If you’ve already read our in-depth feature on Joshua Williamson’s Iron Man, the conversation doesn’t stop there. On this week’s AIPT Comics Podcast, we’re running the full, uncut version of our interview with Williamson, pulled straight from the complete transcript behind the piece. It’s a deeper, looser, and more candid discussion that digs into his rare position straddling both Marvel and DC, why Iron Man was the one Marvel character he couldn’t pass up, and how revisiting Tony Stark’s origin reframed the entire run for him. The written feature is live now—but this is the long-form version for listeners who want every insight, tangent, and behind-the-scenes detail.

NEWS

1. Sal Buscema’s superpower was clarity
2. Marvel teases the end of the Ultimate Universe, and how it may be "Reborn"
   1. Full announcement
3. Supergirl goes global: DC unites 15 countries for a new anthology
4. Invincible takes over Image Comics: Season 4 sparks a multiverse-wide celebration
5. 'Head Lopper' returns: Andrew MacLean gears cult-favorite for a 10-year anniversary relaunch
6. 'Lost Fantasy' ignites a new era as 'Fireborn' launches April 2026
7. ent
8. Image Comics unveils a twisted new obsession as 'In Your Skin' blends Bollywood, body horror, and fame
9. 'Sex Criminals' is coming to Prime Video and it's about to break time (and TV)
10. SCOOP: Oni Press goes all-in at ComicsPRO with Archie, Matt Kindt, and a wave of 2026 exclusives

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Absolute Batman #16 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)
2. Spirit of the Shadows #1 (Nick Cagnetti)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Flash #11 (Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles)
2. Malevolent #1 (Justin Jordan, John Bivens)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Infernal Hulk #3 (Phillip K Johnson, Kev Walker)

Dave: Iron Man #1 (Josh Williamson, Carmen Carnero)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Magik and Colossus #1 (Ashley Allen, German Peralta), The Nice House by the Sea #7 (James Tynion IV, Álvaro Martínez Bueno)
• Dave: DC K.O.: Boss Battle #1 (Various)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Batman #6 (Julian Totino Tedesco Card Stock Cover)
• Alex: Storm: Earths Mightiest Mutant #1 (Dike Ruan variant)

1. You’ve spent years shaping the DC Universe—long runs, big swings, major characters. What did it feel like emotionally and creatively to finally step into a mainline Marvel ongoing like Iron Man, and did that change how you approached the book?
2. Carmen Carnero is bringing this story to life, and her work has such a strong sense of motion, emotion, and intensity. What did you see in her art that made her the right partner for this specific take on Iron Man?
3. Your tagline, “Tony Stark is the most dangerous weapon in the Marvel Universe,” is a loaded one. In your mind, what makes Tony more dangerous than gods, monsters, or cosmic tyrants?
4. The premise echoes Iron Man’s origin in a powerful way—“Tony built Tony in that cave. What if he had to go in again?” How did you think about revisiting that crucible without just retelling the origin story?
5. Madame Masque is positioned as a central force here, orchestrating the kidnapping of geniuses worldwide. She’s also currently making waves elsewhere in Marvel—especially in Venom. What drew you to her for this story, and how do you view her role in the larger Marvel landscape right now?

We’re thrilled to bring you the full, unedited conversation with Gene Luen Yang, the writer currently steering IDW’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles through one of its most emotional and surprising arcs in years.

If you’ve been reading the book, you know the stakes have never been higher. With the shocking reveal of Ujigami’s true identity and the return of Splinter casting a long shadow over the Turtles, Gene joins us to unpack the heart of the story and why this arc is really about family, fear, and the consequences of overprotection.

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon! 

NEWS

1. Marvel just took over OREO with the biggest special-edition drop in cookie history
2. Marvel Solicitations April 2026
   1. Marvel revisits its most divisive event with 'Civil War: Unmasked'
   2. Marvel celebrates 50 years of the Eternals with a new character—and a Fall Out Boy creator
   3. Marvel brings back 'Ultimates' #1–6 just in time for the Ultimate Universe’s explosive finale
   4. Deadpool is taking over April Fool’s Day again—and the Marvel Universe might not survive it
   5. 'Alien: King Killer' drops humanity into its darkest nightmare yet
3. The Future Foundation returns in 'Fantastic Four' #11
4. DC Comics solicitations
   1. DC hands the keys to MAD, and lets Chip Zdarsky roast the entire universe
   2. After 35 years, DC restores the lost Swamp Thing epic fans never thought they’d read
5. Exclusive: Valiant’s April 2026 solicitations signal a bold new era with Valiant Beyond
6. Prime Video orders 'Lore Olympus' adult animated series, from WEBTOON and Jim Henson Company
7. From 'Mafia III' to Image Comics: William Harms unleashes a haunting new apocalypse with 'White Sky'
8. Cobra goes silent: Skybound brings back G.I. Joe’s most iconic storytelling, this time for the villains
9. A Murder in the middle: 'Neighborhood Watch' turns a gated community into a powder keg
10. 'Hello Body Horror' #1 brings the most unsettling stories from BOOM! Studios’ 'Hello Darkness'
11. Exclusive: Dark Horse’s 'Did You Hear About Mimi Green?' turns cancel culture into surreal horro

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Assorted Crisis Events (2025) #8 (Deniz Camp, Eric Zawadzki)
2. X-Men Of Apocalypse (2025) #2 (Jeph Loeb, Simone Di Meo)

Chris:​​

1. Nights #17 (Wyatt Kennedy, Luigi Formisano) 
2. Good As Dead #5 (David and Maria Lapham)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Nights #17 (Wyatt Kennedy, Luigi Formisano) 

Dave: Exquisite Corpses #9 (art by Valentine De Landro with story by Tyler Boss)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Chris: Iron Man #1 (Joshua Williamson, Carmen Carnero)
• Dave: Absolute Wonder Woman #16 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Absolute Martian Manhunter #8 (Eric Canete Variant)
• Chris: Conan the Barbarian #28 (Gerardo Zaffino Main Cover)

1. Issue #13 drops a massive bombshell with Ujigami’s true identity being Splinter. When you decided to make him the force hunting the Turtles’ enemies, what was the emotional core you wanted readers to feel first — shock, tragedy, or inevitability?

2. Ujigami isn’t just a villain; he’s a moral crisis for the Turtles. Was your goal to make this run less about defeating an enemy and more about redefining what justice means for the team?

3. In #14, the brothers split up to protect their former enemies from Splinter. That’s such a powerful reversal of classic TMNT dynamics — what does this say about how the Turtles have grown since their early days of black-and-white morality?

4. You’ve written a lot about identity and duality in your career. How did that background influence your approach to Splinter becoming Ujigami — a mentor turning into something almost mythic and terrifying?

5. Shinigami’s introduction brings in mysticism from the 2012 animated series. What made this moment in your run feel right for folding her into IDW continuity, and how did you retool her to fit the tone of your story?

6. Your first two issues lean hard into supernatural elements — ninja mythology, death spirits, and destiny. Was that a conscious pivot from recent TMNT runs that focused more on politics and street-level crime?

8. You’ve said the Turtles work in any genre. With Ujigami and Shinigami, you’re clearly leaning into horror and dark fantasy — were there specific myths, folktales, or manga influences that shaped this arc?

9. You and Freddie E. Williams II are creating some striking, eerie imagery in these issues. How did your collaboration evolve once you realized this arc would live in such a darker, more mystical space?

10. With Ujigami revealed and Shinigami now in play, it feels like the table has finally been set for the larger story you and Freddie have planned. Without giving anything away, what should readers be emotionally bracing for as this arc unfolds — heartbreak, redemption, or something even more unexpected?

11. If the Turtles had to explain Ujigami to April in the most “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” way possible — full of bad metaphors and half-accurate summaries — which brother would do the worst job, and what would his explanation sound like?

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon! 

NEWS

1. Marvel’s Ultimate Universe is ending — April 2026 solicits hints how the epic two-year experiment goes out
2. Doom vs. Ultron in 2099! Marvel unleashes a villain showdown fans didn’t see coming
   1. First details revealed for Marvel and DC’s ‘Spider-Man/Superman’ crossover out April 2026
   2. April 2026 solicits reveal Marvel’s ‘Road to Armageddon’ for Captain America and Wolverine
   3. Jubilee takes center stage in a powerful new Marvel one-shot celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
   4. X-23 steps out of Wolverine’s shadow as Marvel teases deadly new Weapon X threats
   5. Marvel unveils April’s massive 2026 X-Men lineup as the Shadows of Tomorrow takes shape
   6. Spider-Man becomes Spider-Carnage — Marvel’s 'Death Spiral' ends with a jaw-dropping twist
   7. Marvel previews April 2026 Spider-Man chaos as 'Death Spiral' hits its final chapters
   8. Norman Osborn trains the Spider-Verse in Marvel’s wild new Spider-Man mini
   9. Star Wars brings the original trilogy to Galaxy’s Edge in major new Marvel comic story
3. From 'The Conjuring' to comics, Michael Chaves unleashes a dark fantasy epic with 'Corpse Knight'
4. Ghost Machine opens the vault with a massive official guide to its growing universe in April 2026
5. DC turns the world upside down with Kevin Smith’s bizarre new origin for 'Bizarro: Year None'
6. DC’s Next Level grows again with new ‘Zatanna’ and ‘Firestorm’ series for 2026
7. DC HAD #1 COMIC STORE MARKET SHARE IN Q4 2025

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring #5 (Patrick Horvath)
2. Logan: Black, White & Blood #1 (Various)

Alex:​​

1. Uncanny X-Men #22 (Simone, David Marquez)
2. Sai: Dimensional Rivals #1 (Momoko, Iban Coello, Stan Sakai)b

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex:  Logan: Black, White & Blood (Larry Hama, Dave Wichter)

Dave: DC K.O. #3 and Transformers #28

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Power Fantasy #15 (Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard)
• Dave: Captain America #6 (Chip Zdarsky,  Delio Diaz)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Black Panther: Intergalactic #2 (E.M. Gist Cover) and Witchblade #18 (1:25 Jason Alexander Virgin Cover)
• Alex: Wiccan: Witches' Road #2 (Meghan Hetrick) and I am LEGALLY REQUIRED to also name Travis Moore’s  Nightwing #134

Interview: Jason Aaron - Thundarr - Out Jan 21, 2026 

You’ve called Thundarr the Barbarian a “fundamental component of your DNA as a writer.” What about that world or those characters spoke to you most deeply as a kid — and how has that stayed with you?

This is a property with DNA from comic legends like Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, and Steve Gerber. How do you honor that legacy while still making Thundarr feel like a Jason Aaron story?

You’ve written some of the biggest mythic heroes in comics — Thor, Conan, Avengers. Where does Thundarr fit into that heroic lineage for you?

The original cartoon blended post-apocalyptic sci-fi with sorcery and swordplay in a way that was rare even then. How are you capturing that same balance in the comic — and are you updating it for modern readers in any way?

You’ve said this story will reveal Thundarr’s origin for the first time. What can fans expect from that reveal, and how did you approach filling in a piece of lore that’s been left blank for over 40 years?

You’re collaborating with artist Kewber Baal, who’s got a dynamic and muscular style that fits Thundarr perfectly. What’s the creative chemistry been like between you two so far?

Classic villains like Gemini and Mindok are returning. Did you treat this like a “greatest hits” of Thundarr adversaries, or did you want to expand their mythology too?

Fun/Silly Question: If you had Thundarr’s Sunsword for a day, what’s the first totally irresponsible thing you’d use it for — and what’s the first heroic thing you’d do after? 

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon! 

NEWS

1. Marvel reveals who’s still standing in 'Ultimate Endgame' #5, plus new covers & interior art for issue #2
2. Ryan Stegman reveals he's done with X-Men, save for one last project
3. DC stacks Free Comic Book Day 2026 with Next Level debuts, Sonic crossover, and horror hits
4. Skybound and Hasbro announce Energon Universe Special 2026 for Free Comic Book Day
5. Ram V, Anand Radhakrishnan, and Evan Cagle sign massive global deal for new graphic novel series with Morgen
6. 'Baby Garfield' is here — and it’s the cutest new comic you’ll read all year
7. Exclusive: 'Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees Artist’s Edition' reveal

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Absolute Superman #15 (Jason Aaron, Juan Ferreyra)
2. Marvel: Black, White & Blood and Guts (2025) #4 (Various)

Coplan:​​

1. Ultimate Wolverine #13 (Chris Condon, Domenico Carbone, Bryan Valenza)
2. Absolute Batman: Ark M Special #1 (Scott Snyder, Frank Tieri, Josh Hixson, etc.)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Coplan:  Ultimate Wolverine #13 (Chris Condon, Domenico Carbone, Bryan Valenza) 

Dave: Venom #253 (Al Ewing, Carlos Gomez)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Coplan: Alice Forever After #1 (Dan Panosian, Giorgio Spalletta)
• Dave: Pig Wife (Abbey Luck)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Space Ghost #7 (Michael Cho)
• Coplan: DC K.O. #3 (DWJ Variant)

Let’s dig into our two poll questions. The first was:

Jordan hinted that one moment in Death Spiral has been locked in since the very beginning of planning the event. What are you most excited to see when that moment arrives?

A whopping 40% said they’d like to see a major MJ’s symbiote relationship (30.8% said a big Eddie vs. Carnage throwdown). Given how strongly readers responded to the idea of Mary Jane’s symbiote journey, what was it about pairing MJ with a symbiote that felt essential to Death Spiral, and how early did that relationship start shaping the story?

AIPT: For the second poll, we asked:

Jordan suggests MJ might be shifting from “anti-hero” to something else entirely. What do YOU think her 2026 role will look like?

Over 50% of the answers said they want something they haven’t even guessed yet (second place was a full street-level hero arc with 32%). Might they be on the right track? 

AIPT: Venom #253 is out now (January 7th), and with it’s a whole new ballgame with AIM. Madame Masque is a character not often used, at least in the last decade. Might you have a favorite story she’s kicked butt in?

AIPT: And for our monthly gotcha question: What’s a better TV show, Buddies or Friends?

Onto fan questions:

• Spencer asks: What can you tell us about Torment?
• One more about Torment from Patrick: Was the name of Death Spiral's villain, Torment, inspired by the Todd McFarlane story, or is it a coincidence that the name has a history with Spider-Man?
• Ol’ Monster-Face asks: Last time you got asked about taking the story in a space opera direction… What about a Wild West theme? "Death Spiral" does look like it could set up a classic "The Good The Bad And The Ugly" standoff…
• Barrett asks: With two big Spider / Symbiote events coming up very soon will the main ASM book and Venom books both be tie-ins for the foreseeable future?
• Anonomous asks: Will Dylan and Sleeper be an important role in Death Spiral? They are related to both Eddie and the Venom symbiote after all.
• Murphy asks: Did you look at any prior stories when writing the Rick Jones and Toxin bond? It reminds me of the relationship he had with Genis, especially when he went off the rails.
• Garlador asks: As a repository of host memories, Venom is uniquely aware of many characters current conflicted feelings - Peter, MJ, Eddie, Dylan, Flash, etc. That’s been an off-limits locked box issue with MJ, but can we expect to see Venom share more of prior hosts’ buried feelings with her soon, or is that too messy for now?
• RadiantBlue asks: Which Venom host is your favorite?
• Midnighter82 asks: Symbie, Spider-Man's symbiote companion in his galactic adventure, is he bound to a host or not? 
• Jimmy has a food and calories question: So, what is it like for Mary Jane in her daily life? The symbiote probably weighs at least twice her weight and leaves a bunch of goop all over after fights, so presumably that would be lots more food than she would be used to having.
• Anonomous asks: Its kinda frustrating seeing VENOM everywhere and no Carnage. If you could would you tackle a carnageverse? Besides the Anne Lethal Protector universe, are there worlds where carnage is an anti-hero? 
• Jeduwin asks: As a fan of Eventuality, how much is it kept in mind when you're writing Eddie Brock? Its existence seems like it shifts where Eddie's stories are headed, since all roads lead to the King in Black.
• Another Flash question from Symbiobro: In All-New Venom #10, we got to see a deep dive into both MJ's and the symbiotes relationship with Eddie, but Flash Thompson also played a big role in both these people's lives. Can we expect a similar delve into how he helped shape the symbiote into what it is today?

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon! 

NEWS

1. Marvel’s 'Ultimate Endgame' Blind Bags went from collectible to straight-up lottery ticket
2. Scott Snyder reveals Jonah Hex on the way:
   1. But now to have it be like a load bearing book at DC, or a book that generates excitement and money for them in a way that allows us more creative latitude on other books, the things that it’s engendered for Next Level—I can’t wait for you to see these books. I mean, all of them are really creator forward. They’re real big swings, Lobo and Deathstroke. They’re big over the top epic books. Batwoman, real, real great swing by Greg Rucka and Dani. Zatanna really levels Zatanna up. Firestorm and Shadow of the Bat. I mean, there are just so many good ones. There really are. Legion of Superheroes and Jonah Hex and there’s just a ton coming that we can’t wait for you to see. And they’re all passion projects. And a lot of that is born out of you guys supporting things that are riskier, that are different, that hopefully feel yours. And it’s the best time I’ve ever had in superhero comics. I’m so, so grateful to you guys and so proud of what we’re able to do right now at DC. So first, let me start this end of year thing by just saying thank you.

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Punisher: Red Band #4 (Ben Percy, Julius Ohta)
2. Escape #5 (Rick Remender, Daniel Acuna)

Coplan:​​

1. Ultimate Endgame #1 (Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf)
2. Lost Fantasy #6 (Curt Pires, Maxi Dallo)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Coplan: Ultimate Endgame #1 (Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf)

Dave: Ultimate Endgame #1 (Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Coplan: Toxic Avenger Comics #6 (Matt Bors, Fred Harper)
• Dave: X-Men #23 (Jed MacKay, Tony Daniel)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (Sara Pichelli Variant)
• Coplan: Twilight Zone #3 (James Stokoe Main)

Recently he wrote the theatrical animated short Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Chrome Alone 2 - Lost in New Jersey for Paramount and is currently writing the Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book series for IDW Publishing.

Andrew has dwelled in the sewer for a while now, having been the script & recording coordinator for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and currently working as the script supervisor for its sequel.

1. Andrew’s comics debut

Andrew, Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4 marks your comic-writing debut and kicks off a three-issue arc. What did it feel like to finally see your name on a TMNT comic page after working in animation for so long?

2. Transition from screen to page

You’ve worked as Script Coordinator and Script Manager on Mutant Mayhem and its sequel—what muscles did you have to retrain (or unlearn) when shifting from screenwriting to writing comics?

3. Working with Louie Joyce

Can you talk about collaborating with Louie Joyce on this arc? How did your scripts leave room for visual storytelling, especially with action and emotion?

4. Fugitoid’s debut in Tales

This arc introduces Fugitoid into the Tales of the TMNT universe. What made him the right character to bring into this specific corner of TMNT, and what excites you most about using him in this format?

5. Anti-AI themes and “Chrome Alone 2”

Andrew, you recently wrote the animated short Chrome Alone 2, which has a clear anti-AI message. Without getting into anything off-limits, how important is it for you to sneak big ideas and values into genre storytelling?

6. Franchise stewardship

What’s exciting about Tales of the TMNT specifically as a space for experimentation and tone shifts within the brand?

7. Entry point for new readers

For readers who might be jumping into Tales of the TMNT for the first time, what do you think makes this arc—between your voice, Louie’s art, and Fugitoid’s arrival—a great onboarding point?

8. Fun / silly closer: Last one: If the Turtles were brutally honest, which one would give the worst notes on your script—and why would it definitely be Michelangelo?

Best Single Issue

Dave: Assorted Crisis Events #1 (Deniz Camp, Eric Zawadki)

Alex: The Power Fantasy #13 (Kieron Gillen, Caspar Wijngaard)

Chris: The Voice Said Kill #4 (Si Spurrier, Vanesa R. Del Rey)

Best Graphic Novel

Dave: Drome

Alex: Young Men in Love: New Romance

Chris: Trumpets of Death

Best Writer

Dave: Deniz Camp

Alex: Kieron Gillen

Chris: Zac Thompson 

Best Artist

Dave: Hayden Sherman

Alex: Evan Cagle

Chris: Dani 

Best Series 

Dave: Absolute Batman (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)

Alex: Absolute Wonder Woman (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Mattia De Iulis)

Chris: The Amazing Spider-Man (2025)

Best Anthology

Dave: Monkey Meat: The Summer Batch

Alex: DC Pride 2025

Chris: Hello Darkness

Best Letterer

Dave: Lucas Gattoni

Alex: Adiyta Bidikar

Chris: Clayton Cowles

Best Colors

Dave: Jordie Bellaire

Alex: Javier Rodriguez (Absolute MM)

Chris: Mike Spicer

Best Comics film or TV?

Dave: Thunderbolts

Alex: Marvel Zombies

Chris: Superman

Best Comics Event?

Dave: DC K.O.

Alex: Ugh…. none

Chris: Ultimate Endgame

Best Horror
Dave: Event Horizon: Dark Descent (2025) (Christian Ward, Tristan Jones)

Alex: Exquisite Corpses (Tynion, Walsh)

Chris: Exorcism Island (Jordan Thomas, Chris Matthews)

Wild card options: 

Biggest Stinker

Dave: Revelation

Alex: Every Revelation tie-in (especially Laura Kinney and Iron & Frost)

Chris: I, Tyrant 

Most gruesome death 

Dave: The alien killer in Cruel Universe 2 #2 (Riley Rossmo, David Wielgosz)

Alex: Most of the kills in Predator vs Marvel Universe

Chris: Batman “dies” in DC K.O. 

Best couple

Dave: Gambit and Rogue

Alex: Mister Miracle and Big Barda

Chris: Melvin and June Waring (Ancestral Recall)

Best Reboot/Relaunch

Dave: Punisher: Red Band

Alex: Resurrection Man: Quantum Karma

Chris: Toxic Crusaders

Best Plot Twist

Dave: Batman/Deadpool - Grant Morrison writes themselves into the story

Alex: Etienne dying

Chris: Doom’s Death/Return (In, like, four weeks time)

Most Anticipated Series of Next Year

Dave: Death Spiral

Alex: Mushroom Knight Vol. 3 (Oliver Bly)

Chris: Is Ted OK?

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NEWS

1. Full Marvel Solicits March 2026 (Tuesday!)
   1. Marvel reveals March 2025 covers and solicits as the Ultimate Universe heads toward its Endgame
   2. Jessica Jones returns in Marvel’s darkest, bloodiest 'Alias' story yet
   3. Carnage knows Spider-Man’s secret, and Peter learns Mary Jane is Venom in the March 2026 solicts
   4. Wonder Man heads back to Hollywood, and his past is ready for a comeback of its own
   5. Marvel brings the Sentry home as creator Paul Jenkins returns for a high-stakes new series
2. Marvel goes all-out for 2026 with Comics Giveaway Day, teasing 'Amazing Spider-Man' #1000, & more
3. Marvel turns ‘Daredevil’ #1 into a Blind-Bag gamble with rare variants and secret sketch covers
4. Marvel’s most thunderous art gets the deluxe treatment in a massive new Thor book
5. DC solicits March 2026
   1. 'DC K.O.' was just the warm-up: DC ALL IN goes NEXT LEVEL with Lobo, Batwoman, Deathstroke & More
   2. DC Next Level begins in March 2026 with Wonder War and Superboys Rising
6. Image Comics announces 'Tigress Island' a pulp-fueled fever dream
7. Archie gets a radical relaunch as Oni Press reimagines Riverdale for a new era
8. Tarzan swings back into comics, and he’s older, wiser, and facing pirates who want immortality

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Star Trek: The Last Starship #3 (Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Adrin Bonilla)
2. The Bat-Man: Second Knight #2 (Dan Jurgens, Mike Perkins)

Alex:​​

1. Die: Loaded #2 (Gillen, Hans)
2. Power Fantasy #14 (Gillen, Wijngaard)
3. Honorable Mentions: Author Immortal, 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun, Exquisite Corpses

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Rogue Storm #3 (Murewa Ayodele, Roland Boschi)

Dave: Alien vs. Captain America (2025) #2 (Frank Tieri, Stefano Raffaele)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Absolute Wonder Woman #15 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman) & Event Horizon #4 (Christian Ward, Tristan Jones)
• Dave: The Will of Doom #1 (Chip Zdarsky, Cafu)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Hello Darkness #17 (1:10 Full Art Puebla Cover)
• Alex: DC K.O.: The Joker vs. Red Hood #1 (Dustin Nguyen Variant)

1. Expanding the World

What’s it like contributing to a Tim Burton universe project?

What excited you most about the chance to tell a new story within The Nightmare Before Christmas universe, and how did you approach capturing that distinct mix of spooky and sweet?

2. Character Focus
Sally takes center stage in this series. What aspects of her character did you want to explore or expand on that fans haven’t seen before?

3. The New Creation
Dr. Finkelstein’s latest creation, Shiver, sounds like a charming new addition to Halloween Town. What inspired this character, and what role does Shiver play in the story’s themes?

4. Trick-or-Treat Trio Trouble
Lock, Shock, and Barrel are fan favorites for their chaotic energy. How was it writing for those three troublemakers, especially as they head off to Christmas Town?

5. Visual Collaboration
Edu Menna’s art brings a lot of gothic personality to the book. How did you two work together to strike the balance between Burton-esque atmosphere and the fun of a family-friendly adventure?

6. Tone and Audience
The series is described as “perfect for all ages.” How did you balance writing something that works for longtime fans of the film and younger readers discovering Nightmare Before Christmas for the first time?

7. Franchise Legacy
The Shiver of Christmas Town follows Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: The Graphic Novel. How does this story build on that ongoing relationship between Dynamite and Disney’s Nightmare Before Christmas world?

8. The Magic of Halloween (and Christmas)
Without giving too much away, what do you hope readers take away from this story about the magic—or mischief—of the holiday spirit?

9. Character and Tone Your work often blends grit and introspection—how are you approaching Selina Kyle’s duality as both a thief and protector in your  Catwoman run, and what new sides of her character are you most excited to explore?

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon! 

NEWS

1. 'Superman/Spider-Man' #1 gets full creative team reveal and first cover look
2. Marvel’s X-Men enter a dangerous new era as Shadows of Tomorrow' begins: March 2026 covers & launches revealed
3. Darth Maul returns in a brutal new era, and Marvel’s prequel series reveals his darkest plan yet
4. Marvel’s next huge event is already underway and Wolverine & Captain America hold the keys to ARMAGEDDON
5. Ultimate Universe shocker: Hickman opens up as Marvel debuts ‘Endgame’ preview + 9 never-seen sketch covers
6. DC Vertigo unveils first 2026 trailer—plus exclusive new Covers for March titles
7. The Viltrumites are coming for Battle Beast in a blood-soaked new arc in March 2026
8. Event Horizon is back from hell: Prequel sells out, sequel comic set 200 years later
9. WEBTOON just changed everything for creators: Massive 2026 overhaul announced!
10. Skeletor just leveled up: Masters of the Universe becomes an ongoing series in 2026

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Amazing Spider-Man #17 (Pepe Larraz, Joe Kelly)
2. The End 2099 #1 (Steve Orlando, Ibraim Roberson)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Batman #15 (Scott Snyder, Jock)
2. Our Soot Stained Heart #1 (Joni Hägg, Stipan Morian)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Ultimate Wolverine #12 (Condon, Cappuccio)
Dave: Absolute Batman #15 (Scott Snyder, Jock)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: The Power Fantasy #14 (Gillen, Wijngaard) & DIE: Loaded #2 (Gillen, Hans)
2. Dave: Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #5 (W. Maxwell Prince, Martín Morazzo)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Book of Revelation #3 (Ivan Shavrin but also Fabrizio De Tommaso)
2. Alex: Nightwing #133 (Dustin Nguyen variant)

1. Origin of the Project:
   Last we spoke we talked a bit about The End Times, but now the project sees the revival of Stephen King’s Bachman universe through Bad Hand Books, how’d that come to be?
2. Expanding the Bachman Lore:
   Claudia Inez Bachman has always been a shadowy figure in King’s mythos — how did it feel to help bring her to life as a writerly voice in her own right?
3. Collaboration with Stephen King:
   What was the collaboration process like with King himself? Did you two discuss tone, continuity, or the meta-narrative of Bachman’s legacy?
4. Post-Apocalyptic Themes:
   You’ve described this world as “the world has ended and it’s rebuilding.” What emotional or thematic space did you want to explore in that aftermath, compared to the usual “apocalypse in progress” stories?
5. Social Commentary:
   The project examines misinformation and the role of local journalism — how do those themes mirror our current media landscape, and what kind of response are you hoping to evoke from readers?
6. Physical vs. Digital Experience:
   With both a newspaper edition and a digital version available, what do you hope readers gain from physically holding this story in their hands versus reading it online?
7. Continuing the Bachman Tradition:
   Bachman’s work was often darker and more cynical than King’s mainline fiction. Does The End Times lean into that same spirit of anger and disillusionment?
8. (Fun / Silly Question):If The End Times really were the last surviving newspaper on Earth, what headline would you want your byline to appear under? (“Local Writer Saves Humanity”? “Coffee Shortage Ends Civilization”? 😄)

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon! 

NEWS

1. DC just unlocked 35,000+ comics for millions of new readers
2. Jeff the Land Shark crashes into Hell’s Kitchen, and Daredevil will never be the same
3. Marvel unleashes a new Guardians team, and they’re more Dangerous Than Anything in Space
4. DC RUSHES BACK TO PRESS: 'Absolute Batman' hits 10th printing as 'DC K.O.' tie-ins sell out!
5. Top 50 comics of November

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Fantastic Four #6 (Ryan North, Humberto Ramos)
2. Duck Avenger (Nicolas Pothier, Luc “Batme” Collin) 

Chris:​​

1. The Voice Said Kill #4 (Si Spurrier, Vanesa R. Del Rey)
2. Briar: Night’s Terror #1 (Chris Cantwell, Alex Lins)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: DC K.O.: Superman vs. Captain Atom #1 (Joshua Williamson, Sean Izaakse, Trish Mulvihill, Hi-Fi) 

Dave: Hulk Smash Everything #1 (Ryan North, Vincenzo Carratu)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Chris: Our Soot Stained Heart #1 (Joni Hagg, Stipan Morian)
2. Dave: Absolute Batman #15 (Scott Snyder, Jock)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Absolute Batman #15 (Tyler Kirkham)
2. Chris: It Killed Everyone But Me #4 (Josh Hixson Main Cover)

1. One of my favorite parts of issue #6 is the way Clea bounces off the rest of the team — she’s arrogant, dangerous, hilarious, and weirdly pragmatic. How important is Clea as a tone-setter for this team, and did you always intend for her to have this much presence, or did she just start taking over scenes once you started writing her?
2. In issue #6 you’ve still got Carnage on the board, even though Eddie Brock: Carnage is wrapping up soon. You told me before you basically had to negotiate for every character. How are you keeping Carnage meaningfully involved long-term — not just as shock value, but as an actual team member — without breaking what Charles Soule did with him in his own corner?
3. By issue #6, it feels like New Avengers is fully embracing chaos — you’ve got Bucky trying to lead a team of killers, liars, and literal monsters, while the line between heroism and survival keeps getting blurrier. How much of this book is about what it really means to be an Avenger when the ideals that title stands for just don’t work anymore?
4. We see Iron Apex actively working to bust out more members of the Kiluminati — Lord Britain and Rapunzel — while the team is still trying to figure out how to survive Evil Doctor Strange. How big is the Kiluminati conspiracy compared to what we’ve seen so far? Are we still at the “first wave,” or are you already building toward something closer to a war between their dark Illuminati and Bucky’s crew?
5. Guru Strange in issue #6 is… a lot. He’s powerful, unhinged, and kind of grossly horny in a way that makes him instantly memorable. How did you find the voice for these twisted “duplicates”? Are you treating each Kiluminati member like a dark-mirror riff, or are you building them as full-on new villains with their own agendas beyond “evil version of X”?
6. You’ve already said you wanted these New Avengers to feel like a Fast & Furious family — volatile, high-powered, kind of toxic, but ride-or-die when it counts. At this point in the story, do you see them actually becoming a “family,” or are they only ever going to be a barely-controlled disaster pointed at bigger disasters?
7. The book’s really leaning into sex and intimacy — especially with Black Widow and Winter Soldier in issue #6 — but it doesn’t feel like empty heat. It feels messy and fragile and dangerous. Is Bucky/Nat the emotional core of this book going forward, and how hard are you planning to break them to test that core?
8. Sensitivity coordinator
9. You’ve talked about how continuity on this book is basically “Marvel Universe on steroids,” with characters being borrowed from multiple offices. Now that you’re this deep — Hulk, Carnage, Clea, Bucky, etc. — what’s the biggest creative win from that shared custody? Has any other office (or creator) dropped something in your lap that made you go, “Oh, that just unlocked the next arc”?
10. Leadership in New Avengers feels like a losing battle — what would Cap say about Bucky’s job so far as team leader?
11. Extremely serious journalism question to close: If the New Avengers and the Kiluminati had to compete on a Bravo-style dating show where everyone is forced to live in one mansion and hook up or strategize, who (A) immediately starts sleeping with the enemy, (B) is secretly there just to stab someone, and (C) wins the whole thing without anyone realizing they were playing?

Visit our Patreon page to see the various tiers you can sign up for today to get in on the ground floor of AIPT Patreon. We hope to see you chatting with us on our Discord soon!

NEWS

• Dani Moonstar finally gets her first solo series, and it’s packed with magic, monsters, and a terrifying new foe
• Marvel set to blow up the X-Men status quo and rebuild it into the wildest mutant school ever
• Marvel finally does the impossible: Fantastic Four crash into Planet of the Apes in a crossover 50 years in the making!
• Archie meets Evil Dead?! Riverdale goes full Deadite in the wildest crossover of 2026
• Image/Top Cow resurrects a terrifying Lovecraft classic, but with a twist fans won’t see coming

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

The Infernal Hulk #1 (Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Nic Klein)

Escape #4 (Rick Remender, Daniel Acuna)

Chris:​​

Devil on My Shoulder #1 (Kyle Starks and Piotr Kowalski)

DC K.O. #2 (Joshua Williamson, Javier Ferndandez, Scott Snyder, Xermanico, et al.)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Cemetery Kids Run Rabid #4 (Zac Thompson and Daniel Irizarri)

Dave: Absolute Batman #14 (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

Chris: The Voice Said Kill #4 (Si Spurrier and Vanesa R. Del Rey)

Dave: The Terminator: Santa Claus is Coming to Town #1 (PAULINA GANUCHEAU and KENDALL GOODE)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Dave: Wiccan: Witches' Road #1 (Luciano Vecchio)

Chris: DC K.O.: Superman vs. Captain Atom #1 (Jorge Corona and Sarah Stern)

Interview: Christos Gage Battleworld chat (#3 out this week)

Returning to BattleworldThis is the first time Battleworld has been explored since Secret Wars (2015)—what excited you most about revisiting that concept, and how did you want your version to feel distinct?

From CrossGen to Star Brand, you’re pulling characters and worlds readers haven’t seen in years. How do you balance fan-service deep cuts with making the story accessible to newer readers?

Hank Pym at the CenterIn the first issue, Hank Pym feels like the central character. What drew you to spotlight him, and what does his perspective bring to a chaotic mashup world like this?

The Korvac FactorKorvac looms behind it all—what made him the right choice as the architect (or manipulator) of Battleworld, and how did you approach his voice and menace?

Marcus To’s ArtMarcus To brings a sleek, kinetic energy to the book. What’s your collaboration like—were there moments where his art surprised you or even changed how you wrote a scene?

The “Surprising Costume Reveal”Solicits tease the most surprising costume reveal in 40 years. Without spoiling, how did you approach delivering something that lives up to that kind of hype?

The Larger Marvel TapestryDo you see Battleworld as a self-contained throwback, or does it intentionally connect to current Marvel continuity and the broader multiverse storytelling happening now?

Fun QuestionIf you yourself were thrown onto Battleworld, what obscure Marvel power set or artifact would you grab to survive? Fabian Stankowitz