AIPT Comics

This week on the AIPT Comics Podcast, writer Mark Russell joins the show to discuss The Forgotten Divine, his new graphic novel from Ahoy Comics, now available to back via Kickstarter. Russell digs into the inspirations behind the story, why he wanted to explore the appeal of cults from the inside out, and how the project ultimately became one of his most personal works yet. We also discuss creativity as a form of belief, and the challenges of telling a complete story in one sitting.

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!

NEWS

'Absolute Batman' is getting an animated series, with Scott Snyder serving as showrunner

Marvel clears up confusion over 'Amazing Spider-Man' #1000's two main covers

'Daredevil' is a hit, gets #1-3 reprints with new 'Daredevil: Born Again' variant covers

Eliot Rahal and Mattia Monaco launch buddy-crime comic 'Crimes Against Nature' at Image

Who is Fox Mask Killer? New Exquisite Corpses series promises answers

'That Texas Blood' returns with new story arc 'Hell Comes to Allison Ranch' this September

IDW Dark announces horror mystery 'You'll Never Leave This Place Alive' for October

Vault announces time-traveling cryptid adventure ‘Project Perseus’ launching this September

EXCLUSIVE: David Dastmalchian's 'The Accessories' gives horror's forgotten sidekicks their own story

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Escape #8 (Rick Remender, Daniel Acuna)

Venom #259 (Al Ewing, Carlos Gomez)

Alex:​​

Is Ted OK? #5 (Dave Chisholm)

Captain America #12 (Zdarsky, Schiti)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: In Your Skin #3 (Aditya Bidikar)

Dave: The Eye Collector #1 (Jonathan Ball, GMB Chomichuk)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Alex: Absolute Martian Manhunter #12 (Deniz Camp, Javier Rodriguez)

Dave: What If...? Secret Wars #1 (Alex Paknadel, CAFU)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Iron Man #7 (1:25 Dave Rapoza Variant)

Alex: The Deadman #2 (Alex Eckman-Lawn variant) & The Mortal Thor #12 (Alex Ross)

Interview: Mark Russell - The Forgotten Divine Ahoy Kickstarter Link. 

The Forgotten Divine digs into why people are drawn to cults and belief systems. What was the starting point for you, and what did you want to understand or say about that impulse?

Rodney feels like a very grounded, human entry point into a story that quickly spirals into something much bigger. How did you approach building him so readers stay with him even as things get more extreme?

There’s a real balance here between empathy and critique. You can understand why these characters believe what they do, even as things go off the rails. How do you walk that line without judging them or letting them off the hook?

The preview pages have some striking bits of philosophy, like “the secret to happiness is low expectations.” How do those ideas emerge for you, and are they things you believe or more reflections of the characters’ mindset?

The idea that “where you are is who you are” feels especially loaded, almost like a commentary on class, fate, and identity. Was that always baked into the concept, or did it grow as you developed the story?

When we glimpse the alien world, it feels almost overwhelming, with that massive eye and the intense color palette. What were your conversations like with Russ Braun in shaping how that world should feel versus how the “real” world reads?

You’ve done a lot of satire, but this feels like it leans harder into psychological and emotional territory. Did this project push you in new directions as a writer?

AHOY has built a reputation on smart, risk-taking books, and this is their first Kickstarter. How does that format change how you think about the book, if at all?

The story seems to ask whether there’s something real behind the visions or if belief itself is the point. How important was it to keep that tension alive rather than give clear answers?

Fun one to close: If you started having Rodney’s dreams tonight, what’s the first sign you’d think, “Okay, I might actually be starting a cult”?

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!

NEWS

DC Solicitations September 2026

‘Batman: Bad Seeds’ livestream reveals new titles, solicitations, and Jim Lee art giveaway

DC announces new Legion of Super-Heroes, Teen Titans, and Doom Patrol ongoing series

DC reveals 'The Wonder War' Act 2 with 'Wonder Woman' #37 and Matriarch special

DC unveils spring 2027 graphic novels and launches Compact Comics Adventures line

Wes Craig returns Superman to his Golden Age roots in new DC Black Label series



Marvel's Midnight Universe gets unified launch as all three titles arrive on October 7, and only those titles

Marvel Solicits for September 2026

The Muppets make history in first ever Marvel Comics anniversary one-shot

Marvel teases Deadpool vs. Punisher project with cryptic announcement

Bullseye battles Nova, Star-Lord, and Jack of Hearts in 'Marvel Gold' '76 #1

Steve Orlando's 'Gambit: Gone' brings two Remy LeBeaus together this September

Doctor Doom wages war on Hell in Marvel's 50-page splash-page epic

Black Panther and Namor journey into Hell in new 'Doomed!' limited series

Dan Panosian writes and draws 'Wolverine: Paradise' for Marvel this October 2026

Marvel's X-Men battle Xenomorphs in new 'Alien vs. X-Men' crossover

Marvel launches 'Infernal Hulk vs. Wolverine' ahead of Hulk War event

Marvel reveals new 'Avengers #1' covers and True Believers Blind Bag exclusives

Marvel reveals new 'Amazing Spider-Man' #1000 covers and story details



USA TODAY PLAY partners with Marvel for exclusive weekly Spider-Man comic series

Patrick Horvath invites top creators into Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees for Halloween special

IDW Dark announces new Smile and A Quiet Place comic book series

Todd McFarlane's original 1977 Spawn design finally arrives in 'Spawn 77'

Guillem March returns with creator-owned romantic thriller 'Ofiusa' this September

Steve Skroce launches superhero meta-adventure Tales of Wonder at Skybound this September

Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen launch dark fantasy series 'Crowbound' this September

Christian Ward and Sami Kivelä explore the end of the world in Oni Press' new sci-fi thriller 'The Forever Home'

Dark Horse announces 'Minor Threats: Welcome to Twilight—Villains and Vignettes' anthology series

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Absolute Green Arrow #2 (Pornsak Pichetshote, Rafael Albuquerque)

Memories of Giselle #1 (Katia Vecchio)

Chris:​​

Gigs (Mark Mosedale, Si Smith)

Lobo #4 (Skottie Young and Jorge Corona)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Gigs (Mark Mosedale, Si Smith)

Dave: Absolute Batman #21 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Chris: Narco #4 (Doug Wagner, Daniel Hillyard)

Dave: Blüdwire #1 (Paul Allor, Ermitis Blanco)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Superman #39 (Dan Mora) & Doomquest #2 (Alex Ross)

Chris: Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man #1 (Maria Wolf variant)

Interview: Joshua Williamson Creator Spotlight, plus we talk Iron Man, Wolf Man, Superman, and more!

Career / Process

You broke in around 2006, and you’re now pushing close to two decades in comics. How has your approach to storytelling changed from those early years to now?

You’ve been at this for nearly 20 years at this point. What’s something you understand about comics today that you wish you knew when you started?

You’re writing across multiple major franchises right now. How do you shift your voice between something like Superman, Iron Man, and G.I. Joe?

On top of all this, you wrote a story in Creepshow Vol. 4 #5 titled Artificial Ignorance. Was that a story you had in a drawer, or…how did that come to be?

Superman / Superboy-Prime

Superboy-Prime has always been a volatile character, but here he feels almost desperate to prove himself. How do you balance his edge with making him someone readers want to follow?

With Manchester Black entering the picture, what excites you about putting those two characters in conflict specifically?

Any Superman elements/tropes you want to touch?

Iron Man

You’ve said Tony Stark is one of your favorite characters. What’s something about Tony that you feel hasn’t been explored enough in past runs?

Madame Masque and A.I.M. feel like they’re operating at a higher level here. What makes them the right villains for this phase of the story?

Universal Monsters: Blood of the Wolf Man

Do you have a favorite Universal Monsters adaptation?

Do you have any favorite werewolf stories?

This feels like a very grounded, almost psychological take on the Wolf Man. What drew you to that angle?

Is the when of this story important to the overall experience?

What makes the Wolf Man a character worth revisiting right now?

Rapid Fire Question Round (Stolen from Stephen Colbert so that a guest is “known”):

Best sandwich?

What's one thing you own that you really should throw out?

Apples or oranges?

What is the scariest animal?

Have you ever asked someone for their autograph?

What do you think happens when we die?

Favorite action movie?

Favorite smell?

Least favorite smell?

Flat or sparkling?

Most used app on your phone?

If you could have dinner with any three characters you’ve written before, who would they be and why?

You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life: what is it?

Depeche 

Describe the rest of your life in 5 words?

When Skybound announced M.A.S.K. would be joining the Energon Universe, fans immediately had questions. How would Matt Trakker and Miles Mayhem fit alongside Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals? Out this week, we sat down with writer Dan Watters and artist Pye Parr to discuss updating the classic property, designing its iconic vehicles, and why M.A.S.K. offers a unique perspective within the larger Energon Universe.

We're running the full uncut interview, featuring even more discussion on cool cars, character dynamics, action sequences, and what readers can expect from the series moving forward.

Plus, we recap the biggest comics news of the week, share our favorite new releases, and much more.

NEWS

Absolute Catwoman #1 heads back to press as DC announces 'Absolute Cassandra Cain' one-shot

MAD celebrates 600 issues with new material, classic favorites, and Sergio Aragonés cover

Batman, Superman, and "Weird Al" Yankovic unite for DC's strangest team-up yet

Marvel launches 'Amazing Venom' starring Boomerang's symbiote-powered comeback

Marvel returns to the Mangaverse with five-part 25th anniversary event this September

Marvel Zombies returns this September with Punisher leading a desperate fight for survival

Spider-Woman's 50th anniversary special launches a darker new chapter for Jessica Drew

The Rolling Stones team up with Marvel for exclusive ‘Foreign Tongues’ vinyl collector series

David Colton's growing power takes center stage in new look at 'Avengers: Armageddon' #4 and 'Cap'

Dark Horse launches new oversized Marvel Black & White line with Barry Windsor-Smith's landmark Weapon X

Daniel Warren Johnson's 'Beta Ray Bill' gets oversized Artist's Edition in 2027

ROM joins the Energon Universe in surprise comic hidden inside 'M.A.S.K.' #1 blind bags

Mike Mignola returns to Hell with new two-issue Hellboy story alongside Cyrille Pomès

Shredder gets extended!

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Skate Ali #1 (Sam Humphries, Kelly Sue DeConnick, Natacha Bustos)

The Nice House by the Sea #10 (James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno)

Chris:​​

Tigress Island #4 (Patrick Kindlon, EPHK)

M.A.S.K. #1 (Dan Watters, Pye Parr)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: D’Orc #5 (Brett Bean) 

Dave: Jay & Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1 (Kevin Smith, Giuseppe Camuncoli)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Chris: Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1 (Paul Chadwick)

Dave: The Amazing Spider-Man #31 (Joe Kelly, Patrick Gleason)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: X-Men United #4 (Kris Anka Cover)

Chris: Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #2 (Phil Jimenez and Alex Sinclair Main)

Dan Watters Pye Parr - MASK #1 out June 10th 

M.A.S.K. has always had a unique place in Hasbro history, sitting somewhere between G.I. Joe, Transformers, and its own thing. What aspects of the original property were most important to preserve, and where did you see opportunities to reinvent it for the Energon Universe?

Matt Trakker's introduction is fascinating because he's being hunted by the military, yet it quickly becomes clear he wants to be captured. Why was that the right way to introduce him, and what does it reveal about who he is in this version of M.A.S.K.?

Miles Mayhem comes across as both calculating and completely unhinged. His fear of Transformers and extraterrestrial threats gives him a very different motivation than a typical villain. What interested you about making him someone who might see himself as humanity's last line of defense?

One of the most exciting ideas in M.A.S.K. has always been vehicles transforming into weapons and armor systems. Pye, what was the challenge of updating those iconic transformations for modern audiences while still capturing the toyetic fun fans expect?

Dan, after writing Destro, what was appealing about tackling another corner of the Energon Universe? Did your experience with Destro help shape how you approached M.A.S.K., or did you want this book to have a completely different flavor?

The first issue hints at a larger arms race involving technology and weapons that may not even originate on Earth. How much of M.A.S.K. is a spy thriller versus a science-fiction story, and where does it fit tonally alongside Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Void Rivals?

Bruce Sato and Gloria Baker are positioned as key new recruits. What qualities do they bring to M.A.S.K. that complement or challenge Matt Trakker's leadership style?

The original M.A.S.K. comic debuted in 1987 and had a very different view of global threats and military organizations. Were there any specific elements from that era that you deliberately updated to reflect modern anxieties and geopolitics?

Fun question: If you could each claim one M.A.S.K. vehicle and mask from the entire franchise to use in real life for a week, which would you pick and what completely irresponsible thing would you do with it?

Welcome to AIPT Comics Podcast Episode 382! This week, we're joined by Absolute Catwoman writer Che Grayson to dive deep into one of DC's most exciting new series. We discuss reimagining Selina Kyle for the Absolute Universe, blending espionage and cyberpunk influences, exploring Catwoman's Afro-Cuban heritage, and what makes this version of Gotham's greatest thief unlike any that came before.

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!

NEWS

Dark Horse Comics agrees to voluntarily recognize Dark Horse Workers United

Oni Press unveils first look at new Archie era, announces 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' and 'Archie in Hell'

DC GO! expands in 2026 with new originals, returning favorites, and the first crossover event

Marvel reveals final chapters of 'Queen in Black' event as Venomworld emerges

Marvel reveals post-'Avengers: Armageddon' era with mysterious 'Earth's Mightiest Survivors' teaser

Marvel bri1ngs its second-ever True Believers Display Box to 'DNX' #1

Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto launch new 'Avengers' #1 this November

NiFe WARS launches NFC-authenticated collectibles platform with blind bags

'TMNT' #300 tops 200,000 orders as IDW prepares biggest Turtle story in years

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Billy Bat (Naoki Urasawa, Takashi Nagasaki)

Spawn #376 (Matthew Rosenberg, Stephen Segovia)

Alex:​​

IM CHEATING: The End Times #7 (Benjamin Percy, Stephen King)

Only The Savage Are Left #1 (Zach Kaplan, Stefano Rafaelle)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: What If Uncanny X-Men (Gerry Duggan, Jan Bazaldua)

Dave: Uncanny X-Men #29 (Gail Simone, Luciano Vecchio)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Alex: The Nice House by the Sea #10 (Tynion, Álvaro Martínez Bueno)

Dave: Tarzan Beyond #1 (Steve Orlando, Renato Guedes)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Daredevil #3 (Alexander Lozano Cover)

Alex: X-Men #31 Alex Ross Marvel Dimensions variant

Interview: Che Grayson - Absolute Catwoman - Out June 10th

Absolute Catwoman hits the ground running with a fast pace and a globe-trotting setup. What was your approach to making this version of Selina feel immediately distinct from page one?

This Selina feels very self-made, with high-tech gear and a life she’s built outside Gotham. What interested you about exploring her at that stage in her life?

The Absolute Universe already introduced Selina in Absolute Batman. How did you approach taking an established version of the character and expanding her into her own series?

Speaking of collaboration, how do you and Scott split the writing duties? Are you breaking story together, or does one of you take the lead in certain areas?

Bengal’s art really sells the motion and the tech, especially in action scenes. How closely are you working with him in terms of visual storytelling, and were there any sequences you were especially excited to see him bring to life?

The Calicos are a really intriguing addition, with that more classic Catwoman-inspired look. What can you tease about their role in Selina’s past and how they shape who she is now?

This version of Selina has some bold new elements, including her enhanced gear and abilities. Without spoiling too much, how far are you planning to push what Catwoman can be in the Absolute Universe?

On this week's AIPT Comics Podcast, we're joined by writer Zack Kaplan to talk about two ambitious new projects that tap into some of today's biggest anxieties. First up is Only the Savage Are Left, Kaplan's new post-apocalyptic series with Stefano Raffaele, which imagines a world overrun by a virus that transforms people into monsters. During the conversation, Kaplan digs into the moral dilemmas at the heart of the series, the challenge of creating a new kind of monster apocalypse, and why the story's central romance is just as important as its horror. We also discuss The Smart Division, his upcoming AI-driven crime thriller with John Pearson, exploring how rapidly advancing technology, generational divides, and questions about institutional trust shaped the book's premise.

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!

NEWS

Stan Lee returns through AI as ElevenLabs launches voice, image, and music partnership

Money Shot is getting its wildest crossover yet with Patton Oswalt returning for ‘The F* Offs’ #1*

Get Hype: Marvel’s terrifying new Midnight Universe gets 'Midnight X-Men' #1 preview

Book of Boba Fett series announced

Dark Horse employees announce unionization effort with CWA

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Doomquest #1 (Ryan North, Francesco Mobili)

Infernal Hulk #7 (Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Adam Gorham)

Alex:​​

Absolute Wonder Woman #20 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman)

Did You Hear About Mimi Greene? (Connor Goldsmith, Josh Cornillon)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: The Infernal Hulk #7 (PKJ, Adam Gorham)

Dave: Escape #7 (Daniel Acuna, Rick Remender)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Alex: Uncanny X-Men #29 (Wilson, Vecchio) & What If...? Uncanny X-Men #1 (Gerry Dugan, Jan Bazaldua)

Dave: Deadman #1 (Martin Morazzo, W. Maxwell Prince)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: The Twilight Zone #7 (Juni Ba connecting cover)

Alex: Poison Ivy #45 Cover B Noobovich Variant

Interview: Zach Kaplan (art by Stefano Raffaele) talks Only the Savage Are Left (Out June 3)

The Smart Division out August 5, FOC Jun 29th

Only the Savage Are Left presents a world where survival itself requires violence. What was the starting point for the virus concept, and how did you land on the idea that the “cure” is tied to killing another infected person?

There’s an early suggestion in the book that civilization didn’t collapse because people failed to work together, but because they turned on each other. How much of this story is meant to reflect real-world anxieties about how fragile social order really is?

You’ve described the idea that “civilized society is a failed experiment.” How does that philosophy shape Ryder’s journey, especially as someone who begins the story outside that cycle of violence?

Ryder starts off relatively sheltered, living behind a wall and seemingly untouched by the infection. What interested you about telling a story through a character who hasn’t yet been forced to compromise his morality?

The relationship that pulls Ryder out into the world feels central to the emotional core of the book. How did you approach balancing that love story with the brutality of the setting?

Without spoiling too much, how does the virus actually work on a thematic level? Is it purely biological, or is it also meant to represent something more psychological or societal?

As Ryder encounters other survivors and “monster-killers,” how do you approach defining who the real monsters are in this world?

Shifting to The Smart Division, the idea of an AI being involved in a “perfect murder” is chillingly plausible. What kind of real-world advancements in AI or predictive tech inspired this story?

The pairing of a Gen-Z savant and a veteran FBI agent feels like a classic odd-couple dynamic. What makes that contrast especially interesting in a story about artificial intelligence and crime?

Fun one: if you had to survive in the world of Only the Savage Are Left, what’s your strategy in the first 24 hours… and are you making it out alive?