Comic book news from the past week has been wild, surprising readers with inventive marketing stunts, thrilling new releases, and exciting convention announcements. The headlines buzzed with DC dominating August's graphic novel sales, energizing the industry with a spike in Blind Bag programs. These mystery-packaged comics, where the cover and sometimes story contents are concealed until opened, are selling in huge numbers. The recent Batman #1 Blind Bag caused a stir last week, with some comic shop owners opening and flipping the sealed copies early—a controversy that only fuels future interest. DC will continue this sales strategy in October with DC K.O. #1 Blind Bags, and Marvel is launching Ultimate Endgame #1 Blind Bags for the holidays. IDW is joining too, with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #13 ushering in a new creative team as well as a fresh villain, all wrapped up in the blind-bagged format. But the underdog winner appears to be Mark Spears Monsters from Keenspot, an indie hit with 350,000 preorders for its spin-off—each Trick or Treat Blind Bag will feature some of the comic’s ninety cover variants and rare "Unholy Grail" redemption items. This wave of excitement suggests Blind Bags are here to stay.

On the publishing front, Marvel is set to release a duo of adrenaline-pumping issues on September 10. Hellverine #10 sounds especially chaotic, bringing Hell Hulk to Earth for an apocalyptic clash with Hellverine and Project Hellfire. Mephisto’s machinations drive the demonic showdown, and rumor has it, the fate of the world literally hangs in the balance. The storyline’s intensity is matched by Punisher: Red Band #1, which resurrects Frank Castle with amnesia but a familiar thirst for vengeance. Written by the team behind Hellverine, this new series promises bullets, blood, and wild pulp—plus a collection of variant covers aimed at collectors and fans eager for Marvel’s “Red Band” explicit content. Adding to the buzz, preview pages for Eddie Brock: Carnage #8 tease Eddie losing his grip on Carnage's bloodlust, haunted by dreams and pursued by MUSE, leading to a cross-country nightmare full of carnage and chases.

Elsewhere, collectors and speculators are keeping close tabs on releases and variants coming mid-month, including Marvel DC Deadpool Batman #1, Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #2, Magik #10, and a much-acclaimed Wonder Woman #25 Pumpkin Spicy variant.

Not to be overlooked is the convention scene, kicking off with Los Angeles Comic Con from September 26–28. The show promises an overwhelming anime presence at Akiba Station, immersive gaming arcades, cosplay extravaganzas, and face-to-face moments with a packed roster of voice actors from Demon Slayer, Genshin Impact, One Piece, DBZ, and more. The convention’s broad programming proves comic fandom is as much about community as it is about collecting. Meanwhile, the UK’s DevCon 2025 will also welcome comics and sci-fi enthusiasts for workshops, panels, and media showcases.

In indie news, Image Comics gears up for I Hate Fairyland #45, set to feature Popeye the Sailor Man, which has caused a ripple of anticipation among fans of classic characters meeting modern creators. The speculation markets continue to highlight Escape #1, which sold out at distributors in just days thanks to Rick Remender’s creative muscle.

This week, comic culture balances big-league sales techniques, dark new tales, and fan-focused convention energies—and it’s clear the fun and frenzy of comic books is nowhere near slowing down.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI