Horrors, Raiders and Oz. 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…
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Halloween Special
IDW PUBLISHING · IDW DARK
By Patrick Horvath, Jared Cullum, Che Grayson, James Tynion IV, Tony Fleecs, Dave Wachter, Matt Emmons and Tyler Boss
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Halloween Special (Link)
Patrick Horvath joins forces with James Tynion IV, Tony Fleecs, Dave Wachter, Che Grayson, Jared Cullum, and more for an original one-shot set in the world of Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees!
Years have passed since Samantha Strong left Woodbrook, but her legend has only grown. Now that the cat is out of the bag, more and more horrific murders have been tied back to her. Some are her doing… others mere folklore… but all absolutely gripping stories featuring everyone’s favorite cuddly serial killer. Gather around the campfire on Halloween night with some of the best creators working today and listen as the citizens of Woodbrook spill the beans on Samantha Strong’s most terrifying deeds.
Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Halloween Special looks like exactly the sort of return this world deserves, bringing readers back to Woodbrook years after Samantha Strong left town and letting her legend grow into something even nastier. The campfire-story anthology angle is a lovely fit for a series that already knows how to balance cosy imagery with something properly ugly underneath, and the line-up around Patrick Horvath only makes it more appealing. With contributions from James Tynion IV, Tony Fleecs, Che Grayson, Dave Wachter, Jared Cullum, Tyler Boss and Matt Emmons, this feels like a great way to keep the Beneath the Trees mythos alive while giving different creators room to make Woodbrook feel even more haunted.
Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: The Kaiju of Oz #1
IDW PUBLISHING
By Mike Costa, Ryan Browne and Tom Scioli
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: The Kaiju of Oz #1 (Link)
Welcome to the Wonderful Land of Oz — where houses fall from the sky, scarecrows and tin men come to life, witches rule from specific compass directions, and… Godzilla reigns supreme?! That’s right, Godzilla is finally coming to Emerald City to meet the Wizard, and once it’s here, every land will be Munchkinland. Maybe the Cowardly Lion was on to something.
Brought to you by superstar artist Ryan Browne (8 Billion Genies, Lucky Devils, Curse Words) and Mike Costa (Venom, Spider-Verse). Also featuring the final part of Tom Scioli’s “Godzilla vs. Robin Hood”!
Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents: The Kaiju of Oz #1 is one of those gloriously daft mash-ups that feels impossible to ignore on sight. Dropping Godzilla into Oz, with flying houses, compass-point witches and Emerald City chaos, is already a fantastic hook, but Mike Costa and Ryan Browne feel like exactly the right sort of team to sell the absurdity of it with a straight enough face to make it work. The Tom Scioli backup only sweetens the deal a little further, and if you are after something that looks playful, strange and completely committed to its own bit, this feels like a very easy book to recommend.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero / Tomb Raider #1
IMAGE COMICS · SKYBOUND
By Kyle Higgins, Elena Casagrande, Alex Guimarães and Pat Brosseau
Buy from Forbidden Planet – G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero / Tomb Raider #1 (Link)
KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE. RAIDING IS THE OTHER HALF!
G.I. JOE and LARA CROFT meet for THE FIRST TIME EVER in an all-new limited series from superstars KYLE HIGGINS (RADIANT BLACK) and ELENA CASAGRANDE (Black Widow) that reveals the classified connection between these pop culture icons. Lara Croft has explored some of the most dangerous locations on Earth, but nothing as treacherous as Cobra Island. For this adventure, she’ll need the help of her old acquaintance, Shipwreck, and several squads of Joes to mount a dangerous expedition into the heart of the island to recover a treasure that’s been hidden there for decades. One that Destro and Baroness will do anything to get their hands on first…
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero / Tomb Raider #1 has a crossover hook that is much easier to warm to than I might have expected, largely because dropping Lara Croft onto Cobra Island with Shipwreck and the Joes feels like a very clean way to make the whole thing click. Kyle Higgins and Elena Casagrande already sound like a smart pairing for something that needs pace, pulp and a little bit of swagger, while Alex Guimarães and Pat Brosseau round out a team that should know how to keep the action moving. If this can lean into Lara’s treasure-hunting strengths rather than just the brand mash-up, it could be a lot of fun
Hellboy in Hell: Nothing But Blood #1
DARK HORSE COMICS · CURIOUS OBJECTS
By Mike Mignola, Cyrille Pomès, Dave Stewart and Clem Robins
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Hellboy in Hell: Nothing But Blood #1 (Link)
Hellboy steps in to save a young woman being chased by winged beasts deep in Hell in the midst of an uprising against the most powerful demons. But nothing — and no one — are what they seem to be.
Mike Mignola is joined by artist Cyrille Pomès (Moon, 6,000 Miles to Freedom), colorist Dave Stewart, and letterer Clem Robins for this misadventure in Pandemonium set after the events of Hellboy in Hell #8: “The Hounds of Pluto” Part Two.
Hellboy in Hell: Nothing But Blood #1 looks like a very welcome revisit to one of the richest and strangest corners of the Hellboy mythos. Setting the story after the death of Satan and the fall of Pandemonium gives it instant weight, and the image of Hellboy stepping into a demonic uprising to save a young woman being hunted by winged beasts sounds exactly like the sort of eerie, myth-heavy setup I want from this world. Mike Mignola returning with Cyrille Pomès, Dave Stewart and Clem Robins makes this feel like more than a nostalgic revisit too; it feels like a proper new descent into Hell.
The Toxic Avenger vs. the Noxious Offender #1
AHOY COMICS
By Matt Bors and Felipe Sobreiro
Buy from Forbidden Planet – The Toxic Avenger vs. the Noxious Offender #1 (Link)
A new series from the twisted mind of master Toxie writer Matt Bors! An evil duplicate of the Toxic Avenger appears in our dimension, which is bad. And Toxie’s estranged father shows up, which might be worse. Featuring a classic comic variant cover and a photo montage cover from Toxie’s home, Troma Entertainment!
The Toxic Avenger vs. the Noxious Offender #1 feels like exactly the sort of loud, filthy, gleefully tasteless comic that should know how to have a very good time with its own premise. Matt Bors seems to be leaning into the anarchic Troma spirit while sharpening it with satire, and the idea of Toxie colliding with an even uglier inverted version of himself gives the whole thing a nasty little spark. Felipe Sobreiro’s art looks like a natural fit for something this goopy and unhinged, and after a bit of time away from AHOY books, this feels like a strong reminder of how well they can do smart, scrappy comics with a toxic grin on their face.
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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