Comics, Magazines and Books from Lunar and Diamond Distributors for August 13, 2025

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR251545 DRACULAS BRUNCH CLUB GN (C: 0-1-2) $14.99

FEB251887 SKIN POLICE TP (C: 0-1-2) $17.99

APR251333 WARRIOR SPIRIT (ONE SHOT) CVR A (MR) $2.99

APR251334 WARRIOR SPIRIT (ONE SHOT) CVR B (MR) $2.99

BOOM! STUDIOS

Butterfly TP, $17.99

Day Men Complete Collection TP, $19.99

Flavor Girls Return To The Mothership HC, $24.99

Killer Affairs Of The State II #3 (Of 6)(Cover A Luc Jacamon), $4.99

Killer Affairs Of The State II #3 (Of 6)(Cover B Annie Wu), $4.99

Killer Affairs Of The State II #3 (Of 6)(Cover C Flaviano Full Art Variant), AR

Killer Affairs Of The State II #3 (Of 6)(Cover D Luc Jacamon Full Art Variant), $4.99

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover A Alessio Zonno), $4.99

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover B Dan Mora), $4.99

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover C Tula Lotay BOOM! 20th Anniversary Variant), $4.99

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover E Alessio Zonno Foil Full Art Variant), $6.99

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover F Blank Sketch Variant), $4.99

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover G Alessio Zonno Full Art Variant), AR

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover H Tula Lotay BOOM! 20th Anniversary Full Art Variant), AR

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover I James Stokoe Full Art Variant), AR

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover J Declan Shalvey Reveal Full Art Variant), AR

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover K James Stokoe Foil Full Art Variant), AR

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover L Paulina Ganucheau Full Art Variant), AR

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover M Mateus Santolouco Full Art Variant), AR

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover N Declan Shalvey Reveal Variant), $4.99

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 (Cover O Dan Mora Full Art Variant), $4.99

CSN PRESS

Comic Shop News #1982, AR

DARK HORSE COMICS

Aquinnah GN, $29.99

Carlyle School For Kings TP, $19.99

From The World Of Minor Threats The Brood TP, $19.99

Midst Tales From The Cosmos HC, $29.99

Quick Stops Volume 3 #1 (Of 4)(Cover A John Sprengelmeyer), $4.99

Quick Stops Volume 3 #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Katie Bettini), $4.99

Stranger Things Tales From Hawkins 2 #2 (Of 4)(Cover A Diego Galindo), $4.99

Stranger Things Tales From Hawkins 2 #2 (Of 4)(Cover B Caitlin Yarsky), $4.99

DISNEY HYPERION

Maggie And The Story Shadows HC, $17.99

Vampirina Ballerina GN, $8.99

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #3 (Cover A Chad Hardin), $4.99

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #3 (Cover B Jae Lee & June Chung), $4.99

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #3 (Cover C Christian Ward), $4.99

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #3 (Cover D Ben Oliver), $4.99

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #3 (Cover G Jae Lee Line Art Variant), AR

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #3 (Cover H Ben Oliver Full Art Variant), AR

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #3 (Cover I Jae Lee Line Art Full Art Variant), AR

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #3 (Cover J Christian Ward Full Art Variant), AR

Captain Planet And The Planeteers #3 (Cover K Jae Lee & June Chung Full Art Variant), AR

Harley Quinn x Elvira #1 Ashcan Promo, AR

Powerpuff Girls Supervillain Summer Spectacular #1 (Cover A Carlo Lauro), $5.99

Powerpuff Girls Supervillain Summer Spectacular #1 (Cover B Silvia De Ventura), $5.99

Powerpuff Girls Supervillain Summer Spectacular #1 (Cover C George Kambadais), $5.99

Powerpuff Girls Supervillain Summer Spectacular #1 (Cover D George Kambadais Full Art Variant), AR

Powerpuff Girls Supervillain Summer Spectacular #1 (Cover E Silvia De Ventura Full Art Variant), AR

Powerpuff Girls Supervillain Summer Spectacular #1 (Cover F Carlo Lauro Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover A Francesco Mattina), $4.99

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover B Jae Lee & June Chung), $4.99

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover C Michael Cho), $4.99

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover D Bjorn Barends), $4.99

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover E Alex Ross), $4.99

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover F Alex Ross Foil Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover G Alex Ross Foil Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover H Cho Foil Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover I Cho Foil Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover J Blank Authentix Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover N Jae Lee Line Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover O Bjorn Barends Virgin Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover P Jae Lee & June Chung Foil Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover Q Alex Ross Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover R Jae Lee & June Chung Foil Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover S Jae Lee Line Art Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover T Michael Cho Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover U Jae Lee & June Chung Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover V Alex Ross Ultraviolet Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover W Alex Ross Negative Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover X Yellow Blank Authentix Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover Y Alex Ross Ultraviolet Full Art Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover Z Bjorn Barends Foil Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover ZA Francesco Mattina Foil Variant), AR

Space Ghost Volume 2 #1 (Cover ZB Bjorn Barends Foil Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover A Paulina Ganucheau), $4.99

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover B Coleman Engle), $4.99

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover C Coran Kizer Stone), $4.99

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover D SAOWEE), $4.99

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover E Nicoletta Baldari), $4.99

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover G Nicoletta Baldari Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover H SAOWEE Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover I Coleman Engle Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover J Paulina Ganucheau Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover K Ken Haeser), AR

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover L Ken Haeser Line Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover M Coran Kizer Stone Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover N Ken Haeser Line Art Full Art Variant), AR

ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls #2 (Cover O Ken Haeser Full Art Variant), AR

Zootopia #5 (Cover A Trish Forstner), $4.99

Zootopia #5 (Cover B Alessandro Ranaldi), $4.99

Zootopia #5 (Cover C Craig Rousseau Color Bleed Variant), $4.99

Zootopia #5 (Cover D Storybook Art Variant), $4.99

Zootopia #5 (Cover E Movie Characters Variant), $4.99

Zootopia #5 (Cover F Movie Characters Full Art Variant), AR

Zootopia #5 (Cover G Storybook Art Full Art Variant), AR

Zootopia #5 (Cover H Craig Rousseau Full Art Variant), AR

Zootopia #5 (Cover I Alessandro Full Art Variant), AR

Zootopia #5 (Cover J Trish Forstner Full Art Variant), AR

FANTAGRAPHICS BOOKS

Artist At Last TP, $30.00

Complete Hate Volume 1 TP, $29.99

EC Fan-Addict Fanzine #7, $16.00

Lost Marvels Volume 2 Howard Chaykin Volume 1 Dominic Fortune Monark Starstalker And Phantom Eagle HC, $49.99

Moon Prince GN, $29.99

IDW PUBLISHING

Godzilla Here There Be Aliens #3 (Cover A Fero Pe), $4.99

Godzilla Here There Be Aliens #3 (Cover B Angel Hernandez), $4.99

Godzilla Here There Be Aliens #3 (Cover C Fero Pe Full Art Variant), AR

Monster High Party Monster #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Tsuukiyomo), $3.99

My Little Pony Friendship Is Spooky TP, $8.99

Spoops The Little Spirits Of Halloween HC (Top Shelf Productions), $14.99

Star Trek Lower Decks #10 (Cover A Vernon Smith), $4.99

Star Trek Lower Decks #10 (Cover B Jack Lawrence), $4.99

KODANSHA COMICS

Blood Blade Volume 5 GN, $12.99

Dead Rock Volume 3 GN, $11.99

Fable Omnibus Volume 9 TP (Volumes 17-18), $22.99

Fed Up With Being The Spoiled Queen's Genius Butler I Ran Away And Built The World's Strongest Army Volume 2 GN, $13.99

I Want To Love You Till Your Dying Day Volume 4 GN, $13.99

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin Deluxe Volume 1 GN, $54.95

Noragami Omnibus Volume 9 TP (Volumes 25-27), $19.99

Tying The Knot With An Amagami Sister Volume 11 GN, $12.99

Wandance Volume 13 GN, $12.99

Witch Hat Atelier Manga Box Set 1, $79.99

ONI PRESS

Blood Type #3 (Of 4)(EC Comics)(Cover A Miguel Mercado), $4.99

Blood Type #3 (Of 4)(EC Comics)(Cover B Andrea Sorrentino), $4.99

Blood Type #3 (Of 4)(EC Comics)(Cover C Albert Monteys EC Homage Variant), AR

Blood Type #3 (Of 4)(EC Comics)(Cover D Andrea Sorrentino Black & White Artist Edition Variant), AR

Blood Type #3 (Of 4)(EC Comics)(Cover E Patricia Martin EC Archive Edition Variant), AR

Cemetery Kids Run Rabid #1 (Of 4)(Cover A Daniel Irizarri), $4.99

Cemetery Kids Run Rabid #1 (Of 4)(Cover B Martin Simmonds), $4.99

Cemetery Kids Run Rabid #1 (Of 4)(Cover C Gege Schall), $4.99

Cemetery Kids Run Rabid #1 (Of 4)(Cover D Martin Simmonds Full Art Variant), AR

Dracula's Brunch Club GN, $14.99

Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #2 (Of 4)(Cover A Dave Bardin), $4.99

Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #2 (Of 4)(Cover B Troy Little), $4.99

Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #2 (Of 4)(Cover C Flops Interlocking Variant), AR

Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #2 (Of 4)(Cover D Tom Fowler Event Variant), AR

Rick And Morty Vs. The Universe #2 (Of 4)(Cover E Jarrett Williams Prime Variant), AR

Skin Police Volume 1 Crimes Against Nature TP, $17.99

TITAN COMICS

Conan The Barbarian #23 (Cover A Dan Panosian), $3.99

Conan The Barbarian #23 (Cover B Greg Staples), $3.99

Conan The Barbarian #23 (Cover C Joel Gomez), $3.99

Conan The Barbarian #23 (Cover D Sweeney Boo), $3.99

Conan The Barbarian #23 (Cover E Dan Panosian Foil Full Art Variant), $13.99

Conan The Barbarian #23 (Cover F Dan Panosian Full Art Variant), $3.99

Conan The Barbarian The Original Comics Omnibus Volume 6 HC (Cover A John Buscema Book Market Variant), $125.00

Conan The Barbarian The Original Comics Omnibus Volume 6 HC (Cover B Michael William Kaluta Direct Market Variant), $125.00

Conan The Barbarian Volume 5 Twisting Loyalties TP (Cover A Roberto De La Torre Book Market Variant), $17.99

Conan The Barbarian Volume 5 Twisting Loyalties TP (Cover B Dean Kotz Direct Market Variant), $17.99

Heat Seeker Exposed A Gun Honey Series #2 (Of 4)(Cover L Brao Unique Outfit Full Art Variant), $10.00

King Conan The Original Comics Omnibus Volume 1 HC (Cover B Marc Silvestri Direct Market Variant), $125.00

Marvel's Daredevil The First 60 Years HC, $24.99

TITAN MANGA

Welcome To Ghost Mansion Volume 2 TP, $12.99

TOKYOPOP

Merry Witches' Life Volume 2 The Three Widows Of Berlebagille GN, $13.99

TOKYOPOP - DISNEY MANGA

Disney Alice In Wonderland Manga GN, $16.99

TOKYOPOP - LOVELOVE

Cute But Not Cute Volume 1 GN, $14.99

Eternal Covenant Volume 1 GN, $19.99

My Beautiful Man Interlude Light Novel Volume 1 SC, $13.99

Reincarnated In A Mafia Dating Sim Volume 1 A Yakuza Heiress Becomes The Top-Ranked Villain's Romantic Target GN, $13.99

Stranger In The Hoarding House Volume 1 GN, $13.99

VALIANT ENTERTAINMENT

Valiant Beyond Bloodshot #1 (Cover A Rodolfo Migliari), $3.99

Valiant Beyond Bloodshot #1 (Cover B Nahuel Grego Wraparound Variant), $3.99

Valiant Beyond Bloodshot #1 (Cover C Dennis Calero Connecting Variant), $3.99

Valiant Beyond Bloodshot #1 (Cover D Fernando Heinz Furukawa Design Variant), $3.99

Valiant Beyond Bloodshot #1 (Cover E Rodolfo Migliari Full Art Variant), $3.99

Valiant Beyond Bloodshot #1 (Cover F Nahuel Grego Wraparound Full Art Variant), $3.99

Valiant Beyond Bloodshot #1 (Cover G Dennis Calero Connecting Full Art Variant), $3.99

VIZ MEDIA

Akane-banashi Volume 13 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

Fly Me To The Moon Volume 29 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

Girl Crush Volume 2 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

I Wanna Do Bad Things With You Volume 7 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

Mao Volume 21 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

Not So Shoujo Love Story Volume 2 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $18.99

Pokemon Sword And Shield Volume 13 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $5.99

Rai Rai Rai Volume 1 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

Rainbows After Storms Volume 5 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

Sakura Saku Volume 8 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

Snow Angel Volume 2 GN (not verified by Diamond Distribution), $11.99

------------------

I Reads You Juniors: July 2025 - UPDATE #52

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon.

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).

TREATS - From AnotherCookie:  There is a new online cookie retailer. It is called "AnotherCookie?" and the cookies are delicious.

NEWS:

SDCC:

EISNERS - From BleedingCool:  The winners 2025 Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards have been announced.

MARVEL/DC - From BleedingCool:  Frank Miller will contribute some "Wolverine vs. Batman" art for Marvel/DC's upcoming "Deadpool/Batman #1."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  There are more details about Abram ComicArts three-volume publication of John Byrne's fan-fiction, "X-Men" Elsewhen."  It was written and penciled by Byrne.  For Abrams editons, the art will be inked by Byrne and Bryen fan, Paul Wills; colored by Lovern Kindzierski and Leonard O’Grady, and lettered by Byrne and Patrick Brosseau.  There will also be guest inkers, such as comics legend, Walt Simonson.

From BleedingCool:  John Byrne's 32-issue fan-fiction "X-Men" comic book, "X-Men: Elsewhen," will be collected in three volumes by Abrams via its "Marvel Arts."  The comic book will be inked and colored for the first time and it will be re-lettered.  The first volume is due April 2026.

------------------------

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  Writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Dan Panosian are producing a four issue miniseries, "Marvel Knights: The Punisher," as part of Marvel's celebration of the late "Marvel Knights" imprint.

SUPERMAN - From TheNewYorker:  "The New Yorker" has revived a 2013 article, "Kryptonomics," by writer Deborah Friedell about how Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, got a raw deal on the sale of their creation to National Periodicals.

From Deadline:  The opening weekend box office estimates for James Gunn's "Superman" range from 122 million dollars to 125 million dollars.

From Forbes:  Actor Edi Gathegi talks about trusting James Gunn's vision for "Superman."  Gathegi plays "Mister Terrific" in the film.

From THR:  Writer James Hibberd of "The Hollywood Reporter" says "Stop, Already, With Superhero Movies Ending With Big, Dumb CG Smash Battles."

-----------------------------

COMICS TO FILM - From THR:  There is a hot film package getting the attention of Hollywood studios heads.  It features director Taika Waititi and writer Drew Pearce bring British comic book icon, Judge Dredd, back to film.

DC STUDIOS - From ComicsBulletin:  HBO Max's "The Penguin" earned 24 nominations at the 2025 / 77th Primetime Emmy Awards.  That is the second most for a television series based on a comic book.  HBO's "Watchmen" earned 26 nominations and won 11.  The winners will be announced in a series of ceremonies that culminated in the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony on September 14th.

DC COMICS - From DCBlog:  Mark Waid talks about his latest comics project for DC Comics, the four-issue limited series, "New History of the DC Universe."

SD COMIC-CON - From TheWrap:  At San Diego Comic Con 2500, the 6500-seat venue, "Hall H," is where Hollywood studios come to launch major franchises. However, the major studios, including Lucasfilm ("Star Wars"), Warner Bros./DC, and Marvel Studios, are skipping the film panels.

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:  The Fantastic Four return to newsstands in the "bookazine" (a book-like magazine) entitled, "Marvel Comics: The Fantastic Four."  It will be comprised of reprinted stories, but none of the stories will be from Stan Lee & Jack Kirby or John Byrne. The issue is out July 4, 2025, and each issues comes with $30 in free digital comics.  According to Amazon, the book costs $14.99 for 96 pages.

SDCC:

IMAGE COMICS - From ComicsBulletin: Image Comics has announced its full lineup of panels, signings, and variants-for-sale at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con.  The convention takes place from Wed., July 23rd to Sun., July 27th, 2025.

-------------------

EN MEMORIAM - From Forbes:  Comic book industry writer, editor, publisher, and executive, Jim Shooter, has died at the age of 73, Monday, June 30, 2025 (of esophageal).  A pivotal and important figure in the development and modernization of the American comic book industry, it would eat up too much space to list all his accomplishments.  However, Shooter is best remembered as the Marvel Comics' Editor-in-Chief (EiC) from January 1978 to April 1987.  Shooter was Marvel ninth EiC and some believe that he issued in a second "Golden Age" at Marvel during his tenure.  After Marvel, Shooter would go on to co-found the comic book publishers, Valiant Comics, Defiant Comics, and Broadway Comics.  As a writer, Shooter wrote the 1984-85 landmark comic book miniseries, "Marvel Super Heroes Secrets Wars," which is commonly known as "Secret Wars."  Shooter started writing comic books at the age of 14 for DC Comics and made numerous important contributions to the "Legion of Super-Heroes" franchise.

From BleedingCool:  This obituary by "Bleeding Cool" summarizes and editorialized Jim Shooter's career in comic books.

From BleedingCool:  People from throughout the American comic book industry remember former Marvel Editor-in-Chief, Jim Shooter, who died on Monday, June 30th. The remembrances comes from such people as C.B. Cebulski, Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Paul Levitz, Rob Liefeld, Chuck Rozanski, Walter Simonson, and Mark Waid, to name a few.

From TCJ:  "The Comics Journal" is apparently working on a proper obituary of Jim Shooter, the former Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief who died Monday, June 30th. In the meantime, they have links to interviews they conducted with him.

----------------------------

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  There are future "Batman" projects coming from Jim Cheung, Olivier Coipel, and from the team of Tom King and Steve McNiven.

IMAGE COMICS - From GamesRadar:  Robert Kirkman, famed writer of "The Walking Dead" comic book series, will take over as writer of the "Transformers" comic book series produced by his company, Skybound.  DC Comics star artist, Dan Mora, will draw the series.  There first issue is "Transformers #25," due in October.

BRITISH COMICS - From Empire:  Empire magazine has a first-look image from the animated feature film adaptation of "Rogue Trooper," the long-running comic book series from the venerable British comics magazine, "2000 AD."

MARVEL - From BleedingCool:   September's "Deadpool/Batman" crossover comic book from Marvel Comics will feature the lead Deadpool & Batman story by writer Zeb Wells and artist Greg Capullo.  It will also include these other following crossover back-up stories:

-- Captain America/Wonder Woman by Chip Zdarsky and Terry Dodson
-- Daredevil/Green Arrow by Kevin Smith and Adam Kubert
-- Jeff the Land Shark/Krypto by Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru

DC COMICS - From BleedingCool:  According to "Bleeding Cool," DC Comics will move to Universal Distribution, which is essentially the Canadian version of Diamond Comic Distributors, as the distribution of its comic books in the United States.  DC Comics is currently with Lunar Distribution.

------------------

JUNE 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Comics for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  AMP Comics for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dren Comics for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dstlry Media for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainent for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Energon Universe" titles for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Spawn" titles for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Keensport Entertainment for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "One World Under Doom" crossover titles for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Ultimate Universe" for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Ultimate Comics" with "Scarlet Witch" for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "Ultimate Spider-Man: Incursion #1" for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for June 202

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Udon Entertainment for June 2025

From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for June 2025

JULY 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Abrams for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Afterlight Comics for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  AMP Comics for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Bad Idea for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Bliss on Tap for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Cosmic Lion Productions for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics "Superman" titles for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Devil's Due Studios for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Heavy Metal Magazine for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics Skybound "Energon" titles for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Ghost Machine" titles for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Spawn" titles for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Bring on the Bad Guys" titles for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "One World Under Doom" tie-in titles for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Massive Publishing for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Midnight Factory for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for July

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Uncivilized Comics for July 2025

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for July 2025

AUGUST 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Afterlight Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  AMP Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Aspen MLT LLC for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Bad Ideas for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  BOOM! Studios for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Cambrian Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Cosmic Lion Productions for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics "Absolute Comics" titles for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dren Productions for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Fantagraphics Books for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Energon" titles for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Ghost Machine" for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Spawn" titles for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "Bring on the Bad Guys" titles for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics' "One World Under Doom" titles for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Ultimate" titles for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Panick Entertainment for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics "Conan" and "Solomon Kane" titles for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Udon Studios for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Valiant Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for August 2025

From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for August 2025

SEPTEMBER 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Ablaze Publishing for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Afterlight Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  AMP Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Archie Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Bad Idea Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  BOOM Studios for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dark Horse Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Hexagon Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  IDW Publishing for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Energon Universtiy" titles for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics' Todd McFarlane "Spawn" titles for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe" for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel's "One World Under Doom" titles for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel's "One World Under Doom #7" for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel "Ultimate Comics" titles for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Red 5 Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Aspen Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Shift Presents for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for September 2025

From BleedingCool:  Zenescope Entertainment for September 2025

OCTOBER 2025 COMICS SOLICITATIONS:

From BleedingCool:  Ahoy Comics for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Antarctic Press for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  AWA Studios for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Bad Idea Comics for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics collections, "Absolutes," and omnibuses for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  DC Comics "Absolute Comics" titles for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Dynamite Entertainment for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Image Comics "Void Rivals/Energon" titles for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Keenspot Entertainment for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Mad Cave Studios for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics "One World Under Doom" titles for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics five "X-Men: Age of Revelation" titles for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Marvel Comics all "X-Men: Age of Revelation" titles for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Massive Publishing for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Oni Press for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Rebellion / 2000 AD for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Titan Comics for October 2025

From BleedingCool:  Vault Comics for October 2025

----------------

Abrams ComicArts to Publish John Byrne's "X-MEN: ELSEWHEN" in Three Volumes

NEW YORK, NY—Abrams ComicArts is thrilled to announce an expansion of its Marvel Arts line of original graphic novels featuring Marvel Comics characters with X-Men Elsewhen by writer/artist John Byrne.

X-Men Elsewhen is a three-volume series celebrating both the 50-year history of Marvel’s X-Men team featuring fan-favorite creations such as Wolverine, Storm, Colossus, and Nightcrawler; and also the culmination of longtime writer/artist John Byrne’s five decades of association with these characters.

X-Men Elsewhen began nearly seven years ago and featured John Byrne’s return to the X-Men, the comic-book franchise he helped grow to new heights with his work as co-plotter and artist alongside writer Chris Claremont and inker Terry Austin. That trio’s time on the series has served as inspiration for films, animated series, and numerous comic books that followed. Among the high-water marks co-plotted and illustrated by Byrne during this initial go-round were classic storylines, “The Dark Phoenix Saga” and “Days of Future Past.”

In X-Men Elsewhen, written and penciled by Byrne, inked by Byrne and Paul Wills, colored by Lovern Kindzierski and Leonard O’Grady, and lettered by Byrne and Patrick Brosseau, the central conceit of the series involves Byrne’s return to those storylines, albeit with one major difference: the culmination of the “Dark Phoenix Saga” saw Jean Grey, the Phoenix, make the ultimate sacrifice to save the universe from her power, which had grown too great for her to contain. In Elsewhen, however, the storyline picks up from that point but explores the never-published ending where Jean Grey survived the experience, albeit in a drastically altered fashion.

That story change results in an entirely different future for the team and the surrounding Marvel Universe of characters. In X-Men Elsewhen Volume 1, the characters return to Earth and face very different experiences in the Savage Land and beyond, in an expansive storyline that also features the Sentinels, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, Spider-Man, and many other familiar faces.

“They say you can’t go home again,” said writer/artist John Byrne. “They’re wrong.”

X-Men Elsewhen is a three-volume series being released as part of Abrams ComicArts’ Marvel Arts line, which includes Alex Ross’s Fantastic Four: Full Circle; The Super Hero’s Journey by Patrick McDonnell; and The Avengers: Veracity Trip by Chip Kidd and Michael Cho. Elsewhen will contain over 600 pages of Byrne’s story in art across its three volumes. Volume one will be released in April 2026, with subsequent volumes releasing in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. All three volumes will be released as 7.5 x 11 hardcovers with dust jackets, and feature well over 200 pages of story and art per volume, along with a number of additional features.

“John Byrne has done something truly unique here,” said X-Men Elsewhen series editor Chris Ryall. “He’s created all-new X-Men adventures that not only serve as a reminder of why Byrne’s past work on these characters was beloved and influential, while at the same time presenting all-new and relevant stories that will captivate newer X-Men fans as well.”

“We’re incredibly excited to be publishing X-Men: Elsewhen with John Byrne,” said Joseph Montagne, Publisher of Abrams ComicArts. “This project is something truly rare. It offers a chance to revisit one of the most iconic runs in comics history, told by the original co-creator in his own voice. Byrne’s passion for these characters comes through on every page. We’re proud to bring this long-awaited story to readers through our Marvel Arts line and to add such a meaningful project to this collaboration between Abrams and Marvel.”

X-Men Elsewhen is the pinnacle of Byrne’s storied history of working on the beloved X-Men from Marvel. Volume 1 will be available April 2026 from Abrams ComicArts.

About the Book:

X-Men Elsewhen Volume 1 By John Byrne

AbramsComicArts | April 2026

US $35.99 | CAN $49.99 | UK £28.99

Hardcover | 240 Pages

7.5 x 11 Inches | Full-color illustrations throughout

HC ISBN: 9781419787287 • eBook ISBN: 9798896840183

AbramsBooks.com/DETAIL

-----------------

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).

#IReadsYou Review: RONIN BOOK II #1

RONIN BOOK II #1

FRANK MILLER PRESENTS LLC

STORY: Frank Miller

LAYOUTS: Frank Miller

ART: Philip Tan and Daniel Henriques

LETTERS: John Workman

BOSSES: Frank Miller, Dan DiDio, and Silenn Thomas

COVER: Philip Tan and Daniel Henriques

VARIANT COVER: Frank Miller

56pp, B&W, 7.99 U.S. (November 2022)

Ronin created by Frank Miller

Ronin is a six-issue comic book miniseries published between 1983 and 1984 by DC Comics.  The series was written and drawn by Frank Miller, with Miller's artwork painted by Lynn Varley.  Ronin takes place in a near-future New York City, a dystopia in which an unnamed ronin (in Japan, a samurai without a master) and his mortal enemy, the demon “Agat,” are reincarnated.  The series also features a security officer, Casey McKenna, “The Aquarius Corporation” and its artificial intelligence, “Virgo,” which may hold the true secrets of the ronin and Agat.

Late last year, Frank Miller's new publishing concern, Frank Miller Presents, launched a sequel to Ronin.  Entitled Ronin Book II, the series is written by Miller; drawn by Philip Tan (pencils), Daniel Henriques (inks), and Miller (layouts); and lettered by John Workman.  The new series follows Casey McKenna and her infant son, Billy, as they travel across a ravaged America.

Ronin Book II #1 finds Casey dreaming of her trials and tribulations.  The world is a vampire (so to speak), and the artificial intelligence, Virgo, still haunts Casey's life.  Now, she has a baby boy, and they must traverse the ravaged landscape of America.  However, sinister evils and the old ghosts still abound, one in the form of the infamous Agat.

THE LOWDOWN:  When the launch of Frank Miller Presents was announced to much fanfare in the spring of 2022, I was interested.  After all, Frank Miller was one of the first comic book creators whose name I learned when I started reading comic books in high school.  I found Daredevil #189 (cover dated: December 1982) in one of those comic book three-packs, I fell in love with Miller and his collaborator, Klaus Janson.  Their union would be made rock-solid (solid as a rock!) when the duo collaborated on the 1986 miniseries, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.

Between Daredevil and Batman, Frank Miller unleashed his landmark six-issue miniseries, Ronin.  It blended the Japanese comics (manga) with the French comics (bande dessinée) that influenced Frank Miller.  I would say that the work of French comic book creator, Jean “Moebius” Giraud, had the biggest influence on Ronin's artwork and narrative style.  Ronin was essentially Miller's Moebius comic book slash graphic novel.

In its press offerings, Frank Miller Presents has stated that Ronin Book II “captures all the energy and excitement of the original series, taking the characters and world into a direction all its own.”  I can accept that, but after reading Ronin Book II #1, I believe that a sequel to Ronin is at least 30 years too late.  Why?

Well, Ronin Book II #1 looks and reads like a comic book drawn by either Todd McFarlane or Jim Lee in the early 1990s.  That would include McFarlane's 1990-launched Spider-Man series and his Image Comics' title, Spawn (1992), and Lee's 1991-launched X-Men series and his Image title, WildC.A.T.S: Cover Action Teams (1992).

Ronin Book II #1 reads like McFarlane's “BOOM BOOM BOOM” script for Spider-Man #1 (cover dated: August 1990), and Philip Tan and Daniel Henriques' art could be a catalog of Jim Lee's pencil art inked by Scott Williams, Marc Silvestri, Whilce Portacio, and just about every art assistant in the former Homage Studios gang.  There is indeed some beautiful panoramic black and white art, especially towards the end of the story, but...

What's it like to read this first issue.  Well, the guy who wrote powerfully in the 1980s is not as powerful now.  I wouldn't call Ronin Book II #1 incomprehensible, but I would say that it is incomprehensible that Miller thinks he can get away with a new series that seems like nothing more than a shoddy riff on the legendary manga, Lone Wolf and Cub.  So Miller may be taking Ronin Book II in “a direction all its own,” but I hope that the rest of the series does not read like old Todd McFarland and Jim Lee comics.

I don't know if I will buy any more issues of this series.  I may be too curious – because its Miller and Ronin – to just ignore Ronin Book II.  Also, I'm being generous with the grade I'm giving it.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of Frank Miller and of his Ronin comic book will want to at least sample Ronin Book II.

B-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

"Ronin Book II" is now known as "RONIN RISING" and is available is both a hardcover and manga paperback edition via Amazon.

https://frankmillerpresents.com/

https://twitter.com/FMPComics/

https://www.facebook.com/people/Frank-Miller-Presents/100083049685395/

https://www.instagram.com/frankmillerpresents/

The text is copyright © 2023 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

------------------------

Amazon wants me to inform you that the affiliate link below is a PAID AD, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on the affiliate link below AND buy something(s).

Abrams ComicArts Announces "MEGALOPOLIS: An Original Graphic Novel" for October 2025

Abrams ComicArts to Publish Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis as an Original Graphic Novel

NEW YORK, NY—APRIL 24, 2025—Abrams ComicArts is thrilled to announce the debut graphic novel from legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel, hitting shelves this fall. This stunning 160-page graphic novel offers readers an immersive new version of Coppola’s iconic cinematic story, adapted by writer Chris Ryall and Eisner-winning artist Jacob Phillips.

Set in the futuristic city of New Rome, Megalopolis originally captivated audiences with its masterful filmmaking, becoming one of Francis Ford Coppola's most widely discussed films. Now, in graphic novel form, it explores the gripping narrative of idealism versus corruption. Architect and dreamer Cesar Catilina seeks a utopian future, while Mayor Franklyn Cicero fights to preserve the status quo—rife with greed and political warfare. Caught between these powerful forces is Julia Cicero, the mayor’s daughter, whose romance with Cesar tests her loyalty and compels her to redefine her beliefs about what humanity truly deserves. The film, which features an all-star cast including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, and Aubrey Plaza, made its world premiere last year to a 10-minute standing ovation at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and was released theatrically and in IMAX globally on September 27, 2024.

“I was pleased to put the idea of a graphic novel in the competent hands of Chris Ryall with the idea that, although it was inspired by my film Megalopolis, it didn’t necessarily have to be limited by it,” said Francis Ford Coppola. “I hoped the graphic novel would take its own flight, with its own artists and writer so that it would be a sibling of the film, rather than just an echo. That’s what I feel Chris, Jacob Phillips and the team at Abrams ComicArts have accomplished. It confirms my feeling that art can never be constrained, but rather always a parallel expression, and part of the bounty we can make available to our patrons, audiences and readers.”

Chris Ryall, known for adapting groundbreaking graphic novels from legends such as Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Harlan Ellison, brings expert craftsmanship to this ambitious project. Jacob Phillips, acclaimed artist behind hits like That Texas Blood and Newburn, infuses the story with visually stunning illustrations that heighten the novel's emotional and cinematic intensity.

“Adapting Francis Ford Coppola's visionary Megalopolis has been an incredible creative thrill,” says writer Chris Ryall. “Coppola's storytelling challenged and inspired me at every turn, and collaborating withJacob Phillips brought new depth to the narrative. With Abrams ComicArts, we've created something that both honors and expands the world of the original film.”

“Megalopolis is a giant, awe-inspiring tale which insisted I pushed my artwork to new levels to meet the challenge,” explains artist Jacob Phillips. “A Roman epic in modern day America.”

Joseph Montagne, Publisher of Abrams ComicArts, expressed his excitement: "Bringing Francis Ford Coppola’s extraordinary vision to the graphic novel format is an immense honor for Abrams ComicArts. Coppola’s storytelling genius, paired with Ryall’s writing and Phillips’ dynamic artistry, makes Megalopolis a true landmark in the graphic novel literary canon."

Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel promises readers a thrilling journey, proving once again that Coppola remains one of the most innovative storytellers of our time.

Available October 2025 from Abrams ComicArts.

About the Book:

Francis FordCoppola's Megalopolis: An Original Graphic Novel

By Francis Ford Coppola, Adapted by Chris Ryall

Art by Jacob Phillips

Abrams ComicArts | October2025

U.S. $25.99 | CAN $32.99| U.K. £18.99

Hardcover | 160 Pages6.625 x 10.18 Inches | Full-color illustrations throughout

Hardcover ISBN: 9781419787126 | eBook ISBN: 9798896840091

ABOUT ABRAMS: 

Founded in 1949, ABRAMS was the first company in the United States to specialize in publishing art and illustrated books. The company continues to publish critically acclaimed and bestselling works in the areas of art, photography, cooking, craft, comics, interior and garden design, entertainment, fashion, and popular culture as well as narrative non-fiction and new works of fiction for adults; children’s books ranging from middle grade to young adult fiction to picture books to board books. ABRAMS creates and distributes brilliantly designed books with the highest production values under the following imprints: Abrams; Abrams ComicArts; Megascope; Surely Books; AbramsImage; Abrams Press; The Overlook Press; Cernunnos; Cameron + Company; AbramsBooks for Young Readers; Amulet Books; Abrams Appleseed; and Magic Cat. ABRAMS also distributes books for Booth-Clibborn Editions, Alain Ducasse Édition,Èditions de La Martiniére, Editions BPI, Global Golf Group, Lucky Spool, Milky Way Picture Books, The Museum of Modern Art, SelfMadeHero, Tate Publishing, V&A Publishing, and The Vendome Press.

-------------------------

#IReadsYou Review: FANTASTIC FOUR: Full Circle

FANTASTIC FOUR: FULL CIRCLE
ABRAMS COMICARTS

STORY: Alex Ross
ART: Alex Ross
COLORS: Alex Ross and Josh Johnson
LETTERS: Ariana Maher
EDITORS: Charles Kochman and Tom Brevoort
COVER: Alex Ross and Josh Johnson
ISBN: 978-1-4197-6167-6; hardcover with dust jacket (also an eBook); 8 1/2 x 11 (September 6, 2022)
64pp, Color, $24.95 U.S., $31.99 CAN, £17.99 U.K.

Fantastic Four created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee

The Fantastic Four #1 (cover dated: November 1961) is the comic book that basically started what we know of today as Marvel Comics and the “Marvel Universe” of superheroes.  The Fantastic Four was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, with Lee writing the story for the first issue and Jack Kirby drawing that first issue.

Returning to the Lee-Kirby era, Fantastic Four: Full Circle is a new original graphic novel from writer-artist Alex Ross.  Published in an oversize format, 8½ x 11, Full Circle features the Fantastic Four (FF):  Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), the Invisible Woman (Susan Storm Richards), the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), and the Thing (Ben Grimm).  In a story that is a sequel of sorts to a classic issue of the Fantastic Four, the members of the team find themselves fighting for survival in the Negative Zone, an alien universe composed entirely of anti-matter.  The rest of Full Circle's creative team is comprised of Josh Johnson, who colors this comic book with Ross, and letterer Ariana Maher.

Fantastic Four: Full Circle opens on a rainy night in the Baxter Building, the Manhattan home of the FF.  Ben is making himself a sandwich when an intruder suddenly appears in the team's living quarters.  Upon investigation, they discover that the intruder is a man who once masqueraded as Ben Grimm.  They soon discover that the man is a human host, used to deliver a swarm of invading parasites – carrion creatures composed of “Negative Energy.”

What is the purpose behind this invasion, and who is behind it?  Now, the Fantastic Four have no choice but to journey into the heart of the Negative Zone, an alien universe that is parallel to Earth's universe and is composed entirely of anti-matter.  They not only risk their own lives, but also the fate of the cosmos?  Is there any hope for this journey, or will they discover hope?

THE LOWDOWN:  I like that Fantastic Four: Full Circle has a direct connection to the Fantastic Four's vintage era (as I call it) when it was produced by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.  Full Circle directly connects to and is a resolution of Fantastic Four #51 (cover dated: June 1966).  Entitled “This Man... This Monster!,” the story pit Reed Richards against an unnamed scientist who gives himself the powers and appearance of The Thing.  The scientist's plan is to kill Richards, but those plans ultimately force him to save Reed's life while condemning himself to a sorry fate.

Full Circle returns to “This Man... This Monster!” in a deeply intimate way, or, at least, that is the way it comes across to me.  In terms of graphics, illustrations, and colors, Full Circle is a direct descendant of the Lee-Kirby Fantastic Four.  If Fantastic Four #51 is the parent, then, Full Circle is the child.  Jack Kirby's dynamic, cosmic infused compositions are newly infused with the modern flourishes of the techno-marvels of software graphics and colors.  Alex Ross even gives Stan Lee's chatterbox expositions new life simply by multiplying them in Full Circle, and Ross' take feels authentic.  When one of the Fantastic Four speaks, their dialogue reads as if it were written by Stan the Man himself.

Alex Ross’s art in Full Circle is a combination of impressive line work and layers of brushwork that seems to sway like drapery.  Ross and Josh Johnson color Full Circle in fluorescent shades: blues, greens, oranges, and purples.  Their color choices also recalls the visuals and graphics of the “Pop Art” comic book movement (or moment) of the 1960s, somewhat similar to writer-artist Jim Steranko's work for Marvel, such as Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., in the late 1960s.

For a long time, I have described the comic books published in the 1960s by DC Comics and Marvel Comics, especially Marvel, as having a sense of wonder and mystery, of science/magic and hope, and of discovery and exploration.  The modern comic book series that best exemplifies that is the late Darwyn Cooke's 2004 comic book miniseries, DC: The New Frontier.

Fantastic Four: Full Circle is both an homage and a return to a time when Marvel's comic book titles were about discovering the new.  [Now, they are about IP maintenance and continuity, which is mostly fractured.]  I love Ariana Maher vintage-styled lettering and the throbbing coloring that Josh Johnson commits with Alex Ross.  All of it connects past and present.

I love that Alex Ross has presented Fantastic Four in this larger than usual format.  Here, Ross' big, almost widescreen art both captures and replicates the big spirit and cosmic yearnings of Jack Kirby's best work on the Fantastic Four.  I want to avoid spoilers, but I love Full Circle's ending, with its emphasis on hope, reconciliation, and peace.

Fantastic Four: Full Circle is published as the launch of “MarvelArts,” a new collaborative line of books between Marvel Comics and Abrams ComicArts.  Abrams tells us that in MarvelArts “nothing is impossible and anything can happen.”  I hope that this means that Abrams ComicArts will not just publish anything.  Future publications should be as ambitious and as classically Marvel as this debut.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the Fantastic Four and of Silver Age Marvel Comics will want Fantastic Four: Full Circle.

A

★★★★ out of 4 stars

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


https://www.alexrossart.com/
https://twitter.com/thealexrossart
https://www.instagram.com/thealexrossart/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/alexrossart
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTPXeCUinfh6RDdmcn1co9g

https://www.abramsbooks.com/imprints/abramscomicarts/
https://twitter.com/abramscomicarts
https://www.abramsbooks.com/

https://twitter.com/Marvel
https://www.marvel.com/
https://www.marvel.com/comics
https://www.comixology.com/Marvel_Comics


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

-----------------------

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like these, BOOKS PAGE, GRAPHIC NOVELS, or MANGA PAGE and BUY something(s).