Deviations, Rockets and Operas. 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 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…
Star Trek Deviations: Threads of Destiny #1
IDW PUBLISHING
By Stephanie Williams, Greg Maldonado, Anthony Fowler Jr., Charlie Kirchoff and Jodie Troutman
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Star Trek Deviations: Threads of Destiny #1 (Link)
This special one-shot features Lieutenant Nyota Uhura. In the 23rd century, she explores far-flung star systems with her crew on the Enterprise as part of her mission to communicate and build bridges with life found across the Galaxy. But in the 20th century, humankind was working to build understanding among themselves, with African Americans on Earth championing the Civil Rights Movement and using their voices and acts of protest to end racial segregation and discrimination.
Now, by way of the Guardian of Forever, Uhura is yanked back through time to 1963. There, she’ll join all those fighting for equality and justice and reconnect to why her work as a communications officer is perhaps the most important work of all.
Star Trek Deviations: Threads of Destiny #1 is a compelling addition to IDW’s consistently strong Star Trek lineup, offering an emotionally resonant alternate-history tale centered on Lieutenant Uhura. This latest Deviations issue delivers a narrative that bridges the 23rd century and 1963 America, sending Uhura through the Guardian of Forever into the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. The issue honours Nichelle Nichols’ legacy while expanding IDW’s tradition of thoughtful, character-driven Trek stories. With its timely themes and classic spirit, this one‑shot stands out as a powerful and ambitious entry.
Universal Monsters: Phantom of the Opera #1
IMAGE COMICS · SKYBOUND
By Tyler Boss, Martin Simmonds and Becca Carey
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Universal Monsters: Phantom of the Opera #1 (Link)
THE HORRIFYING NEW VISION OF THE STORY YOU ONLY THINK YOU KNOW!
After a series of violent crimes wracks the Paris Opera House, Christine Dubois’s career is in chaos. But the show must go on, and Christine will discover that no one — especially the mysterious voice whispering from the eaves — is what they seem.
As an old friend returns to investigate these surprising attacks, Christine will find out there’s no escaping… THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.
The superstar team of Tyler Boss (You’ll Do Bad Things) and Martin Simmonds (Department of Truth) present the shocking new horror series of 2026 that will thrill Phantom of the Opera fans new and old with a twist no one will see coming!
Universal Monsters: Phantom of the Opera #1 continues Image’s revitalized horror line with a stylish, atmospheric debut. Simmonds, fresh off his acclaimed Universal Monsters: Dracula work, brings a haunting visual elegance perfectly suited to this ghostly tale. Boss crafts a tense narrative as Christine Dubois confronts violent mysteries within the Paris Opera House, deepening the line’s tradition of smart, character‑driven reinterpretations of Universal’s iconic monsters. With its operatic dread, sharp storytelling, and connective tissue to previous Universal Monsters books, this first issue promises a gripping, modern gothic experience.
The Rocketeer: The Island #1
IDW PUBLISHING
By Dave Stevens, John Layman, Jacob Edgar and Kike J. Díaz
Buy from Forbidden Planet – The Rocketeer: The Island #1 (Link)
The Rocketeer returns to save Amelia Earhart in a brand-new story by creator Dave Stevens!
The year is 1938, and Cliff Secord (A.K.A. the Rocketeer) is recruited to lead a search and rescue mission. The mission? Find Amelia Earhart! Considering a year has passed since the famous pilot went missing, the Rocketeer is hesitant at first — that is, until he learns the expedition is to the same island Betty ran off to with the scummy photographer Marco! The Rocketeer will have to uncover the secret of the century’s greatest mystery while trying to win back his girlfriend. But what else awaits him on the island?
Beloved writer John Layman (Chew, Titans) and artistic powerhouse Jacob Edgar (Plastic Man: No More, The Ones) team up to tell the wildest Rocketeer story ever, based on a never-published outline by Rocketeer creator Dave Stevens!
The Rocketeer: The Island #1 launches a thrilling new adventure drawn from an unused Dave Stevens outline, which captures the retro charm and rocket‑fueled excitement of the classic series. Set in 1938, Cliff Secord’s rescue mission to find Amelia Earhart leads him to a mysterious island filled with danger, secrets, and personal stakes—including Betty’s unexpected connection to the locale. This debut issue promises high‑flying pulp action, vibrant art, and a heartfelt tribute to Stevens’ legacy, making it an essential read for long‑time fans and newcomers alike.
Void Rivals #27
IMAGE COMICS · SKYBOUND
By Robert Kirkman, Andrei Bressan, Patricio Delpeche and Rus Wooton
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Void Rivals #27 (Link)
THE QUINTESSON WAR CONTINUES! The Quintessons gain the upper hand in the brutal war being waged on the Sacred Ring… but could Pythona, of all people, hold the key to victory?
Void Rivals #27 escalates the stakes of the Quintesson War, delivering another tense, universe‑shifting chapter in this six-part story. As the Quintessons seize the upper hand on the Sacred Ring, this issue teases a surprising potential savior in Pythona, whose role may alter the course of battle. Fans of the Energon Universe will find this installment both pivotal and exhilarating as tensions reach a breaking point.
Godzilla: Rulers of Earth – IDW Classic Collection TP
IDW PUBLISHING
By Chris Mowry, Matt Frank, Jeff Zornow, Shawn Lee, Priscilla Tramontano, Mostafa Moussa, Ronda Pattison and Tom B. Long
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Godzilla: Rulers of Earth – IDW Classic Collection TP (Link)
For the first time ever, read all 25 issues of the fan-favorite series in one volume, presented in a convenient pocket sized (6 x 9) edition!
Giant monsters are appearing across the globe and leaving complete devastation in their wake. But, a mysterious Russian industrialist offers to rid the world of them with his new Mechagodzilla units. Will the new fleet of weaponized robots be enough to stop Godzilla when he returns? Will Godzilla be able to battle the newly created Mecha-King Ghidorah? It’s a war of the machines with Godzilla caught in the middle.
Bursting with almost 600 pages of kaiju action, this edition is a great way to read the entire epic series!
Godzilla: Rulers of Earth – IDW Classic Collection arrives as the definitive way to experience the longest‑running Godzilla comic saga, now gathered into a single, compact 6″×9″ trade paperback bursting with kaiju spectacle. This pocket‑sized edition offers surprising heft thanks to its 592‑page count, ensuring that every city‑crushing battle, every splash‑page roar, and every mech‑enhanced showdown is preserved in a format that’s both portable and richly satisfying. Chris Mowry’s narrative—brought ferociously to life by artists Matt Frank, Jeff Zornow, Priscilla Tramontano, Mostafa Moussa, Ronda Pattison, Shawn Lee, and Tom B. Long—remains one of IDW’s most ambitious monster epics, balancing widescale destruction with a genuine sense of global stakes.
Across its nearly six hundred pages, this collection unleashes the full might of Godzilla’s world: political tension, escalating kaiju threats, and an arms race culminating in Mechagodzilla and Mecha‑King Ghidorah entering the fray. The Classic Collection format enhances the reading experience—offering a sturdy, bookshelf‑worthy volume that remains comfortable to handle despite its size—while showcasing the artists’ dynamic creature designs with clarity. Fans of giant monster warfare or newcomers seeking the most accessible entry point into modern Godzilla comics will find this compilation both comprehensive and thrilling, a celebration of IDW’s dedication to kaiju storytelling on a scale worthy of the King himself.
2000AD is coming back to America — and this time, it’s weekly!
Never before have American readers been able to enjoy a weekly hit of 2000AD Thrill-power, but now thanks to a partnership between publishers Rebellion and Lunar Distribution, 2000AD will arrive in US comic book stores every week — and just two weeks after the UK on-sale date!
The team behind the landmark weekly sci-fi anthology announced this week at ComicsPro that The Galaxy’s Greatest Comic will return to American shelves this May on a weekly schedule via Lunar. Copies will be printed and distributed within the USA for the first time in 2000AD’s forty-nine-year history, meaning that retailers can now order individual issues of 2000AD for their store.
The move means that rather than waiting months for copies, readers will be able to pick up issues of 2000 AD each and every week from their local comic store for the first time – making it a great addition to their weekly pull-lists. Issues will no longer be poly-bagged — so new readers can pick up copies from the shelf and discover a range of Thrills to reshape their reality!
This news means that now 2000AD, the Judge Dredd Megazine, and seasonal Special issues including Action and The 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special will all now be available to order directly through Lunar.
Back in the USA
Publishing since 1977, 2000AD is the weekly 32-page anthology featuring five serialised stories in each issue. Featuring Judge Dredd – The Ultimate Lawman of the Future – 2000AD has also been home to iconic and influential series including Strontium Dog, Halo Jones, Nemesis the Warlock, ABC Warriors and many more.
The crucible which introduced to the comics industry creators including Alan Moore, John Wagner, Pat Mills, Brian Bolland, Grant Morrison, Dave Gibbons, Al Ewing and many more, 2000AD is the home to genre-defying and anarchic comics which challenge authority and give readers a taste of the unknown and bizarre. Currently 2000 D is home to stunning visions of science fiction such as the cosmic horror of Brink; the violent and vampiric Silver; the fantastical steampunk universe of Brass Sun; and the dark and depraved dystopia of The Fall of Deadworld, as well as many other stories.
This year will also see Judge Dredd caught up in a massive crossover “Mega-Epic” storyline which crosses over between the weekly 2000AD and the monthly Judge Dredd Megazine – which will also now be available in the US on a regular schedule through Lunar. As Judge Dredd enters “The Oubliette” and witnesses “The Black Tower”, readers will be able to pick up both titles straight from their local comic store to ensure they get the full story as a hyper-blast of electrified Thrill-Power!
Retailers looking to order the weekly 2000AD will be able to find it in March’s edition of “Next Phase” available via Lunar, and on the Lunar website.
The future is calling, America – it’s time to answer!
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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