The Deadman #1 Preview

 

The medical staff try to put a brave face on it. Still, the Outer Gotham Rural Hospital is where people come to die. Sure, the doctors and nurses try to imbue hope into hopeless situations. Sadly, there's not much they can do for the patients in "the Hospice Hotel." 

Dr Barrows, Sasha, and Tammy may not be able to offer their charges more than painkillers and kindness. Yet someone walks the halls who can ease them onto the next level of their existence. Who is Boston Brand? And why do they call him The Deadman?

Here's all the info from DC Connect: 

The Deadman #1

Writer: W. Maxwell Prince

Artist & Cover Artist: Martín Morazzo

Variant Cover Artists: Frank Cho & Tula Lotay

1:25 Variant Cover Artist: Mike Choi

Next Level Variant Cover Artist: Hayden Sherman

Foil Variant Cover Artist: Martín Morazzo

Also Available: Blank Sketch Cover

Publisher: DC Comics

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

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Release Date: June 3, 2026

 

 

The All-Star creators of 2025’s hit miniseries Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum 

(and the ongoing horror anthology Ice Cream Man) 

are back at DC Comics to lift your spirits!

 

 

The Deadman enters the Next Level!

 

In the millisecond following his murder, the soul of shifty circus aerialist Boston Brand was commandeered by the goddess Rama Kushna, who deputized the erstwhile performer’s ghost with a sacred spectral assignment: the Custodian of All Souls! Now Brand floats—begrudgingly—through this blue-green purgatory we call Earth, upholding the Laws of Spiritual Math and protecting humanity from evil—even if they can’t see or hear him. Open up to this new era of DC’s most lively deceased superhero—the Deadman—in a story about life, death, and everything in between…replete with paranormal activity, possessions, and a profusion of other poignant peculiarities.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

For more from the creators, see my review of Superman: TheKryptonite Spectrum #1. 

Batgirl #20 Preview

 

 

As she stormed the tower of the Midnight Eye, Batgirl struggled with the imbalance in her life. Cassandra Cain was so used to fighting the two halves of her heritage it blinded her to the blessings both could provide her. But after getting her spirit back, and returning to Gotham, Cassandra realizes that Tenji, Jaya, Wu Lin, and her Bat-family are one. 

Freed from the curse of her Blood powers, she feels more free and whole than ever before. How will Cassandra Cain navigate the ever-changing world of Gotham? And how will Batgirl ensure that her results always exceed her intentions?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

Batgirl #20

Writer: Tate Brombal

Artist: Stephen Segovia

Cover Artist: David Talaski

Variant Cover Artist: Tirso

Publisher: DC Comics

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

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Release Date: June 3, 2026

 

Murder.

Mystery.

Batgirl!

 

 

A murder in Gotham’s streets leads Batgirl to a crime scene with no discernible clues—only the words “Forget-Me-Not.” As the investigation unravels, Cassandra Cain discovers disturbing gaps in her own memory. With no leading suspect to fight and no answers on the streets, she must go inward to find the truth.

 

 

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 Batgirl #19.

For how Cassandra Cain learned to wield her Blood powers, see my review of Batgirl #18. 

For how Cassandra Cain received her Blood powers, see my preview of Batgirl #17. 

 

The Toxic Avenger Comics #9 Preview

 

 

Doctor Planet may have a suit that contains the nuclear furnace raging inside him. Still, his body is slowly rotting away from beta decay. And while he follows acting President Karn's orders, the new superhero and Secretary of Energy feels his conscience erode with each scripted line of dialogue. 

President Karns has suspended the Constitution to give himself extraordinary powers. And while Yvonne and Lydia Flick hide from Karns' police state, Toxie lays battered and beaten in Biohazard Holding. Can anyone help Toxie escape? Or will Karns gain complete control over the US government, before handing over the Earth to the Smogulans?

Here's all the info from Ahoy Comics:

 

THE TOXIC AVENGER COMICS #9 

Writer: Matt Bors 

Artist & Cover Artist: Fred Harper

Publisher: Ahoy Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: June 3, 2026 

Continuing the most intense Toxie epic yet! Framed for the murder of U.S. President Young, the Toxic Avenger is confined under threat of permanent imprisonment in an isolation camp for mutations!

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Toxic Avenger Comics #8.

For how this story arc began, see my review of Toxic Avenger Comics #6. 

Gotham Academy: First Year #4 Review

 

Gotham Academy: First Year #4 Review

Story: Brenden Fletcher, Becky Cloonan & Karl Kerschl

Script: Brenden Fletcher

Artist: Marco Ferrari

Colorist: Eva De La Cruz

Letterer: Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Karl Kerschl

Variant Cover Artist: Marco Ferrari

Editors: Kristy Quinn & Dacy Lim

Publisher: DC Comics,

Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 27, 2026

 

For a few months, Olive Silverlock thought she could have it all. She envisioned a future with Kyle Mizoguchi. His family invited her along on their summer vacation. After her portrayal of Juliet in the school play, Olive was the toast of her drama class. Then Jonathan Crane detonated a bomb at Arkham Asylum.

 

Olive wanted to escape her mom's fate. So, she stopped visiting Sybil Silverlock, and Arkham went up in flames. Can Olive forgive herself for abandoning her mother? And how will she spend the summer in the empty dormitory? Let's leap into Gotham Academy: First Year #4 and see!

 

Story

Gotham Academy has its guardians. Headmaster Hammer still rules its halls. Harriet Cooper still welcomes visitors. But the students and teachers have abandoned the classrooms and dorms, leaving Olive alone with her thoughts and guilt. During the day, she awakens in places and wonders how she got there. And by night, Olive wanders the halls and stairways, while another resident looks on.

 

Olive Silverlock breezed through the classes in her first year at Gotham Academy. Her performance in the school production of Romeo and Juliet made her the belle of the prom. Yet in Gotham Academy: First Year #4, Olive remains the frightened girl who hid beneath the bed when her roommate Lucy arrived in the fall. Her passion for Gothic literature helped Olive fine-tune Mia Mizoguchi's campaign for Castle Crowhold. Yet as the summer passes, and hopes for her mother's miraculous survival dwindle, Olive slips into a trapdoor inside her mind.

 

While Olive’s conscious thoughts often revolve around Kyle Mizoguchi, Tristan Grey observes Olive. When danger threatens her, he rescues her. And in their isolation from other people, Olive escapes the fear that hovers over her like an unceasing storm. Brenden Fletcher reveals Tristan's concern about the girl who helps him feel more like an angel than an outcast. But as the people around Olive look on in concern, no one is more worried about Olive than she is about herself in Gotham Academy: First Year #4.

 

Art

After regarding the stately building from afar, Olive walks through the open doors guarded by glowing candlestands. When she reaches the fireplace, Olive spies Millie Jane ascending the stairs in the mirror. A towering figure, shrouded in darkness, grasps Millie by the neck. Then, as if through the looking glass, Olive looks down at the still girl. The candlestand behind Olive glows, while the candelabra the girl held has gone cold. When Olive picks up the candelabra, the broken candles reform and glow with light, as she retraces Millie's steps. Then a towering figure, shrouded in darkness, grasps Olive by the neck.

 

As Marco Ferrari interweaves dreams with reality, Eva De La Cruz lavishes bright colors on Gotham Academy: First Year #4. Kyle wears a white shirt when Olive awakens from her dream. Olive’s green gown suggests health and links her with Tristan. Along with the vitality of the natural world surrounding the school, blue also symbolizes Olive’s growing relationship with Tristan. Yet yellow, orange, and red signal danger. Flames engulf the school. Fire also threatens Olive when she seeks clues to her mother’s fate. And then, there is the red-and-white medicine in the yellow-orange container that former professor Jonathan Crane gave Olive Silverlock.

 

Sybil’s dark-orange words hover in light-orange clouds. Dialogue appears as black lowercase letters in white balloons and boxes, while Olive recalls Professor Jonathan Crane's words in gray boxes. Olive shares her thoughts in yellow boxes, and Tristan records his observations with handprinted words in white paper scraps. Steve Wands helps readers hear imminent death and the rush of air as a character risks their life to save another. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When sickness leads to isolation, Tristan finds peace and meaning in life, while Olive starts to fall apart. Unlike Tristan, her illness seems more rooted in her mind than her body. Yet unlike Kyle Mizoguchi, both Olive Silverlock and Tristan Grey evince extraordinary abilities in Gotham Academy: First Year #4.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Gotham Academy: First Year #4.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Gotham Academy: First Year #3.

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

Pat Jankiewicz on Creating Indie Comics

 

Pat Jankiewicz on Creating Indie Comics

 

Perhaps you remember his name from Starlog Magazine. Maybe you've seen his byline in Fangoria Magazine. Or perhaps you've read his book, Just When You Thought It Was Safe: A Jaws Companion. Pat Jankiewicz is an experienced writer and journalist. But what does he have to say about creating indie comics?

 

Pat suggests that you find a comic series you like and study what makes it work for you. For Pat, that was writer Al Ewing's Immortal Hulk series. Pat believes that no scene should last more than 2-3 pages. He also suggests ending each scene and issue with a hook. To organize an issue, Pat uses index cards to sort the scenes to determine the best order. And to avoid taxing the reader or consuming too much panel space, Pat limits dialog balloons to 25 words.

 

 

 

While you’ve likely got favorite monsters you’d like to include in a comic series, Pat advises selecting well-known monsters with care. For example, writers will always write zombie stories. Still, readers will inevitably compare any zombie story with Robert Kirkman's Walking Dead series. So, if you’re struggling to create an original monster, try putting a unique twist on a lesser-known species.

 

Finally, Pat Jankiewicz suggests finding a publisher that will do its best to help your book sell. While that may seem obvious, consider his recent experience with Antarctic Press. Pat poured his love of Jaws into his original comic, Cosplayer Versus Shark #1. When Antarctic realized that their original release schedule would conflict with a guaranteed best-seller, they delayed their release to ensure Pat’s pride and joy got its best chance to attract comic buyers.

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Pat Jankiewicz for sharing his experiences, David Lucarelli for organizing the panel, and WonderCon 2026 for sharing this story with us.

 

To attend next year's event, see my post WonderCon 2027 Discounted Badges On Sale Now. 

 

For David Lucarelli's thoughts, see David Lucarelli: Indie Creator Spotlight 

For an artist-turned-writer's thoughts, see Mary Zorilita Bellamy: Indie Creator Spotlight.

To meet a former comic shop owner who also writes comics, see Mike Wellman on Creating Indie Comics  

 

Find Pat's JAWS book at Amazon.  

Find Pat's comic Cosplayer Versus Shark #1 at Antarctic Press (or your local comic shop).

Savage Sword of Conan TP Vol 4 Cover Preview

 

REGULAR EDITION: ALEX HORLEY

Since leaving his native Cimmeria, Conan has lived many lives. He has fought alongside the Aesir against the Vanir. Conan has sold his services as a mercenary, and ventured into temples as a thief. He has battled gods and demons. But now, as he drinks outside a tavern in Shem, a glimpse of a passing stranger awakens memories of the brightest period of his life. 

The woman he saw didn't cause Bélit's death. Yet she pledged her loyalty to them, only to abandon them in a moment of danger, leaving Conan to suffer from an affliction of the soul. Will killing the treacherous thief help Conan heal? And what other adventures will he and Robert E Howard's other heroes embark upon next?

Here's all the info from Titan Comics: 

 

SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN TP VOL 04

Writers: Jim Zub & others

Artists: Roberto De La Torre, Doug Braithwaite, and others

Publisher: Titan Comics & Heroic Signatures

Trade Paperback Length: 214 Pages, Black-and-White

Price: $24.99

Release Date: May 27, 2026 

CONAN RETURNS, UNLEASHED, UNBRIDLED AND UNCENSORED! This fourth volume is sure to satisfy fans of the iconic hero and Robert E. Howard’s fantasy universe with a tie-in to the Scourge of the Serpent mini-series. Comprising the very best comic industry talent, including Conan royalty Jim Zub and fan-favorites Roberto de la Torre and Doug Braithwaite, a myriad of writers and artists create a spectacular array of beautifully illustrated Black and White comic strips and pin-ups, as well as poems, short stories and essays.

 

Here are more cover options:

 

DIRECT MARKET EDITION: LIAM SHARP

 

DIRECT MARKET EDITION: MIKE MIGNOLA

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

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of The Savage Sword of Conan TP Vol 3. 

For how this series started, see my preview of The Savage Sword of Conan Vol 1. 

Harley Quinn #62 Preview

 

Harley Quinn's tearful breakup with Mayor Isley was public news. Yet the story of her painful breakup with Quinntellect remains a dish best served with lasagna. After an abundance of Alpha Energy severed Harley from her sense of humor, she doesn't take danger lightly. People who attack her with blimps and guns must fall before her hunger for justice. But who is the real Harley Quinn? The Batquinn who doesn't inflame the most delightful parts of Althea Klang? Or the Quinntellect who enjoys her freedom from Harley Quinn's carefree wildness?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

Harley Quinn #62

Writer: Elliott Kalan

Artist: Carlos Olivares

Cover Artist: Brandt&stein

Variant Cover Artists: David Nakayama, Guillem March & Derrick Chew

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Issue Length: 32 Pages

Release Date: May 27, 2026

 

 

Don’t touch that remote!

 

 

We got a real special show for you folks this month—you’re gonna love it! I, the one and only true Harley Quinn, will be appearing for one night only on Throatcutter Hill’s premier public-access TV station. Sure, the folks working there don’t know it quite yet—but when I get there, I’m sure they’ll see things my way and air my show! This is a real wacky one—we got so much formal experimentation in here that you’ll be going “Great Tom King’s Ghost!” by the end of the issue!

 

 

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 Harley Quinn #61.

For how this story arc started, see my preview of Harley Quinn #60. 

Record Journey Vol 1 Review

 

Record Journey Vol 1 Review

Writer & Artist: Ryoichiro Kezuka 

Editor: Louis Yamani

Designer: David Colderley

Translator: Jan Mitsuko Cash

Letterer: Skylar Rutan

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: May 26, 2026

 

When her grandfather dies, Mayana Okaya sorts through his home. She's overwhelmed by the job ahead of her. Then help arrives. Koyomi Miyama from Miyama Records wants to survey the record collection. She's impressed by how meticulously Mayana's grandfather cared for his collection. Then they discover a record Koyomi cannot identify.

 

Just as Mayana wonders why her grandfather wrote her name on the sleeve of a 45, Koyomi puzzles over the music it plays. What kind of instruments are on the single? And how might the music reconnect Mayana with her late grandfather? Let's leap into Record Journey Vol 1 and see!

 

Story

Mayana remembers her grandfather as a quiet man who kept to himself. Yet he left his belongings and an album of ethnic music for her. Koyomi is a studious girl who wants to know everything about everything she sells. And unlike Mayana, she works alongside her grandfather, sharing their mutual love of music. So, while Mayana seeks a greater connection with her late grandfather, Koyomi regards learning about the mystery album as another part of her own musical journey.

 

While Mayana and Koyomi pursue answers, Ryoichiro Kezuka transports readers to other times and places. One chapter follows Lana, a waitress in a dining hall. She listens to radio broadcasts each night. But in a country where music and books from other countries are banned, listening is bad enough. Owning an album of music she enjoys could send her to prison.

 

At the heart of Record Journey Vol 1 is Nikki Lanbretta, a young woman who plays music for Radio Seagull. Each time she stops off in port with Wilko, they risk capture. And each time Nikki broadcasts from their ship, they must avoid patrol boats seeking to shut down the pirate radio station. Whenever they make landfall in whatever port accepts them, the DJs head toward record shops on their itinerary. Nikki and Wilko may enjoy a modicum of celebrity. Yet they're not above helping those in need in Record Journey Vol 1.

 

Art

When Koyomi arrives, she finds Mayana surrounded by piles of belongings. Koyomi shows Mayana what she values as she makes stacks on the floor. Time lapses of Koyomi's face surround Mayana as she finds the 45 with her name on it. When they travel to her shop, T-shirts, records, and three-dimensional emblems from famous groups hang over browser boxes filled with records.

 

In a country where owning foreign records is a crime, cabinets filled with music guard a turntable and music magazines. Posters promote foreign films and music groups. While Lana imagines circles emanating from the antenna of a pirate radio ship, the crew of Radio Seagull pushes through storms in their battered vessel, pursued by military vessels. Yet a mop-haired boy band, who can afford to stay in the best hotels, braves the dangers of a street market in Record Journey Vol 1. Their likenesses appear on a poster in Miyama Records and evoke the musicians in an iconic 1960s band.

 

Skylar Rutan fills dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters as music notes float through panels. The letters swell for raised voices and shrink for lowered voices. Character’s thoughts fill boxes, while emotions change balloon shapes. Sound effects heighten tense encounters, raging storms, and help readers hear musicians seeking adventure inside an enclosed motorcycle sidecar. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a physical copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

For some, music is a profession. Others risk their lives to pursue their passions. If they can't afford to purchase instruments, they assemble their own from disparate parts. And when they can't attract a record deal, they make demos to share with their friends. As people pursue their passion for music, share the songs they love, and teach others how to play, they embark on transformative journeys in Record Journey Vol 1.

 

Rating 10/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Record Journey Vol 1. 

    

Spectors Graphic Novel Preview

 

In 1936, a man rolls to a stop before a mansion. As he leaves his car, the people inside the grand Texas Hill Country home assemble. Sitting around a table, they hold hands as their leader reads from an ancient book. But when a spirit appears, one startled participant breaks his connection with those around him. 

With the circle broken, the wraith attacks the man, aging him to a corpse in seconds. Then, the wraith goes after the others who summoned it to this world. Can anyone protect these people dabbling with dangerous spirits? And how might this occult ceremony threaten the world?

Here's all the info from Titan Comics:

SPECTORS

Author: Shannon Eric Denton

Artist: David Hartman

Publisher: Titan Comics

SC, 112 pp, FC, $17.99

ISBN: 9781787745377

On sale: May 26, 2026

 

From the award-winning team of Shannon Eric Denton and David Hartman comes a rip-roaring adventure complete with terrifying monsters, sinister cults, and a team of oddballs out to save the world.

 

Jumping between the 1930s and the modern day, a trio of supernatural investigators band together to stop a cult from resurrecting ancient evils.

 

From the minds of Oscar-nominated Shannon Eric Denton and Emmy-nominated David Hartman comes a chilling story of a decades-long mission that spans generations of monster hunters as they combat the bumps in the night.

 

Armed with a mystical knife and a prosthetic multi-tool-gatling-gun, Reginald and Debby are the only people stopping evil cults from breaking the barrier between realities.

 

However, when they find a lab full of human test subjects, they realize the cults’ experiments date back to the 1930s and that Reginald’s own father was involved.

 

If you’re a fan of supernatural period pieces and cult conspiracies, this is the book for you!

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For more from Shannon Eric Denton and David Hartman, see my preview of Kraken Graphic Novel. 

 

Order it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Forbidden Planet for the UK & Europe.

 

ABOUT TITAN COMICS

 

Titan Comics, a Titan Publishing Group company (which includes Titan Books, Titan Magazines, and Titan Merchandise), is the comic book arm of the Titan Entertainment Group, and its sister company is the pop culture retail chain, Forbidden Planet. Titan Comics offers astounding comics and graphic novels from the world's most outstanding properties, alongside creator-owned comic books from new and world-renowned talent and classic graphic novels remastered for brand-new audiences.

 

Titan Comics publishes a variety of genres through its imprints: Hard Case Crime (world-renowned pulp-crime publishing), Statix Press (critically-acclaimed translated comics and graphic novels), the new Titan Manga (exciting manga and anime-based titles) and Titan Nova (new young readers imprint).

 

For more information, visit https://www.titan-comics.com.

 

ABOUT THE CREATORS

 

Shannon Eric Denton is an award-winning storyteller, director, artist, and writer who has worked on numerous projects for many notable companies such as Marvel Entertainment, Cartoon Network, DC, Image Comics, and many others. He currently runs Monster Forge Productions. Shannon Eric Denton has worked as a director and writer for virtually every animation studio in Hollywood on both Oscar and Emmy-winning material. He was a producer on SyFy's live-action series Con Man starring Alan Tudyk, Nathan Fillion & Shannon's mentor Stan Lee, among others. Shannon is the founder of Monster Forge Productions.

 

David Hartman is a producer, illustrator, and director of shows like Transformers Prime and the film Phantasm Ravager. He is a Spectrum Award-winning artist and Emmy-nominated director, and his artwork adorns numerous comic books, music albums, games, and magazines. He is a frequent artistic collaborator with Rob Zombie and has his own line of horror masks with Trick-Or-Treat Studios.