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. 

Craniacs Vol 1 Preview

 

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 of President Alex 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?

Here's all the info from Titan Comics: 

Craniacs Vol 1 Preview

Writer: Sholly Fisch

Artist & Cover Artist: Joe Simko

Publisher: Titan Comics

Trade Paperback Price: $17.99

Graphic Novel Length: 112 Pages (Full Color)

Release Date: July 21, 2026

 

 

From the collective, creative craniums of Ira Friedman (Ex-Topps) and Joe Simko (Garbage Pail Kids) comes Craniacs, a refreshingly new and totally original comedy/action/adventure that has blasted its way across collectible trading cards and now into comics! In the Craniacs universe of skull-headed folks, two planets collide and force two very different societies – Stone-Aged Retrovia and ultra-futuristic Futerra – to figure out how they’re going to make this new planet-sharing world order work! Innovative high-octane action, wacky physical comedy, and outrageous competitions will be at the heart of every issue, alongside the importance of friendship, fraternity, and family. The graphic novel collects all four issues of the comic book series, exclusive bonus interviews, and artwork!

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us.

For more, see my preview of Craniacs #1. 

 

Craniacs #4 Preview

 

COVER A: JOE SIMKO

 

As Alex sits in his office, directing affairs of state, he discovers that his children have vanished from Futerran sensors. Across the border, Riley hurls clubs at her assistant when she cannot find her son. While the President of Futerra and the Grand Chieftain of Retrovia suspect foul play, their children are having a skulltastic time. Will the adults ruin the children's fun? And will weapons or art determine the future of Futerra and Retrovia? 

Here's all the info from Titan Comics:

 

CRANIACS #4 (OF 4)

Format: Comic book

(W) Sholly Fisch

(A) Joe Simko

Publisher: Titan Comics

FC, 32pp, $4.99, On Sale February 25, 2026

 

DEBUT COMIC BASED ON HIT CRANIACS TRADING CARDS!

 

FROM CO-CREATORS JOE SIMKO (GARBAGE PAIL KIDS), IRA FRIEDMAN (EX-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.

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

COVER B: PEDRO ANDREO

 

COVER C: FLOPS

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us.

Craniacs #2 Review

 

Creators: Ira Friedman & Joe Simko

Writer: Sholly Fisch

Artist: Joe Simko

Colorist: Valentina Bianconi

Letterer: Dave Lentz

Cover Artists: Joe Simko, Kit Wallis & Mark Ellerby

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: November 12, 2025

 

Rocky loves drumming and smashing. Phoebe is an artist and activist. But after winning yet another game of chess by smashing the gameboard, Rocky is bored. So, he accompanies his friend Phoebe to the sight of her next mural.

 

Bo loves competing. His sister Darby, is a thrill seeker. After celebrating Shatterday at Napoleon Bone-Apart Skullastic Middle School, Darby dares Bo to approach the border. What happens when the son and daughter of Futurra’s president venture over the border and get lost? Will the young Retrovian Rocky smash the Futurran foreigners? Or might Phoebe feature them in her upcoming mural? Let’s grab our trading cards, leap into Craniacs #2, and see!

 

Story

When Rocky and Phoebe meet Bo and Darby, everyone hides. But as curiosity overcomes fear, they explore their differences. The kids discover they have similar interests, even if their societies express them in different ways. After a day of playing together, Darby concocts a plan. Rocky will guide her through Retrovia, and Bo will escort Phoebe to Futurra.

 

In Craniacs #2, Darby and Phoebe wear disguises to blend into these different societies. Phoebe discovers that, aside from the technological differences of Futurra, the kids there still enjoy art. Rocky shares his passion for music with Darby. The thrill seeker likes rock music, but the Retrovian concert energizes her like never before. As they discover the differences in their societies, the kids make new friends. And it’s not long before children in each society see Darby and Rocky, and Bo and Phoebe, having fun together, despite Retrovia and Futurra’s proscriptions against intermingling.

 

While Bo and Rocky think of themselves as leaders, Darby instigates the first border incursion. Letting the boys remain in their worlds, she convinces Phoebe to cross the border in disguise. As the girls provide the impetus for exploring other cultures in Sholly Fisch's story, they also inspire other kids to intermingle.

 

While the kids enjoy playing together and exploring each other’s worlds, Rocky’s mother and Bo and Darby’s father eventually notice that their children aren’t following their usual pursuits. Riley and Alex are the leaders of their respective cultures. In Craniacs #2, the Retrovians’ Grand Chieftain and Futurran President Alex wonder what their kids are getting up to.

 

Art

Although the Craniacs’ skin wraps tightly over their skulls, the characters have no trouble expressing their emotions as they discover Retrovians and Futurrans can have fun together. Rocky sports purple skin and carries a club or drumsticks. Phoebe is a blonde with a pink streak in her upturned hair, while a red horizontal stripe crosses her eyes. A blue-and-red racing stripe runs diagonally across Bo's features. Darby wears rollerskates and a helmet.

 

Valentina Bianconi lavishes a beautiful palette of vivid colors on Craniacs #2, while Joe Simko places his engaging characters in eye-catching settings. Vehicles fly through the sky in Futurra, where President Alex strides through the city as a giant hologram. Compared with the Jetsons or the Back to the Future 2 world of Futurra, Retrovia evokes the Disneyland Jungle Cruise. And after rocking out at an open-air concert, no trip to Retrovia would be complete without enjoying a Tiki Tonic in The Shrunken Skull. Operated by a Retrovian boy, the lounge rivals Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room with its enchanting ambiance.

 

Dave Lentz fills white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes with black and colored uppercase letters. The letters turn gray and lowercase for lowered voices, while smaller uppercase letters indicate distant voices. Heightened emotions prompt words to swell and change color, deforming balloons in the process. But despite the hovering skull signs that warn citizens of the dangers of crossing the border, sound effects accompany the joys of exploring other cultures in Craniacs #2. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy. 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

The Retrovians teach their children the joys of nature. The Futurrans share their love of technology with their children. Each culture teaches its children to hate and fear the other. Yet the ancient site that marks the forcible merger of their worlds could help the two societies to form a more amicable bond in Craniacs #2.

 

Rating 9.8/10

Craniacs #2 Preview

 

COVER A: JOE SIMKO

 

When planets collide, they create two vastly different societies. Or at least, that's what the Retrovians and the Futurrans believe. Each side holds their own Shatterday ceremony to commemorate the Big Bash. But what happens when children from each society venture near the border and make first contact? Or should I say, Close Encounters of the Craniac Kind?

Here's all the info from Titan Comics:

 

CRANIACS #2 (OF 4)

Format: Comic book

(W) Sholly Fisch

(A) Joe Simko

FC • 32pp • $4.99

On Sale November 12, 2025

 

FROM CO-CREATORS JOE SIMKO (GARBAGE PAIL KIDS), IRA FRIEDMAN (EX-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.

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

COVER B: KIT WALLIS

 

COVER C: MARC ELLERBY

Not pictured:

COVER D: JOE SIMKO GLOW IN THE DARK ($14.99)

 

 

Thanks to Titan Comics 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.