D’Orc, Thundarr and Deadites. 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.
Well it’s been a hot minute since the last Wednesday Comics column. Unfortunately life has got in the way a bit recently, which meant I missed putting out a best of listing before the end of last year, and that combined with a relatively quiet start to the year for new books, has lead to this being the first new look at comics in 2026. Hopefully we’ll be back on a fairly regular schedule from now on and there looks to lots of great new comics coming are way as the months roll past. If there are any comics you recommend we check out, please reach out to us via our social media accounts or email me via emails listed below.
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…
D’Orc #1
IMAGE COMICS
By Brett Bean, Jean-François Beaulieu and Nate Piekos
Buy from Forbidden Planet – D’Orc #1 (Link)
Armed with nothing but a magical yet ambitiously violent shield, a lonely orphan stumbles headfirst into Sunderaine’s never-ending war between the Light and Dark. Elves vs. Orcs. Wizards vs. Common Sense. Dragons vs. Literally Everyone. And caught dead-center? D’ORC.
With a wholly inconvenient doomsday prophecy, the half dwarf, half orc — all D’ORC — is fated to end the world. Soon, every human, elf, goblin, dwarf, Snargletooth, Necroid, Ice Giant, Trauma Llama, and at least three other unpronounceable magical creatures, will know his name and want him dead. There will also be a chicken.
Join fan-favorite artist BRETT BEAN (I HATE FAIRYLAND, DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL THE CROCODILE), colorist JEAN-FRANÇOIS BEAULIEU (I HATE FAIRYLAND), and letterer NATE PIEKOS (MINOR THREATS) for a hilarious high-fantasy romp perfect for fans of CONAN, LORD OF THE RINGS, and of course, GERT’s deadpan humor.
D’Orc launches a riotous high‑fantasy adventure following a lonely orphan armed with a wisecracking enchanted shield as he stumbles into Sunderaine’s eternal war between Light and Dark. This new series look to be a wildly entertaining, high‑fantasy satire bursting with energy and personality. This comedic romp should be perfect for fantasy fans and D&D players alike.
Thundarr the Barbarian #1
DYNAMITE
By Jason Aaron and Kewber Baal
Buy from Forbidden Planet -Thundarr the Barbarian #1 (Link)
When a runaway planet hurtled between the Earth and the Moon, cosmic destruction was unleashed — and mankind’s proud civilizations were cast into ruin! Two millennia later, the planet is nearly unrecognizable — a harsh and savage realm where sorcery and super-science both reign over the powerless masses.
Now, rising up from their ranks, one man is breaking the bonds that restrained him. With the help of his faithful companions, Ariel and Ookla the Mok, he has dedicated his life — and the power of his mystical blade, the Sunsword — to liberating his world from the forces of evil. He is Thundarr, the Barbarian, and his story begins here!
Visionary comics author JASON AARON (Thor, Avengers, Conan) and acclaimed artist KEWBER BAAL (Vampirella, James Bond) return to the halcyon days of Saturday morning TV in the Dynamite debut of Thundarr the Barbarian, bringing with them all-new tales of the origins of the heroic trio and their ongoing battles against the corrupt forces that dominate their strange new world!
Featuring apocalyptically appealing covers from MICHAEL CHO, FRANCESCO MATTINA, BJORN BARENDS, and JOSEPH MICHAEL LINSNER, and ROB LIEFELD, this premier issue also features a special MYSTERY BLIND BAG VARIANT!
Thundarr the Barbarian ignites a bold revival of the little seen in the UK cult ’80s classic, plunging us into a post‑apocalyptic world where sorcery and super‑science collide. Aaron channels his passion for the original series into a dynamic origin tale, exploring Thundarr’s earliest battles alongside Ariel and Ookla. Baal’s art captures the spirit of Kirby and Toth while forging a striking new aesthetic. With its mix of cosmic ruin, heroic defiance, and the Sunsword’s iconic blaze, this debut promises an epic adventure that honours the cartoon’s legacy while pushing its mythology forward. A powerful, visually rich reawakening.
Archie x Army of Darkness #1
DYNAMITE
By Erik Burnham and Bill Galvan
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Archie x Army of Darkness #1 (Link)
IT’S A TEENAGE NIGHTMARE! There’s a certain man — name’s Ash, you may have heard of him — who is doomed to battle against the forces of evil, over and over again, whether he likes it or not. No matter where he goes, the cycle of violence always repeats itself — until the day that he arrives in the picturesque town of Riverdale.
This supernaturally wholesome community seems to break the curse that has plagued Ash ever since he first encountered its otherworldly evil all those years ago. Or rather, the curse was broken — until an over-curious teenager named Archie finds a copy of the Necronomicon Ex Mortis and reads a portion of it aloud, summoning the horrifying Deadites once again!
Now Ash and the good townsfolk of Riverdale must hold back the undead hordes long enough for Archie to undo what he’s unwittingly done. Otherwise, an Army of Darkness will roll over Riverdale and destroy everything and everyone in its path — and that’s just not going to happen on Ashley J. Williams’s watch!
Fresh-faced author ERIC BURNHAM (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghost Busters) joins wide-eyed artist BILL GALVAN (Archie, Guardians of the Galaxy) for a long night’s journey into mayhem with Archie X Army of Darkness #1!
Featuring clean-cut covers from GALVAN, ROBERT HACK, LAURA BRAGA, CRAIG CERMAK, and STUART SAYGER, this premier issue also boasts a special PREMIUM MYSTERY BLIND BAG that contains three limited editions of the issue selected randomly from a range of variant covers exclusive to this offering — including two original covers by GALVAN and FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA, as well as multiple line art variants and colored blanks. Please Note: The number of Blind Bags is limited, and allocations may occur.
Archie x Army of Darkness delivers a surprisingly natural clash of teen hijinks and supernatural horror as Ash Williams crash‑lands in Riverdale. Burnham captures both the humour and dread as Archie unwittingly unleashes Deadites by reading from the Necronomicon, thrusting the wholesome town into chaos. Galvan’s art balances cheerful Riverdale charm with creeping horror, making the crossover feel unexpectedly seamless. Together, they craft a fun, fast‑paced romp where Ash and the gang must hold back undead hordes before Riverdale falls. It’s a playful, well‑executed mash‑up that honours both franchises.
Knight City #1
DARK HORSE COMICS
By Matt Kindt, David Lapham and Josh Reed
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Knight City #1 (Link)
A brand-new action-adventure series by BRZRKR’s Matt Kindt and Stray Bullets’ David Lapham that’s Fight Club meets Superman.
A legendary hero is caught between two worlds. By day, he soars as a symbol of hope, but the moment he falls asleep, he enters a universe devoid of heroes and he leads a mundane life. As the pressure of his dual universes mount, his heroic self begins to crack, pushing him toward a mental breakdown.
In a world that measures the loss of human life that occurs when he takes one night off, the weight of his responsibilities becomes too much. Ultimately, he’s left with a choice: embrace his extraordinary abilities or seek solace in the ordinary.
Will he stand tall in a world that needs him, or find peace in a simpler existence?
This issue launches a gripping, psychological spin on the superhero genre, blending Fight Club‑style identity fracture with Superman‑level power. Kindt and Lapham introduce a hero split between two realities: a soaring symbol of hope by day and a powerless office worker by night, each life eroding the stability of the other. As mounting pressure pushes him toward collapse, the story explores vulnerability, responsibility, and the crushing weight of heroism. A striking, thoughtful debut that stands apart from typical superhero fare.
Supernatural Valentine’s Day Special 2026 #1
IDW PUBLISHING
By Preeti Chhibber and Pasquale Qualano
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Supernatural Valentine’s Day Special 2026 #1 (Link)
LOVE IS STRONGER THAN DEATH — AND JUST AS TERRIFYING! Sam and Dean Winchester know a thing or two about love and loss. After all, they’ve abandoned any pretense of a normal life and hit the road to hunt down the entity that took the lives of two of their loved ones. So if anyone can understand the kind of heartache that would cause a person to turn to demonic forces in order to bring someone back from the dead, it’s the brothers Winchester.
But just because something is understandable doesn’t make it advisable — and it certainly doesn’t make it safe! In fact, you can pretty much count on things going wrong in unexpectedly spectacular ways when you meddle with the fundamental forces of mortality. In this case, trying to command a minor minion of the underworld has resulted in the summoning of an ancient and uncontrollable goddess of desire. The rampage that ensues embodies the true power of love — and only Sam and Dean can stop it!
Acclaimed comics and prose author PREETI CHHIBBER (Marvel’s Avengers Assembly, Spider-Man’s Social Dilemma) joins forces with hopelessly romantic artist PASQUALE QUALANO for this special 40-page love letter from the Winchester Brothers’ early years — featuring unrequited cover art from QUALANO, CAT STAGGS, REESE HANNIGAN, and MEGHAN HETRICK, as well as a special PREMIUM MYSTERY OF LOVE BLIND BAG! The Blind Bag contains three limited editions of the issue selected randomly from a range of covers exclusive to this offering — including virgin variants, colored blanks, and more! Please Note: The number of Blind Bags is limited, and allocations may occur.
Ahead of Valentines’s Day next week, comes this heartfelt, eerie, and emotionally charged one‑shot that taps into the core of what makes Supernatural resonate. Chhibber channels the Winchesters’ history of love and loss into a story about grief pushed too far, as a misguided attempt to resurrect a loved one unleashes an ancient, uncontrollable goddess of desire. Qualano’s art balances romantic melancholy with explosive supernatural chaos, echoing the series’ blend of tenderness and terror. The result is a beautifully crafted, 40‑page “love letter” to Sam and Dean’s early years—poignant, dangerous, and unmistakably Supernatural.
The Twilight Zone #4
IDW PUBLISHING · IDW DARK
By Nate Powell
Buy from Forbidden Planet – The Twilight Zone #4 (Link)
The scene is set. A beautiful lake in summer, a houseboat for the weekend.
When Laura takes her abrasive brother, Chet, on a birthday vacation, their relationship is already wobbling on its last leg. A loving sister and her devoted boyfriend will try-desperately and one final time to salvage a relationship with a once-loving little brother now grown to be a hateful young man. But when all three are plunged into worlds of their deepest desires, will they even want to find each other once again?
National Book Award-winning cartoonist Nate Powell (the March trilogy, Swallow Me Whole) serves as your guide into the Twilight Zone in this can’t-miss issue!
This issue delivers a tense, haunting character study that channels the eerie moral twists of the classic series. Powell writes, illustrates, and letters a claustrophobic tale set on a serene summer lake, where a houseboat vacation becomes an emotional pressure cooker. As Laura, her boyfriend, and her abrasive brother Chet find themselves pulled into worlds shaped by their deepest desires, This comic explores fractured relationships, buried resentment, and the seductive danger of wish‑fulfillment. Rendered in stark black‑and‑white, the issue captures the unsettling ambiguity that defines The Twilight Zone, making this installment a standout in IDW Dark’s anthology relaunch.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #3
IDW PUBLISHING
By Tim Seeley and Fero Peniche
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #3 (Link)
Long ago, the Foot Clan was established to protect Japan — and the world at large — from the ongoing kaiju threat. As the years passed, this original goal was forgotten, and Shredder corrupted the Foot with his own sinister motives.
Now… Godzilla and its fellow kaiju have returned… and four teenage turtles are the world’s only hope.
In this issue: The Turtles go to Japan, and Shredder pushes his evil scheme to the next level by turning Bebop and Rocksteady big… really, really big. ALSO: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles make a direct assault on Godzilla! But are they enough to save Tokyo?! Perhaps April O’Neil’s dreams of the Shobjin Twins will lead the way to reinforcements…
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla escalates the crossover chaos with high‑stakes kaiju mayhem and classic TMNT personality. Seeley’s script leans into the lore, revealing the Foot Clan’s forgotten origins as Japan’s kaiju defenders while Shredder unleashes his most unhinged plan yet—turning Bebop and Rocksteady into towering monsters. As the Turtles travel to Japan and launch a direct assault on Godzilla himself, Peniche’s dynamic art delivers scale, energy, and attitude in every panel. With April O’Neil’s visions hinting at the Shobijin Twins’ involvement, this issue promises action, legacy, and giant‑sized surprises.
Event Horizon: Dark Descent #5
IDW PUBLISHING · IDW DARK
By Christian Ward, Tristan Jones, Pip Martin and Alex Ray
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Event Horizon: Dark Descent #5 (Link)
The spectacular finale of the scariest sci-fi story ever told!
The spaceship Event Horizon has been to Hell, but will it come back? After their captain’s death, the last crew members make a last-ditch attempt to destroy the ship’s gravity drive. It’s perhaps the only thing capable of hurting Paimon! But… what is this angelic presence felt aboard the ship?
Horror masters Christian Ward and Tristan Jones tell the final chapter of the crew of the Event Horizon!
This last issue delivers a chilling, high‑intensity finale that cements this series as one of IDW Dark’s most terrifying sci‑fi horror entries. Ward and Jones bring the story full circle as the surviving crew attempts a desperate, last‑ditch plan to destroy the gravity drive—the only thing capable of hurting the demonic Paimon—even as an eerie angelic presence manifests aboard the ship. This final chapter is brutal, haunting, and visually spectacular, a gripping descent into cosmic terror.
Creepy Presents: Bernie Wrightson TP
DARK HORSE COMICS
By Bernie Wrightson, Bruce Jones, Bill DuBay, Budd Lewis, Nicola Cuti, Edgar Allan Poe, H. P. Lovecraft and Carmine Infantino
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Creepy Presents: Bernie Wrightson TP (Link)
THE FIRST COMPLETE COLLECTION OF BERNIE WRIGHTSON’S WARREN HORROR COMICS STORIES!
With Creepy Presents Bernie Wrightson, his classic horror stories from Creepy and Eerie are now collected in an affordable oversized paperback!
These classic tales from the 1970s include collaborations with fellow superstars and Warren Publishing alumni Howard Chaykin, Nicola Cuti, Bill DuBay, Carmine Infantino, Bruce Jones, Budd Lewis, and Walt Simonson, as well as several adaptations and original stories written and drawn by Wrightson during one of the most fruitful periods of his career! The infamous “Jenifer” is included, as well as Wrightson’s full-color story “The Muck Monster,” and adaptations of Poe and Lovecraft classics—such as the unnerving “Cool Air.”
This tantalizingly twisted tome is also topped with a new introduction by Bruce Jones—a perfect aperitif to begin a hearty repast of horror!
Creepy Presents: Bernie Wrightson returns as a definitive collection of Wrightson’s celebrated Warren Publishing horror work from the 1970s, gathering his Creepy and Eerie stories into a single oversized edition. The volume showcases collaborations with genre icons such as Bruce Jones, Bill DuBay, Budd Lewis, Nicola Cuti, and Carmine Infantino, along with striking adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe and H. P. Lovecraft, including the chilling “Cool Air.” It also features Wrightson’s infamous tale “Jenifer” and his full‑colour masterpiece “The Muck Monster,” all restored and presented to highlight one of the most fruitful creative periods of his career.
This 144‑page collection serves both as a historic archive and a lush celebration of Wrightson’s unmatched command of atmosphere, shadow, and creature design. From grotesque monstrosities to psychological dread, Wrightson’s pages remain hauntingly vivid decades later. The new introduction by Bruce Jones adds context to these iconic stories, setting the tone for a tour through some of horror comics’ most enduring imagery. For longtime fans or newcomers exploring Wrightson’s legacy, this release is an essential, beautifully curated slice of comic‑horror history.
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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