AIPT Comics

Steve Orlando is one of the busiest writers in comics right now, and this week on the AIPT Comics Podcast, we’re running our full, uncut conversation with him. Earlier this week, we published a written feature focused on his Scarlet Witch run, but this episode expands far beyond that, covering everything from Deadweight with Bobby Lee to Valiant Beyond: X-O Manowar, DC x AEW, his chance to judge on Dragula Titans season 2, Tarzan Beyond, X-Men Infinity, and even a teased return to Midnighter!

If you wanted the complete Orlando download, this is it.

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

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Alex:​​

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Sorcerer Supreme #3 (Bernard Chang, Ruth Redmond)

Dave: Hulk Smash Everything #3 (Ryan North, Vincenzo Carratu)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

Interview: Steve Orlando

Deadweight (GUNGNIR Publishing) (with Bobby Lee & Matthew Medney)

Valiant Beyond: X-O Manowar (out Feb 18)

Good Bones

Dragula (with Todd McFarlane)

DC AEW

Scarlet Witch

Additional General Questions

It’s one of the biggest news weeks of the year as ComicsPRO explodes with announcements, reveals, and long-term publishing plans from every major publisher in the industry. We’re breaking it all down in a super-sized news segment that covers the headlines shaping 2026 and beyond.

Marvel dropped its May 2026 solicitations, teased the beginning of the end in Avengers: Armageddon, confirmed Hulk War for 2027, revealed Infernal Hulk vs. the X-Men, and somehow still found time for Knull vs. Hela, a Spider-Man and Iron Man team-up, and Doctor Doom taking over OREO. Yes, really.

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

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

Alex:​​

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Uncanny X-Men #24 (Gail Simone, David Marquez)

Dave: Ultimate Spider-Man #24 (March Checchetto, Hickman)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

This week on the AIPT Comics Podcast, we’re running the full, uncut version of our interview with Kelly, presented exactly as it happened. No segmentation. No topic breaks. Just the entire deep-dive in one sitting.

While the written 7-part series is still ongoing and will continue rolling out over the next two weeks, this episode gives listeners the complete conversation in its original flow. Kelly opens up about the emotional thesis behind his run, building new villains like Plague RX and Kintsugi, pushing Spider-Man into cosmic territory, and how Death Spiral directly sets the stage for Amazing Spider-Man #1000.

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. Cyclops’ team breaks, Storm’s daughter arrives, and Wolverine pays the price in Marvel’s May X-Men reveals
2. Knull and Mary Jane's Venom get new costumes in May and June 2026
3. Abrams ComicArts reveals wide-ranging Fall 2026 lineup spanning history, Marvel, manga, and classics
4. Secret origin of G.I. Joe Risk gets 3-issue arc starting in May 2026
5. DC announces ‘You’re A Superhero!’ lifting up heroes in everyday life
6. DC crowns Supergirl the star of Superman Day with 'Summer of Supergirl' publishing push
7. IDW launches new crime imprint with 3 titles: Seven Wives, Killer Influences, and Fixation

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Marc Spector: Moon Knight #1 (Jed MacKay, Devmalya Pramanik)
2. Absolute Wonder Woman Annual #1 (Kelly Thompson, Mattia de Iulis)

Chris:​​

1. Cyclops #1 (Alex Paknadel, Roge Antonio)
2. Jar Jar #1 (Ahmed Best, Marc Guggenheim, Kieron McKeown, and Laura Braga)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: A Star Called The Sun (Simon Roy)

Dave: Wade Wilson: Deadpool #1 (Ben Percy, Geoff Shaw)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Chris: The Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre #1 (Fred Kennedy, James Edward Clark)
• Dave: Absolute Batman #17 (Scott Snyder, Eric Canete)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: The Amazing Spider-Man #22 (Lee Bermejo Amazing Visions Virgin Cover)
• Chris: It’s Jeff Meets Daredevil #1 (Nic Klein Variant)

1. Across every arc—hallucinations, Hellgate, the clone/mantle complications, and the cosmic crew—you keep returning to identity: who Peter is, who wears the mask, and what Spider-Man means to other people. Was that always the core of your plan, or did the run’s central theme reveal itself as you built each storyline?
2. A big throughline in your early issues is Peter’s youth trauma—middle school rebellion, underage drinking, that “ghost/orphan” feeling. What made you want to excavate that specific era of Peter, and what do you feel it reveals about adult Peter that we don’t always get to see?
3. You’ve got a great handle on Peter’s voice—the anxious humor, the scramble-thinking, the moral compass. What’s your “non-negotiable” for Spider-Man dialogue, especially when he’s scared or outmatched?
4. New villains have to feel dangerous fast. With Plague RX, you paired him with Tombstone and used him to escalate the sense that Peter’s absence is creating openings all over NYC. What is Plague RX’s core concept—what does he represent in the ecosystem of this run?
5. Without spoiling, where does Kintsugi fit into your larger thematic engine? The word implies brokenness repaired into something stronger—how consciously are you using that idea as a lens for Peter (and the other “Spider-Men” threads) in this era?
6. Looking ahead: Death Spiral is looming. From your perspective, what is Spider-Man’s emotional “pressure point” heading into that event—what fear or flaw does the event squeeze that readers might not expect?
7. With the upcoming Death Spiral event on the horizon, a lot of your current themes—identity fractures, moral erosion, escalation—feel like they’re converging.
8. How does Death Spiral build on what you’ve been laying down in Amazing Spider-Man, and what should readers emotionally brace for?
9.  We recently lost Sal Buscema, whose work helped define Spider-Man’s physicality, emotion, and readability for generations.
10. As someone contributing to Spidey’s evolving legacy, what does Sal Buscema’s influence mean to you—either directly or indirectly—as a Spider-Man storyteller?

Angélique Roché’s upcoming graphic novel First Freedom arrives February 10 and tells the powerful story of Dr. Opal Lee and the decades-long fight to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday. Ahead of our full written feature next week, we’re sharing something special.

It’s a candid, wide-ranging conversation that explores the creative and emotional core of First Freedom, offering early insight into the themes, challenges, and storytelling choices behind one of the year’s most meaningful graphic novels.

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. 'Spider-Man/Superman' #1 expands with shock creative reveals and legendary backup stories
2. New 10-part 'Doomquest' announced with Dr. Doom reshaping history
3. Marvel just revealed Doom’s ultimate weapon — and it sparks Armageddon in May 2026
4. Spider-Man teams with celebrity chef José Andrés in Marvel’s wildest food-fueled crossover yet
5. DC launches massive Absolute Universe reprint wave as demand continues to surge
6. Kelly Thompson reveals Absolute Suicide Squad designs and new villain details
7. Dynamite releases 'ThunderCats X SilverHawks' checklist and character designs
8. Oni Press levels up with major Penguin Random House deal ahead of big 2026 launches
9. Jason Pearson’s legendary 'Body Bags' returns in massive Artist’s Edition fans won’t want to miss

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Uncanny X-Men (2024) #23 (Gail Simone, David Marquez)
2. The Nice House by the Sea (2024) #7 (James Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno)

Chris:​​

1. Knight City #1 (Matt Kindt, David Lapham)
2. Thundarr the Barbarian #1 (Jason Aaron, Kewber Baal)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Chris: Knight City #1 (Matt Kindt, David Lapham) EMAILED!

Dave: Wolverine #15 (Saladin Ahmed, Mike Henderson)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Chris: Jar Jar #1 (For Real)
• Dave: Barbarian Behind Bars #1 (Elliott Kalan  Andrea Mutti)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Black Cat #7 (Adam Hughes Virgin Cover)
• Chris: Marc Spector: Moon Knight #1 (Baldemar Rivas Variant)

Interview: Angelique Roche Interview (First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth out February 10

1. This is the first-ever graphic novel dedicated to the history and origin of Juneteenth. When you first realized the scope of that responsibility, what felt most important to get right from the very beginning?
2. You’ve spent years helping elevate underrepresented voices through Marvel’s Voices—both the podcast and the comics—creating space for creators to tell stories that might otherwise be sidelined. How did that experience inform the way you approached First Freedom, especially when it came to deciding whose voices and perspectives needed to be centered?
3. The book spans nearly 160 years of history, yet remains deeply personal. How did you decide when to zoom out to the larger historical context and when to stay tightly focused on Dr. Opal Lee’s lived experience?
4. There are moments in First Freedom where the art (Alvin Epps, Bex Glendining, and Millicent Monroe) carries the emotional weight as much as the words. Was there a scene where seeing the visuals for the first time changed or deepened how you felt about the story? P.S. I loved how your team used the mirror in the opening scene.
5. You worked directly with Dr. Opal Lee and her granddaughter, Dione Sims, including extensive in-person interviews. What surprised you most about Dr. Lee once you spent real time with her beyond the public image?
6. This book arrives during Black History Month and as part of a yearlong celebration of Dr. Lee’s 100th year—but it also makes clear that the fight for freedom and recognition is ongoing. What do you hope readers, especially younger readers, take away from that tension?
7. You’ve said this book is about much more than Juneteenth as a holiday—it’s about everyday acts of activism and becoming, as you put it, a “committee of one.” How do you hope this story reframes what activism can look like?
8. As a journalist, producer, and author, you’ve told many real-world stories across different media. What did the graphic novel format allow you to do emotionally or narratively that other formats wouldn’t?

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?