The Art of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Preview

 

How do you top a beloved TV series? You move beyond what you've done an explore new horizons. That's what Ant Ward and Andy Suriano did when preparing their new series. The likeminded animation and TMNT veterans drew inspiration from movies like Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy and John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China, and Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières' Valérian and Laureline comics. 

The result wowed author Colin Stein, who writes in his introduction, "After 35 years of Turtles, I knew what I wanted from TMNT, but Rise had what I needed." How will this new book, sharing all the love the creators poured into the series, meet your TMNT needs? And when can you snap it up, along with a slice of steaming hot pepperoni pizza and a glass of Todd's sunlight-lemonade?

Here's all the info from IDW Publishing: 

 

IDW Gives Rise to the Art of TMNT with The Art of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles In Stores April 14, Preorder Available Now

The ultimate keepsake and coffee table book for fans of the animated series Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is about to hit stores this April with the release of The Art of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! 320 glorious pages of everything from preproduction sketches to final episode designs, this book offers fans an inside look at the creative process that brought Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to life. Discover concept art, character development, and background designs that capture the series’ distinct style. Featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes commentary from the cast and crew, and the evolution of iconic characters like Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, Michelangelo, and April, this collection celebrates the innovation that made the show a standout in the franchise.   “This project is a dream come true! As a lifelong TMNT fan, I never thought I'd get to be a part of the franchise myself,” says writer Colin Stein. “To go from fan to contributor and create the official art book for Rise is my greatest honor. I'm so proud of the book and thrilled to share this celebration of the series that means so much to me.”

 Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

The Art of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be available wherever books are sold, as a full-color hardcover (ISBN: 979-8-887-24364-1) on April 14, 2026, for a list price of $39.99. For more information please visit the IDW Publishing web site.

Thanks to IDW Publishing for sharing this preview with us.

 

About the Author
Colin Stein is an Emmy Award–winning VFX artist based in Oklahoma City with over a decade of experience in marketing and design. Stein is a longtime fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and his deep appreciation and knowledge of the franchise led him to create The Art of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. His background in visual effects has fueled his passion for design and animation.

 

About IDW Publishing

IDW (NYSE AMERICAN: IDW) is a leading media company providing uniquely compelling stories and characters in various genres for global audiences across all entertainment platforms. The award-winning IDW Publishing and IDW Entertainment divisions holistically evaluate and acquire IP for franchise development across comics and graphic novels, television, theatrical, merchandise, and other entertainment platforms, in addition to bringing world-renowned storytelling to life with our creative partners.

 

 

 

Absolute Batman #17 Review

      

Writers: Scott Snyder

Artist: Eric Canete

Colorist: Frank Martin

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artists: Nick Dragotta & Frank Martin; Clayton Crain; Dan Panosian; Eric Canete; Karl Kerschl

Editors: Sabrina Futch & Katie Kubert

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: February 18, 2026

 

Like Bane, Bruce Wayne has a beautifully resilient mind. But not all who escape Ark M are so fortunate. Most leave with their minds transformed, like their tortured bodies. When Bruce appeals to Diana on behalf of his friends, the Amazon fears her lasso of transmogrification will warp their minds further. Who else besides Waylon, Harvey, Ozzie, and Eddie has suffered from Ark M's cruel experiments? And after destroying the stadium, how much more of the city he loves will Batman's next battle destroy? Let’s leap onto our motorcycles, race into Absolute Batman #17, and see!

 

Story

In the center of Gotham, the Heart Building rises. People have often viewed it as a beacon of hope. Now, the Heart Building inspires fear. Mayor Hill has ordered the police to bar anyone within a five-block radius of the triangular tower. GCPD Commissioner Bullock has sent seven officers to find the source of the growing biohazard. When they fall silent. Batman straps a chainsaw to each arm, puts on a respirator and mask to filter out airborne bacteria, and pierces the quarantine zone.

 

As Batman investigates the transformed infrastructure of the Heart Building, he recalls a name he glimpsed in Ark M. Alfred Pennyworth, his man in the chair, studies the instrument readouts. He confirms that the interior of the building is a biological hazard. Alfred also tells Bruce what he learns about Pamela Isley in Absolute Batman #17.

 

While Batman braves the dangers of the Heart Building, Scott Snyder reveals Bruce's recent struggles. We see how his friends have rewarded Bruce's attempt to rectify the havoc Ark M's wreaked on them. But as much as Snyder's story covers Bruce's actions as Batman have transformed those around him, Absolute Batman #17 is also Poison Ivy's story. Snyder peers further into Pamela Isley's past than with Bruce. He reveals a defining moment in Pamela’s life, her determination to pursue her goals, and how her research and Ark M’s experimentation transformed Pamela Isley into Poison Ivy.

 

Art

From the street, snow swirls through the air surrounding the Heart Building. On the roof, Pamela and her mother stand before a wooden planting bench filled with potted plants. When her mother gives Pamela a dandelion, and the girl blows the seeds away, they transform into snow at a distance.

 

As a police officer shines a flashlight across a plant-covered floor, he distinguishes creatures incubating in the purple and pink bulbs that he mistook for flowers in Absolute Batman #17. Outside, a chainsaw rises above the foliage-choked street. Rising above Batman's head, the massive roots swarm across the street, climb the Heart Building, and sprout an urban forest. As Alfred studies a bank of glowing monitors, Eric Canete contrasts a close-up of Batman's eyes with Alfred crossing his arms on his chest.

 

Like Batman's suit and Bruce Wayne's hat and jacket, Frank Martin colors much of Gotham gray. Purple invades dimly lit rooms, while the yellow-green sunlight tinges beige crowds and buildings. Green glows underground when Bruce goes to meet Waylon. Batman's red chainsaw and air hose link him with Pamela's red hair, and the plants she has transformed while attempting to rectify the weaknesses in Human DNA.

 

While characters speak black uppercase letters into balloons, the letters grow bold for intonation and swell for raised voices. Pamela Isley relays her memories in green narrative boxes, while lowercase cursive extracts from Bruce’s Batman Combat Journal appear in white paper scraps. Clayton Cowles’ sound effects enhance Batman’s struggle for survival in a realm where everything is out to change him. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Bruce Wayne has fought to protect Gotham from the forces that threaten it. But the harder he tries to protect Gotham, the more the things he relies on slip through his fingers. And as Bruce’s world shrinks, Batman’s grows. But when the Joker returns to Gotham, Poison Ivy emerges as a symbol of everything Bruce Wayne is struggling against in Absolute Batman #17.  

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Absolute Batman #17. 

Lost Marvels Vol 3: Savage Tales of the 1980s Preview

 

Fantagraphics has done a terrific job with their Lost Marvels line, and the third volume in this series is no exception. While the 1970s Savage Tales is best remembered as a testing ground for Sword and Sorcery tales, Larry Hama oversaw the 1985 relaunch. The scribe behind Iron Fist and G.I. Joe wanted a magazine that would reach out and grab comic readers. 

Larry Hama sought out long time creators such as Incredible Hulk icon Herb Trimpe and John Severin, who had worked for EC Comics' Two-Fisted Tales. Larry Hama commissioned ten scripts from newbie writer Chuck Dixon, who would go on to helm the writing reins of Eclipse Comics' 50+ issue Airboy series. Hama also printed three stories from WWII chronicler Sam Glanzman. 

The stories in this volume span numerous genres, but the concentration is on action and fun. Some of the storytelling will clash with today's sensibilities. But remember, this was a magazine like Marvel's Savage Sword of Conan, intended to push past the Comics Code and grab your attention. Can you handle this motherlode of the Black & White machismo? And how will the stories included in this 550+ page collection delight and enthrall you?

Here's all the info from Fantagraphics:

 

Marvel and Fantagraphics Collect Savage Tales of the 1980s in Lost Marvels No. 3

The latest volume in Fantagraphics’ Lost Marvels series collects all eight issues of the long-out-of-print, tough-minded 1980s run of Savage Tales

For 13 months in the mid-1980s, editor Larry Hama assembled some of Marvel’s strongest artists and writers to tell gritty, harrowing, and blackly humorous adventure stories ranging from gangster noir to historical battlefields to the deadly old West to post-apocalyptic futures in Savage Tales. The magazine-sized anthology series was unlike anything on shelves and gave legendary artists like John Severin, John Buscema, Herb Trimpe and many more a chance to work on exciting, unique material alongside a new generation of creators. Now, Marvel and Fantagraphics are continuing their celebrated Lost Marvels line with Lost Marvels No. 3: Savage Tales of the 1980s, which reprints all 8 issues of the magazine’s run, the first time they have seen print since 1986. 

Unseen for nearly 40 years, Lost Marvels No. 3: Savage Tales of the 1980 features some of the most shocking work of artists John Severin, John Buscema, Sam Glanzman, Val Mayerik, Ron Wagner, Gray Morrow, Wayne Vansant, Herb Trimpe, Michael Golden, Joe Jusko, Mary Wilshire, Arthur Suydam, Will Jungkuntz, Vincent Waller, and Ken Steacy, and writers Chuck Dixon, Bill Wray, Don Kraar, Robert Kanigher, Denny O’Neil, Doug Murray, and Archie Goodwin. Stories include Severin and Dixon’s “By Rail to Vladivostock,” Murray and Golden’s “The Nam, 1967,” Glanzman’s “Of War and Peace: The Trinity,” Jungkuntz’s Blood & Gutz series, and Trimpe’s Skywarriors series. With a remembrance by Savage Tales editor Larry Hama. 

Here’s what critics are saying about Lost Marvels No. 1: Tower of Shadows 

“Old-school Marvel fans will eagerly add this to their shelf and look forward to forthcoming volumes.” 

— PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 

“A worthy addition to Fantagraphics’ growing library of archival collections, a peek into a forgotten era. It’s an exciting beginning to a series with at least two more installments planned, surely to be as faithful to the originals as this one. By avoiding the modern contrivance of recoloring or cleaning up the pages, the volume feels more distinctly of its time, more genuine an artifact.” — AIPT COMICS

“Lost Marvels No.1: Tower of Shadows is another great collection by Fantagraphics. From cover to cover, it’s filled with excitement… A must have for fans of the horror-comic genre.”

 — CINEMA SENTRIES

“If you are a fan of horror, this is a must get! It’s Fantastic” — GRAPHIC POLICY

Here’s what critics are saying about Lost Marvels No. 2: Howard Chaykin Vol. 1 

“Lavish” — IGN

“If you like your comics with blood, bile, and jetpacks, and your jokes hard-boiled, you know what to do.” — BOING BOING 

“This new Howard Chaykin-centered volume is bursting at the seams with smartly imaginative scripts and beautifully designed art featuring Dominic Fortune, Monark Starstalker, and Phantom Eagle!” 

— GEEK VIBES NATION

“The book is a gorgeous oversized hardcover printed on premium paper, so it looks and feels outstanding! … these are a must-have for any Marvel fan or anyone who just loves seeing comic book legends at work.”

 — Mike Spring, LIVE FOR FILM and COMIC WATCH

The Lost Marvels series is dedicated to introducing remarkable stories to a new generation of readers and restoring them to their rightful place in comics history. Lost Marvels No. 1: Tower of Shadows and Lost Marvels No. 2: Howard Chaykin Vol. 1 are available now from Fantagraphics, and Lost Marvels No. 3: Savage Tales will be published on February, 17, 2026. For updates Fans can follow Fantagraphics on X, Instagram, Facebook, Blue Sky, and YouTube.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

For my thoughts on Chuck Dixon's Airboy series, see my post: Chuck Dixon: A Precursor to 9/11. 

For a sample of Sam Glanzman's war stories, see my preview of Sam Glanzman Combat Collection: D-Day. (Sadly, due to the publisher's untimely death, I'm unsure if this collection was ever published).

For more, find Lost Marvels Vol 3 at the Fantagraphics website. 

Thanks to Fantagraphics for sharing this preview with us.

 

About Fantagraphics:

For 50 years, Fantagraphics has published the very best comics and graphic novels that the medium has to offer. Our mission is to celebrate great cartooning in all of its incarnations, from the form’s early luminaries to contemporary artists currently forging the future of visual storytelling. Not content to rest on our laurels and extensive roster of talented artists, we constantly seek out fresh voices from across the globe. Thus, we honor the rich history of comics while providing a platform for bold new stories, styles, and perspectives that push the boundaries of the medium. Fantagraphics remains peerless in our commitment to be the publisher of the world's greatest cartoonists.

 

Ghost Box: Black & White #1 Preview

 

Uncles are an underappreciated resource. At least, until they die. Then, the relative you never bothered to get to know leaves you something in his will. But will whatever he leaves you be worth anything? And when is it better to refuse an unloved one's legacy?

Ghost Box: Black & White #1

Writer: Mark Carey

Artist & Letterer: Paolo Raimondi 

Publisher: Comixology Originals

Price: $2.99 (Free to read with Amazon Prime membership)

Release Date: February 17, 2026 

Bestselling writer Mike Carey (The Girl With All the Gifts, Lucifer, The Lycan) and artist Pablo Raimondi (Sacred Creatures) re-mix GhostBox, the acclaimed supernatural comic book series the Horror Writers Association recently announced is included on the 2025 Bram Stoker Awards® Preliminary Ballot, and turn it black-and-white! 

GhostBox: Black & White strips down the color and presents the series in stunning black, white, and gray toned artwork, revealing Raimondi's highly detailed style in a new and striking way that creates an even more haunting experience.

 

First released digitally as single issues from Comixology Originals with coloring by José Villarrubia, the series has been collected digitally and in print. GhostBox Volume 1 was recently published in paperback from Mad Cave Studios and includes an all-new 10-page epilogue made exclusively for the print edition. GhostBox Volume 1 is also available digitally from Comixology Originals.

 

GhostBox: Black & White will be released as a 5-issue monthly series and is exclusively available from Comixology Originals, Amazon’s exclusive digital content line, marking the first time ever that the company will re-release a series in black-and-white. GhostBox: Black & White #1 is a massive 42-pages long and includes bonus material featuring Carey's original manuscript for issue #1.

 

When sisters Chloe and Jan Peace come into an unexpected inheritance, it couldn’t come at a better time. Chloe, desperate for cash, advertises her late uncle’s possessions online -- in particular, a strange ornately carved wooden box -- and gets a very motivated buyer. GhostBox: Black & White #1 blends fantasy and horror in a thrilling supernatural adventure.

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Comixology and Superfan Promotions for sharing this preview with us.

Adventure Time #10 Cover Preview

 

 

Finn wanted to be a hero so badly that he traded his best friend in for a robot version of himself. But when he got in trouble, Finn realized that finding an ancient handbook for heroes meant nothing without his friend. So as she performs maintenance on his bionic arm, Computer Princess suggests a new goal. Instead of finding someone else's handbook, why not create their own? Finn and Jake's travel writing adventure has already yielded fruit. But while chronicling their journey, and writing about the heroes they meet, what dangers will demand all the bravery Finn and Jake can muster?  

Here's all the info from Oni Press: 

  

ADVENTURE TIME #10

WRITTEN BY NICK WINN & ELIZABETH BREI ART BY CORINTH BOONE & CLEONIQUE HILSACA COVER A BY NICK WINN COVER B BY CORINTH BOONE COVER C "BILLY TEAL" SKETCH VARIANT VARIANT (1:10) BY REN LINDROOS VARIANT (1:20) BY BEN SEARS BLACK & WHITE VARIANT (1:50) BY NICK WINN It's chaos at Hot Dog Princess's cookout! We're raising the steaks in this issue of Adventure Time from cartoonist/writer Nick Winn (Bloody Mary) and stellar artist Corinth Boone (Peony)! Finn and Jake are on a quest to create their own Enchiridion, and it's taken them to the Hot Dog Kingdom, where Robot Finn is continuing to cook up some havoc. Concerned and confused (or is that indigestion?), can our dynamic duo take what Robot Finn is dishing out? Or will they end up being burned? It's a dog eat dog world in this next issue of 'Handbook Heroes'! Plus: The continuation of our totally mathematical Lemonhope backup story by writer Elizabeth Brei and artist Cleonique Hilsaca—featuring the cutest candy-dog to ever graced the land of Ooo! $4.99 | 32 PGS. | FULL COLOR | ON SALE FEBRUARY 18, 2026

 

Here are more cover options:

 

COVER B BY CORINTH BOONE

VARIANT (1:20) BY BEN SEARS

 

VARIANT (1:10) BY REN LINDROOS

 

COVER C "BILLY TEAL" SKETCH VARIANT

 

BLACK & WHITE VARIANT (1:50) BY NICK WINN

Thanks to Oni Press for sharing this cover preview with us.

Absolute Wonder Woman Annual 2026 #1 Review

 

Writer: Kelly Thompson

Artist & Colorist: Mattia De Iulis

Letterer: Becca Carey

Editors: Ash Padilla & Chris Conroy

Cover Artists: Mattia De Iulis; Denys Cowan, Anthony Fowler Jr., and Francesco Segala; Haining; Hayden Sherman & Jordie Bellaire

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99/$6.99 Card Stock

Release Date: February 11, 2026

 

Like all the best heroes, Diana's thoughts are always for other people. Yet helping others has painted a target on her back. Even when villains seek to hurt or subjugate others, Diana helps and protects them. Where will Diana's compassion lead her next? And how much danger will she brave to free someone from another’s control and oppression? Let’s pray for wisdom, leap into Absolute Wonder Woman Annual 2026 #1, and see!

 

Story

Diana wields the Athena blade forged by Hephaestus. The princess of Themyscira rides Pegasus and can conjure the darkest magicks. When a danger threatens that even she cannot defeat, Diana borrows another woman's plight to protect our world. But the curse, and the woman's pain and anger, overwhelm Diana. Only Steve Trevor's bravery and loyalty help Diana remember who she is and escape Medusa's curse.

 

So, in Absolute Wonder Woman Annual 2026 #1, Diana appeals to Athena. Thanks to emergency alerts in the Hieron, Diana can fly off to battle monsters and protect people at a moment’s notice. But when she returns, instead of recuperating from her efforts, Diana finds a quiet place and prays.

 

Kelly Thompson equates mythology with history in her story, reminding us that our understanding of the past comes from the victors. We hear Diana’s thoughts as she speaks with Athena and undergoes her trial. Like when she sought out Prometheus, Diana’s trial will be arduous. But this time, the stakes are higher.

 

Diana grew up in the underworld. Zeus stripped her of her people and her heritage. Apollo robbed her adoptive mother of the power to speak her people’s name. But Diana's heart was so full of love that she projected it at everyone she met. Even though her mind and spirit differed from theirs, Circe and the gods fell under her spell. After experiencing Medusa's anger and pain, Diana knows how those emotions have imprisoned her. So, in Absolute Wonder Woman Annual 2026 #1, Diana risks her life to free a monster, hoping Medusa will embrace a better future.

 

Art

Amid dramatic rescues and battles, Diana kneels and lays her face and arms upon the ground. After battling villains and monsters to rival the Tetracide amid smoke, fire, and flood, Diana ventures to the garden surrounding the Hieron. Or she ventures to a circular patio guarded by broken columns, where she kneels before an urn spilling blood onto the stone pavings. When Athena answers, yellow and white energy evokes Hecate. But when Diana meets her, Athena is resplendent in gold.

 

Mattia De Iulis adorns his art in Absolute Wonder Woman Annual 2026 #1 with a loaded palette of strong colors that pulse with as much vitality as Diana's heart. Red links the blood Diana sheds for others with the tattoos on her magical arm, the light that burns through her helmet eye holes, and the realm she must traverse to reach Athena. But green also forms a theme, linking the verdant plants surrounding the Hieron with the vibrance of Athena's realm, and her lasso of transmogrification with the gorgon she wishes to help.

 

Becca Carey uses white block letters to differentiate time and place. Uppercase black letters occupy white dialogue balloons. Diana's thoughts fill white narrative boxes with WW in the top left corner. Athena's words glow white within orange balloons, while Medusa's larger font distorts balloon borders. Sound effects enhance screeching, screaming, violent impacts, rapid air currents, and claws seeking purchase as an angry monster threatens to squeeze the life from a compassionate hero. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Memories define us and color how we see the world. Yet everyone's recollection of the same event may differ in profound ways. While attempting to aid a soul in torment, Diana struggles to reconcile the god she knows with the stories others have collected about her in Absolute Wonder Woman Annual 2026 #1.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Absolute Wonder WomanAnnual 2026 #1.