Hedgehogs, Minotaurs and Mischief. 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…
Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla #1
IDW PUBLISHING
By Nick Marino, Jack Lawrence, Reggie Graham and Ed Dukeshire
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla #1 (Link)
When the King of the Monsters and other iconic kaiju mysteriously arrive in the Blue Blur’s world, the brilliant and evil Dr. Eggman will try to harness the power of the kaiju for his own nefarious goals. Only Sonic and his amazing allies–including Amy, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow–will be able to stand in the villain’s way and try to send the giant monsters back to their own world.
Sonic the Hedgehog x Godzilla #1 feels like one of those gloriously bonkers crossovers that should not work, but absolutely does. Nick Marino throws the Blue Blur into a full-on kaiju crisis, with Mothra and Mechagodzilla tearing into Sonic’s world while Eggman sees nothing but opportunity. Jack Lawrence, Reggie Graham and Ed Dukeshire look like the perfect team to sell both the speed and the scale of it all. If you love big monsters, big action and the pure joy of seeing two pop culture icons collide, this looks like a ridiculously fun start for fans of both franchises alike.
A Mischief of Magpies #1
DSTLRY
By Simon Spurrier Matías Bergara, Kike J. Díaz and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Buy from Forbidden Planet – A Mischief of Magpies #1 (Link)
NEW DSTLRY SERIES DEBUT FROM SIMON SPURRIER AND MATÍAS BERGARA!
Mar has a secret. Sometimes, without warning, he falls out of the world. This would be an inconvenience if his life wasn’t already such a drag.
When he’s gone, he finds himself in an extraordinary city. A city which is also a machine, endlessly crossing a shoreless ocean. A city of two halves: the bright, bustling spires above the waves, and the beast-haunted twilight halls below. And between, clowning along the rusting beach, a troupe of anarchic magpies with all the answers but none of the questions.
Recipients of the Angoulême Sélection Officielle, GLAAD Award, and multiple Eisner Award nominations, creators Simon Spurrier and Mat as Bergara present a new fantasy masterpiece in the tradition of Coda and Step By Bloody Step, driving the comics medium into new, beautiful, baleful waters.
For fans of THE NEVERENDING STORY, ARCANE, and THE BOY AND THE HERON.
A Mischief of Magpies #1 looks like exactly the sort of strange, beautiful fantasy comic I can lose myself in. Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara are already a proven dream team, and this new series seems to lean hard into everything they do brilliantly: emotional depth, inventive worldbuilding and imagery that feels unlike anything else on the shelves. Mar’s journey into a city-machine sailing a shoreless ocean sounds equal parts magical, unsettling and deeply personal. With Kike J. Díaz and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou helping bring that vision to life, this feels like one of those books that demands attention from the first page.
Kingdom of Earth #1
DARK HORSE COMICS
By David Dastmalchian, Leah Kilpatrick, Soo Lee and Frank Cvetkovic
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Kingdom of Earth #1 (Link)
2036. Two years ago, hordes of monsters rose from the earth and sea, devouring everything in sight. Much of mankind was massacred before the monsters realized they needed humans. In this new world, humans have two options: service or slaughter. When a young child named Frankie narrowly escapes their fate as livestock, they soon realize that their fight for survival has only just begun.
From the critically acclaimed writing duo of David Dastmalchian and Leah Kilpatrick and the Bram Stoker Award–winning artist Soo Lee comes this all-new monstrous miniseries.
Kingdom of Earth #1 looks like the sort of horror comic built to get under your skin. David Dastmalchian and Leah Kilpatrick drop readers into a 2036 where monsters rule the world and humanity has been reduced to service or slaughter, which is already a wonderfully grim hook. Soo Lee feels like the perfect artist for a book like this, balancing beauty and nightmare in a setting packed with creatures from folklore, fables and ghost stories. With Frank Cvetkovic lettering it all into life, this has the makings of a bleak, monstrous and very compelling new read from Dark Horse.
Minotaur #1
IGNITION PRESS
By Simon Spurrier, Michael Dowling, Sofie Dodgson and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Minotaur #1 (Link)
Five years ago, a government supercomputer triggered the Singularity: an explosion of technological superintelligence heralding an unimaginable tomorrow. At least, it almost did. Within moments, a failsafe activated. The plug was pulled. The future was aborted. But something leaked in those first picoseconds, through wire and wave. And now? The future fights back. Inexplicable events. Miracles and monsters. Harbingers of revolution…or apocalypse?
Minotaur is the tale of Gloria Monday, a photojournalist documenting the lives of those, like her, who are haunted, tortured, and transformed by outbreaks of the future; along with the no-nonsense ex-military muscle who watches her six, and the reformed tech bro secretly bankrolling their global mission to expose it all.
From Simon Spurrier (The Flash, John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America) and Mike Dowling (The Amazing Spider-Man, Unfollow) comes Minotaur, an X-Files for the forward-looking era, with science-fiction ideas ripped from the pages of New Scientist, manifesting among human societies in spooky, unsettling ways.
Minotaur #1 gives Simon Spurrier another intriguing launch to get excited about, and this one feels even more like catnip for me. A near-Singularity, a future leaking into the present, and a world overrun with miracles, monsters and technological nightmares is a wonderfully strong hook. Spurrier’s mix of big ideas and emotional messiness feels tailor-made for a book like this, while Michael Dowling, Sofie Dodgson and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou seem like exactly the right team to sell its eerie, unsettling tone. If you like your sci-fi strange, smart and just a little sinister, this looks like one to watch closely.
Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Sedition #1
DARK HORSE COMICS
By Matt Wagner, Brennan Wagner and Steve Dutro
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Sedition #1 (Link)
The Hounds of Orion have two new weapons in their arsenal: The Grendel Prime himself, back from a five-hundred-year absence, and a clone of the fierce, long-dead Grendel warrior Christine Spar! Now it’s time to take the fight to the Necro-Lords, and the hordes of Anti-Grendel squads between Grendel Prime and his goal of total control.
Grendel: Devil’s Crucible – Sedition #1 looks like a very welcome return to Matt Wagner’s brutal, blood-soaked future. With Grendel Prime back after a five-hundred-year absence and Christine Spar’s clone thrown into the fight against the Necro-Lords, this already has the kind of gloriously pulpy hook I want from a Grendel comic. There is something reassuring about Wagner still steering this world, with Brennan Wagner on colours and Steve Dutro on letters, keeping that grim, operatic tone intact. If you like your comics dark, sharp-edged and unapologetically steeped in their own mythology, this looks like another strong chapter in the Devil’s Crucible saga.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin – Training Day #1
IDW PUBLISHING
By Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Freddie E. Williams II, Ben Bishop, Esau Escorza, Isaac Escorza and Shawn Lee
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin – Training Day #1 (Link)
The Hounds of Orion have two new weapons in their arsenal: The Grendel Prime himself, back from a five-hundred-year absence, and a clone of the fierce, long-dead Grendel warrior Christine Spar! Now it’s time to take the fight to the Necro-Lords, and the hordes of Anti-Grendel squads between Grendel Prime and his goal of total control.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin – Training Day One-Shot looks like another smart expansion of the Last Ronin world, shifting the focus from loss and vengeance to legacy, discipline and what comes next. That alone makes it a fascinating prospect. Tom Waltz and Kevin Eastman know exactly how to make this corner of the TMNT universe feel weighty, while Freddie E. Williams II, Ben Bishop, Esau Escorza, Isaac Escorza and Shawn Lee give it a creative line-up that promises energy and grit. If Last Ronin landed for you, this feels like one worth keeping a close eye on.
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. NEW ADDITION – CITY CENTRE COMICS IN GLASGOW
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
CITY CENTRE COMICS (GLASGOW)
A specialist back issue comic shop based in Glasgow. They also stock new monthly comics, graphic novels, t-shirts and toys. Thousands of titles in stock, they also buy and sell Marvel, DC, Image and indie comics. Glasgows best silver / bronze age comic dealer with a large selection always in stock.
Established in 1992, City Centre Comics was founded by Pete Root who started out in the Argyle market and in July of 1993 moved into AKA comics in Parnie Street (A1 Comics today).After a couple of years there he moved to the back of Forbidden Planet Glasgow and was there until 2002 moving back to Parnie Street in Kollectables.In 2007 Current owner Chris O’Brien took over and was there until May 2012 moving the shop to its current location in the West End.
Monday Closed
Tuesday 11am till 4pm
Wednesday 10am till 5pm
Thurday/Friday 11am till 4pm
Saturday 10am till 5pm
Sunday 12pm till 4pm
37 Ruthven Lane, Glasgow G12 9BG Tel: 0141 357 6325
Website: City Centre Comics and Instagram: @city_centre_comics
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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