AIPT Comics

San Diego Comic-Con delivered one of the biggest news weekends of the year, and we're digging into all of it on this week's AIPT Comics Podcast. We break down DC's latest Next Level announcements, including new ongoing series for Vixen, Static, Batman, The Demon, and Jonah Hex, react to Marvel's Predator vs. Punisher, unpack Christian Ward's newly announced Pandemonium, and even talk about Ryan Gosling's surprising Ghost Rider reveal. If it made headlines at SDCC, we're giving it the full AIPT treatment.

After that, David sits down with Christian Ward to discuss Forever Home, his ambitious new Oni Press series with Sami Kivelä. Ward explains how the story grew from a simple yet unforgettable premise: a house that survives climate collapse by falling outside of time, where every 20 minutes inside equals a year in the outside world. The conversation explores the book's emotional family drama, its retro-futuristic design, climate anxiety, billionaire bunkers, and why Kivelä's storytelling elevates every page. Ward also reflects on balancing writing and art, teases what's next in his career, and shares why Forever Home is one of his most personal creator-owned projects to date.

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

SDCC post-event review

Christian Ward concludes his ‘Event Horizon’ trilogy with ‘Pandemonium’ this December

DC unveils new ongoing series for Vixen, Static, and Batman in latest Next Level wave

DC announces ‘Batman of Two Worlds’ #1 for Batman Day 2026

James Harren unleashes a terrifying new era for ‘The Demon’ in DC’s Next Level line

Michael Walsh brings horror to the frontier in ‘Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death’

‘Predator vs. Punisher’ pits Frank Castle against the galaxy’s deadliest hunter this November

Marvel unveils three original WEBTOON series at SDCC, including Tony Stark romance and X-Men Korea

Ryan Gosling is Ghost Rider



Corin Howell’s hit horror series returns with ‘Lilith: Blood & Burlesque’ #1 this October

'Lost Fantasy' and 'Fireborn' collide in first-ever crossover 'SHOWDOWN'

'Wytches' returns this fall with expanded Pledged Edition ahead of TV adaptation

Deadpool and Punisher's 'Big Guns' crossover expands with Bullseye, Black Hole, and new preview pages

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Doomquest #3 (Ryan North, Francesco Mobili)

Queen in Black #1 (Al Ewing, Iban Coelo)

Alex:​​

Is Ted Ok? #6 (Dave Chisholm)

The Patron #1 (Christian Ward, John J. Pearson)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Horror of Godzilla #1 (Ethan Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Tristan Jones)

Dave: Queen in Black: Hela (Al Ewing, Carlos Magno)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Alex: The Omega Book #1 (James Patrick, Pauli Junquera)

Dave: Fort Psycho #1 (Matt Kindt, Brian Hurtt)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: The Deadman #3 - Cover D Tyler Boss 

Alex: Uncanny X-Men #33 Alexander Lozano '80s Storm Variant AND Batgirl #22 Cover B KyuYong Eom Variant

Interview: Christian Ward - The Forever Home (out Sept 9, FOC Aug 3rd) with Sami Kivelä

 - Patron #1 (July 29) art by John Pearson

One of the biggest comics announcements of San Diego Comic-Con was the reveal that Matthew Rosenberg will become the next ongoing writer of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and this week he's here for his first in-depth interview about the series. Rosenberg opens up about initially turning down the job before IDW came calling a second time, why his run is inspired by the raw energy of the original Mirage comics, and how he plans to put the turtles through a relentless fight across New York City. We also discuss his love of Eastman and Laird's work, collaborating with artist Juann Cabal, bringing forgotten characters back into the spotlight, and why this story will embrace every corner of TMNT history while carving out its own identity.

NEWS

Marvel Comics solicitations October 2026

José Andrés joins Earth's Mightiest Heroes in 'Meals to Astonish: Avengers' #1 this October

Marvel's Trick-Or-Read program returns with 'Infernal Hulk' and 'Spidey and His Amazing Friends'

Punisher battles Black Widow, Wolverine, and Winter Soldier in new Marvel one-shot series

Marvel and Williams Racing team up for 'Iron Man: Racing Towards Doom' #1 this October

Captain Britain gets 50th anniversary special



Rob Liefeld relaunches 'Avengelyne' with artist Daniel Mainé at Image Comics this November

Lance Briggs, Kyle Higgins, and Danilo Beyruth announce sci-fi sports graphic novel 'The Trap'

Exclusive: Dan Watters and Brian Level launch sci-fi horror series 'Mad Science Division' at Ignition Press

Red Sonja and Barbarella unite for first-ever crossover series this November

Archie celebrates 85 years with oversized anniversary special featuring comics all-stars

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Godzilla Conquers The Multiverse #1 (Gerry Duggan, Javier Garron)

Terminal #1 (Robert Kirkman, Joe Casey, Andy Kubert)

Alex:​​

Uncanny X-Men (Gail Simone, Jim Towe, Roge Antonio, Federica Mancin)

Sicko #1 (Tini Howard, Amilcar Pinna) 

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: x

Dave: Superman #40 (Joshua Williamson, Dan Mora)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Alex: Is Ted Ok? #6 (Dave Chisholm)

Dave: The Horror of Godzilla #1 (Tristan Jones,  Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sherida)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Rocket Raccoon: Rocket Rewind #1 (Mike Mignola Cover)

Alex: X-Men 34 Alexander Lozano '80s Colossus Variant

Interview: Matthew Rosenberg talks taking over TMNT

You described your run as "The Warriors meets Daredevil: Born Again" with plenty of action and humor mixed in. Those are some massive touchstones. What qualities from those stories became your creative north star for this new era of TMNT?

Your story begins immediately after Gene Luen Yang’s "The City That Never Dies" storyline, which sounds like it leaves the city fundamentally changed. How did Gene Luen Yang's finale create opportunities that wouldn't have existed otherwise?

One of the biggest hooks is that the Turtles are being hunted over the course of a single night. What made that compressed timeline appealing, and how does it change the pacing compared to a more traditional TMNT story?

You said the team hunting the Turtles is assembled specifically for this mission. Without spoiling who's involved, what makes this group uniquely equipped to challenge all four brothers at once?

10:59

Juann Cabal has shown he can handle kinetic action and expressive character work across Marvel and DC. What is it about his storytelling you’re excited to see in TMNT? 

You've mentioned your love for Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's Mirage Studios era. Were there specific themes or storytelling techniques from those early comics that you wanted to bring back for modern readers?

Your comics often balance brutal action with sharp humor and strong character voices. How do you approach writing the Turtles so each brother feels distinct, especially when they're under constant pressure?

You've written everything from street-level crime stories to huge superhero events. Where does TMNT fit creatively for you, and does it scratch a different storytelling itch than books like What's the Furthest Place From Here? or your Marvel work?

You're taking over with issue #25, which already feels like a milestone. Looking ahead, what do you hope readers say about your TMNT run after they've finished that first story arc?

If Destruction Be Our Lot #4 -  Aug 19, 2026

King Spawn #58 - Aug 26th, 2026

Spawn #378 - Aug 26th, 2026

This week on the AIPT Comics Podcast, we're bringing you the full, uncut conversation with Robert Kirkman, Joe Casey, and Andy Kubert about Terminal, Skybound's ambitious new superhero series. We dive into how the project came together, why the series embraces mystery and rotating protagonists, the thinking behind its striking character designs, and yes, the return of blind bag comics. It's a fun, wide-ranging discussion packed with insight into one of the year's biggest new launches.

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

Marvel Comics relocating to Burbank, names Stephen Wacker new editor-in-chief

Marvel unveils ongoing variant cover program for Midnight Universe titles

Sam Alexander returns to stop the Ten Rings in 'Nova: Return of the Rings' #1

DC extends 'Absolute Green Arrow' to 12 issues following fan response

Dark Horse Comics reveals full San Diego Comic-Con 2026 signing and panel schedule

IDW unveils packed San Diego Comic-Con 2026 plans with TMNT #300, Godzilla, Hello Kitty, Sonic, and more

Image Comics reveals massive San Diego Comic-Con 2026 plans

Exclusive: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes returns with time-travel graphic novel and Kickstarter campaign

EC Comics spotlights artists in new 'Artists From the Abyss' anthology series

Bit Bot unveils first look at ‘Final Boss’ video game adaptation with official screenshots

'Archie vs. The Terminator' brings John Connor to Riverdale this October

Vampirella and Morrigan collide in first-ever 'Vampirella vs. Darkstalkers' crossover

Greg Pak headlining a bold new era for ThunderCats this October 2026

‘Ice Cream Man’ #1 returns with interactive “Chocolate/Vanilla Twist” edition this October

TOP 50 COMICS - JUNE 2026

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

A Mischief of Magpies #1 (Si Spurrier, Matías Bergara)

Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla #1 (Nick Marino, Jack Lawrence)

Absolute Green Arrow #3 (Pornsak Pichetshote, Rafael Albuquerque)

Chris:​​

Minotaur #1 (Si Spurrier, Michael Dowling)

Punisher vs.The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (Dan Abnett, Matteo Della Fonte)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Tigress Island #5 (Patrick Kindlon, EPHK) 

Dave: Assorted Crisis Events #9 (Deniz Camp, Eric Zawadzki)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Chris: Sicko #1 (Tini Howard, Amilcar Pinna)

Dave: Giant Robot Hellboy Returns #1 (Mike Mignola, Duncan Fegredo)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Uncanny X-Men #32 (Alexander Lozano '80s Rogue Cover)

Chris: Star Trek: Red Shirts – Ghost of the 21st Century #1 (Chris Burnham variant)

Interview: Robert Kirkman, Andy Kubert, Joe Casey Terminal #1 out July 22, 2026

Terminal is going to also feature a line bag program, what we can tell you right now, in true Robert Kirkman style, it is a blind bag with three surprise books in it unlike anything we've or anyone else has done before.

Terminal throws readers right into a chaotic, violent world. When you were building the first issue, how did you approach onboarding readers without giving too much away?

The book opens with some striking and surreal imagery, especially the eye and the idea of Maculox. What was the origin of that concept, and how central is it to the larger mythology?

There’s a clear tension between evolution and destruction running through the story. How did you want to frame that conflict without falling into a simple good versus evil dynamic?

The first issue makes some bold narrative choices in terms of expectations around who the story might follow. Without getting into spoilers, should readers expect that kind of unpredictability to be a core part of the series?

Robert and Joe, how does your collaboration work on a project like this? Are you breaking story together, dividing scripts, or building off each other’s strengths in a specific way?

Andy, the character designs, especially on the more villainous side, feel really eclectic and distinct. What were your inspirations when developing the look of this world and its characters?

There’s a bit of a “hidden world” structure here, where a regular person is pulled into something much bigger. What drew you to that kind of setup, and how do you keep it feeling fresh?

The series feels like it has big, long-term potential, but also a very focused central idea. Is the plan for Terminal to be a long-running series, or are you working toward a more defined endpoint?

For all three of you, what was the moment in developing Terminal where you realized this was something special or different from other superhero books you’ve worked on or read?

This week on the AIPT Comics Podcast, we're joined by Scott Snyder for one of our favorite conversations of the year. We dive deep into Absolute Batman, the newly announced animated series, why he believes monthly comics need to embrace what makes the medium unique, and the creative philosophy driving one of comics' biggest successes. It's a candid, wide-ranging discussion on storytelling, the future of superhero comics, and why taking big swings matters more than ever.

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

Judge Dredd and Biker Mice From Mars collide in new comic crossover and collectibles partnership

Daniel Warren Johnson reveals new project 'Chainkata' for November 2026

Details



Michael Walsh's 'Universal Monsters: Frankenstein' returns in remastered black-and-white edition

Tradd Moore's first creator-owned solo comic, 'Touch Me Someplace Nowhere' announced

Mike Mignola's new art book 'Circus of Bones' showcases over 145 original works

Lara Croft joins G.I. Joe in first-ever 'G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero' crossover

Rocketship Entertainment partners with Moulin Rouge for graphic novels, manga, and tabletop games

Meet the players of ‘Zero Instance’ where a video game boss invades the real world

DC reveals packed San Diego Comic-Con 2026 lineup

Skybound unveils San Diego Comic-Con 2026 plans and exclusive collectibles

Marvel reveals full San Diego Comic-Con 2026 plans with Hall H, Midnight Universe, and X-Men '97 panels

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Witness Point #1 (Nathan Fillion, Heath Corson, Soo Lee)

Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #1 (Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Fran Galán)

Chris:​​

Twilight Zone #9 (Juni Ba)

Dispatched #1  (B. Clay Moore, Daniel Gete)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Did You Hear About Mimi Green? #2 (Connor Goldsmith, Josh Cornillon)

Dave: Operation: Iron Coffin #1 (Kenny Porter, Tyrell Cannon)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Chris: Minotaur #1 (Si Spurrier, Michael Dowling)

Dave: Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla #1 (Nick Marino, Jack Lawrence)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: A Mischief of Magpies #1 (Bilquis Evely)

Chris: Nightwing #140 (Jorge Fornes Main)

Interview: Interview: Scott Snyder

1. Manga storytelling influence

Joe Kelly recently mentioned how manga like One Piece can devote entire chapters to a single action sequence, something that's harder to replicate in American comics because of page counts and production realities. Is manga storytelling an influence on your work, and do you find yourself thinking about how to capture that same sense of scale and rhythm within Western comics?

2. Marvel and DC

I recently spoke with Josh Williamson about writing Iron Man, and it was fascinating hearing how he's consulting on DC projects while also becoming part of Marvel's plans. Seeing creators move more freely between publishers these days, does that ever make you want to jump back into Marvel for another major project?

3. Harley Quinn and Joker

The revelation that Joker is Harley's father completely reframes both characters. What made that the right relationship for the Absolute Universe, and what storytelling opportunities does it create that couldn't exist with their traditional dynamic

4. Designing Gotham's monsters

Body horror and transformation have become defining visual elements of Absolute Batman. What are your guiding principles when reinventing characters like Poison Ivy, Clayface, and others while still making them instantly recognizable?

8. Absolute Batman animated series

You're serving as showrunner on the newly announced Absolute Batman animated series. How does that creative role differ from making comics, and what has surprised you most about translating this version of Batman to animation?

10. Court of Owls

Finally, the Court of Owls has entered the picture. Without spoiling anything, what can readers expect from your take on one of the most important Batman concepts you've ever created?

Dave, Alex, and Chris are back for a mid-year review of the best comics of the year so far. Like any art, it's subjective as we pick our three favorite comics, biggest surprise, weirdest comic, best graphic novel, and more!

Best comics of the year….SO FAR

Alex:

Pick 3 series:

Is Ted Ok? (Dave Chisholm)

Fireborn (Franklin Jonas, Curt Pires, Patrick Mulholland)

Sai: Dimensional Rivals (Peach Momoko, et al.)

Pick a graphic novel or collection: Pig Wife (Abbey Luck)

Biggest Surprise of the Year: Poison Ivy being elected Mayor of Gotham (G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara)

The "Please Never End" Award: The Power Fantasy - Kieron Gillan Caspar Wijngaard

Weirdest Comic: The Eye Collector (GMB Chomichuk, Jonathan Ball), shoutout to High Strangeness #5 from Daniel Noah/Christian Ward

Dave:

Pick 3 series:

Absolute Batman

Infernal Hulk

Escape

Pick a graphic novel or collection: 

Memories of Giselle

Biggest Surprise of the Year:

Absolute Green Arrow

The "Please Never End" Award:

Exquisite Corpses

Weirdest Comic:

Red Roots

Chris: 

Pick 3 series:

The Deadman

Lobo

White Sky

Pick a graphic novel or collection: Gigs 

Biggest Surprise of the Year: Death Fight Forever

The "Please Never End" Award: Toxic Avenger Comics

Weirdest Comic: The Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre