Concrete, Tags and Phantoms. 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 affiliate 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 for review 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…
Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1
DARK HORSE COMICS
By Paul Chadwick
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1 (Link)
The Eisner, Harvey and Reuben Award-winning Concrete is back with a 5-part story of amnesia, wilderness, and suspense.
Concrete has entered the desert and not come back. Larry and Maureen are frantic. Reports come that he is wandering the nearby arid mountains, covered with blood, attacking people. Concrete, lightning-struck, confused, roams a frightening world he can’t understand. Roars tear across the sky. A strange globe rises. His body is sheathed in stone. He thinks he is being hunted. People are a threat.
His journey back to life, and his friends’ dire search against a looming deadline, is as strange and tense as any Concrete story ever told.
After more than a decade away, Paul Chadwick’s multi-Eisner Award-winning masterpiece returns in a tense, five-part survival thriller.
Concrete: Stars Over Sand #1 finds the iconic, stone-sheathed hero lost in a brutal wilderness. Struck by lightning and rendered completely amnesiac, a disoriented Concrete wanders the arid desert mountains. Covered in blood and gripped by growing paranoia, he perceives everyone as a threat, violently attacking anyone who crosses his path. As strange globes rise in the sky, his frantic friends race against a looming deadline to find him before he slips away forever.
Dog Tag #2
MAD CAVE STUDIOS
By Mark Russell, P. J. Holden, J. P. Jordan and Buddy Beaudoin
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Dog Tag #2 (Link)
Tom joins a “casserole unit” made of the survivors of other units that were destroyed on D-Day. The casserole unit is given the job of confirming that the town of St Lo has been abandoned by the Germans. But not everyone has abandoned the fight.
Following the harrowing fallout of D-Day, Eisner Award-winning writer Mark Russell’s grounded World War II epic continues.
In Dog Tag #2, soldier-journalist Tom Fuller finds himself reassigned to a ragtag “casserole unit”—a squad hastily cobbled together from the traumatized survivors of decimated divisions. Their grim new objective is to enter the battle-scarred town of St. Lô to officially confirm that retreating German forces have abandoned the area. However, as the makeshift unit cautiously advances into the ruins, they quickly discover that not everyone has given up the fight.
If Destruction Be Our Lot #2
IMAGE COMICS
By Matthew Rosenberg, Mark Elijah Rosenberg, Andy MacDonald, Francesco Segala and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Buy from Forbidden Planet – If Destruction Be Our Lot #2 (Link)
After the robot cops finally nab him, animatronic ABE gets hauled to the factory for a little “maintenance.” But if he keeps yapping about humans, there ain’t gonna be enough of him left to fix. They got a whole bag of dirty tricks waitin’ for him — torture, mind-wipin’, and magnets so mean they’ll pull the thoughts right outta your skull. A strange and thunderous tale of the future — dark, mechanical, unforgiving and the sci-fi smash hit of the year.
The relentless, sci-fi thriller continues as a broken, rapidly decaying Earth inches closer to total annihilation.
In If Destruction Be Our Lot #2, the desperate, high-stakes mission to save humanity is thrown into absolute chaos. Following a catastrophic malfunction, the surviving crew members are left stranded, deeply fractured, and violently turning against one another. With paranoia escalating rapidly and the countdown to global collapse ticking away, they face a harrowing choice: put aside their differences, or succumb to the darkness waiting both outside and within.
Star Trek: The Last Starship #8
IDW PUBLISHING
By Jackson Lanzing,Collin Kelly, Hernan Gonzalez, Lee Loughridge and Clayton Cowles
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Star Trek: The Last Starship #8 (Link)
Seeing a solution to the tragedy of the Burn within the singularity on Deep Space Hope, Borg Queen Agnes Jurati leaves the crew of the U.S.S. Omega behind and attempts to assimilate its power. But she’s not alone; Kirk has followed her aboard, determined to ferret out why she and the Borg brought him back to life. Was it to be the galaxy’s savior? Or its demise?
The standoff that follows is one for the ages — resistance is futile, after all… unless you’re Captain James T. Kirk.
IDW’s hit post-Burn survival series plunges deeper into the realm of cosmic horror as the fragile remnants of the Federation fracture completely.
In Star Trek: The Last Starship #8, the crew of the U.S.S. Omega faces total devastation. Seeking a final solution to the galaxy-wide tragedy of the Burn, Borg Queen Agnes Jurati abandons the crew at the psychic singularity of Deep Space Hope to assimilate its unimaginable power. However, a resurrected Captain James T. Kirk has secretly followed her aboard. A legendary standoff begins as Kirk desperately tries to uncover why the Borg brought him back to life—to be the galaxy’s ultimate savior, or its final demise.
The Phantom vs. the Red Dragons #1
MAD CAVE STUDIOS
By Ray Fawkes, Lynne Yoshii, Juancho Vélez and Taylor Esposito
Buy from Forbidden Planet – The Phantom vs. the Red Dragons #1 (Link)
THE PHANTOM MUST DIE!
But how do you kill a Ghost? The Red Dragons are gonna try—and anyone who gets in the way is just collateral damage! When someone in The Phantom’s familiar cowl starts sinking the Dragons’ pirate operations, Princess Sin goes on the warpath. The South China Sea belongs to the Red Dragons—and they’re not afraid of one man in a mask. Not yet. Another thrilling installment in Ray Fawkes’ action-packed adventure with guest artist Lynne Yoshii!
The high-seas pulp action intensifies as Mad Cave Studios brings Lee Falk’s classic, masked hero face-to-face with one of his most ruthless, legacy adversaries.
In The Phantom vs. the Red Dragons One-Shot, the Ghost Who Walks declares absolute war on maritime piracy. When a mysterious vigilante in a familiar purple cowl begins systematically dismantling the Red Dragons’ illegal operations, the cold-blooded Princess Sin goes on a brutal warpath. Ruling the South China Sea with an iron fist, she intends to prove her fleet isn’t afraid of a myth—vowing to kill the Ghost once and for all.
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
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