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MORGAN HAMPTON RESHAPES THE GREEN LANTERN CORPS

The Comic Source

Morgan Hampton joins Jace at the DC booth during San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to talk about his run on Green Lantern Corps and the character-first approach that has helped him put a new spotlight on Guy Gardner. Morgan explains why Guy’s abrasive personality is really a mask, how digging into the character’s history completely changed the way he feels about writing him, and why he wanted to explore what exists underneath all that attitude. They also dive into the ambitious landscape-format issue, the black-hole concept that allowed Morgan to experiment with space and time on the page, expanding the emotional spectrum and turning its entities into characters rather than abstract concepts, the challenge of juggling Green Lantern Corps’ enormous cast and why the series could be an accessible entry point for new readers discovering the Green Lantern universe.

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00:00 – Morgan Hampton at SDCC 2026
00:30 – Green Lantern Corps Fan Reaction
01:45 – How Morgan Hampton Changed Guy Gardner
02:30 – Morgan’s Personal Connection to Guy
03:30 – “The Asshole Is His Mask”
04:08 – Creating the Landscape-Format Issue
05:35 – Bringing the Emotional Entities to Life
06:18 – Making Green Lantern Corps His Own
06:50 – Building a Book New Green Lantern Fans Can Read
07:18 – Morgan’s Message to Readers

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Comic Source Weekly August 5, 2026 | Spider-Man #1000 Delayed, Queen in Black Takes #1 & Batman Day Locked Down

Amazing Spider-Man #1000 has been delayed after a printer issue pushes Marvel’s landmark issue back two weeks, while DC may have revealed the assassination of Bruce Wayne months ahead of schedule and is threatening consequences for retailers who spoil the secrets of Batman Day. Jace also looks at Baron Karza’s surprise arrival in the Energon Universe, Witchblade’s Image-wide cover takeover, Chachu #1 selling out, new Ghost Machine developments, the return of Ocean and Automatic Kafka, Archie in Hell, The Smart Division’s breakout reception, The Hab’s expanded Director’s Cut, Hello Kitty’s massive 75,000-copy preorder number and the latest development in the Diamond bankruptcy. Then it’s time for What Hit, the Prana Top 10 and last week’s Comic Source picks sweep the Top Four — followed by a huge Final Order Cutoff rundown for August 10.

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0:00 — Hook

0:19 — Intro / This Week’s Comic News

2:24 — Marvel Expands Its Compact Line

3:19 — Amazing Spider-Man #1000 Delayed

4:26 — Did DC Spoil Bruce Wayne’s Assassination?

5:56 — DC Locks Down Batman Day

7:34 — Celebrating Joe Kubert at 100

8:52 — Baron Karza Joins the Energon Universe

10:37 — Witchblade Takes Over Image Covers

11:31 — Chachu #1 Sells Out

12:34 — Tales of Wonder / Jorge Fornés Variants

13:01 — Ghost Machine’s Next Phase

13:40 — Ocean Returns to Print

14:30 — Automatic Kafka Returns

15:14 — Archie in Hell First Look

16:12 — The Smart Division Breaks Out

17:18 — The Hab Gets a Director’s Cut

17:59 — Hello Kitty Hits 75,000 Orders

18:54 — Diamond Bankruptcy Update

21:26 — What Hit 25:57 — Prana Top 10 Bestsellers

32:47 — Final Order Cutoff — August 10

40:46 — Outro

The post Comic Source Weekly August 5, 2026 | Spider-Man #1000 Delayed, Queen in Black Takes #1 & Batman Day Locked Down appeared first on LRMonline.

Robert Kirkman Expands the Energon Universe With ROM, M.A.S.K. & Transformers

The Comic Source

The Energon Universe isn’t slowing down. At San Diego Comic-Con 2026, The Comic Source went inside the Skybound press room for conversations with Robert Kirkman, Void Rivals artist Conor Hughes and Skybound publisher Sean Mackiewicz about ROM, M.A.S.K., Transformers, Void Rivals and just how far Skybound can expand its interconnected universe.

Kirkman reveals how unfamiliar he initially was with ROM and why he went back to study the character’s classic comics before bringing him into the Energon Universe. He discusses the challenge of honoring ROM’s history while creating something new, including his concern that the character’s tarnished and damaged appearance might be interpreted as disrespectful rather than evidence of everything ROM has endured. Hughes explains the visual philosophy behind the design, describing ROM’s damage as scars earned through sacrifice rather than simple deterioration.

Mackiewicz and Kirkman also reveal just how long M.A.S.K. has been part of Skybound’s plans. Matt Trakker appeared in the original Energon Universe pitch to Hasbro, and Mackiewicz reveals that Trakker was originally supposed to appear in Duke from the beginning before that role ultimately went to Clutch. Both conversations tease much bigger connections ahead, including what Kirkman calls some “insane things” beginning with M.A.S.K. #3.

The conversation eventually turns toward the future of the entire universe. Kirkman discusses the Energon Universe animated project in development and says an animated series could be “one of the coolest things ever made.” He also calls 1986’s The Transformers: The Movie the “true north” of Transformers and discusses the possibility that, somewhere far down the road, the Energon Universe could identify where its own version of that story takes place.

And how far can all of this ultimately go? When Mackiewicz is asked whether there’s a lid on the Energon Universe, he says Skybound has built it to tell stories for years to come and gives a simple answer: “We have no limits.”

Recorded at San Diego Comic-Con 2026.

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00:00 – Kirkman Teases the Energon Universe’s Transformers: The Movie
00:12 – Sean Mackiewicz on M.A.S.K., ROM & Expanding Energon
02:40 – How ROM & M.A.S.K. Fit Into the Energon Universe
05:20 – Why Skybound’s Comics Are Connecting With Readers
07:20 – G.I. Joe, Lara Croft & Expanding Beyond Nostalgia
11:25 – Finding New Creators & Building Skybound’s Future
12:15 – Matt Trakker Was Originally Going to Be in Duke
13:25 – M.A.S.K. #3 Has a Surprising Energon Connection
14:35 – Does the Energon Universe Have Any Limits?
15:20 – Robert Kirkman & Conor Hughes Reinvent ROM
19:15 – Kirkman Went to “ROM School”
21:20 – Building ROM & Void Rivals Together
23:40 – M.A.S.K. Was in the Original Energon Universe Pitch
25:45 – Kirkman Takes Over Transformers
27:55 – The Energon Universe Animated Series
29:20 – Could Energon Reach Its Own Transformers: The Movie?

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ROBERT KIRKMAN BUILDS A NEW SUPERHERO UNIVERSE

The Comic Source

Robert Kirkman is building an expansive new superhero universe with Terminal, and at San Diego Comic-Con Jace from The Comic Source sat down in the press room with Kirkman, Andy Kubert, Arthur Adams and David Finch to talk about what makes the series different. Kirkman discusses the influence of ’90s X-Men and the desire to bring that same bold, in-your-face energy back to superhero comics, while creating two opposing factions where readers may not immediately know who the heroes and villains actually are. The conversation explores Kirkman and Joe Casey’s long-term plans for a story designed to dramatically evolve by issues #12, #25 and even #50, Arthur Adams returning to interior work, David Finch tackling a different visual world after Skinbreaker, and Andy Kubert balancing the energy of his classic X-Men work with everything he has learned since. Kirkman also explains why Terminal may be his most collaborative individual comic yet, with Kubert, Adams and Finch contributing character designs, influencing one another’s work and being given the freedom to change pacing, layouts and even expand moments from the script when they see a better visual solution. Plus, Kirkman addresses comparisons to The Walking Dead, why he wants Terminal to become its own thing rather than “the next” anything, and why making the best comic possible will always come before thinking about potential film, television or animation adaptations.

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00:00 Robert Kirkman Wants Terminal to Bring Back ’90s Comic Energy
01:04 What Is Terminal? The ’90s X-Men Inspiration
03:01 Arthur Adams Returns to Interior Comics
04:54 David Finch on Terminal After Skinbreaker
06:12 Who Are the Good Guys in Terminal?
07:56 Kirkman’s Long-Term Plans for Issues 25, 50 & Beyond
09:14 Building Terminal With Multiple Artistic Voices
11:26 Kirkman Calls Terminal His Most Collaborative Comic
12:04 Andy Kubert Recreates the Energy of His X-Men Era
14:50 Is Terminal the Next Walking Dead?
16:05 Why Kirkman Isn’t Designing Terminal for Hollywood
17:28 Giving Artists Freedom to Change the Script
19:12 Cliffhangers, Surprises & Keeping Readers Coming Back
20:04 Kubert, Adams & Finch on Designing Terminal Characters
21:58 David Finch on Drawing His Favorite Artists’ Designs

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Garret Dillahunt: Lanterns May Be the Perfect Green Lantern Adaptation

The Comic Source

Garret Dillahunt joins Jace for a spoiler-free conversation about Lanterns, his mysterious character William Macon, working with Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, and why he believes this take may have found the right tone for Green Lantern in live action. Dillahunt also talks about his lifelong love of comics, Neal Adams’ legendary Green Lantern/Green Arrow work, conversations with Tom King, why Lanterns feels like a classic comic-book limited series, and his love of both practical and modern visual effects. Plus, Garret shares what it was like sneaking onto the San Diego Comic-Con show floor with Kyle Chandler in Stormtrooper helmets. Could Lanterns finally crack Green Lantern in live action? Let me know what you think in the comments.

00:00 – Lanterns & Working With Kyle Chandler

02:31 – Sci-Fi, Comics & Why Lanterns Feels Different

07:29 – William Macon & the Mystery at the Heart of Lanterns

11:03 – Terminator, Practical Effects & the Lanterns Production

15:07 – Comic-Con, Comic Fandom & Sneaking Onto the Show Floor

17:43 – Can Lanterns Finally Crack Green Lantern in Live Action?

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Che Grayson Reinvents Selina Kyle in Absolute Catwoman | SDCC 2026 Interview

The Comic Source

Che Grayson joins Jace from the floor of San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to discuss the breakout reception to Absolute Catwoman and the creative freedom that came with reinventing Selina Kyle without the restrictions of traditional continuity.

Grayson explains the collaborative process with Scott Snyder, how Bengal’s artwork helped establish the book’s slick and cinematic identity, and why every gadget, trap and globetrotting set piece is connected to Selina’s emotional journey. They also discuss Absolute Cassandra Cain, the deeper history connecting the book’s characters and the still-unrevealed “original wound” at the center of Selina’s story.

Che also shares an update on Exquisite Corpses and the upcoming Fox Mask Killer spin-off.

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00:00 Selina’s Original Wound
00:21 Introduction and Dark Spaces: Good Deeds
01:10 The Reception to Absolute Catwoman
02:36 Reinventing Selina Without Continuity
03:25 Working with Scott Snyder
05:46 Building a Character-Driven Globetrotting Story
06:15 Absolute Catwoman Versus Absolute Batman
06:51 Working with Bengal
07:35 Bringing a Cinematic Style to Comics
08:33 Cassandra Cain and More Surprises
09:01 Selina Kyle’s Unrevealed Original Wound
09:38 Exquisite Corpses and Fox Mask Killer
10:19 Final Thoughts

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DC Spotlight August 5, 2026 Verity Immediately Proves Her Worth, Superman Risks Death to Save Metallo & Lucifer Brings Receipts

The Comic Source

Jace and Rocky break down all 10 DC releases for the week of August 5, 2026. In Absolute Superman #22, Superman risks being poisoned by Metallo’s kryptonite blood because he knows reaching Christopher Smith emotionally is the only way to end the fight. In Batman #12, Verity is living up to the Pennyworth name as mention of her training and her quick thinking impresses Bruce and Damian while five highly trained killers each demonstrate their methods in a series of murders. Could their missions be tied to Gotham’s newest threat? In Absolute Green Lantern #17, Jo confronts Mu as the issue adds more fascinating cosmic concepts, but seventeen issues of undefined terminology leave even the central conflict difficult to understand. But the issue does deliver the origin of Absolute Jessica Cruz and a great scene of Tomar-Re being fired like a bullet. In Adventures of Superman: Book of El #11, even though Superman has been reunited with Osul and Otho, the battle is not over. Kal-El is determined to stop Kryl-Ux even while trying to save him from himself and the grief of losing his family that has twisted his soul. In Deadman #3, Deadman travels through Hell to rescue a soul Rama Kushna says does not belong there, only for him to be shocked when Lucifer shows him proof the soul is where it belongs. The devil’s got receipts. In Batgirl #22, Cassandra learns that Victoria was both her childhood friend and rival assassin. Both girls were manipulated by David Cain and Dr. Forget-Me-Not, respectively, in an experiment to build the perfect killer. The resolution for this one feels a little abrupt, but the possibility that Victoria may still be alive hints at more to come for this storyline in the future. In JSA #22, Jim Corrigan refuses to reclaim the Spectre, forcing the Spirit of Vengeance to seek a surprising new host from within the JSA. Kid Eternity fulfills her previously unknown mission to find that host, but turns down the chance to recover her memories and move on to the afterlife so she can remain with the team and continue to make a difference. In Supergirl: Survived #3, Kara’s love for Kal drives her to attempt the impossible, using a Blue Lantern ring to recreate Krypton for both Kal-El and Hal Jordan. It’s an emotionally powerful moment, but the issue takes an unexpected turn when an Elseworlds version of Mister Mxyzptlk arrives, shifting the story away from the hard sci-fi direction it had been building toward. In Gotham Academy: First Year #6, the final issue reveals more about Olive Silverlock, but the predetermined need to position every character for the beginning of Gotham Academy Vol. 1 leaves the story feeling paint-by-numbers. The rushed maneuvering from the end of issue #4 makes the conclusion feel both overstuffed and choppy, while surprisingly little of consequence actually happens. In 100 Bullets: The U.S. of Anger #2, the issue provides so little usable context that neither a new reader nor someone familiar with the original series can clearly explain who the characters are or what is happening. The series does seem to be appropriately named, though, as the anger the issue is steeped in feels all too real. While the story hasn’t come together yet, the simmering anger of the U.S. reflected here feels authentic. They also give a rundown of this week’s collected editions, reprints and facsimile releases. As always, all books are ranked from top to bottom and each host gives a Book of the Week pick.

00:00 — DC Week Overview, SDCC Aftermath & Comic Promotion
17:49 — Absolute Superman #22
35:27 — Deadman #3
43:03 — Absolute Green Lantern #17
57:44 — Supergirl: Survived #3
1:04:19 — Batman #12
1:13:51 — Batgirl #22
1:18:18 — Gotham Academy: First Year #6
1:21:19 — Adventures of Superman: Book of El #11
1:29:23 — 100 Bullets: The U.S. of Anger #2
1:37:20 — JSA #22
1:45:42 — Collected Editions, Reprints & Facsimiles
1:53:17 — Rankings & Books of the Week

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Jeremy Adams Powers Up Aquaman, Rebuilds Green Lantern & Brings Knightfall to Animation

The Comic Source

Jeremy Adams joins Jace at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of some of DC’s biggest characters.

Jeremy discusses giving Kyle Rayner his own throwback-style Green Lantern showcase, the friendship between Kyle and Odyssey, the return of Jade and Major Force, and plans that could completely reshape the Green Lantern corner of the DC Universe.

Then the conversation turns to Aquaman, whose rapidly expanding abilities have made Arthur Curry one of the most powerful—and potentially most dangerous—heroes in DC. Jeremy explains why he has kept increasing Aquaman’s power, how Arthur’s friends are beginning to realize what he can do, and why the readers following the series have become part of a special “Aquaman club.”

Jeremy also previews the upcoming animated adaptation of Batman: Knightfall, including its intense violence, terrifying version of Bane, prominent roles for Azrael and Tim Drake, and the challenge of condensing the enormous original storyline into an 85-minute film.

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00:00 Introduction from San Diego Comic-Con
00:35 Kyle Rayner’s new Green Lantern spotlight
02:15 Jade, Major Force and major Green Lantern changes
02:56 Kyle and Odyssey’s relationship
04:45 Aquaman can’t be stopped
07:15 Why Jeremy keeps increasing Aquaman’s power
09:03 Finding Aquaman’s personality and purpose
10:22 The future of Aquaman and the “Aquaman Club”
11:53 Bringing Batman: Knightfall to animation
13:20 Closing

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Josh Williamson and Hayden Sherman Design the Future of Legion of Super-Heroes

The Comic Source

https://youtu.be/vtp9WzpF9Ag

Josh Williamson and Hayden Sherman sit down with The Comic Source to discuss the return of Legion of Super-Heroes and the enormous creative challenge of rebuilding one of DC’s most beloved properties.

Williamson explains how years of thinking about Legion, a conversation with Mark Waid and the realization that Superboy had become an essential missing element all helped shape his approach. Rather than introducing the entire Legion immediately, the opening issues center on Lightning Lad and allow the team, its relationships and its universe to develop gradually.

Sherman discusses being told that Legion would give him the opportunity to “design the future.” Each planet, civilization and community has its own visual language, architecture and cultural history. The creative team draws from classic Legion runs while also looking toward Frank Miller’s Ronin, 2000 AD, Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, Strontium Dog and Spider-Man 2099 for inspiration.

The conversation also examines the sense of community surrounding Legion, the balance between honoring longtime fans and welcoming new readers, and the importance of hope to the book’s identity.

00:00 Pre-Interview Conversation
00:38 Introduction
01:00 Why Josh Williamson Chose Legion of Super-Heroes
03:52 How Hayden Sherman Joined the Series
06:49 Balancing Legion with Absolute Wonder Woman
06:56 Comics, Community and Lightning Lad
12:38 Building the Legion’s Character Dynamics
14:04 Designing Distinct Worlds and Cultures
16:49 The Science-Fiction and Comic Influences
19:48 Hope at the Heart of Legion
20:19 Preordering and Final Thoughts

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Christopher Cantwell Builds a New Gotham Underworld | Gangs of Gotham, Gotham Central & Lanterns

The Comic Source

Christopher Cantwell joins Jace during San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to discuss an ambitious slate of upcoming work spanning Gotham City, the Green Lantern universe and the final frontier.

Cantwell begins by discussing his role on the second season of Lanterns. A longtime Green Lantern reader who previously wrote Hal Jordan in Challengers of the Unknown, Cantwell describes the project as the television assignment he would have selected for himself and praises the distinctive approach established by the first season.

The conversation then turns to Cantwell’s two-issue Gotham Central story within the Bad Seeds event. Gotham’s police department has been compromised under Commissioner Vandal Savage, leaving Jim Gordon, Espinosa and a small collection of honest officers attempting to solve a murder while carrying out orders issued by the city’s corrupt leadership.

That storyline establishes the foundation for Gangs of Gotham. Anarky is placed in Gotham’s East End and ordered to unify its gangs before the district is bulldozed. Although he continues to consider himself an opponent of corrupt institutions, the promise of influence forces him to confront whether he still believes his own revolutionary rhetoric or has become another person willing to compromise everything for power.

Stephanie Brown is simultaneously operating undercover inside the Street Demons biker gang. She has risen to become the gang’s second-in-command, but Batman is the only member of the Bat-family who knows where she is. Cantwell describes a Steph who remains highly capable but is becoming increasingly isolated and resentful as her messages to Bruce go unanswered.

Cantwell also explains how the series incorporates established characters including Jim Gordon, Arnold Flass, Harvey Bullock, Holly Robinson, Magpie and the Ten-Eyed Man while creating an entire ecosystem of gangs built around food, fuel, shelter, information and protection. Instead of treating the East End as interchangeable scenery, the series examines how abandoned institutions and limited resources force communities to develop their own hierarchies and systems of survival.

The discussion concludes with Cantwell’s upcoming Star Trek series, which examines exploration, colonization and the psychological pressure created when a crew enters genuinely uncharted territory.

00:00 Introduction and Lanterns Season 2
03:47 Gotham Central and the Bad Seeds setup
05:49 How Gangs of Gotham begins
07:13 Stephanie Brown undercover
08:07 Anarky, power and hypocrisy
10:57 Jim Gordon and Gotham’s honest cops
13:49 Building Gotham beyond Batman
15:18 Why Anarky matters now
18:43 Community, survival and found family
21:01 Batman’s absence and Steph’s isolation
23:45 Arnold Flass and Gotham’s corrupt system
25:53 Holly Robinson and the East End
27:17 Cantwell’s new Star Trek series
29:11 Final thoughts and preorder reminder

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