NEWSDiamond Comics Distributor to halt all comics and product shipments until further noticeAWA moving comics online during Diamond delayDC writes letter to freelancersDC will ship Gotham High to book storesMarvel working on “Larger scale plan” Dark Horse reducing line, offering returnability, Vows Not to Release New Comic Books Digitally Until Print Distribution ResumesValiant engaging readers with Valiant Hero of the WeekTKO offering 50% profits to LCS’Manga publisher Viz still shipping via Simon and Schuster, othersKodansha Comics & VERTICAL Debut on izneo Online PlatformAbrams Spider-Man book delayed - 20 weeks overdueKUBERT SCHOOL Opens To Students Worldwide with New Online ProgramSEGMENT: Anniversary Issues: While Nancy Drew celebrates the legendary character by killing her -- What is our ideal anniversary/milestone issue?TOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDaveHellions: (W: Zeb Wells, A: Stephen Segovia)Justice League Dark #21 (W: Ram V, James Tynion IV, A: Alvaro Martinez)ForrestNo One’s Rose #1 (W: Zac Thompson, Emily Horn A: Alberto Jimenez-Alburquerque)Hellions #1 (W: Zeb Wells, A: Stephen Segovia)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW, 9.5)Fan: Immortal Hulk #33 (Marvel, 9.7)INTERVIEW: STEVE ORLANDO (Wonder Woman, Darkhold, Martian Manhunter, Kill a Man from AfterShock)Can you give us a brief introduction to Kill a Man (on sale June 3) and why AfterShock felt like the right publisher for this specific story?How does your writing process differ working for the big 2 versus indie publishers? Do you prefer one over the other?You were the main writer on Wonder Woman when her big #750 anniversary issue hit, can you tell us a bit about spearheading that project and what you hoped to accomplish for the character?When you introduce the “Invisible Starfighter” in Wonder Woman #754 as you called it in a recent tweet, do you need to dig into the long boxes to see if it has been done before?Kill A Man focuses on the careers and relationships of two boxers, but according to your Twitter you’re also a pretty big professional wrestling fan. Which wrestler would you most want to write a comic for?There seems to be a reoccurring theme in your work, recently you mentioned in an interview with screenrant, “villains also work when they are dark reflections of a hero” and Darkhold’s solicit reads, “To save them all, the Scarlet Witch must gather the world’s greatest heroes...and unleash their inner darkness.” What is it about inner darkness that appeals to you?Darkhold is your first book at Marvel, what are some of your favorite Dr. Doom stories?Your Martian Manhunter series with Riley Rossmo was a deep dive on one of the most overlooked quote unquote main characters at DC. What Marvel character would you like to do the same for?When you were little, what did you think you’d be when you grew up?Coming off Wonder Woman #754 this week and only a week ago announced you'll be writing at Marvel Comics series I can only imagine your point of view on comics right at this moment is unique. There's a lot to capture all at once! How are you coping and what is your thoughts on the current state of affairs?Segment: Off Topic Top Shelf: Ni No Kuni, Castlevania, Carb Smart Tortillas

AIPT Comics

Steve Orlando on Marvel's Darkhold, AfterShock's Kill A Man, and LGBTQ representation

NEWSImage announces measures to help retailers during pandemicPublishers are postponing certain comicsMarvelWeird Enough Productions, national comics non-profit, makes materials freeDiamond coordinating retail/publisher Coronavirus responseFree Comic Book Day PostponedVampire: The Masquerade returns to comics at VaultNew details on New WarriorsJames Tynion fed up with social media creates own message boardMarvel June solicitations, any surprises?TOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDavePlunge #2 (W: Joe Hill, A: Stuart Immonen)Spider-Woman #1 (W: Karla Pacheco, A: Pere Pérez)ForrestAlienated #2 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Chris Wildgoose)BANG! #2 (W: Matt Kindt, A: Wilfredo Torres)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: The Resistance #1 (AWA, 9.8)Fan: The Resistance #1 (AWA, 9.2)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: X-O Manowar #1 (W: Dennis “Hopeless” Hallum, A: Emilio Laiso)Forrest: Batman: Creature of the Night (W: Kurt Busiek, A: John Paul Leon)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: X-Men #9 (Leinil Francis Yu)Forrest: Killing Red Sonja #1 (Christian Ward) SEGMENT: Interview - John Allison Giant Days writer has Wicked Things #1 out this week from BOOM! StudiosEveryone loves a good who-done-it, what are some of your favorite detective stories and were there any you read or watched to prepare for Wicked Things?If you had to pitch Wicked Things to 18 or 19 year olds, how would you describe it? The plot of Wicked Things #1 revolves around an awards ceremony for detectives. Having won an Eisner, did you approach this issue from your own experience with that award show, or maybe others you’ve attended?The lead character, Charlotte "Lottie" Grote, was first introduced (if I’m not mistaken) in Scary Go Round in the story the Estate January 28, 2009, and while the character is 19 in Wicked Things she’s technically 11 in real people years. That’s a long time for the character to live inside your head and while we’ve seen her in Giant Days and elsewhere, how has she changed--or maybe she hasn’t-- in those 11 years?When crafting a murder mystery detective story are there storytelling elements that take a back seat to the mystery itself? Worldbuilding, for instance, seems a touch harder when the audience is focusing on the detective and their work.I love the little details in Wicked Things #1, from the text on a magazine cover to the name of Charlotte’s gummy bears, are these things right in the script, or do they evolve when making the book?The Tackleverse, or Bobbinsverse as I’ve seen it written, is an incredible thing. You’ve built an entire universe of characters. Are there any inherent pros and cons of building a universe? Might we see you create an entirely new one someday?Originating as a webcomic creator, are there elements of webcomic creation you miss, and things you are happy to leave behind?When you were little, what did you think you’d be when you grew up?What do you hope to see in the comics industry in the future?What comics are you reading right now?Off Topic Top Shelf: John Allison’s pick - Horror Stories: A Memoir: Liz Phair, Bakuman, The Sopranos

Local comic stores against the virus, plus guest John Allison talks worldbuilding in Wicked Things

NEWSBad Idea starts rolling out which stores will carry their books.Mariko Tamaki is the new Wonder Woman ongoing writerSteve Orlando is going to MarvelCoronavirus cancels Kansas City's PLANET COMICON, Wondercon, Boston ACE Comic Con, NYC MOCCA, Diamond Publisher conferenceComics direct market expected to take a COVID-19 hit, publishers encourage visiting your LCSPAJAMACON, Funko Virtual Con, others taking the place of ECCC - ECCC rescheduled for AugustSuperman Vs. the KKK podcast in the form of old radio shows incomingShang-Chi #1 coming this JuneFebruary sales are in!SEGMENT: What comics are on your self-quarantine catch-up list?Dave: Chrononauts Vol. 2, TKO books: Sara and The BanksNate: The Sandman Universe, MMPR/TMNTTOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDaveMarvels Snapshot: Sub-Mariner #1 (W: Alan Brennert, Kurt Busiek, A: Jerry Ordway)Thor #4 (W: Donny Cates, A: Nic Klein)NathanDecorum #1 (W: Jonathan Hickman, A: Mike Huddleston)Cable #1 (W: Gerry Duggan, A: Phil Noto)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: Hawkeye: Freefall #4Fan: The Dollhouse Family #5TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Plunge #2 (W: Joe Hill, A: Stuart Immonen) (Alienated #2...too? Si Spurrier, Chris Wildgoose)Nathan: X-Ray Robot #1 (Mike Allred, Laura Allred)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Batman #91 (Jorge Jimenez)Nathan: Robin 80th Anniversary Spectacular (Yasmine Putri cover)SEGMENT: Elsa Charretier (char-tee-air) artist on November, The Unstoppable Wasp, writer AND artist on Infinite Loop, and MoreYou just had a successful Kickstarter get funded back in November (with your artbook shipping in February, congratz!) and also have an Etsy store where you sell comics. What has the journey been like to move away from traditional comic book publishing to a digital approach on platforms like Kickstarter and Etsy?What would you say are the essential things a creator must know or commit to before launching a Kickstarter?Would you say launching a Kickstarter changed the relationship you have with fans? How so?How do you approach working on creator-owned projects versus work for the big two?Do you generally find it easier to illustrate your own projects or projects in collaboration with another writer? How does your creative process shift for the difference between writing and art?Can you tell us a little about your Star Wars work for IDW? How did the project come about, and what’s your approach to working with characters that have such far reach and recognition?November Book Two Vol. 2 comes out this May, what can fans expect from this sequel series by you and Matt Fraction?What do you hope to see in the industry in the future?Infinite Loop got a sequel starting in 2017, might we see a trilogy some day?What comics are you reading right now?Off Topic Top Shelf: Elsa Charretier’s pick - Reading plays, Good Omens, and more

Coronavirus is changing our comics ecosystem, plus guest Elsa Charretier talks her Kickstarter, drawing Star Wars, and more

NEWSEMPYRE gets a column, by us! EMPYRE STATE OF MYNDMultiple publishers, creators drop out of ECCCC2E2 news!Jim Lee talks Didio!DC story details and notesVenom villain named Virus - NOT a symbioteSean Gordon Murphyverse?Iron Cat incoming!Neil Gaiman will narrate new Sandman Audible series for AmazonFormer DC Executive Creative Director, David Ewing named publisher of Heavy MetalSEGMENT: Polygon asks DC and Marvel creators about the past, and next decades in comics. TOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDaveStrange Academy (2020) #1 (W: Skottie Young, A: Humberto Ramos)Aster and the Accidental Magic #1 (W: Thom Pico, A: Karensac)ForrestKing of Nowhere #1 (W: W. Maxwell Prince, A: Tyler Jenkins)Spider-Man Noir #1 (W: Margaret Stohl, A: Juan Ferreyra)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Decorum #1 (W: Jonathan Hickman, A: Mike Huddleston)Forrest: Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #1 (W: Ethan Sacks, A: Paolo Villanelli)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Decorum #1 (W: Jonathan Hickman, A: Mike Huddleston)Forrest: New Mutants # 9 Off Topic Top Shelf: Dave is getting into Devs

How do we define comics over the last 20 years?

NEWSMore details on Dan Didio’s departureDC Cancels C2E2 'Meet The Publishers' Panel Following DIDIO ExitBad Idea expanding launch in comic shops from 20 to 50Coronavirus concerns hit con seasonC2E2 latest news: Silk is back!'X of Swords' announced at C2E2 X-Men panelUltraman cover revealThor vs. Galactus (Thor goes blind?) and moreFCBD revealed: Venom gets attacked by “War Machine” yellow symbol and Vulture fights Black Cat and Spider-ManMike Del Mundo dazzles with Threshing Place interior artEmpyre - Marvel universe goes to war plus gladiator fights?Ari Bard covering the con for AIPT, yahoo!TOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDaveGrimm Noir #1 (W: Gerry Duggan, A: Ron Garney)Far Sector #4 (W: N.K. Jemisin, A: Jamal Campbell)ForrestGrimm Noir #1 (W: Gerry Duggan, A: Ron Garney)X-Men #7 (W: Johnathan Hickman, A: Leinil Francis Yu)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: Invisible Kingdom #10 (Dark Horse, 9.4)Fan: John Constantine: Hellblazer #4 (DC, 9.7)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Strange Adventures (W: Tom King, A: Mitch Gerads, Doc Shaner)Forrest: Strange Academy #1 (W: Skottie Young, A: Humberto Ramos)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR. Dave: Daredevil #19 (Del Mundo Spider-Woman Cover)Forrest: Harley Quinn #71 (Guillem March)SEGMENT: Co-writers Zac Thompson & Emily Horn on their new Vault series No One’s Rose “every rose has a thorn!” March 25 Vault ComicsOff Topic Top Shelf: No One’s Rose team: Uncanny Valley by Anna Wiener + Crash by JG Ballard

Chatting sci-fi and comics with Zac Thompson and Emily Horn on No One's Rose

NewsDan Didio out as DC publisherDC will reveal ‘hidden history’ with Generation(s) comicsDark Horse Comics producing “original” Predator comicHumanoids announce Mark Waid as publisher and new push for classic titlesSandman universe expands with The Dreaming: Waking HoursLocke and Key joins the Sandman universeDC Cancels Supergirl at issue 42Joker’s new sidekick, Punchline, is a hitMarvel Comics May 2020 solicitation surprises?TOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDaveSkulldigger and Skeleton Boy #3 (W: Jeff Lemire, A: Tonci Zonjic)Plunge #1 (W: Joe Hill, A: Stuart Immonen)ForrestBANG! #1 (W: Matt Kindt, A: Wilfredo Torres)Skulldigger and Skeleton boy #3 (W: Jeff Lemire, A: Tonci Zonjic)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: Superman Smashes the Klan #3 (DC, 9.7)Fan: Daredevil #18 (Marvel, 9.2)SEGMENT: January 2020 Sales - how are pubs starting off the new year?TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Tomorrow #1 (W: Peter Milligan, A: Jesus Hervas)Forrest: Fantastic Four: Grimm Noir #1 (W: Gerry Duggan, A: Ron Garney)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR. Dave: Giant Size X-Men: Jean Grey & Emma Frost #1 (Russell Dauterman)Forrest: Avengers #31 (Gerardo Zaffino)SEGMENT: Chris Hassan on Jean + Emma week SEGMENT: Superfight - Jean vs. Emma - The Quiet GameOff Topic Top Shelf: Forrest - Professional Wrestling

X-Men: Jean + Emma preview, Wonder Woman makes history and Didio is out

NEWSMARK WAID Relaunches SQUADRON SUPREME Out of EMPYRE, plus Celestial MessiahMarvel’s Pull List reveals new details on a few upcoming May 2020 books.The Marvels #1 gets a full solicitBleeding Cool has new deets on Death Metal.Tom King shares details from canceled New 52 Superboy Abrams' Final Two SPIDER-MAN Issues Postponed Four MonthsTOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDaveAlienated #1 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Chris Wildgoose)Batman’s Grave #5 (W: Warren Ellis, A: Bryan Hitch)ForrestAlienated #1 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Christian Wildgoose)Undone By Blood #1 (W: Lonnie Nadler, Zac Thompson, A: Sami Kivela)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: Green Lantern Season Two #1 (W: Grant Morrison, A: Liam Sharp)Fan: Hawkeye: Freefall #3 (W: Matthew Rosenberg, A: Otto Schmidt)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Joker: Killer Smile #3 (W: Jeff Lemire, A: Andrea Sorrentino)Forrest: Skulldigger + Skeleton Boy #3 (W: Jeff Lemire, A: Tonci Zonjic)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR. Dave: Ghost Spider #7 (Paul Pope)Forrest: The Red Mother #3 (Jeremy Huan)SEGMENT: Si Spurrier Alienated from BOOM! Studios Chris Wildgoose Superfight: E.T. vs. Alien vs. Alienated “superpredator”: Mud wrestlingOFF TOPIC TOP SHELF - Si Spurrier and Chris Wildgoose: Fortean Times, PUBG, and Jamie Oliver

Guests Si Spurrier and Chris Wildgoose talk Alienated, craft, and "Insane Nonsense"

NEWSBad Idea, a new way to sell comicsCullen Bunn authors lengthy Twitter thread about being accused of hiring Ghost-WritersStrange Adventures is rebranded as DC Black Label.Donny Cates hypes new Image “event” series.Tom King Says That Alfred’s Death Will Set Up The Events Of 5GFantomex to appear in Giant Size X-Men issue (to clear up Xavier confusion?)X-Men and Spider-Man FCBD covers revealed vs DC FCBD blunderJuggernaut #1 announced.TOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDave X-Men + Fantastic Four #1 (W: Chip Zdarsky, A: Terry Dodson) After Realm Quarterly #1 (W/A: Michael Avon Oeming, C: Taki Soma)Forrest X-Men + Fantastic Four #1 (W: Chip Zdarsky, A: Terry Dodson) The Immortal Hulk: Great Power (W: Tom Taylor, A: Jorge Molina)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: Martian Manhunter #12 (DC, 9.9)Fan: Daphne Byrne #2 (DC, 9.8)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Undone by Blood (W: Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler, A: Sami Kivela)Forrest: Alienated #1 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Christian Wildgoose)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR. Dave: Dawn of X Vol. 1 (Tom Muller)Forrest: Doctor Strange #3 (Kev Walker)SEGMENT: Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler Undone by BloodCan you tell us a little about the world of Undone by Blood and the stories or other media that inspired it? Zac, you often make mood boards for your projects - what did this one look like?How did you land on the two-story structure for Undone By Blood? Do you have different notes, design documents, research for each half?  How do you split up the work for a co-written title? Do you two bounce ideas off of either for your solo titles (Black Stars Above, The Replacer)? Where do you personally feel the “co-creator” line starts?Top 3 westerns (book or movies)?Is there a significance to one of the plots taking place in 1971?Does the title or genre of a book often come before the plot of the story (i.e. you have an idea of where you want to tell a story but not necessarily what story) or vice versa?Is it easier or harder to sell genre stories? What was the original pitch for Undone By Blood?What do you like about revenge stories?There’s some impressive layout work here, for instance, the gutters also serve as prison bars in issue #2...do you have a treasure chest of layout ideas you think up and save for later, or is this something that’s more organic working with the artist? Yondu exit interview...how do we feel about your 5 issue mini?!Do you see thematic or narrative cross over between Undone By Blood and other works like Yondu, Black Stars Above, etc. or do you actively work to avoid similarities?Last but not least, how do you think Yondu would fare in the world of Undone By Blood?OFF TOPIC TOP SHELFZac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler: Death Stranding and T.S. Eliott

Undone by Blood: Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler talk their new AfterShock series

NEWSDC begins teasing Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s next eventROBIN 80TH ANNIVERSARY 100-PAGE SUPER SPECTACULAR Postponed a Week...does this reoccurring “spectacular” going to have legs?AARON & GUERA's GODDAMNED to Return This MayFree MARVEL SAMPLER Coming to Stores KICKSTARTER Launches BLUESTOCKINGS COMICS FEST to Showcase Queer and Trans CreatorsMarvel Introducing new villain, a “maligned” Steve Rogers Fan called The NaturalMadelyne Pryor returning to X-Men comics in Hellions Eddie Berganza and Eric Esquivel launch new publisher Alternate Empire to massive backlash (“latinx empowerment”)TOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDave Thor #2 (W: Donny Cates, A: Nic Klein) Justice League #39 (W: Scott Snyder, A: Jorge Jimenez)ForrestDoctor Strange: The End (W: Leah Williams, A: Filipe Andrade)Protector #1 (W: Simon Roy, Daniel Bensen, A: Artyom Trakhanov)ComicBookRoundUpBlack Stars Above #3 (Vault, 9.2)Thor #2 (Marvel, 9.6)SEGMENT - Breaking down the difference between comic cover and contentTOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: X-Men + Fantastic Four #1 (W: Chip Zdarsky, A: Terry Dodson)Forrest: Dark Agnes #1 (W: Becky Cloonan, A: Luca Pizzari)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR. Dave: Star Wars: Darth Vader #1 (Mike del Mundo)Forrest: Butcher of Paris #3 (A: Dave Johnson)OFF TOPIC TOP SHELFDave: The Gentlemen by Guy Ritchie

Do comic book covers lie to consumers?

NEWSBuffy comics to add “most important new character in 20 years”Newsarama releases a list of the 10 best Marvel stories as voted by fansOnly two comics sold over 100k units in DecemberDan Didio vows to fix Black Label delaysOni's RENDER Postponed Indefinitely After Artist Suffers Health IssuesWATTERSON, BECHDEL, HECK, SIMONSON, More Nominated for EISNER HALL OF FAME only 4 can win! JEN BARTEL and PUMA Join Forces for BIRDS OF PREY SneakersTOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEKDaveThe Runaway Princess (Johan Troianowski)Guardians of the Galaxy (2020) #1 (W: Al Ewing, A: Juann Cabal)ForrestJohn Constantine: Hellblazer #3 (W: Si Spurrier, A: Aaron Campbell)Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (W: Al Ewing, A: Juann Cabal)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: The Kill Lock #2 (IDW, 9.4)Fan: Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (Marvel, 9.1) SEGMENT - Trending Now: How much is too much for new X-Men booksTOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEKDave: Justice League #39 (W: Scott Snyder, A: Jorge Jimenez, Daniel Sempere, and Juan Albarran)Forrest: Shadow of the Batgirl (W: Sarah Kuhn, A: Nicole Goux)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.Dave: Thor #2 (Olivier Coipel)Forrest: The Weatherman #6 (A: Nathan Fox)Segment: April 2020 Solicitation RoundupMarvel April 2020 SolicitationsIMAGE COMICS April 2020 SolicitationsDARK HORSE COMICS April 2020 SolicitationsDC Comics SolicitationsValiant SolicitationsOFF TOPIC TOP SHELFForrest: Gunpla

How much X-Men is too much? Plus we recap news, review, and talk NCBD releases

News:Empyre teasers drop all week.New blue costumes?!Top-selling graphic novels of the decade are...Catwoman 80th anniversary!5,395 comic books were released in 2019 Image Comics Publisher Eric Stephenson talks about the industry with NewsaramaChris Claremont and Brent Anderson returning for new story in GOD LOVES MAN KILLS special editionDark Horse will publish a comic adaptation of the original Alien scriptLemire and Del Mundo releasing their own take on Immortal Hulk in The Threshing PlaceTHE PUNISHER VS BARRACUDA #1 - Ed Brisson & Declan ShalveyTOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEK:DaveSkulldigger + Skeleton Boy #2 (W: Jeff Lemire, A: Tonci Zonjic)Batman's Grave #4 (W: Warren Ellis, A: Bryan Hitch)ForrestVenom: The End (W: Adam Warren, Chamba Cruz)Skulldigger + Skeleton Boy #2 (W: Jeff Lemire, A: Tonci Zonjic) ComicBookRoundUpCritic: Rai # 3 (9.0)Fan: Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #7 (9.5)TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK:Dave: The Runaway Princess (Johan Troianowski)Forrest: Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (W: Al Ewing, A: Juann Cabal)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.:Dave: Once and Future #6 (Dan Mora)Forrest: Batman Beyond #40 Variant (Francis Manapul) INTERVIEW: Johnnie Christmas and Jack T. Cole talk about new series Tartarus (out February 12, 2020)SUPERFIGHT: Christmas and Cole determine who would be the worst president, Tetsuo or Zorg (from the Fifth Element).Off Topic Top Shelf: Johnnie Christmas and Jack T. Cole let us know what they're into right now that's not comics related.

X-Men, Catwoman, and Empyre get new details, plus guests Christmas and Cole talk new Image Comics sci-fi series Tartarus

News:Wraith getting his own book in April, one-shotIDW and Smithsonian launch a joint publication programGLAAD announces comics awardsComics sales and orders were up 2.0% in 2019, approaching $500 millionInterview: Lonnie Nadler talks Black Stars Above, Yondu at Marvel Comics, and more!Segment: Our Best Comics of 2019!‘Gone too soon’ Best canceled seriesDavid: LokiForrest: Friendly Neighborhood Spider-ManBest WriterDavid: Jason AaronForrest: Si SpurrierBest ArtistDavid: Bilquis EvelyForrest: Tradd MooreBest Cover ArtistDavid: Alex RossForrest: Julian TedescoBest ColoristDavid: Matthew WilsonForrest: Ian Herring (Ghost-Spider)Best LettererDavid: Joe SabinoForrest: Hassan Ostmane-ElahouBest NewcomerDavid: NK JemisinForrest: Darcy Van PoelgeestBest Single Issue (structured as a one-shot)David: Doctor Strange #18Forrest: Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #6Best Non-2019 comic we read for the first time this yearDavid: Hit-Monkey by Daniel WayForrest: DorohedoroBest Graphic NovelDavid: Swimming in DarknessForrest: Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With MeComic we wish we spent more time with/were caught up onDavid: Action ComicsForrest: Conan (+ tie ins)Best Single PanelDavid: Avengers: No Road Home double-page splash of all the heroes by Sean IzaakseForrest: Absolute Carnage #1 page 2: history of Venom spreadBest Comic for Younger ReadersDavid: Dear Justice LeagueForrest: Harley Quinn: Breaking GlassBest MangaDavid: Vinland Saga Vol 11Forrest: Gou Tanabe’s At the Mountains of MadnessBest Genre ComicDavid: Powers of XForrest: Gideon FallsBest Miniseries (1-6 issues)David: Spider-Man: Life StoryForrest: Batman: UniverseBest Maxiseries (6-12 issues)David: Peter Cannon ThunderboltForrest: CodaTop 3 Favorite comicsDavid:The DreamingJustice LeagueHouse of XForrest:Martian ManhunterCodaSilver Surfer: Black 

Lonnie Nadler talks writing at Marvel, hit series Black Stars Above and more, plus our best of 2019

This is an extra-long episode with categories predetermined and agreed upon. Here are the nominees...Best comic to show a lapsed fanHouse of X / Powers of XBlack HammerHellblazerGreen LanternThe Immortal HulkMiddlewestBiggest DisappointmentFallen AngelsBatman: Damned2099Spider-Man by AbramsReturn of WolverineLast Knight On EarthInvisible KingdomBest Comics TrendTeam listed as Co-CreatorsSexploitation characters are now written by fabulous writers (Red Sonja, Deja Thoris)taken seriouslyMajor publishers embrace horror/genreGrand DesignALPHA / OMEGA issuesKitschy properties are being given fun and clever books (Six Million Dollar Man, Barbarella)Worst Comics TrendSolicitations Too Far OutToo Many Event Tie-InsConstant Re-SchedulingCreator’s rights in jeopardy (Watchmen)Political AvoidanceAn overabundance of Elseworld Batman stories (Last Knight on Earth, Bat-dad in King’s run, Curse of the White Knight)Biggest Surprise:DC Restructures into age bracket modelVertigo shutteredYoung Animal returnsDC Zoom and Ink a success!X-line complete relaunchMarvels are annotated and BACKConan under Marvel and in every bookBiggest SurpriseX-Men ImmortalityHot claws NO MOREWalking Dead ends abruptlyBlack Hammer & Justice LeagueDoomsday Clock finally completedBest PublisherMarvelDCImageVaultDark HorseBest #1John Constantine: HellblazerSilver Surfer: BlackCaptain Marvel #1ACTS OF EVIL: PUNISHER ANNUAL #1Best OngoingImmortal HulkJustice LeagueVenomThe DreamingThorBlack Hammer (+ various tie-ins)Gideon FallsBest EventWar of the RealmsHoX & PoXAbsolute CarnageLeviathanYear of the VillainBest RebootThe X-Men LineYoung JusticeDaredevilFantastic FourBatman/SupermanBuffyHellblazerMost Memorable Retcon (bad or good)Moira XWolverine and the Infinity StonesXavier and Magneto working togetherDoomsday ClockVenom creates children on purposeBest RomanceGambit and RogueKrakoa PolyamoryBatman and CatwomanSpider-Man and MJHarley and Poison IvyBetsy and Blob (X-Tremists)Best HeroVenomXavierMiles MoralesDora (The Dreaming)Doctor StrangeHum (Coda)Martian ManhunterBest in-comic TeamExcaliburMaraudersThe Marvelous X-MenYoung JusticeDoom PatrolBest VillainMister SinisterKnullMorbiusLeviathanLex LuthorBatman Who LaughsBest CostumeCaptain Britain (Betsy Braddock)Batman Who LaughsCaptain Kitty PrydeGreen Lantern Sojourner “Jo” MulleinSkulldigger and Skeleton BoyDark Captain MarvelBest Series DebutLittle BirdSilver Surfer: BlackSpider-Man: Life StoryThe Batman’s GraveFar SectorPeter CannonDieSandman Presents: Hellblazer

Giant-sized - Comics year in review, best publisher, event, and awards

THE NEWS:FCBD 2020 titles get teasedWonder Woman #750 launching with over 20 coversSpider-Woman gets a new costumeMarvel Comics March 2020 solicitationsTRANSFORMERS vs. TERMINATOR in 2020 EventJonathan Hickman & Mike Huddleston's DECORUM #1 out in MarchBatman and Doomsday Clock EndTOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEK:DaveJoker: Killer Smile #2 (W: Jeff Lemire, A: Andrea Sorrentino)The Low, Low Woods #1 (W: Carmen Maria Machado A: Dani, Tamra Bonvillain)ForrestWonder Woman: Dead Earth #1 (Daniel Warren Johnson)Skulldigger and Skeleton Boy #1 (W: Jeff Lemire, A: Tonci Zonjic)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: King Thor #4 (9.8)Fan: Basketful of Heads #3 (9.5) SEGMENT: 2020 Predictions - one good thing and one bad thing that will happen in comics or the comics industry next year and whyDave: X-Men will get an event and it’ll bleed into Marvel Studios hype / At least one major writer from DC will jump to MarvelForrest: Neil Gaiman will make a full-scale return to comics / More celebrity editorial linesTOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK:Dave: Spider-Ham (W: Zeb Wells, A: Will Robson)Forrest: Incoming! #1JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.:Dave: Doctor Strange #1 (Phil Noto)Forrest: Peter Porker, The Spectacular Spider-Ham (Wendell Dalit) INTERVIEW: The Low, Low Woods writer Carmen Maria Machado and artist Dani join us for an interview to talk horror, the new series, and Hill House Comics.  Can you tell us a little bit about how the creative team came together on the title?Did you learn anything when creating this series and its first issue?Why is the comic book medium right for this story?Dani, you're so good at making the somewhat ordinary interesting and scary (I'm thinking of the trash outside the house early in the book as the girls ride their bikes, or the girls trying to remember what happened and their heads are made up of hands, parrots, and other things), how do you approach something static and give it life?When it comes to character creation where do you start, Vee and Eldora feel so real!So Rob Reiner directed Sea Dogs (we see his name on the marquee outside the theater), which also happens to be the backup story in this first wave of Hill House Comics. Why Reiner?Carmen, I had to write this down, "babies were born with placentas black as soot...their mothers were birthing coal itself" god that is horrifying! When working in a visual medium do you need to strike a balance between prose style horror like this and visual horror?The use of color by Tamra Bonvillain is fabulous, what goes into creating a color palette for a series?I'm always curious, was there a working list of titles for Low, Low Woods?Who is on your mount rushmore of creators you'd like to work with?Joe Hill was on the podcast 7 or so weeks ago and I asked him to describe Low, Low Woods, and he said it's the perfect mix of david's, 50% david cronenberg and 50% david lynch. Would you agree, or maybe you'd have other directors in mind?Do you have any personal heroes in the creative arts?Favorite moment or issue in the series so far?Off Topic Top Shelf: Carmen and Dani give us their picks!

Guests Carmen Maria Machado and Dani break down 'The Low, Low Woods', recap March 2020 reveals, and make 2020 comics predictions

THE NEWS:Marvel hosting midnight launch parties for new books‘The Pull List’ reveals March solicits early and Savage AvengersDC comments on removal of Batman: Golden Child ad from TwitterGrampa and Miller comment on Batman art use in Hong KongDC advertises Dark Knight with Joker/Trump imageJohn Ridley rumored to take over Batman at issue #100Christopher Priest says Damian Wayne was originally Deathstroke’s kidX-men 5-7 postponed, Abrams Spider-Man finale pushed back 11 weeksHeavy Metal names new CEOBernie Wrightson Frankenstein cover sells for 1.2 million, highest everTOP BOOKS OF LAST WEEK:DaveAnnihilation: Scourge - Beta Ray Bill #1 (W: Michael Moreci, A: Alberto Alburquerque)Batman: Curse of the White Knight #5 (W: Sean Murphy, Color: Matt Hollingsworth)ForrestThe Red Mother #1 (W: Jeremy Huan, A: Danny Luckert)Morbius #2 (W: Vita Ayala, A: Marcelo Ferreira)ComicBookRoundUpCritic: Rai #2 (9.6)Fan: Punisher: Soviet #2 (9.5)Segment: TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK:Dave: Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren #1 (W: Charles Soule, A: Will Sliney)Forrest: Revenge of the Cosmic Ghost Rider #1 (W: Hallum, Cates A: Shaw)JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.:Dave: Suicide Squad #1 (Francesco Mattina)Forrest: Wonder Woman #83 (Jenny Frison)INTERVIEW: The Red Mother writer Jeremy Haun (The Beauty, The Realm) talks writing horror, his future projects in 2020, comics creator self-care, and more!Segment: Superfight: Jeremy and Dave determine who would win a staring contest: Samara from Ring vs. Candyman, vs. The Red Mother.Off topic top shelf: Jeremy Haun talks whiskey and his Patreon Comics and Cocktails.

Jeremy Haun talks 'The Red Mother' and Batman is all over the news

Weekly comics news and review podcast keeping you up to date and connected. We cover the news, conduct interviews, review the best comics of last week and look ahead to new releases next week.

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