The Phantom volume 1

The Ghost walks again! The Phantom returns! Created by Lee Falks in 1936, the Phantom is one of the first costumed super heroes in history, with untold influence on pop culture. Now, critically-acclaimed creators Ray Fawkes and Russell Olson revive the character for fans old and new. When a violent gang of smugglers stubbles on an idyllic Bandar village, the peace that the Phantom has brought to the African nation of Bangalla will suddenly shatter. It will take all of the Phantom’s many skills and allies to restore it. The most exciting series of the year starts here!

The Phantom volume 1 will be published on July 14, 2026. Mad Cave Studios provided an early galley for review.

Book Review: Dick Tracy volume 2

Still reeling from the fallout of the bloody gang war that gripped the city, Detective Dick Tracy has little time to recover as he confronts a series of grisly murders. With bodies piling up, a newly deputized Pat must grapple with his new path, and Tess makes a startling discovery--all kicking off the must-read second arc of one of the most acclaimed new series of the year!

Dick Tracy volume 2 by Alex Segura, Michael Moreci, and Geraldo Borges, was published on July 1, 2025, by Mad Cave Studios.

Book Review: DC Super Hero Girls - High School Reunion

It’s the 10th anniversary of DC Super Hero Girls: Finals Crisis, and modern-day, grown-up Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley, Ivy, and Beast Boy have received invitations to the most exclusive party in town—their high school reunion. Distracted by all their grown-up responsibilities, the group hasn’t been able to get together for a while, and they are more excited than ever to see their friends again!

But this “reunion” isn’t what it seems. No one else is present when they arrive for the party! Who could have summoned everyone to Super Hero High? What is really going on? To find the answers to their questions and the way out of this trap, the heroes will have to take a walk down memory lane. But will this deep dive into their past bring the heroes back to their B.F.F. ways or reopen old wounds?

Book Review: Trudeau and Doonesbury

For more than 50 years, Doonesbury has helped drive the national conversation. The first comic strip to win a Pulitzer Prize, Garry Trudeau’s sprawling narrative featuring a host of beloved characters has reflected America back to itself, capturing the highlights and lowlights of American politics and culture with wit and penetrating insight. And as Doonesbury’s characters aged alongside their creator, Trudeau became one of the preeminent chroniclers of the Baby Boom generation.

Biographer Joshua Kendall tells the story of the cartoonist and what drove him to put pen to paper. He traces Trudeau’s boyhood in the Adirondack Mountains, his teenage angst in prep school, and his formative years at Yale, where he began drawing his iconic strip. And he shows the changing world it reflected; Doonesbury began appearing in papers nationwide in 1970, and big events, from Watergate to the the war in Vietnam, fueled its popularity and its significance.

Book Review: X-Men - Elsewhen (vol 1 of 3)

In Volume 1 of X-Men: Elsewhen, the Dark Phoenix Saga is over and Phoenix is alive?!

Diverging from the epic finale of the original storyline from 1984, X-Men: Elsewhen presents a universe where Jean Grey’s powers and intellect have been greatly reduced, and from there, everything you thought you know about the X-Men is forever changed.

John Byrne’s monumental return to the X-Men heads in entirely new and surprising directions, as the X-Men head back to the Savage Land, face their climactic adventure with the Sentinels, and contend with special guest–stars such as the Avengers and the Fantastic Four along the way. Byrne wrote and penciled every page, and inked multiple chapters of this three volume series.

Book Review: The Superman Wars

Almost everyone knows about the man from Krypton who, disguised as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent working with the fearless Lois Lane, fights for the vulnerable and the oppressed. But few know the truth about this indelible character’s creation. From mobster tactics to decades-long courtroom drama, a beloved American myth was born, betrayed, and eventually reclaimed—seventy years later.

New witnesses, unpublished manuscripts, personal letters, and more reveal the complex and dramatic history of Superman and his creator, Jerry Siegel. This is a David and Goliath clash with twists, turns, and devastating upheavals. An underdog tale of a creator who fought for his rights and finally found redemption in his battle for truth, justice, and the American Way. A story that has never been fully told.

Book Review: Racer X vol. 1

Rex Racer was burned, betrayed, and left for dead, but he came back as Racer X, a masked vigilante on a mission to take down the corrupt racing syndicates from the inside. As he protects his brother Speed from the shadows, he battles deadly rivals, rigged races, and his own past. With every race, he inches closer to the vengeance he seeks, using his skills to level the playing field for those who race with honor. But when returning home risks the lives of those he loves, Rex must choose between family and the fight.

Coming from the world of Speed Racer, Racer X volume 1, written by Mark Russell with art by Nuno Plati, will be published on February 17, 2026. Mad Cave Studios provided an early galley for review.

Book Review: Speed Racer vol. 1

We're going pedal to the metal in this all-new interpretation of Tatsuo Yoshida’s classic manga/anime MachGoGoGo, known to Western audiences as the demon on wheels -- Speed Racer!

Speed Racer lives for the thrill of the race, but on the underground circuit, the rules are anything goes. Dodging bullets, explosions, and dirty tricks, he’s got one goal: to prove he’s the best. But when a dangerous syndicate targets his family, Speed’s greatest challenge won’t be on the track…it’ll be on the streets. With the police closing in and a masked racer lurking in the shadows, Speed is about to learn that some races can’t be won with horsepower alone.

Book Review: JSA vol 1 - Infinity Inc vs. the Justice Society

Longtime fan favorites Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Jade, Obsidian, Jesse Quick, Hourman, Wildcat, and Sand are all back on the roster, but the team is fractured in more ways than one. Will Golden Age ideals hold true as the JSA races to respond to its latest threat? Or does it need a more hardcore approach to stand a chance against the new Injustice Society of America? Collects JSA #1-6.

JSA vol. 1: Infinity Inc vs. the Justice Society by writer Jeff Lemire and artist Diego Olortegui was published September 2, 2025, by DC Comics.

Book Review: Grommets

Two outcast best friends navigate the Sacramento suburbs of 1984, where they find a home in skateboard culture and punk rock.

Grommets, whose title springs from skater slang for a young up-and-coming skater or surfer, is both an authentic look at ’80s skate culture (a snapshot of the generation that turned skating into a worldwide phenomenon) as well as a heartfelt coming-of-age story following two friends from troubled homes navigating their damage in an era when no one cared.

Written by Rick Remender and Brian Posehn, with art by Brett Parson and Moreno Dinisio, will be published July 8, 2025. It collects issues #1-7. Image Comics provided an early galley for review.

Book Review: The Sin Bin

Dale “Dukes” Duquesne is a washed-up hockey player by day and a ghost, monster, and demon hunter by night. After each away game, Dukes finds the local legend that goes bump in the night and takes it down, locking it away in the Sin Bin. When his daughter, Cat, discovers the truth about his demon hunting, it becomes her dream to follow in his footsteps.

As they work their first case together, Cat will learn Dukes’ biggest secret, though. He doesn’t hunt monsters out of the kindness of his heart. He’s searching for someone that was taken by monsters years ago…his wife, and Cat’s mother, Marta! Together, they hit the road to save mankind and reunite their family.

Book Review: Sunder vol. 1 - Small Beginnings

When a mysterious book appears in the library of a young monk named Zeek, he must embark on a quest to find its rightful owner. Unbeknownst to him, another dark figure has been searching for this very book for a very long time, sending his minions across the known planets and using dark magic to find it at all costs. When this evil figure realizes the manuscript has finally resurfaced, it sets events in motion that will send Zeek on an adventure unlike anything he could have ever imagined–leading Zeek to discover his true identity and destiny.

Sunder vol. 1: Small Beginnings by Pierre-Alexandre Comtois, Mark Englert and Buddy Beaudoin will be published on May 6, 2025. Mad Cave Studios provided an early galley for review.

Book Review: DC's Misfits of Magic

Ricki Jones is your average middle-grader. Her fellow-orphan-turned-adopted-brother Ross is, too. The seven mystical monks training them to protect the Earth from dark supernatural forces are pretty standard adults—they want nothing more than a little peace over summer vacation and all their prior attempts to get the kids out of town led to the camps going out of business. So this year? Rikki and Ross are heading to the town library, where Zatanna Zatara took a camp counselor job she expects to regret.

It’s fate (not like, Dr. Fate, just regular fate) that brings her together with Danny Cassidy, the Blue Devil. He’s got ADHD and kinda fused with his Halloween costume, giving him demon powers. And Boston Brand, who died in a horrifying microfiche accident and roams the halls as Deadkid. And don’t forget June Moon, who changes into an incredibly powerful sorceress named The Enchantress. But don’t hold that against her, she’s really very sweet when she's not causing trouble.

Book Review: Soul Taker

Amarantha is the last of her race, an ancient species that has lived among us for millennia, feeding on the life energies of humanity. Now enjoying a peaceful existence in a retirement community, she continues to consume just enough to survive. But Amarantha has made enemies throughout her long life and an ancient foe thought long defeated has returned and is out for blood, while a newer threat seeks to capture her for their own nefarious purposes! Now Amarantha must do everything in her power to vanquish her enemies and protect the life she has made for herself.

Soul Taker by Jeannine Acheson, Thomas E. Sniegoski and Valeria Burzo will be published on March 11, 2025. Mad Cave Studios provided an early galley for review.

Book Review: X-Men - The Manga Remastered vol. 2

The world of the X-Men expands!

After escaping Genosha, the X-Men return home to find Professor X’s mansion completely flattened! Who in the world can stop the unstoppable Juggernaut?! Who is Bishop, the mysterious mutant from the future? Is there anyone who can stand against Apocalypse and the chaos he leaves in his wake? The X-Men have protected the innocent and saved the day before, but they’ve never faced challenges like these!

X-Men: The Manga - Remastered vol. 2 by various creators will be published on March 11, 2025. VIZ Media provided an early galley for review.

Book Review: Harley Quinn's Bud and Lou - Trouble Times Two

When Harley's hyenas, Bud and Lou, are framed with stealing the lasso of truth they’re forced to team up with two members of the Super-pets, Ace and Jumpa, to find the culprits. The unlikely team sets off on an adventure that leads them from Oswald Cobblepot's penguins to Mr. Freeze's polar bears. At the chance of being reunited with their beloved Harley, will Bud and Lou save the day and be the good guys for a change? If they aren’t careful, the lasso of truth might reveal how they really feel about being heroes!

Harley Quinn's Bud and Lou: Trouble Times Two written and drawn by Ben Hed with colors by Kendall Goode will be published on March 4, 2025. DC Comics provided an early galley for review.

Book Review: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - The Mirage Years

After the original 62-issue run of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mirage continued the series with a new #1 in 1993 and it ran for 13 issues in total. This 13-issue run by TMNT veteran Jim Lawson is now known as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Vol. 2.

Picking up after the events of “City At War", Donatello and Splinter recuperate in Northampton while the rest of the Turtles are in New York City with April. Meanwhile, Baxter Stockman wreaks havoc in the desert at a top-secret D.A.R.P.A. facility. As the family drifts apart a killer robot controlled by Stockman has April in its sights and the boys have to come together to fight it off!

Book Review: The Legendary Lynx

Welcome to Triumph City, a city plagued by corruption and crime, where every alleyway and dark corner holds a deadly secret. The lone figure, standing against the onslaught of crime, is a savvy crimefighter known as the Lynx – sworn to protect the city that forged her.

By day, she’s Claudia Calla, a quiet secretary at Triumph City’s biggest paper. A woman haunted by a dark tragedy that has pushed her toward taking on the mantle of the Lynx – to prevent others from experiencing the same pain she’s dealt with. But when a specter from her earliest days returns, asking for her help against a cabal of dark forces, the Lynx must choose between her heroic responsibilities and her debt to a dear friend.

Book Review: X-Men '97 - Great X-Pectations

The official prelude to the hotly anticipated Disney+ show. The X-Men are back - and the '90s have never looked better! In this official prelude to the recently released X-Men '97 cartoon, created in collaboration with the showrunners, discover what Storm, Jubilee, Wolverine and the rest of the beloved '90s X-Men cast have been up to in the time before their return!

X-Men '97: Great X-Pectations by Steve Foxe and Salvador Espin collects the four issue mini-series from earlier in 2024. Todd Nauck provided the cover for this Marvel Comics collection.

Book Review: The Death of Captain Marvel

Witness the classic and tragic end of one of the greatest heroes of all time, Mar-Vell of the Kree, who became the Earth hero Captain Marvel! After dozens of battles on Earth and across space, and with the power of his Nega-bands and his all-knowing Cosmic Awareness, can Mar-Vell fare well in his battles with Nitro (the exploding villain who later sparked Marvel's super hero Civil War), the death-defying Stellarax, and the seemingly dead Thanos? Guest-starring Rick Jones, Drax the Destroyer, Starfox, and all your favorite Earth heroes!

The Death of Captain Marvel by Jim Starlin was published in April 1982 by Marvel Comics.