Devils, Ninjas and Manowar – Wednesday Comics

Devils, Ninjas and Manowar – Wednesday Comics. Welcome to Wednesday Comics. Each week, we will highlight our Comic of the Week, along with other notable releases, classic favourites, and industry news.

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…

Valiant Beyond: The X-O Manowar #1
Alien Books/Valiant

By Steve Orlando and Guillermo Fajardo

Buy from Forbidden Planet -Valiant Beyond: The X-O Manowar #1 (Link)

A NEW ERA OF SUPERHERO STORYTELLING BEGINS HERE!

Designed as the ULTIMATE jumping-on point, the Valiant Beyond line of comics are ABSOLUTE must-reads that will ENERGIZE your love for superheroes! 

The mighty Aric of Dacia, aka X-O Manowar, traverses a deadly wasteland filled with mutated horrors in a search for honor in this CAN’T-MISS debut issue from GLAAD award nominated writer Steve Orlando (Avengers Assemble) and superstar artist Guillermo Fajardo (RESURGENCE)! 

Aric’s strength and resilience are put to the test when he comes to the defense of a family under siege from a mysterious gang known as the Earthborn. Aric finds himself aligned with a rebel group which puts him firmly in the crosshairs of the Earthborn’s leader Typhon. Can Aric survive his journey across the Red Steppe? 

Get locked and loaded for a four-part adventure with an all-new 28 page debut issue available at a special introductory price. It’s X-O Manowar like you’ve never seen him before!

That opening paragraph alone should be enough to make you want to pick up this book. Referencing the biggest new DC, Marvel and Image lines is a bold move and one I hope pays off for Valiant. Valiant has always had a great roster of characters, and this new Valiant Beyond line will hopefully introduce them to a new audience. With Shadowman, Bloodshot and Harbinger all joining the party soon, now is a great time to jump onboard and see what you’ve been missing all these years.

Gatchaman #8
Mad Cave Studios

By Cullen Bunn, Chris Batista, Carlos Lopez and Buddy Beaudoin

Buy digitally – Gatchaman #8 (Link)

Eagle versus Condor — the fight we’ve all been waiting for! Under the influence of a Moth Mecha’s noxious fumes, Joe squares off Ken in a fight to the death. Meanwhile, the rest of the Science Ninja Team faces hordes of attacking citizens. Punch for punch, who will be left standing?

Gatchman continues to be a great fun series. The art is top-notch and the story arc is progressing nicely. Even if you have only a passing interest in the TV show from the 70s, you should pick this up and see what the Gatchaman legend is all about. Highly recommended.

The Lucky Devils #3 
Image Comics/Silent E Productions

By Charles Soule and Ryan Browne

Buy digitally – The Lucky Devils #3 (Link)

The third circle of Hell is where they stick the gluttons — the folks who just want more! That’s how you’ll feel when you read the next installment of this infernally delectable title from the creators of Eight Billion Genies! Cam Stane and Starr Winslow have seen their lives greatly improve since they began working with their shoulder devils, Collar and Rake. But enough is never enough, and the higher they go, the more temptation they face. PLUS: two devils make out at a beatnik bar!

The problem with taking a few months out has meant I haven’t been able to shout about the latest masterpiece from Soule and Browne. Curse Words and Eight Billion Genies, were some of the best comics to be released this millennium, and this new series keeps that trend going. Impeccable world-building and beautiful art are just a part of what makes this such a great comic. With more depth than you would imagine, this is a comic you should not be missing.

Star Trek: Lore War #1
IDW Publishing

By Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Christopher Cantwell and Davide Tinto

Buy digitally – Star Trek: Lore War #1 (Link)

The start of an all-new crossover event between Star Trek and Defiant is here!

From the Eisner-nominated writers of Star Trek, Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly; the critically acclaimed writer of Star Trek: Defiant, Christopher Cantwell; and artist Davide Tinto (Star Wars: Bounty Hunters and Devil’s Reign), Lore War #1 shows us a universe rebuilt in Lore’s image.

The crews of the Theseus and the Defiant scattered across the universe with no memory of who they once were — some even worship Lore as their God. Lore has won; his rule is absolute. But The Sisko remains, and there are forces who wish to remind him of his power.

IDW continue to knock it out of the park with their Star Trek books. Last year’s Day of Blood crossover was a huge success and after many months of build-up in the individual titles, the Lore War finally breaks out in this one-shot to kick off the event. Things will be followed up in the main line books, but watch out for the Shax’s Worst Day one-shot in May.

Godzilla: Heist #2
IDW Publishing

By Van Jensen and Kelsey Ramsay

Buy digitally – Godzilla: Heist #2 (Link)

Godzilla has touched down in London. The heist is ready to begin… but before our crew can rob the Ministry of Defense, they have to lure Godzilla across the city and directly to its front gates. And so begins the greatest chase sequence in comic book history! One crew, one Godzilla, one city — can they make it across without getting smashed?! 

Godzilla. London. Heist. What a great mash-up of ideas that I’m surprised no one ever thought of before. When you mixed a classic B movie Heist plot with the sheer kaiju-ness of Godzilla, you were bound to get an interesting comic. Big, dumb, bombastic fun is what comics do so well, and this should be on everyone’s pull list. Keep your eyes peeled for this awesome Fast and Furious inspired variant cover.

Each week we’ll be selecting one unmissable trade paperback, that absolutely must be in your collection.

Animal Pound HC
BOOM! Studios

By Tom King, Peter Gross, Clayton Cowles and Tamra Bonvillain

Buy from Forbidden Planet – Animal Pound HC (Link)

An Orwellian masterpiece for the modern age, an Animal Farm for the 21st century!

When animals grow tired of being caged and abused, it’s only a matter of time before they have nothing to lose but their cages… When an uprising puts a pound in control of the animals, they make quick comrades, united against everything that walks on two legs. But with this newfound power comes a sudden challenge: how best to lay the groundwork for this new democracy as they write their first constitution. The conditions are ripe for a dictator, primed for instating a new system of brutality and death. When two groups of animals work together will their efforts be enough to prevent further animal authoritarianism?

Discover a timely graphic storytelling event from celebrated New York Times bestselling, Eisner Award-winning writer Tom King (The Human Target, Love Everlasting) and New York Times bestselling, Eisner Award-nominated artist Peter Gross (American Jesus, The Books of Magic), collaborating for the first time ever to bring this enduring Orwellian allegory to life for the 21st Century.

Collects Animal Pound #1-5.

If you are a regular reader of this column, you will know how much I loved this series. Now available in a beautiful collected hardcover edition, you can discover for yourself why this was one of the best books of 2024. Showing that the story of Orwell’s Animal Farm is still as relevant today as it was back in the 1940s, this is an updated version of the tale that doesn’t pull its punches and is all the more terrifying because of it. Heartbreaking and infuriatingly accurate, grab this and revel in a comic masterpiece for the modern age.

Bumper Prog Time

I can’t put 2000AD in this post every week, but trust me, the Prog has never been better, and this week’s release is a great time to jump on board the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic.

It’s here! The first bumper Prog of 2025 lands this week with 48 pages of comics – including a new Dredd Thriller from Ken Niemand and PJ Holden… which ends with a surprise reveal! And speaking of endings, this issue brings the conclusion of Portals and Black Goo – and if you’re a fan of people suffering horrifying fates, you’ll be pretty happy with this one.

There’s also a new one-off Fall of Deadworld to get you ready for the series’ full return later in the year, as well as a complete Nu Earth War Tales story from the team of Gordon Rennie and Colin MacNeil! 

In this issue:
JUDGE DREDD // THE TRUTH BOMBER by Ken Niemand, PJ Holden, Jack Davies and Annie Parkhouse
PORTALS & BLACK GOO // A QUORUM OF FIENDS by John Tomlinson, Eoin Coveney, Jim Boswell and Simon Bowland
THE FALL OF DEADWORLD // BLOW BY BLOW by Kek-W, Dave Kendall and Simon Bowland
NU EARTH WAR TALES // BLACK DOME by Gordon Rennie, Colin MacNeil, Chris Blythe and Jim Campbell

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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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On YouTube

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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.

 

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