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!

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.

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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.

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.

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.

On this week’s AIPT Comics Podcast, we’re joined by writer Kenny Porter and artist Tyrell Cannon to talk all things Operation: Iron Coffin, the wild new IDW Dark series that drops Dracula onto a Nazi war train in one of the year’s coolest high-concept comics. During the interview, the duo digs into balancing horror and action, Dracula’s internal struggle, the grindhouse inspirations behind the violence, and how the book evolved into a monster-filled gauntlet packed with occult science, anime influences, and brutal fight choreography.

This week on the AIPT Comics Podcast, we’re bringing you the full, uncut interview with Chris Condon and Charlie Adlard, the creative team behind Of the Earth. If you’re into slow-burn horror that gets under your skin, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. We dig into how the series taps into environmental fears, why restraint can be more powerful than spectacle, and how the story builds a creeping sense of dread that lingers long after you’ve finished reading.

On this week’s AIPT Comics Podcast, we’re joined by writer Rob Williams to talk all about Hidden Springs, his wild new series that blends retired Hollywood legends, a baby kaiju, and a desperate race against the military. It’s a fun, heartfelt conversation about building flawed characters, mixing comedy with tragedy, and why stories about second chances hit harder when everything’s on the line.

We’re talking to the team behind Final Boss Comics, a shop that’s been quietly building something special for nearly two decades. Owner Floyd and manager Griffin join us to talk about their upcoming expansion into a second-floor space, how they’ve turned their shop into a true community hub, and what it actually takes to run a successful comic store in 2026. We get into what’s selling right now, why creator-focused recommendations still matter, how events and book clubs keep readers engaged, and why they’ve chosen to prioritize in-person connection over chasing online sales. If you’ve ever wondered what makes a comic shop work, or why some continue to grow while others struggle, this is a great conversation to dig into.