The Comic Source Podcast

Jace and Rocky break down all 10 DC releases for the week of October 7, 2026. Absolute Green Lantern #19 delivers a massive expansion of Al Ewing's mythology, revealing the history of the Manhunters, Task Force X and the organizations manipulating Earth, with Jace delighted by the answers and deep DC lore while Rocky finds the revelations fascinating but frustratingly compressed into a single issue. Absolute Superman #24 sees John Henry Irons embrace the identity of Steel while offering a revealing perspective on Superman's increasingly obsessive determination to save everyone, with Jace praising Jason Aaron's ability to preserve the character's fundamental compassion and Rocky exploring how unresolved childhood trauma may be driving Clark toward an unhealthy need to protect every living thing. Batgirl #24 concludes Cassandra Cain's two-part Bad Seeds tie-in, but Jace and Rocky both find the story underwhelming, feeling that its repetitive emphasis on Batgirl's determination offers little new insight into a character whose strength and perseverance are already well established. Batman #14 gives Jace and Rocky an unexpectedly enjoyable Bad Seeds tie-in, with Batman recruiting Victor and Nora Fries to bring winter to Gotham while the real highlight is Verity, whose sarcasm, resourcefulness and impressive fighting abilities make her an increasingly compelling addition to Bruce Wayne's supporting cast. DC's Quoth the Raven #1 offers eight Halloween-themed stories featuring characters including Raven, Constantine, Zatanna, Superboy-Prime and Catwoman, with Jace particularly impressed by the anthology's artwork and visual storytelling while Rocky enjoys its supernatural pairings and connections to upcoming DC stories. Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1 impresses both Jace and Rocky with Michael Walsh's ability to combine supernatural horror with the familiar personality and struggles of Jonah Hex, delivering a dark Western that respects the character's history while introducing a mysterious young girl and a threat that may force Hex to confront both literal and personal demons. JSA #24 concludes Jeff Lemire's run on a high note, with Jace and Rocky praising its focus on classic Justice Society characters, Teddy Kristiansen's atmospheric artwork and a story rooted in the team's postwar history, while wishing more of the series had captured the spirit of its final two issues. Superman: The Stranger #2 continues Wes Craig's reinterpretation of Superman's earliest days, with Rocky finding the more personable Clark Kent a significant improvement over the debut while Jace appreciates how the story emphasizes that Superman's heroism comes from his values rather than his powers. The Demon #1 leaves Jace and Rocky disappointed by an opening chapter that spends nearly its entire length establishing Jason Blood's circumstances before finally introducing Etrigan, with both questioning whether James Harren's unconventional approach provides enough of a compelling introduction to the character despite the series' potential. Deadman #5 leaves both Jace and Rocky struggling to connect with W. Maxwell Prince's increasingly abstract story and its digital interpretation of Swamp Thing, with neither finding the narrative recognizable as a traditional Deadman adventure despite their considerable admiration for Martín Morazzo's artwork. Jace and Rocky also cover this week's facsimiles, reprints and collected editions before ranking all 10 books and revealing their Books of the Week.
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00:00 Introduction
01:32 DC Comics — Overall Week Discussion
04:24 Absolute Green Lantern #19
24:29 Absolute Superman #24
36:55 Batgirl #24
40:03 Batman #14
48:27 DC's Quoth the Raven #1
56:52 Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1
1:07:04 JSA #24
1:11:58 Superman: The Stranger #2
1:19:57 The Demon #1
1:28:51 Deadman #5
1:33:58 Facsimiles, Reprints & NYCC Variants
1:34:59 Collected Editions
1:39:54 Rankings & Books of the Week
1:42:40 Closing Thoughts

Marvel's Midnight Universe has arrived, and Jace and Rocky are more impressed than either expected! In this special Marvel Spotlight, the Comic Source and Comic Boom team up to review all three first issues released October 7, 2026: Midnight X-Men #1, Midnight Fantastic Four #1, and Midnight Spider-Man #1. **Midnight X-Men #1 — Jonathan Hickman and Matteo Della Fonte** Mutants and vampires have transformed the balance of power in a world where humans struggle to survive between rival supernatural factions. Hickman introduces the Empyres, a very different Storm, and a Cyclops who refuses to surrender. Jace and Rocky examine the politics, world-building, and promise of this new mutant universe. **Midnight Fantastic Four #1 — Benjamin Percy and Kev Walker** Cosmic horror meets a radically different Fantastic Four origin. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm aren't yet the family readers know. With strange phenomena, disturbing scientific discoveries, and the looming influence of the Negative Zone, Percy and Walker create a mystery that caught both hosts by surprise. **Midnight Spider-Man #1 — Phillip Kennedy Johnson and SciE-TronC** Peter Parker's familiar origin takes a disturbing turn as Oscorp, scientific experimentation, and body horror reshape the meaning of power and responsibility. The hosts discuss the story's moral themes, horrifying artwork, and whether it departs far enough from classic Spider-Man. All three comics earn praise, but the rankings aren't what Jace expected. With comparisons to DC's Absolute Universe, discussion of Marvel's creative direction, and questions about the future of the Midnight line, there's plenty to unpack. **Which Midnight #1 was your favorite? Rank all three in the comments!** For more weekly DC discussions, visit Rocky's Comic Boom YouTube channel.
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00:00 Marvel's Midnight Universe — Opening Hook
00:26 Introduction — Marvel Spotlight
01:49 First Impressions — Did Marvel Deliver?
03:17 Marvel's Recent Missteps
05:11 Midnight X-Men #1 — Jonathan Hickman
08:04 Mutant Vampires and a New X-Men Power Dynamic
10:00 Hickman's World-Building and Krakoa Comparisons
11:51 Rocky's Take on Midnight X-Men
16:56 Marvel's Editorial Direction and Midnight Launch
18:34 Midnight Fantastic Four #1 — Benjamin Percy
31:45 Midnight Spider-Man #1 — Phillip Kennedy Johnson
43:18 Final Reactions and the Future of Marvel Midnight
45:07 Closing Thoughts

Absolute Batman is taking a break, and the December absence of DC's biggest-selling comic could mean nearly half a million fewer copies moving through the direct market. Jace breaks down the unusual schedule through February and what the missing December issue could mean for comic shops. Plus, Joshua Williamson and Bruno Redondo are taking Batman back to his early days with the Justice League in Batman: Justice Year, while Ghost Machine is finally bringing Geiger and Redcoat together for 2027's Radioactive Revolution. There's also a huge batch of New York Comic Con news, BAD IDEA's next wave of projects, new announcements from Ignition Press, sellouts from Image and Skybound, Vampire on Aisle 6, the Danger Girl Artist's Edition, Deicidium: Returned, Victoria Jaguar, Kill All Immortals III and the first look at the upcoming Something Is Killing the Children trading card game. Then Jace looks at nine September 30 releases he thinks could hit next week's bestseller chart, counts down the Prana Top 10 for September 23, checks his previous What Hit predictions and closes with 30 comics approaching Final Order Cutoff. 
 
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00:00 Opening Hook 00:35 Introduction 01:19 NYCC Spider-Man Guinness World Record Attempt 03:15 Absolute Batman Goes on Hiatus 06:41 Batman: Justice Year 09:07 BAD IDEA's Courier & 2027 Slate 12:01 Ordained Reprint Momentum 15:04 It Demands Sacrifice Heads to NYCC 16:46 Ignition Press at NYCC 19:18 Geiger Sets Up Radioactive Revolution 21:13 Crimes Against Nature Sells Out 22:30 Ofiusa Sells Out 22:59 The Last Driver #2 Sells Out 23:50 Vampire on Aisle 6 25:21 Danger Girl Artist's Edition 26:53 Capes #12 27:39 Deicidium: Returned 29:16 Comixology Originals Come to Print 30:40 Victoria Jaguar 31:57 Kill All Immortals III 32:34 Something Is Killing the Children Trading Card Game 33:51 What Hit — September 30 37:25 Prana Top 10 Bestsellers — September 23 42:28 Prana & What Hit Results 43:39 Final Order Cutoff — October 5 52:56 Closing

Jace and Rocky break down all 7 DC releases for the week of September 30, 2026. Wonder Woman Annual 2026 #1 gives the Matriarch considerably more depth and motivation, but Jace and Rocky both struggle with how this more vulnerable, emotionally driven characterization fits with the formidable version of the character established in Tom King's run. Bleeding Hearts #8 expands the complexity of Dennis Camp's zombie world by introducing different perspectives within the undead themselves, while Jace and Rocky praise the shifting viewpoints and striking artwork even as Jace sees the issue largely as setup for what comes next. Poison Ivy #48 leaves both Jace and Rocky frustrated by what feels like a regression for Ivy after so much character development under G. Willow Wilson, with Jace questioning whether the Bad Seeds storyline can ultimately use this setback to push her forward again. Superman: Kingdom of Zod Special #1 brings the nine-part crossover to a conclusion that Jace and Rocky find far less satisfying than its promising beginning, although Jace is much more enthusiastic about the numerous epilogues and the Superman stories they set up for the future. Zatanna #6 continues to divide the hosts, with Jace admiring Jamal Campbell's artwork but struggling to become invested in the expanding cast and magical lore, while Rocky remains enthusiastic about the Hidden City, its political intrigue and Campbell's continued world-building around Zatanna. Bizarro: Year None #3 earns praise from both Jace and Rocky for its artwork, but neither connects with the story, with Jace finding it forgettable between issues and Rocky still struggling to understand exactly what the series is trying to accomplish after reading the issue three times. Adventures of Superman: Book of El #12 closes Philip Kennedy Johnson's saga with Jace appreciating an earned resolution built around Superman's compassion and the larger mythology Johnson has added to the character, while Rocky remains unconvinced by this vision of Superman's future. There are no facsimiles or other reprints this week, but Jace and Rocky cover a substantial group of collected editions before ranking all 7 books and revealing their Books of the Week.

Danny Trejo is taking on the Devil — and the fight lasts 500 years. Jace is joined by co-creators Keith Arem and Chris Yates to talk about Danny Trejo's YEAR OF THE DEVIL, a supernatural action-horror epic that transforms the legendary actor into Diego de Rojas, a conquistador whose encounter with the Devil leaves him cursed to be reborn across centuries. After sacrificing himself to keep the Devil imprisoned, Diego discovers that the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse have been unleashed. His only chance to finally find peace is to hunt them across history. Keith and Chris break down how their years of working with Danny led to the creation of the project, how Trejo's heritage and personality influenced Diego, and why the team wanted something that felt like a genuine collaboration rather than simply putting a celebrity's likeness into a comic. They also discuss blending history, mythology, religion and supernatural horror; matching the Four Horsemen to different eras of history; the enormous response YEAR OF THE DEVIL received at San Diego Comic-Con; and the artists bringing Diego's 500-year journey to life. Plus, Keith and Chris explain how writing dialogue for Danny became a collaborative process once Trejo began performing and improvising as Diego — further blurring the line between the fictional character and the man who inspired him. YEAR OF THE DEVIL is a five-issue story collected as a 160-page graphic novel and launches on BackerKit September 29.
Check out and support Danny Trejo's YEAR OF THE DEVIL on BackerKit: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/pcb-entertainment/danny-trejo-s-year-of-the-devil/pre-launch
Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource. 
Chapters
00:00 — Hook: Killing Off the Main Character
00:23 — Welcome: Chris Yates & Keith Arem
01:27 — Danny Trejo vs. the Four Horsemen
03:38 — How Year of the Devil Came Together
05:37 — Building the Story Around Danny Trejo
07:06 — History, Mythology & the Four Horsemen
08:24 — Religion, Mythology & an Unreliable Narrator
09:41 — Bringing Danny Trejo Into Comics
12:18 — Year of the Devil Takes Over SDCC
17:28 — Why Danny Trejo Connects With Fans
19:05 — The Artists Behind Year of the Devil
23:34 — Supporting the Project & Its Community
24:35 — Why BackerKit & What Backers Can Get
26:18 — Building a Long-Term Community
29:56 — Finding the Voices of Diego & the Devil
32:29 — Writing Specifically for Danny Trejo
33:37 — Danny Improvises & Shapes the Character
36:10 — Final Thoughts from Chris & Keith
37:33 — Closing Vibe Vibe