.

11) The Congregation

The most recent kill on the list is The Congregation. Perhaps the grossest looking killer on our list, New Hampshire’s The Congregation is armed with a knife and a confirmed kill list of 39 kills. In addition to looking gross he has his victims faces stitched onto his body as a way to remember his victims, hence the name as a sort of collective memory of the dead. He was murdered by the hands of Pretty Boy, who did not use his weapon of choice, the axe.

With his time not being as short as Strong’s, before his death we did get a closer look into what he was like as a character. The Congregation was far and away a very disturbed individual hearing voices telling him to kill. It’s not known at the time if he’s just imagining the voices or if he can actually hear them, the latter of which would suggest something supernatural at play.

10) Nurse Pete

Nurse Pete is our prediction for the next one to die. With poison as his weapon and an unknown kill count, Virginia’s Nurse Pete may be one of the more deadly killers on the list but not a practical one. Pete may be the most realistic as well but I doubt his ability to poison people will work as well as it would be as a nurse blending in at a hospital. It appears he will try to infiltrate the hospital in Oak Valley where this year’s games take place but it appears the EMTs are onto his ulterior motives.

9) G4m3r_Kid + Calvin

Another in our list of very likely to be killed soon is G4MER_KID and his drone Calvin. Mainly the Kid, but you get the idea. Due to how young the Kid is, I don’t think he’s going to last that long compared to some of the other creeps lurking around and he will be an easy target for the other killers. The Connecticut native wields electricity as his weapon through his app-controlled killing drone, Calvin. Even with the drone, I don’t think Calvin or his drone are meant to last that long.

While he most likely is not surviving, I could honestly see whoever kills the Kid will use the drone as a trophy, bonus weapon. Be it from flying around spying on other targets and just getting a quick kill in a tight spot, that feels like a stronger possibility as opposed to G4MER_KID surviving the night. Even more strong is the possibility of whoever gets the drone after would rack up more kills than the Kid’s measly nine kills.

8) Layla Blaze

Delaware’s Layla Blaze is a pyromaniac hellbent on burning any victim that gets in her way and that is where I believe her downfall will happen. With the nature of fire being unpredictable as it usually is, I could see it taking her life as opposed to any other killer getting to her. That being said she holds an impressive 335 kills.

If her own weapon isn’t what would take her out, I believe it could be an entry a few spots ahead on our list which I will explain in a moment. Either way that could be the case or she could always take out another killer with her flame and take as many people down with her. While we’ve seen very little of her, she’s bound to have more than a few screws loose.

7) Recluse

Recluse hails from Rhode Island and wields the rope as her weapon. She’s one of the few killers we’ve actually seen a bit of, albeit mainly just lurking around in the trees. Recluse appears to wait patiently and trap her victims in razor wire traps as the final means of death. It may seem impractical but 64 kills do add up after a while in her favor it would seem.

Most of my predictions have not guessed who would take out who, but I can easily see Recluse trapping and killing G4MER_KID and stealing his weapon to look for new trap spots. Recluse appears to have an impressive ability to hide super well and I can imagine that would help but I’m not sure razor wire would be the one to win the game.

6) Slater

Explosives and Maryland go hand in hand if you’re Slater. With another high kill count of 124, Slater may have another unique opportunity on his hands. Similar to Recluse, Slater could have plenty of places that he can plant explosives and could potentially take out others killer at any moment.

Going back to what I mentioned in Layla’s case, I feel Slater could set up a trap near Layla and with the unpredictability of her fire she could accidentally set off one of Slater’s explosives killing both of them with a two in one combo. Slater has a strong capacity for taking out more than a few killers but I could also see him strapping a bomb to his body and blowing up another just as easily if he were caught, especially if he were to get caught in a razor wire net.

5) Rascal Randy

New Jersey strangler Rascal Randy is perhaps the wild card of the list. With 19 kills, Rascal Randy is a nobody running around in a mascot costume armed with just his hands as a means to kill. But due to some of the marketing and with the look alone, Randy has the makings of a poster boy of the series and for that alone I could see him surviving a little bit longer than the others.

With his only weapon being his hands, I can see that also being his downfall to the picks that precede him. Hands are a perfect natural weapon, but compared to swords and a gun? He’s not gonna make it far.

4) Pretty Boy

Born in Georgia, Pretty Boy is the charismatic axe murderer of the game. He is one of two to actually kill another killer on the list, in his case The Congregation. Pretty Boy seems to be open and personable which is just as deadly as his axe. What makes him this high on our list? His personality will take him far in the game, giving him the opportunity to take out more killers as he goes.

As much as his personality is his secondary weapon, and is almost definitely which gets him to this spot on the list it’s also what will be his downfall. He’ll think of himself more than everyone else and from there is exactly when he will get killed when he least expects it. But not without seriously injuring and killing some of the other players.

3) Lady Carolina

Directly from the family in power in South Carolina and training herself to use arrows for the past year or so, Lady Carolina takes our number three spot. With the lowest kill count of seven, Carolina seem the most different than everyone else. Fighting for her family to win the game rather than being a cold blooded serial killer, she may be one of the only sympathetic killers of the list. While almost certainly showing a different level of insanity than the others she might also see the game as cleansing the world and taking out the other killers as a noble duty, in a twisted sense.

Her downfall goes back to her very low kill count and, frankly, hubris. With what we’ve learned of her, she will believe herself to be the winner and rejoin her family in the seats of power for the next four years, that will sadly most likely not be the case. Similar to Pretty Boy but with at the time of writing more sympathy points, it will be her undoing at the end of the game.

2) The Fox Mask Killer

Our pick for the last to die is The Fox Mask Killer, hailing from New York and armed with the sword. Fox has a lot of the same attributes mentioned with Randy at spot five, but I think she may last a bit longer for a few reasons. For starters she has already been on a lot of the covers for the first issue, making her something of a “face”for the series. Add to that being armed with one of the arguably better weapons in the game, she could honestly make it pretty far taking out a lot of people before she would get close to the end.

1) The Lone Gunman

Never bring a sword to a gunfight and that’s one of the reasons I’m picking The Lone Gunman from Massachusetts as the winner of the first game. Whether it’s his military experience or the fact that he’s the man with the gun if you’ve read the first issue it’s destined to be him. He’s the surrogate for the audience on where we learn the plot of the story and has history of his own as well as carrying on the legacy of the gold mask on top of everything. Not only is he fighting for Massachusetts to win, but also for his own freedom as well.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

The post All the Killers in Exquisite Corpses, Ranked by Likeliness of Survival appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The comic book industry is a wonderful place full of magical adventures, with enough stories to satisfy any reader out there. The best part about comics, aside from their vibrant art and stories, is how there’s something for everyone out there. This is especially true for fans of supernatural and paranormal tales, as there are plenty of series that dive head-first into these often haunting realms. Supernatural stories have limitless potential, as the human imagination knows no bounds. From creatures that go bump in the night to pure cosmic horror, it’s hard to turn away from this genre once you’ve fallen in love with it.

There’s something so captivating about tales revolving around the supernatural or paranormal. Maybe it’s because we’ve been trained, through generations, to fear the unknown. Whatever the reason, these tales of witches, magic, monsters, and mayhem will certainly capture your attention. And if you’re looking for something a bit darker or mysterious, don’t worry, there’s a series for that too.

1) Nameless

Readers looking for a haunting and complex horror tale should consider reading Nameless. Written by Grant Morrison, there are classic hints to his usual style of work. It all begins with a death and a cryptic warning. Enter the occult hustler who goes only by “Nameless,” as they’ve been summoned to save the world. A feat easier said than done, but the billionaires have the money to try, right? The problem is that an asteroid aptly named Xibalbal is heading directly to Earth, and the magical symbol carved onto its surface makes it clear that this is not a threat science and technology can circumvent. Readers looking for a tale full of Morrison’s commentary, aliens, and gods will want to see what happens in this horror tale.

Nameless is published by Image Comics and created by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham. Nathan Fairbairn also lent his hand to the artwork.

2) Fatale

Fatale is a hard-hitting supernatural comic with a noir theme. This limited series follows Josephine, a seemingly immortal woman with the uncanny ability to hypnotize men. There’s just one problem, as she doesn’t seem to willingly kickstart the process. She’s spent decades trying to gain control over her ability, a task made much more difficult by the determined cult at her heels. Everywhere she goes, new men fall under her spell, throwing themselves into the complicated mess. Her supernatural quest, combined with more noir elements, creates a compelling tale, complete with complex relationships and characters of all types.

Fatale was published by Image Comics and created by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. David Stewart was the colorist for this noir-styled series.

3) Homesick Pilots

Homesick Pilots is a must-read for paranormal fans, especially those who want to read all about ghosts and haunted houses. It all begins, as one might expect, with a haunted house. Ami is your average teenage girl, except that she’s also in a punk band and, more importantly, she’s been missing for weeks. She’s found herself trapped in a house full of ghosts, and she doesn’t understand how she got here. The series brings action to the realm of horror, creating a unique and haunting tale. The nostalgic vibe of the ’90s will be appealing to some, while others will love the House of Leaves style tale and Power Rangers-style action.

Homesick Pilots is published by Image Comics and created by Dan Watters and Caspar Wijngaard.

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4) Black Magic

Is there anything more compelling than a paranormal mystery? Black Magic revolves around Detective Rowan Black, who specializes in robbery and homicide. How does that bring us to a paranormal tale? That has to do with the good detective’s history, which she has never fully understood herself. Readers learn alongside Rowan as she digs into her memories and learns what makes her tick, with magical repercussions. Much like Fatale, Black Magic has a noir style, but the two are otherwise quite different. Black Magic leans into legacy, memories, and similar themes, providing a more introspective adventure into the world of the paranormal.

Black Magic was published by Image Comics and created by Nicola Scott and Greg Rucka.

5) The Silver Coin

Those looking for a horror anthology all tied to the same theme should seriously consider checking out The Silver Coin. As the title implies, each tale is about a horribly evil coin and the havoc it wreaks across the world. The stories are spread across time, as poor unfortunate souls stumble across a seemingly lucky coin, only to learn the price of what they wish for, in pure bloody fashion. Examples of this coin’s adventures include getting its hands on a 1978 rock band, luring in a bullied camper, and the fateful origin of the curse itself. The variety of tales will be satisfying to any horror fan, experimenting with different tropes and expectations.

The Silver Coin is published by Image Comics and was created by Michael Walsh and has brought in many creatives to tell different tales, including Chip Zdarsky, Ram V, Kelly Thompson, Jeff Lemire, and Ed Brisson.

6) The Magic Order

If you’re looking for a world of rogue magicians, The Magic Order might be more up your alley. In this world, five families work to keep the monsters away, far from the sight of prying eyes (read: the public). It’s a generation-long battle, and while the families technically work together, that doesn’t make them friends. Thus, when members of each family begin to fall, suspicions rise. Will they understand the source of what’s happening before it’s too late? The stakes are more than the loss of five families, for if they tumble, the world will soon follow.

The Magic Order is published by Image Comics. It’s written by Mark Miller and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, Start Immonen, Gigi Cavenago, and Dike Ruan. If the name sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because Netflix opted for the rights for an animated adaptation, but has since dropped the process.

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7) The Red Mother

The story begins with a mugging gone wrong. A horrible thing, but not the thing of nightmares, or so we’re trained to think. Daisy McDonough lost her eye and her boyfriend in the attack, and nothing has been the same since. Months later, she’s trying to rebuild her life, but it feels like there’s something lurking in the corner. Her world is slowly turned upside down, as nothing is what it seems. The Red Mother is full of body horror, creeping monsters, and deeply unsettling feelings. The creative use of red tells its own kind of story, as the slow-burn horror slowly takes over Daisy’s life.

The Red Mother is published by BOOM! Studios, written by Jeremy Haun and illustrated by Danny Luckert.

8) Something Is Killing the Children

Something Is Killing the Children is probably the most famous series on this list. It’s an ongoing horror series that has spawned at least one spinoff, as creators and readers alike are unwilling to let this terrifying world go. This first series follows Erica Slaughter, a trained monster hunter. Naturally, the beasts she hunts are not the monsters of men, but instead the things that go bump in the night. In other words, the kinds of horror that only children can see. This forces Erika to go to extreme lengths to see and hunt her prey. Pure horror fans will enjoy diving into Erika’s world of monsters and surprising politics. The visuals alone are enough to create new nightmares, making it a must-read for all horror and paranormal fans.

Something Is Killing the Children is published by BOOM! Studios. It’s written by James Tynion IV, and illustrated by Werther Dell’Edera, Miquel Muerto, and Giovanna Niro (covers). Something Is Killing the Children has been nominated for several awards, just to set the scene.

9) The Marked

Society has long been fascinated by the idea of secret societies and magic. Naturally, there have been many takes on magical secret societies, but The Marked adds a few extra layers to that concept. The Marked is about an organization of magic users, reliant on the tattoos carved into their skin. They’ve grown complacent over the years, thanks to the lack of occult threats rising up. We all know how that story will end, as a new society enters the scene, creating havoc and unimaginable dangers. The Marked plays around with a few paranormal elements readers will enjoy, though it is somewhat of a slow-burn fantasy at the start.

The Marked is published by Image Comics and created by David Hine and Brian Haberlin.

10) We Don’t Kill Spiders

Last, but not least, We Don’t Kill Spiders is a unique blend of genres, mixing together a murder mystery with historical fiction and supernatural themes. Set during the Viking Age, the story follows a Norseman detective as he tracks a series of murders across the land. It may seem like a simple but horrible case of an early serial killer, but the reveal is much darker than that. We Don’t Kill Spiders is perfect for paranormal readers who enjoy a fusion of elements, plus the overarching theme of humans coming across something much larger than themselves.

We Don’t Kill Spiders is published by Scout Comics and created by Joseph Schmalke.

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The first episodes of Syfy’s new supernatural horror series Revival is available to watch for free on the network’s YouTube channel, its streaming app, and its website, making it easy for new fans to dive in and get hooked. The show is an adaptation of the Image Comics series by the same name, written by Tim Seeley with art by Mike Norton. The noir-style story is about a small town in Wisconsin where all the deceased people in the area are spontaneously reanimated. In the midst of this, a murder takes place and the investigation is all the more difficult with new suspects to account for. Fans have a chance to try the show out for themselves for free, whether they have a cable subscription or not.

Revival just premiered last Thursday on Syfy, and it immediately became available to stream for free. This is an increasingly popular strategy for new shows, as streamers and cable outlets cast wide nets in the hopes of finding their audiences. In this case, comic book fans will definitely want to get onboard from the start. Many have already been anticipating this adaptation, but whether you’ve read the comics or not, this will be a wild ride.

The 47-minute pilot episode introduces our main cast, Dana Cypress (Melanie Scrofano), Martha “Em” Cypress (Romy Weltman), Wayne Cypress (David James Elliott), and Ibrahim Ramin (Andy McQueen), along with the premise that will drive this story forward. Dana is the local police officer investigating the murder of her sister, Em, as the rest of their community grapples with the implications of “revival day.”

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Seeley and Norton’s comic debuted in July of 2012, and ran for 47 issues before concluding in February of 2017. The series was praised for making the zombie genre feel fresh in a time when it was often overcrowded, and for maintaining flexibility in a story with a set end point. Plans to adapt the series to the screen began as early as 2012, so this series has been in the making for a long time.

Those hoping to keep up with the series from here won’t have too much trouble, even if future episodes aren’t added to YouTube for free. In the U.S., the show will stream week-to-week on Peacock, according to Image Comics. There will be ten episodes in this season, airing every Thursday night.

While the show hasn’t reached a wide audience yet, those that have seen it have generally liked Revival. It has a 93% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, with only one out of 14 reviews counted as “rotten.” User-submitted reviews are positive as well, with many commenters saying they hope the show finds enough viewers to last. That should be easy with the first episode streaming for free. Revival continues on Thursday, June 19th on Syfy and Peacock.

The post First Episode of SYFY’s New Image Comics Adaptation Is Streaming Free (& You Should Watch) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The word dream team isn’t one that should be used lightly, but it certainly seems like an appropriate description for the team behind Image Comics and Skybound’s new series Skinbreaker. Skinbreaker is a brand new series from the dream team of Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), artist David Finch (Batman, New Avengers), colorist Annalisa Leoni (Invincible Universe: Battle Beast), and letterer Rus Wooton (Transformers), and as one might surmise from the book’s title, it looks absolutely crazy, though in the absolute best way.

Skinbreaker centers around a tribe Chieftain named Enor, whose time as a Chieftain is soon ending. In this role, Enor wields the mighty Skinbreaker, but now that he’s much older, he is barely able to lift it. While Enor has an heir in Anok, Anok isn’t exactly leaping at the chance to take over, and this all leads to a violent (and bloody) power struggle as an even deadlier threat looms just outside their village.

“I have wanted to work with David Finch for the entirety of my career,” said Robert Kirkman. “We’ve gotten close many times over the years, but we wanted our collaboration to be something truly special. Skinbreaker is that series. I feel like this book is a high-water mark for both our careers. An action epic that is unrelentingly brutal but also contains a ton of emotion and heart. It’ll shock you and make you cry.”

“Skinbreaker is a labour of love. It’s a story that resonated very deeply for me, and it’s been the privilege of my career to help bring it to life,” said David Finch. “Everyone involved has put every last ounce of effort into this book and I couldn’t be more excited and proud to finally share it with you.”

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“This is the finest work of David Finch’s already masterful career,” says Sean Mackiewicz, SVP, Publisher, Skybound. “Together Robert Kirkman and David have created a savage, new world full of wonders and creatures that have to be seen to be believed. Only two absolute comic book legends working at the top of their game could create Skinbreaker.”

“I’ll give two quotes,” said Kirkman, again, unprompted. “David Finch is one of the greatest comic artists to ever live. This is the artist who made Moon Knight outsell Batman. Even a casual glance at any of his work in Skinbreaker will prove to you that this is historic material. His work on this series has to be seen to be believed. It would be impossible to overhype it.”

The main cover was created by Finch, and the big rollout for Skinbreaker #1 will also feature an open-to-order portrait variant cover by Finch as well as incentive variant covers by Ryan Ottley, Lorenzo De Felici, Eric Canete, and Tony Moore. There will also be a 1:1000 incentive CGC signed/graded foil version of Finch’s main cover, which will be signed by Finch and Kirkman, as well as a die-cut foil mask cover, and a 1:2500 Finch Original Art Sketch Cover.

Those who want to see Finch’s art featured in an even bigger way can pick up the Skinbreaker #1 Treasury Edition, which will present the series in 10″ x 14″ format, and it will be presented on deluxe newsprint. Skinbreaker #1 (of 8) will be available at comic stores and digital platforms on September 24th. You can find the official description for Skinbreaker #1 below.

“Enor has led his tribe for many seasons, but his time as Chieftan is coming to an end. He wields the mighty SKINBREAKER, but at his age, he can barely lift it. Will Enor’s reluctant heir, Anok, take over before their world falls to ruin? As a bloody power struggle begins, an even bigger threat lurks in the darkness beyond their village.”

Are you excited for the new series? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Invincible & Walking Dead Creator Just Launched a New Comic Series (& It Looks Crazy) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

SYFY’s new Image Comics adaptation, Revival, has premiered to a strong critical reception. The series, which debuted on June 12, adapts the acclaimed comic book of the same name, plunging viewers into the eerie reality of a small rural Wisconsin town where the dead have inexplicably returned to life. These “revived” individuals are not monstrous zombies but appear and behave as they did before their demise, creating a unique and unsettling supernatural mystery. The narrative follows Officer Dana Cypress (Melanie Scrofano) as she attempts to maintain order and investigate a murder in a community where the lines between the living and the dead have become terrifyingly blurred.

The horror noir show, which will run for 10 episodes, currently boasts an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This positive initial critical consensus indicates SYFY has successfully translated the compelling premise of the source material for television audiences.

The series quickly establishes a world irrevocably altered by “Revival Day,” an event that saw the recently deceased of Wausau, Wisconsin, return to life with their memories and personalities intact. The premiere episode sets a tense atmosphere, moving from the initial shock and quarantine period to a new normal where the community grapples with the presence of the “revivers.” Officer Dana Cypress navigates this unsettling landscape, balancing her duties with personal conflicts, including a strained relationship with her father, Sheriff Wayne Cypress (David James Elliott), and concerns for her sister, Em (Romy Weltman), one of the revivers now roaming the town. The first episode firmly grounds the series in a compelling central mystery surrounding the nature and purpose of the revivals, all while hinting at darker secrets within the community and even Dana’s own family, laying the groundwork for future reveals.

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Scrofano’s performance as Dana Cypress is being highlighted by critics as a standout, with many reviewers appreciating her ability to portray a tough, flawed, yet relatable protagonist. In addition, the show is also being commended for its unique blend of genres, successfully weaving elements of supernatural horror, small-town mystery, and dark character drama. Reviewers have also noted that while the premise is inherently dark, the series manages to inject moments of humor and avoids taking itself too seriously, which distinguishes it from other entries in the undead genre.

Revival Comic Book Origins Means the Show Can Air for Years

Image Comics’ Revival, created by writer Tim Seeley and artist Mike Norton, ran for a substantial 47 issues, published between 2012 and 2017, concluding its acclaimed run as a complete, self-contained story. During its publication, Revival garnered significant critical praise and was nominated for multiple Eisner Awards, including Best New Series in 2013. The comic’s consistent quality and its ability to sustain a multi-layered narrative over nearly five years provided a rich world for the television adaptation to draw from for multiple seasons. 

The comic delves much deeper into the societal breakdown within the quarantined Wausau, exploring the rise of extremist cults, the government’s increasingly desperate and ethically compromised attempts to understand and control the reviver phenomenon, and the long-term psychological toll on both the living and the returned. The comic also introduces a wider array of reviver types and explores the unsettling idea that the returned are not always who they once were, sometimes exhibiting disturbing changes or abilities over time. Furthermore, the overarching mystery of why Revival Day happened and its connection to ancient forces is a central plotline that unfolds gradually throughout the 47 issues. This suggests the television show could explore themes of prejudice, the weaponization of the revivers, and the unraveling of Dana and her family’s deepest secrets as it progresses, mirroring the comic’s trajectory from a localized mystery to a story with more terrifying implications.

Revival airs Thursdays on SYFY.

What are your thoughts on Revival based on its premiere? Let us know in the comments!

The post SYFY’s New Image Comics Adaptation Premieres With Strong RT Score appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Image Comics was founded in 1992 when artists Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane, Jim Lee, Erik Larsen, Marc Silvestri, Whilce Potracio, and Jim Valentine left Marvel over money and creators rights, starting their own company. The early years of Image were full of growing pains, many of them Rob Liefeld related to the surprise of no one, and it got pigeonholed as the company with the tremendous art, so-so stories until they started paying big name writers to help out, and delays. So many delays. However, the goal of Image was always first and foremost — let creators create what they want, own it, and make the money. Image became a launch pad for the greatest indie comics in the industry, and has become the gold standard for creators to tell the stories they want to tell, the way they want to tell them.

Image truly came into its own in the 21st century, producing comics that have changed the way many fans look at the medium. The best Image Comics are things of beauty, and some of them have become extremely popular, taking over the world outside of comics and making their creators very wealthy. These ten Image Comics series are the best of the best, amazing stories by brilliant writers and artists.

10) Spawn

Spawn is the longest running Image Comics series, having been created by Todd McFarlane in 1992. I’m not going to lie to you — Spawn is not some amazing series, even the original issues that McFarlane created. There are some cool issues in the early days of the book, basically anything that wasn’t written by McFarlane, and Greg Capullo’s art is sensational once McFarlane stops drawing the book, but Spawn is rarely anything more than a standard superhero book. However, what makes it one of the best Image series is simple — it’s 33 years old. There have been 365 issues of Spawn. It’s never been cancelled and restarted with a new number one. It’s gone on, telling the story of Al Simmons and a veritable army of characters, for decades and has become an important part of the ecosystem of the comic book industry. Spawn is a legendary comic, and it deserves its place in the pantheon of great Image titles.

9) The Savage Dragon

The Savage Dragon, by writer/artist Erik Larsen for 276 issues, is the only other original Image book still standing. It’s been continuously published since 1992, and has told the story of the Dragon, a Chicago cop, and the various superheroes of his world. It’s become its own legacy book, as Dragon has long since stopped being the main character, with his son Malcolm Dragon taking over the book. Whether you like The Savage Dragon is in the eye of the beholder, but it has been one man’s vision for over three decades, and will always be published as long as Larsen can still do it. The Savage Dragon is an entire superhero universe created by one man from the beginning and that alone is a massive accomplishment. There have been some wild moments over the years (God saying the f-word will always be a favorite of mine), and it’s definitely worth checking out if you want superhero action that is off the beaten path.

8) Invincible

Invincible, by Robert Kirkman, Cory Walker, and Ryan Ottley, is sort of like The Savage Dragon, in that it is the vision of one creative team creating their own superhero universe. By now, we all know the story of Invincible — a young hero, his secretly evil father, a whole mess of superheroes and aliens, and the bloodiest superhero fights you can imagine — and that’s the main reason it’s on this list. Invincible was Kirkman’s first book at Image, a mature readers superhero book that he couldn’t write at Marvel, and it made a huge splash. It was the little book that could, impressing everyone who picked it up and making them into fans. Invincible isn’t some deep meditation on superheroes, but it’s definitely a cool look at them. The Amazon series has made it into a cultural phenomena, and a whole new generation of fans are getting to see Walker and Ottley’s amazing fight scenes, some of the best in the entire history of comics.

7) Deadly Class

Deadly Class, by Rick Remender and Wes Craig, is a punk rock crime comic that kicks off in the ’80s and ends in the 21st century, following a group of students from Kings Dominion, a private school for assassins and criminals. Marcus’s parents are killed by a mental patient, released from a mental institution because of Reagan era budget cuts to mental health services, and he is accepted into the school and has to navigate its byzantine power structure. Sex, drugs, music, and comics abound, and readers get some amazing scenes. Deadly Class is a love letter to a certain part of Generation X — much like his Black Science, Remender uses the book to work out his generational trauma — and it’s one of the coolest crime comics ever. I’m going to level with you — when Marcus and Maria return to the school the book goes a little down hill, but the last two story arcs are amazing and redeem the whole thing, taking readers to a place they never thought they would have got to in the beginning of the book. Remender and Craig give readers a stylish crime book that is unlike anything they’ve ever experienced.

6) East of West

East of West, by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta, is a sci-fi alternate history apocalyptic Civil War story. It takes place in a United States where the Civil War became a seven way war, created fractured nations all vying for power. After a truce is enforced on them, the countdown to the Apocalypse begins, and the Four Horsemen ride again. The book focuses on Death, who killed his fellows to start a family that is taken from him, but also shows the war heating up again, as the return of the Horsemen mean that things are about to come to an end. Hickman and Dragotta put out all of their skill to create an amazingly compelling story full of amazing characters, insane ideas, and wild action. It’s an amazing work, and now that it’s finished is the perfect time to read it (by the end, like four issues a year were coming out; the wait was terrible). East of West is a work of extreme brilliance, and anyone who doesn’t like this comic is probably actually dead.

RELATED: Eisner Award Nominated Ice Cream Man Reveals Details on Summer Return (Exclusive)

5) The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard, is a legend. While everyone knows it now as the worldwide TV phenomena that basically singlehandedly resurrected the zombie horror drama in the mainstream, most of its newest fans don’t understand that it was always something of a marvel. It was a comic that brought fans into the comic store, and basically everyone that picked up a new issue loved it. The story of Rick Grimes, Carl, and various survivors of the zombie apocalypse grabbed readers and never let go. If you like horror, you’ll like it. If you like drama, you’ll like it. If you like deep meditations about humanity at their worst, you’ll like it. It has a little something for everyone, and it’s one of those comics where even if you don’t like all of it, there is a still a lot of it you do like. Much like the show, it starts to repeat its plot structure, as the survivors find new places, make them safe, meet new human enemies, lose everything, and have to move on, but the characters and situations are so good that it’s okay. The Walking Dead has the goods.

4) Saga

Saga has seen better days, but what days they were. The book by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples is the story of Hazel, telling the story of her life with her parents Marko and Alana. Marko and Alana were on different sides of a war, meeting in a military prison, and their affair spurs both sides to hunt them and Hazel down. What follows is one of the most amazing journeys ever, as readers are dropped into this family’s life as they run from everyone, the highs and lows of love and parenthood contrasting with the insanity of their life. There’s an amazing cast of characters, big moments, emotional highs that are dizzying, and lows that will break you. It’s the kind of comic that you can hand to anyone and they will love it. Saga has been lackluster lately — it’s not finished yet and long hiatuses have hurt it a lot — but the characters are so great that it’s still fun to read. Staples’ art is amazing, and she creates an entire universe, populating it anthropomorphic animal aliens, robots, and sights that you’ve imagined. Saga is the perfect title for a book like this, as its long, twisting narrative that will be a legend when it’s finished.

3) Phonogram

Phonogram, by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, follows “phonomancers”, British runic magicians who use music as the basis of their magic. There are three volumes of Phonogram — Phonogram: Rue Britannia, Phonogram: The Singles Club, and Phonogram: Immaterial Girl — with the first volume following David Kohl as he deals with his sins from the Britpop era, the second dealing with seven people at the same club on the same night, and the third following David’s friend Emily Aster as she deals with her magical chickens coming home to roost. Phonogram is a work of brilliance that feels so very real. These are people who you’ve hung out, and while some of the things they’re doing are wild, we’ve all had nights like the ones in this series. It’s a gateway to great music — each volume has a list of the songs you need to listen to in order to understand everything — and amazing characters. Gillen and McKelvie were electric together, and this book is basically perfect in every way.

2) The Nightly News

The Nightly New, by Jonathan Hickman, is amazing. There’s really no other way to talk about it. Hickman wrote and drew the six issues series, which revolved around the Voice, a terrorist organization whose target is the news media. What follows is a twisting narrative that’s as educational as it is entertaining, teaching readers about the media sphere and talking about the way it has controlled information for decades while giving them a compelling and violent conspiracy yarn. The Nightly New is something else, a prescient tale about societal control and indoctrination. Most people know Hickman as an amazing writer, but he’s actually just as great an artist; his unconventional page layouts are a thing of beauty and his style is amazing. This is peak Hickman and the fact that it’s almost twenty years old and still potent really says it all about just how perfect of a comic this is. If you like this, also check out Pax Romana, another Hickman written and drawn story that will blow your mind. However, regardless of whether you read that, you need to read The Nightly News. Everyone does.

1) The Wicked + The Divine

The Wicked + The Divine, by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, is a masterpiece. The story follows Laura and Cassandra as they’re caught up in the Recurrence. Every 90 years, 12 people are made into gods. They are loved. They hated. And in two years, they are all dead. The Pantheon, as they are called, has become pop stars in the 2013 form, a group of young people doing the insane things that kids given any kind of power and fame will do. The Wicked + The Divine is something special. There’s excellent character drama, deep lore, visuals so amazing your eyes will bleed, fights that are out of the world, and so much more. It’s a deep meditation on art and artists, but it’s also just a great story about what happens when a bunch of kids are given power, enmeshed in something that they just don’t understand. This is a stylish, cool comic, but it’s also heartfelt, funny, and poignant. The ending is beautiful and perfect and heartbreaking and life-affirming all at the same time. It’s truly an experience you need to have. The Wicked + The Divine takes everything that made Phonogram great, and takes it to the next level.

What do you think the best Image Comics series are? Sound off in the comments below.

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Perhaps more than any other genre, sci-fi is full of stories of revolution. It’s the basis of some of our biggest and most beloved franchises — think Star Wars and Dune, even The Hunger Games though it is a bit less sci-fi, for example — where we find ourselves following the story of a group or groups coming together in an act of revolution against a massive, powerful empire figure, a narrative that takes its energy from the idea of the oppressed fighting the oppressor. It’s a story that works but Image Comics’ Free Planet, from Aubrey Sitterson and Jed Dougherty it’s also a story that gets a new angle. The stunning first issue of the series flipped the concept on its head by giving readers not the story of revolution but dropping readers into a tale of “well, now what” with the revolution having already taken place and the ultimate goal reached. Now, with Free Planet #2, not only is the story itself starting to come together but it’s becoming pretty clear that this is a story that has the potential to redefine what we expect from sci-fi revolutions, reminding us in a direct and fascinating way that the revolution isn’t the end and the victors may not always be truly victorious.

The first issue of Free Planet did a lot to establish its world. We were introduced to the various characters in the Freedom Guard that is now here to keep the wheels of total freedom for everyone on the first-ever completely free planet moving. But it also sows the seeds of something greater and it doesn’t take long for the first issue to show the disconnect between the idealized concept of total freedom and the execution of it. Freedom for one looks like oppression for another. How do you balance that? How do you make things equitable? What does it even look like? This is the challenge that the Freedom Guard is thrown into from the jump, not to mention the repercussions of what total liberation means for the world beyond Lutheria. There are economic impacts on the rest of the universe in which Lutheria exists — again, the idea of freedom for one isn’t necessarily good for everyone else. By the end of the first issue, the idea of freedom, that tenuous flip from suppression to protection, starts to feel messy and challenging. It’s a damn good hook.

Free Planet #2 Presents a Hard Reality: Freedom Has an Ongoing Cost

Going into the second issue, the mess and the challenge intensifies when the people decide to add to the Freedom Guard, bringing on a controversial choice. “This is what happens when civilians make military decisions,” one character says of the decision. It’s a notable observation, and one that feels like a snapshot of the situation Lutheria is in: the ideal colliding with reality. Issue #2 sees the Freedom Guard facing the reality that freedom comes with cost — but so does defending it. The question is, is that cost too high and who will ultimately be willing to pay it.

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This is the genius of Free Planet as a title and, more broadly, as a concept. While it is on the surface it’s a story of a world embarking on its total freedom and as such, fits into the comfortable revolution sci-fi trope, Sitterson’s writing and Dougherty’s art go well beyond the surface. Like Free Planet #1, issue #2 is incredibly dense with what I can only call narrative elements that deeply explain the world we’re observing. We are given facts and information that may feel mundane, but actually really matter — there are economic details, for example, in addition to current events on other worlds that all inform the pulse of the story and what our characters are dealing with. We also get glimpses of the pasts of various members of the Freedom Guard, humanizing them as characters but also helping readers understand the choices they are making in the present and what their place in this unsteady, infant liberty may really be. There is no corner here unexplored, but also simultaneously not too much is revealed. The mystery remains intact even as the bigger picture comes into focus. In Free Planet #2, that means the issue leaves us with more questions than answers, but also more of a desire than ever to find out what those answers really are.

Free Planet Challenges the Status Quo of Sci-Fi Stories (And Elevates the Comics Format)

Overall, Free Planet is doing something unexpected, especially with this second issue. By taking readers into the story not of a revolution as its happening but the impact of what “successful” revolution looks like – complete with the idea that victory may itself be a form of losing, Free Planet is challenging what stories in the vein of Star Wars tell. Readers are used to having a team of “good guys” to root for as the fight against the “bad guy” empire with the end goal of the nebulous concept of liberty. By taking the fight out of the equation, Sitterson and company have largely eliminated the good/evil dichotomy and instead are embracing a story that is very much gray. It’s a far more interesting approach and the mechanics of how they’re doing it, with detailed world-building that offers up plenty of details without giving away too much makes this a story that goes beyond the comic book format that holds it. Comics are always art, but Free Planet has a weight to it that puts it in the same conversation of other heavies that redefined the format and their genres before them – things like Watchmen and Saga and others.

Free Planet #2: 5 out of 5

The post Free Planet May Just Be Comics’ Great Sci-Fi Masterpiece (& It’s Changing the Genre) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Ice Cream Man is looking to serve up some yummy new tales of horror this summer. The last issue of the Image Comics anthology series was released at the end of January, meaning there’s been a super-sized wait for the next installment. The anthology comes from creators W. Maxwell Prince, Martín Morazzo, Chris O’Halloran, and Good Old Neon, and has been nominated for a 2025 Eisner Award in the category of Best Single Issue/One-Shot. Ice Cream Man is also being adapted into a feature film by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Wednesday) and Sony’s Screen Gems. But the latest news is good news for comic fans.

ComicBook can exclusively announce details on upcoming issues of Ice Cream Man, which include Ice Cream Man #47. July will see the release of Ice Cream Man #44, which is centered around a job performance review gone wrong. Additional upcoming issues of the anthology will feature a twisted Hitchcockian Rear Window homage, a completely not creepy tale of cryogenic anti-aging chambers, and a series of vintage medical ads that lead to the shocking side effects. Ice Cream Man Vol. 11 will also hit stores in September.

“Golly. I can’t believe we’ve been putting this book out for 7.5 years,” said Prince. “In comic time, I think that makes us officially geriatric. And so, speaking as a veritable sequential grandpa, I’ll tell you this: I still don’t quite understand how and why we have made it this far. I mean, I am so proud of the corpus of tales we’ve assembled; Ice Cream Man is the defining artistic project of my life. (And I think I can probably say the same for my co-creators).”

Ice Cream Man #39: “Decompression in a Wreck, Part One,” has been nominated for Best Single Issue/One-Shot for the 2025 Eisner Awards. The issue is the first in a two-parter story that shows how time slows down and life flashes by during a deadly heart-and-bone-breaking car accident, resulting in the death of a family. The comic details how decompression works in comics storytelling, and how a mere five seconds of a tragedy can be stretched into a 28-page deep dive. “Each moment sacred, each millisecond housing a loving memory, or a painful reminder, or an enticing glimpse into a future that will never, ever happen…” writes Prince in the comic.

Ice Cream Man #40 continues the story, showing the tragic accident from the perspective of the truck drivers who collided with the family. Both issues have been collected into Ice Cream Man: Decompression In A Wreck Deluxe Special Edition #1, and are included in Ice Cream Man TP, Vol. 10, which collects issues #37-40.

2025 also marked the critically acclaimed release of the all-star edition, Ice Cream Man #43, which featured one-page contributions not just from Ice Cream Man creators, but also short stories written by the likes of Grant Morrison, Patton Oswalt, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Matt Fraction, Jeff Lemire, Geoff Johns, Zoe Thorogood (who also illustrated her own story), Deniz Camp, and Frank Barbiere, with art by Morazzo and O’Halloran.

In the Ice Cream Man anthology series, mysterious horror host, Rick, delivers morsels of delicious terror in every flavor. The genre-defying comic book series features short tales of sorrow, wonder, and redemption, with each installment featuring its own cast of strange characters, dealing with their own special sundae of suffering. And on the periphery of all of them, like the twinkly music of his colorful truck, is the Ice Cream Man—a weaver of stories, a purveyor of sweet treats. Friend. Foe. God. Demon. The man who, with a snap of his fingers—lickety split!—can change the course of your life forever.

Prince added: “It’s an absolute privilege to spin yarns about Rick the Ice Cream Man, his jingly-jangly truck, and, most importantly, everyday people fighting their way through the morass of adult life: grief, regret, addiction, divorce, overdue bills, sick family, sick self, the fall of democracy…it’s never-ending, that list. But I can still see that sliver of light breaking through…We somehow managed to make a ‘horror’ book that is, in fact, about human suffering, with slivers of light and hope streaked through the center of everything. Plus, we’ve gotten to perform some very wild comic-specific formal experiments: a silent, 3-reality, and 3-color issue; a story that’s an actual palindrome; a crossword puzzle; an instruction manual; a dark recreation of beloved children’s books; an advent calendar; a telethon; an issue that is one continuous image when read in landscape orientation.” 

“Ice Cream Man is the fulfilling, creative, challenging, cool, and ultimately fun series one can only dream of being a part of when having a comics career,” said O’Halloran. “Having a front row seat to the inventiveness of my collaborators’ hard work for almost 50 issues manages to keep me motivated and inspired with this art form, and just feel very lucky to have my name on this book and be its colorist.”

“Not sure what I can add to what Will and Chris already said, ’cause I feel exactly the same way they do, but I wanted to thank our readers, our fans!” said Morazzo. “It wouldn’t have been possible without you guys, and I’m sure I can speak for the rest of the team now, we’re forever grateful!”

“THANK YOU to everyone who has stuck with us for so long,” added Prince. “We’ve still got a lot of surprises in store for issues #44 and beyond, including the Ice Cream Man, Vol. 11 trade paperback! Eleven volumes to sadden your shelves, stack high as a doorstop, or if you’re in the mood, read entirely in one sitting. And this is to say nothing of our Ice Cream Man movie in development over at horror central, Sony Green Gems, headed by Wednesday and Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, alongside our amazing producer Aaron Schmidt. Feel free to start your dreamcasting for the Ice Cream Man RIGHT NOW.”

DC recently announced that the Ice Cream Man creators are tackling the Man of Steel in a Black Label series titled Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum. The five-issue limited series looks to reimagine Superman through a genre-defying lens, and each issue of the series will explore different facets of Superman’s character, mythos, and moral core. The series picks up when four new Kryptonites have been discovered in deep space, and Superman sets out to learn what effect these new Kryptonites have on him. To figure out those effects, Superman calls upon his longtime friend Batman, who seeks to find out what Kryptonite colors like purple and cobalt have in store for Superman.

What do you think about all of the big Ice Cream Man news? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Eisner Award Nominated Ice Cream Man Reveals Details on Summer Return (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In 2013, writer Greg Rucka and artist Michael Lark brought what has since become one of Image Comics’ landmark series to life: Lazarus. Set in a near-future dystopia, the world of Lazarus is one in which society has settled into feudalism, ruled by sixteen extremely powerful Families. The story follows Forever Carlyle, the genetically enhanced super-soldier military type enforcer for the powerful Carlyle Family who is controlled by her father Malcolm Carlyle. However, a dozen years later, Lazarus is entering a new — and final — chapter, one that changes everything and could see the end of not just the Carlyle Family but the social order as the world knows it. That chapter is Lazarus: Fallen, the first issue of which will hit stores on June 25^th. ComicBook had the opportunity to do an early review and, without getting into spoilers, the final chapter of the Lazarus story is one that fans of the series won’t want to miss and one that newcomers to the story will quickly find themselves engrossed in as well.

When Lazarus: Fallen #1 picks up, the Carlyle Family is on the hunt, specifically for Forever Carlyle. She’s finally broken free from her family’s control and has a new mission: burn it all down, even if that means burning her own Family down as well. It is an exciting premise and issue #1 pays off on it, wasting no time dropping readers into the situation as it sets up the early hours after Forever is declared rogue by the Carlyle Family. This is not a spoiler; first looks at Lazarus: Fallen reveal a strike team infiltrating the Hock Wellness and Preservation Facility 074 on the hunt for Forever only to find that she’s not there, having been aided by her own mother in escape. From there, the story moves forward to reveal time passing with Forever still rogue and the brutal lengths Malcolm is willing to go to get her back, lengths that include manipulation and control of his own family.

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I can’t get into more details about what those lengths entail — or about the twist in the final pages of issue #1; we’re doing this spoiler free. What I can get into is how seamless the story is. It’s been three years since the last issue of Lazarus (Lazarus: Risen #7 arrived in 2022,) but Rucka hasn’t missed a beat with the storytelling. For those already familiar with Lazarus, this latest installment fits in perfectly with everything readers already know and one can nicely hit the ground running. For readers coming to the world of Lazarus with Fallen #1 as their starting point, while going back to the beginning is an absolute must so as to get the full story, you still get an intriguing hook and the turn on the final page will have you quite literally trying to turn the page to get more (don’t worry, a second issue will follow in July, you’ll get more and what Rucka is doing here is already very much worth the wait.)

But while Rucka’s writing is impeccable — The Old Guard creator is highly regarded for a reason — it’s not the only element of Lazarus: Fallen #1 that stands out. Lark’s art here is superb. The book has a look and feel that is both realistic — there are moments when Lark’s work almost looks like a photograph, it’s so crisp and clean — and beautifully textured. It’s the balance between these two elements that give the book a cinematic feel, reminding readers that this is a big story told on a big scale even within the more intimate parameters of the comic book format. That, interestingly, is particularly noticeable when you get into the details: freckles smattered across a character’s nose, the way a body crumples on the floor, the look of resignation in the eyes of one character and the sort of conspiratorial gleam in another’s. Lazarus has always been good, with both Rucka and Lark delivering fantastic work, but Fallen is not only the story at its peak, but both creators doing some of their absolute career-best work. The result is something that is gritty and elevated in equal measure.

To put a finer point on things, Lazarus changed what is possible with sci-fi dystopian stories in comics and created something really special when it arrived in 2013 and now, the final chapter Lazarus: Fallen is not only starting off as a very worthy next part but is poised to perhaps be even better than the original. With excellent writing and art that may be some of the best of both creators to date, Lazarus: Fallen #1 may see Forever Carlyle on a mission to burn everything down, but it looks like this story is going to go out in a blaze of glory.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Lazarus: Fallen #1 goes on sale June 25th from Image Comics.

The post Lazarus: Fallen #1 Is an Epic Beginning of the End appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In both reality and fiction there may be one thing that is more dangerous than power and its secrets. On their face, the idea of secrets — information withheld or concealed, usually to avoid a consequence — doesn’t seem like such a terrible thing. People keep relatively harmless secrets every day in the name of basic privacy. But not all secrets are benign and when you combine secrets with the volatility of a world containing superpowered beings it’s not just feelings that could be in the balance but the fate of the entire world. This is where The Power Fantasy from Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard brings us in issue #9 and it’s the revelation of a couple of secrets in particular that could save the world or be its entire undoing.

The Power Fantasy sees the Superpowers in a strange and strained situation. Jacky Magus has previously entered into an alliance with the U.S. government after Etienne killed the president, it’s discovered that Heavy has a secret Superpower son who could end up being a dangerous player in the mix, and Masumi is already hanging by a very delicate emotional thread. All of that threatens to blow up in everyone’s faces in the issue (potentially literally). We start to realize that Heavy may not have the biggest handle on things when it comes to his secret son and that he’s not necessarily entirely confident about his own stance. We also finally see Isabella be honest with Masumi, revealing their own bitter feelings about how the Atomics (and particularly Masumi) survive over and over while humans die in droves when things go wrong. It’s a huge risk, but opening up that secret both unburdens Isabella and seems to do some good for Masumi as well.

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But it’s the big secret that gets revealed in The Power Fantasy #9 that may be the most dangerous thing the story has faced to date, something that is poised to be more of an issue for how it could upset the balance of power and what it means for the already delicate dance the Atomics are doing. Jacky Magus has been doing some sneaky stuff for a while and everyone’s been trying to get Eliza on their side, but as it turns out, what’s really going on with Jacky goes back to the catastrophic Second Summer of Love in 1989. It also turns out to have major, major connection to Eliza and how she’s ended up the way she is. The issue hits Eliza — and the reader — with the gut punch that Jacky isn’t exactly who he seems to be.

I’m not going to spoil the reveal — that should be read for itself — but it’s one that changes everything and not only does Gillen set it up brilliantly with the writing but Wijngaard’s art, particularly as Eliza realizes what she’s being told, is absolutely phenomenal. Gillen tees things up perfectly, with Etienne commenting on the random nature of how big revelations of truth really are. He’s speaking about Matsumi when he talks about luck and stakes, but he may as well be speaking about what Jacky reveals to Eliza except while we see how Matsumi’s luck plays out the reader is left to wonder what will come with Eliza. Wijngaard’s art gives nothing away, but somehow simultaneously captures every nuance of relief and horror in Eliza’s face as so many pieces start to fall into place for her. She’s very much our window into this moment and it in a way that feels like screaming without a sound. To put it another way, it’s a cliffhanger that hits as though you’ve already fallen right into the ground at top speed. You know something has broken, but you’re also in no position just yet to take stock of just what.

That is perhaps what makes The Power Fantasy as a title work so well generally, but this issue specifically excel. The things you expect to be catastrophic — powers, Matsumi having to deal with emotional distress, Heavy’s secret son — are somehow less dangerous than the thing you didn’t really see coming, the secret so well-kept that it’s really more of a bomb, one that no one might survive. The Power Fantasy has always been a story of layers and complicated relationships, but issue #9 takes things to a completely different level — and it may be the best of the series to date.

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Power Fantasy #9 is on sale now from Image Comics.

The post I Don’t Know How The Power Fantasy is Gonna Top That Latest Gut Punch Reveal appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The comic book industry has given readers many beloved characters, from the iconic superheroes we all know and love to relatable characters with memorable backstories. Then there are the animal companions in comics, providing endearing moments of peace and happiness every time they arrive. One of the best parts about comics is the sheer number of cats that grace these vibrant pages. Every major publisher has a solid list of cats to remember, including Marvel, DC Comics, BOOM!, and beyond. In other words, there’s a plethora of feline friends for readers to fall in love with, and we are here for it.

These days, it isn’t hard to spot cats in comics. DC has long been introducing feline friends for the likes of Catwoman. Likewise, Marvel has introduced plenty of friends for their counterpart, Black Cat. More recently, Marvel really embraced this cat-loving trend, going so far as to create an Infinity Comic series titled Marvel Meow. Truthfully, every cat in every comic deserves all the love, but there just isn’t time to list them all.

An honorable mention to all the adopted cats of superheroes. We love that these heroes have taken saving the day to a whole new level, opening their homes and hearts to these faithful pets: Alpine (Bucky Barnes), Lupin, Raffles, Simon, Irene (Black Cat), Alfred (Damian Wayne), Isis (Catwoman), and countless others.

10) Zabu

Zabu will never be mistaken for a housecat, but he still fits within the category. Zabu is the last living saber-toothed tiger, hailing from Earth-616. He lives in the Savage Land and has made many superhero friends, including Ka-Zar and the X-Men. He’s also a superhero in his own right, as he is a member of the Pet Avengers (they’re adorable and they save the day, what more could a person ask for?). Zabu is a loyal ally but a dangerous enemy, as his heightened sense of smell and hearing make him an excellent tracker – there will be no escaping his wrath.

Thankfully, Zabu has a life pretty common to heroes in comic books, and as such, he’s gone through many experiences and adventures. For example, he was exposed to some strange gases in the Place of Mists, which granted him slowed aging and near-human intelligence. In other words, this bright cat is going to be around for quite some time, or so we can hope.

Zabu’s adventures can be found in Marvel Comics.

9) Tinker

Tinker, aka 2, is a modified cat hailing from the We3 program, and as such, she was designed to be a dangerous killing machine, complete with shockingly large armor and cybernetic implants. In other words, this is not the housecat to mess with! Tinker is famous for her battles against a group of biorgs (it’s complicated), though arguably she should probably be better known for her somewhat salty attitude.

Tinker is one half of a pair, with her counterpart being Bandit. They’re the classic cat/dog pairing, meaning that Tinker is everything Bandit is not, and vice versa. The dynamics may feel a bit strange in a sci-fi battle scenario, but the duo makes it work. However, there’s no denying that Tinker’s ‘tude steals the show on more than one occasion.

Tinker’s story can be found in We3.

8) Elsie, Lord Fluffy Britches & Patch

Elsie, Lord Fluffy Britches, and Patch are three housecats thrown into a situation they were never prepared for. Think Homeward Bound, but with the equivalent of zombies thrown into the mix. These anthropomorphic cats are smart enough to understand the danger they’re in, and okay, yeah, that’s pretty terrifying for readers! Their story is by the creators of Stray Dogs, so it’s a heavy-hitting adventure right from the start.

Elsie, Lord Fluffy Britches & Patch are up against seemingly impossible odds, which alone makes them worthy of rooting for. The fact that they’re adorable cats simply gives readers more reason to hope for their success, as they dodge rabid beasts while they try to find their way home.

Elsie, Lord Fluffy Britches & Patch’s story can be found in Feral by Image Comics.

7) Lou

It isn’t every day that cat lovers get a whole series dedicated to their favorite critters, but it does happen occasionally. Little Lou is the leading protagonist of Strayed, a sci-fi dystopian tale. Lou is an astral projecting cat who adores his owner, Kiara, with all his little heart. He was born into a world (universe) that wanted to use and abuse him for his abilities. However, Kiara loved him too much to stand by and let it happen, and thus a revolution began.

Lou’s tale only lasted five issues, but it’ll tug at the heartstrings of any cat-lover. It’s easy to see how one human and her cat may feel inclined to change the entire intergalactic system, if that’s what it takes.

Lou’s story can be found in Strayed by Dark Horse Comics.

6) Master Ren Mormorian

There are complicated characters, and then there’s Master Ren, a nekomancer with many faces. Even Ren’s name is complicated, as his full name and title are Commander Ren Mormorian, Apprentice Nekomancer to Two-faced Zorian of Whiteclaw.

Ren is famous for his two tails – but it’s perhaps his two faces he should be better known for. Originally tasked with betrayal, readers watch as Ren grows a stronger and heavier conscious as the series continues. Ren has gone through a lot since his introduction, including a changing of sides, an experience with torture, and more. On the bright side, he’s also made friends. Little Kippa is probably the best at bringing his sweet, hidden side to the surface, making it easy for readers to love this cat.

Master Ren’s story can be found in Monstress by Image Comics.

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5) Streaky the Supercat

The Superman family is pretty famous for adding new members, ranging from children from a different timeline to loyal pets, and everything in between. One such hero on the team is Streaky the Supercat. Streaky has been around for ages, and as such, his/her story has changed quite a bit over the years. For example, Streaky was once a male cat, but lately, DC Comics has been portraying the cat as a female feline. Likewise, her origin story has had a few changes over the years.

Streaky the Supercat is Kara Zor-El’s cat and best friend. She is the natural counterpart to Krypto, not to mention a superpowered member of the family. She has many familiar powers, including flight, heat vision, invulnerability, and superspeed. There’s no doubt about her ability to keep up with the rest of her family!

Streaky’s story can be found in DC Comics.

4) Chester, Marigold & The Rest of the Lumberjanes Kitties

Throughout Lumberjanes, the Roanoke cabin has made many allies, including many feline friends. Early in the series, Ripley wished everyone had a cat, and she got that wish ten times over. The cats that popped into existence aren’t normal cats. For example, Marigold is a stunning cat who is just as sweet as she looks. However, she can also drastically change her size. While she can be as small as an ordinary housecat, she can also become large enough to ride. Readers don’t actually know if there’s a size limit for this fuzzy feline. Barney was quick to adopt this cutie!

Other feline friends introduced during this wish include Chester (a white cat with wings), Jessica (an electric kitty), Mr. Chips (laser eyes), Peanut (can become very heavy – seriously), and Plops Town (telekinesis). Each cat has an adorable ability to go with their personality, and yes, we want to collect them all.

Chester and Marigold’s stories can be found in Lumberjanes by BOOM! Studios.

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3) Chewie (Chewbacca Sassy Danvers)

Chewie is arguably one of the best-known cats from Marvel Comics, though technically, she’s a Flerken. Flerkens are an alien race that pass for human cats, so that’s a good enough reason to let her stay on this list! Chewie is Carol Danvers’ cat (Captain Marvel). She’s a sassy pet who first met Carol in 2006, and for the longest time, Carol believed she had accidentally adopted a cat from another universe. Then they learned the truth of Chewie’s biology, just in time to welcome a massive litter of Flerken-kittens. Yes, it’s as cute (and chaotic) as it sounds, and fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) know Chewie by another name, as she goes by Goose in the movies. On the bright side, she maintained her Flerken status and even added to the franchise’s lore, leaving a permanent mark on the likes of Nick Fury. Chewie is easily one of the most dependable pets out there, even if she does tend to scare off all of her cat-sitters.

Chewie’s adventures can be found in Marvel Comics, within Captain Marvel’s story.

2) Dex Starr

There’s no denying that Dex Starr wins the award for the most tragic backstory, possibly of all time. Once upon a time, Dex Starr was an adorable and abandoned little housecat. He was fortunate enough to be rescued by a kind woman, who showed him what it was like to be loved and adored. Unfortunately, Dex Starr’s owner was brutally murdered in front of his eyes. Alone once again, Dex Starr couldn’t get over the burning rage in his heart, making him the perfect candidate for a Red Lantern Ring.

With this new power, Dex Starr swore he would one day track down the person who killed his owner and exact his revenge. Until then, he has been working hard to earn a reputation for himself, and boy, has he succeeded there. Dex Starr is not a being anybody wants to cross, that’s for sure.

Dex Starr’s story can be seen in DC Comics’ Green Lantern & Red Lantern Corps Series.

1) Lying Cat

Lying Cat is possibly the most iconic cat in comics, at least in modern times. She is a massive cat with blue/green/teal skin and vibrant yellow eyes. She’s been around since the first issue of Saga, though she’s not always present for every adventure (which has certainly helped her survival). Lying Cat is famous (and named) for her iconic phrase – “lying.” She can tell when a person is lying, and thus will happily growl out “lying” when appropriate.

Lying Cat first appeared at the side of The Will, a bounty hunter responsible for tracking down the leading couple of the series. Since then, she’s worked with a few different characters in the series, and it’s safe to say she’s always been a fan-favorite (we will riot if anything ever happens to her).

Lying Cat’s story can be found in Saga by Image Comics.

The post 10 Best Comic Book Cats, Ranked appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Image Comics is leading fans on a journey through Spawn’s secret history in a brand new series, and we’ve got an exclusive first look preview to give you a taste of what’s in store. The new series is titled Bloodletter, and will introduce the world to a new anti-hero named Tasha Thornwall and her connection to Al Simmons and Spawn. Crafting this new adventure is the dynamite team of Joseph P. Illidge (Batman, Milestone Universe: The Shadow Cabinet), Tim Seeley (Revival, Hack/Slash), Christian Rosado (Vampirella, Skull and Bones: Savage Storm), DC Alonso (Avengers), and AndWorld Design, and Illidge took the time to break down several scenes from the anticipated series in our first look preview below.

The first page features a bloody throwdown that ends rather brutally for Bloodletter’s enemies, and despite the numbers advantage, she makes quick work of them and more than lives up to her name. There’s also a slick homage to the universe’s other well-known hero who happens to wear a red cape to boot.

“This is the first time we see Tasha Thornwall taking people down, and she’s both smooth and brutal,” Illidge said. “A mix of her spy history from past days in the CIA and her memorable methods of murder, which helped make Tasha an urban legend throughout the world as ‘The Bloodletter’. I just love how Christian has her trench coat flapping outward like a cape. Does anyone else we know in this universe sport a red cape? ;)”.

On the second page, we see Bloodletter’s back and arms, which tie into her mystical powers, but she’s not alone. You can also see her all,y Casper, and Illidge teases some big reveals in regards to who she is and what she means to the book.

[RELATED: HBO’s Spawn Needs a Resurrection]

“The Bloodletter sports quite a number of tattoos and scars on her body, which connects directly to her mystical power…and her capacity for surviving fights with both angels and demons. As for who Tasha’s sidekick is on this page, her name is Casper, and she’s much more than most people realize,” Illidge said.

The final page gives us a look at the calm right before the storm, though I wouldn’t describe the world Bloodletter operates in as necessarily calm. “Bloodletter’s world isn’t one of James Bond-type villains in Stanley Kubrick-clean locales and shaken martinis. She operates in all the shadowy places in between, where the real engines of crime and magic exist. Tasha doesn’t realize the direction of her life is about to change in this grimy, smelly place…but that’s going to change in the next two minutes,” Illidge said.

“At its core, this story is all about synthesis,” Seeley said. “For our lead, Tasha, it’s that combination of espionage and street magic that makes her an unkillable survivor in a world where guys like Spawn, Overtkill, and Violator walk. And the comic itself is a synthesis too, of Joe, Christian, and me, something totally new none of us would have concocted on our own.”

“It’s blood, magic, it’s evil questioning itself, it’s also love and redemption,” Rosado said. “Tasha took on a life of her own, and what we do as a team is narrate it, chapter after chapter. In this transgressive and dark world, there’s a new character who is a privilege to draw. Joe, Tim, and I have that mission—to make her struggle known and what she has to tell us.”

The Bloodletter will hit comic stores on June 18th and is available for pre-order, and Bloodletter #2 will hit stores on July 23rd. You can find the official description below.

“Tasha Thornwall is THE BLOODLETTER, mystical mercenary of the world’s secret underground. A former CIA operative forced to live in the shadows after being outed by Al Simmons 10 years ago, Tasha is now out for revenge when she learns Al Simmons is alive as Spawn. The mission to hunt down and kill Spawn begins in this debut miniseries.”

Are you excited for The Bloodletter and learning more about Spawn’s history? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Image Comics Shakes Up the Spawn Universe in Bloodletter First Look Preview (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

DC and Image Comics are planning a crossover that brings Jim Lee back to the publisher that he helped found in 1992. Jim Lee is the current President, Publisher and Chief Creative Officer of DC, but before those lofty titles, he was one of six individuals who founded the creator-owned company Image Comics. One of the bigger hits at Image is Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s Geiger, a cornerstone of Ghost Machine. Lee is back drawing interiors for the Batman story arc “H2SH” alongside Jeph Loeb. In a first for each publisher, Lee and Frank are teaming up to provide covers for each other’s titles.

Jim Lee’s cover of October’s Geiger #19 will be his first cover for Image since 2011’s Spawn #200. Lee helped found Image Comics alongside trailblazing creators Todd McFarlane, Erik Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Jim Valentino, and Rob Liefeld. Gary Frank’s cover for Batman #163 is set to hit stores in August. This is also a return to DC for Frank, who drew Batman: Earth One and Doomsday Clock for DC before founding Ghost Machine in October 2023 with Johns, Brad Anderson, Jason Fabok, Bryan Hitch, Rob Leigh, Lamont Magee, Francis Manapul, Brad Meltzer, Ivan Reis, Peter Snejbjerg, Peter J. Tomasi and Maytal Zchut.

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“Jim’s a great friend and inspirational artist,” said Frank. “When we first began talking about doing covers for each other’s projects, it instantly became a moment where you realize why you got into comics. The community, the friendships, the love of the medium and the appreciation of each other’s work is something unique to comics and its creators.”

“When Jim delivered his Geiger cover featuring The Glowing Woman, Ashley Arden, it was a special moment for all of us at Ghost Machine,” continued Frank. “It was also fun for me to dip back into the world of DC with a Batman image featuring the Dark Knight and some of his greatest villains.”

“I’m thrilled to be able to collaborate with the massively talented Gary Frank who I’ve had the good fortune to call a true friend since the early 1990s,” said Lee. “Gary is a consummate professional, a Bonafide artist’s artist, a master of capturing light and form, and he’s drawn some of my favorite comics ever.”

“We hatched this idea to do a ‘crossover’ even if it is truly only compositionally, and I’m so honored to have a Gray Frank Batman Hush piece grace our ‘who’s who’ list of variant virtuoso cover artists!”

Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee’s successor to Batman: Hush began in March’s Batman #158. This new run, collectively called “H2SH,” is running monthly for six issues through August’s Batman #163 and will conclude with six more issues in 2026. Geoff Johns, Gary Frank, Brad Anderson and Rob Leigh launched the ongoing Geiger series in April 2024. It continues the story of Tariq Geiger, a man transformed into a powerful hero during the first strike of a nuclear war, and other unnamed heroes from throughout American history. October’s Geiger #19 features the return of Ashley Arden as her ongoing story of hunting human traffickers across a nuclear-war-ravaged America takes center stage and The Glowing Woman’s motivations and future become more clear.

What do you think about this unique crossover between DC and Image Comics for Batman #163 and Geiger #19? Let us know in the comments below!

The post New Batman Image Crossover Marks A Major Comics First 33 Years In The Making appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The team of James Tynion IV (The Department of Truth, The Deviant) and Michael Walsh (Universal Monsters: Frankenstein, The Silver Coin) is set to introduce the world to their new Image Comics and Tiny Onion series Exquisite Corpses, which will unleash 12 highly lethal killers on an unsuspecting small town. That lineup includes some truly oddball characters, but to this point we’ve only met 11 of the 12…until now. We’ve got all the exclusive details on the 12th and final killer that will be going head to head in a battle Royale for control of the country, and he is The Lone Gunman.

The Lone Gunman is Massachusetts’ choice for the tournament, and as you can see in the image below, he’s a force to be reckoned with just based on appearance alone. A gold mask hides his identity from the other hired killers, and he has a number of weapons and ammo at his disposal across his armor. You can find all of the details on the Lone Gunman from his official bio below.

“Highly trained and highly dangerous, Lone Gunman puts years of combat training to use as he efficiently dispatches his opponents, or any collateral damage who get in the way. Dishonorably discharged for battlefield atrocities now sealed in government records, Lone Gunman’s penchant for excessive violence has become a benefit, not a hindrance, to his performance in this tournament.”

That full roster for the tournament now includes Rascal Randy, Fox Mask Killer, G4M3R K1D and Calvin, Slater, Recluse, Leopold Strong, Lady Carolina, Nurse Pete, Layla Blaze, Pretty Boy, The Congregation, and Lone Gunman, and each one specializes in some sort of lethal skillset. Some of them are crazy, while others are highly trained, and others are more mysterious as how they came about and what their motivations are. You can check out the complete lineup and the official description for Exquisite Corpses below.

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“In Exquisite Corpses, every five years on Halloween, the wealthiest families in America play a game. 12 of the deadliest people in the world are dropped into a small town with just one goal: last killer standing wins. For the citizens of Oak Valley, Maine—this year’s unlucky arena—the goal is much simpler. They must survive the night.

The series will not only feature the work of Tynion IV and Walsh, but also comics superstars Adam Gorham (Hellhunters), Becca Carey (Absolute Wonder Woman), Che Grayson (Dark Spaces: Good Deeds), Claire Roe (Dark Spaces: The Hollywood Special), Gavin Fullerton (The Closet), Jordie Bellaire (Redlands), Marianna Ignazzi (Catwoman), Pornsak Pichetshote (The Good Asian), Tyler Boss (You’ll Do Bad Things), and Valentine De Landro (Bitch Planet). Each issue will build upon the last in a true ‘exquisite corpse’ game style, with a passing of the baton from creator to creator to unfold the story in a collaborative and competitive fashion.”

What intrigues you most about Exquisite Corpses #1? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Image Comics and Tiny Onion Reveal Exquisite Corpses’ Lethal Final Killer (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In a sea of amazing comics, a new series has to find a way to immediately stand out from the crowd and showcase what makes it special. Image Comics and Skybound look to do just that with its new series Blood & Thunder, pairing the core elements of a buddy cop movie with the lovely insanity that is the world of Metro 1. Oh, did we mention that the buddy cop of it all is actually a cop and her sentient gun? Yeah, that’s right, and it’s where the series not only gets its name but also where it gets its sense of charm, humor, and history, making for one of the most delightful debuts of 2025 so far.

Before we get to the two protagonists, we need to first highlight the insanely cool world that the team of Benito Cereno, E.J. Su, Msassyk, and Rus Wooton have brought to life. Metro 1 is a tiered city where life gets progressively more difficult and challenging as you continue to go through each tier, and there’s also another city on the other side of the planet that seemingly has its own tiers, though we don’t get to see much of that yet.

If that sounds like an idea rife with possibilities, it absolutely is, and the first few pages set about introducing you to the various structures and way of life on various tiers. Meanwhile, Su and Msassyk make a grand first impression with a two-page spread that is just absolutely stunning, instantly giving you a sense of this mysterious place without even setting foot on it. Their work continues to impress throughout the issue, with each tier conveying its own distinct personality even in the briefest of appearances.

Their work is also impressive in the characters that populate this world. While there are humanoid-looking characters and actual humans living in the city, there are a host of other aliens that call this place home, and their character designs don’t just feel like human offshoots with a different coat of paint. Some of the designs are really creative, and it bodes well for what we’ll see from the series as it progresses.

[RELATED: 2025 Comic Preview – All the Biggest Storylines & New Series to Know About]

While the world is fantastic, it doesn’t matter if you aren’t compelled by the book’s main heroes, and that’s where Blood and Thunder come in. Blood is a bounty hunter who excels at operating in the lower levels, and she uses a gun named Thunder. The thing is, Thunder is a full sentient gun who talks to Blood, and this forms the buddy cop dynamic throughout the series. The opening fight sequence is fun to watch from an action perspective, but the dynamic between the two is what really makes these sequences shine, as Thunder continues to want to use non-lethal measures whenever possible, and Blood is a bit more on the aggressive side.

That ties into a key point of history with Blood, as Thunder was her father’s old weapon before he died, and he was also a part of the IPPF (the police force on Metro 1). That promises to be rich with complex issues for Blood, as she holds her father in high esteem, and while her mother is hinted at here, there’s a lot said in what is unsaid if that makes sense. That’s even before we get to bigger mysteries revealed towards the end of the issue, so the future is quite bright.

There are a few odd moments in regards to facial expressions, but that’s a relatively minor nitpick. One thing I would have loved to see is more time with Blood and Thunder after the big action sequence. All that amazing world-building at the beginning has to trade off somewhere after all, but I’m sure we’ll get plenty of time with them as we continue the series.

It’s not easy for a new series to truly showcase who it is and who it wants to be in just one issue, but Blood & Thunder did that exceptionally well, and it’s created an adventure full of action, charm, and mystery that already has its hooks in. If you give it a try, I think it just might hook you, too.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Published by Skybound and Image Comics

Released on May 7, 2025

Written by Benito Cereno

Art by E.J. Su

Colors by Msassyk

Letters by Rus Wooton

What did you think of Blood & Thunder #1? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Blood & Thunder #1 Is the Buddy Cop Adventure I Didn’t Know I Needed (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A world of wonder, mystery, danger, and magic makes its debut in Image Comics’ new series Lost Fantasy, and after just one issue, I am completely hooked. Lost Fantasy is a brand new series from the minds of Curt Pires, Luca Casalanguida, Mark Dale, and Micah Myers, and the unique mix of old magic, monstrous creatures, backstabbing, and epic fantasy is immensely compelling. The world Lost Fantasy has already created in just one issue is beyond impressive as well, and while you can certainly see elements of Final Fantasy in its DNA, Lost Fantasy still has its own identity and becomes something altogether unique. The series already has my attention, and it has the potential to be something incredibly special.

Lost Fantasy puts you in the shoes of Henry Blackheart, who is a special consultant for the FBI, though that’s only scratching the surface of who he actually is. Henry’s last name is of particular importance, and that’s where the team really starts to go to work. After a first impression is made, Pires sets about introducing you to an alternate history that’s as vast as it is intricate and complex, and it didn’t take long for that world to sink its hooks in.

As that history is quickly established, I truthfully could have spent even more time exploring the evolving relationship between these two worlds, especially as they become more intertwined with each other, but that trip to the past doesn’t outstay its welcome, and soon you’re back in the thick of it with Henry, though with a much better and more contextual understanding of who he is and why he matters.

One of my favorite aspects of the issue is the artwork and overall approach to the bigger fantasy elements. In the first few pages, you might assume you’re in for a trip through pure dark fantasy, and yet a few pages later that’s heaved out the window in favor os something more classic, colorful, and fantastical. As the issue continues, Luca Casalanguida, Mark Dale, and Micah Myers blend all of those various sensibilities together with a bit of horror to create a look and tone that feels familiar and even perhaps nostalgic, and yet altogether distinct.

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Lost Fantasy keeps you guessing as well, with one particular reveal being one of my absolute favorites of the issue and coming out of nowhere. I don’t want to spoil it, but what I will say is that Henry’s magical abilities are responsible for some of my favorite interactions in the issue.

It doesn’t hurt that there’s a lot of Cloud Strife in Henry Blackheart, and being that I’m a massive Final Fantasy fan, that’s not an issue for me at all. That said, this never feels like it’s trying to be something it’s not, as those elements are just small aspects of a much bigger world and set of ideas.

Lost Fantasy isn’t afraid to take risks and shake things up, but it’s also a love letter to the genre, and that unique contrast makes for a truly special debut.

Lost Fantasy #1 hits comic stores on April 30th.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Published By: Image Comics
Written By: Curt Pires
Art By: Luca Casalanguida
Colored By: Mark Dale
Lettered By: Micah Myers

Are you excited for Lost Fantasy #1? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Lost Fantasy Delivers Love Letter to the Genre With a Little Final Fantasy Magic (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Kieron Gillen is one of the foremost voices in the comic industry. His work at Marvel made him popular, but his best works have been his indie books, like Phonogram, The Wicked + The Divine, and Once and Future. Gillen is an amazing artist, and when The Power Fantasy was announced, fans were very happy. After WicDiv‘s ending, Gillen had returned to Marvel, but fans were ready for something like The Power Fantasy, with Gillen unleashed to work in his own way on his own characters. The Power Fantasy #1 was a massive hit, and the book has been hitting ever since. The Power Fantasy #8 is yet another brilliant installment of this amazing comic.

So, right off the bat, we’re drawn into Eliza and her story from the first page, when she talks about God. It’s an interesting summation of Thomas Aquinas and tells you everything you need to know about her — she believes in God’s love more than anything else. Gillen kicks off the book with this because it sets the stage for the rest of the issue’s events. We have to see this side of Eliza to understand her actions throughout the issue. Gillen moves us forward from there, taking us to the moment of the Queen’s attack in 1989, and to witness the fate of Eliza in 1999. Gillen does a fantastic job of setting out everything a reader would need to know about the general plot of the story so far. Even if you don’t really know anything about the characters as a new reader, you get who each of them are in relation to this story. This is some seriously impressive writing, because this is a rather complicated plot. However, the writing here makes things very clear.

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Caspar Wijngaard’s art is sensational. The first four pages of the book jump to three different eras, and each one has its own visual identity — the halcyon past, the fearful future, and the golden age before the fall — and that’s completely on Wijngaard. His color choices and the palettes he uses for each scene gives each one just the right feel. You know just by looking at the art how you’re supposed to feel about the scene. Color choice can make a break a scene in a comic, and Wijngaard understands that.

The character acting and design are all stellar. There are a lot of emotions at play in each scene, and Wijngaard is able to bring that out of every character. Getting to see how Eliza has changed — from her youth in the ’70s and ’80s to what years of torment have done to her by 1999 — really allows us to understand the stakes of the events in the flashbacks. Wijngaard really knocks it out of the park when Eliza saves the day in 1989, his page layout of her ritual and what came next really capturing the horror and fear of those moments. Each page has three long panels, the claustrophobia caused by this choice really making the moments sing.

I walked into The Power Fantasy #8 completely blind. I’m a huge fan of Gillen’s work, so I knew I’d like it, but I wasn’t ready for just how good this issue was. I honestly expected to be a lot more lost than I was, but Gillen does a tremendous job of laying out everything we need to know. There’s a wonderful emotional core to the issue that is apparent from the beginning, and I was able to find and tap into it quickly. Wijngaard’s art is gorgeous. His pencils are beautifully skilled with a unique style, but his color choice is especially good. The colors in this book are outstanding. However, what makes The Power Fantasy #8 a great work and is a testament to the quality of this series overall is that this issue is one you can pick up completely cold and still enjoy immensely and still understand where the story has been even as it lays the groundwork for where it’s going to go.

Rating: 4.6 out of 5

Published by Image Comics

Released on April 23, 2025

Written by Kieron Gillen

Art by Caspar Wijngaard

Letters by Clayton Cowles

The Power Fantasy #8 is on sale now.

The post The Power Fantasy #8 Brilliantly Advances a Phenomenal Story (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There’s nothing better than tucking into a good graphic novel on a chilly evening. Or any evening, really. Graphic novels come in many forms: fantasy, thrillers, and one of our favorites – horror. Even the horror genre has lots of variety, and today, we’re here to talk about some of the best eco-horror graphic novels to dive into. These are terrifying tales depicting the natural world gone wrong. Sometimes, it’s plant life turning on humanity, while other times, it’s pure ecological destruction, which may hit too close to home for some readers. One thing is certain: these eco-horror adventures will make you look at the world in a whole new light – for better or for worse.

Eco-horror is a unique genre that often incorporates critical commentary about human nature and our environmental impact. While this is a common theme in many tales, it isn’t technically required. Finding a terrifying tale that doesn’t delve too deeply into commentary is possible. Likewise, the odds are good that you’ve seen or read eco-horror without reading it. For example, The Last of Us (both the game and the HBO series) fit the bill. Other examples include Annihilation, Frogs, Wilder Girls, and Cholorphobia. Mind you, this is far from an exhaustive list of examples – there are so many fantastic tales out there waiting to be found.

Farmhand

Created by Rob Guillory, Farmhand combines eco-horror with family drama with terrifying results. It all begins with Jedidiah Jenkins, a farm owner with a unique business plan. Instead of growing stereotypical plants, he grows additional limbs and organs for those who need them. Unsurprisingly, growing spare human parts comes with a price, which Jenkins, his family, and the entire town will quickly learn as the miracle farm turns into a monster of apocalyptic proportions.

Farmhand is written and illustrated by Rob Guillory and is published by Image Comics. It is perfect for horror fans seeking an agriculture-themed apocalyptic event, complete with botanical contamination and a dash of Cronenberg horror for good measure.

Family Tree

Can one family survive impossible odds? Maybe, if they rally quickly enough. Family Tree begins with a transformation, as Meg inexplicably starts turning into a tree. Thus begins a mad dash for a cure—and for survival. Meg’s family, which includes her mother, brother, and estranged grandfather, are not just racing against time but a mysterious organization and worse. They will soon learn that Meg’s transformation isn’t the first, and it all comes down to the family tree.

Family Tree is written by Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, The Nobody), illustrated by Phil Hester, and published by Image Comics. It’s the perfect blend of Cronenberg and eco-horror. It incorporates elements of family drama, time jumping, and potential dystopian futures. The end result is as complex as it is fascinating.

Swamp Thing by Alan Moore

Alan Moore took over writing for Swamp Thing in the 1980s, revolutionizing and revitalizing the story. The first arc is “The Anatomy Lesson,” which essentially rebooted the mythos, introducing new horrors and implications along the way. Delving into the Green, the story raises questions about life vs death, the meaning of the self, and more. It also tackles complex concerns, including environmentalism, marginalization, the effects of trauma, and more.

Let’s be real: even non-comic fans have heard of Swamp Thing, especially Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing. All Swamp Thing comics likely fit into the eco-horror genre. However, Alan Moore’s take is a shining example, especially as it portrays humanity’s threat to the environment through a clear (yet sometimes terrifying) lens. Alan Moore’s Swamp Thing run included artwork by Dan Day, John Totleben, Stephen Bissette, Tom Yeates, and Rich Veith and was published by Vertigo/DC Comics.

Into the Unbeing

Somewhere hidden in the Australian wilderness is something humanity has never seen before. Fortunately, a group of climate scientists were the ones to uncover this landform – one can only imagine what would have happened to any fool who dared mess around with it. The closer the scientists look at what they’ve found, the less believable it is. A hostile alien environment may seem like the dream discovery for any intrepid team, but anyone who’s spent enough time within the realm of science fiction knows where this path will lead.

Into the Unbeing was written by Zac Thompson (Relay, Nature’s Labyrinth), illustrated by Hayden Sherman and Jim Campbell, and published by Dark Horse Comics. The series combines eco-horror with scientific discovery and the need to explore and break new ground, opening the door to several thought-provoking conversations.

[RELATED: 7 Image Comics Perfect for a Horror Adaptation]

Dark Fang

Vampires may not seem like the ideal showrunner to an eco-horror comic, but Dark Fang defies those expectations. As a vampire, Valla has spent much of her time at the bottom of the ocean. It’s peaceful there; she doesn’t have to deal with people. That is, until signs of humanity began to poison the waters she called home. Now, Valla will ascend from the depths to understand the cause of this plague and, ideally, put a stop to it, no matter the price.

Dark Fang is a unique eco-horror with a vampiric lead written by Miles Gunter, illustrated by Kelsey Shannon, and published by Image Comics. It is full of social commentary, especially regarding environmentalism and the use of fossil fuels.

Mother Nature

Tales of corrupt corporations are not uncommon, particularly not in the eco-horror genre (it’s a solid foundation for everything to follow). Nova Terrell’s life was thrown upside down following the death of her father. Worse, Nova was there to see it happen, so she knew the role Cobalt Corporation had to play in this, and thus, she’d begin a campaign to bring the company down. While sabotaging the company from the outside, Nova accidentally stumbles across something that refines her understanding of “Mother Nature.”

Jamie Lee Curtis and Russel Goldman co-wrote Mother Nature, illustrated by Karl Stevens and published by Titan Comics. It was originally written as a screenplay, so readers can hope to see it on the big screen someday (Comet Pictures). Mother Nature is a blend of eco-horror and motherhood, telling a story of loss, environmentalism, and the need for company oversight.

Slow Death Zero

If anthologies are more your speed, there’s always Slow Death Zero: The Comix Anthology of Ecological Horror. The title pretty much says it all, as it brings 33 writers and artists together for a total of 28 stories about global warming, ecological disasters, and environmental horrors. These stories don’t shy away from the real-life implications of melting ice caps, so it’s probably not the best collection to read right before bed – unless you enjoy nightmares.

Slow Death Zero: The Comix Anthology of Ecological Horror was edited by Jon B. Cooke and Ronald E. Turner and had 33 creatives working on the project. Published by Last Gasp (terrifying name, by the way), it is a republication of classic eco-horror tales from Earth Day 1970, showing how long this subgenre has been alive.

The Autumnal

Autumn is the perfect setting for eco-horror, as the changing seasons tease at darker times to come. Enter The Autumnal, a story about Kat Somerville and her daughter Sybil. They’ve fled to a quieter life in New Hampshire, but things aren’t going the way they expected. It’s a familiar beginning, as many a tale has begun with a troubled family returning to their roots. However, this take may be a bit more literal than some. There are horrors best left slumbering, as Kat and Sybil are about to discover – the hard way.

The Autumnal was written by Daniel Kraus (The Shape of Water, Trollhunters), illustrated by Chris Shehan and Jason Wordie, and published by Vault Comics. The Autumnal blends eco-horror with family drama and the supernatural to divine effect.

[RELATED: 4 Horror Comic Adaptations We’re Eagerly Awaiting (And One We Wish Would Return]

Deep Roots

Humanity has long been afraid of what we cannot see or understand. We’re fascinated with alternate dimensions and worlds that lie just out of reach. But what if one of these worlds was close enough to touch? Enter Deep Roots, a tale of two worlds: ours and a realm of plants and monsters. When the latter makes its way into a human-dominated world, things quickly go south as roots and plants take up arms against the species that has been steadily destroying the planet.

Deep Roots is written by Dan Watters (Home Sick Pilots, Lucifer, Limbo), illustrated by Val Rodrigues (Unnatural Order, Mezo), and published by Vault Comics. It’s a true eco-horror with a slightly more literal take on the war between the environment and humanity.

Poison Ivy by G. Willow Wilson

Poison Ivy has been around for decades, so it feels safe to say that even a casual DC fan knows Ivy and her motivations well. Ivy has always stood to defend the environment (plants) against the selfish nature of humanity. She has often been portrayed dancing the lines between activist and eco-terrorist. Yet her story was brought to new heights when G. Willow Wilson took control. Starting with “The Virtuous Cycle,” Ivy will once again step up to save the planet from its biggest threat – the humans. She knows that nothing she says will ever get through to them, so now is the time to take drastic measures. What follows is a strange yet horrifying series of events as Ivy grapples with humanity and beyond.

G. Willow Wilson’s run on Poison Ivy includes dozens of different artists, including Marcio Takara, Brian Level, Stefano Guardiano, Jay Leisten, Arif Prianto, Atagun Ilhan, and others. Published by DC Comics, this take on Poison Ivy fully embraces her eco-horror roots, letting the activist off the leash.

The post 10 Eco Horror Graphic Novels to Send Chills Down Your Spines appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Imagine going outside of your house to find that not only are you cut off from the rest of the world, but there is a war over control of America happening right outside your door, and you very well may die as a result. Well, let me introduce you to the world of Exquisite Corpses, a new Image Comics series from the talented minds of James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey. The new series hits later this year, but we had the chance to check out Exquisite Corpses #1 ahead of time, discovering a rather perfect mix of horror, The Hunger Games, and The Purge. By the time the final page arrived, I was completely hooked, and I don’t think you’ll be able to turn away from the thrilling chaos either.

Exquisite Corpses introduces readers to the small town of Oak Valley, an unassuming place full of people just living their lives the best they can. What these people don’t know is that there’s a war for control of America happening behind the scenes, and unfortunately for them, they will now find themselves as the battleground for thirteen families vying for that very control.

The elements of government control and power of both those in and outside the system are all rather topical at the moment, and Tynion explores these themes both from those at the wheel and those who are in the path of those in power’s decisions. That’s truly why the debut issue works so well, as you are getting the macro and micro views of this evolving situation simultaneously, giving you instant perspective on what’s happening from either side.

There’s a level of investment that comes with spending time with the people who call this town home and seeing their everyday issues and challenges as the freight train is making its way towards the station, so to speak, and that sense of tension really starts to take hold in the book’s final few pages. Walsh and Bellaire really send that into overdrive as the sunlight leaves the city and the bloodletting begins, sending the people in the city and the reader into a full-blown panic.

[RELATED: 7 Image Comics Perfect for a Horror Adaptation]

Where Walsh, Bellaire, and Carey really shine though is in the killer introductions. Each family is represented by one person, and that person will head into the town and attempt to be the last one standing, giving control of America to their specific family. Throughout the book, we are introduced to all 13 representatives, who range from pyromaniacs and nut jobs to strongmen and self-taught champions, and every single one is captivating in some form or fashion.

Some of these sequences are disturbing, while others are more lighthearted. Others are simply brutal, and then there are still others that will have you questioning how effective they will be in the battle to come. Each one specializes in something different, and the lettering and coloring in these sequences are out of this world, allowing these various killers and psychopaths to leap off the page in all their creepy glory.

The issue doesn’t work, however, if the human element is missing, and thankfully, that’s here in spades. While there’s one chosen champion that is clearly the lead, there’s a whole town of characters that I’m now genuinely invested in and rather attached to, giving the brutal battles to come meaningful stakes. Now, this book is pretty long (over 60 pages), but that was actually necessary, as the world feels pretty fully developed for just one issue in, and those stakes feel earned with the extra time spent in the town. Exquisite Corpses has already set the stage for a thrilling battle for survival with any number of motivations at play, and issue #2 can’t get here soon enough.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Published By: Image Comics
Written By: James Tynion IV
Art By: Michael Walsh
Colors By: Jordie Bellaire
Letters By: Becca Carey

Exquisite Corpses #1 hits comic stores on May 14th.

Are you excited for Exquisite Corpses? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post The Fight for America Begins in Image’s Thrilling and Brutal Exquisite Corpses (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Writer Daniel Henriques and artist Jonathan Glapion tackle a very unsettling question in their new Spawn spinoff series — what if Spawn missed a chance to save a 7-year-old girl? The antihero has often prioritized punishing villains over helping victims, and Henriques has been holding onto an idea on this topic for over three decades now. He is finally exploring it in The Curse of Sherlee Johnson, which his shelves and digital stores next month from Image Comics. In an interview with ComicBook ahead of the release, Henriques and series creator Todd McFarlane discussed how this throwback series will impact the Spawn Universe.

The Curse of Sherlee Johnson picks up from the events of Spawn #5 — an iconic issue first published in 1992 where Spawn tracks down child serial killer Billy Kincaid. He finds Billy in the middle of a disturbing scene, playing with Sherlee’s hair and severed fingers and she is strung up inside of his deep freezer. Spawn kills Kincaid and leaves his corpse at the police station, rebuking the cops who failed to stop him.

Since the first time he read this issue, Henriques said he has always wondered why Spawn didn’t check on Sherlee before leaving.

“We don’t actually know that she’s dead,” he pointed out. “What if she’s not? What has Spawn just done — or what he has NOT done, which is actually save the victim that got him there in the first place.”

[RELATED: Robert Kirkman Explains Why Spawn and Other Image Characters Didn’t Appear in Invincible TV Show (Exclusive)]

The idea has always been compelling to Henriques because of its potential for more melodrama, and a different perspective on Spawn’s early days. He noted that if Sherlee was alive and conscious during Spawn’s confrontation with Kincaid, she would have seen “him beating he crap out of Kincaid, maybe this giant flash of him teleporting away, and that’s it, and she’s left to die alone. I was always like, ‘This has to go somewhere, what happens next?”

Henriques felt that since Kincaid had come back into the story so often over the years, it just seemed right to flesh out one of his victims as a character as well — especially as the mechanics of the afterlife were explained in subsequent story arcs. McFarlane agreed that this was the perfect way to explore Spawn’s flaws and perhaps the flaws of the superhero archetype in general.

“The problem with the hero playing judge, jury, and executioner is, there’s ramifications for it, right?” he said. “So, we’ve tried to turn over those rocks on the Spawn character. You have to assume most heroes think they’re doing good, but at times you can ask, ‘Did this actually make things worse?’ Because there was no vetting, it was like, ‘Oh, he killed kids, I’m going to kill him,’ and he walks away. He didn’t really dig any deeper than that, he was just being very simplistic in his actions, that now are going to cause complications here.”

The Curse of Sherlee Johnson kicks off on Wednesday, May 2nd with a special 48-page issue to start. It is available for pre-order now via your local comic book shop, or digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play. Image Comics is also issuing a reprint of Spawn #5 to mark the occasion.

The post What If Spawn Failed? Todd McFarlane and Daniel Henriques Discuss Untold Trauma in New Book appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s been more than 30 years since Sherlee Johnson went missing in the pages of 1992’s Spawn #5. The issue — written, penciled and inked by series creator Todd McFarlane — saw the 7-year-old girl become the 28th victim of ice cream man and “Kiddie Killer” Billy Kincaid, who would lure children to his ice cream truck to commit his chilling crimes. The mercenary Al Simmons, resurrected as a vengeful Hellspawn, tortured and killed Kincaid, leaving his corpse for police detectives Sam Burke and Twitch Williams with a message: “Boys screamed and girls screamed so I made him scream and scream and scream…”

Mister Chill-ee was outfitted with his own parasitic suit by the demonic Vindicator when he was sent to the Eighth Sphere of Hell, where the murdering pedophile was slain by Spawn a second time in 1996’s Spawn #53. The blood-chilling serial killer would return as a ghost serial killer in 1999’s Spawn #80-85, and died a fourth and seemingly final time in 2005’s Spawn #152.

But 20 years later, the ghosts of the past will return in The Curse of Sherlee Johnson, a new bi-monthly Spawn spinoff series written by Gunslinger Spawn cover artist Daniel Henriques in his writing debut with interior art by Spawn cover artist Jonathan Glapion.

Spawn: The Curse of Sherlee Johnson #1 (on sale May 21) hits stands alongside a reprint of Spawn #5, the first appearance of Sherlee Johnson and her killer Billy Kincaid.

“We’re going back to 1992, the infancy of Image Comics. I wanted [Spawn] issue five to basically be my message that said: ‘He is not Batman,'” Image co-founder McFarlane, who continues to script what is the longest-running independent series in comic book history in the ongoing Spawn, told ComicBook. “And so when you see that last page [of issue five], of the brutality of what he did to Billy Kincaid, hopefully people got it, one way or the other, whether they liked it or not.”

“That was just to say, ‘Get ready for this new character called Spawn. He’s not going to be like the other corporate-owned characters,'” McFarlane continued. “We fast forward, and Daniel and Jonathan took one thread out of that thing and said, ‘We’ve got an idea. How about this?’ And so here we are 30 years later with a followup.”

In circling back to one of the earliest issues of Spawn three decades later, McFarlane noted that it speaks to the longevity of the creator-owned publisher’s longest-running character as he prepares to head back to screens in the Spawn reboot that has long been in the works at Blumhouse.

“[Hollywood producers] ask what to me is one of the oddest questions: ‘So, how does it end? What happens to the character in the end?'” McFarlane said. “I’m not trying to tell a story that’s got a beginning, middle, and end in the truest sense … and they’re going, ‘But how does it end?’ And my answer is always the same: ‘How does Batman or Superman end? Why do you want it to end?’ Your question should be, ‘How can I keep it going for 30 years,’ not what’s the end [of the story].”

“What happened to Sherlee Johnson, the seven-year-old victim of the infamous serial killer Billy Kinkaid?” the official synopsis asks. The new chapter in McFarlane’s Spawn Universe “explores the fate of the innocent young girl. Her harrowing adventures with the Stranger are laid bare as her story and the world she now inhabits is revealed.”

“The Stranger, we begin not knowing a lot about what he is. One of the things we know is that in [2019’s] Spawn #301, we had the big necroplasmic explosion that opened a lot of things — from time travel, dimension travel everything,” Henriques teased, referring to what McFarlane calls the Time Rip. “The Time Rip allows us to play with a lot of things, and that is what enables the Stranger to meet Sherlee. But it has a meaning behind it that we eventually will discover: Why does Spawn’s necroplasmic Time Rip bomb have this connection? Why does it go towards Sherlee? Why does it impact their past? There is a reason that they’re connected, and part of what they’ll do next, it has its own ramifications in the universe.”

“Even though we’re telling our own story, it is within the Spawn Universe,” he continued. “And even Sherlee’s actions, or even the Stranger’s actions, be it more compassionate or more revenge-driven, it’s going to have different ramifications in the universe.”

The 48-page The Curse of Sherlee Johnson #1 goes on sale May 21 from Image Comics with covers by Glapion and variant covers by McFarlane.

The post Todd McFarlane Talks New Spawn Spinoff, Long-Form Storytelling: “Don’t Ask How It Ends – Ask How It Lasts 30 Years” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the more well-received series at Image Comics is getting adapted into a feature film. In 2022, writer Tom King and artist Elsa Charretier launched Love Everlasting, a series that takes inspiration from Quantum Leap and Groundhog Day to tell the story of a woman named Joan Peterson, who is trapped in an endless cycle of romance. King is a multiple Eisner, Ringo, and Harvey award winner for his works on Batman, Mister Miracle, and The Vision, and his work on Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is the template for DC’s upcoming feature film starring Milly Alcock. Love Everlasting is King’s next comics work that will be heading to the big screen.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is working on an adaptation of Love Everlasting with Lenny Abrahamson (Room) directing and Jane Goldman writing the script. Producers are Emma Watts and Element’s Ed Guiney. Love Everlasting follows Joan Peterson, who discovers that she is trapped in an endless, terrifying cycle of “romance” — a problem to be solved, a man to marry — and every time she falls in love, she’s torn from her world and thrust into another teary saga. At some point, Joan starts to question this cycle of broken love, deciding that she needs to focus on herself and doesn’t need the love of a man to make her complete.

Abrahamson’s resume includes Room starring Brie Larson, who won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance as a young woman who was held captive for seven years, and makes. her escape with her five-year-old son, played by Jacob Tremblay. Abrahamson was also the director and showrunner on Hulu’s Normal People starring Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones.

[RELATED: The Best Superhero Series in Comics Is About To End (and You Shouldn’t Miss It)]

The horror romance series Love Everlasting began as a Substack exclusive before moving to Image Comics. King and Charretier launched Love Everlasting on their Substack, back when the Substack signed deals with a host of comic book creators to make exclusive content for the digital platform.

“Love Everlasting is my dream project. It is a chance to create another Vision or Mister Miracle, to explore the themes of conformity and rebellion through the tale of one woman’s journey through the fantastic and horrifying world of Romance,” Tom King told ComicBook when the Love Everlasting announcement with Image was made in 2022. “After a decade in comics, this is my first creator-owned and the most ambitious project I’ve ever worked on. Elsa and I are trying to create another Sandman, an epic exploration of the entire history of storytelling, of how myths and tales of love haunt us, enthrall us, imprison us, and perhaps, occasionally, free us.”

“Never before in my career have I had the opportunity to dig so deeply into all aspects of storytelling,” Elsa Charretier said. “Love Everlasting pushes me to explore world-building, to extrapolate designs from all eras and places and adapt them to comics, to come up with gestures and compositions that delight readers and terrify them all the same. We’re really firing on all cylinders here.”

Tom King is a co-writer on the HBO original series Lanterns alongside showrunner Chris Mundy (Ozark, True Detective: Night Country) and Damon Lindelof (Watchmen, The Leftovers). The series, based on DC’s Green Lantern comic, is executive produced by Mundy, Lindelof, James Gunn, Peter Safran, King, Ron Schmidt, and Hawes.

Are you a fan of Love Everlasting? Let us know your thoughts on it being adapted into a movie in the comments below!

The post Tom King’s Hit Image Comics Series Is Getting a Movie (and We’re Excited) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The superhero comics genre are about to lose one of its greatest ongoing series from any publisher — COPRA, by Michel Fiffe. Image Comics just announced that the series will end with COPRA #50, hitting shelves on June 18th, 2025. Not only will this end the 1980s-inspired revenge saga, it will end an inspiring behind-the-scenes story of a small press comic finding its audience, and earning the support of the industry along the way. The Death of COPRA miniseries will publish its fourth and final issue on April 30th, ensuring that COPRA #50 will be the true finale to the whole story.

Image’s solicits for June of 2025 highlight the grand send-off for COPRA, with the story and art by Fiffe as well as a wrap-around cover. There will be two variant covers — one by Fiffe and Luke McDonnell, and one by David Lafuente. This will be a 32-page issue, and Image left little doubt that the story will truly be over. “Flipping the revenge genre on its head, COPRA proves its creative dominance once again as it rides off into the sunset for its 50th and landmark final issue,” the company teased.

Fiffe himself shared some commentary on this news on his website this week. “COPRA 50 is coming! What a privilege this is for me, a surreal honor to arrive at the place I had my sights set on,” he wrote. “COPRA 50 is its own thing, story-wise, a standalone epilogue that catches up with those who weren’t a part of the Death of Copra arc. In all other regards, this closes the book.”

[RELATED: 5 X-Men Stories the MCU Should Adapt]

Fiffe began self-publishing COPRA in 2012, and quickly gained a following that ballooned online. The throwback revenge story drew a lot of praise from critics, with comparisons to older Suicide Squad stories, among other 80s comics. Fiffe confirmed that these were some of his biggest inspirations, and the book eventually helped him get work with some of those bigger publishers.

Image took over publication of COPRA in 2019, but it retained Fiffe’s COPRA Press imprint. In the meantime, Fiffe landed a job at Marvel Comics in 2014, writing twelve issues of All-New Ultimates, and providing the script and art for a story in Secret Wars: Secret Love #1 shortly after that run was over. He worked on Captain Victory and the Glactic Rangers for Dynamite Entertainment and Bloodshot for Valiant Comics during this time as well.

Fiffe has worked on more titles at Image than any other publisher. He was the writer and artist on Savage Dragon No. 160 in 2010, and went on to edit backup features in that book for some time. He also wrote and illustrated three issues of Bloodstrike in 2018, in addition to COPRA. Most recently, Fiffe got his first DC Comics credit with a story in Superman Red & Blue #3 in 2021.

With Fiffe’s acclaimed original series coming to an end, there’s no telling what comes next, but it will clearly be a bittersweet farewell. COPRA #50 is available for pre-order now, and it hits shelves on Wednesday, June 18th. Previous issues are available in various collected editions, and on some digital platforms.

The post The Best Superhero Series in Comics Is About To End (and You Shouldn’t Miss It) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Garth Ennis has made a name for himself by pushing the limits of the comic book medium as a mature storytelling device. Ennis is arguably the best writer of classic superhero publications such as Marvel’s Punisher and DC’s Hellblazer. He has also crafted multiple original series that proved critical and commercial successes, like The Boys and Preacher.  Still, regardless of the setting, Ennis’ name on any cover sets expectations high for how the writer will unveil the darkest corners of humanity through his penchant for brutality, sex, and all sorts of nightmarish imagery. Unfortunately, The Kids is one of Ennis’ rare misfires, as the one-shot special published by Image Comics doesn’t know what to do about its intriguing core concept.

The Kids imagines what would happen to the world if, one fateful night, all the children younger than one year experienced a growth surge that transformed them into adults. The sudden body transformation is not accompanied by a similar increase in cognitive functioning, meaning that thousands of families in the United States must manage five-foot-tall beings who lack the coordination to keep themselves (and those around them) safe from harm. Plus, since babies are creatures of pure desire, these transmuted monsters express their need for food or comfort with actions that can be deadly.

To explore the apocalyptic scenario of a society crumbling under the weight of its children, The Kids follows a specific family who discovers an angry and violent adult male in the bedroom where their youngest son previously slept. From that moment on, the parents must wrap their heads around the odd event that just happened seemingly everywhere and decide how to deal with it. Meanwhile, the widespread transformation allows Ennis to discuss how humans are born as selfish pricks, a truth we don’t always consider due to the inherent fragility of kids. Still, there’s a reason why there’s an entire horror subgenre dedicated to creepy children, as the idea of tool-wielding primates without a refined sense of empathy is indeed scary.

[RELATED: Crossed: Adaptation of The Boys’ Creator’s Even Darker Comic Finds a Director]

The main issue with The Kids is that it doesn’t tell a credible story. After a strong beginning where things go south fast and hard, The Kids takes some puzzling turns as the main characters decide to actively ignore the matter to the point where the whole narrative becomes increasingly implausible. The characters react to the news in the most unbelievable way, just because Ennis needs these poor parents to be somewhere else for the sake of the message.

As for the allegory, The Kids‘ heavy-hands speeches about compulsory paternity and the forced ostracism of those who chose not to have children. Unfortunately, it never finds a way to deal with these complex ideas with the depth they deserve. Maybe The Kids‘ premise is too ambitious to treat it as a one-shot. Nevertheless, it’s part of a writer’s job to know how much of a story you can fit in a limited number of pages. For The Kids, it feels like there’s too much that was supposed to happen for the whole story to make sense, but there was so much chopped down for the sake of a smaller format that what we get is barely enough.

On the art front, Stjepan Bartolic makes some inspired color choices, including using a monochromatic palette for night scenes in opposition to fully colored diurnal panels. Dalibor Talajic’s art also manages to convey the idea of fully grown adults who don’t have control over their own bodies by drawing the titular kids in bizarre and grotesque positions that feel unnervingly realistic. Maybe with more space to spare and some more time to polish the story flow, this same team could have created a more engaging story.

Rating: 2 out of 5

Published by: Image Comics

On: March 26, 2025

Written by: Garth Ennis

Art by: Dalibor Talajic

Colors by: Stjepan Bartolic

Letters by: Rob Steen

What did you think of The Kids? How would you compare it to previous works by Ennis? Join the discussion in the comments!

The post The Kids Is a Deranged One Shot From the Twisted Mind of Garth Ennis (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

I didn’t know what to expect from We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us #1, and that’s probably for the best. Going in with a fresh mind allowed me to be fully surprised by its story, and boy was I surprised. From its opening of a girl being chased by a terrorizing robot to the final page reveals, We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us #1 is a rollercoaster of surprises. But they’re not just surprises for shock value. They truly add to the story and open up mysteries for the reader to discover as they read through the book, and broader mysteries to be explored in future issues.

The creative team really seems to be clicking in this debut issue. From the lettering choices for the different robots to the text used in the narration boxes, it all adds to the aesthetic of the book. There are some evil scientist vibes on display from Dr. Dante Alderman, aka the Vitruvian. We never learn why he calls himself that, but it can’t be good. Plus, it probably has something to do with his scientific craft. After all, he’s developed a small army of robots that obey his every command. Plus, we see the Vitruvian at work later in the back half of the issue.

But our main character is the Doctor’s daughter, Annalise. Right away, we can see how she’s full of fight and spunk. While she appears tough and disrespectful on the outside, what she’s really yearning for is attention from her father. Dr. Alderman is your typical workaholic, only concerned with his work and the task at hand. Too busy to play silly games like hide and seek. But he does show his tender side with Annalise, proving he may not be a total monster.

There appears to be two stories at play that will no doubt intersect in the future. It all has to do with this shadowy organization called V.E.I.L. Dr. Alderman was possibly working to stop V.E.I.L., which is the cause of all this drama in the first place. It’s not entirely clear at this time, but definitely a possibility. The introduction of an Agent Rook opens up several scenarios. Speaking of which, the pages dedicated to Agent Rook feature the crafty humor that can be found throughout We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us #1. The humor comes through in the writing and dialogue, and perfectly drawn character acting.

The best pages come from the interactions between Annalise and her father. Dr. Alderman is a self-professed genius, and he works to shoot it straight with Annalise while having to remind himself that she’s just a girl and isn’t mature enough to fully comprehend the work that he’s doing. It’s a delicate tug-of-war that is pulled off in the comic.

So what we have in We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us #1 is an interesting premise all wrapped in a double-sized issue. There is a lot to like, and it should leave readers wanting more. What happened to Annalise’s father? Who killed her mother? What was her father secretly working on that put their entire family in danger? These are the questions we can’t wait to learn the answers to.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Published by Image Comics

On March 26, 2025

Written by Matthew Rosenberg

Art by Stefano Landini

Colors by Roman Titov and Jason Wordie

Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

The post We’re Taking Everyone Down With Us #1 Flips Father-Daughter Dynamics on Their Head (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Image Comics is the home of the best indie books on the market. Image publishes a little bit of everything, from pitch perfect sci-fi to some of the greatest horror comics of all time. The best creators in the comic industry work at Image, and every month there’s something new for fans to sink their teeth into. Writer/artist Tyler Boss is most known for his work with writer Matthew Rosenberg, the two of them teaming up for sci-fi/horror comic What’s the Furthest Place from Here. Boss’s work as writer has always had a certain flavor to it, and his next major Image series from him a classic Boss book. Boss teams with Italian artist Adriano Turtulici for You’ll Do Bad Things, a horror comic with a great premise. You’ll Do Bad Things #1 is another example of an intriguing comic that has the potential to draw readers into it.

The issue beings with a man and a woman ending a date. The woman tries to take the man up to her place, but he refuses, leading her to think about the fact that they had been dating for so long, yet she’s never gotten a kiss as she undresses and goes to bed. Meanwhile, in the car outside, the man sits there, looking at a picture of himself and a child. The next panel reveals someone in his back seat, who stabs the man over again. The attacker walks away, and as he does so, pay phones ring as he walks by.

The story then shifts to a man talking to his cat as his phone rings. This is Seth, the man who wrote the previous scene. He doesn’t want to answer the phone, but does so anyway and it’s his agent. Readers are let in on who Seth is — a true crime writer who’s trying to write something else but can’t. It seem like every story he writes turns into a crime story, and he lies to his agent about having writer’s block. He erases the scene he just wrote before the phone call. The next scene takes him to a magic show with his sister and son, and the two adults discuss his problems on the train home, while his son does a magic trick. Later at home, he begins to write again, telling the story of two men who meet at a bar, a customer and a bartender at closing. They tentatively make plans to leave together after the bartender is done closing the bar, but that ends in another murder from the same person as the one from the first scene. Seth apparently fell asleep while writing and his cat wakes him. The two of them walk to bed, leaving the written scene on the monitor. The issue ends at the bar that he wrote into existence, as two police discuss the grisly murder of the bartender.

RELATED: Stephen King Meets The Twilight Zone in Image Comics’ New Series News from the Fallout (Exclusive)

You’ll Do Bad Things #1 is a book that constantly leaves the reader guessing what comes next. Boss does a brilliant job of engrossing the reader every time he presents a new scene change, each one pulling us in. That’s what makes the first murder so shocking; going into this book without any expectations make the book hit that much harder. We don’t know if the woman is our main character or anything like that. A great thing about the first issue of an indie book like this is trying to figure out what’s going on, and this book keeps you guessing in the best possible way until the end. Seth being an unfulfilled writer who wants to do something new is a cliche thing for a creative to write about, but Boss does a good job of building him through the issue. At first, You’ll Do Bad Things seems like it’s going to be true crime book, but the ending changes all of that. As readers, we see Seth write the murder that happens at the end, but then going back to it raises the questions that readers will want answered. Do the things that Seth is writing about actually happen? Did erasing the first story keep it from happening? What’s going on? This is a great way to kick off a new book.

Adriano Tutulici’s art is perfect for this book. Turtulici is drawing the book like it’s a crime book — not exactly realistic but not overly fantastic — which definitely helps keep readers guessing what exactly is going on. The coloring is also very cool, using a lot of neons to light scenes. There’s an old school vibe to the art; the art feels like an old Marvel comic from the 1970s, which is definitely a plus.

You’ll Do Bad Things #1 keeps you guessing from start to finish. There’s a mystery at the center of this book, and it’s one that is impossible unravel on the first read through. Boss knows how to hook readers. I want to know what happens next in this book and anyone else who reads it will, too. Turtulici’s art works brilliantly for the book, its old school vibe never tipping the book’s hand on what kind of story this will be. While it falls into some cliches — writer’s block, pushy agent, unfulfilled artist — it’s presents an intriguing enough mystery that will draw readers in.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Published by Image Comics

On March 26, 2025

Written by Tyler Boss

Art by Adriano Turtulici

Letters by Hassan Otsame-Elhaou

The post Fiction Leads to Chilling Reality in Intriguing You’ll Do Bad Things (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Image Comics is already having a pretty stellar 2025, and that trend looks to continue with their Sci-fi horror series News from the Fallout. The new series features the talented team of writer Chris Condon (That Texas Blood, Ultimate Wolverine), artist Jeffrey Alan Love (The Last Battle At The End Of The World, The Thousand Demon Tree), and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and is perfect for fans of Stephen King, The Twilight Zone, and The Outer Limits. We’ve got your exclusive first look at the new series as well, which you can find in the images below.

News from the Fallout is set in Nevada in 1962, where a nuclear bomb test has gone awry and subsequently caused a dangerous contaminant to be released into the atmosphere. As you can see in the preview, the artwork of the series leans into that already weighty premise, featuring an ashy black-and-white aesthetic that pulls you into the unsettling state of things.

There’s even an almost Silent Hill-style static to certain pages, with Image comparing it to watching a staticky science fiction film from the 60s. In the series, fans will meet a cast of colorful characters at the nearby diner (Atomic Alley) as they are attacked by any number of horrors that were unleashed by the atomic blast from the secret military facility.

They will even meet a defector from the secret army base named Private Otis Fallows, and as he deals with some hostility from the group, he is also helping them make their way to what is supposed to be a safe haven in Las Vegas. Whether or not that’s the case remains to be seen, but you can check out the full preview of the new series above and below.

[RELATED: Robert Kirkman Explains Why Spawn and Other Image Characters Didn’t Appear in Invincible TV Show (Exclusive)]

“News from the Fallout is a long-gestating project that I’ve been chipping away at for years,” said Condon. “To know that it’s finally coming to life thanks to the incredible Jeffrey Alan Love, who has brought his profoundly unique style of art to this project, is nothing short of amazing. I’m thrilled to work with both Jeff and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou on this book and I hope that readers are ready for a thrill-packed ride that is unlike any other book you’re likely to find on the shelves of your local comic shop.”

Added Love: “Working with Chris has been wonderful, as he has such a unique personal voice in his writing. Sometimes as an artist working with others I feel like I’m in a cover band, singing someone else’s song, but this collaboration with Chris has been different. It has felt like both our voices have been amplified by the other.”

News from the Fallout #1 will feature covers by Love and Jacob Phillips, and the first issue will hit comic stores on June 25th.

Are you excited for News from the Fallout? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Stephen King Meets The Twilight Zone in Image Comics’ New Series News from the Fallout (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Saga has been in our lives, with some breaks, for thirteen years and the weight of that time can be felt now more than ever. The series has evolved from the days of two young parents on the run, and has now reached a point where the narrative itself is really living up to the name of the series. This always has been a “saga” in grand terms, but Saga #72 brings us a check-in point for so many specific characters, places, and points in the plot that it feels like the creative team of Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan are reminding us of the scope that their world has. Not to mention, the pair deliver a story where they show that they can change everything without killing anyone (for once) and with just a single piece of shattering dialogue.

Saga #72 not only concludes the latest arc of the series, but puts the entire series on a path toward what will be the final batch of stories (Vaughan notes in the letters section the series is now “two thirds complete”). The framing device for Saga #72 is a proclamation by King Robot, it’s a simple one, with major ramifications for not only all the characters that we know but some brand new ones that have just arrived in the series (and some that got lost along the way). Vaughan is able to take this simple message and frame it around every little nook and cranny of the galaxy, not to mention the varying perspectives that come with that and how they all react. It’s par for the course to denote “Brian K. Vaughan is a good writer,” but he wields an effective pen in this issue.

Some sequences with characters last a few pages as they breakdown and try to dissect this major change in the series, while others are just one panel (the reactions here given depth by the always on point Staples, of course). Vaughan manages to find ways to look at this change (a shifting in allegiances that shocks everyone) through the lens of all manner of people that it will effect, leaving the reader to really sit and wonder about what comes next. To bring it all home of course, Staples and Vaughan remind us at the end of the issue what this story is really about and who our main throughline is; and they do it by making us laugh.

Staples’ eccentric ideas across Saga continue to be a defining attribute in this issue. From a small radio that screams at the listeners with a tiny mouth to a spaceship made of bones, each new page brings a delightful surprise and something you’ve quite literally never seen before. Even when Hazel was just a kid, Staples had an uncanny knack for making her expression a specific focal point of the entire narrative. Now that she’s a teen, with even more personality than readers could have predicted, it’s a unique facet of Saga‘s visual motifs that are its bedrock.

Saga #72 has positioned itself as a unique turning point for the series, not only in how it has concluded this specific arc (one could argue it didn’t fully gel at times) but in how it frames the final 36 issues of the series (Vaughan’s letter column says they’re still aiming for 108 total). The series has always lived up to the hype that it had behind it, but with this specific tale Saga has cemented its place as fully embodying its name. Now all we have is the wait once again, and the questions about what comes next will keep us afloat while we wait for what comes next.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Published by Image Comics

On March 19, 2025

Written by Brian K. Vaughan

Art by Fiona Staples

Letters by Fonografiks

The post Saga #72 Lights the Fuse for the End (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Hollywood has been relying on comics for some of its most iconic and beloved blockbusters, as seen with the dozens of films from Marvel and DC. However, film and television adaptations of comics go well beyond just those two publishers, with Image Comics finding successful adaptations with The Walking Dead and Invincible on television. There are also plenty of plans for upcoming horror adaptations from Image specifically, with fans eagerly awaiting the horror adaptations of titles like Bitter Root and Wytches. Image Comics has plenty of other horror comics to adapt to the big screen as well, and most of them cover a wide range of subgenres.

Whether it is vampires, serial killers, an obsessive fan, or the unknown, Image Comics has no shortage of horrors awaiting comic readers. These stories will also appeal to die-hard scary movie fans, and they can check them out now at their local comic shop. However, one can also hope that these frightening tales will be brought to the big screen one day as well.

Dark Ride by Joshua Williamson and Andrei Bressan

Dark Ride is made for fans of Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, haunted attractions, and Five Nights at Freddy’s. Imagine if Walt Disney made a deal with the devil to create his iconic characters and the parks they inspired? That is exactly how Devil Land came to be in Dark Ride, but the horrors are more than just for show. This year-round horror theme park has a devilish, deadly secret to it, one that impacts the guests, as well as the family behind this evil park.

RELATED: Oscar Isaac Is Frankenstein in First-Look From Guillermo del Toro’s Horror Remake

Parasocial by Alex de Campi and Erica Henderson

In the age of social media, the lines between fans and celebrities have gotten more and more blurred, leading to parasocial relationships that can give the illusion that there is a chance that something real may actually develop. Add to that fan events, like meet-and-greets and conventions, and it’s a perfect storm for a fan to truly misread their relationship with their favorite celebrity. At least, that is the case for one obsessive fan in Parasocial, as she sets her sights on her favorite, washed up actor, leading to a comic that will please fans of Stephen King’s Misery.

I Hate This Place by Kyle Starks and Artyom Topilin

From the Evil Dead franchise to Cabin Fever, cabin-in-the-woods horror movies are pretty popular and commonplace. For fans of these films, look no further than I Hate This Place, which is the ultimate love letter to horror. A couple moves into a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere after inheriting it, but they soon discover this is a place of nightmares. Whatever horrors one can think of, they’ll mostly find it in I Hate This Place, from the supernatural to the extraterrestrial. This is a comic that could go big on the big screen, just like Cabin in the Woods did years ago.

The Deviant by James Tynion IV and Josh Hisxon

Fans of David Fincher’s Zodiac or Seven do not need to look far for the perfect comic for them, as well as one we’d like to see him adapt some day. James Tynion IV is one of the biggest and brightest names in horror comics, but he often deals with the supernatural or extraterrestrial. The Deviant, on the other hand, is his most grounded comic so far. This is a straightforward thriller about an author interviewing a man convicted of being a killer Santa, but as their discussions unfold, a new Santa killer emerges, leaving readers to wonder if the man in prison is truly guilty or if this is a copycat.

Killadelphia by Rodney Barnes and Jason Shawn Alexander

While the popularity of vampires comes in waves in pop culture, one cannot deny that vampires have been a long staple for the horror genre. In the past few years, they have also become the go-to monster again, as seen in shows like Interview with the Vampire, the upcoming film Sinners, and the recently announced Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot. Same can be said for comics, with Killadelphia being a must-read for vampire fans. Blending horror and noir elements, this is a detective story unlike any other, as a detective and his undead father uncover a vampire conspiracy right in Philadelphia.

[RELATED: Sinners: First Trailer Released for Ryan Coogler & Michael B. Jordan Vampire Movie]

Lovesick by Luana Vecchio

Lovesick is a comic not for the faint of heart, as it pushes the boundaries in terms of sex, violence, and consent. Somehow, though, it keeps readers hooked and wanting to know more about the lead character, Domino, despite all the terrible things she’s done herself. Domino is a dominatrix on the dark web, who, for the right price, will torture and kill her clients, but there are plenty of men who would love to do the same to her. This is one of the best horror comics from Image Comics and is a must-read for any horror fan. It would be a hard-R adaptation, but one that would be well worth it to see Domino brought to the big screen in all her bloody glory.

Feral by Tony Fleecs, Tone Rodriguez, and Trish Forstner

Feral has one of the easiest elevator pitches around. It’s Night of the Living Dead but with cats. In it, a group of house cats are stranded outside during a rabies epidemic, so from their perspective, this is practically a zombie apocalypse. While the cats are adorable and feel pulled straight from a Disney film, there are plenty of horrors that await them. For those who have a soft spot for animals, this may not be for them, but it is a must-read for zombie fans. It would also make for an animated horror film unlike any other.

What Image Comics series would you like to see get adaptations? Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Image Comics Perfect for a Horror Adaptation appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Image Comics’ Syzygy Publishing is launching a brand new series that dives into the underworld of a city in lockdown, and the team behind Netflix’s acclaimed film Trust is part of the all-star creative team. Today we can exclusively reveal your first look at Dark Honor, a new crime thriller set in New York City during the early days of the pandemic, and the series is written by Ethan Sacks (Star Wars: Bounty Hunters, Old Man Hawkeye) and Trust filmmakers Brian DeCubellis and K.S. Bruce. Dark Honor will also feature a stellar lineup of artists creating the interiors and covers, which you can get a preview of below.

That top-tier art team includes Fico Ossio (Black Lightning, No One Left To Fight), David Messina (Ultimate Spiderman, 3 Keys), Gabriel Guzman (Lady Earth, Predator), Jamal Igle (Molly Danger, The Wrong Earth), colorist Raciel Avila, and letterer JAME, and you can check out some of the initial launch covers below.

The new five-issue series will be Bruce and DeCubellis’ first comics project, and the series started to take shape back in 2020. The story was initially going to be adapted into a film, but a comic series ended up being the perfect medium.

“Dark Honor was born in the earliest days of COVID-19 in New York. As we wrapped filming Trust in March 2020, the city was shutting down, and we wanted to capture that surreal moment. Inspired by neo-noir crime films, we created Rain, a street-savvy hero, and the Hundred Warriors, with Grigor embodying COVID—a relentless, unexpected killer,” DeCubellis said.

[RELATED: Fan-Favorite Image Comics Horror Series Getting Adaptation]

“Dark Honor may be fiction, but its backdrop is real—the empty streets, released prisoners, and desperate scrambles for survival, as an unknown disaster hits New York. Initially written as a screenplay, it felt too raw for film. But with Ethan Sacks’ adaptation, Chris Ryall’s expertise, and an incredible creative team, we’re honored to bring this story to comics,” Bruce said.

“Once I heard K.S. and Brian’s incredible pitch, I knew I wanted to be a part of bringing Dark Honor to comics readers,” Sacks said. “They had me at ‘Hello’—or more accurately, at a modern crime story set in New York City during the earliest and deadliest weeks of the COVID-19 epidemic. Having covered the damage COVID-19 did to my city in 2020 as a journalist for NBC News, it’s been a creative boon to now tackle that place and time as a comic book writer. And with a murderers’ row of talented artists—Fico Ossio, Dave Messina, Jamal Igle, and Gabriel Guzman—it’s only fitting for a book about a row between murderers.”

The official description reads, “For nearly a century, the Hundred have been the strong arm of New York’s underworld. But as COVID-19 paralyzes the city in early 2020, a new force emerges—one that doesn’t fear the disease, only power. A criminal mastermind is mounting his takeover, and unless Rain, daughter of the Hundred’s leader, can unite the last remnants of the fading crime syndicates, the city will fall to a far deadlier plague.”

Dark Honor will hit comic stores on May 28th and is available for pre-order now.

What do you think of Dark Honor? Let us know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Netflix’s Trust Team Reveals Dark Honor Series for Image Comics (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Amazon Prime’s Invincible has had about as rough a road to travel as its protagonist Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun). The show came out of the gate red-hot in 2021, punctuated by a finale that was an emotional gut-punch to the soul, as Mark finally discovered and had to come into brutal conflict with the fact that his father, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons), was actually an evil conqueror from an alien empire. The impact of that seasonal story and its deeply cathartic finale faded in a big way during Invincible Season 2 (with its near-fatal midseason delay), and Season 3 has had a lot to prove in terms of getting back the magic of the first season.

Well, now the Invincible Season 3 Finale is here. And it looks like fans of the show are once again crowning it the GOAT, after witnessing a brutal showdown that makes the first season’s climatic battle look like child’s play.

WARNING: SPOILERS FOLLOW!

Invincible Season 3 Episode 8 Explained

In Invincible Season 3 Episode 8, “I Thought You’d Never Shut Up”, Mark is still reeling from the “Invincible War” against Angstrom Levy and his gang of Mark’s evil variants, when a new Viltrumite commander, Conquest (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), shows up for a “progress report” on how Mark is preparing Earth for conquer. As it turns out, Conquest is less interested in instruction and discipline as he is brutality and sadism, so the fists almost immediately start flying, with human casualties and infrastructure damage growing by the minute.

[RELATED: Latest Update From Invincible Creator on Season 4]

Mark and Conquest’s battle sweeps across the globe, eventually attracting Mark’s loved ones like his little half-brother Oliver and beloved partner Atom Eve (Gillian Jacobs); when Oliver and Eve are both seriously injured by Conquest, Mark finally lets loose and brutally beats the powerful elder Viltrumite into a bloody stump. The episode (and season) ends with Mark reaching a hardline resolution to kill any new threat to his family and friends – while it’s revealed that Cecil and the Global Defense Agency are keeping Conquest (barely) alive to interrogate him about the Viltrumite Empire.

Invincible Fans React to Season 3 Finale

Reactions pouring in from social media range from calling Invincible Season 3 Episode 8 the best of the entire series, to the more faithful fans sipping their tea long and hard, knowing that the storyline, voice cast, and even the animation style would rise to the occasion when truly necessary.

Then there is the wonderful sign of Invincible‘s world and lore truly keeping viewers immersed. There’s currently a lot of character-specific debates about everything from the Season 3 finale’s game-changing reveal of Eve’s true power levels, to fans getting to know what a demented (and also tragically sad!) sociopath Conquest is – even among Viltrumites. JDM is also getting his due credit, after many fans doubted his casting as Conquest, initially.

For the comic book heads, there are already some wonderful side-by-side panels of the comic source material and animated version of the Conquest fight that are being held up in appreciation – as well as general appreciation of how the show’s last few episodes have adapted some beloved comic story arcs.

Finally, there’s the obvious angst as fans now turn from the massive hype of Season 3’s latter half, to wondering when Invincible Season 4 will arrive. For now, Seasons 1-3 are streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

The post Invincible Fans Are GOATing the Show After Epically Brutal Season 3 Finale appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Rogue Sun is one of the most enthralling family dramas around, and all the superpowers thrown into the mix only make those family dynamics even more wonderfully complex. Such is the case once again with Rogue Sun #25, which returns after a few months away with a perfect jumping-on point for new readers and does a pretty solid job of getting readers up to speed on everything that’s happened up until now. Dylan and Marcus are as dysfunctional as ever, though honestly, every segment of the family is experiencing their own changing dynamic, and that’s not even getting into Aurie’s new role either. The inter-family politics are just as intense as the bigger-than-life superhero action, so if you haven’t given Rogue Sun a try, you owe it to yourself to jump on board.

Ryan Parrott and Nick Cotton pick up where they left off with Dylan and Marcus, whose relationship hasn’t gotten any better in the time since, and that’s before more complications arise thanks to Marcus’ previous questionable decisions. Truth be told, as someone who has their own parental baggage with fathers, Dylan is pretty easy to relate to, and it’s actually nice to see him somewhat gaining confidence in himself despite external factors calling that into question.

One of the key draws of the series has always been that Dylan wasn’t exactly a shining knight in the lead hero department, but those flaws have also become tether points for many, and it’s helped Dylan become a far more relatable character as the series has continued. Rogue Sun takes that and runs with it, as not only does Dylan still have to navigate his relationship with Marcus, but now he has the emotional minefield of his mother Gwen to deal with as she is imprisoned for the death of his father.

That’s no small thing, but Parrott and Cotton deftly maneuver through Dylan’s ever-changing view of both being a hero and trying to prove something to his father. Marcus’ actions also continue to have an impact on how Dylan views his mother and what she did, and it doesn’t always go the way you expect.

[RELATED: Will Friedle and Rider Strong Recruited For Upcoming Radiant Black: The Audiobook, Volume One From Image Comics]

The most welcome shakeup though is Aurie, who steps into a new role as a Rogue Sun that is already immensely different from Dylan thanks to her unplanned partnership with Caleb. Caleb is an immediate spark to any situation he’s in, and paired with Aurie’s evolving motivations and view on Dylan and her family, the new duo offers a rich change of pace from what’s happening with Dylan at any given time, and the collisions that happen are as chaotic and exciting as you would imagine.

That collision by the way is also stunning thanks to the gorgeous work of Abel, Natalia Marques, and Becca Carey. While Dylan and Aurie are still learning on the job, there’s an effortless style and suaveness to how they move in a battle, and the flames of the suit and smooth style lines just make these confrontations pop.

The team also brings to life a brand new villain, and though manipulating poisonous green clouds might not sound like the deadliest powerset, it certainly makes an impact in their ever-capable hands and creates some vivid imagery as the flames of Rogue Sun slice through the green fog. That said, some of my favorite moments of the issue are conversations between Dylan and Doty, and these moments are just as immersive and compelling as any grand combat sequence.

Rogue Sun makes its grand return and absolutely shines, and as the Massive-Verse continues to grow by leaps and bounds, Rogue Sun is still one of its biggest stars.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Published by Image Comics

On March 12, 2025

Written by Ryan Parrott and Nick Cotton

Art by Abel

Colors by Natalia Marques

Letters by Becca Carey

What did you think of Rogue Sun #25? Let me know in the comments, and you can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Rogue Sun Makes Its Grand Return, and It Was Worth the Wait (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Many people spend time thinking about how the world will end, and then there are those people who have to live through these catastrophic events day after day after day. This is the premise for Assorted Crisis Events #1, an anthology series whose opening chapter introduces readers to a woman doing her best to navigate all the chaos happening around her. I’ll admit the description of Assorted Crisis Events #1 sounded intriguing, but I still wasn’t prepared for how good it looked and how entertaining mixing divergent timelines could be. It’s not every day you can see a samurai warrior walking down the street next to a cyborg or caveman.

Ashley is the name of our protagonist in Assorted Crisis Events #1. She lives in a neighborhood that is at the epicenter of crisscrossing timelines. Not only are worlds colliding outside her doorstep, but filmmakers are also trying to capitalize on the area by making their movies there. Why pay for special effects in your post-apocalyptic films when you can get them for free on a corner block? It does make sense, even if it’s definitely a little grimy and underhanded. Plus, people like Ashley can be used as extras and they don’t even have to pay them.

We follow Ashley as she attempts to get her broken clock fixed and go to work, but it’s the little things that stand out the most. If you’re not paying close attention you could miss many of the background characters who are lost in time. There’s also the beautiful flash of colors that pop off the page and help attract the readers’ eyes to important items, one of which is Ashley’s smartphone which gives her threat-level notifications. If you’re going to live in a warzone, it’s best to have an app that can let you know just how crazy things are before you head home.

[RELATED: In The Power Fantasy #6 The Government Takeover Will Continue Until Morale Improves]

The color work really is the silent star in Assorted Crisis Events. For example, Ashley’s tan skin and wardrobe keep their colors, while everything in the background is given a slightly subdued color tone. It keeps the main focus on Ashley and the individuals she encounters, but offers just enough to not wash away the craziness happening around her. Ashley deserves credit for how she handles everything. You can tell she’s been living in this crazy for a good amount of time, yet she doesn’t let it get her down or affect her overall attitude… at least until Assorted Crisis Events #1’s final pages.

So yes, Ashley appears to have adapted to all the crisis events happening around her, but part of that is also knowing that her neighborhood has people trying to make movies there. Some of the events are “real” while others are fabricated. Not every alien or mutated freak comes is lost in time. This becomes a problem when the explosions and chaos turn out to be very real, and not movie magic. It all comes at the end of a very chaotic day, with the panels contorting and transitioning as timelines merge into a colorful symphony. I’ve enjoyed her story so much that I want to see it continue in the next issue, but the anthology nature of the series doesn’t make that likely.

But that’s the beauty of Assorted Crisis Events. Next time, we can see how someone else is dealing with these crises and if they’re on par with what Ashley experienced. Things can’t get any worse, right? This is probably something Ashley was telling herself too right before the proverbial sh*t hit the fan.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Published by Image Comics

On March 12, 2024

Written by Deniz Camp

Art by Eric Zawadzki

Colors by Jordie Bellaire

Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

The post Assorted Crisis Events #1 Turns the End of the World Into a Colorful Masterpiece (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Image Comics is one of the most important comic publishers around. Since 1992, Image has allowed creators to put out books that they owned, making all of the money, and telling the stories they want. Image has published brilliant comics, and once upon a time gave starts to some of the greatest creators in comic history. Marvel poached heavily from Images in the late 2000s and early 2010s, getting a load of writers and artists that had cut their teeth at Image. One of these writers is now known as one of the greatest writers of all time — Jonathan Hickman. Jonathan Hickman’s work on superhero comics has gained him legions of fans, but there’s one Image/Hickman book that feels prescient in 2025 — The Nightly News.

The Nightly News is a six issue series that ran from 2006 to 2007. It was written and drawn by Hickman, and for fans who are more used to his sci-fi and superhero books, this is a very different experience. The comic itself is all about the Voice, a secret cult who targets the news outlets of New York City in an attack meant to change the world. The book has multiple twists and turns throughout its run, and its message is one that everyone needed to hear before they even thought about voting in 2024.

The Nightly News Is an Indictment of the Power of the Media and its Relationship with Government

The first thing that anyone notices about The Nightly News is the unique visual style. Hickman doesn’t really draw comics anymore, but his sense of design and page layout is, frankly, revolutionary. He eschews the panel structure of comics as much as possible, which gives the book a strange feel, but one that definitely helps to make its point. There’s a sense of chaos to the whole thing, which is something that cults use to indoctrinate their members; they are the antidote to chaos. Another thing that long time Hickman fans will notice is the usage of white and the infographics. This is the beginning of what is now the Hickman style, and it feels like a comic that is on the bleeding edge.

The infographics of the book are the key to the whole thing. Hickman meticulously researched the news media in the United State and the way it intersects with the government. The Nightly News is strangely apolitical in a lot of ways, something that is hard to find currently, but it does have a message — the media and the government have teamed up to control the American people since the advent of radio and TV. Hickman uses the infographics to show how the media has become smaller and smaller, with the majority of American media companies owned by just six entities. These six entities control the focus of the the people, and are able to manufacture public opinion, all while the government controls them. The Voice exists to fight them, as people who have been hurt by the media commit terrorist attacks to damage them.

[RELATED: 3 Comics to Read if You Love Yellowjackets (and Want More)]

Looking at the political situation in the United States in the last few years, the stratification of the news media is a huge problem. The term “fake news” didn’t exist when Hickman did The Nightly News and the independent “news” market we have today hadn’t crystallized either. Hickman bases characters in the media on real people, and uses actual quotes to show the hubris of the media. The media in The Nightly News is a function of control; and while it may seem that the current state of the media, one where the people have more of a voice than ever, may be able to sidestep the problems of The Nightly News, it’s easy to see the same problems in the independent media as it is in the corporate media, as politicians and political appointees more actively control the media than ever.

The Nightly News isn’t just a story about the news media and why it can be a tool of evil, but also a book that warns of the power of cults. The Voice has a “noble” goal, breaking the power of the media and the government that controls it, but even that is shown to be false as the truth about the Voice is revealed. The twist feels exactly like the independent news media of today — one controlled by a sinister force trying to take even more power into their already powerful hands. The Nightly News is about the problems with the kind of power that media and the government had, and those problems have created the United States that we see on the TV and on our devices every day.

The Nightly News Predicted the World of Today

The lessons of The Nightly News aren’t much different than they were in 2007; back then, this was a polemic about the ways that the government and the powerful are able to control the public. In the last 18 years, a lot of changed with the news media, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the inordinate amount of power it has over the American people. Even with the media moving online and the power of anyone to report the news and give their spin, there’s still the same problem with the media in 2025 as there are in The Nightly News.

The Nightly News is a deep, thoughtful work, and because of that it would be easy for some people to take it the wrong way. Everyone knows that person who talks about why they don’t trust the “mainstream media” while also parroting the talking points of a slew of media commentators who get their marching orders from the same people as the mainstream media. They would read The Nightly News and never see what it says about the media they love. However, it’s a book that has predicted the way the electoral cycles of the last decade have went, as the government and the media have controlled the truth. Look at the news tomorrow; you’ll see exactly what The Nightly News warns us of. Image is responsible for some great works, as is Hickman, but few of them can stand with the message of The Nightly News.

The post This Image Comics Series is More Important Than Ever Almost 20 Years Later appeared first on ComicBook.com.

As Showtime’s hit series Yellowjackets unleashes its third season of psychological horror and survival drama, fans craving more stories about darkness, transformation, and complex female relationships have plenty to seek out in the world of comics. The show’s compelling blend of teenage dynamics, supernatural elements, and unflinching examination of trauma has sparked renewed interest in similar narratives across different mediums. For those seeking to dive deeper into stories that echo the series’ themes of isolation, power, and the blurred lines between prey and predator, several remarkable comic series offer equally haunting journeys.

These carefully crafted graphic narratives don’t just mirror Yellowjackets‘ exploration of horror and humanity – they expand on it in unique and compelling ways. From Southern Gothic terror to historical reimaginings and modern teenage werewolf tales, these comics demonstrate how the medium can deliver sophisticated storytelling that resonates with fans of horror and drama.

Harrow County

Cullen Bunn and Tyler Crook’s Harrow County transports readers to a 1930s southern landscape where a young woman named Emmy discovers her connection to dark supernatural forces. Like Yellowjackets, the series explores themes of inherited trauma and the price of power with watercolor artwork that shifts seamlessly between pastoral charm and grotesque horror. The story’s examination of a young woman grappling with her own potential for darkness while navigating complex relationships with those around her will feel familiar to Yellowjackets fans. The series’ unique approach to southern gothic horror and its deep exploration of family legacies adds another layer to its appeal.

Manifest Destiny

Image Comics’ Manifest Destiny by Chris Dingess and Matthew Roberts offers a different kind of survival horror, reimagining the Lewis and Clark expedition as a monster-hunting mission. While tonally distinct from Yellowjackets, its exploration of isolation, group dynamics under extreme pressure, and the psychological toll of survival makes it a compelling companion piece. The series excels at examining how civilized facades crack under wilderness conditions – a theme Yellowjackets viewers will recognize. Through its 48-issue run, the comic builds a rich mythology while maintaining a focus on the human cost of survival and exploration.

Squad

For those particularly drawn to Yellowjackets‘ exploration of teenage social dynamics and transformation, Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle’s Squad provides a sharp contemporary take on high school horror. The graphic novel follows a group of popular girls who happen to be werewolves, using their otherworldly abilities to exact vigilante justice. While more overtly supernatural than Yellowjackets, its examination of power, friendship, and moral compromise resonates with similar themes. The book’s modern setting and unflinching approach to teenage social dynamics make it especially relevant to fans of the show’s present-day storyline.

What makes these comics particularly compelling to Yellowjackets fans isn’t just their surface-level similarities but their sophisticated approach to horror storytelling. Each series understands that true horror often comes from internal struggles and interpersonal dynamics rather than external threats alone. They share Yellowjackets‘ appreciation for slow-burn psychological tension and complicated female characters who defy easy categorization as heroes or villains.

The artistic approaches in these comics also deserve special attention. Harrow County’s watercolor aesthetics create an atmosphere of dreamy unease, while Manifest Destiny’s detailed period artwork grounds its supernatural elements in historical reality. Squad’s contemporary visual style perfectly captures the glossy facade of high school popularity while revealing the darkness beneath. Each series uses the comic medium to its full potential, creating immersive worlds that complement their challenging themes.

[RELATED – Yellowjackets Season 3 Premiere Recap: ‘It Girl’ (Spoilers)]

The success of Yellowjackets and these comics suggests a growing appetite for horror narratives that prioritize character development and thematic depth over simple scares. These stories recognize that the most compelling horror often emerges from exploring how ordinary people respond to extraordinary circumstances and how the line between victim and perpetrator can become dangerously thin.

For Yellowjackets fans waiting between episodes, these comics offer new worlds to explore while maintaining the psychological complexity and moral ambiguity that makes the show so appealing. Each brings its own unique perspective to similar themes, demonstrating the rich possibilities when creators approach horror with sophistication and depth.

What’s particularly striking about these selections is how each approaches the concept of transformation – a central theme in Yellowjackets. In Harrow County, Emmy’s journey from innocent farm girl to powerful supernatural entity mirrors the gradual transformation of the Yellowjackets from high school athletes to wilderness survivors. Manifest Destiny explores how the harsh realities of survival can transform not just individuals but entire groups, while Squad directly tackles physical transformation as a metaphor for power and social status.

These comics also share Yellowjackets‘ interest in examining female relationships under extreme circumstances. While the show masterfully depicts the evolution of friendships and rivalries both in the past and present, each comic offers its own perspective on how bonds between women can be both sustaining and destructive. Squad delves into the politics of high school friendship, Harrow County explores mentorship and inheritance between women, and even Manifest Destiny, despite its male protagonists, doesn’t shy away from examining power dynamics and survival through a gendered lens.

Whether readers are drawn to period pieces, survival stories, or contemporary horror, these selections provide engaging alternatives that expand upon the themes that make Yellowjackets such a memorable viewing experience. Each series demonstrates that the horror genre, when handled with care and sophistication, can be a powerful vehicle for exploring intricate human relationships and societal issues while never losing sight of its ability to thrill and unsettle.

The post 3 Comics to Read if You Love Yellowjackets (and Want More) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dune has long been one of the most popular sci-fi works of all time. Frank Herbert’s classic novel spawned a universe of spin-offs, and was the basis of the critically acclaimed Dune and Dune: Part Two. Herbert created a complex universe with his story and Herbert’s six Dune books are more about human nature, politics, and ecology than they are space battles. However, one of the most interesting parts of the Dune universe is the way that it drops readers into the deep end of its narrative and reveals more and more its universe as time goes on. Dune doesn’t hold the reader hand and lead them through its story, and the movies followed suit.

Fans of the Dune universe love the sense of discovery that comes from experiencing it. For fans who want a more complex sci-fi experience, Image Comics has one of the best sci-fi comics ever written — Prophet, by Brandon Graham, Simon Roy, Farel Dalrymple, Giannis Milogiannis, Joseph Bergin III, Lin Visel, Paul Davey, Ron Ackins, Ed Brisson, and Ariana Maher. Prophet grew out of the one of the most maligned superhero lines of all time, and it’s perfect for Dune fans who want something different from sci-fi as a genre.

Prophet Takes Reader on a Journey They Never Imagined

The origins of Prophet stretch back to the beginning of Image Comics. Writer/artist Rob Liefeld, one of the chief agitators that led to the Image Seven leaving Marvel, created his own Extreme Studios imprint of comics. Extreme was based around the book Youngblood, a team comic starring a rather generic group of “cool” superheroes, and Prophet was introduced in the second issue. He was the cliche soldier from the future come back to stop something terrible from happening, and eventually graduated to his own book, which became a bestseller in the beginning of the run. However, like most Extreme books, it wasn’t known for its adroit writing; it was all style, no substance, and that style wasn’t cool for that long. Prophet ended with issue 20 and very few people thought about it again.

In 2012, though, Prophet returned with its 21st issue. For fans who had read the original series, this book was completely new. It began with a pod digging up from underground and John Prophet coming out of it. He takes in his surroundings, on an Earth that was very different from the one that he expected, checks his equipment, and embarks on the “mission”, which is to find his way to the Thauili Van towers and reawaken the Earth Empire. Readers are inundated with new alien races and their technology, learning as the story goes on just why Earth is home to so many aliens and the fate of the few humans we see. After his mission is complete, the book jumps to another planet, one where another Prophet has awakened thanks to the message sent from the Thauili Van towers and goes about his mission. The next follows a group of Prophets, each one slightly different than the other, and in the 26th issue, readers are introduced to the hero of the story, Old Man Prophet.

[RELATED: New Image Series Takes Shots at Batman (and It’s Hilarious)]

The first twelve issues of Prophet are all worldbuilding, and there is a lot to build. There are multiple Prophets because the original John Prophet was a near perfect supersoldier and the Earth Empire made him and his clones into their backbone. Readers learn about the history of the Earth Empire and its fall at the hands of Old Man Prophet. The reawakened Earth Empire sees Old Man Prophet prepare for war again, gathering allies new and old to counteract the power of the resurgent Earth Empire. Links are constructed to the old ’90s Extreme comics, as readers learn about the fate of the members of the Youngblood and the roles they played in the evolution of humanity and the Earth Empire. Characters like Diehard, Badrock, Lady Supreme, Troll, and several others play big roles in the story as well, but the book makes sure that if the readers knows nothing about those older Image comics, they won’t miss anything.

Much like Dune, Prophet takes it story in some brilliant directions that readers would never be able to guess. The book’s revelations lead to a greater and greater understanding of the setting and characters, but even as it reveals its secrets, Prophet always feels like there’s more out there than just what readers can see. Much like Dune, it feels like it’s a living breathing universe full of beings and powers out there doing their own thing. Dune has the Bene Gesserit, Prophet has the Earth Mothers. Dune has mysteries of the sandworms’ origin, Prophet has the mysterious evolution of McCall’s Children. While Prophet isn’t as deeply philosophical as Dune — its narrative is rather simple despite a late stage twist — but the depth of its universe brings it to Dune‘s level.

Prophet Takes Readers On An Epic Journey

Dune is one of those seminal works of sci-fi that doesn’t always work for everyone. To truly enjoy it, one has to realize that they aren’t going to understand everything that’s going on right away. Prophet is exactly the same way. The story’s charm comes from the way it unfolds, each new facet answering questions and leading to the next one. Much like Dune, Prophet isn’t trying to tell a story the exact same way as every other sci-fi story out there, it’s trying to tell its own story, and that makes all the difference.

Prophet is a journey and that what makes it such a perfect sci-fi experience. It’s a work of amazing imagination, created by a team of writers and artists working at the top of their game. It’s an epic in every sense of the word. Anyone who loves Dune, or even just loves more complex sci-fi, should give Prophet a try.

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in our comment section below!

The post This Image Sci-Fi Comic Is Perfect for Fans of Dune appeared first on ComicBook.com.

From the moment the first issue of Watchmen arrived in 1986, the landscape of superhero comics was forever changed. The series, from writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins, redefined how people considered the genre, deconstructing the very idea of superheroes with its alternate history story of superpowered entities and their impact on world events and politics. It’s a story that has, nearly 40 years later, maintained its popularity, spawning prequels and sequels and various adaptations both in animation and live action as well. The story — or at least its concept — is so seminal that pretty much every superhero story that approaches superpowered people as something other than do-gooders here for the benefit of humanity has found itself compared to Watchmen. It makes sense: every new decade seems to want its own Watchmen.

The latest comic to get such a comparison is The Power Fantasy. From writer Kieron Gillen and artist Caspar Wijngaard, the Image comic debuted in 2024 and almost immediately there were some big comparisons between The Power Fantasy and Watchmen. With both stories featuring a small group of flawed superpowered individuals and their interactions in world events — and the precarious position those interactions put humanity in — it’s easy to see why the two stories would, on the surface, seem similar. However, while The Power Fantasy owes a lot to Watchmen for paving the way, it’s simply not the same. It might actually be better.

What Was Watchmen About?

Given that Watchmen has become a piece of art that is so deeply ingrained in popular culture that it’s had countless imitators and expansions, it’s worth taking a moment to refresh ourselves on what Watchmen is about. Set in an alternate reality where the emergence of superheroes has dramatically altered the course of U.S. (and world) history, the story picks up in 1985. With superheroes having grown unpopular with the public leading to them being outlawed, the murder of a man named Edward Blake prompts investigation by a costumed vigilante, Rorschach. Blake, it turns out, was the real identity of The Comedian, a costumed hero working with the U.S. government.

As Rorshach investigates, he reaches out to his former fellow heroes — Daniel Dreiberg/Nite Owl, Jon Osterman/Doctor Manhattan, Laurie Juspeczyk/Silk Spectre, and Adrian Veidt/Ozymandias — to warn them, believing that Blake’s murder is part of a larger plot against costumed heroes. Of course, the former superheroes have issues of their own. Doctor Manhattan is incorrectly accused of being the cause of cancer in those close to him, prompting him to exile himself to Mars, which heightens tensions between the U.S. and the Soviets, Veidt is nearly assassinated, and Juspeczyk begins a romance with Dreiberg and resume vigilante efforts. The story culminates in Rorschach and Dreiberg finding evidence that Veidt may be behind the conspiracy against the heroes. It turns out that they are right. Veidt has been setting things up as part of a plan to prevent nuclear war via staging a fake alien invasion that would in turn see heroes come back into fashion… at the cost of half the population of New York. He murdered Blake when Blake discovered the plan as well as orchestrated all the obstacles the others encountered in their investigation. Ultimately, the heroes are too late to stop Veidt, and the squid attack takes place, resulting in mass death and destruction. While Veidt’s act is horrific, he wasn’t wrong about it bringing about peace and the heroes decide to keep the truth a secret after deeming the truth would do more harm than good. Doctor Manhattan also ends up killing the dissenting Rorschach to ensure silence. Things end on a somewhat bleak note with Doctor Manhattan declaring that “nothing ever ends” — and a fringe publication receives Rorschach’s journal, suggesting that the truth may still come out someday… if anyone will listen.

The Power Fantasy Has Big Similarities — and Differences

On the surface, The Power Fantasy does seem eerily like Watchmen. It, too, is an alternate reality with the emergence of six super powered people altering history. The title, which is only six issues in at this point, hasn’t fully revealed all the ways that the superpowers have impacted geopolitical events, but we get some big reveals, including that in 1969 the government tried to get rid of one of the most powerful of the people — Valentina — nuking a music festival in New Mexico she was attending. It didn’t harm her but led her to exile herself to protect others and led people to believe that she herself was radioactive. As the story is unfolding, we learn more and more about these superpowers — the so-called Nuclear Family or Atomics — and how they came together to co-exist while also keeping reigns on humanity in what they see as their protecting them from, well, themselves. There’s even one of the group, Magus, who is revealed to be working with the government after their most recent attempt to kill another superpower, Heavy.

[RELATED: In The Power Fantasy #6 The Government Takeover Will Continue Until Morale Improves (Review)]

But beyond the superficial similarities, The Power Fantasy is nothing like Watchmen. The biggest deviation is the relationship between the Nuclear Family members. While the heroes in Watchmen were still on relatively decent terms with one another despite no longer being active, the powered people of The Power Fantasy aren’t close at all. Over time, their “family” has fractured with none of them seemingly fully trusting of each other and indeed, it’s shown that there are secrets and manipulations at play across different factions within the family. This is a family with bitterness and secrets, which is not something you want with these people having self-appointed themselves the guardians of humanity. It makes for a very different dynamic and that is what sets the series apart: we’re one bad family falling out from utter destruction.

It’s the Humanity of the Superpowers That Makes The Power Fantasy Better

While Watchmen certainly had elements of humanity within its powered characters, at its core the story was more a “what if” scenario asking the question of what it would truly be like for super powered people to live among us, especially if they had the power of life and death over us all. The Power Fantasy takes that concept — the “what if” of it all — but makes it less about what they can do for and to weak, defenseless humanity and more about the humanity of the super powered people themselves. At its core, The Power Fantasy is a story about a very badly broken family on a dangerous collision course. It’s a story that is enriched by the stakes — after all, the safety and well-being of humanity is at risk if things end up going boom — but for all the elements of the story that function around the superpowers and their roles, it’s what they are doing to each other that is of real interest and the storytelling.

Knowing that we’re dealing with these extremely human superhuman beings in turn makes the base story even more chilling. There’s deep anti-superpowers sentiment, leading to one of them, Heavy, creating an off-world safe haven that threatens humans so much they try to have him killed and when it takes extreme measures to talk Heavy down from retaliating, the deeper fractures in the family start to show. Those deeper fractures include a fed-up Magus who has apparently always had an inflated sense of self who capitalizes on the growing rift to align himself with the government, essentially becoming an unelected leader with obscene amounts of power beyond his superpower skills, something with eerie similarities to real-world events in American politics. And seemingly playing all sides against the middle is Etienne, a Charles Xavier-meets-Doctor Manhattan type who is on every most wanted list in the world for killing everyone involved in the attack on Heavy with a mere thought but it’s not his terrifying powers that make him perhaps the scariest of them all; it’s the illusion he presents even to himself of being ethical and, in turn, focused on humanity. Of all the superpowers we’ve met thus far, he’s the most chilling because not only is he playing all sides against the middle, but he’s the only player we’ve really met (there are still a few superpowers we’ve not formally met) whose motivations are obscured and who might actually believe his own lies.

To put it another way, while Watchmen was a sort of deconstruction of superheroes by taking them to darker places than we would expect from Superman and the like, The Power Fantasy is more of a confrontation, asking the far more frightening question of “what if superpowered beings are exactly like we are, just without limits?” Given how complicated, flawed, and often tribalistic human beings are, it’s this inversion of things that makes the story more complex and far more relevant, offering the space to take the reader deeper into the darkest corners of the human experience because, after all, these superpowered beings are sort of human themselves.

Watchmen will always be something of a gold standard when it comes to deconstructionist superhero stories. Before it, there really wasn’t much in the way of a serious critical look at the world of superpowered characters. The quality of the work cannot be disputed. But every generation finds ways to improve upon the past and The Power Fantasy is doing just that. By leaning into what the Nuclear Family can do to one another and the wild, unsettlingly relatable humanity of that even as they have godlike abilities, Gillen and Wijngaard are setting a new standard. They’re answering the question of “who watches the Watchmen” and it turns out that “they watch themselves” is not only the answer, but it’s perhaps more dangerous than anything we’ve ever seen. And it rules.

The Power Fantasy #6 is on sale now.

The post No, The Power Fantasy Isn’t Watchmen (But It Might Be Better) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

G.I. Joe #4 comes out swinging with a high-velocity issue that pits the Joes against insurmountable odds while making you believe they’ve got just the tiniest sliver of a chance to succeed. That’s been around since the book’s first issue but is especially poignant in issue #4, and it can’t help but endear you that much more to this ragtag crew just trying to get the job done and survive to make it home. That allows the larger-than-life franchise elements and characters to maximize their impact without losing the moment-to-moment tension of what’s happening to the book’s heroes, and if that isn’t G.I. Joe at its core then I don’t know what is.

Joshua Williamson continues to navigate that balancing act to great success, hitting with big action sequences that lean into the spectacle and fun of the franchise while still keeping the attention on this evolving (and still a bit dysfunctional) team of Joes. A brilliant example of this is found in the issue’s first few pages, with the team in the midst of a high-speed escape from the Crimson Twins. These characters, the vehicles they drive, and the weapons they use are all bigger than life, but it always comes back to the characters at the center of the story, and you most certainly care what happens to them.

That particular sequence and several more throughout the issue are absolutely gorgeous by the way, and the brilliant team of artist Tom Reilly, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and letterer Rus Wooton also makes each action set piece feel unique and distinct from what’s come before.

The book’s brand new character Risk brings some welcome unpredictability and mystery to the series, and so far the issues between Risk and just about everyone make for comedy gold. That said, Cobra kind of steals the show here, both in terms of their grand plans and their roster of characters, and it certainly feels like the Joes are getting their butts handed to them quite a bit, both in this issue and in the series overall.

[RELATED: Threezero G.I. Joe Baroness Sixth-Scale Figure Is Up For Pre-Order]

That underdog element though is important, and it’s something I’ve grown to love. This issue heavily plays into that element, and while the jury is out on whether Duke is just unhinged or knows something we all don’t, I still can’t help but give him the benefit of the doubt. The unpredictability of this series is one of its key strengths, and the series isn’t likely to let that go anytime soon.

The team has found a way to ground the core concept of G.I. Joe and its characters without losing the epic fun that made the franchise such a hit in the first place.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Published by Skybound

On February 19, 2025

Written by Joshua Williamson

Art by Tom Reilly

Colors by Jordie Bellaire

Letters by Rus Wooton

What did you think of G.I. Joe #4? Let us know in the comments and you can also talk all things comics and G.I. Joe with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post G.I. Joe #4 Hits the Gas and Never Looks Back (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s been a few months since Kieron Gillen and Caspar Wijngaard’s hit Image Comics series has published a new issue, but The Power Fantasy #6 could not have arrived at a better time in the world (complimentary for the comic, derogatory for the world). The fresh start of a new arc has two major things working in its favor, reintroducing readers back into the world after a brief time away while also managing to push its story ahead. As readers may have expected from its unique approach to “superpowers” in the first five issues, the latest chapter of The Power Fantasy continues to prove that there’s nothing else quite like it on the shelves.

Picking up after the major cliffhanger from issue #5, Jacky Magus has fully positioned himself in the US Government, taking on the role of “Secretary of Magic” for the United States. An unelected person taking a top position in the executive branch from a division that didn’t exist previously? It couldn’t possibly feel like anything currently in the news, not at all. As a result of his actions the other atomics have to now perform a bit of a dance to figure out where everyone stands, the longstanding struggle of this entire series (and its deadly lead characters) put on full display once again.

Gillen’s deft plotting manages to not only juggle reintegrating us back into the world but keep things moving (and interesting) throughout. Naturally, there are some big surprises along the way, with major character reveals that will shape not only this current arc but the issues that are set to follow (Gillen confirms the series could run for 50 issues if things go well). Etienne and Val have long been two of the most interesting pieces of this larger puzzle, but Magus’ new role gives him an extra dimension and room for Gillen to explore in fun and meaningful ways. Heavy is also given the spotlight here along with Tonya, the Atomic that helped kick off the story back in issue 1. Mystery still abounds though, and Gillen teases it out in ways that keep you engaged, especially with Eliza, the demonic Atomic.

[RELATED: The Power Fantasy #1 Advance Review: A Game of Superpowers]

A key ingredient of The Power Fantasy that has been true since issue #1, and remains the case here, is the artwork by Caspar Wijngaard consistently evokes a specific mood in each panel. Even if the page itself is a conversation between three characters that aren’t even on the same planet, Wijngaard manages to make sure that the color aura that surrounds each of them contributes to the larger emotional beat of where they are at that time and what they’re trying to convey. This is even true for characters talking in the same room, it’s a unique style that tends to buck major comic book tradition, but rewards the reader along the way.

That also plays into the later unique paneling that he displays. One page could be a fractured tableau to give us a deeper sense of a character’s mental wellbeing, and the next could be stacks of long panels showing off the vistas of the world (and where the heck everyone is), half the excitement here is the journey of what things look like with the next page turn. That’s one of the highest compliments I can give The Power Fantasy, you’re never lost visually when reading it, and Wijngaard’s artwork maintains a high level of consistency with crisp details.

I would not recommend newcomers immediately dive into The Power Fantasy #6, since it is built on five very important issues with a lot of added context and insight, there’s something amazing about the storytelling fluidity and how it gentle glided me back into this world. Where this series has always succeeded are the places that it continues to excel, it’s a layered and nuanced story that brings superhero comics to a level that they haven’t ever existed. Though every major publisher is finding success with reworks of their most famous characters right now, none of them are quite hitting like The Power Fantasy.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Published by: Image Comics

On: February 19, 2025

Written by: Kieron Gillen

Art by: Caspar Wijngaard

Colors by: Caspar Wijngaard

Letters by: Clayton Cowles

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Comic book writer Donny Cates, known for his groundbreaking runs on Venom, Thor, and Hulk, has announced his return to comics following a prolonged absence from the industry. The writer’s departure in 2023 came after a series of personal challenges, including a serious car accident in 2022 that resulted in temporary amnesia, forcing him to step away from several high-profile projects. As a result, his runs on both Thor and Hulk concluded prematurely, leaving numerous plotlines unresolved. Now, after nearly two years away from monthly comics, Cates has confirmed multiple new projects are in development, with announcements scheduled for this summer.

“Just wanted to check in with all of you and let you know that your boy is back on the dance floor,” Cates shared on Instagram. “Expect announcements this summer. And then another one after that. What do you think? Anyone want to guess? If you get it right I’ll buy your first issue.” The playful tone of his announcement suggests a renewed energy from the writer, who has spent the intervening time focused on recovery while maintaining limited involvement in the industry through consulting roles, including providing additional literary material for Sony’s Kraven the Hunter and serving as a creative consultant on Venom: The Last Dance.

[RELATED: Spider-Man Is About to Get a New Sidekick (and They’re Bringing Back the Black Suit)]

The timing of Cates’ return carries particular significance given the impact of his last major works. His final contributions to Marvel Comics concluded with Thor #35 and Hulk #14 in 2023, following runs that redefined both characters for a new generation. Under his pen, Thor became the herald of Galactus and faced off against a time-displaced version of Thanos, while the Hulk was reimagined as a starship powered by Bruce Banner’s rage. These innovative takes on established characters exemplified Cates’ ability to respect continuity while pushing boundaries, a trait that earned him a devoted following among readers.

What’s Next for Donny Cates?

The creator’s return to comics promises to be significant, given his track record of commercial and critical success. Before his hiatus, Cates had established himself as one of the industry’s most dynamic writers, known for ambitious storylines that frequently crossed over between titles. His work on Venom introduced the character Knull and led to two major Marvel events, “Absolute Carnage” and “King in Black,” which became some of Marvel’s bestselling crossover events of the past decade. Additionally, his creator-owned work through Image Comics, including series like God Country, Redneck, and Vanish, demonstrated his versatility across genres and ability to craft compelling original narratives.

Cates’ previous work spans both major publishers and creator-owned titles, suggesting several possible directions for his return. His strong relationship with Marvel Comics makes new Marvel projects a distinct possibility. However, his last creator-owned work, Vanish, concluded in June 2023 with several storylines that could potentially be revisited. Through his production company KLC Press, founded with artist Ryan Stegman, Cates also has an established platform for launching new independent projects.

Stay tuned for updates on Donny Cates’ new projects. Meanwhile, his previous works, including Thor, Hulk, and Venom, are currently available through Marvel Comics, while his creator-owned series can be found through Image Comics. What do you think Cates will do next? Join the discussion in the comments!

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Image Comics fans are set to see one of their favorites jump to the world of animation, and the team behind Netflix’s hit series Big Mouth is at the helm. Image’s horror series Nights is being developed for an animated series (via THR), and Big Mouth studio Titmouse is bringing the series to reality. Making the announcement even better is that Nights writer Wyatt Kennedy and artist Luigi Formisano will also be involved in the project, so horror fans and fans of comics all have a reason to rejoice.

Nights successfully launched its first arc that was fittingly titled season one, but it remains to be seen if the show will adapt it straight up season for season or spread out the story a bit across multiple seasons as new issues are released.

Titmouse creative director Alexei Bochenek is excited to deliver fans an experience like he had when he used to stay up late and find himself glued to Toonami, and he called Nights a “generational experience in the making.”

“Reading it reminds me of when I used to stay up late watching FLCL at midnight on Toonami, having my mind blown not just by how dynamic it was, but by how seen it made me feel, a mirror to my whole self, good and bad, dreams and fears. If you know you know,” Bochenek said. “I want to bring that feeling back to the animation fans like me who have been chasing it ever since, and introduce a whole new audience to the experience of discovering themselves through a new show that they feel seen by and become huge champions of, too. That’s what Nights is.”

[RELATED: DC’s Absolute Batman Just Revealed the Gnarliest Cape & Cowl Design Ever]

The realm of animation is a perfect one for Kennedy as well, and he revealed that he’s always looked at animation first for an adaptation as opposed to live-action. “From our earliest conversations, Alexei and his team immediately understood the soul of our strange little story, and their passionate collaborative spirit leaves me confident that we’re crafting something that fans of the book and newcomers alike will love,” Kennedy said.

As for the animated style of the show, Titmouse says the plan is to embrace the early 2000s look and feel of the comic, which takes place in 2003. Titmouse has created hit shows like Legend of Vox Machina, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and The Venture Bros., so they are quite adept at capturing a property’s personality with a sense of unique style, and that should follow suit with Nights.

In fact, Formisano revealed that some of his favorite shows are from Titmouse, so this couldn’t be a bigger dream pairing. “It’s a huge honor to work with a team who loves this story as much as Wyatt and I do, and I can’t wait for fans to see what we create together,” Formisano said.

There’s no word on a release date or window yet, but we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime you can catch up on Nights ahead of the show with Nights TP, Vol. 1, and you can find the official description right here.

“It’s 2003, supernatural creatures casually exist amongst humans, and America is made up of 31 states. Vince Okonma has lost his parents, moved in with his secret mercenary cousin and his video game-making roommate, and befriended “the greatest vampire who’s ever lived.” And that’s just the first 20 pages. From WYATT KENNEDY (BOLERO) and newcomer LUIGI FORMISANO, a new vision of urban gothic adventure starts here! Welcome to Florida, where the youth is wasted on the young… Collects NIGHTS #1-6″

Are you excited for Nights? Let us know in the comments and you can talk all things comics and animation with me on Bluesky @knightofoa!

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In 2018, Marvel Comics announced that it had secured the rights to publish new comics based on Robert E. Howard’s iconic fantasy hero Conan, setting writer Jason Aaron, artist Mahmud Asrar, and colorist Matthew Wilson at the helm of a new Conan the Barbarian comic series that launched in January 2019. While Marvel’s return to publishing Conan comics proved fleeting, the 12-issue run that began the short-lived new era proved popular enough with fans for Marvel to reunite the creative trio for the six-issue King Conan series that served as the finale to the publisher’s second tenure as custodian of the Cimmerian’s comic adventures in 2022.

Bug Wars, published by Image Comics, sees Aaron, Asrar, and Wilson reuniting (with letterer Becca Carey entering the mix). Given their creative history, readers may expect Bug Wars to be a bit of Conan-esque sword-and-sorcery genre fare shrunk down to insect scale in an exercise similar to what Pixar’s A Bug’s Life did with the basic premise lifted from Akira Kurosawa’s classic Japanese historical drama, Seven Samurai. They wouldn’t be wrong, but that’s only half of the equation as Bug Wars also reimagines the premise of the family film classic Honey, I Shrunk the Kids as an ultra-violent power fantasy. In Bug Wars #1, one of these halves proves more compelling than the other.

Bug Wars #1 begins by establishing the setting of the Yard, which exists in the backyard of a human home. Here, beneath human notice, conflict rages as beetle berserkers attack an anthill kingdom like the Visigoths crashing against the walls of Rome, but all taking place at a scale that could fit in a terrarium.

But the Yard is, on the whole, bigger than any one battle or any pair of dysfunctional territorial neighbors. A row of six panels across a two-page spread introduces readers to the names of several factions existing in the Yard, conveyed in captions with text meant to appear handwritten, suggesting that these are places entities encountered and recorded by someone capable of communicating with humans. Yet, the artwork only shows us these havens of the Yard’s bug cultures as they appear to human eyes – Swarm City as a bit of overgrown foliage, the Wor Wraiders hovering around their familiar nests – which adds an alluring sense of mystery. In a matter of a few panels, the creative team builds a world that hints at exciting adventure, populated by sapient insects, that may stand alongside similarly premised stories like Mouse Guard and The Mice Templar (though less murine-centric, obviously).

Unlike those stories, Bug Wars features humans, and their involvement in the world of the Yard is central to the plot. The Slaymaker family (yes, Slaymaker) are moving into the home that abuts the Yard. It’s a tough move given that this is the same house where Sydney Slaymaker, the elder of two sons, discovered his entomologist father dead, having seemingly been partially eaten alive by the bugs he was studying. The death of the Slaymaker boys’ father affected Sydney and his younger brother, Slade Slaymaker, in opposite ways.

Having been traumatized, Sydney grew to fear and hate bugs passionately. Conversely, Slade, who can’t remember his father, seems to have inherited his fascination with bugs to connect with the father he never knew. While an interesting contrast, both brothers express themselves in over-the-top ways, the put-upon nerd Slade talking about virtually nothing other than bugs throughout the entire issue, while Sydney – whose long hair, jeans, and plain black t-shirt suggests an affinity for heavy metal – goes as far as to nail a bug to his front door as a threatening warning to, apparently, any other bug who may come looking for trouble (he even writes a note to accompany the morbid display, in case the would-be insect toughs who pass by are literate in English). These one-note characterizations, along with some gruesome panels and blunt use of profanity for emphasis, make the human half of the Bug Wars equation feel somewhat juvenile.

But the crux of Bug Wars is where the human and insect worlds meet. What Bug Wars #1 tantalizing does not say outright is that the Slaymaker father knew of and interacted with the Yard, opening up the possibility that he was killed with intent, and now one of his sons is following in his footsteps. From the issue’s narration, we learn there’s much we don’t know about the boys’ father and the world of the Yard and are primed to discover those truths as the series progresses, turning the premise into something not far from Tom King, Bilquis Evely, and Matheus Lopez’s recently acclaimed fantasy series Helen of Wyndhorn though the tones are quite different, with Bug Wars being a more muscular affair, visually, with a focus on gory detail, it’s first issue punctuated by a moment of violent empowerment. Though we can’t know, one could be charitable and assume that’s the point, and as Bug Wars continues, it’ll chart its hero’s maturation as he reckons with the grisly power he has come to possess.

Bug Wars looks to be a story about how the absence of a father and the secrets they once kept can change the trajectory of a son’s life. There’s potential in that, but how the creators marry the two worlds they’ve introduced here, and whether they can keep from overindulging in puerile violence, remains to be seen.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Published by Image Comics

On February 12, 2025

Written by Jason Aaron

Art by Mahmud Asrar

Colors by Matthew Wilson

Letters by Becca Carey

The post Bug Wars Is a Gory Take On Conan the Barbarian Meets Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (Review) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

An unexpected comic book series is topping Amazon Canada’s sales charts a decade after its publication — and current events may be playing a role for its resurgence. This week, Image Comics noted that We Stand On Guard, a 2015 series written by Brian K. Vaughan with art by Steve Skroce and colors by Matt Hollingsworth is currently the #1 Best Seller in Science Fiction Graphic Novels on Amazon Canada. Given the time that’s passed since the series was published — the deluxe hardcover graphic novel was published in June 2016 and the Amazon Canada listing for the paperback is dated 2017 — its sudden resurgence is a little unexpected, but recent trade tensions between the United States and Canada could be the reason.

Set 100 years in the future, We Stand On Guard is a dystopian story that follows a group of Canadian civilians turned freedom fighters defending their homeland from invasion by a technologically superior United States of America. The series is action-packed and gritty, pulling no punches and while it’s centered around sci-fi — there are some big freaking robots in this story — it’s also political, something that Vaughan said back in 2016 was by design.

“Niko Henrichon and I had already done an allegory about noncombatant victims of war with Pride of Baghdad, but now I wanted to write about actual violent resistance against a country I love, in a way that would hopefully be relatable to anyone, regardless of nationality,” Vaughan told The Beat. “Steve and I never wanted this to be boring ‘commentary’, but underneath the pulp and giant robot guts, it’s definitely political.”

[RELATED: Could Fantastic Four: First Steps Subtly Be Adapting This Critically Acclaimed Comics Series?]

So, why is the idea of a war between Canada and the United States of interest now, especially to Canadian readers? To that, we go to current events. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose significant tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, placing duties of 25% on imports from Canada, though energy imports would be taxed at a 10% rate. Canada, for its part, fought back with matching tariffs, including those on alcohol and fruit. However, just one day later those tariffs were put on pause by Trump for at least 30-days after talks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

While the tariff tension may be a major reason for the spike in interest in We Stand on Guard, it also may not be the only one. President Trump has also previously been vocal about wanting to make Canada the 51st U.S. state, something that likely does not sit well with most Canadians. With a potential looming trade war and even the talk of the U.S. wanting Canada to become a state, it makes sense that a book which sees Canada invaded would be of unique interest at this point in history.

We Stand On Guard is available in graphic novel format now – in both the U.S. and in Canada. Have you read We Stand On Guard? Let us know your thoughts in the commen

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It really doesn’t get much more delightfully surreal than Juni Ba’s critically acclaimed Monkey Meat anthology, and we’ve got an exclusive first-look preview of the anthology’s next entry right here! Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch will be hitting stores on March 5th, and will invite readers to the popular vacation spot of Monkey Meat Island. Granted, the island itself is run by a rather questionable corporate entity, and everything (and more importantly everyone) isn’t exactly what they may seem, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun an soak up the sun right? You are correct, and you can check out the full preview in the images below.

Juni Ba couldn’t wait to get back to this world, though it didn’t hurt that the Monkey Meat Company does have an interest in seeing their stories published for the world to see after all.

“The Monkey Meat company owns 95% of the real estate of my mind,” Ba said. “I thus felt an urge to revisit those unhinged comics (and a pressure from shareholders to ensure a return on their evil investment.) The result is something I hope will be both great fun and delicious, and just a tad addictive! (No artificial flavors added).”

The new preview shows how everything can change in an instant, with a mysterious stranger from the future suddenly arriving and setting out to teach those now under his care how to survive on their own with his self-made tools. They felt safe with him, even if there were questions regarding the future scenario he was fleeing. You can find the official description of The Summer Batch below.

[RELATED: New Image Series Takes Shots at Batman (and It’s Hilarious)]

“Written and drawn by Ba—with special authorization from the Monkey Meat Company—the tasty, critically acclaimed anthology is back for a second serving! In Monkey Meat: The First Batch, readers visited Monkey Meat Island—where the infamous Monkey Meat Company’s wacky experiments and processed goods have taken their toll on the local, magical fauna. What was once a lush and magical island is now a hyper-capitalist hellscape wherein even demons have to pay rent. Now, in Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch, readers are invited to vacation on Monkey Meat Island for what promises to be an entertaining and gonzo escape. What could be more diverting than a vacation to a hellish west African fantasy island run by a corporation of questionable intent? Embark on a brand new set of adventures to amuse (and mentally scar) the whole family! Exotic locations, debt-collecting forest witches, and a superhero monkey suing the corporation that owns him. All these and more await our guests.”

“I’ve needed this! Monkey Meat is where I get to have fun, shed the corporate expectations and rules, and conceive comics that are cartoonish, experimental, and infectious. Hopefully they are as enjoyable to read as they are to draw,” said Ba. “This is by far the comic I get the most requests to continue making, and I’m happy to oblige. This new batch goes for a more underground feel. Like a comic you’d find dusty and ruffled on the floor of a Senegalese dibiterie meat restaurant. Dig in!”

Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch will land in comic stores on Wednesday, March 5th, and Monkey Meat: The First Batch is in stores now.

What did you think of the preview? You can talk all things comics with me in the comments or on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch Takes on the Future in First Look Preview (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new comic series is calling Batman out — or rather, calling out two of the Dark Knight’s bigger controversies. In Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch #1 from Juni Ba, the upcoming Image Comics title features hilarious nods to two of DC Comics’ more interesting controversies surrounding Batman, specifically the infamous “Death in the Family” storyline and a sex scene that DC wouldn’t allow Harley Quinn producers to include in the animated series’ third season. The references were spotted in a preview of Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch #1, due out March 5th (via Bleeding Cool) and are hilarious.

In the comic, there’s a sequence where the narration discusses the fate of the sidekick Monkey Girl, who “despite years as a faithful sidekick” ends up being best known for a story where she’s killed, resurrected, and comes back traumatized. It’s explained that the storyline was at the behest of the readers, who offered the character’s fate up for them to choose. While it’s a direct reference to DC Comics’ having readers vote on the fate of Jason Todd’s Robin for “A Death in the Family”, the reference in Monkey Meat doesn’t quite stop there. It goes on to reference another DC “controversy”, specifically the idea of a Batman/Catwoman sex scene in Harley Quinn in which Batman would have been performing oral sex on Catwoman — something DC firmly sad no to. How does that translate in Monkey Meat? Well, they ask “three fans” about why they voted to kill Monkey Girl with one responding “Now they can finally do what the fans want instead of the company keeping them from it. Like eat p*ssy.” You can check out the page for yourself below.

[RELATED: Harley Quinn Star Kaley Cuoco Reacts to Banned Batman Sex Scene]

The Batman Controversies, Explained (Briefly)

What makes the Monkey Meat: Summer Batch #1 “jabs” at these Batman controversies is that it provides a bit of commentary on how one thing is considered acceptable — specifically the death of Jason Todd — and the other is not. For those who may not be entirely familiar, here’s a brief breakdown of both controversies. “A Death in the Family” is a 1988 Batman storyline written by Jim Starlin with art by Jim Aparo. Considered one of the most important and iconic Batman storylines, the story sees the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin, die at the hands of the Joker but it wasn’t merely a straightforward storyline. Instead, fans could call in on a 900 number to vote and, thus, determine Jason’s fate. Ultimately, the votes were not in Jason’s favor and he died. The character was later resurrected as the Red Hood, complete with a lot of trauma. The story was, even in its time, extremely controversial.

As for the Batman/Catwoman of it all, that controversy is a bit more recent. Back in 2021, Harley Quinn series co-creator Jason Halpern revealed that while they had been given a good bit of freedom by Warner Bros., there were some things they simply could not do, including a proposed sex scene between Batman and Catwoman.

“A perfect example of that is in this third season of Harley [when] we had a moment where Batman was going down on Catwoman,’ Halpern said. “And DC was like, ‘You can’t do that. You absolutely cannot do that.’ They’re like, ‘Heroes don’t do that,’ So, we said, ‘Are you saying heroes are just selfish lovers?’ They were like, ‘No it’s that we sell consumer toys for heroes. It’s hard to sell a toy if Batman is also going down on someone.”

It’s the “selling toys” and capitalism/consumerism of it all that Monkey Meat seems to be poking at, with a character in the panel reacting to the idea that fans should dictate what characters can do: “Nah man! There’ kids characters!”

What Is Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch #1 About?

A follow up to Monkey Meat: The First Batch, Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch brings readers back to vacation on Monkey Meat Island for “what promises to be an entertaining and gonzo escape. What could be more diverting than a vacation to a hellish west African fantasy island run by a corporation of questionable intent? Embark on a brand-new set of adventures to amuse (and mentally scar) the whole family! Exotic locations, debt-collecting forest witches, and a superhero monkey suing the corporation that owns him. All these and more await our guests.”

The five-issue series is written by, and features art by, Juni Ba. It is scheduled to be published by Image Comics on March 5th.

What do you think about Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch #1 making a hilarious nod to some of DC Comics’ more interesting Batman controversies? Let us know in our comment section!

The post New Image Series Takes Shots at Batman (and It’s Hilarious) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Image Comics has announced that Rob Liefeld’s hit ’90s comic series Youngblood is getting fully-remastered, with each issue set to be released in deluxe collector’s editions. The Youngblood Deluxe releases will take each issue of the series and bring them back into comic book store shelves with major enhancements, meaning readers hoping for facsimiles of the originals comics won’t find them here. According to a press release from Image, the Youngblood Deluxe issues will be “re-scripted, re-colored, re-lettered, and remastered to take the reader’s experience to the next level.”

“This is the ultimate way to experience Youngblood,” Liefeld said in a statement. “These characters mean so much to me and to revisit them like this is the absolute best way to read the comic that literally started the revolution and transformed the industry!”

The re-mastered deluxe versions of Youngblood marks the first time that the original series has actively been in print in many years. In Youngblood Deluxe #1, readers will enter the world of Badrock, Shaft, Die-Hard, Vogue, Sentinel, Riptide, Cougar, Chapel, and more, for 40 pages of eye-popping, mind-melting action. Youngblood Deluxe #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, April 16.

First teased by Liefeld in the pages of other comics, Youngblood was created as a superhero team that not only fought crime, but saw its superheroes become celebrities. This lead to the group not only battling ne’er-do-wells but also balancing things like their endorsement deals that they had on the side, delivering a very meta-take on superheroes during one of the biggest eras comic book publishing.

Youngblood has been rebooted a few times not only by Liefeld but other prominent comic creators, with Watchmen‘s Alan Moore even penning a few issues along the way. Last October brought news that Liefeld would be returning to Youngblood with all-new stories that he will both write and draw, which remains in the pipeline.

The Youngblood Deluxe edition issues aren’t the only way Image Comics is celebrating Liefeld’s series, as this April will also see the release of the massive Youngblood Vault Edition hardcover. This massive over-sized hardcover, which retails for $150, features “every piece of Rob Liefeld art from Youngblood #1-4, covers, pin-ups, trading cards, and more in meticulously reproduced archival quality.”

The post Rob Liefeld’s Youngblood Getting Deluxe Remasters From Image Comics appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Let’s not beat around the bush: as a franchise, Transformers is in deep trouble. This is especially true for the saga on the big screen, where audiences have begun to give this series the cold shoulder no matter how positive the critical reception is. In 2023, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts became the lowest-grossing live-action Transformers movie in history. This past September, Transformers One outright bombed with a $128.27 million worldwide haul on a $75 million budget.

No wonder Hasbro has announced it’s pulling back on co-financing movie adaptations of its toys. To rub salt into the wounds, there isn’t a massive culture-defining animated Transformers TV show currently on the airwaves introducing these characters to a new generation of youngsters. Even the toys haven’t been making much in the way of headlines beyond collectibles aimed at nostalgic adults. How did the Transformers franchise get into this shape? On a happier note, though, how could there also be a spark of hope for this long-running saga?

How the Transformers Franchise Got Into Trouble

The Transformers saga got into its current position simply by exhausting nostalgia for as long as it could. The ’80s kids who grew up on “The Touch” and Peter Cullen’s iconic Optimus Prime kept coming out to the original Transformers movies (despite their toxic reviews and eschewing of Transformers canon) and buying merchandise. However, it’s clear now that titles like Transformers: Age of Extinction didn’t do much to cultivate the next generation of Transformers fans. By the time superior family-friendly movies like Bumblebee and Transformers One opened, it was too late. The well had been tainted.

In terms of yesteryear pop culture properties that appeal to youngsters and adults alike, the world has moved on to things like Sonic the Hedgehog or The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Meanwhile, children’s television, the domain the Transformers first exploded in back in the 1980s, no longer belongs to these robots. 2010s animated Transformers shows like Transformers: Prime or Transformers: Robots in Disguise couldn’t hold a candle to the popularity of, say, Adventure Time or Steven Universe.

With this inability to generate new fans, Transformers is stuck in an awkward situation. People recognize Optimus Prime, but they also don’t have tremendously fond memories associated with either him or the franchise he originated from. Still, even in the midst of this turmoil, hope springs eternal. The comic book incarnations of the Transformers offer some hope that these characters aren’t gone just yet.

[RELATED: Michael Bay’s Transformers Movies Were Almost Derailed After the First Film]

Hope Lies Not in the Stars but in Comics

In 2023, Skybound Entertainment and Image Comics began running a series of Transformers comics that immediately captured the public’s imagination. Not only have sales been strong for these comics, but they’ve also garnered incredibly positive reviews championing how well they make the various Autobots and Decepticons dramatically compelling characters. Also running simultaneously is another acclaimed Transformers comic book line, Energon Universe, overseen by Invincible creator Robert Kirkman.

Energon Universe also garnered positive marks from readers, particularly for the creative ways it incorporated new details into Transformers lore. While these comic sagas feature visuals and storyline details harkening back to older Transformers mythos, it’s also clear they’re generating fanbases unique unto themselves. Right now, the passionate fervor surrounding these Transformers comics is evocative of how IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics got that franchise back on its feet. The miniseries The Last Ronin especially overhauled expectations for what a Ninja Turtles story could look and feel like.

Those creative risks led to a resurging Ninja Turtles fanbase that was more than ready to embrace new movies like 2023’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Only time will tell if the ongoing comic book exploits of Transformers lead to a similar renaissance. For now, though, these successful comics show that these characters can still garner new fans and anchor compelling stories.

Best of all, they offer a glimmer of hope that this saga can evolve beyond just evoking 1980s nostalgia or reminding people of terrible Michael Bay movies. A fresh generation could have versions of Optimus Prime and Cybertron of their own that rekindle a love for this fictional mechanical world. These Autobots may have been knocked out at the box office, but they’re most certainly not down and out just yet. Like Ninja Turtles, Transformers are finding a brand new lease on life in the wide, exciting world of comic books.

Transformers One is now streaming on Paramount+

The post The Transformers Franchise Is in Trouble (but There’s One Bright Spot) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Eight Billion Genies was a comic with such a premise and a strong story backing it up that when the creative team announces a new series, it’s going to get some people interested. Writer Charles Soule and artist Ryan Browne are bringing their talents to a brand new limited series that trades in genies for demons. Lucky Devils introduces two “average joes” who are running into some life-shattering problems that might have a supernatural origin. In its premiere issue, the new Image Comics offering is one that has big shoes to fill but it might just create a story that does exactly that.

Lucky Devils begins its nine-issue run by introducing readers to Cam and Starr, a Philosophy 101 professor and a nurse residing in Chicago. While Cam appears to be dealing with a number of inconveniences that are ruining his love life and financial status, Starr is dealing with a lack of opportunities to move up in her career. Things appear to change for both of these down-on-their-luck characters when they are introduced to Collar and Rake, their own personal demons. The underworld duo has been responsible for much of the misfortune that have befallen their human targets throughout their lives but the demons have a unique proposition for the teacher and nurse. As is the case with Eight Billion Genies, not everything is at it seems and some characters are holding their cards close to their chests.

Both Starr and Cam are interesting enough characters here to lead the story, as the parallel lives of both have enough differences to make them both appealing to follow despite their similarities in the demon department. On the flip side, Collar and Rake, who happen to be romantically intertwined, are hilarious and colorful foils to their downtrodden counterparts. This premiere issue is one that has plenty of ground to cover with just as much exposition, but luckily, the demonic couple work well in conveying the information in an entertaining manner.

Of course, what would a good story be without a better twist and boy does Lucky Devils have a good one. It’s not hard to determine that Collar and Rake aren’t exactly being straight forward with Cam and Starr, but their lies are such that not many readers will utlimately be able to see through them until they’re shown in the issue’s final pages. The series is one that takes a U-turn in its final pages, demanding that the reader stay on board its train for the foreseeable future and said approach is definitely a strong one.

As mentioned earlier, exposition can be a tough, but sometimes necessary, storytelling element but luckily, Browne is the perfect foil for Soule’s script here. Ryan makes complete use of all the space given to him on each page, with Rake and Collar routinely blending into the panels themselves and intertwining their “explanations” with one another in different locations. The real testament to Browne’s skill is when we are finally given the opportunity to see what the demons’ underworld abode looks like.

Browne creates a hellish environment that is quite like our own for Collar and Rake, albeit with some truly demonic twists on the streets. It’s an ugly, congested locale that also feels lived in while not diving off the deep end in its absurdity. The artist also does an exceptional job of capturing the feelings of these ugly monstrosities in our hellish lovers, showing how they care for one another in the quiet moments before the hammer falls on their masterplan reveal.

Lucky Devils is a comic that hits the ground floor running, presenting a fiendishly clever premise via four main appealing characters. The new Image Comic has a big act to follow after Eight Billion Genies and this opening salvo does just that. Collar and Rake might just be the top demons of 2025 and I look forward to seeing what Soul and Browne have in store for the rest of the series.

Published by: Image Comics

On: January 8th, 2025

Written By: Charles Soule

Art by: Ryan Browne

Colors by: Ryan Browne & Kevin Knipstein

Letters by: Christopher Crank

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Of all of the periods of American history that people talk about and explore through fiction, one that is simultaneously the least represented and perhaps most fascinating is the Dust Bowl era of the Great Depression. The result of numerous factors — including severe drought and failure to use farming methods to prevent wind erosion — the Dust Bowl decimated the Great Plains across three waves starting in 1934 and, in turn led to many families abandoning their homesteads to head West seeking work. A bleak time in history, the era saw many suffer financial ruin and exposed darker realities, including class inequality.  It’s that setting that Image Comics’ new series Dust to Dust occupies as it sets up a murder mystery of sorts and while the landscape may be dry, Dust to Dust #1 is anything but.

Written by J.G. Jones and Phil Bram along with art by Jones, Dust to Dust #1 introduces us to Sheriff Meadows, the lawman for the town of New Hope in Cimarron Count, Oklahoma in 1935. The town and its people are in dire shape thanks to the drought and right out of the gate, we get an idea of just how bad it is. The Olsen family is packing up what little they own to head away to California hoping for a better life. Turns out, businessman Hillard, who it is soon revealed seems to own the whole town, had been continuing to push farmers to drill for water, but each attempt was fruitless. Meanwhile, in town Meadows meets Sara Grange, a stringer photographer from Chicago who is taking pictures of the situation, looking for the next big story.

While the book is billed as a story in which a serial killer stalks the small town, the first issue doesn’t really dig too much into that. Instead, we’re getting the lay of the land and it’s an excellent narrative and visual strategy for Jones and Bram. There are a lot of little clues in the story that are set up by establishing the characters and the setting. Early on, we see the Olsen’s young son and dog come across suspicious bones near the drilling, though it’s not made clear just yet what exactly that bone is, human or animal.  We also get a very clear picture of the inequity in the town when Hillard is enraged upon learning that the Olsens pulled up to head West. Turns out, Hillard — like nearly everyone in the town — owes him money and the heartless Hillard doesn’t seem to care that people are struggling. There’s even a moment in the center of town where another farmstead is being sold at auction — and seemingly a wealthy outsider is seeking to profit on the misfortune of others, which nearly starts a riot among the citizens. All of this on a backdrop of an environment that itself is hostile as the issue closes with another violent dust storm on the horizon that could very much endanger the town and the Olsens on the road.

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While the story doesn’t fully drop us into the serial killer of it all just yet, it’s a fantastic issue just the same. By giving the story a full issue to set the stage, it allows for readers to settle in and even identify with the characters. There’s something distinctly human about the Olsen’s struggle and Meadows’ impossible position trying to maintain order and dignity in the dying town while simultaneously having to deal with what is essentially a corporate overlord completely removed from humanity and decency by his own greed. The story may be set in a different era, but the challenges and even potential doom that the characters face in these hard times is something reader will be able to richly understand. Visually, the issue works incredibly well due to not only the very realistic art style, but the absence of color. Jones isn’t working in black and white here, but rather shades of brown and beige, visually mimicking the dry, desolate geography of the Dust Bowl at that time. Even at that, though, the contrast between dark and light is a little unsettling as this isn’t a book that feels grimy — and given that the book will soon descend into a serial killer mystery, that lightness feels just a touch disorienting.

Overall, Dust to Dust #1 works on every level. While the series will turn into a mystery thriller, the first issue doesn’t rely on that premise to tell a good story and get the reader hooked. Instead, it’s the humanity of the characters and the challenges facing them from both without and within that make this such a strong kickoff. Pair that with the setting of a time in American history that perhaps doesn’t get enough attention in fiction and entertainment and the issue feels like the making of an incredible series.

Published by: Image Comics

On: December 25, 2024

Written by: JG Jones and Phil Bram

Art by: JG Jones

Letters by: Jackie Marzan

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