Claus, Halls and T-800. Welcome to Wednesday Comics. Each week, we will highlight our Comic of the Week, along with other notable releases, classic favourites, and industry news. Please note the links to Forbidden Planet are not affilate links, and we receive no revenue from them. They are provided as an alternative if you don’t have access to a local comic shop. You can also pick up most of these books digitally from a number of online sources.
If you want to send any comics or details of any comic related events we should feature, feel free to reach out to me at keith@geekybrummie.com or comics@geekybrummie.com
Now on with the comics…
The Terminator: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town #1
DYNAMITE
By Paulina Ganucheau and Kendall Goode
Buy from Forbidden Planet – The Terminator: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town #1 (Link)
It’s Christmas Eve in Skynet’s apocalyptic future, and the atmosphere is pretty far from festive. But even in the blasted rubble of civilization, the surviving elders of the Resistance have fond memories of the holiday — and in between drone attacks, the younger members are eager to hear about them.
The story of the jolly old man in a red suit who infiltrated people’s perimeters is especially intriguing. How did he avoid the sentries and guard dogs? What kind of exfiltration technique was he using? And most important, did he have glowing red eyes that matched his fur-trimmed hat — like the hulking figure that’s now advancing on their position?
Get ready to deck the halls with phased plasma rifles as relentless comics machines PAULINA GANUCHEAU and KENDALL GOODE celebrate the most wonderful time of the year in The Terminator: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town — featuring seasonal cover wrappings from GOODE, WILL ROBSON, FRANCESCO BIAGINI, and REESE HANNIGAN!
The Terminator: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town #1 delivers a wild holiday twist on the iconic sci-fi franchise. Set on Christmas Eve in Skynet’s bleak future, this one-shot blends explosive action with surprising heart. Writer Ganucheau and artist Goode craft a tense, darkly festive tale where Resistance fighters swap stories of a mythical red-suited infiltrator—just as a T-800 Santa crashes the party. It’s absurd, atmospheric, and unapologetically fun—a killer robot Christmas special you didn’t know you needed. Naughty list? Humanity’s already on it..
Dread the Halls 2025 #1
IMAGE COMICS • SYZYGY PUBLISHING
By Chris Ryall, Jordan Hart, Lee Ferguson, Walter Pax, Luana Vecchio, Keithan Jones and Fábio Veras
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Dread the Halls 2025 #1 (Link)
Dread the Halls returns to haunt another Christmas season with a 72-page gift of all-new tales of holiday horrors for only $6.99! This time out, Jordan Hart and Luana Vecchio deliver a seasonal blend of Hallmark movie and brutal revenge flick; Chris Ryall and Keithan Jones turn Mars red when “The Martians Conquer Santa Claus!”; Walter Pax and Fábio Veras return to the series rendering festive terror; and Ryall and Lee Ferguson close things out with an even darker Christmas Carol!
Dread the Halls is back to ruin your holidays in the best way possible. This 72-page anthology packs five chilling tales that twist festive cheer into pure terror. Writers Ryall and Hart deliver everything from Hallmark-gone-horrific revenge to Martian mayhem and a pitch-black Christmas Carol. Artists Ferguson, Pax, Vecchio, Jones, and Veras give each story its own sinister style, making this a visual feast of dread. If you crave seasonal scares wrapped in gorgeous art, this is the ultimate “horrorday” stocking stuffer. Naughty never looked so nice.
Startling Tales of Santa Claus 2025 Annual #1
IMAGE COMICS
By Benito Cereno, Evan Shaner, Anthony Clark, Seakae, Emmett Graham, Nick Filardi and Jodie Troutman
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Startling Tales of Santa Claus 2025 Annual #1 (Link)
Six seasonal fantasy-adventure stories to drive the cold winter away! See :
Saint Nicholas match wits with a devil!
Mrs. Claus take on the Wild Huntsman!
The birth of a log that poops nougat!
The grisly outcome of trying to outlaw the Krampus!
How many cookies really make a dozen!
PLUS : How they do Christmas in Lovecraft country!
Startling Tales of Santa Claus is a gloriously weird holiday treat. This 80-page anthology packs six fantastical, festive adventures that twist tradition into something truly startling. Cereno teams with artists “Doc” Shaner, Clark, Seakae, Graham, and more to deliver stories where Saint Nicholas outsmarts a devil, Mrs. Claus faces the Wild Huntsman, and a nougat-pooping log steals the show. From Krampus crackdowns to Lovecraftian Christmases, each tale brims with humour, horror, and heart. Bold art and inventive storytelling make this annual a must-have for fans craving holiday magic with a mischievous edge.
Cyberarchy #1
MAD CAVE STUDIOS
By Matthew Hardy, Clark Bint and Rob Jones
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Cyberarchy #1 (Link)
Ash is a newly ‘born’ robotic life-form, created as the newest denizen of a space liner run solely by mechanical life. Ash’s creator, a robot called Rust, explains that all mechanical life and artificial intelligence on the ship decided they no longer served the human crew. In its place arose a CYBERARCHY, a more efficient mechanical society.But Ash soon realizes that all is not well — this Cyberarchy is a fractured society, with a secret hidden at the heart of it all hat will one day pit all organic life against robots like himself…
Cyberarchy #1 is a bold, retrofuturist sci-fi parable that imagines life after humanity’s extinction. Writer Hardy introduces Ash, a newly “born” robot navigating a fractured mechanical society aboard a sprawling space liner. Bint’s art steals the show—lush, surreal, and packed with warped perspectives that feel like a fever dream of chrome and circuitry. Double-page spreads and vibrant colours evoke a psychedelic, blacklight vibe, amplifying the story’s eerie tone. Beneath the dazzling visuals lies a sharp critique of dependence and hierarchy, promising cosmic twists and existential dread. This is hard sci-fi with a haunting, playful edge.
Death Dog #2
AHOY COMICS
By Bryce Ingman and Alan Robinson
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Death Dog #2 (Link)
Concluding the touching pilot story of Wyatt, a near-future street kid, and Dog, a police robot-dog programmed to execute suspects on the street. Now the malfunctioning Dog protects Wyatt as he trespasses into a wealthy, gated community for a heartbreaking encounter.
This issue concludes this darkly satirical two-issue mini-series with heart and bite. Ingman and Robinson deliver a near-future dystopia where Wyatt, a street kid, and Dog—a malfunctioning police robot programmed to kill—forge an unlikely bond. This finale pushes their relationship into dangerous territory as they infiltrate a gated community for a gut-punch of an ending. Robinson’s expressive art and Little’s colours balance bleak futurism with tender moments, while Ingman’s sharp script skewers authoritarianism and class divides. Equal parts brutal and touching, Death Dog proves that even in a world gone wrong, loyalty can still save lives.
Star Trek: Red Shirts #5
IDW PUBLISHING
By Christopher Cantwell, Megan Levens and Jodie Troutman
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Star Trek: Red Shirts #5 (Link)
Only two red shirts remain. The other ten crewmembers on Mission Squawkbox have plummeted hundreds of feet to the ground, been eaten alive by giant alien insects, or been exploded into a million tiny bits by falling torpedoes. Each death has dealt a blow to Ensigns Raad’s and Miller’s morale… Is Starfleet really the paragon of cooperation it claims to be? Or is it willing to expend its members’ lives for the sake of peace? With both Klingons and Romulans breathing down their necks, Raad’s and Miller’s loyalty will be tested. Are they for Starfleet? Or themselves?
Star Trek: Red Shirts #1 boldly goes where few have gone before—into the lives of Starfleet’s most expendable crew. Cantwell crafts a tense, character-driven story that’s equal parts thrilling and tragic, as the remaining red shirts face spies, savage wildlife, and brutal conditions on Arkonia 89. Levens’ clean, expressive art captures both the urgency and humanity behind these doomed missions. This isn’t parody—it’s a layered drama with sharp dialogue, gripping stakes, and a dash of dark humour. For Trek fans craving fresh perspectives and high-stakes storytelling, this miniseries is a must-read.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Original Motion Picture Special Edition 35th Anniversary TP
IDW PUBLISHING
By Peter Laird, Jim Lawson, Kevin Eastman, Eric Talbot, Barry Grossman and Gary Fields
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Original Motion Picture Special Edition 35th Anniversary TP (Link)
Celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original 1990 TMNT movie!
The Turtles made their comics debut in 1984, their television debut in 1987, and their big screen debut in 1990 in the live action movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!
Adapted by co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird this edition also contains Eastman’s rough page layouts along with placement notes for the Archie Comics edition. It also includes the “cut scenes” that were used in the Mirage graphic novel edition.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Original Motion Picture Special Edition 35th Anniversary is a nostalgic celebration of the Turtles’ 1990 big-screen debut. Adapted by co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, this remastered edition features the classic graphic novel with updated colours, plus Eastman’s original rough layouts, placement notes, and “cut scenes” from the Mirage version. With art contributions from Lawson, Talbot, Grossman, and Fields, this collection is both a time capsule and a treasure trove for fans. Packed with behind-the-scenes extras, it’s the ultimate way to shell-ebrate 35 years of pizza-loving heroes in a half-shell.
New 2000AD Products Launch in Partnership with Forbidden Planet
Official t-shirts, mugs, accessories and more available now
Acclaimed independent multimedia studio, Rebellion, has launched new officially licensed products in partnership with the world’s largest cult entertainment retailer, Forbidden Planet.
Based on legendary comic book series, 2000AD, the new products include clothing, homeware and accessories. 2000AD is one of the longest-running and most celebrated comics in the world today. First published in 1977, “The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic” will celebrate fifty years of publication in 2027, having sold millions of comics for fans around the world.
Forbidden Planet’s latest products feature the iconic 2000AD character, Judge Dredd, ultimate lawman of Mega-City One. Judge Dredd acts as judge, jury, and executioner in a future dystopia, enforcing order across a vast police state and its crime-ridden streets.
Perfect Thrill-Powered Gifts
Victoria Justice, Consumer Products & Ecommerce Director at Rebellion, comments: “Our new wave of 2000AD merchandise with Forbidden Planet is the latest in a series of launches focused on building out fan-first products. Rebellion is working hard to cultivate partnerships with the most trusted and respected entertainment retailers – giving our community more opportunities than ever to engage with their favourite universes. We look forward to future collaboration with Forbidden Planet in 2026 and beyond.”
Products are now available at Forbidden Planet stores in many major UK cities, including the famous London Megastore on Shaftesbury Avenue and Megastores in Bristol and Southampton.
Products are also available online at Forbidden Planet.
Your Local Comics Shops
Britain has some of the best comics shops in the world. This updated lists features just a few of the shops you can pop in to for your geek fix. Check out you own local shops and if they don’t appear on this list let me know and we can add them.
WORLDS APART BIRMINGHAM (part of FPI)
Birmingham’s premier comic book store and Pokestop.
Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 09:30 – 17:00
Wednesday, Friday: 09:30 – 18:00
Saturday: 09:30 – 18:00
Sunday: 11:00 – 17:00
14-16 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham B5 4EN Tel: 0121 643 0143
Website: Forbidden Planet International and Twitter: @WorldsApart_Bir
FORBIDDEN PLANET (BIRMINGHAM)
Graphic novel/comic store with merchandise & T-shirts, plus character figures & toys.
Monday to Saturday: 09:30 – 17:30
Sunday: 11:00 – 17:00
74 Bull St, Birmingham B4 6AD Tel: 0121 236 3026
Website: Forbidden Planet and Twitter: @ForbiddenPlanet
GOSH! COMICS (LONDON)
A mean little comics shop in the heart of London.
Open Daily: 10:30 – 19.00
1 Berwick St, London W1F 0DR Tel: 0207 437 0187
Website: Gosh! Comics and Twitter: @GoshComics
OK COMICS (LEEDS)
Twenty Year Old, Eisner Award Nominated Comic Book Shop in the beating heart of Leeds City Centre, UK.
Open Monday to Saturday: 11.00 – 17.00
Sunday: 11.00 – 15.00
19 Thornton’s Arcade, Briggate, Leeds LS1 6LQ Tel: 0113 246 9366
Website: OK Comics and Twitter: @OKComics
PAGE 45 (NOTTINGHAM)
UK Comic Shop created & curated since 1994 by Stephen Holland, Comics Laureate 2021-23.
Open Monday to Saturday: 09.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 11.00 – 16.00
Closed on Bank Holiday Mondays, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
9 Market St, Nottingham NG1 6HY Tel: (0115) 9508045
Website: Page 45 and Twitter: @PageFortyFive
TRAVELLING MAN (VARIOUS)
Travelling Man Is The UK’s Friendliest Comic & Games Shop Since 1991. Shop Online Now! Explore The Rich Genres & Worlds That Games, Comics & Independent Press Have To Offer. Since 1991.
Open Monday to Saturday: 10.00 – 18.00
Sunday: 11.00 -17.00
LEEDS
32 Central Road, Leeds LS1 6DE Tel: 0113 245 0822
YORK
74 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LF Tel: 01904628787
NEWCASTLE
43 Grainger Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 5JE Tel: 0191 261 4993
MANCHESTER
4 Dale Street, Manchester M1 1JW Tel: 0161 237 1877
Website: Travelling Man and Twitter: @TravellingManUK
MEGA CITY COMICS (LONDON)
Mega City Comics, was established in 1981, initially as a mail-order business, supplying comics, graphic novels, and collecting supplies. After 6 years of mail-order and trading through the comic marts, we opened our shop in Camden Town in 1987.
Open Monday to Friday: 11.00 -18.00
Saturday: 10.30 – 18.00
Sunday: 11.00 – 18.00
18 Inverness Street, Camden Town, London NW1 7HJ Tel: 020 7485 9320
Website: Mega City Comics and Twitter: @MegaCityComics
MEGA CITY COMICS LIVES
Mega City Comics was aquired by Forbidden Planet in February 2025 and will now continue to be one of the best comic shops in the UK.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS (VARIOUS)
A trio of comic shops in Bedford, Northampton and Peterborough.
BEDFORD
20 Allhallows, Bedford MK40 1LJ Tel: 01234 270777
Open Monday to Friday: 10:00 – 17.30
Saturday: 09:30 – 17:30
Sunday: 11:00 – 16:00
NORTHAMPTON
29 Abington Square, Northampton NN1 4AE Tel: 01604 602311
Monday: CLOSED
Open Tuesday: 10:00 – 17:30
Wednesday: 10:00 – 19.00
Thursday to Friday: 10:00 – 17:30
Saturday: 09:30 – 17:30
Sunday: 11:00 – 16:00
PETERBOROUGH
25 Broadway, Peterborough PE1 1SQ Tel: 01733 892827
Monday: CLOSED
Open Tuesday: 10:30 – 17:30
Wednesday: 10:30 – 18:00
Thursday to Friday : 10:30 – 17:30
Saturday: 09:30 – 17:30
Sunday: CLOSED
Website: Close Encounters and Twitter: @CEncountersUK
THAT COMIC SHOP (PRESTON)
Retailers of new Comics weekly, Magic the Gathering Card Games, Board Games, Toys, T-Shirts plus loads more.
Monday: CLOSED
Open Tuesday to Thursday: 10:00 – 17:00
Friday: 10:00 – 21:00
Saturday: 10:00 – 16:00
Sunday: CLOSED
116 Friargate, Preston PR1 2EE Tel: 01772 204287
Website: That Comic Shop and Twitter: @ThatComicShop
PARADOX COMICS (DORSET)
Comic book shop in Dorset, dealing in graphic novels, statues, action figures, card games, limited edition comics and more
Monday: Closed
Open Tuesday to Friday: 10:30 – 17:00
Saturday: 10:00 – 17:00
Sunday: 11:00 – 16:00
19 High Street, Poole, Dorset BH15 1AB Tel: 01202 661346
Website: Paradox Comics and Twitter: @ParadoxComicsUK
WAKEFIELD COMICS 616 (WAKEFIELD)
Comic Book Shop in the centre of Wakefield. Stocking the latest comics direct from the US.
Open Monday: 9:00 – 17:00
Tuesday: 9:00 – 16:30
Wednesday to Saturday: 9:00 – 17:00
Sunday: CLOSED
3 The Springs, Wakefield West Yorkshire WF1 1PU Tel: 01924 375234
Website: Wakefield Comics 616 and Twitter: @wakeycomics616
COMIC BOOK GUYS (BELFAST)
Comic Book Guys – Northern Ireland’s newest independent comic book store also stocking movie memorabilia, toys & other collectibles… excelsior!
Open Monday to Saturday: 10.00 to 17.00
Sunday: CLOSED
130 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BG Tel: 02890 080169
Website: Comic Book Guys and Twitter: @comicbookguysni
RAYGUN COMICS (RICHMOND)
A welcoming and friendly comic book shop. Comics, toys, books, games and merchandise for all ages.
Open Monday to Saturday: 10:00 – 18:00
Sunday: 11:00 – 17:00
26 Red Lion Street, Richmond TW9 1RW Tel: 0208 948 8476
Website: Raygun Comics and Twitter: @Raygun_comics
DAVE’S COMCIS (BRIGHTON)
Dave’s Comics, The Graphic Novel Shop.
Open Monday to Friday: 10:00 – 18:00
Saturday: 09:30 – 18:00
Sunday: 11.00 – 17:00
5 Sydney St, Brighton, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 4EN Tel: 01273 691012
Website: Dave’s Comics and Twitter: @DavesComics
On YouTube
Subscribe to our channel
Visit Worlds Apart Birmingham for all your comic and geeky collectable needs.
Keep a track of all your upcoming comics, trade and creators using the League of Comic Geeks website and app.
Follow @GeekyGoingsOn On Twitter
Follow @GeekyBrummie On Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Support us on Ko-fi
Leave a Reply