Minky Woodcock: The Girl Called Cthulhu HC Preview

 

This mesmerizing story transports us back a century and immerses us in an era before TV and the internet. Newspapers (not TikTok) established the hot stories that shaped our world, and cults investigated the mysteries of the occult. Along the way, Minky influenced people like Agatha Christie, Ian Fleming, and Nikola Tesla. But first, there was Aleister Crowley. 

Here's all the info from Titan Comics:

 

MINKY WOODCOCK: THE GIRL CALLED CTHULHU VOL. 3

Format: Graphic novel

Author/Artist: Cynthia von Buhler

Publisher: Hard Case Crime (imprint of Titan Comics)

FC, HC, 112pp, $24.99

ISBN: 9781787743298

On sale: July 8, 2025

 

The plucky detective returns in her thrilling third graphic novel, this time with an occult horror twist!

 

Sensational artist Cynthia von Buhler melds her glorious illustrations with the eldritch elements of HP Lovecraft and Aleister Crowley.

 

Inspired by a true WWII maritime operation, shocking satanic events, monstrous men, and one salacious sea creature, this volume tells the tale of Minky’s encounter with legendary horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, creator of the dreaded Cthulhu.

 

Following the death of Harry Houdini, Minky is approached by the occultist and writer Aleister Crowley to help vindicate him from an accusation of murder. This throws Minky into an occult underworld and leads to a much bigger investigation involving a missing man and Britain's secret service. Meanwhile, Lovecraftian horrors plague her dreams, and it’s up to Minky to discover the connections between the two writers and the mysterious death of her mother. Based on an actual WWII maritime operation inspired by a detective novel, Minky discovers how writers, including Ian Fleming, helped end WWII.

 

From the mind of lauded artist, author, and playwright, Cynthia von Buhler, this third installment in the gumshoe detective series takes the thrills and twists to new heights!

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and Forbidden Planet for the UK.

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us. 

 

 

Superman Unlimited #1 Review

 

Writer: Dan Slott

Artist: Rafael Albuquerque

Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Rafael Albuquerque & Marcelo Maiolo; Frank Quietly; Gabriele Dell’Otto; Leinil Francis Yu & Romulo Fajardo Jr; Seba Fiumara; Dave Rapoza; Christian Ward; Dan Mora; Sozomaika;Jim Lee, Scott Williams & Alex Sinclair

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 21, 2025

 

It’s a big day for Lois Lane. The Editor-In-Chief of the Daily Planet gathers her staff for an announcement that could reshape the international media landscape. But when some of her reporters question the viability of her new plan, Clark Kent hurries from the room. What could be so important for Clark to abandon his wife at this crucial moment in her career? Let's stop by a phone booth, leap into Superman Unlimited #1, and see!

 

Story

Superman doesn't just tackle world-threatening events. He also takes the time to handle the smaller dangers to life in Metropolis. Yet life is filled with all kinds of struggles. While saving people from burning buildings and preventing criminals from getting away, he takes the time to encourage struggling idealists. Clark Kent has many reasons to be Superman. But he has more reasons to bless others’ lives.

 

While fighting crime and protecting his world, Clark remembers key moments from his youth. These flashbacks remind him that he may hail from Krypton, but he belongs to the people of Earth. Clark was the son of Jonathan and Martha Kent before his superpowers manifested, and their values shaped his outlook. As Clark remembers the friends from his youth, he compares himself to Lex Luthor. And it was Jonathan and Martha, not Jor-El and Lara, who helped Lois Lane see Clark Kent without being blinded by Superman.

 

In Superman Unlimited #1, an approaching asteroid proves a pivotal moment for Humanity. Superman goes into orbit to prevent it from hitting Earth. That effort will take more out of Clark than he imagined. Yet the significant changes for the planet, and Clark Kent, seem yet to come in Dan Slott's new series.

 

Art

Rafael Albuquerque fills pages with scenes from Clark’s past and present. He provides glimpses of key moments in history, such as Clark flying like a kite, clutching a crystaline shard, proposing to Lois, and his death. While most pages feature multiple panels, Superman's discovery of the asteroid's nature fills two pages. Clark’s realization that his life has changed fills the final page.

 

Marcelo Maiolo lavishes a loaded palette on Superman Unlimited #1. Green infuses his fight in space and promises to dominate Superman's future. Yellow dominates, helping Clark shine in both the past and present.

 

Dave Sharpe places uppercase black letters in white dialogue balloons and white letters in colored narrative boxes. Superman's stylized S within a shield accompanies his thoughts, reminding us that, like the House of El, he brings hope to those in need. Music notes bulge from one recipient's dialogue balloons, as Clark takes a moment from saving lives to perform a random act of kindness in a world that sometimes seems cruel.  

 

Final Thoughts

Dan Slott pays homage to Superman's history in comics, TV, and film as he embarks on a bold new series for Earth's foremost protector. Beautifully written, drawn, colored, and lettered, Superman Unlimited #1 is a great launching point for new readers while entertaining lifelong DC fans.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see a preview at Comic Book Dispatch. 

 

For another reviewer's thoughts, see his review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

 

 

Coca-Cola and Star Wars Holocreator at SDCC

  

As a fan of Star Wars and Diet-Coke (and Coke Zero Sugar), this sounds like a great way to toast the Rebel Alliance while lifting up others!

Here's all the info: 

 

Coca-Cola Brings Star Wars to Life with Immersive “HOLOCREATOR” Experience at San Diego Comic-Con 

Custom Experiential Activation – Curated by Fandom – is the Latest Installment of the “Coca-Cola x Star Wars: Refresh Your Galaxy” Campaign

 

WHAT:

Fans can experience an out-of-this-world Star Wars experience at San Diego Comic-Con. Taking place throughout the entire convention weekend and located just steps from the convention center, the four-day custom activation built in partnership with Fandom, the world’s largest fan platform, invites fans into a galaxy far, far away called the HOLOCREATOR. The activation is in support of “Coca-Cola x Star Wars: Refresh Your Galaxy,” Coca-Cola’s latest campaign, celebrating the power of connection and fandom that brings us together through the iconic Star Wars universe.

Fans can experience the beloved Star Wars brand in real life by stepping inside a custom Coca-Cola-themed augmented reality (AR) experience - the HOLOCREATOR - to record their very own holographic message with memorable Star Wars inspired backdrops and bring to life galactic moments in a personalized way.

Attendees will also receive limited-edition Star Wars character design cans and bottles, available at the event while supplies last.

Fans will be able to share with family and friends at home uplifting messages of community and connection in the style of a Star Wars hologram transmission.

This Comic-Con takeover is a key moment in a broader, month-long North American collaboration between Fandom and Coca-Cola that includes experiential activations, custom content, social, and media across the U.S. and Canada.

 

WHERE:

San Diego Comic-Con Convention Center Offsite Activation

333 First Ave, San Diego, 92113

 

WHEN:

Thursday, July 24 - Saturday, July 26 from 10:30am - 7pm

Sunday, July 27 from 11am - 4pm

 

Thanks to Fandom.com for sharing this announcement with us. 

 

Conan The Barbarian #25 Cover Preview

COVER A: ALEX HORLEY WRAPAROUND

In a day when most indie comics series end in a dozen issues or less, Titan Comics is planning a spectacular Conan The Barbarian #25. They're crowning the Cimmerian king with a double-length story! Here's all the info:

 

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #25 (ONGOING)

(W) Jim Zub

(A) Alex Horley

Publisher: Heroic Signatures and Titan Comics

FC, 48pp, $5.99, On Sale October 8, 2025

 

INCREDIBLE FULLY PAINTED ART BY ALEX HORLEY!

 

Milestone 25th issue featuring an epic stand alone story! Perfect jumping on point for new fans! Written by fan-favorite writer, Jim Zub!

 

THE NOMAD: Conan the King welcomes a strange visitor with an even stranger mission. Can the Ruler of Aquilonia prove his mettle or will the mysterious wanderer’s incredible power change the course of history?

 

This special issue #25 is a must-have for Conan fans!

 

 

Here is the complete Cover A:

(You can also get this as COVER F: ALEX HORLEY WRAPAROUND CARDSTOCK ($7.99) 

 

COVER A: ALEX HORLEY WRAPAROUND

 

Now, here are other options: 

 

COVER E: DANICA BRINE

 

COVER C: DOUG BRAITHWAITE

 

 

COVER B: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE

 Also available as: COVER G: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE FOIL TRADE ($15.99)

 

COVER D: JONAS SCHARF

Not Pictured: COVER H: COLOR BLANK SKETCH ($6.99)

 

Available to pre-order from your local comic shop and Forbidden Planet for UK & Europe.

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for providing this cover art preview. 

 

 

Amazing Spider-Man #7 Review

 

Writer: Joe Kelly

Penciler: John Romita Jr

Inker: Scott Hanna

Colorist: Marcio Menyz with Erick Arciniega

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: John Romita Jr, Scott Hanna & Marcio Menyz; Doaly; Simone Bianchi; Lee Bermejo; Leonardo Romero

Designer: Jay Bowen

Editors: Kaitlyn Lindtvedt, Tom Groneman, Nick Lowe & CB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: July 2, 2025

 

It’s been so long that he doesn’t recognize it. Then Peter realizes what he is feeling. He’s happy. Aunt May and Shay gently nudge Peter to keep improving, but they like the direction he’s heading in. Black Cat wants to get frisky with him again. Peter’s boss is eying him for promotion. His friend, Brian, is looking out for him. Tombstone is helping Peter prevent another Gang War. And an axe-wielding armor-clad knight just hailed him the Prince of Steelsilk. Say, you don't think that last thing could make Peter unhappy, do you? Let's thwip into Amazing Spider-Man #7 and see!

 

Story

Hellgate explains that he has traveled through mystic realms to reach Spider-Man. Even if he's not a pirate, Hellgate's mistress wants Hellgate to parley with Spider-Man. But Peter is tired of cosmic beings interrupting his duties. Compared with the scions of Cyttorak, the knight seems like an obsessive gamer. Besides, Peter and Felicia have waited hours to apprehend the Queen's Cola goons. So, like the Hollywood agent in Bolt, Peter suggests they put a pin in whatever Hellgate wants.

 

A month ago, Hermes Crenshaw told scientists in Arizona that sandstone formations were petrified tree trunks. While the scientists mused about microbursts of cosmic radiation, Hermes spoke of the heartbeat of a tree. Then a doorway opened, and Hellgate hopped out of the hoodoo. Using his research and the devices he has built, Hermes follows Hellgate. In Amazing Spider-Man #7, Hermes arrives in New York City. With his insights into the beliefs of indigenous peoples, Hermes hopes the superhero community will take him seriously. Perhaps Hermes can even pick up some Shawarma, and prevent Hellgate from giving Iron Man more panic attacks.

 

Joe Kelly intersperses Spider-Man's story with glimpses of what other characters are doing. Some participants are aware of the cosmic event taking place. For others, it seems like another day in New York City. Like many of the great stories of Human literature, Amazing Spider-Man #7 is a tragedy. An unnecessary battle occurs because a hero is fatigued, misjudges a situation, and disrespects someone who comes into his life. It’s a mistake anyone can make when we feel like we’re getting on top of things, that life is finally going our way, and we don’t need to listen to others because we know the score.

 

 

 

Art

Studded armor runs from Hellgate’s helmet to his shoulders. Iron circles his wrists and waist. He carries his notched axes in an X on his back like a ninja. Yellow fire burns through Hellgate’s veins like lava flowing beneath a cooled layer of pahoehoe. This mystic angel of death hurls fire like Han Solo’s blaster and leaves burning destruction in his wake. As Spider-Man bounds across rooftops, John Romita Jr and Scott Hanna show that fire and webbing don’t mix.

 

Dawn creeps into the sky as Hellgate confronts Spider-Man and Black Cat in black, yellow, silver, purple, and blue. Pink and peach creep into the sky as Hellgate unleashes yellow and orange. Marcio Menyz and Erick Arciniega fill the destruction with gray smoke as Peter Parker goes on the offensive in Amazing Spider-Man #7. Soft blues and greens dominate Hermes’ scenes while another yellow and black character sits beneath a purple sky. Yet Peter revisits a place he had hoped to avoid, as orange and yellow suffuse the air above a sea of greenery.

 

Peter shares his thoughts in red-edged narrative boxes. Joe Caramagna's black uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and shrink for lowered voices. Block letters indicate time shifts in Joe Kelly’s linear story, while enlarged colored dialogue and sound effects heighten the action. Amid the thwipping, shooting, and explosions, Hellgate's font reminds us that Miles Morales isn't the only Spider-Man fighting the gods. Thanks to Marvel for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

We all know appearances can be deceiving. Yet, it's hard to ignore our first impressions. When Peter Parker disrespects Hellgate, he unleashes the catastrophe he was trying to prevent and initiates a conflict between Earth and the mystic realms in Amazing Spider-Man #7.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

All-New Giant-Size Youngblood #1 Preview

 

Comic fans owe Rob Liefeld a debt we can never repay. He helped bring X-Force and Deadpool to Marvel, and contributed to Image Comics' early success. He also helped revive interest in Battlestar Galactica, and gave Apollo actor Richard Hatch a start in his writing career. This year, he's bringing back one of his signature creations to San Diego Comic-Con with a special edition!

Here's all the info:

 

ROB LIEFELD RETURNS TO SAN DIEGO COMIC CON WITH EXCLUSIVE: GIANT-SIZE YOUNGBLOOD #1 SIGNINGS AND PANEL

Legendary comic book creator Rob Liefeld (creator of Deadpool, Youngblood) is set to make a major splash at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 with the debut of an all-new comic: Giant Size Youngblood #1. A Comic-Con exclusive, the 29-page special issue will be available in four limited-edition covers—each capped at just 100 copies—and will be distributed exclusively during Liefeld’s signings at Booth #5568.

First launched in 1992, Youngblood was the flagship title that helped launch Image Comics, redefining the comics industry by giving creators control over their own characters. Youngblood #1 was one of the highest-selling independent comics of all time and marked the beginning of a new era of creator-owned superheroes. 

 

Now, over 30 years later, Liefeld revisits the groundbreaking team with a bold new story that mixes nostalgia, innovation, and pure energy.

Like the classic it pays tribute to, Giant Size Youngblood unfolds on a mysterious island and brings together a mix of legacy heroes and all-new characters. This San Diego Comic-Con exclusive edition features four unique covers, each limited to 100 copies. A short pre-order window sold out quickly, but a limited number of copies will be available at the convention.

 

“Giant Size Youngblood is a comic I have wanted to make my entire life,” says Liefeld. “It’s my love letter to Giant Size X-Men #1, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. That comic is what made me fall in love with comic books, and I couldn’t let the moment pass without creating my own unique tribute.”

 

In addition to the launch, Liefeld will headline a special Comic-Con panel:

 

“Rob Liefeld ; Youngblood 33rd Anniversary"

Thursday, July 24 | 5:00 PM | Room 7AB
Join Liefeld and special guests for a high-energy celebration of Youngblood's legacy and future. The panel will explore the creation of the new Youngblood #1 (released April 16, 2025), the return of iconic characters like Shaft, Badrock, and Diehard, and Liefeld’s innovative direct-to-fan publishing model. Attendees will get a behind-the-scenes look at the remastered collector’s editions and hear firsthand what’s next for the team that helped launch Image Comics more than three decades ago.

 

This appearance marks Liefeld’s 44th San Diego Comic-Con, cementing his status as a defining voice in the comics industry and a fan-favorite mainstay of the convention.

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

  

 

Thanks to PAL Public Relations for sharing this preview with us.

Craniacs #1 Preview

 

COVER A FRONT: JOE SIMKO FLIP COVER

 

For me, it was Wacky Packages. For others, it was Garbage Pail Kids. For all those wild, unconventional folks who collected trading cards based on movies, TV shows, and just plain fun, convenience stores had plenty to offer. But have you ever heard of Craniacs? The trading card series is coming to TV from the studio behind Star Trek: Lower Decks. (Fascinating!) And guess who's launching a comic series based on the hilarious franchise?

 

COVER A BACK: JOE SIMKO FLIP COVER

  

Here's all the info from Titan Comics:

 

CRANIACS #1 (of 4)

(W) Sholly Fisch

(A) Joe Simko

FC, 32pp, $4.99 

On Sale October 15, 2025

 

DEBUT COMIC BASED ON HIT CRANIACS TRADING CARDS!

 

CRANIACS TV SERIES IN ACTIVE DEVELOPMENT FROM ANIMATION STUDIO TITMOUSE (SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE)!

 

INTERIOR ART BY GARBAGE PAIL KIDS LEGEND JOE SIMKO!

 

FROM JOE SIMKO (GARBAGE PAIL KIDS), IRA FRIEDMAN (TOPPS) AND ACCLAIMED WRITER SHOLLY FISCH (BATMAN, SCOOBY-DOO)!

 

Two planets collide, forming one world. Two distinct skull-faced societies split down the middle! One side is wild & stone age named RETROVIA; the other side is systematic & ultra-futuristic named FUTERRA.

 

Innovative reading experience! Read the story of RETROVIA then turn and flip to read about FUTERRA. Two stories that meet in the middle, which leads onto issue #2.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

COVER B: ASHLEIGH IZIENICKI

 

COVER C: NICLAS MORTENSEN

 

COVER D FRONT: COLOR YOUR OWN FLIP COVER ($6.99)

 

 

COVER D BACK: COLOR YOUR OWN FLIP COVER ($6.99)

 

 

COVER E: JOE SIMKO EXCLUSIVE TRADING CARD BAGGED ($9.99)

Issue #1 is available to pre-order from your local comic shop and Forbidden Planet for UK & Europe.

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us. 

Rebel Moon: Nemesis #1 Review

 

Story: Zach Snyder

Writer: Gail Simone

Artist: Federico Bertoni

Colorist: Fares Maese

Letterer: Andworld Design

Cover Artists: Kael Ngu, Danny Earls, Reza Afshar, Alice Meichi Li & Chris Christodoulou

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: July 16, 2025

 

Nemesis may be an assassin. But everyone comes from somewhere, and we all change as we grow. Long ago, Nemesis lived a different life. She gazed upon the world in wonder, questioned what she saw and thought, and told her parents she loved them. What tragedy befell the little girl with a heart of gold? Let’s grab our swords, leap into Rebel Moon: Nemesis #1, and see!

 

Story

Nemesis grew up in a fishing village. Her parents named her Tatan and called her sister Gahbi. As much as Tatan enjoyed life with her parents, fate drew her away from them. Her new masters instructed the little girl in their ways. Every day was a punishment and a trial of endurance. Her new masters beat the exuberance for life out of young Tatan. Surrounded by others, she was alone.

 

In Rebel Moon: Nemesis #1, Tatan feared she held the power to destroy. The little girl misunderstood her father, who was tired of Tatan's constant chatter. But, without knowing it, her father also spoke the truth. Tatan and her sister received a special honor. They had the chance to become more than a fisherman's daughter or wife. Despite the pitfalls of her new community, Tatan survived her teaching and training. The resilience she learned in her adolescence would help her survive the tragedy to come.

 

Zach Snyder and Gail Simone's story is about how our youth shapes us. But it also reminds us how one society influences another. Society on Byeol, the planet of Tatan's birth, was founded by a repentant warrior. Tatan's teachers instructed her in their ways. But they also repressed her individuality. In so doing, they prepared her for later life. Not as someone who would repent for dispatching her opponents. But as an unstoppable killing machine, utterly dedicated to her cause.

 

Art

Federico Bertoni’s artwork has a fractal appearance, portraying characters as edgy, sharp, and unforgiving as the worlds they fight over. Locals in ethnic attire huddle in an alley. Soldiers intrude wearing armor, uniforms, and the accolades of conquest. A glimpse into the distant past reveals a battle in a fishing village. Swords and axes clash beneath a stormy sky in Rebel Moon: Nemesis #1. Energy crackles in the air, while a warrior’s glowing sword illuminates the tattoos carved into his subdued opponent’s chest and shoulder.

 

While golden candlelight and glowing red blades light Nemesis' dark path, Fares Maese fills Tatan's youth with blues and greens. The girl rides in a brown boat with a basket of gray fish near her parents' brown and gray house on the water. When her father brings her to her new home, he presses a brown book, a black pen, and a bottle of ink into her hands. Then Tatan trades her pink kimono for a beige, black, and white uniform in Rebel Moon: Nemesis #1. Tatan’s hair, skin, and attire blend with everyone else in her new world.

 

Andworld Design fills white dialogue balloons with uppercase black letters and brown boxes with white uppercase narration. Larger white letters on transparent brown-gray banners located us in time and space, while looming white numbers follow Nemesis' countdown to solace. Sound effects accompany Nemesis' attacks and Imperial cruelty. Hand-printed white letters hover over black symbols above a skull in a brown book. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy. 

 

Final Thoughts

A mission fueled by lofty ideals can become a machine that crushes those it intends to help. Nemesis has seen everything she valued destroyed by the emissaries of civilization. So in Rebel Moon: Nemesis #1, she’s making things right by exterminating wrongs.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Rebel Moon: Nemesis #1.