The final mysteries of Marvel's Krakoa era will be unraveled this spring in a new series titled X-Men: Forever. The X-Men have had plenty of highs after establishing their sovereign mutant nation on the island of Krakoa during Jonathan Hickman's relaunch of the franchise. However, things have slowly gotten worse for mutantkind, culminating in an attack by the anti-mutant organization Orchis at this year's Hellfire Gala. The Krakoa era will come to an end in Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X, and the X-Men: Forever spinoff series will bring long-awaited answers while also setting up the next stage of the X-Men's evolution.

Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski announced X-Men: Forever while attending the Lucca Comics & Games festival in Italy this week. The four-issue limited series comes from Immortal X-Men writer Kieron Gillen and artist Luca Maresca. X-Men: Forever picks up story threads from Immortal X-Men, including the quest for Dominion, the interpersonal conflicts of the Quiet Council, the escape from the White Hot Room, and the divine intervention of the Phoenix. Fans can see the important role the Phoenix plays in the series on the cover of the first issue by Mark Brooks.

How does the X-Men Krakoa era end?

Marvel announced more details on the end of the X-Men's Krakoa era at the Next Big Thing panel at New York Comic Con. Three series will be the focus point of the storytelling: Gerry Duggan and Lucas Werneck's Fall of the House of X, Kieron Gillen and R.B. Silva's Rise of the Powers of X, and Al Ewing and Luciano Vecchio's Resurrection of Magneto.

Fall of the House of X features Cyclops on trial and facing the death penalty as mutantkind prepares to make its last stand against Orchis; Rise of the Powers of X takes place in a future where Orchis is victorious, but Nimrod and Omega Sentinel have other plans for ascension beyond mutants and humans; and Resurrection of Magneto forces Storm to make a choice. Does she go against Magneto's wishes to bring the master of magnetism back from death? And will he survive the shock of what has happened to mutants since his death if she does?

"X-MEN FOREVER is Luca and myself doing a coda to Immortal X-Men, a requiem for the Krakoan age and generally setting fire to all time and space," Gillen explained. "It's the manipulative hand in the steel glove that is Rise of the Powers of X. By the time it drops, you'll be wondering what on earth is going on with certain characters, and X-MEN FOREVER will give you all the answers."

A description of X-Men: Forever reads, "HAUNTED HOUSE OF X! How can you kill a digital god? What do you do when the Phoenix is bleeding out into nothing? There's been questions that have haunted you since the end of Immortal X-Men. Finally, some answers. There's also been some questions that have haunted you since the START of immortal X-men. Finally, some answers, too. But not the ones you're expecting..."

X-Men: Forever #1 goes on sale March 20th.

The ComicBook Nation Crew breaks down Marvel's ECHO trailer and asks the hard question: Can the MCU recover from the multiple disasters detailed in a new report? Is Loki Season 2 Episode 5 a hopeful indicator that the series will end strong and make this Multiverse Saga make sense?

PLUS: Amazon Prime Video's Gen V hits its finale just as Invincible Season 2 premieres - and we look back at It Follows ten years later as a sequel, They Follow, is announced!

Invincible Season 2 Part 1 Review

ComicBook Nation Guest-host Logan Moore had the following to say in his Invincible Season 2 review:

The first four episodes of Invincible Season 2 feel like they barely scratch the surface of where this series is heading. In fact, the long wait between Episode 4 and 5 is likely the biggest problem that I have with Season 2 so far, as I would have preferred to see all of these episodes release in one go. Despite this, Invincible continues to be one of the best and most unique superhero shows around and almost certainly won't disappoint those who have been counting down the days until its return.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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Marvel is celebrating the 60th anniversaries of Black Widow and Hawkeye with a new team-up series. The duo of superheroes are cornerstones of the Avengers after starting their comic careers as villains. Black Widow and Hawkeye have only had to rely on their natural abilities, compared to their super-powered allies like Thor, Hulk, and Spider-Man. Black Widow recently got a power upgrade thanks to an acquired Venom symbiote, but her next adventure will be alongside Hawkeye in a new limited series celebrating the duo's big anniversary.

Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski announced Black Widow & Hawkeye during an appearance at the Lucca Comics & Games festival in Italy. The four-issue limited series comes from writer Stephanie Phillips (Contest of Chaos, Cosmic Ghost Rider) and artist Paolo Villanelli (Captain Marvel: Dark Tempest). Both Hawkeye and Black Widow's past will be explored, which is filled with secrets and espionage, but will also address Black Widow and her new symbiote.

"THE EYES OF A HAWK AND THE VENOM OF A WIDOW! Even when Black Widow and Hawkeye had no one to trust, they still had each other - even though their paths sometimes diverged," the description of Black Widow & Hawkeye reads. "So when Clint Barton is accused of a rogue assassination attempt that puts the U.S. and Madripoor at odds, a symbiote-equipped Natasha Romanoff thinks nothing of coming to his aid. But as echoes of their past ripple into the present, it will take all their faith in each other - and the lessons learned along the way - to protect their futures.

"I love getting the chance to dig deep with Natasha Romanov and Clint Barton to tell a fast-paced spy story that celebrates their 60th anniversary," Phillips shared. "Nothing is as it seems, and I'm having a ton of fun writing these characters. Not to mention they both look great for 60."

Black Widow joins Marvel's Thunderbolts

Marvel announced a new volume of Thunderbolts back in July, led by the Winter Soldier. It's a continuation of Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing's Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, with Bucky Barnes assembling a team of black ops heavy hitters to take down some of the Marvel Universe's biggest villains like Red Skull and Doctor Doom. Joining Black Widow on Thunderbolts are Sharon Carter AKA Destroyer, White Widow, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent, and Shang-Chi.

The official description of Thunderbolts reads, "Bucky Barnes, the Revolution, just inherited a mountain of covert intel and he has one objective: justice... like lightning! He's going after the establishment, the people no one else is willing or able to take down, and he'll do whatever it takes to win. Teaming with the mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra De Fontaine, Bucky assembles a team of black-ops heavy hitters to pursue high-profile targets like the Red Skull, Kingpin and even Doctor Doom himself. No one is safe from the Thunderbolts!"

Written by Stephanie Phillips with art by Paolo Villanelli and a cover by Stephen Segovia, Black Widow & Hawkeye #1 goes on sale March 13, 2024.

We're currently in The Last Days of Moon Knight, and Marvel is preparing readers for a new era for the Fist of Khonshu in a new Vengeance of the Moon Knight #1 trailer. The series by writer Jed MacKay and artist Alessandro Cappuccio has been a breakout hit for the publisher, and Moon Knight #28-30 seemed to be setting up the big finale of their run. However, MacKay confirmed in April that Moon Knight wasn't being canceled. Instead, the current run will come to an end, and a new series, titled Vengeance of the Moon Knight, will take its place from the same creative team. Marvel has released a new look at the series through a captivating trailer featuring artwork from Cappuccio.

Jed MacKay and Alessandro Cappuccio's Moon Knight has run for 30 issues, with the duo revitalizing the Moon Knight mythos. A new fist of Khonshu, Hunter's Moon, was introduced; Moon Knight's archenemy Black Spectre returned, and Marc Spector even found a new calling as the head of his Midnight Mission. But once The Last Days of Moon Knight concludes, a new avatar of Khonshu will take over the mantle of Moon Knight. This person's identity is being kept a secret, but artwork for Vengeance of Moon Knight shows off a new, black costume, with the person under the mask most likely Marc Spector's newest ally, Hunter's Moon.

Marvel to introduce an all-new Moon Knight

"MOON KNIGHT may be dying, but VENGEANCE OF THE MOON KNIGHT rises, clawing itself from the grave!" MacKay said. "We're thrilled to bring the next chapter of this saga to uneasy life as the Midnight Mission reels from a recent loss... and yet, Moon Knight still stalks the night time streets? Despite the apocalyptic events of MOON KNIGHT #28-30, we have plenty left to tell in the story of the Moon Knight, and I'm excited for readers to join us!"

Explaining the new design, Cappuccio said, "We needed a new black suit in this series so here we are! For the design, I took inspiration from ancient Egyptian banded armor while trying to stay true to the mood of the character. I replaced the classic batons with similar weapons that are reminiscent of the flowers of the Nile as depicted in the hieroglyphics. He is a new Moon Knight in both appearance and spirit and needed a change of look to suit the situation as you will see!"

Moon Knight #30 goes on sale December 13th, followed by Vengeance of the Moon Knight #1 on sale January 3rd.

Newly released titles generating significant buzz headline last week's top performers, while numerous familiar characters make noteworthy appearances. Rumors continue to circulate regarding a herald of Galactus, and comic-related speculations fuel the demand for books like Lobo and Dazzler. This diverse mix of comics reflects the community's keen interest, offering a promising outlook for the industry. Without further ado, let's dive into this week's Top Ten!

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

#10: WOLVERINE #36 - RYAN STEGMAN - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2023 | This book took the community by storm the moment it hit local comic shops' shelves. It has continued to make waves as fans eagerly seek the first appearance of Hellverine. Surprisingly, the character's reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with this book remaining in high demand two months after its release. The hype has also extended to other issues in the "Weapons of Vengeance" storyline (see runners-up). The 2nd print 1:25 retailer incentive has already achieved an impressive raw NM FMV of $79 and continues to rise. We tracked it at a high sale of $120 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current NM FMV of $23.

#9: THE OMEGA MEN #3 | DC | 1983 | Lobo was once an unlikely candidate for a big-screen adaptation, but recent changes in the DCU, spearheaded by James Gunn, have opened up new possibilities. Speculation has swirled around Jason Mamoa's potential portrayal of Lobo, and ambiguous responses from both Mamoa and Gunn have fueled further speculation. The most recent rumor suggests Mamoa's involvement in the upcoming Superman: Legacy project. While nothing is confirmed, fans continue to snatch up this book week after week. We tracked it at a high sale of $380 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a raw NM FMV of $84.

#8: FANTASTIC FOUR #244 | MARVEL | 1982 | The latest MCU rumors have ignited interest in this book, marking the first appearance of Frankie Raye as Nova, a herald of Galactus. Speculation suggests that the first herald we may encounter in the MCU will be female, making this book a focal point of attention. While it's not the Nova from the Nova Corps, but rather a title Frankie assumes as a herald, fans have eagerly anticipated Galactus's arrival since his appearance in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Despite the lack of official confirmation, fans have eagerly picked up this book. We tracked it at a high sale of $460 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw FN FMV of $22.

#7: BENEATH THE TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES #1 - PATRICK HORVATH - COVER A | IDW | 2023 | IDW isn't typically known for its dark and gruesome titles, but this book has defied expectations. It gained immediate attention upon release, with affordable copies quickly disappearing online. The consensus within the community is that this book demands adaptation. Even without substantial content, the concept of anthropomorphic animals confronting a serial killer has captured the imagination. It's a unique blend of horror and the classic animal storybooks of Richard Scarry, attracting a dedicated following. To quote comic enthusiast Patton Oswalt, "FINALLY, MURDER AND FORENSICS ARE ADORABLE!" We tracked it at a high sale of $34 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $13.

#6: FANTASTIC FOUR #164 | MARVEL | 1975 | While Frankie Raye has already been mentioned, this is the book where she first appears, alongside Crusader (Marvel Boy) before their involvement with Galactus. When rumors began to circulate that the first female herald of Galactus would make her MCU debut, the community quickly embraced this book. Typically, the first appearance of an alter ego fetches higher prices in the aftermarket, but this book takes a different approach. It features the character behind the alter ego (Nova) and commands nearly double the price for a CGC 9.8 copy. This is likely due to the double first appearance and the expectation that Marvel will likely retain the name Frankie Raye but introduce an alternate alter ego name. This book is also less common than #244, reflecting in its pricing. We tracked it at a high sale of $1,000 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current raw FN FMV of $15.

#5: MARVEL SUPER-HEROES SECRET WARS #8 | MARVEL | 1984 | We'll refrain from spoilers for the recently released Spider-Man 2, but it's safe to say that Venom plays a pivotal role. All the marketing materials feature Venom prominently, along with Spider-Man wearing the iconic black suit in the game. Naturally, fans have revisited one of the most iconic appearances of the Black Suit. While it's not the first appearance of the Black Suit, it is the one most fans associate with it. The suit's iconic status is reflected in aftermarket sales. We tracked it at a high sale of $650 for a CGC 9.8 and a raw VF FMV of $127.

#4: DAZZLER #1 | MARVEL | 1981 | Although there is still no official confirmation, director Shawn Levy's recent comments have reignited speculation about Taylor Swift's possible appearance as Dazzler in Deadpool 3. Levy's response, "That would be a great idea," has energized the excitement surrounding this book. With Taylor Swift's recent rise to billionaire status as a pop star, she is more suitable than ever to portray the character. Fans continue to focus on securing the first issue of her first ongoing solo title rather than her initial appearance, offering a chance to obtain a recalled copy at a more affordable price. We tracked it at a high sale of $277 for a CGC 9.8 and a current raw NM FMV of $21.

#3: SPAWN #1 | IMAGE | 1992 | Spawn consistently ranks as a top performer, frequently appearing on year-end "heaviest mover" lists. While a Spawn movie is in development, Blumhouse Productions CEO Jason Blum recently reaffirmed its release in 2025. The new Spawn film is described as "edgy," creating anticipation among fans. Jason Blum's incentive to push the movie forward may have increased due to the success of Five Nights at Freddy's, which has already grossed over $130 million globally as of this writing. We tracked it at a high sale of $200 for a CGC 9.8 and a current raw NM FMV of $35.

#2: UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: DRACULA #1 - GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ - LUNAR RETAILER THANK YOU (1 PER STORE) | IMAGE | 2023 | The community had this book on its radar for some time. When news spread that James Tynion IV was working on a Dracula project, fans eagerly anticipated its release. Tynion's expertise in horror heightened expectations, and the book coincidentally arrived just before Halloween. A fortunate few secured this 1-per-store "Thank You" variant, one of 11 variants this book received. Those who missed out were determined to acquire a copy on the aftermarket, perfectly timed for the spooky season. We tracked it at a high sale of $50 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $40.

#1: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #36 - ARTHUR ADAMS (1:25) | MARVEL | 2023 | This book introduces the Repossessor (Editor's note: In a Marvel Comics solicitation on X, they call him "the repulsive Re-Po"). The Repossessor is a demonic repo man unearthed by Goblin Queen to "reclaim her children." However, that's not the only aspect capturing the community's attention. The 1:25 Arthur Adams variant featuring Black Cat has generated considerable interest. Much like Catwoman and Harley Quinn, Black Cat has a dedicated fanbase that eagerly collects variant covers featuring her. While her appearances may be less frequent, fans are always enthusiastic when she takes center stage. We tracked it at $60 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $39.

And that's your TOP 10 COMICS OF THE WEEK for 11/1/23! Want to know what your comic books are worth? COVRPRICE.COM offers the ULTIMATE price guide with LIVE ungraded (raw) and graded sales for today's market trends. Manage your collection and track your portfolio's overall value with our robust tracking systems. With a free 10-day trial and several affordable price tiers, discover the value of your comics and sign up today! CHECK OUT THE TOP 10 ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!

Marvel is teasing Black Panther and Moon Knight going to war in the new Ultimate Universe. Writer Jonathan Hickman (House of X) has re-shaped the Ultimate Universe into one Reed Richards' nefarious variant The Maker has cultivated according to his designs of fate. In this re-written version of the Ultimate Marvel Universe (6160), there's already been a set of catastrophic events that have claimed the lives of major Marvel characters, and an even bigger war that seems to be on the horizon - with teases of Black Panther and Moon Knight being at the center.

In the new Marvel Ultimate Universe #1, Hickman provides an epilogue section that measures world events after The Maker's Council of Illuminati-style heroes and villains pulls a false-flag move of annihilating part of NYC with Stark/Stane satellites, blaming Tony Stark for the act. The civil unrest that starts around the world extends to Africa, which is now known as the "Upper and Lower Kingdoms" and ruled by the followers of the sun god Ra, and moon god Konshu, respectively. The avatars of both gods now combine to become this universe's version of Moon Knight, who enforces their rule of the region.

As a newscaster describes "an outbreak of regional infighting and, perhaps, open insurgence," in the Upper and Lower Kingdoms, we get a brief camera shot of Black Panther's silhouette against a green-lit sky with a moon insignia partially visible in the distance.

The new Hickman Ultimate Universe already has an Ultimate Black Panther comic series coming out in February 2024, from the creative team of Bryan Hill (Blade) and Stefano Caselli (Avengers: Time Runs Out). Ultimate Universe #1 has set the stage for this new Ultimate Universe line to unfold across various books - and the teaser for Ultimate Black Panther seems pretty clear: Wakanda will not bend Ra and Konshu and their Moon Knight!

Here's the synopsis for Marvel's Ultimate Black Panther series:

THE NEW ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER! In the wake of ULTIMATE INVASION, Khonshu and Ra-the force known together as Moon Knight-are seeking to expand their brutal control of the continent of Africa. In response, the lone bulwark against them, the isolated nation of Wakanda, will send forth its champion...its king...the Black Panther! From the creative minds of Bryan Hill (BLADE, KILLMONGER) and Stefano Caselli (X-MEN RED, AVENGERS) comes a bold new take on the world of Black Panther and Wakanda!

Marvel's Ultimate Black Panther will be released on February 7, 2024.

A cover for Marvel's 2023 edition of the end-of-the-year Timeless one-shot features a showdown between future versions of Moon Knight and Power Man. Timeless is the special year-ending one-shot that sets the stage for upcoming stories in the Marvel Universe. Kang the Conqueror was heavily featured in previous iterations, but the 2023 comic will put the focus on the last living Marvel superhero, Power Man. This mysterious hero will be tasked with stopping an ancient evil that's ascended to power, the Immortal Moon Knight. A look at Inhyuk Lee's cover of Timeless #1 shows Power Man and Moon Knight coming to blows.

Another interesting aspect of Timeless is it will preview shocking glimpses into the next year of Marvel storytelling, including the moments that kick off the inevitable chain of events that led to the end of the age of heroes. The future versions of Moon Knight and Power Man are a mix of different Marvel entities: the Immortal Moon Knight is a nightmare borne of StarkTech, the Eternal Machine, and the God of the Moon, while Power Man wields the unstable powers of the Sentry, Hulk, and Iron Fist.

Marvel's 2022 Timeless leads to Avengers relaunch

Following the events of 2022's Timeless #1 by writer Jed MacKay and artists Salvador Larroca, Patch Zircher, and Greg Land, Marvel relaunched The Avengers with MacKay under the helm. It follows Kang the Conqueror chasing a missing moment in time and being confronted by new characters like Myrrdin and his Twilight Court. He warns the Avengers about upcoming threats called Tribulation Events.

Captain Marvel is leading this iteration of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, with the rest of the roster comprised of Iron Man, Captain America (Sam Wilson), Thor, Scarlet Witch, Black Panther, and Vision. The Avengers also added a new teammate when they defeated the Ashen Combine, the first of the Tribulation Events. Their floating fortress, the Impossible City, decided to join up with the Avengers after they freed it from the Ashen Combine.

The description of Timeless #1 by writer Jed MacKay and artist Juann Cabal reads, "All of time and space is threatened by the rise of an ancient evil. The Immortal Moon Knight - a nightmare borne of StarkTech, the Eternal Machine, and the God of the Moon - and now all of Earth bows before his overwhelming power! But one man stands against Khonshu's coming tide of chaos: Power Man, the Marvel Universe's final living super hero. But who is Power Man - and how did he come to wield the unstable powers of the Sentry, the Hulk, and the Iron Fist? What dark, deeply personal conflict underpins this mind-bending apocalypse? And at the end of the line, can the Marvel Universe ever truly be saved?"

Ultimate Universe #1 lays the groundwork for the series set in the new version of the Ultimate Marvel Universe. Ultimate Universe #1 also quickly establishes that no one, not even significant characters from the previous Ultimate Marvel Universe, are safe in this era. SPOILERS follow for Ultimate Universe #1 by Jonathan Hickman, Stefano Caselli, David Curiel, and Joe Caramagna. The Ultimate Invasion miniseries preceded Ultimate Universe #1, revealing that the Maker had recreated the Ultimate Marvel Universe and began reshaping it to his liking by preventing most of the timeline's heroes from realizing their destinies. However, the Maker is now trapped in his city while another version of Reed Richards (wearing a Doctor Doom-style mask) and Iron Lad (Tony Stark) begin freeing their universe from the Maker's influence, starting with liberating a rather violent version of Thor from Asgard.

Richards, Iron Lad, Thor, and Thor's jailer, Lady Sif, then launch a mission to raid the Maker's vault, where they suspect he is keeping various items that were meant to catalyze the origin stories of Ultimate Marvel superheroes. Their mission is only a partial success. Captain Britain catches them in the act and stabs Thor from behind, nearly killing the god of Thunder. The group manages to escape, but with only one of the Maker's many storage devices to show for their efforts.

In retaliation, the secret cabal of world powers that the Maker created to control the world uses an orbital weapon on a Stane/Stark satellite (bearing a conspicuous circular "A" reminiscent of the Avengers logo) to level the Stane/Stark building where Iron Lad and his conspirators are hiding out. In the issue's epilogue, a newscaster reports on the aftermath of the incident, which is blamed on Tony Stark. A chyron beneath the newscaster lists the names of those presumed dead. They include Norman Osborn (a.k.a. the Spider-Man villain Green Goblin)), Norman's wife, Emily, and Peter Parker's aunt, May Parker.

The Green Goblin was Ultimate Spider-Man's archnemesis. It seems his elimination from the Ultimate Marvel Universe (though the list of dead is not confirmed) may be another change in the life of the Ultimate Marvel Universe's Peter Parker. The genetically modified spider meant to give him his superpowers being locked in one of the Maker's vaults would explain why he doesn't become Spider-Man until he's a married man with two children this time around. Now, he also doesn't have to deal with the Green Goblin as a deadly foe, presumably, but must also deal with the loss of Aunt May.

Ultimate Universe #1 also sets the stage for a showdown between the Ultimate Marvel versions of Black Panther and Moon Knight, as well as for the emergence of the new Ultimate X-Men. Ultimate Universe #1 is on sale now. Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Black Panther, and Ultimate X-Men will begin rolling out in early 2024.

• Ultimate Universe #1
• AUG230631
• (W) Jonathan Hickman (A) Stefano Caselli (CA) Bryan Hitch
• THE SPOILS OF VICTORY!
• After the worlds-shaking conclusion of ULTIMATE INVASION, a new team of heroes bands together to save the future! From mastermind Jonathan Hickman and superstar artist Stefano Caselli, don't miss out on this foundational issue for the new line of Ultimate Comics!
• Rated T+
• In Shops: Nov 01, 2023
• SRP: $6.99

While the series is clearly interested in taking a look at sex work, Lacy is positioned as a slave as are all of the other A.I. entities in Mister's establishment. Readers are quickly told that each A.I. possesses a kill switch controlled by Mister and are even shown a flashback in which Mister violently demolishes one A.I. who fled. Without the thin layer of metaphor provided by making these women A.I., as opposed to flesh and blood, the narrative on display would be too revolting to depict in comics form at certain points. By the end of Red Light #1, it's unclear how exactly the series will treat this metaphor going forward but it presently seems like a solution to diffuse the incredibly degrading content involved with a noir tale centered around sex slavery.

This also speaks to some flawed language in the series' solicits as "erotic thriller" fails to capture the actual content of this story. Referring to Lacy as a sex worker, implying some form of autonomous choice, is misleading, at the very least.

Artist Priscilla Petraites showcases a style that has only improved since working on Rat Queens and that fits the aesthetic of 2000 A.D-style sci-fi exceedingly well. In sequences depicting an unrelentingly austere prison for Lacy or the horrors of cybernetic violence, it sells Red Light as a setting genre readers may want to linger in. However, when depicting sexual encounters it struggles to convey the complexities of the sexual interactions displayed relying primarily on the titillating and erotic to capture moments containing much more.

In an early encounter, Lacy services a police officer who severely damages her arm during the encounter--tearing the artificial flesh to reveal steel--and is depicted choking her during sex. The panels portray Lacy in the midst of this in a pornographic fashion emphasizing her own sexual allure. This is one severe example of an ambiguity that is present throughout many depictions of sex that, when given these A.I. are owned and violently controlled, must be considered rape. It makes for a difficult read not only due to the content, but the seeming lack of consideration placed upon how it is depicted in a visual medium. (Undistinguished coloring leaving sweat and possible tears blurred doesn't help the matter)

Lacy's decision by the issue's end to escape her horrific prison isn't exactly empowering unto itself as there are few things more understandable than the oppressed's desire to free themselves from their oppressor. The arrival at that decision and framing around Lacy's inevitable escape are too familiar to inspire much confidence.

Providing her with a "nice guy" in Benson, the mechanic who repairs A.I. after they are damaged by customers and making him complicit in the entire operation, is one of many cliched signposts. Benson is far from the only example of familiar noir-types being provided a sympathetic reading in circumstances that amount to sex slavery and rape for profit. Lacy is designed to read her customers and offers readers insights into why each man is driven to engage in violent sexual behavior. Perhaps Red Light is establishing familiarity to upend expectations, but there's very little in Red Light #1 to suggest that's the case.

It would be insincere and uncharitable to say that Red Light #1 diminishes the realities and harms surrounding sexual violence and slavery. But good intentions cannot overcome the obvious failures in how this debut issue addresses its subject matter. The vast disparity between the erotic thriller featuring a sex worker sold in the solicit and the reality of sex slavery and rape present here speaks to lack of nuance available in depicting this story on the page. While it's true that Red Light is aiming for a very ambitious target of themes, content, and craft, that does nothing to excuse just how badly it misses the mark.

Published by AWA Studios

On November 1, 2023

Written by Sarah Cho

Art by Priscilla Petraites

Colors by Miroslav Mrva

Letters by Sal Cipriano

Cover by Jeff Dekal

To get potential new readers up to speed, the Ultimate universe was first introduced in the year 2000 with writers like Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Millar initially offering fresh takes on classic heroes. The original Ultimate universe worked as a way to "modernize" Marvel's heroes, while also giving creative teams a level of freedom in making permanent changes to many characters. Hickman was also a part of this initial universe and has returned to create a very different universe this time. The Reed Richards of the original Ultimate universe, now known as The Maker, attempted to halt the creation of the Marvel heroes in this new locale, and the protagonists are aiming to turn things around and make an environment that would be far more productive for superheroes.

Jonathan Hickman as a writer has always excelled at world-building, setting the stage for grandiose stories where each chapter works as an effective gear in a series' "machinery" as a whole. While this new Ultimate universe might not be taking a more "modern" approach than what we're seeing in the core Marvel Comics' line, it is presenting plenty of unique takes to keep fans guessing in terms of the future of this universe. Hickman and Caselli are able to present quite a few interesting new takes on classic characters, laying the groundwork for a very different team of Avengers to lead the charge.

With this new Ultimate Universe, there are a lot of moving pieces that readers will need to familiarize themselves with when it comes to hopping on board Hickman's latest foray. The Reed Richards of this world drops an exposition dump, though it's one that doesn't take into account a number of elements that might be needed as an introduction to any newcomers. Reading the Ultimate Invasion mini-series is an absolute must when it comes to not only learning more about why there's a Reed wearing Doctor Doom's armor, Tony Stark wielding the title of "Iron Lad" versus "Iron Man," who the new villains secretly ruling the world are, and so on. It's both a strength and a weakness of Hickman's skills in that the moving pieces fit together perfectly, but if you miss a beat, you might find yourself scratching your head. There are some significantly big reveals in this issue's pages that will hit much harder if you have an understanding of what came before in The Maker's journey.

In Ultimate Universe #1, readers are given something of a breakneck pace as a new team comprised of Tony Stark (Iron Lad), Reed Richards, and Thor, joined by his jailer, Sif, is attempting to right the wrongs committed by The Maker. It's at this pace that we lose some much-needed characterization for these new takes on classic heroes, Hickman takes some big swings in terms of setting the stage for how dangerous the new rulers of this new Ultimate Earth are and what's at stake for the ragtag group of "Avengers" leading the charge.

One thing that I might have changed is the need for this new universe to be labeled "Ultimate" at all, as it doesn't have the same modus operandi as its predecessor and feels like a far different approach than what came before it. There's room for confusion when it comes to old fans of the original Ultimate universe hoping for the same but getting a far different dish on their dinner table. This isn't to say that one shouldn't check out Hickman's new Marvel universe, it's just that readers should not go in thinking this will be any sort of continuation of or homage to the original comic line.

Ultimately, Ultimate Universe #1 does a solid enough job of introducing Hickman's brave new world, but this feels like a first issue that might be better read as a collection than a single issue. I'm excited to see what comes next for this new Marvel Comic universe, but that's thanks to what we saw in Ultimate Invasion and what's been hinted at with other series on the way. Ultimate Universe #1 is a squeaky wheel that gets the car past the finish line but definitely could have used more grease. The future seems bright for Hickman's new universe, but this isn't a roaring success.

Published by Marvel Comics

On November 1, 2023

Written by Jonathan Hickman

Art by Stefano Caselli

Colors by David Curiel

Letters by Joe Caramagna

Cover by Bryan Hitch and Alex Sinclair

One of Doctor Strange's oldest villains just took the entire Avengers team down a peg. SPOILERS follow for Avengers #7 by Jed MacKay, C.F. Villa, Federico Blee, and Cory Petit follow. Last week, Marvel Comics released a preview for Avengers #7 that had a few odd markings to it. For one, the Avengers were wearing dated costumes instead of their modern looks. For another, Vision had died, and the Avengers had failed to protect the earth from a destructive conquest. Avengers #7 eventually explains these oddities, revealing something less immediately concerning and more sinister at play, thanks to the villain called Nightmare.

Nightmare is a demonic villain, a Fear Lord who rules a Dream Dimension. He usually goes up against Doctor Strange or sometimes Ghost Rider, but he's chosen to turn his focus to the Avengers here. The Scarlet Witch, in a moment that feels like breaking the fourth wall, hears the verbose narration describing the Avengers' deaths throughout the early part of the issue, revealing Nightmare as the source of the account.

After confronting Nightmare, Scarlet Witch wakes to find that she and all of the Avengers save Vision (explaining the need for him to be dead in Nightmare's story) were put to sleep. The android Avenger has meanwhile been mounting a doomed defense of The Impossible City, the newest Avengers member/base, from incursion by Myrddin and the Twilight Court on their quest to find and finish Kang the Conqueror.

Two things stand out about Nightmare invading the Avengers' dreams. One is that he tried the same thing not too long ago against the X-Men, only to be put in his place rather thoroughly by Jean Grey. The Avengers may want to look into recruiting a psychic.

Second is that the scenario Nightmare inflicts on the Avengers may not be entirely fictional. When the Scarlet Witch approaches Nightmare, she declares, "This isn't real. This is a trick." Nightmare ominously tells her she's wrong. "Just because it's a trick..." he corrects, "... doesn't mean it can't be real."

What is that supposed to mean? Throughout the early part of the issue, there are allusions to the Avengers' world already being dead and something called The Black Presbyter finishing the job by unraveling the laws of reality.

Did Nightmare offer the Avengers a glimpse at a dead timeline? An alternate universe? Something that could have occurred previously, explaining the dated Avengers costumes? Is Kang the Conqueror somehow involved? Is this an example of one of the Tribulation events Kang warned the Avengers about? What about Myrdden and the Twilight Court? Is this related to last year's Timeless one-shot?

Marvel fans will have to keep reading to find out. Avengers #7 is on sale now.

• Avengers #7
• AUG230830
• (W) Jed MacKay (A) C.F. Villa (CA) Stuart Immonen
• ALL-NEW STORY ARC STARTS HERE!
• The Avengers defend the world - but they are beginning not to recognize the world as their own. What has happened to Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and...what has happened to the Vision?
• Rated T+
• In Shops: Nov 01, 2023
• SRP: $3.99

Tie-in comics are odd things. When they're tie-ins connected to event series, it's one thing because you're dealing with stories and characterizations that exist in the larger continuity and will arguably continue beyond that issue and story but when it's a movie tie-in, things are different. These are stories that are more or less one-offs. They're stories with lower stakes and less impact and, in the case of Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Special #1, may not matter much beyond its specific moment in time anyway. As fans of DC's live-action films already know, the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is the last in the DCEU continuity with new stories on the horizon with DC Films. This particular take on Arthur Curry is one we're not likely to see again. But for all of that, this tie-in is a surprisingly solid read and one that doesn't rely too much on the first Aquaman film to be interesting, sets a strong stage for the upcoming sequel, and manages to be a pretty good Aquaman story over all.

The comic book is actually comprised of three stories - one focusing on Aquaman, one focusing on Black Manta, and one focusing on Orm. In the first, from writer Tim Seeley and artist Miguel Mendonca, readers catch up with Arthur, now part of the Justice League, in the lead up to his wedding to Mera where he inadvertently creates yet another villain. This time it is an assassin named Charybdis whose partner-in-crime and wife, Scylla, is accidentally killed when Arthur addresses an anti-meta bomb. With Charybdis now possessing powers of his own, he goes mad and right after Aquaman for revenge. It's a silly little plot that is eerily like Black Manta's origin, but it's functional and out of it readers get some well-crafted human moments with the characters - there are some beautifully written moments with Arthur's parents as well as with Vulko and even Mera is well written. Seeley also seems to get Arthur in a way that makes him both fun and poignant so the story features more than cringe to read. It's a little on the long side, but it's nice overall.

The second story in the issue is from writer Joey Esposito and artist Ray-Anthony Height and centers on Black Manta; it is genuinely the best story in the issue. Readers find Black Manta planning his assault on Atlantis and it's intense, it's dark, it's complicated but it delves into Manta's psyche in a way I haven't really seen before. There are some deeply personal reasons that Manta hates Arthur and this story richly explores them without coming across in a way that cheapens Manta as a character. The art is also fantastic.

The third, Orm-centric story comes from Ethan Sacks and artist Scot Eaton and gives readers an insight into what life has been like for Arthur's half-brother while imprisoned under Atlantis. Although the character was the primary villain of the first movie, this story gives him a bit more humanity than one might expect - even as he plans escape. It definitely feels like the story is laying the groundwork for the character to switch sides, as it were, in the sequel. It's a solid enough story and it might be the story in this tie-in that feels the most like it might be "required" reading.

Overall, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom Special #1 is a surprisingly solid comic book. All three stories in the issue are good reads, though the Black Manta offering is probably the best of the trio. It leaves the reader with the sense that maybe the story that the Aquaman movies is trying to tell could be better suited for page than screen in the future. While it will certainly be interesting to see where the seeds planted by this unusual tie-in issue may go, it is one worth reading on its own.

Published by DC Comics

On October 31, 2023

Written by Tim Seeley, Joey Esposito, and Ethan Sacks

Art by Miguel Mendonca, Ray-Anthony Height, Scot Eaton, and Norm Rapmund

Colors by Andrew Dalhouse, Eren Angiolini, and Tony Avina

Letters by Wes Abbott, Josh Reed, and Carlos M. Mangual

Cover by Ivan Reis, Danny Mikki, and Brad Anderson

My Hero Academia is no stranger to sparking controversy with some of its narrative and/or character turns - but one recent twist that really got fans debating was having All Might head into his final battle with All For One sporting a high-tech suit of armor!

Some My Hero Academia fans have been highly critical of 'Armored All Might,' questioning everything from why he used tech instead of the One For All power that defined him, to how he ever got such cutting-edge technology in the first place. All Might's armor was able to change shape, connect with his armored car, Hercules, as well as mimic the quirks of his pupils in Class 1-A.

All Might having the most advanced armored suit in My Hero Academia wasn't something anyone saw coming - now we're learning more of the finer details behind Armored All Might's origin!

In a new piece of artwork featuring All Might and Hercules, we get a caption that explains exactly how Toshinori Yagi developed his Armored All Might suit - and just how much it cost him:

"All Might doesn't tend to spend much money on himself, but this time he used almost every penny he had to develop those items. It was an insane amount. He needed it shipped as soon as possible, so he skipped the testing period and went straight to action. A crazy armor and a crazy car, no one can say they're 100% safe.'

This explanation does help to at least answer the fans who swore up and down that, there was no way that All Might could have developed, tested, and had complete confidence in his armor, without any prior hint of that happening in the series. All Might putting in a secret rush order and then having to test it in the heat of battle actually makes much more sense, given how the battle played out. It's just as arguable that All Might having to rely on the powers of the next generation's heroes instead of his own to take on All For One makes a lot of poetic sense, as well.

Who Built All Might's Armor?

All Might's armor was made by Melissa Shield, the daughter of Toshinori Yagi's former best friend, Professor David Shield (whom we met in the My Hero Academia: Two Heroes movie). Neither the armor nor Hercules survived the final battle with All For One; however, in My Hero Academia Chapter 405 All Might does pass on one last segment of his armor to one of his prized pupils, Katsuki Bakugo, to help the young hero finish off All For One.

My Hero Academia releases new chapters online.

My Hero Academia has kept fans guessing and dreading the moment that the series could kill off one of its biggest icons: All Might. Since My Hero Academia began back in 2014, fans of the series have seen death flags hanging all over All Might - from the crippling injury slowly breaking down his body, the soul spirit that already exists inside One For All, to the numerous foreshadows (including one future prophecy) that All Might would fall in some kind of final battle with a villain (or his nemesis All- For One), it's been all but assured the hero would die.

...That is, until now.

In My Hero Academia Chapter 405, series creator Kohei Horikoshi finally makes a meta-style about-face turn, by having All Might come to the realization that the assurance of his death isn't as certain as he (and we) have always thought it was.

The chapter picks up the Final War Arc with the pivotal moment when Katsuki Bakugo finally makes his return to the battlefield, after suffering some seemingly fatal injuries. Bakugo made his return just in time to save All Might from death at the hands of All For One, who has had the benefit of having his physical form de-aged (through Eri's Rewind quirk) into its youthful form. Even with a suit of hi-tech, quirk-mimicking, armor, All Might ended up suffering massive injuries and looked like he was going to die for sure - but then Bakugo came exploding back onto the scene.

In a vision, All Might talks to his old (now dead) partner Nighteye, who assures him that this was the moment of death he foresaw with his quirk, and warned about. However, fate has been "reshaped" by the youth, and All Might's notion of a tragic shonen-style mentor character death no longer applies:

"You are a hero, but you're also human," Nighteye tells All Might. "You can't possibly die so readily."

This moment is a major thematic payoff for My Hero Academia's story if you've been following it closely. At the start of the story, both Bakugo and series lead Izuku Midoriya were inspired by the example of All Might's heroism - but only Deku truly embodied it, as he started out powerless like Toshinori Yagi, but possessed the same kind of selfless heart, throwing himself into danger to save the reckless Bakugo from a villain attack. Over the course of the manga/anime's run, Bakugo has slowly but surely learned from Deku's example, and started to emulate it in his own heroic practice. The fact that he threw himself into harm's way to save his own idol from a dark fate is about as big a moment for Bakugo (the biggest supporting character in the series) as we could have hoped.

...That is unless Bakugo is the one to finish All For One, while Deku takes down Tomura Shigaraki. That's the kind of epic conclusion My Hero Academia fans have been praying for.

My Hero Academia releases new manga chapters online.

Marvel has released a preview of the new White Widow series, which will star fan-favorite Black Widow character, Yelena Belova!

The new White Widow comic series (from Eat the Rich writer Sarah Gailey) follows Yelena as she embarks on a whole new chapter of her life: actual self-discovery! After being the world's greatest assassin, and a redeemed anti-hero, Yelena has found a place to settle down and is exploring a new purpose as her own kind of hero.

In the preview for White Widow #1, we get an interesting flashback featuring none other than Captain America/Steve Rogers! In a time period set "not long ago..." we see Yelena trying to carry out a contract hit against a "Mr. Best," only to be interrupted by Cap. Cap indicates that he and Yelena had conversations about this particular target, which serves as an intel asset for The Avengers. Yelena counters that she is adhering to the ethics of her line of work and that she has no interest in taking Cap's offer of becoming a heroic Avenger-type, and chooses retreat instead. In a voice-over, we find out that Cap's efforts were pointless(?), as a different assassin killed Mr. Best the next day.

It's hard to judge just from the preview pages if Sarah Gailey is approaching Yelena as a confident loner or a somewhat self-deluded woman who's not facing her traumas. Yelena is still stewing on her past encounter with Captain America while rationalizing that she would never fit in with the hero crowd. However, when Yelena says she doesn't have a tragic origin like a typical superhero, the flashback to her infancy and training in the Red Room clearly shows the dramatic irony of such a statement. Yelena's lack of self-awareness and trauma scars seem like they could end up being the true arc of the series.

What is Marvel's White Widow Series About?

Yelena Belova returns! Superspy. Rogue agent. Shadow of the Black Widow. Yelena Belova has been many things, but striking out as a hero in her own right is new to her. Now that she's finally free to choose her own path, who will she become? Sarah Gailey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eat the Rich) joins forces with Alessandro Miracolo (OBI-WAN, YODA) for a groundbreaking new chapter in the life of one of Marvel's most enigmatic antiheroes.

Written by: Sarah Gailey
Art by: Alessandro Miracolo, Matt Milla
Cover by: David Marquez, Rachelle Rosenberg
Page Count: 40 Pages
Release Date: November 1, 2023

Invincible Season 2 is about to premiere on Amazon Prime Video - but could Marvel's Spider-Man be showing up in a surprise cameo? The two characters teamed up in Marvel Team-Up #14 back in 2006, which was then also canonized in Invincible #33. With that kind of history on the comic page, fans have been eager to see an animated crossover follow!

There's been a rumor running about a Spider-Man/Invincible crossover since Season 2 of the Invincible animated series went into production - and showrunner Simon Racioppa isn't shooting down the possibility!

In a new interview with The Hollywood Handle, Racioppa addressed the Invincible Season 2 Spider-Man cameo rumors by first talking about some broader hopes for crossover events:

"I'd love to have crossovers with all, with DC, with Marvel, with all these other characters. I mean... in our show you gotta have to wait and see if that's a thing that can happen or not. I'd love that to happen, you know, is very tricky nowadays..."

All those caveats aside, Racioppa did leave a window open for how Spider-Man could appear in the Invincible Universe, in terms of behind-the-scenes business deals: "Marvel they sometimes license their characters to other studios. So crossing over in television is way harder than it is in comic books."

Spider-Man is a particularly tricky character to manage: Sony owns a wide breadth of rights to character (live-action films and TV, some forms of animation) while Marvel owns a few key ones (comics, certain animated and film partnership rights, etc.). It's something of a knot to untangle figuring out how Marvel and/or Sony would partner with Amazon Studios and Image Comics for this crossover. It would also be interesting to know what the upside would be for Marvel.

Sony Is Making Multiple Spider-Man TV Shows

The most obvious advantage would be getting viewers ready for the new Spider-Man series that Amazon Prime Video and MGM are developing, which includes Silk: Spider Society and a Spider-Man Noir series.

Silk will be produced by Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse's Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who signed an overall deal to develop Spider-Man-themed TV shows for Sony, including Spider-Man Noir.

"We are so grateful to everyone at Sony Pictures Television for choosing to partner with us and expand our enduring relationship with the studio," Lord and Miller said in a statement when that deal was first announced. "Together we aim to make groundbreaking work of the highest quality and integrity, and to place that work in convenient proximity to your eyeballs and earholes, wherever you may be."

Invincible Season 2 premieres on Friday, November 3rd on Prime Video.

There's just two weeks left to pre-order Fargo: Hell on Wheels, the first in a planned series of graphic novels from acclaimed cartoonist Howard Chaykin. The book, now available on Zoop, centers on a character that Chaykin describes as "Conan meets The Wild Bunch" -- a take-no-prisoners soldier of fortune who carries a trunk full of weapons wherever he goes. Living at the turn of the 20th Century, Fargo is something of a man out of time, dealing with a world that is transitioning from his old-school setting into something more modern and recognizable as the world around him industrializes. The novels, written in the 1970s, reflect the sensibilities of fiction created much earlier, with the gritty feel and quick pacing of dime novels from the first half of the century.

Chaykin, who was turned on to the series by Gizmoe Press's Michael Stradford, fell in love with it right away, saying that they're reminiscent of the kind of dime-store novels that he used to read when he was young. Fargo is, like early James Bond, something meant to kill time on the train during your commute. Gizmoe is teaming with Chaykin for the project, which they are funding through Zoop.

"Fargo at its core is Conan at the turn of the century, explained in his most reductive way," Chaykin told ComicBook.com. "He is a soldier of fortune -- a guy who's really good with every weapon. One of the signatures, in the same way that the Aston Martin is the James Bond, Fargo's, trunk is one of his signifiers. There's a sequence in the novel, which happens in almost every novel, where he does the itemizes and legitimizes his weapons."

Chaykin explains that the character is not just a soldier of fortune colloquially, but a former, literal soldier, having served with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders.

"The character is a 19th century badass who's finds himself vital and filled with energy in the beginnings of the 20th century," Chaykin explained. "One of the things That we forget is our early modernity began. the modern world was invented between 1865 and 1900, by the guys who made railroad fortunes and made fortune. So I'm selling to various governments and they invented the for 20th century and that first decade, and everything was in place, pretty much. We had airplanes and cars and the beginning of radio, and it was all there, and Fargo is too."

Chaykin's art is instantly recognizable -- something that's true even with the preview art for Fargo -- but he admitted that he was a little hamstrung by the very specific look and feel that was established by the original Fargo novels by John Benteen, and the result is a book that plays to Chaykin's strengths without allowing him to fall back on some of the habits he has built up in recent years.

"Fargo has a specific look," Chaykin explained. "I mean, it's Lee, Marvin. It's the Lee Marvin character from The Professionals with a new name and an involved backstory."

He added, "I like doing period material because for me it's like visiting an alien planet. I don't like science fiction much anymore but I do like historical stuff. And yeah, the idea having a look on the imposed of a character, that I can't rely on my own visual tropes, is a challenge....It's also an opportunity."

That opportunity? To present Fargo the way he was originally conceived, without worrying about the constraints of major comics publishers or the direct market.

"I've often described the novels as two-fisted guys in heaving bosoms and that's really where it's at," Chaykin joked.

Cliff Bleszinski is one of the superstars of the gaming industry. He started making his own games from home as a kid, allowing him to realize this was a viable career path. He would go on to work at Epic Games to make titles like Unreal Tournament, create the Gears of War franchise, and even do a little bit of work on Fortnite before departing the company and eventually form a new studio. Now, Bleszinski has largely left behind his days of being in the trenches as a game developer. Instead, he is busy writing memoirs, comics, pitching television shows, doing some consulting work, and much more. His heart still very much belongs to a creative.

ComicBook.com got to sit down with Cliff Bleszinski to talk about his new comic, Scrapper. It follows two talking stray dogs in a Blade Runner-esque world as they fight for justice and battle a totalitarian regime. It's one of the more accessible works Bleszinski has made, especially given his history with making gory video games. We spoke to him about the change of tone, how the comic came to be, the upcoming movie adaptation of Gears of War, and much more. Ultimately, it's very clear he's an incredibly passionate guy with a love for storytelling and all-around geek culture.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I have [a copy of LawBreakers] on my desk. This is a fan-favorite of mine. I don't know how often you hear that, but I really love this game. I genuinely think if that game had come out today, it would do much better.

I've had a lot of people tell me that on social media, and it broke my heart. And the Internet thought it was hilarious that it failed because I'm kind of a cocksure, confident game designer, public persona bulls**t, and people are like, "Overwatch crushed you." And I'm like, "Dude, there was room for more than one hero shooter at a time." But with Twitch culture, if you're not in the top of the front page, then you're dead in the water unfortunately.

That is the way it seems to be. But people want a return to Titanfall, and games like Modern Warfare 3 are like, "We're back with movement," and stuff like that. All these games are doing a lot of what I think LawBreakers scratched the surface of.

I'm friends with Vince Zampella, but I look at Apex Legends and I'm like, "Is that LawBreakers footage? It looks really similar." But more power to him. And I'm doing a comic book and it feels good.

Speaking of, how did this comic book come to be? It's pretty different from what I think I would expect from you.

Well, it's a long story. During the fall of my studio, Boss Key, my dog, Teddy, he couldn't walk anymore. Then he became incontinent and then he was getting sores and then [it became hard to] take him out to go potty and whatnot. I realized I was keeping him alive for me. We had to make that decision to put him down, which was one of the hardest days of my life. I'm getting misty even talking about it. I loved him.

Once the year of spontaneous crying stopped, my wife found a Pomsky online that was mostly Husky, but Pomeranian mix of Husky, and we were going to the final season premiere of Game of Thrones in New York City. So, then we scooped her up and I realized I needed to name her Lady after Sansa Stark's direwolf. She's just been my inspiration and my muse for this entire process, because I am like, "Has there ever been truly a badass dog superhero?" And Lady is so weird and goofy, but sweet and lovable, but affections on her own terms, which is fine, that's how Huskies are. And so I named my LLC Aloof Floof, because she is in fact aloof floof, and I think Scrapper is something I believe has heart with it. There's never really been a badass dog superhero in my opinion. The question that I ask everybody is, what happens when the kids who love Paw Patrol get a little bit older and outgrow it, and there's really room for something that's very Don Bluth style in the market, in my opinion.

I wasn't super familiar with the comic before preparing for this interview. When I opened the comic for the first time, I was a bit surprised to see talking dogs since I am so used to Gears of War and Bulletstorm from you. It seems much more accessible and it doesn't lean into excessive violence.

I didn't go full Garth Ennis!

Was that a conscious decision?

Very conscious decision. The goal with this is to not only hopefully make a successful comic series, which friends have been texting me and tweeting me and saying that, "I just got the last copy at my [local comic store]." So it seems to be selling pretty well, or Image isn't making enough copies, it could be either or. But having worked in video games for 25 years, it's one of those things that video games are often defined by their verbs. What can you do? Can you run? Can you jump? Can you slide? Can you dodge? Can you dash? Scrapper has what I call Paw-kour, where he's very agile, like Assassin's Creed, but also he can hulk out essentially. He has super bark, he has smell-o-vision. And all of these things I think would translate perfectly into a Batman: Arkham Asylum style video game.

And then the long-term goal is to turn it into an animated series. I believe personally right now, people are burnt out on the traditional Pixar look of animation style. That's why I think Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, those movies, did so well, because they're 3D, but look 2D, and they really lean into the comic book style. It's the same thing with the last Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. It was 3D, but it had this almost stop-motion look to it.

I think those kinds of fresh looks are where the business is going in regards to filmmaking. And people, when you shop something around, everyone's like, "I want established IP, I want Superman, I want Batman, I want Wonder Woman." I'm like, "Dude, those started from somewhere." You got to take a gamble on something new that people love. And sometimes it's Invincible. It was just an original IP that wound up becoming a really big success as an animated series. The Boys, as filthy as it is, I love it. That's the thing, people want superhero stuff these days that's not the traditional superhero stuff, in my opinion. I think that's exactly where I'm hoping a dog could slip right in.

Is that animated series a done deal, or is this the start of, "We're pitching it, we're talking about it."

It's just the start of a conversation, so don't quote me on the fact that it is going to be an animated series. You gotta shoot for the moon or shoot for the stars. Maybe you'll wind up on the moon, I can't remember what the saying is, but you gotta think big these days, especially when it comes to making intellectual property.

How did you choose your writing partner on this comic?

There's a guy that I'm really good friends with named John Nee. He used to work at Marvel in New York, and then he worked at Cryptozoic, Magic the Gathering and whatnot. I became friends with him through a game designer that I hired at Epic and had worked on the video game prototype. His name's Eric Holmes, he and I were working on this new IP at Epic that eventually sadly got canceled, and since it got canceled, he moved on to greener pastures, but he introduced me to this guy John Nee. John knows so many people in the comic book world and he introduced me to this badass woman, Alex de Campi, and I read some of her work and I really enjoyed it. I did a call with her, met her, because I'd already developed 75% of the universe. I paid out of pocket for concept art, written up essentially design documents for what the game and the world could be. She took to it like a fish to water.

She lives in Manhattan. I was literally up there for my Broadway endeavors and realizing that life finds a way, as they said in [Jurassic Park], with urban animals of rats, and pigeons, and stray dogs, and stray cats, and realizing what if they could unite against a totalitarian regime and an over militarized police force while gentrification is going on? Which I think are themes that are pretty relevant these days. Alex is an incredibly intense, cerebral, badass woman, and we just clicked just like that. I consider her not only a great writing partner, but also a good friend, and she has a hilarious daughter too.

This started as a game before it was a comic?

That was the initial idea, but having worked in video games for 25 years, and I'm 48 years old now... Can I swear on here?

Yeah, absolutely.

I like you more already. In the words of Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon, "I'm too for this shit." The beauty of this right now is, if it becomes a video game, I'll probably oversee a lot of it, but I don't want to be in the trenches day to day, I've done enough sleeping under my desk. You can see I'm happily married, living in a big dumb house with two beautiful dogs, I've paid my dues in that space. But that said, I really think it could slot into being an awesome game that's possibly like cel-shaded style, right? The last dog video game that did okay was Okami.

As they said when they promoted the last Teenage Mutant Neutral Turtles movie "from eternal teenager Seth Rogan," I really feel like I have a case of arrested development. I feel like there's something in there that Alex and I agreed upon where the dogs talk and they can talk to other animals, they can talk to each other, but the adults can't hear them, only the kids can because the kids still have that sense of innocence. Even the parents that you see briefly in some of the issues, they're shown offscreen like Charlie Brown style, so you never actually really get to see them. So, the world is really viewed through a lens of innocence where the kids interact with the animals. It all goes back to me being a child in New England and catching frogs and snakes in the pond, and turtles and whatnot, and recapturing that sense of innocence, but also with the aspiration of being a fu-ing badass.

You've done games, books, comics, theater, but it sounds like you're also interested in branching out into film and television as well.

Yeah, that's hopefully the plan. I just would die to make this an animated series. I really think that's one of the reasons why comic books go well on screen because it's essentially looking at storyboards to some extent. My addiction these days is learning other industries. I think I had the video game thing figured out, I've had decent success producing on Broadway, Scrapper seems to be doing fairly well. I just got the paperbacks for my memoir, which I think will drop on November 7th. It's called Control Freak, check it out. The next industry I want to kind of [get into is standup comedy]. I'm addicted to stand up comedy. I somehow became friends with a bunch of standup comedians. I went backstage with Doug Stanhope when he came to town and got fucked up with him and his girlfriend in his green room. I went backstage with Sam Morril and drank some of his wine with him.

That's the thing, it goes back to comedy and tragedy and learning the art of the setup of a comedy bit and then the delivery and then a callback. I usually end my night with watching stand-up clips on YouTube. And I've done Rogan's podcast three times. I know I'm name-dropping a lot here, but I became friends with Erica Rhodes, who's an up-and-coming comedian who actually has a comedy special that dropped on audio today, so I'm going to be listening to that tonight. And I believe if you absorb all this entertainment, it's all grist for the mill.

There's so many little things that Alex and I riff on, the fact that the pigeons are totally derpy and they're fanboys of Scrapper. There's one little panel where it says, "Senpai noticed me." Little things like that. I think, again, laugh, think, cry. I think that's the key to happiness in my opinion. I think that's why I still look relatively young looking.

Could you see yourself returning to the world with something like Gears of War through a comic book? I know you said you're down to consult on these new games.

I believe Gears needs a little bit of a reboot, like God of War had, and I've always said, Phil Spencer has my number, I'm happy to consult. Gears will always be near and dear to my heart. Late afternoon, if I have a mimosa in me, sometimes I'll go to YouTube and I'll look up key cut scenes from the Gears franchise, like Dom's death, or Dom having to put down his wife, and I read the comments. I've said this in other interviews, but I'm friends with Karen Gillan from Avengers, and Guardians of the Galaxy, and Doctor Who and all that, absolute sweetheart. We had lunch with her at GalaxyCon recently in Raleigh. And the thing is, there's a scene where, Doctor Who, Matt, and Karen take Vincent van Gogh to the Mus?e d'Orsay, through the TARDIS and time travel and whatnot.

Vincent van Gogh lived a tortured life. He believed his work was terrible. He struggled to sell a painting. And then for him to see his impact. And then Matt, the Doctor, grabs Bill Nighy, not the science guy, the British actor. Bill does this amazing monologue, and the actor who looks just like Vincent just starts losing it and the music starts swelling. Every time I watch that scene, man, I just get totally fu-ing misty eyed because, yeah, I like money. Who doesn't? I like to eat prime rib steak and sushi sometimes, but you just want to know that your work makes [an impact]. Reading the comments on those cut scenes from Gears of War when Dom dies, people are like, "I had to put the controller down, my friend and I just sat there silenced and stunned." For people to actually get tattoos of something that you made on their bodies is the most flattering thing.

I became friends with Patton Oswalt and the other tattoo on my arm here is from his comedy special, Annihilation, where he talks about the loss of his wife and his wife's advice to him about dealing with the chaos of the world is, "It's chaos, be kind." Whenever my wife pisses me off, I slap my arm to remind myself I could wake up tomorrow and she could be gone, so I should appreciate every day and every moment I have with her. That's the power of entertainment. And you can get a little political also, as long as you're not too on the nose. It's the whole thing about the scenes of girl power in comic book movies. It's like you got to be a little subtle with it. Gal Gadot going across the trenches, yes. [In Avengers Endgame] where the girls all got together and fans can smell that shit a mile away and they'll call you out on it. [So you've gotta find that sweet spot]. You go too far that way and people are like, "Yeah, it's bulls-t."

I was 10 when Gears of War 3 came out, and I begged my mom to buy it for me, and she was like, I don't know, it seems pretty aggressive. I'm like, "I'm getting the game. So it's either through you or I'm going to find another way."

Yeah, kids, that's what kids do.

Yeah, exactly. I think the first game to ever make me cry was Gears of War 3.

That means a fu-ing lot to me, even though I'm wearing a shirt that says, "I eat ass" in Japanese.

The Xbox was on a killer run at that time too, with Halo Reach and Gears of War 3. Even some other games like Alan Wake, which is now making a comeback, that was an unbelievable time to be on Xbox.

It really did feel like a golden era. It's like PlayStation 2 in its heyday with God of War and everything else. Everybody's trying to move to games as services these days, and Phil Spencer's trying to become the Netflix of video games with Game Pass. I get that, I respect it, but honestly, I'm not playing shit these days. I am basically reading books and comic books. One of my favorite things to do at our local comic shop, Capitol Comics 2, there's a really nice guy named Sequoia there, if you happen to be in town, say hi to him, he's a great dude. I'll pop into this Irish pub named O'Malley's next to it, grab a cocktail, go over there and see what comics are new, and then just sit there with a cocktail and just read the comic.

And that's the thing is learn, learn, learn. I'm also reading John Romero's book, Doom Guy, John Romero, for those of you who don't know, obviously he's the guy who basically made the original first person shooter, Doom, and Quake, and Wolfenstein, and he's a friend of mine, he's a legend. I was worried he wasn't going to get personal [in the book], but he gets very personal.

Think about my book, there's been a million books written about the video game industry, but a lot of them read like stereo instructions. In my book, I talk about my father dying. I talk about moving to California. I talk about getting fu-ing molested by a guy I met online when I was 15. John talks about his dad being abusive to him, and I think these are the things that humanize a creative, and just I think if you've gone through that kind of trauma and you can publicly share it, I think that also shows people how your work came to be and also it's therapy for them.

I know this sounds like I'm acting like a martyr or some bulls-t, but I really believe in my heart.

There's a reason why in the Gears of War franchise, Adam Fenix, Marcus' dad, seemingly died, he faked his death, so he could cure the whole emulsion issue. Marcus basically had to watch his dad essentially die twice. I believe sadly that some of the best art comes out of tormented times or tormented people. Vincent van Gogh being tormented. My father's death, putting that into Gears. Gears 1 came through the fall of my first marriage. Scrapper came out of the loss of my 13-year-old beautiful Australian shepherd Teddy. And so that's the thing. LawBreakers was, in my opinion, a really, really good game, but I was incredibly happy during that period, and I think it was missing something from that because I didn't have the [failed] marriage, I was financially comfortable.

Zack Snyder has said the idea of adapting Gears of War has been mentioned within his circle. Do you think he's the guy to bring those games to life?

To be frank, I think Zack Snyder is an amazing director when he is working with existing IP. I think when he did, I think it was the Dawn of the Dead remake, some of his superhero movies, when he did 300. As an adaptation, 300 defined a whole genre of [filmmaking], the slow-mo and the fast pans. Army of the Dead, I turned off halfway through, I thought it was terrible. That's right, I said it. But his fans are rabid as hell and the thing is, I think he'd be a great fit for it.

I used to say back in the day, that I didn't want a big wrestler to play Marcus Fenix. And then I had the epiphany of years back, wrestlers are not only athletes, they're actors. We had that epiphany in the eighties. We're like, 'Wait a minute, this might be staged.' But they're still messing up their bodies and having to work out tremendously, and possibly be on HGH and steroids and whatnot. Dave Bautista man, the dude dressed up in Gears armor online. He's proven his range from the last Blade Runner movie through to him playing Drax The Destroyer and all that. In the Knock at the Cabin, he's got great range. I think he'd be perfect for it. He's got the body type and once again, I'm happy to give my two cents and consult, but the biggest thing I hope for is that it has heart.

One of the things creatively I'm most proud of is the day I realized I needed to kill Dom. Dom was a broken man, he had to put his own wife down. I was talking to Karen Travis, she's like, "You can't just go out like that and get randomly shot. He has to sacrifice for the sake of Delta Squad." So that's where that scene came from. The scene was being staged, and I walked in Rod Ferguson's office and I said, "We have to play Mad World while he does it," to book-end it. Same thing with the whole, "I am Iron Man," thing, right? It's narrative 101. And Rod's like, "I don't think Gary Jules is going to [approve it]." [I said], "We're going to be looking for Gary Jules, and we don't need Gary Jules, it will be just the Tears for Fears instrumental version of it. without the lyrics actually added to it." It's just became, in my opinion, one of the most powerful scenes in gaming history, and I'm so very, very proud of it. Just to know that I reached through that screen and that controller and could affect people in a good way and make a lot of them just stop and even tear up means the f-king world to me. Gears Nation, I'll always love you guys.

Do you want to see them do a one-to-one adaptation? There are a lot of ways to adapt games now, it seems.

I think the creatives that take over the helms of video game adaptation need to respect the fans, respect the source material, but then also branch out a little bit. I think if you look at what they did with The Last of Us, which was fantastic by the way, they worked with, I think it was Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog, and basically you could see the winks to the gaming fans, but they didn't just want the gaming fans, they wanted a broader audience. If you get a broader audience, maybe they'll pick up the video game and check it out.

The theme of The Last of Us, about the infection, it's never been more relevant in the era of COVID, which is why it was the perfect storm for that show to hit and hit quite well. People were talking [negatively] about Bella Ramsey playing Ellie, I'm just like, "Get the f-k out of here. She stole the show in Game of Thrones, you fu-ing idiots." It was just a great show. Again, take the source material, respect it, have a few Easter eggs in there for the fans, but then flesh it out a little bit. In my opinion, that's the perfect formula for adapting a cool video game or even a comic book.

I found out you almost made an Alien game at Boss Key. What can you say about that? Because that sounded very interesting, and maybe Disney got in the middle of it.

I'm friends with a guy named Aaron Loeb, who wound up working at Warner Brothers. I worked with him on Unreal 2. He approached me and said, "I have an IP that you might want to [work on]." I've always been a staunch believer in making my own worlds and my own IPs. I was like, 'Okay, there's only two IPs that I would ever consider working on that weren't ones that I made by myself. Firefly/Serenity or The Aliens franchise.' And basically we were in talks to do it. One Friday I pitched it to the team and they were like, 'F--k yeah.' We all had the music in our head.

I had a whole pitch gathered together, and then of course the House of Mouse had to kick in the door and f-k everything up, which was one of the many cascading failures that led to the failure of Boss Key. As much as my studio failing destroyed me, I was depressed for a full year, not only for my dog, but also my studio. In the long term, if you're going through hell, keep going. Now that I have this comic book that seems to be doing well, and I'm having meetings with people to see if it could be a TV series, or a video game, or a movie, or something like that, I think it's always darkest before the dawn. But Aliens will always be near and dear to my heart. The first one is such a perfect movie about suspense. The second one is suspense, but also the ultimate action movie. Cameron, I'm not the biggest Avatar fan, but Cameron just is brilliant. I could geek out about pop culture all day long. I read every issue of Entertainment Weekly for 20 fu-ing years, dude.

The ComicBook Nation Crew is Reeling from that massive twist in Loki Season 2 Episode 4, and share their Favorite movies to watch during Halloween! There are also some juicy new Deadpool 3 updates from director Shawn Levy, a recap of Gen V's penultimate episode twists, reactions to Marvel's bold new take on Ultimate Spider-Man, and a review of the new scary(?) movie, Five Nights at Freddy's!

Five Nights at Freddy's Review

In her 2.5 (out of 5) star review of Five Nights at Freddy's, Megan Peters said the following:

Since the release of Five Nights at Freddy's nearly a decade ago, the franchise has become a giant with horror lovers. This means expectations for its movie adaptation were high, and sadly, Five Nights at Freddy's did not meet them. The film's sanitized scares strips the franchise of its legendary tension. When paired with its muddled story, the only thing that kept Five Nights at Freddy's afloat for me was its filmography and Easter eggs. Even with its flaws, the film will likely impress young fans who've yet to develop a tolerance for horror. But, as for older fans, well - they will have no problem surviving their visit to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

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McFarlane Toys is set to release a DC Multiverse figure and vehicle set that includes Lobo, his Spacehog ride, and his alien dog buddy. It will include chain and guitar accessories as well as an alternate head. Note that McFarlane Toys previously released a standalone DC Rebirth Lobo figure, but this set comes with the bike, the additional accessories and, most importantly, Dawg.

If you are throwing money at your screen right now, we don't blame you. It will launch today, October 27th as an Amazon exclusive, and it should be available to order right here at some point during the day. It might also turn up via this link on Amazon. Typically, these drops happen between 9am and 12pm ET, but there are no guarantees. Make sure to check in early and often. UPDATE: It's live! A direct link can be found here.

Hopefully the Lobo and Spacehog launch won't go as badly as it did for McFarlane Toys' Batman and Batmobile 2-pack inspired by Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film starring Michael Keaton. This set sold out instantly at launch and has only recently achieved stock levels that meet demand. Details about the set can be found below.

McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse Batman & Batmobile Gold Label 2pk ($74.99) - Order on Amazon: Set includes 7-inch Michael Keaton Batman figure and a Batmobile with a canopy that slides open for cockpit access (the vehicle can accommodate the Batman figure). An art card is also included.

Will Jason Momoa Play Lobo in the DC Universe?

James Gunn and Peter Safran were asked if Momoa would be playing multiple characters in the new DC Universe -- a rumor that had surfaced in recent months along with rumors that the actor could be playing Lobo in DC Studios' new cinematic world. According to Gunn, however, Momoa will not be playing two characters.

"Jason will not play two characters despite what you guys might think," Gunn said, before adding that she's "really happy" with the actor.

Safran went a little further, suggesting that things are still undecided about several things -- including a third Aquaman film -- but that there are no plans for the actor to play two characters.

"It's too early. Listen, he definitely... Jason always thought Aquaman was a trilogy, in his own mind," Safran said. "But listen, he loves Lobo. He's been very clear about that, too. He's never going to play two characters, but no decisions have been made."

"We'll figure it out after Aquaman 2," Gunn added.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will be released exclusively in theaters on December 25th.

The latest issue of Wonder Woman seems to have confirmed that her origin has been restored to its pre-2011 status quo. A seemingly throwaway line in a narration box has social media users convinced that a key part of Diana's origin -- that she was created from clay by her mother -- has been restored. Over the years, Wonder Woman has had a variety of different tweaks to her origin, but none more dramatic, or controversial, than the one introduced in The New 52. During that line-wide DC reboot, writer Brian Azzarello and artist Cliff Chiang revealed that Diana was actually a demigod.

For years, Diana's origin had maintained that Hippolyta built a daughter from clay, and then had her blessed by Olympian gods, bestowing on her the powers of Wonder Woman. The 2011 reboot revealed that this was all a cover story, and that in fact, her powers had come from being the daughter of Zeus, a secret Hippolyta kept even from the other Amazons.

"It undoes a lot of vital threads," longtime DC writer Gail Simone said of the changes in 2017. "It changes Hippolyta, it makes Wonder Woman's origin about fatherhood, not motherhood, on and on."

The changes were unpopular with many fans, although Azzarello and Chiang's run on the comic was generally well-liked. It's likely that the pre-New 52 origin would have reinstated before now, except that a lot of casual fans get their origin from the 2017 movie, which used the Zeus twist as well.

"She was neither a man nor born of woman," Tom King writes in Wonder Woman #2. "She was Amazon. Forged first of clay. Then steel."

In case that leaves any ambiguity for the reader, the narration continues and extrapolates on that the next page.

"We have heard the other story as well," the issue's narrators say. "The queen, the god, and the secret daughter they bore. Like any good fable, there's certainly a hint of truth somewhere in it. And like any good fable, there's most certainly a lie right at the center of it."

The pages, scanned and uploaded to social media, prompted excited tweets from fans who were glad the more conventional version of Diana's origin had been restored, and more than a few people arguing semantics and saying things like "until Zeus himself tells me it isn't true, I won't believe it."

(Paraphrasing, there.)

In any case, it seems at face value that the clay origin has been restored as the primary, accepted lore, while the "daughter of Zeus" story still exists and floats around in the universe as apocryphal. That's more or less a reversal of what happened in 2011, when the clay story was deemed mythology and Zeus's involvement was introduced as fact. It leaves just enough wiggle room for online conversation, and for readers to choose their own backstory, but it certainly gives fans who were disappointed by Azzarello's change something to feel good about.

Set 100 years after the character's first appearance in Spawn #1, Todd McFarlane's Spawn will get a new look in Rat City, a new series announced at New York Comic Con last weekend. Picking up on a thread from Spawn #301, the story marks a new generation of Spawn, both figuratively and literally, as McFarlane and company cross the 350-issue mark and head toward Spawn #400. The series establishes a new Spawn -- but one with direct ties to Al Simmons.

According to Image Comics, Rat City follows Peter Cairn, an ex-soldier, amputee, and a Hellspawn of 2092. But Peter's not dead like Al...Peter gets his Spawn powers through the nanites in his prosthetic legs...nanites that were affected when Al Simmons initiated his necroplasmic detonation in Spawn #301. Al had no clue that the effects would ripple across space and time. The series will be written by Erica Schultz, the first woman to write a Spawn title, and feature art by Ze Carlos.

"I had met Thomas Healy at New York Comic Con about a year ago, and we discussed me doing something for Spawn, whether it was for She-Spawn, or Scorched, or something," Schultz said in a promotional video. "We had a great conversation, and I just sort of gripped on this idea about going into the future and having a cybernetic character who becomes Spawn in an unlikely way. So I really hope that you enjoy Rat City. Myself and Ze are really proud of the work, and thank you everybody at McFarlane for giving us the shot."

You can see a sneak peek of the new costume here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Todd McFarlane (@toddmcfarlane)

Typically, superhero comics outside of DC and Marvel don't make a ton of headlines, but McFarlane has managed to release the best-selling comics of the last two years, with King Spawn #1 in 2021 and Batman/Spawn in 2022. Like fellow Image co-founder Rob Liefeld, McFarlane started at Image following a history-making run at Marvel, in which he introduced Venom and sold 2.5 million copies of Spider-Man #1. Scorched, which feature a team of Spawns throughout time and space, has also been a consistent seller, likely setting the stage for this Spider-Man 2099-style take on the concept.

Keep an eye out for Rat City in early 2024 from Image Comics and McFarlane Comics.

Spider-Man fans are going back to the Edge of Spider-Verse next year. The fan-favorite Spider-Verse epic is back for a new installment in February, reacquainting readers with old favorites while also introducing all-new web-slinging heroes that will quickly become household names. Previous Edge of Spider-Verse miniseries have featured all-star creative teams spinning new tales for heroes like Spider-Gwen, Spider-Rex, and more, and have also revealed secrets behind breakout hit Spider-Boy, and set up Spider-Man India and Ara?a on exciting new adventures. Who will be the next to step into the Web of Life and Destiny to have the Spider-Verse transform their lives?

The first issue of Edge of Spider-Verse features the debut of Weapon VII, who looks like a mix between Cyclops and Wolverine. Weapon VII has similar hardware that Wolverine had on when he escaped from the Weapon X compound, with the addition of red ruby goggles and an Iron Spider backpack. Fans will also see the return of the tech-savvy Spider-Byte. Below is a rundown of some of the stories and creators behind Edge of Spider-Verse #1, which goes on sale February 21, 2024.

• We all know who Weapon X is, but WHO IS WEAPON VIII?! Find out in a story from writing duo Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing and artist Travel Foreman! In this universe, when Weapon X escapes from his facility, they call on their greatest previous success to get him back...
  
• You may not have realized that the digital avatar Spider-Character who made her big screen debut in Across the Spider-Verse came from the comics first! She's back in comics now and you don't want to miss her in an all-new adventure by writer Nilah Magruder and artist Eric Gapstur.
  
• Plus the start of a saga that sets up the next evolution of SPIDER-VERSAL stories!
  

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse sets Netflix release date

The time has come for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse to swing onto a digital streaming service. While previous Spider-Man live-action films starring Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield are on Disney+, Across the Spider-Verse is going a different route and heading to Netflix starting Tuesday, October 31st. The sequel to 2018's Oscar-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is the latest Sony film to land on Netflix after the streamer secured the rights to the studio's output as part of a deal announced in April 2021. Under the five-year pact, all of Sony's films from 2022 onward -- including the upcoming Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse -- will stream exclusively on Netflix after their theatrical and home entertainment releases.

"At Sony Pictures, we produce some of the biggest blockbusters and the most creative, original films in the industry. This exciting agreement further demonstrates the importance of that content to our distribution partners as they grow their audiences and deliver the very best in entertainment," Keith Le Goy, Chairman of Worldwide Networks & Distribution for Sony Pictures Entertainment, said when announcing the Sony-Netflix deal.

Added Scott Stuber, Chairman of Netflix Films: "This not only allows us to bring [Sony's] impressive slate of beloved film franchises and new IP to Netflix in the U.S., but it also establishes a new source of first-run films for Netflix movie lovers worldwide."

A major Marvel villain is the key to saving the X-Men. After the dramatic events of this year's Hellfire Gala, which left the X-Men either killed, disbanded, or in hiding after an attack by the anti-mutant organization Orchis, Captain Americadecided to help mutants fight back by reforming the Uncanny Avengers. Together with Rogue, this new Unity Squad is having to deal with a new version of the terrorist group the Mutant Liberation Front. But Captain America has a plan, and it involves the journalist Ben Urich, who he's hoping can help drum up some goodwill for the mutants. If they are to be successful, they're going to have to rely on a villain with a long history in the Marvel Universe.

*WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Uncanny Avengers #3. Continue reading at your own risk!*

Uncanny Avengers #3 comes from the creative team of Gerry Duggan, Emilio Laiso, Morry Hollowell, VC's Travis Lanham, Tom Muller, and Jay Bowen. Early on in the issue, Captain America gives an inspirational speech in support of the X-Men and mutants at the home of their burnt-out base in New York City. In attendance is Ben Urich, who is also on the side of the mutants, and of the truth behind what really happened at the Hellfire Gala. Cap arranges for Urich to meet with a human who was in attendance at the Hellfire Gala, and can refute the story Orchis is spreading in the press. This mystery human agrees to meet with Urich, but only if Captain America is present as well.

Well, the person who walks into Ben Urich's office at the Daily Bugle is none other than Wilson Fisk, the former Kingpin of Crime. Wilson Fisk is married to the villainous Typhoid Mary, who is a mutant. After Kingpin was ousted from his title as Mayor of New York, the couple found refuge on the mutant island of Krakoa. So Kingpin got a firsthand view of Orchis' raid of the island.

The X-Men and Avengers will owe Wilson Fisk a favor

Captain America isn't the only Avenger Wilson Fisk is collaborating with. The pages of Invincible Iron Man featured the wedding of Tony Stark and Emma Frost. The real secret behind the marriage is Iron Man is helping the X-Men in their fight against Orchis, with the Hellfire Club used as a front. Well, Wilson Fisk is also a member of the Hellfire Club, and Orchis' attack also endangered his wife, Typhoid Mary.

The question is how much can the X-Men and Avengers trust Kingpin? While Mayor of New York City he led a campaign to stomp out all superheroes. But now he's working alongside them. Plus, our heroes will now owe Wilson Fisk a favor, which he will be more than happy to collect on.

What do you think about Uncanny Avengers #3? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Marvel's Ultimate Universe has been reborn, and the first ongoing series of this new era will be none other than everyone's favorite web-slinger. Today Marvel revealed the first details on the new ongoing Ultimate Spider-Man series and will be shaking things up in a major way. The new series is written by Jonathan Hickman and drawn by Marco Checchetto and will reunite Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson as a married couple. That's not all though, as the happy couple are also parents to a daughter and a son, and the series teases that Peter's time as Spider-Man starts in a much different place than readers are used to.

"When we decided that we were going to do a book about an older Peter Parker becoming Spider-Man, we really wanted to lean into him starting his super hero life from a very different place than what's traditionally expected," Hickman explained. "Peter and MJ being married is one of many decisions we made that underline this being quite a 'different' kind of Spider-man story."

You can also check out the Parker family in two new covers by Elizabeth Torque and Ryan Stegman, and Torque will be spotlighting Peter and Mary Jane's romance in special variant covers of the first four issues of the series. Ultimate Spider-Man #1 will hit stores on January 10th, 2024, and you can check out both covers above and below.

The foundation of the new Ultimate Universe was created in Ultimate Invasion, the four-issue miniseries that showed how The Maker created this new universe. Hickman and Bryan Hitch were the architects of this new universe, and while Hickman had been wanting to work with Hitch for some time, the reason for the universe returning had to be sound on its own.

"I think it's fair to say that both Bryan and I have already put in our time doing Ultimate books, so when Marvel laid this project in front of us, we both knew there needed to be a good reason to revisit the idea of 'Ultimate Comics' beyond telling a cool story or just getting to work together, which is something we've been trying to do for years," Hickman told Entertainment Weekly.

"So with that in mind, it couldn't be replicating or revisiting what Bryan did in the original Ultimates - creating a streamlined, modernized version that would eventually become the spine of the MCU - and it certainly couldn't be what I did, which was a final chapter of a pre-existing universe," Hickman said.

"We also thought the very idea of Ultimate Comics needed to be inverted from what the original universe was. We wanted this to be something that could really only exist in the comic space: A new way of thinking about, and enjoying, a new version of the Marvel Universe. I'm pretty happy to say that it feels like we've accomplished those things and we're very excited for everyone to get to read it," Hickman said. You can find the official solicitation for Ultimate Spider-Man below.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1 - 75960620796100111

Written by JONATHAN HICKMAN

Art and Cover by MARCO CHECCHETTO

Variant Cover by ELIZABETH TORQUE - 75960620796100191

On Sale 1/10

Are you excited for Ultimate Spider-Man #1? Let us know in the comments or as always you can talk all things comics with me on Threads @mattaguilarcb!

A couple of pieces of (admittedly distressed) Dark Knight history are headed to auction. That's because Goldin, the leading collectibles marketplace, announces it is featuring George Clooney's Batman costume, used in 1997's Batman & Robin, alongside some of the most illustrious comic books of all time during its Fall Pop Culture Elite Auction. One such title? A poor-quality copy of Batman #1, which features the first appearances of The Joker and Catwoman (then named The Cat). With Bat-nipples and a coverless comic book, some people might be ready to pass on this one...but those are undeniably huge parts of the character's history.

Clooney's screen-worn costume is the fifth Batsuit to appear in modern cinema featuring the signature cowl, a full-length cape with two clips and a muscle tunic with the Batman & Robin version of the Batman emblem on the chest. This Batsuit is constructed from cast foam latex and vinyl, with resin components, leather, and other elements to create a singular suit that was expertly crafted and assembled.

Since there are multiples made for each of these suits, it's hard to say whether this one saw use onscreen, but it is almost certainly not the one Robert Pattinson auditioned in.

In addition to Clooney's suit, Goldin is offering a round-up of some of the most sought-after comic books of all time -- including that Batman #1, but also featuring some pretty impressive books that are in a lot better shape. Copies of comics featuring the first appearances of Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men and more are available for bidding, including:

• 1940 D.C. Comics "Batman" #1 features one of the most iconic covers from the Golden Age of comics, portraying the first appearance of classic Batman villains, the Joker and Catwoman, named "The Cat" in this issue.

• Amazing Fantasy #15, published by Marvel Comics in August 1962, features the debut of Spider-Man. This presented Silver Age comic has the iconic cover image of Spider-Man swinging to action and was illustrated by longtime Stan Lee collaborator Jack Kirby.

• X-Men #1: This Silver Age comic is the origin and the first appearance of the X-Men and is a cornerstone of any serious comic book collection.

• A copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 published by Mirage Studios with a cover date of 1984. This issue presents the origin and first team appearance of the Turtles (Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo and Raphael, their leader, Splinter, and their foe, Shredder).

The items are currently available for bidding as part of Goldin's Fall Pop Culture Elite Auction and will be available through November 18.

For the better part of the past century, DC's comics have brought some fascinating heroes and villains to life. The highest highs and lowest lows of these characters have been chronicled across media -- and in the most recent issue of the current Green Arrow series, that journey came to a head in a major way for Oliver Queen / Green Arrow. Spoilers for Green Arrow #5 from Joshua Williamson, Sean Isaake, Phil Hester, Ande Parks, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Troy Peteri below! Only look if you want to know!

Much of the issue sees Oliver partnered up with an older version of himself, who warns of the ArrowFam being the cause of DC's eventual Great Disaster. This Green Arrow is ultimately revealed to be a cyborg whose origins are unclear -- but Oliver is pushed through a time-travel portal before he can further investigate it. He emerges on a rooftop in Star City and crosses paths with an even younger version of himself, who can be identified by the color of the feather on his cap.

These Olivers quickly learn that they're not alone, as they are joined by Green Arrows of various other eras, and the Golden Age incarnation threatens that they fight to the death. The altercation is ultimately short-lived, as present-day Oliver discovers the doppelgangers are not cyborgs, and gets pushed into another portal.

How Many Issues Is the New Green Arrow Series?

The Green Arrow series was recently upgraded to twelve issues, doubling the previous order of six. In it, the Emerald Archer is lost, and it will take Oliver Queen's whole family to find him! But dangerous forces are determined to keep them apart at any cost!

"It's been a blast writing this series," Williamson explained in a recent post on his Substack. "A dream come true. My goal for this series to tell a kind of "Hush" level story with Ollie and his family. We're only 3 issues in and we have a lot of characters to bring in for this Arrow Family reunion."

What Is Dawn of DC?

This new Green Arrow series is part of the Dawn of DC initiative, which has aimed to launch new ongoing comics and miniseries inspired by some of the publisher's most beloved characters.

"After the near-Multiverse-ending events in Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths and DC Universe: Lazarus Planet, the DC Universe will be heading toward the light," DC publisher and chief creative officer Jim Lee said in a statement when the initiative was first announced. "With brand-new series and story arcs from some of the top creative members in comics, Dawn of DC is one of our most ambitious initiatives ever and is a chance for us to tell bigger and bolder stories across our line."

What do you think of DC's new Green Arrow series? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Green Arrow #5 is now available wherever comics are sold.

Exclusives, keys, and live-action news populate our top ten lists this week! NYCC covers are still burning hot, the American Psycho business card and Duke #1 Cobra Commander variants are still selling strong. Wolverine takes two spots on our lists in the form of the Hellverine and a blood-red Tyler Kirkham cover. The origin of the venom symbiote jumps into our top ten, coinciding with the debut of Spider-Man 2 on the PS5. Three official announcements increase demand on three indy books in early production but still building up tons of hype! Speaking of hype, Jason Momoa brings his most popular fan base back to the top. Finally, Taylor Swift has officially dominated another medium besides music, dazzling her way into comics!

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

#10: WOLVERINE #36 - RYAN STEGMAN - REGULAR | MARVEL | 2023 | There are very few books that live up to the hype that it builds prior to release. This book is an exception. Fans were already hyped for the debut of the Hellverine, so much so that the books flew off the shelves upon release! A few weeks ago, we reported that the 2nd print 1:25 retailer incentive had already reached an NM FMV of $70. It now sits at $128! The Hellverine is in demand, and this book continues to see consistent aftermarket sales. Good luck tracking this one down! We tracked it at a high sale of $100 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a current NM FMV of $24.

#9: GARGOYLES #1 - NEWSSTAND | MARVEL | 1995 | For those 90s kids, Gargoyles was a staple of Saturday morning cartoons. Unlike other Disney shows that populated the line-up, Gargoyles was known for the darker tone and serious subject matters it addressed. Most recently, it was announced that a live-action adaptation was in early development, with legendary horror director James Wan to take on the project. Many fear that Gargoyles will receive the same lackluster live-action treatment that Disney has been producing lately. However, putting a horror director at the helm of the project might already show they intend to keep the darker undertones of the show. Even though this project is still in its infancy, fans of the legendary creatures of the night are hunting down copies of the first issue. Moreso, they are hunting down the harder-to-find newsstand copy. We tracked it at a high sale of $391 for a CGC 9.8 and a raw NM FMV of $70.

#8: BLOODSTRIKE #1 | IMAGE | 1993 | This book is the first comic book to ever use thermal-reactive ink, where readers were encouraged to rub parts of the cover to reveal the red ink (blood) splatters. However, that is not why this book is picking up heat. Last week, Rob Liefeld debuted a concept trailer on what a possible Bloodstrike film could look like. The video received tons of positive feedback as Rob shared that this proof of concept was the first step in developing a possible cinematic experience, with Phil Silvera taking the reins as director. We tracked it at a high sale of $40 for a CGC 9.6 copy and a current raw VF FMV of $3.

#7: MARVEL SUPER-HEROES SECRET WARS #8 | MARVEL | 1984 | This book either ends up on the runner-ups or our top ten every week. It is an essential book for fans of the symbiote and Venom. There likely was a spike in sales that coincided with the release of the new PS5 game, Spider-Man 2, which sees Venom take one of the villain spotlights. The symbiote plays a critical part in the storyline... However, we won't give away spoilers here! We tracked it at a high sale of $650 for a CGC 9.8 and a raw VF FMV of $121.

#6: THE OMEGA MEN #3 | DC | 1983 | Lobo has always been a fan favorite in the DC universe. This book shot up in popularity last year when it was announced that James Gunn and Peter Safran would take over the reins of DC Studios. When there were confirmations that no DCEU actors would return to the new cinematic universe, rumors began circulating that Jason Mamoa could be recast as Lobo. This is enough to keep the book on the hot list! We tracked it at a high sale of $390 for a CGC 9.8 copy and a raw NM FMV of $78.

#5: RANGER STRANGER #1 - TYLER JENSEN - REGULAR | SCOUT COMICS | 2023 | For the most part, most casual comic book collectors have never heard of the indie book RANGER STRANGER. However, a couple of weeks ago, Kevin Hart's production company, HartBeat, signed up to develop the series into an adult animated television show. Queue the race to acquire a copy of this first issue. After this initial bump in popularity, sales have started to slow down. It will likely pick up again after we get more information from Kevin Hart or Scout Comics. We tracked it at a high sale of $12 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $12.

#4: AMERICAN PSYCHO #1 - RANDALL BRUDER - BUSINESS CARD (1:10) | MASSIVE | 2023 | American Psycho is one of the most recognizable slasher films and deserves fantastic comic book covers'--queue Randall Bruder, who illustrated the infamous "business card" variant. While the foil NYCC exclusive is going for an astronomical price, fans are taking the opportunity to get a cheaper copy through the 1:10 retailer incentive variant. However, this book is not an easy pick-up either. It has been increasing in both desirability and monetary value. For those collecting the business card variants, be on the lookout for issues #2 and #3. It has been reported that these books will also have open-order business card covers. We tracked it at a high sale of $71 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $49.

#3: DUKE #1 - ASHCAN - COBRA COMMANDER - 2023 NYCC - EBAY - SPOT FOIL (LIMITED 1000) | IMAGE | 2023 | *SPOILERS* | The debut of a shared universe between Transformers and G.I. Joe sent waves across the comic community. IMAGE has since been putting work into the Energon universe and has debuted old/new characters. Duke is one of the most popular characters in the franchise. He will be receiving his own limited series in December. This particular book was a journey to obtain. Those who wanted a copy had to purchase it through eBay and could only pick it up at the convention at the eBay booth. However, additional copies were also provided via the eBay live-streaming service for those unable to attend the convention. After the event ended, these books started hitting the aftermarket, and value began to climb. We tracked it at a high sale of $95 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $83 (and climbing).

#2: PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE #1 - TYLER KIRKHAM - BLOOD BLAST | MARVEL | 2023 | PREDATOR VS WOLVERINE was a hot release when it debuted last month. It saw another spike during last week's exclusive Kirkham cover, nicknamed Blood Blast! This is not to be confused with his NYCC exclusive cover, which featured a virgin green cover with the same artwork. Instead, this book is a trade cover with a red background. It was limited to a 3000 print run, and copies immediately hit the aftermarket. For fans of Tyler Kirkham, this book is an excellent piece with a decent price tag, unlike its NYCC counterpart, which currently sells for nearly double. We tracked it at a high sale of $25 for a raw copy and a current raw NM FMV of $19.

#1: DAZZLER #1 | MARVEL | 1981 | The Taylor Swift rumor that she would appear in Deadpool 3 as Dazzler continues to burn strong. While there haven't been any additional rumors, Swift's highly successful music tour and media appearances have kept this book hot. Even though X-MEN #130 is the first appearance of the mutant, the price difference has left that book in the runner-ups. Fans have opted to collect the first solo series of the Dazzler, a much more friendly price point for collectors. We tracked it at a high sale of $252 for a CGC 9.8 and a current raw NM FMV of $23.

And that's your TOP 10 COMICS OF THE WEEK for 10/23/23! Want to know what your comic books are worth? COVRPRICE.COM offers the ULTIMATE price guide with LIVE ungraded (raw) and graded sales for today's market trends. Manage your collection and track your portfolio's overall value with our robust tracking systems. With a free 10-day trial and several affordable price tiers, discover the value of your comics and sign up today! CHECK OUT THE TOP 10 ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL. PLEASE LIKE & SUBSCRIBE!

The upcoming Marvel Studios film The Marvels has an interesting connection to the relaunch of Marvel Comics' ongoing Captain Marvel series. The timing of Captain Marvel's new volume coincides with the release of The Marvels, with the two only separated by a couple of weeks. There have been times in the past when events and storylines in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have made their way to the comics, most notably with Ms. Marvel being changed to be a mutant as well as an Inhuman. While that development still has to play out on the small and big screen, a major storyline from The Marvels is also playing out in the Captain Marvel comic.

*WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Captain Marvel #1. Continue reading at your own risk.

Captain Marvel #1 comes from the creative team of Alyssa Wong, Jan Bazaldua, Bryan Valenza, and VC's Ariana Maher. Carol Danvers faces a new threat called the Omen, who is in search of the powerful Nega-Bands. However, Omen isn't the only person hunting for them, as a thief named Yuna Yang is also looking to steal them from another former Captain Marvel, Genis-Vell. Omen almost successfully takes them from Genis-Vell after she slices his hands off, but Yuna quickly scoops them up and slips them on her wrists. Right before Omen can kill her to take the Nega-Bands, Yuna activates them by clanging the bands together, causing her to switch places with Captain Marvel.

Carol then starts to fight Omen while Yuna is teleported to the Negative Zone. Yuna and Captain Marvel also now share a mental connection, and can communicate through each other's minds. Just as Omen escapes with Genis-Vell's corpse, Carol and Yuna switch places once again. It appears they will have to work together to both stop Omen and sever their connection to the Nega-Bands.

How The Marvels and Captain Marvel storylines are similar

The official trailer for The Marvels features Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, and Monica Rambeau having their powers become entangled with each other. This results in them switching places anytime one of the three uses their powers. As the synopsis for The Marvels reads, this is an important component in the film's storyline, and body-switching is now taking place in Captain Marvel's new series as well.

In The Marvels, which arrives in theaters on November 10th, Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan, Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol's estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Together, this unlikely trio must team-up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as "The Marvels." The Marvels will also see the franchise returns of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Saagar Shaikh as Aamir Khan, Zenobia Shroff as Muneeba Khan, and Mohan Kapur as Yusuf Khan. New cast members include Zawe Ashton, Park Seo-joon, and Shamier Anderson. Produced by Marvel Studios, The Marvels is directed by Nia DaCosta with a script from DaCosta, Megan McDonnell, and Elissa Karasik.

The latest Marvel X-Men Comic Cover Funko Pop returns to the 1991 issue of X-Men #1, though this time around it's based on Jim Lee's iconic gatefold cover featuring Magneto. A Comic Cover Funko Pop of the Wolverine and Cyclops variant of X-Men #1 is also available (more on that below), but the prized Magneto cover edition is now up for pre-order as a Previews Exclusive.

You can pre-order the X-Men #1 Magneto Comic Cover Funko Pop here at Entertainment Earth now. It might also turn up here at Hot Topic in the very near future. Below you'll find more recently released Comic Cover Funko Pops in this lineup, including the aforementioned X-Men #1 variant.

X-Men #101 by Dave Cockrum Chris Claremont and was released in 1976, and introduced the Phoenix Force in the guise of Jean Grey. It also featured an iconic cover of Phoenix rising from the waves, making it perfect fodder for a Comic Cover Funko Pop.

Apparently, X-Men #101 it was also the first Marvel Comic to be priced at 30 cents, which was a big deal at the time but only equates to around around $1.57 in today's money. Meanwhile, you're spending $4 or $5 for a comic book in 2023 and $19.99 for this Comic Cover Funko Pop, which is available to order here at Entertainment Earth.

The Uncanny X-Men #207 from Chris Claremont debuted in July of 1986, and is notable for developing the character of Rachel Summers and her friendship with Wolverine. The issue also has a pretty iconic cover from John Romita, Jr. and Dan Green that features Wolverine slashing the page. The Uncanny X-Men #207 Comic Cover Funko Pop is an exclusive that is available here at the Funko Shop priced at $30.

The Marvel Comic Cover Funko Pop pictured above is based on a comic book that many '90s kids probably have in their collection. X-Men #1 was released in 1991, and Jim Lee's iconic gatefold cover art has been immortalized with a Wolverine Funko Pop in a hard protective case that is now available to pre-order as a limited edition (20,000 units) Previews Exclusive. If you can't find one at your local comic shop, you can reserve one here at Entertainment Earth for $29.99.

This X-Men Wolverine Funko Pop follows last year's Comic Cover release of Wolverine Vol 7 #1 by Kael NGU, which debuted in 2020. The Pop is available to order here on Amazon for $18.99. You can take a closer look at that version below.

Of course, Hugh Jackman is set to return to the Wolverine role on the big screen alongside Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool 3. Reynolds recently revealed that Wolverine will be a bit different this time around:

"It's been fun," Reynolds said of Deadpool 3 to ET Canada. "He and I are both really excited. We've wanted to do this for a decade. So, to have this opportunity now is, I think actually weirdly, the perfect time... I never stopped (trying to recruit Jackman). I was just pestering him like a gnat over the last many years. I actually just think... I believe in timing, as much as hard work and luck and all those intersections that are supposed to meet, timing is a big one as well, and I think he was ready. I think he was excited and what we pitched him was enough of a divergence from the character that he knows and the character that he's left behind, that it gives him something completely new to play and something that he's really excited to do."

Deadpool 3 currently does not have a release date. When the info does arrive, you'll be able to find it here.