Welcome to Terminators, Skeletons and Car-nnibals – Wednesday Comics, where we sift through the mid-week stack to find what’s worth your hard-earned cash at local shops like Worlds Apart and Forbidden Planet. Whether you’re hunting down nostalgic crossovers, terrifying indie horror, or high-speed motorsport action, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive right into this week’s highlights!
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…
Archie vs. the Terminator #1
DYNAMITE
By Rory McConvill, Steven Butler and Lily Butler
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Archie vs. the Terminator #l (Link)
The crossover no one saw coming is here! When a teenage John Connor enrolls at Riverdale High, Archie and the gang soon find themselves in the crosshairs of a Terminator!
Written by RORY MCCONVILLE (Terminator, Red Sonja: She-Devil with a Sword, Spawn) and drawn by Archie artists STEVEN BUTLER and LILY BUTLER, this four-issue crossover event features covers by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA, ROBERT HACK, BJORN BARENDS, and BILL GALVAN!
This issue features a PREMIUM MYSTERY BLIND BAG which contains three limited editions of the issue selected randomly from a range of variant covers exclusive to this title. Please Note: The number of Blind Bags is limited. Allocations may occur.
As someone who has been a die-hard fan of James Cameron’s 1984 original Terminator film since day one, and who thoroughly enjoys a good out-of-left-field Archie crossover, this book was practically engineered in a Skynet laboratory just for me. Archie books have a proud history of genre-mashing, but throwing Riverdale’s wholesome teenagers into a cybernetic nightmare scenario takes things to a brilliant new extreme. McConvill’s script captures the classic Archie character dynamics before gleefully introducing cold, calculating robotic assassination. Steven and Lily Butler’s artwork strikes that tricky balance between classic comic book charm and relentless, apocalyptic dread. If you want to see how America’s favourite redhead copes with a T-800, make this your number one priority this week.
12-Foot Skeleton #1
IGNITION PRESS
By Aaron Campbell, Tim Seeley, Ben Templesmith and AndWorld Design
Buy from Forbidden Planet – 12-Foot Skeleton #1 (Link)
This might be Lola and Jimmy’s last Halloween. Not because they’re aging out at 12-years-old… there’s a 12-foot-tall lawn skeleton on a rampage in their neighborhood!
Lola is a triple threat of social suicide: goth girl, new kid, and outspoken feminist. Meanwhile, Jimmy is a bookish, quiet, bullied kid trying to enjoy his favorite holiday between cancer treatments.
When Lola discovers she might have a much stronger connection with the malevolent force inhabiting the skeleton than she could ever imagine possible, it’s up to Jimmy to inspire them to face certain danger and embrace the future rather than run from their traumatic pasts.
Aaron Campbell (Hellblazer), Tim Seeley (Inglorious X-Force), and Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) present a Halloween story with the heart and soul of a classic Spielberg film alongside all the spills, chills, and horrifying thrills of everyone’s favorite 1980s slasher movies!
While I’ve long admired Aaron Campbell’s moody, atmospheric art—especially his stellar work on Hellblazer—I haven’t yet experienced his chops as a writer. Suffice to say, pairing him with powerhouses like Tim Seeley and Ben Templesmith makes this an instant must-read. Templesmith’s distinctively eerie, expressionistic style combined with this creative lineup delivers an unsettling, skin-crawling atmosphere that lingers long after you’ve closed the back cover. If you like your horror visceral and atmospheric, clear some space on your pull list.
Speed Racer: Tales from the Road – Frankenstein’s Dragster #1
MAD CAVE STUDIOS
By Chris Robinson, Brandon Thomas, Zoe Tunnell, Wyatt Kennedy and Guillermo Sanna
Buy from Forbidden Planet – Speed Racer: Tales from the Road – Frankenstein’s Dragster #1 (Link)
Speed Racer: Tales from the Road is an all-new quarterly release featuring a one-shot tale and backup shorts that expand the universe of Speed Racer!
In this issue’s spine-chilling feature, a ghastly scavenger feeding on wrecked racers haunts the streets… until its car-nnibalistic feeding frenzy puts it on a collision course with Speed Racer AND Racer X! Don’t miss the debut of a BRAND NEW RACER in this story by Eisner-winner Chris Robinson (Werewolf Frankenstein) and celebrated artist Guillermo Sanna!
Plus: short stories from writers Brandon Thomas (Excellence, Horizon) and Zoe Tunnell (Blade Maidens, Godzilla Valentine’s Day Special) featuring Trixie Turnwell and more!
Mad Cave Studios has been absolutely killing it with their Speed Racer line lately, injecting high-octane energy and fresh narrative horsepower into classic premises. Frankenstein’s Dragster leans hard into the monstrous, pulp-fueled fun of classic racing culture blended with classic horror tropes. With a stellar writer’s room steering the vehicle and Guillermo Sanna behind the wheel on art duties, every panel moves at breakneck speed. It’s pure, unadulterated comic book joy.
You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive #1
IDW PUBLISHING · IDW DARK
By Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly, Heather Vaughan and Clayton Cowles
Buy from Forbidden Planet – You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive #1 (Link)
Five friends. Four houses. One perfect life.
Phoebe Joplin has never questioned the world her parents built: a secluded community where she and her friends were raised to be smarter, stronger, and better than anyone else. No distractions. No dangers. No secrets.
Until the night of their graduation.
When one of them dies under impossible circumstances, Phee starts to pull at the edges of her perfect life — and finds something far more terrifying than she ever imagined.
Because this place isn’t a sanctuary.
It’s a cage.
And no one who discovers the truth ever leaves it alive.
From Eisner-nominated writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and rising horror artist Heather Vaughan, this paranoia-laced, socially conscious horror mystery will leave you questioning reality… and reveal that this crafted world is more of a nightmare than the idealistic dream its residents were expecting.
Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly have earned an automatic spot on my pull list thanks to their phenomenal previous work—particularly their sharp, thoughtful character beats on Star Trek. Joining forces with Heather Vaughan and lettering master Clayton Cowles, they’re stepping into darker, more isolated territory with You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive. It’s tense, tightly paced, and features the kind of intricate character dynamics that make you turn pages faster than you probably should. Another massive win for IDW.
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 ADDITIONS – COMIC CLASH IN EVESHAM & 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
COMIC CLASH (EVESHAM)
Comic Clash is an independent comic book and pop culture shop in Evesham, Worcestershire, owned and run by Lewis Weston
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – 10:00 – 17:00
Wednesday – 10:00 – 17:00
Thursday – 10:00 – 17:00
Friday – 10:00 – 17:00
Saturday – 10:00 – 17:00
Sunday – Closed
Shop 1, 62 High St, Evesham WR11 4HG
Email clash.comics1@gmail.com
Tiktok – @comicclash3
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 COMICS (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 and Hove BN1 4EN Tel: 01273 691012
Website: Dave’s Comics and Twitter: @DavesComics
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