Danielle Kotch joins Jace on The Comic Source to discuss CRYSTAL LAKE, Peacock's new Friday the 13th prequel series, and the surprising new depth given to Claudette, one of the original film's most important but often overlooked characters. Claudette and Barry were the first victims in the original Friday the 13th, but their connection to Jason Voorhees' tragic past gives the new series an opportunity to explore the characters in a completely different way. Danielle discusses bringing Claudette to life, exploring the guilt and consequences surrounding Jason's drowning, and discovering how much more there was to the character than she originally expected. We also discuss her audition with showrunner Brad Caleb Kane, working alongside Phoenix Parnevik and Linda Cardellini, filming at the original Friday the 13th location in New Jersey, and recreating the atmosphere of the 1970s. Danielle also talks about discovering the Friday the 13th films, her appreciation for practical effects and horror filmmaking, and what longtime fans might think about the series expanding Jason's origin. CRYSTAL LAKE stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees and is created by Brad Caleb Kane for Peacock and A24. All eight episodes are now streaming on Peacock. This interview avoids major plot spoilers for the new series, although it discusses events established in the original Friday the 13th film. Subscribe to The Comic Source for interviews with comic book creators, actors, writers and artists, plus comic book reviews, news and entertainment coverage. More from The Comic Source: https://linktr.ee/TheComicSource #CrystalLake #FridayThe13th #DanielleKotch   CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction — Danielle Kotch and Crystal Lake 00:38 Playing Claudette and Landing the Role 02:13 Discovering the Friday the 13th Franchise 03:16 Claudette's Guilt and Character Development 05:22 Working with the Crystal Lake Cast 07:16 Filming at the Original Friday the 13th Location 08:00 Expanding Jason Voorhees' Origin 09:34 Making Crystal Lake Accessible to New Viewers 10:44 Recreating the 1970s 12:12 Crystal Lake's Music and Release 12:51 Danielle's Final Thoughts

In this episode we discuss; NYCC 2026: Marvel's Big Changes, Absolute Justice & Major Comics Announcements The Comic Source   New York Comic Con 2026 delivered major announcements from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, Skybound, IDW and more, and Jace breaks down over 50 comic book news stories from the convention in this special edition of Comic Source Weekly. Marvel's new Editor-in-Chief Stephen Wacker discusses major changes to publishing, retailer support, variant covers, creative relationships and the future direction of Marvel Comics. Plus, Kevin Smith's Marvel/Star Wars crossover expands, Phillip Kennedy Johnson's Hulk saga approaches its finale, Brian Michael Bendis returns to Magneto, and Marvel reveals developments involving Spider-Man, the Midnight Universe, Daredevil and more. DC announces Absolute Justice, the first major crossover bringing together the heroes of the Absolute Universe. Jace also covers upcoming storylines for Absolute Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash, new DC Next Level projects, Tom King and Mitch Gerads' Superman collaboration, and the latest Black Label and Vertigo announcements. Over at Skybound, major changes are coming to the Energon Universe, including Megatron's transformation, the arrival of the Dinobots, Battle Force 2000 and a new chapter for Baroness. Skybound also reveals its Visions lineup, including Turok, Bumblebee and G.I. Joe projects. Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang reunite for ROAM at Image Comics, while IDW reveals developments involving James Bond, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Star Trek. Which NYCC 2026 comic book announcement has you most excited? Let us know in the comments, along with any important stories we didn't cover.   Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource #NYCC2026 #ComicBookNews #MarvelComics #DCComics #AbsoluteJustice #EnergonUniverse #ComicSourceWeekly   CHAPTERS 00:00 NYCC 2026 Special — Opening Hook 00:28 Introduction 01:04 Marvel — Stephen Wacker's Plans for Change 12:36 Marvel and Star Wars: Hope Assembles 15:25 Hulk War: Infernal Rage 17:01 Bendis Returns to Magneto 18:11 Immortal Soldiers 19:14 Avengers, Mephisto and Spider-Man 21:51 Marvel Teases 1 Day 23:07 Peter Parker vs. Miles Morales 25:00 Spider-Punk Gets an Ongoing 26:15 Spider-Man Noir Returns 27:10 Marvel's Sound Effects Anthology 28:10 More Spider-Man Announcements 31:05 Venom's Unexpected Romance 32:10 Marvel's Midnight Universe 37:45 Captain Marvel After Armageddon 38:50 X-Men: Regulators 41:10 Daredevil #700 42:35 Marvel's 2027 Lineup 44:30 Marvel Brick and Renown Collections 47:00 DC — Absolute Justice 48:45 Absolute Justice Preview Pages 49:55 Absolute Batman's Future 53:15 Absolute Batman Animation 54:10 Absolute Superman's Next Chapter 55:50 Absolute Green Lantern 57:35 Absolute Wonder Woman 59:40 More Absolute Universe Announcements 01:04:00 Batman's Murder Mystery 01:06:10 Batman: Justice Year 01:07:30 Batman: Shadow of the Bat 01:09:35 Legion of Super-Heroes 01:10:45 Starfire 01:12:00 Swamp Thing: Hallowed Ground 01:13:10 Superboy-Prime 01:14:30 Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong III 01:15:30 Gotham by Daylight 01:17:10 Superman's Supernatural Stories 01:19:30 Tom King and Mitch Gerads on Superman 01:20:40 DC Next Level 01:27:40 Green Lantern: The Dying of the Light 01:29:55 DC Black Label Presents Anthology 01:32:20 Joker/Harley: Malicious Intent Returns 01:35:00 Hide Nor Hair 01:36:11 100 Bullets, Black Tower and Bleeding Hearts 01:37:55 Fanatic and Dreambound 01:39:45 Skybound Visions 01:43:30 Transformers — Megatronus Rex and Dinobots 01:44:45 Void Rivals and Cobra-La 01:45:40 M.A.S.K. and Battle Force 2000 01:46:30 G.I. Joe — Baroness Returns to Cobra 01:47:32 Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang Reunite for ROAM 01:49:00 D'orc Glow-in-the-Dark Reprints 01:50:30 Jim Zub's Omen-Bound 01:52:45 Grant Morrison's James Bond 01:54:30 TMNT Enters a New Era 01:56:20 IDW's New Star Trek Projects 01:59:30 Murdoch Mysteries Comes to Comics

In this episode we discuss; DC Spotlight October 14, 2026 Nice House's Stunning Finale, Supergirl's Big Twist & Green Lantern's New Love Entity The Comic Source   Check Out The Episode on YouTube   Jace and Rocky break down all 12 DC releases for the week of October 14, 2026. 100 Bullets: The U.S. of Anger #4 shows some improvement as its four separate storylines begin to offer more compelling material, but Jace and Rocky continue to struggle with Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso's confusing narrative, finding that the black-and-white presentation makes an already difficult story even harder to follow despite their appreciation for the striking cover artwork. Batman and Robin: Year One — Dynamic Duo #3 continues Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's exploration of Batman and Robin's early partnership, with Jace praising the timeless artwork and compelling pacing while Rocky appreciates Dick Grayson's undercover confrontation with the Wolfpack, Catwoman's discovery of the Batcave and the way the series builds upon classic Batman continuity. Barbara Gordon: Breakout #6 leaves Jace increasingly frustrated with Mariko Tamaki's confusing storytelling and his inability to connect with familiar characters, while Rocky considers it the strongest issue so far thanks to the return of Savant and Creote and an intriguing appearance by Two-Face that may connect to the criminal justice system explored in Christian Ward's earlier miniseries. Green Lantern Corps #21 impresses Jace with Morgan Hampton's continued expansion of Green Lantern mythology, particularly the revelation that Predator has undergone the Cleanse, surrendered his immortality and opened the door for a new entity of love, while Rocky appreciates the ambition but questions whether the rules governing the emotional entities are becoming unnecessarily restrictive. Supergirl #18 delivers an abundance of story developments and classic DC world-building, with Jace particularly delighted by Sophie Campbell's detailed cross-section of the Fortress of Solidarity while Rocky celebrates the return of Matrix Supergirl and the dramatic implications of Kara losing her powers to Gold Kryptonite. Teen Titans #2 continues Kyle Higgins' story of Jason Todd leading a team of rebellious young heroes, with Jace acknowledging the book's strong sales but finding its manga-influenced artwork and youthful focus less appealing, while Rocky praises the characterization, team dynamics and potential for these unconventional Titans despite questioning Jason's suitability as their leader. Gotham Central #2 gives Jace and Rocky an engaging crime story involving Victor Zsasz, Stephanie Brown, Anarky and Dr. Zeller, with both praising Christopher Cantwell's character work and Jacob Phillips' atmospheric artwork while questioning how much the Bad Seeds crossover elements distract from the grounded Gotham storytelling that makes the series compelling. Doom Patrol #2 represents a substantial improvement over its debut for both hosts, with Jace finding more to appreciate in the character relationships and emerging mysteries despite his continued reservations about the team's deliberately strange direction, while Rocky embraces the stronger plot, Nico Henrichon's artwork and a dangerous rescue mission that finally gives him a reason to invest in the series. Legion of Super-Heroes #2 earns enthusiastic praise from Jace and Rocky as Joshua Williamson and Hayden Sherman reinterpret classic Legion mythology through the murder of R.J. Brande, the mysterious Green Lantern Corporation, the Emerald Empress and the Persuaders, with both appreciating the creative reinvention of familiar characters while Jace reflects on the importance of allowing this new version of the team to develop organically. Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4 moves the mystery forward by exploring the complicated history of multiple Clayfaces and revealing Todd Russell's involvement, with Jace appreciating the renewed momentum and potential for the series to work as a collected story while Rocky praises the artwork and character emotions but questions some of the narrative explanations surrounding Basil Karlo and Batman's absence. The Nice House by the Sea #12 brings James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno's second cycle to a powerful conclusion, with Jace praising the intricate characterization, remarkable artwork and Nora's carefully calculated decisions while Rocky explores the story's deeper themes of free will, memory, humanity and the godlike responsibilities of Walter and Max. Streets of Gotham #1 presents six short stories by Matt Fraction, Mariko Tamaki and an assortment of artists, but Jace and Rocky question the anthology's necessity as part of Bad Seeds, with Jace criticizing its lack of meaningful consequences for the larger event while Rocky sees some potential in its new characters but shares the frustration that the stories offer little essential superhero storytelling. Jace and Rocky also cover this week's facsimiles, reprints and collected editions before ranking all 12 books and revealing their Books of the Week. Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource     CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:51 DC News from New York Comic Con 06:37 DC Comics — Overall Week Discussion 09:43 100 Bullets: The U.S. of Anger #4 12:42 Batman and Robin: Year One — Dynamic Duo #3 18:58 Barbara Gordon: Breakout #6 26:07 Green Lantern Corps #21 38:46 Supergirl #18 52:02 Teen Titans #2 57:21 Gotham Central #2 1:03:40 Doom Patrol #2 1:11:40 Legion of Super-Heroes #2 1:23:06 Clayface: Celebrity Dirt #4 1:29:28 The Nice House by the Sea #12 1:42:51 Streets of Gotham #1 1:49:59 Clayface Special Edition, Facsimiles & Reprints 1:52:28 Collected Editions 1:54:26 Rankings & Books of the Week 1:57:15 Closing Thoughts

Marvel's handling of Amazing Spider-Man #1000 is the lead story this week. After a two-week printing delay, some variant covers were allocated, leaving retailers unable to fulfill all their orders and fans facing inflated prices on the secondary market. Jace argues that Marvel squandered an opportunity to celebrate one of the most important milestones in Spider-Man history. Despite the problems, the comic still topped the latest Prana bestseller chart, demonstrating that demand for the anniversary issue was never the problem. Also making headlines, Marvel Unlimited is shutting down in December as Marvel transitions its digital library to a Webtoon-operated platform. Jace examines the subscription changes, concerns about the transition, and whether abandoning Marvel's existing platform is a mistake. Over at DC, Scott Snyder discusses how Absolute Batman challenges the familiar idea of Bruce Wayne as a lone-wolf crimefighter. Jace considers Snyder's interpretation, the character's long history of working with allies, and the phenomenal sales success of the Absolute line. Elsewhere, Image Comics announces a second printing of Avengelyne #1, Skybound previews upcoming M.A.S.K. and G.I. Joe/Tomb Raider issues, Spawn receives a twisted Christmas tale, and Act 4 announces an Artist's Edition celebrating Gene Colan. Other news includes the tenth anniversary of Black Hammer, a return to Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun, the sellout of Something Is Killing the Children #50, Kumail Nanjiani joining BAD IDEA's It Demands Sacrifice read-along, Ignition Press announcing The Caretaker, Clover Press celebrating Riccardo Federici, and Ghost Machine expanding its online presence for Geiger. What Hit: Jace examines ten books from the October 7 release period, including the three Marvel Midnight launches, major DC titles, and Something Is Killing the Children #50. Prana Top 10: Marvel dominates the week's bestseller rankings with eight positions. Amazing Spider-Man #1000 takes #1, while last week's What Hit predictions finish eight for nine in the Top 10, with all nine inside the Top 12. Final Order Cutoff: Twenty-one books approaching the October 12 deadline, with special attention to second printings, new series and smaller-publisher releases. New York Comic Con announcements are being saved for a separate dedicated episode.   Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource.   CHAPTERS 00:00 ASM #1000 Printing Delays and Variant Controversy 00:54 Welcome to Comic Source Weekly 01:41 Marvel Fails Spider-Man Fans 07:54 Marvel Unlimited Shuts Down 12:54 Scott Snyder Challenges Batman's Lone-Wolf Myth 15:25 Avengelyne #1 Sells Out 16:46 M.A.S.K. Reaches Its First Finale 17:44 G.I. Joe Meets Tomb Raider 18:27 Spawn's Twisted Christmas Tale 19:15 Gene Colan Artist's Edition 20:16 Black Hammer Celebrates 10 Years 21:18 Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun Returns 22:28 G.I. Joe Classified Visual Guide 23:15 Canto: The Clockwork Chronicles 24:05 Something Is Killing the Children #50 25:35 Kumail Nanjiani Joins It Demands Sacrifice 26:23 Ignition Press Announces The Caretaker 27:02 The DC Art of Riccardo Federici 27:42 Geiger Gets a Dedicated Website 28:43 What Hit — October 7 Comic Releases 35:20 Prana Top 10 Bestsellers 41:52 What Hit Prediction Results 42:40 Final Order Cutoff — October 12 50:45 Closing Thoughts     NEWS SOURCES Amazing Spider-Man #1000 — Printing Delays https://bleedingcool.com/comics/amazing-spider-man-1000-delayed-after-printer-gets-all-gummed-up/ Amazing Spider-Man #1000 — Variant Allocations https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/63518/amazing-spider-man-1000-variants-allocated Amazing Spider-Man #1000 — Secondary-Market Prices https://bleedingcool.com/comics/amazing-spider-man-1000-already-booming-on-ebay/ Marvel Unlimited Shutting Down https://bleedingcool.com/comics/marvel-unlimited-shuts-in-december-webtoon-takes-over-marvel-library/ Webtoon Replacement — Terms and Conditions https://bleedingcool.com/comics/those-terms-and-conditions-for-webtoons-marvel-unlimited-replacement/ Scott Snyder on Absolute Batman's Lone-Wolf Myth https://bleedingcool.com/comics/scott-snyder-says-absolute-batman-will-kill-off-the-lone-wolf-fantasy/ Avengelyne #1 Sells Out https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/rob-liefelds-avengelyne-1-sells-out-day-of-release-rushed-back-to-print-this-week Black Hammer Tenth Anniversary https://www.darkhorse.com/newsfeed/celebrate-10-years-of-jeff-lemire-and-dean-ormstons-eisner-awardwinning-universe-with-the-special-black-hammer-1-facsimile-reprint/ Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun https://www.darkhorse.com/newsfeed/dark-horse-books-and-hasbros-wizards-of-the-coast-announce-dungeons-dragons-dark-sun/ G.I. Joe Classified Series Visual Guide https://www.darkhorse.com/newsfeed/yo-joe-discover-behind-the-scenes-insight-on-the-gi-joe-classified-series-from-artists-photographers-designers-and-more-in-gi-joe-the-definitive-visual-guide-to-the-gi-joe-classified-series-20202025/ Geiger — Ghost Machine Website https://ghostmachinepro.com/

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. Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource   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. Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource   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.    Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource.   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

The comic industry lost an incredible talent this week with the sudden passing of artist Josh Cassara at only 46 years old. Jace remembers his friend, his incredible work on X-Men, X-Force, Wolverine and more, and the conversations they always thought they would have more time to continue. Also this week, there's important clarification on Popverse: the website itself is not shutting down, but its news operation is coming to an end. The 2026 Ringo Awards have also been announced, with Absolute Batman winning Best Series and the Absolute Universe having a huge night. Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos return to Alias for Jessica Jones' 25th anniversary, while Jessica Drew gets a dramatically different status quo as the new host for Carnage in Spider-Woman #1. Plus: Hammerfist reaches a third printing, Mirka Andolfo returns to the world of Mercy with Merciless, The Forgotten Five launches at Image, Ghost Machine expands The Rocketfellers and celebrates Geiger #25, Skybound reveals new Universal Monsters and M.A.S.K. variants, Swamp Thing crosses into the Slaughterverse, Stan Sakai has two new Usagi projects, and BAD IDEA collects Megalith in a massive deluxe hardcover. Then Jace gives his What Hit predictions for the September 23 releases, counts down the latest Prana Top 10 Bestsellers, checks last week's predictions against the finished countdown, and finishes with 20 books approaching Final Order Cutoff on September 28.  Follow The Comic Source on all social media with our Linktree - https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource.   00:00 Opening Hook 00:45 Introduction 01:32 Remembering Josh Cassara 03:26 Popverse News Is Ending 05:14 2026 Ringo Awards — Absolute Batman Wins Best Series 06:30 Jessica Jones: Alias Returns 07:18 Spider-Woman Becomes Carnage's New Host 09:15 Hammerfist #1 Goes to Third Printing 09:55 Mirka Andolfo Returns With Merciless 10:47 The Forgotten Five 11:57 The Rocketfellers Introduces Invaders Y'All 12:52 Geiger Reaches Issue #25 14:10 Bride of Frankenstein Lives Connecting Covers 15:10 M.A.S.K. Streetwear Variants 16:36 Swamp Thing Is Killing the Children 17:35 New Usagi Yojimbo Projects 18:21 Megalith Deluxe Hardcover 19:47 What Hit — September 23 25:56 Prana Top 10 Bestsellers 33:18 What Hit Results — 8 for 8 34:06 Final Order Cutoff — September 28 40:04 Closing