DC X Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion #4 Preview

 

Dr Eggman and Lex Luthor couldn't wait to outsmart the other. When Dr Eggman launched the Legion of Doom Headquarters into orbit, Lex and the Legion retreated to Sonic's world. Then, in one of life's little ironies, Lex unleashed the Justice League heroes he had trapped in Null Space to attack Dr Eggman. 

Dr Eggman may have robot versions of the "Doomers" at his command. But can his Metal Legion withstand the might of two worlds' heroes? And can Lex Luthor retain control of the LEXEGG Gates, and hold both worlds to ransom?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

DC X Sonic the Hedgehog: Metal Legion #4 Preview

Writer: Ian Flynn

Artist: Adam Bryce Thomas

Cover Artist: Pablo M. Collar

Variant Cover Artists: Min Ho Kim & Daniele Di Nicuolo

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Series Length: 5 Issues

Price: $3.99 US/Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: August 5, 2026

 

 

Dr. Eggman and the Metal Legion Take On Earth!

 

 

Dr. Eggman and his super-powered Metal Legion are looming unchecked over the Justice League’s Earth! It’s going to take the combined might of the Justice League, Sonic, and his many friends to challenge the mad doctor’s mechanical might! But as their battle rages in space, who is left to stop Lex Luthor and the Legion of Doom?

 

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of DC X Sonic The Hedgehog: Metal Legion #3.

For what happened before that, see my review of DC X Sonic The Hedgehog: Metal Legion #2.

For how this series started, see my preview of DC x Sonic The Hedgehog 2: The Metal Legion #1. 

 

  

Conan & Dragonero #4 Cover Preview

 

Cover A: Patch Zircher

When a dragon brought Conan to the world of Erondár, the Cimmerian couldn’t protect his soldiers from the horde of savage Algents. While Ian Aranill asserted his ability to slay Conan’s dragon, it attacked the border outpost and killed his fellow soldiers. Now, Conan has joined Ian and his sister Myrva to pursue the dragon. But a pack of Wyverns has downed their skyship before they even reached the dragon. Can Conan and Ian track down the dragon? And can they reclaim the sacred gems that protect Conan’s world from an ancient demon?  

Here's all the info from Titan Comics:

 

Conan And Dragonero #4 (Of 7)

Writers: Luca Enoch & Stefano Vietti

Artist: Lorenzo Nuti

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99 US

Issue Description: 32 Pages, Full Color

Release Date: August 5, 2026

 

Pulled to the mysterious land of Erondár by dark forces, Conan comes face to face with the famed dragon slayer, Dragonero, and the two warriors must set aside suspicion to stand back-to-back against a supernatural force poised to doom both their worlds.

 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

 

 

Cover B: Lorenzo Nuti

 

 

Cover C: Patch Zircher - Virgin Cardstock Variant ($6.99)

Cover D: Patch Zircher - Foil Variant ($14.99)

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this cover preview with us.

 

For what happened last time, see my cover preview of Conan & Dragonero #3. 

 

For what happened before that, see my review of Conan & Dragonero #2. 

 

For how this series started, see my review of Conan & Dragonero #1. 

 

 

The Deadman #3 Preview

 

Boston Brand may have died. Still, he has never been busier. As the Deadman, he has dedicated his afterlife to helping souls transition to whatever comes next. Sometimes, Boston can intervene, and give the dying another shot at life. But most of the time, he eases the soul onto their next journey on the great wheel of Samsara. 

Unfortunately, Jesse "Flyeater" Hollern won't get that chance. After he crashed his Harley, a four-armed demon devoured Jesse's soul. Boston must act promptly to prevent the imbalance between the forces of life and anti-life from threatening all life on Earth. But how will Boston fare in the Underworld? And how many people will Professor M abduct and kill in Boston's absence?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

The Deadman #3 Preview

Writer: W. Maxwell Prince

Artist & Cover Artist: Martin Morazzo

Variant Cover Artists: Christian Ward, Alex Eckman-Lawn & Tyler Boss

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Price: $3.99 US/Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: August 5, 2026

 

 

The Deadman in Hell! Or…

 

 

The third edition of this morbid disquisition concerning the attrition/detrition of the human condition, which, in the weekly tradition, boasts a four-color exhibition on some printer’s emission. Here, by order of an anonymous optician, watch closely this vision of our titular apparition (armed, you’ll remember, with fresh erudition) try and survive—by another’s volition—a dire and dangerous mission through the hissin’, Stygian conditions of putrid and pockmarked Perdition—a kind of new rendition (depicted as a living, breathing country-sized conniption), which is rich in its list of sick compositions: e.g., reason’s egregious abolition; a pyrotechnic passel of pernicious seditions; hideous, bulging buck-toothed dentition; admittedly ambitious demonic deglutition…of gargoyles and ghouls in decomposition…not to mention an array of impossible physical positions that a physician might consider the work of magicians. So please accept our contrition for this rude imposition, our addled transmission this ungodly, offset-press parturition—one that we wish some brave obstetrician would bring to fruition its quick decommission.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

For what happened last time, see my review of The Deadman #2. 

For how this series started, see my review of The Deadman #1. 

Craniacs Vol 1 Review

 

Craniacs Vol 1 Review

Creators: Ira Friedman & Joe Simko

Writer: Sholly Fisch

Artist & Cover Artist: Joe Simko

Colorist: Valentina Bianconi

Letterer: Dave Lentz

Editor: Jonathan Wilkins

Designer: Matt Bookman

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $17.99

Release Date: July 21, 2026

 

As the chieftain's son, Rocky has a duty to be the best smasher around. When he's not smashing things with his club or playing drums along to the latest Ozzy Ozbone single, Rocky hangs out with Phoebe, an artist who enjoys painting murals on boulders.

 

While Rocky and Phoebe enjoy their days in Retrovia, Bo and Darby zoom through the skies of Futurra on their hoverboard and hover skates. The competitive children are always looking for the next challenge. How will they react when they meet Rocky and Phoebe? And can Retrovia and Futurra survive when their two worlds collide? Let’s leap into Craniacs Vol 1 and see!

 

Story

Rocky wakes up on Shatterday to find his mother stomping on Devan's plans for the day's ceremony. When Chieftain Riley insists her son take a bath, Rocky reluctantly heads to the lake, where he also captures a fish for breakfast. Then he takes a ride to school along with Phoebe, where they sit around a campfire while their leader tells them about Shatterday.

 

In Craniacs Vol 1, Bo dashes out of his bedroom when he awakens. He doesn't have time to sit down for breakfast like his sister. But as he rushes off to school on his hoverboard, his sister follows him on her hoverskates. Their friends at school catch a glimpse of the race as they ride in the hoverbus to Napoleon Bone-Apart Skullastic Middle School. In the classroom, their teacher tells them about Shatterday, which celebrates the day two planets became one.

 

Unfortunately, no one regards the joining as a good thing. In Sholly Fisch's story, the leaders of both worlds view their counterparts with suspicion. But for the kids, it's just another day. When Phoebe finds the perfect spot for her next mural, she invites Rocky to see it. In Futurra, Darby dares Bo to brave the dangers of Retrovia.

 

When the four children meet, they view the strangers through the lenses of their cultural biases. As Rocky, Phoebe, Bo, and Darby get to know each other, they discover that their two worlds have much to offer each other. But to continue having fun together, the children must keep their friendships a secret in Craniacs Vol 1.

 

Art

Joe Simko introduces the cast with a series of trading cards. Rocky sleeps in a hammock, clutching drumsticks. While a Craniac skull supports a lamp, his mother reclines on a throne of dinosaur skulls. Despite their closeness to nature, a prehistoric creature repurposed as a school bus sports exhaust pipes. And as the schoolteacher teaches his students, a hologram appears above a firepit.

 

When Bo rises from a bathtub-shaped bed, last night's snacks rest on a hovering end table. He dashes into the kitchen, plucking his helmet from a hovering bowl not laden with fruit or packaged food. While Valentina Bianconi enhances both worlds with vibrant color, purple adorns Rocky and Riley's skin. The flagstones and the cliff bearing Phoebe's mural are purple. As Bo and Darby soar above hovering vehicles and fly past (or through) purple towers, Bo’s blue coloring and Darby’s green helmet and clothes suggest that the Futurrans also retain a closeness to nature.

 

Dave Lentz fills white balloons and colored boxes with black and colored uppercase letters. The letters grow bold and swell with raised voices. Lowercase letters represent lowered voices. Electrifying colorful dialogue accompanies the kids’ youthful exuberance for life, phone calls from worried parents, and a bird’s wake-up call. Colorful sound effects amplify Rocky and Riley's smashing, Bo and Darby's race past honking vehicles, competitive water sports, and Phoebe's favorite new art form. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

At first glance, Retrovia and Future have nothing in common. Each culture blames the other for having to share their divided world. Most children accept their cultures' teachings and observe the warning signs lining the border. Their parents may fear their neighbors. Still, the rulers' children decide to forge a better future for their world in Craniacs Vol 1.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Craniacs Vol 1. 

Gotham Academy: First Year #6 Preview

 

 

When she couldn't learn what happened to her mother, Olive pushed away everyone and everything that offered her a future she didn't believe she deserved. She sought refuge in Professor Crane's pills, but they trapped her in a nightmare, and fractured her identity. Can Batman rescue Olive Silverlock again? Or will another hero arise to help Olive be the hero of her own story?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

Gotham Academy: First Year #6 Preview

Writers: Brenden Fletcher, Karl Kerschl & Becky Cloonan

Artist: Marco Ferrari

Cover Artist & Variant Cover Artist: Karl Kerschl

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 40 Pages

Series Length: 6 Issues

Price: $4.99 US/Variant $5.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: August 5, 2026

 

Siblings. Side Quests. Scarecrows.

 

Olive Silverlock has vanished, and Maps Mizoguchi is ready to roll for rescue. With Kyle in tow—and a not-so-helpful ghost on her heels—Maps must brave the halls, the catacombs, and the shadowy secrets of Gotham Academy. Just a normal Tuesday, really.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Gotham Academy: First Year #5. 

For what happened before that, see my review of Gotham Academy: Year One #4.

For how this series started, see my preview of Gotham Academy: First Year #1. 

 

 

 

Supergirl: Survive #3 Preview

 

The Lanterns rescued them after the destruction of Krypton. But then they let Kara and Kal-El get lost among a flood of refugees. The Lobo Gang knew an opportunity when they saw one. With only 2 surviving Kryptonians, they could score a payday. But when the Lanterns followed the Lobo Gang to Terra Arcana, their path once again intersected with Kara and Kal-El.

How will Kara and Kal-El's lives change after the Blue Lantern's death? And can Kara control the rage inside her?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

Supergirl: Survive #3 Preview

Writers: Ethan S. Parker & Griffin Sheridan

Artist & Cover Artist: Rod Reis

Variant Cover Artists: Taurin Clarke & Stephen Byrne

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 40 Pages

Series Length: 6 Issues

Price: $3.99 US/Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: August 5, 2026

 

 

Memories Of Krypton!

 

 

After their run-in with the Lantern Corps, Kara has taken Kal back to Krypton…but the real Krypton no longer exists. This one is of her own making. A shimmering city of blue constructs that shelters them from the pain of their loss. Kara could call it home and keep her cousin safe…but she’d be living a lie.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Supergirl: Survive #2.

For how the series started, see my review of Supergirl: Survive #1.  

 

 

Titan's Publishing Program for Edgar Rice Burroughs

 

Titan Comics has enjoyed a successful partnership with Heroic Signatures. Both companies have honored Robert E Howard's legacy with new Conan stories. They've also expanded the publishing program in books and comics to include more of Howard's classic characters. Now, Titan Comics is building on this model of success to introduce modern readers to another pulp era creator. 

While I shared this announcement with you during San Diego Comic-Con, here's more detailed information on Titan's plans for their partnership with Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. Enjoy!

 

TITAN ANNOUNCES MAJOR EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS PUBLISHING PROGRAM LAUNCHING SUMMER 2027

As announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 during the Tarzan® and John Carter of Mars® Live! panel on Friday, July 24, 2026 - Titan Publishing is thrilled to reveal a major new publishing initiative celebrating the legendary works of Edgar Rice Burroughs. The program is set to launch in Summer 2027 with a brand-new Dejah Thoris® comic series. Developed in collaboration with Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., this ambitious publishing program is designed to introduce both lifelong fans and new readers to the extraordinary worlds of one of history's most influential adventure storytellers. Spanning a wide range of publishing formats, the initiative celebrates Edgar Rice Burroughs' enduring legacy while bringing his timeless stories to a new generation of readers. Titan’s new publishing program will include new paperback editions of the Edgar Rice Burroughs Authorized Library, previously unfinished works, illustrated books, original comics, and omnibus collections, offering fresh ways to experience Burroughs' iconic creations. The program will be available through bookstores, comic shops, and digital retailers worldwide. The creator of the immortal characters Tarzan of the Apes and John Carter of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs is one of the world’s most influential authors. Mr. Burroughs’ timeless tales of heroes and heroines transport readers from the jungles of Africa and the dead sea bottoms of Barsoom to the miles-high forests of Amtor and the savage inner world of Pellucidar, and even to alien civilizations Beyond The Farthest Star. Mr. Burroughs’ books are estimated to have sold hundreds of millions of copies, and they have spawned 60 films and 250 television episodes. "We've enjoyed a successful relationship with Titan across a variety of publications over the years, but this is our most ambitious collaboration yet - a comprehensive publishing program with a vision that extends well into the future,” said Jim Sullos, the President of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. “We couldn't be more pleased to strengthen this partnership and embark on this exciting new journey together.” "This publishing program represents one of the most ambitious celebrations of Edgar Rice Burroughs' work in decades," said Titan Entertainment's Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Sumner, at the San Diego Comic-Con panel. "Our goal is to honor the author's extraordinary legacy while introducing his unforgettable stories to a new generation of readers." Further details will be revealed throughout 2026 and leading up to the launch in Summer 2027.

 Thanks to Titan for sharing this news with us.

 

 

Justice League Knight Vision Special #1 Review

 

Justice League Knight Vision Special #1 Review

Writers: Mark Waid & Joshua Williamson

Artist: Miguel Mendonça

Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr

Letterer: Steve Wands

Editors: Ben Mears & Rob Levin

Cover Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico

Variant Cover Artists: Juan Ferreyra; Mark Spears; Javi Fernández with Marcelo Maiolo

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US

Release Date: July 29, 2026

 

Batman may believe in preserving life. He may admire genius. But that doesn't mean Batman wants Lex Luthor in the Justice League. And after Lex Luthor inflamed the Brainiac Queen crisis, Batman doesn't want Lex anywhere near the Watchtower control room.

 

But when Batman tried to throw Lex out, both men shared a vision. Will Batman and Lex Luthor establish an interstellar empire like Aquaman? Or will they awaken a dragon as they tinker with potentially planet-destroying forces like Cyborg in Mount Titans? Let’s leap into Justice League Knight Vision Special #1 and see!

 

Story

When gunrunners want to meet with their buyer in Gotham, they opt for Slaughter Swamp to avoid Batman's scrutiny. Thanks to their shared vision, Batman and Lex Luthor find the miscreants regardless. But before the Justice League teammates can arrest the weapons dealers, a house appears in Slaughter Swamp. And although Batman tries to warn them, the gunrunners flee inside the house.

 

In Justice League Knight Vision Special #1, Lex Luthor claims this mission is an unwelcome task. Batman argues that the visions are designed to prepare them for Darkseid’s return. Still, Lex can't wait to get inside the house. And Lex seems more interested in learning how much Batman knows about its occupant than sharing information with his partner.

 

Mark Waid and Joshua Williamson’s story contrasts Bruce Wayne’s approach to life with Lex Luthor, his socioeconomic equal. It also compares Batman's origins with those of Prometheus. As the fast-paced story follows Lex and Bruce, the men test each other. And even when they confront the house's owner, both men expect the other to let them down in Justice League Knight Vision Special #1.

 

Art

As the gunrunners arrive in their airboat, Batman and Lex Luthor descend from the Batwing. While Batman spreads his arms wide to support his cape, Lex Luthor crosses his arms over his armored chest and frowns. When Batman lands atop the propeller cage, his cape emulates wings as he crouches. But when the arms dealers raise their weapons, Lex fires an energy burst from his hand. Then a twisted tower erupts from the water, hurling the combatants and the boats into the air.

 

As Miguel Mendonça depicts Batman and Lex obeying whatever force gifted them their shared vision, Romulo Fajardo Jr. adorns Justice League Knight Vision Special #1 with a bright palette. While the weapons dealers dress to melt into the green and blue Slaughter Swamp, Lex's green armor and Batman's blue suit, cowl, and cape shine brightly. The brown door, outlined with white, adopts a 2D cartoony appearance when the gunrunners enter. As Batman realizes the twisting nature of the interior, white lines and a turquoise background fill a panel. Yet when the weapons dealers reappear, they bring the yellow, orange, and red of Gotham to Slaughter Swamp.

 

While large white letters identify locations, black uppercase letters fill white dialogue balloons. Steve Wands shrinks and grays dialogue for lowered voices, and warps words when navigating Prometheus' inner sanctum. Lex Luthor and Batman's offscreen dialogue appears as white letters in green versus black boxes. Sound effects accompany fighting, weapon fire, and the strange house doing what a strange house does. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

While Batman and Prometheus endured similar trauma, Bruce has more in common with Lex Luthor than he would care to admit. After the Omega Tournament and Lex's recent actions aboard the Watchtower, Bruce knows he can never trust his partner. But while Bruce must find a way to combine their differences to fulfill their shared vision, he and Lex confront a villain with a different type of vision in Justice League Knight Vision Special #1.

 

Rating: 10/10

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #21. 

For how this story arc started, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #17. 

JSA #22 Preview

 

Jim Corrigan once bonded with the Spectre. But when Darkseid tried to command this aspect of the Presence, he broke that bond. Now, as Metron guides four young heroes in search of the former police detective, one of Alan Scott and Jay Garrick's charges has bonded with the Spectre. Will she form a lasting bond with the Spectre? And how wisely will she wield the Vengeance of God?

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

JSA #22 Preview

Writer: Jeff Lemire

Artist: Diego Olortegui

Cover Artist: Pete Woods

Variant Cover Artist: Rafael De Latorre

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Price: $3.99 US/Variant $4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: August 5, 2026

 

 

Who Will Take on the Mantle of The Spectre?

 

 

The wrath of the Spectre has ravaged the JSA. As the dust settles, one hero will step up and take on the mantle of the Spectre, but will they be able to control its fury?

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of JSA #21. 

For what happened before that, see my preview of JSA #20.

For what happened even before that, see my review of JSA #19. 

For how the Spectre helped Jay Garrick and Alan Scott in 1940, see my review of JSA #18. 

For Darkseid's attack on the Spectre, see my preview of DC All In Special #1.