Mathieu Bablet's Silent Jenny Kickstarter

 

 

Like people and relationships, our planet undergoes changes. The world that we remember is not the one we live on today or will inhabit tomorrow. How will our lives change as global warming continues and Human society evolves? And while embracing the new things that come our way, what will we have to bid farewell to?

Here's all the info from Magnetic and Oni Press:

 

Magnetic and Oni Press Unleash First U.S. Edition of International Comics Luminary Mathieu Bablet’s SILENT JENNY - Now on Kickstarter! 

A Harrowing Exploration of Humanity’s Survival in the Face of the Climate Crisis

 

 

A MASTERCLASS IN WORLD-BUILDING AND A BREATHTAKING VISION OF THE FUTURE FROM AN INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTAR! Oni Press and Magnetic Press – the Eisner Award-winning publisher celebrating prestige graphic novels from around the globe since 2013 – are proud to announce the Kickstarter campaign for SILENT JENNY, by internationally acclaimed comic author Mathieu Bablet (Shangri La, Carbon & Silicon). Fans can support the Kickstarter campaign now. 

SILENT JENNY explores a not-too-distant future, where climate change continues to ravage the planet, and the disappearance of insects has led to the end of pollination, rendering vast areas of land infertile. A survival dynamic has emerged—mobile cities called "monads" have formed, and people strive to help each other; each group with its own customs, traditions, and ways of life.

Jenny is a rather solitary researcher trying to restore the world as it once was. She seeks to recover bee DNA to clone and re-create pollinating insects. However, she will come to realize that this is impossible—the old world no longer exists, and a new one must be built. She will have to make peace with the notion that all things come to an end, no matter how much you may fight the inevitable..

"I'm thrilled that after Shangri-La and Carbon & Silicon, the American public will finally discover the end of my science fiction trilogy!” Says Mathieu Bablet. “I hope you enjoy this plunge into the underworld, exploring the wastelands, and traveling aboard the monads!"

“SILENT JENNY asks, ‘What remains of our humanity when our tools are gone?’ Through a blend of desert punk aesthetics and dystopic nightmare, the story is about environmental reclamation and the search for meaning in a world that has moved on from us,” Says Magnetic Press’ Director of Publishing, Mike Kennedy. “The book explores how we communicate through action, gesture, and presence — and how meaning survives even when language fails. Like Mathieu’s previous books Shangri-La and Carbon & Silicon, this book packs a powerful punch that really makes you think about where we, as a species, might be heading. If you loved the atmospheric mystery of The Arrival, the haunting wastelands of Nausicaä, or the architectural grandeur of Moebius, SILENT JENNY belongs on your shelf.”

Known for his intricate art and his imaginative world-building, artist and co-director of the renowned Label 619 studio Mathieu Bablet is one of the most thoughtful sci-fi creators working today. In CARBON & SILICON, he explores 300 years of humanity’s collapse from the perspective of two melancholy androids who witnessed the many changes that brought mankind to its knees. In SHIN ZERO, Bablet takes on the modern gig economy in a thrilling, humorous love letter to Kaiju and Super-sentai stories. SHANGRI-LA is a millennia-spanning epic of space exploration, evolution, and what it means to be human. And now the prolific creator is setting his sights on a more grounded tale of science, climate change, and corporate greed in SILENT JENNY. 

Here’s what people are saying about Mathieu Bablet

"Bablet is a master of scale. He captures the crushing weight of dystopia while finding the microscopic beauty in its cracks." — Le Monde

"One of the most significant voices in modern European comics. His world-building is second to none." — Comics Beat

“A visionary talent redefining the graphic novel.” — BD Gest’

“Bablet’s worlds feel lived‑in, mournful, and breathtakingly human.” — ActuaBD

“A master of atmosphere and scale.” — ComicsBlog

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 Here are more images from the Kickstarter campaign:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the deluxe hardcover edition of SILENT JENNY, the Kickstarter campaign features a limited boxed edition and an exclusive 24-page 6x9 CODEX ART BOOK, featuring a look at the world of SILENT JENNY. Fans can support Mathieu Bablet’s SILENT JENNY on Kickstarter now.

For more updates on Magnetic Press, visit them on X, Bluesky,  Facebook, and Instagram

 

Thanks to Magnetic Press, Oni Press, and Superfan Promotions for sharing their Kickstarter campaign with us. 

End Of Life #3 Review

 

End Of Life #3 Review

Writer: Kyle Starks

Artist: Steve Pugh

Colorist: Chris O’Halloran

Letterer & Designer: Becca Carey

Cover Artists: Gerald Parel, Guillem March & David Talaski

Editors: Matthew Levine & Chris Conroy

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99

Release Date: April 15, 2026

 

Pluto used to have a small-town, touristy vibe. Richard Smiley's newspaper strips drew fans to the cartoonist's hometown. When the visitors weren't flocking to the Wrong Dog amusement park, they were helping local shops and businesses thrive. Pluto may have gotten quieter since Richard Smiley's fall from grace. But while the amusement park has closed, the locals work together to help their town thrive.

 

Visitors may not pour into Emily Wilson's shop to purchase souvenir candles any time soon. Still, things are about to heat up in Pluto. What will Eddie Stallion do when Menagerie killers reach this out-of-the-way town? And how will his father react when Eddie's presence endangers the people he cares about? Let's grab a gun and a mask, leap into End Of Life #3, and see!

 

Story

George Stallion was never around when his son was growing up. After Eddie's mother abandoned them, George sent him off to boarding school. George's inability to get along with him and others made Eddie feel flawed and unwanted. When Eddie grew up, he followed in his father's footsteps and joined the Menagerie. Then, Eddie thrust his success as a highly paid hitman in his father's face until George finally told him to go away and never return.

 

In End Of Life #3, Eddie is frustrated and confused. It was easy to blame his father for all his faults and take pride in the life he had built. But when Eddie makes a mistake and everyone turns against him, his father takes him in. As he realizes that perhaps he and his father have a second chance at connecting, Sophie tells Eddie that his father is dying. Eddie may have to look over his shoulder every day of his life for Menagerie hitmen. But there's no avoiding Stage Four Lung Cancer's death sentence.

 

Kyle Starks follows Eddie as he reels from the realization that no one from his big city life loves him, while everyone in Pluto loves George Stallion. Yet even if he doesn't want to be there, the town is beginning to love Eddie. Just as George has helped the town function despite its lack of funding and infrastructure, Eddie has protected Leona and her son, Trent, at the Wrong Dog gas station. He may never see his sneaker collection again. But when Eddie recognizes the wealth of meaningful connections George Stallion has built, he emulates his father once again in End Of Life #3.

 

Art

From his Wrong Dog throne, Richard Smiley bows as he bemoans how the world beat him down. Surrounded by examples of his art and a statue of himself kneeling beside his creation, Richard’s lips part as he smiles. The exposed portions of his upper teeth evoke fangs. Eddie may have had some setbacks. Yet he struts as he walks through the dark toward his father's house. Later, when he encounters Sophie, she doesn't turn to face him despite his boisterous attitude. A vignette reveals how she wants to look at him but doesn't, while Eddie also averts his gaze. Although Sophie tries to meet his eyes two pages later, Eddie resists hers.

 

As Chris O’Halloran adorns Steve Pugh's energetic and charismatic art with a lively palette, green creeps into scenes in this out-of-the-way town. Eddie's red suit and flame-like yellow hair seem the hallmark of End Of Life #3. Yellow and red energize the Wrong Dog gas station. Emily wears a red skirt and binds her hair with a yellow-and-red scarf as she drives a green classic car. While Eddie brings new life and interest to Pluto, George represents its failing heart in his pink/lavender shirt.

 

Becca Carey fills white dialogue balloons with black, uppercase letters. The words grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and shrink for lowered voices. Distress deforms balloons, while a starburst adorns the arrow of off-camera dialogue balloons. Sound effects enhance a sitcom homage and a brutal fight, while blue words on a pink/lavender background sign Eddie Stallion's death sentence. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When life doesn't seem to treat you fairly, it's easy to play the victim. Richard Smiley transformed his insecurities and victimhood into a commercial empire. Eddie Stallion channeled the way his father treated him to live the high life in the city. But when the money and success fade away, the beloved cartoonist becomes a predator, and the unlikable, flashy killer becomes a protector in the hitman satire End Of Life #3.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my preview of End Of Life #3.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of End Of Life #2.

 

For how the series began, see my review of End Of Life #1. 

David Lucarelli: Indie Creator Spotlight

 

David Lucarelli moderated a panel on indie comic creators at Wondercon 2026. He encouraged anyone who had a story idea to start telling it. "Comics is a medium you learn by doing," he said. As in any area of life, the more you do it, the better you get. 

Here's the info on his graphic novel The Children's Vampire Hunting Brigade Vol 1:

 

CVHB is a Gothic coming of age adventure that was inspired by the real life incident of the Gorbals vampire and was described by film director Joe Doughrity as Buffy meets S.E.Hinton s The Outsiders."

In 1954 hundreds of school children descended upon a Scottish cemetery looking for a vampire with iron teeth they believed had killed a couple of local kids. Today it is looked upon as an incident of mass hysteria. But what if some of those children found what they were looking for?

Flash forward to today: Gavin and Doug are two juvenile delinquents who have the misfortune to be drinking in that same cemetery the night the vampires come back. "Sometimes the good guys are a couple of bad boys."

 

 

 

When writing your story, he suggested no more than 210 words per page. David also mentioned that pacing was the most difficult aspect of comic writing to master. He suggested breaking down your favorite comic to see how the author wrote it. By reverse engineering the finished comic to the script stage, you'll gain insights into how to create a comic that fans will love.

Here's the info on his Tinsel Town series from Alterna Press:

 

The year is 1915 and beneath the glamorous surface of Tinseltown beats a rotten heart full of corruption, greed, and lies. Abigail Moore's about to dive head-first into all of it. Created by David Lucarelli with art by Henry Ponciano. 

 

 

 

Regardless of the level of success you achieve, or how difficult you initially find it, David said the main thing to keep at it. Keep making the comics you want to create. And above all, keep having fun! 

 

For more on David Lucarelli's work, see:

The Children's Vampire Hunting Brigade Vol 1 at Amazon. 

The Tinseltown series at Alterna Press. 

 

Thanks to Wondercon 2026 and David Lucarelli for sharing this story with us.  

Jay Eaton's Runaway To The Stars

 

Sometimes, home is the last place you want to be. Leaving everything you know behind takes bravery. Still, if you want to find somewhere you feel like you can belong, you have to take those first big steps toward an uncertain future. How will Talita find life among the stars? And who will she meet once she leaves Dirtball behind?

Here's all the info from Iron Circus:  

 

Jay Eaton’s RUNAWAY TO THE STARS Is Now on Kickstarter with Iron Circus

A Sci-FI Slice-of-Life Story Featuring

AI Pirates, Cross-Species Friendships, and Meticulous Worldbuilding

Iron Circus — the premiere publisher of award-winning, critically-acclaimed graphic novels in the American Midwest, which has raised nearly 5 million dollars via crowdfunding — is proud to announce its latest campaign for RUNAWAY TO THE STARS, a hard sci-fi slice-of-life graphic novel from cartoonist Jay Eaton that will immerse readers in a universe at once intriguingly alien and painfully familiar. The main storyline follows Talita, a centaur aerospace engineer and cross-species foster kid, as she befriends a shipwrecked AI pirate named Bip who convinces Talita to help it escape the planet of Dirtball. Focused on communication, accommodation, and everyday life in co-species spaces, the intricate and meticulously built world of RUNAWAY TO THE STARS will travel to readers on this planet via Kickstarter this spring. Head to Kickstarter to support the the campaign.

"This book is the culmination of over a decade of chipping away at a science fiction setting and the interesting people living there, and I'm very excited to finally be able to share this labor of love with the world and introduce everyone to these characters,” said cartoonist Jay Eaton. “It continually delights me how many different people have seen their lives reflected in the fictional struggles and triumphs of Talita and her friends. Whether you're a 3-meter tall alien woman, a GMO catgirl, a sapient quantum computer, or a human being, I think there is something to find of yourself in RUNAWAY TO THE STARS."

Abandoned as an infant on the doorstep of the Nexus Jovia youth foster care facility in a cat carrier, centaur and aerospace engineer Talita has no idea where she came from. She’s spent the vast majority of her life around humans, has very little familiarity with her own species’ cultures, and has always had trouble connecting with anyone — other than sentient AI beings, that is. So when Talita discovers a damaged Centaur spaceship in the Ixion Recycling Plant’s salvage yard with a pirate AI onboard named Bip, she quickly becomes drawn into its plans to escape the planet of Dirtball. But her two human friends, Idrisah and Gillie, aren’t about to let her commit crimes on behalf of a shady AI... not without their help, of course! Because Bip, the pilot of the Runaway, is definitely not telling Talita everything about what happened to the ship's now-deceased centaur crew, or what mission they might have been on. But despite Bip’s suspiciously shady past, the AI is a charmer and quickly gets the team on board to help. Now all they have to do is secretly repair the ship and get all the clearances needed to file a flight plan… Of course, they just can’t get caught doing it.

“This story is for everyone who's ever felt displaced, othered, or unheard — and every reader that loves a good sci-fi story and is intrigued by what secrets a sentient pirate AI might be hiding,” said Iron Circus Publisher C. Spike Trotman. “One of the (many) things that makes RUNAWAY TO THE STARS so great is Jay’s attention to the complexities of communication. We have Gillie, a genetically-modified human who is Deaf, forced to deal with clunky and ineffective tech in her efforts to communicate; Idrisah, a professional xenolinguist who can communicate with double-larynxed alien Avians, but can’t fluently speak in either of her family’s languages; and Talita, whose social anxiety and fear of inconveniencing others gets her taken advantage of, despite her towering height and fearsome appearance. This singular graphic novel is a testament to the fact that our all-too-human faults and anxieties are universal concerns — no matter your point of origin!”

RUNAWAY TO THE STARS’ intricately-built primary story is supplemented with immersive appendices and overflowing with additional context. The campaign will also feature extras such as an exclusive bookplate and a discounted bundle of Iron Circus titles hand-picked by cartoonist Jay Eaton.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

To support the campaign for RUNAWAY TO THE STARS, head to Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ironspike/runaway-to-the-stars?ref=afkj6x 

For updates, follow Iron Circus Comics on X, Facebook, Bluesky, and Instagram.

 

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

 

Absolute Batman #19 Review

 

Absolute Batman #19 Review

Writers: Scott Snyder

Artist: Nick Dragotta

Colorist: Frank Martin

Letterer: Tom Napolitano

Cover Artists: Nick Dragotta & Frank Martin; Liam Sharp; Ben Oliver

1:25 Variant Cover Artist: Ariel Olivetti

Editors: Sabrina Futch, Katie Kubert & Chris Conroy

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: April 15, 2026

 

Bruce Wayne's life is changing. At times, the enormity of the change he's unleashed frightens him. An unexpected conversation with James Gordon helps. Barbara Gordon may not like the man Bruce is becoming. Still, her father's advice influences Bruce's actions when he confronts Poison Ivy. How will Bruce let go of the people and things holding him back? And who will Jack Grimm send next to test Bruce's ability to be the hero Gotham needs him to be? Let’s leap into Absolute Batman #19 and see!

 

Story

While Mayor Hill and GCPD Commissioner Bullock rule Gotham with a heavy hand, Batman is the ghost in their machine. When Hill declares martial law and quarantine zones, Batman slips in to solve the problems that Bullock's police can’t or won’t. So when the public starts looking to the Batman to protect them, municipal leaders focus all their resources on exorcising him. Alfred notices this after a brief time away from Gotham. And he observes how Bruce responds to their challenge by investing more in his role as the city's protector than ever before.

 

After Martha Wayne departs Gotham, Absolute Batman #19 opens far from Bruce's beloved city. Yet what appears far away doesn't stay there. A man with the power to frighten people and crows, and manipulate technology, walks toward Gotham on his bare feet. And he may or may not be wearing a mask.

 

After Scott Snyder opens in a corn field 1,500 miles away from Gotham, Alfred reveals how Bruce has leveled up while observing a high-octane confrontation. But this is Bruce Wayne’s story. So while readers follow Bruce in the present, we also glimpse the memories that still haunt him today.

 

Bruce Wayne trained hard to endure all the pain life can dish out. Yet he has struggled to let go of the people and things that forged his identity. Now, he’s realizing that to serve Gotham’s future, he must sever old connections while forming new associations and updating his working methods. As Mayor Hill, GCPD Commissioner Bullock, and Jack Grimm fear change, Bruce realizes he must evolve to meet his city’s changing demands in Absolute Batman #19. But despite his best efforts, Bruce's ability to continue protecting Gotham is about to grow even more difficult.

 

Art

Rows of corn narrow as they extend toward the horizon. As a harvester delivers corn to a nearby trailer, a thin figure emerges from the wall of stalks. Dressed in brown and with splayed feet that evoke a crow's talons, he smokes a cigarette while regarding the activity with button eyes. As Vern leans toward him, a brown cloud seems to envelop the farmer. Buck coughs as brown fills the air. Then he pulls his phone from his pocket, as Scarecrow regards the ascending crows.

 

While green, brown, and red dominate Nick Gragotta's panel-packed pages, Frank Martin steeps Gotham in gray as a unique vehicle transforms one symbol into another. The vehicle's design draws inspiration from the racing world while embodying Bruce's new lean and mean approach. Yet when he disappears, and later reappears, his coat hangs on his immense body, another reminder that Bruce is trimming down his obligations in Absolute Batman #19.

 

Black uppercase dialogue fills white balloons, while Alfred’s lowercase narration fills gray paper scraps. The letters grow bold for intonation, shrink for lowered voices, and swell for raised voices. Boxes with lightning bolt arrows suggest the authorities’ ability to influence the masses. Tom Napolitano’s sound effects reinforce the Scarecrow’s abilities to control people through fear, innovations that help Batman better reach his goals, and cawing that signals the end of an era. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Jack Grimm has deep roots in Gotham. Perhaps, as Alfred Pennyworth suggests, the Joker has manipulated world events for a very long time. But as Jack Grimm tightens his grip on Gotham, Bruce Wayne must ponder his role in the Joker's schemes in Absolute Batman #19.  

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Absolute Batman #19. 

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Absolute Batman #18. 

End Of Life #3 Preview

 

Pluto used to have a small-town, touristy vibe. Richard Smiley's newspaper strips drew fans to the cartoonist's hometown. When the visitors weren't flocking to the Wrongdog amusement park, they were helping local shops and businesses thrive. Pluto may have gotten quieter since Richard Smiley's fall from grace. But even if the amusement park has closed, the shops and restaurants survive because the locals support each other. 

Visitors may not pour into Emily Wilson's shop to purchase souvenir candles any time soon. Still, things are about to heat up in Pluto. What will Eddie Stallion do when the Menagerie descend on this out-of-the-way town? And how will his father react, when Eddie's presence endangers all the people he cares about?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

End Of Life #3 Preview

Writer: Kyle Starks

Artist: Steve Pugh

Cover Artists: Gerald Parel, Guillem March & David Talaski

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Release Date: April 15, 2026

 

Eddie Stallion is no chicken!

 

Eddie has a Big Cock problem: The chicken-headed Menagerie assassin has found his way to Pluto. Who could’ve given up Eddie’s secret? Or is Big Cock here for another purpose? Whatever the answer is, it’s obviously all Eddie’s fault, and now the whole town is in danger. Oh, and it gets worse. Deep within the confines of the abandoned Wrongdog Park, Richard Smiley is working on a plan to take Eddie down and tighten his criminal grip on the town…

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

Deathstroke: The Terminator #2 Preview

 

 

Slade Wilson argued that his clients didn't respected him. He complained that they weren't paying him what he was worth. He took out his aggression on others while admitting that his enhanced abilities had made him set in his ways. But now he's angry. 

Slade Wilson may not be the World's Greatest Detective. But can he learn to think outside the box to find Wintergreen's killer? And will he learn how to do it quietly?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

Deathstroke: The Terminator #2 Preview

Writer: Tony Fleecs

Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico

Cover Artists: Carmine Di Giandomenico, Dan Panosian, Tyler Kirkham & Guillem March

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Release Date: April 15, 2026

 

Tony Fleecs and Carmine Di Giandomenico take Death’s Fury to the Next Level!

 

Someone’s taken everything from Deathstroke, and hell hath no fury like an assassin scorned! He’s on the road to find a mysterious client, but it won’t be easy. He’s lost his money, his resources, his family, and his best friend and moral compass. What happens when the world’s most terrifying assassin has nothing left to lose?

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.