Author: Nik Ranger

DC’s Batman Adventures Omnibus cover art finally revealed and fans are excited DC ComicsThe official cover art for the upcoming Batman Adventures Omnibus has finally hit the Internet, and fans are more excited than ever now. Every superhero cartoon in the ‘90s got some kind of light-hearted tie-in comic, but few were so well regarded as The Batman Adventures. Debuting in 1992, the critically acclaimed, fan-beloved comic told expanded tales set in the world of Batman: The Animated Series. The book was renowned for its fresh take on the characters from the show, as well as how it expanded the universe. It incorporated characters from comics who never made an actual appearance on B:TAS, like Deadshot and Huntress. It also included landmarks like the DCAU debut of Superman, years before Superman: The Animated Series. In March, it was announced that a long-awaited Batman Adventures Omnibus would finally release. The massive, 1,200-page hardcover collection originally used a cover from the original run of the comic for its cover art. Now, fans are swooning over an official cover reveal. Fans love The Batman Adventures Omnibus’ moody cover art Revealed on Twitter by the account CoolComicArt, the omnibus cover utilizes key art of a silhouetted The Caped Crusader against a dark sky with a red moon in the background. The Batman Adventure Omnibus is displayed along the bottom, including the names of the key creatives behind it. Batman: The Animated Series ended in 1995, with a follow-up series ending in 1997. The Batman Adventures would run in some form or another until 2004, though it was not one continuous volume. The omnibus collects the first volume, which ran from 1992-1995, ending with issue #36. A second volume ran from 1995-1997. Later volumes included Batman Adventures: The Lost Years, which detailed the time between B:TAS and TNBA, and Batman: Gotham Adventures, which told stories in the TNBA time period. While those significant chunks are missing from the omnibus, many fans are expressing surprise and delight about the reveal. Some who appeared to be on the fence are even now calling the collection a must-have. The Batman Adventures Omnibus releases September 5, 2023, at a retail price of $150. A spiritual successor to B:TAS, Batman: Gotham Adventures, is expected to air on Amazon Prime.

DC reveals first look at a Batman who has killed Bruce Wayne DC ComicsPreview pages for Gargoyle of Gotham have dropped, highlighting the violent, moody tone of the series, which follows a Batman who “killed” Bruce Wayne. Through Elseworlds and DC Black Label, there’s a grand tradition of alternate interpretations of DC characters. With that long legacy, Batman himself has had multiple interpretations, with some stories and appearances becoming just as memorable as his main universe depiction. Books like Gotham by Gaslight and Red Son presented dark, alternate time period takes that lasted throughout the ages. For more modern takes, books like Noël and Joker presented gritty, grounded takes on Batman just removed from DC. The latest take, Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham, was announced in June as part of DC’s mature audience Black Label imprint. DC has released a preview of the book, which promises to be a darker take on The Dark Knight than usual. Batman gives up on Bruce Wayne in Gargoyle of Gotham The official preview pages show the moody tone of Gargoyle of Gotham. Batman is shown encountering various criminals throughout the textless pages. Even more so than usual, he is cloaked in shadow and silhouette. The result is a very raw, intense feeling take on the Dark Knight. Created by Eisner Award winner Rafael Grampá, Gargoyle of Gotham promises a unique take on a Batman who has retreated farther than ever into his dark psyche. “In a Gotham City where every day feels darker and more irredeemable than the last, Batman makes a definitive choice,” the press release explains. “To kill off the Bruce Wayne identity for good and embrace the cape and cowl full-time. But though he knows the streets of Gotham, Batman will soon come to find that he hardly knows himself.” While it is unusual for Batman to choose to abandon the Bruce Wayne persona, it is not without precedent. Many of the most iconic stories have tackled the notion of why he would bother with the idea of a dual identity. Notably, the video game Arkham Knight ended with Bruce Wayne publicly outed and, in one ending, faking his death so he could operate full-time as Batman. Gargoyle of Gotham #1 releases September 16th, which is also Batman Day. The book will release with a host of high-profile variant covers from industry legends, including Jim Lee, Frank Miller and Paul Pope.

DC is set to completely change the dynamic between Batman and Robin DC ComicsBruce and Damian Wayne have been partners, family, and enemies for the last several years. The upcoming Batman and Robin series is changing that dynamic forever. It’s been a rough few years for Batman and Robin. Bruce and Damian Wayne have been at odds since the end of Teen Titans. That book’s finale saw the team disbanded after Batman found out Robin had been incarcerating villains and wiping their minds. Since then, Damian’s undergone tremendous growth. Not only has he finally been physically aged up, but events like Shadow War and Lazarus Planet have mended the relationship between father and son. Damian’s become closer to a hero again than he has in a long time. The endgame for all this is Batman and Robin, the latest step in the long arc that established this incarnation as the definitive Dynamic Duo. Writer Joshua Williamson recently revealed that the book was about more than just fixing their relationship, though. Batman and Robin is about making the Dynamic Duo equals, not partners Batman and Robin aims to turn the father and son duo into equals. This starkly contrasts Bruce’s relationship with Damian or any of his previous Robins, who were treated like rookies in a partnership. Speaking with Comic Book, Williamson explained that it was all about finding balance. “The book is about both of them and they’re on equal footing,” Williamson said. “I have to actually check on this, but even with something as far as the logo, the Batman and Robin names are the same size on the cover, this is both their books. It was two sides to this. I didn’t want it to be Batman’s book, Batman’s world and Damian is coming into it. I didn’t want it to be that. I wanted to be that Damian has his own world, his own stuff, his own car for example. But also the selfish part of me needed to make sure it wasn’t all Damian’s book all the time too, making sure that I have a balance between the two of them.” DC has struggled with how to handle the Robin role. While the pairing of Batman and Robin is one of DC’s most iconic, many over the years have found the pairing of the brooding dark knight with a vibrant boy wonder to be one at odds with the character’s core ethos. That narrative changed following Jason Todd’s death and Tim Drake’s arrival. Tim Drake first established Robin as an essential to Batman, someone who keeps the character from falling too far into darkness. The New 52 briefly scaled that back somewhat, with Robin being referred to as an “internship,” but the partnership has remained an essential element of the characters. Damian Wayne has walked the line since his introduction but crossed that line during Teen Titans. Robin killed Brother Blood and nearly killed KGBeast before his team stopped him. In typical fashion, Batman pushed hard, and the relationship between the two fractured. The two mended their relationship in the fallout of Batman vs. Robin and Lazarus Planet, and the new series promises to show new growth for both. Batman and Robin will be the first time Bruce and Damian have been partners in some time, and presenting them as equals is an exciting new idea. Whether this means Damian’s more violent urges are finally put to rest or if Batman and Robin and destined to clash once more hinges on how the two are able to cope with being on equal footing.

DC Comics reportedly using Absolute Power to launch its own Ultimate Comics line DC ComicsDC Comics is reportedly eyeballing the success of Marvel’s Ultimate Comics, with plans to launch its own similar publishing line. With Ultimate Spider-Man cleaning up the sales chart, it was surely only a matter of time before someone else took a stab at the concept. Now, reports are coming in that DC Comics will be doing just that. As reported by Bleeding Cool, DC is planning to launch a new line, Absolute Comics, which will serve a similar function to Marvel’s Ultimate Comics line. The line is expected to be led by writer Scott Snyder, who notably steered the Batman books to critical acclaim during DC’s linewide reboot, ‘The New 52.’ While not confirmed by DC, speculation is Absolute Comics will spin out of this summer’s event, Absolute Power, which will be first previewed in an upcoming Free Comic Book Day release. DC has made a few attempts at their own Ultimate line in the past, but with mixed to poor success. The All-Star Comics imprint resulted in the all-time classic ‘All-Star Superman,’ but it also gave readers the universally panned ‘All-Star Batman & Robin, The Boy Wonder.’ A later attempt produced a number of graphic novels under the ‘Earth One’ banner to mixed reception, although the consensus was mostly positive. ‘Earth One’ consisted of 13 graphic novels released between 2010 and 2021 that starred updated, edgier versions of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, the Teen Titans, and Green Lantern. Ultimately (no pun intended), DC just hasn’t had that much need for a proper Ultimate Comics-adjacent line. While Marvel needed the line to present an alternative to readers who were tepid about decades of continuity, DC’s own regular line refreshes and universe resets prevented it from becoming a problem in the first place. And while some of those reboots–like ‘Flashpoint’ and ‘New 52’–didn’t get the warmest reception from fans, others, like ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths’ and its ensuing reboot, have been heralded as the greatest stories of all time and led to boom periods for DC superheroes. Absolute Power #1 by Mark Waid and Dan Mora releases July 2.

DC announces first Kid Flash-headlined series, Speed Force DC ComicsKid Flash and the Flash of China are teaming up for their own book as part of Dawn of DC. How will the young speedsters save the universe when the Speed Force itself is changing? Kid Flash is a character with a lot of history and more than a handful of people wearing the suit. He hasn’t headlined his own series, though – until now. Wallace West is suiting up to headline a new book, Speed Force. Wallace has been Kid Flash for years now but has most often been relegated to supporting cast member, be it in The Flash or Teen Titans. Wallace’s best friend, Avery Ho, The Flash of China, will be co-starring in the book. The title promises to send the two on a harrowing adventure as the Speed Force, the mysterious source of all speed in the DC Universe, undergoes a sudden change. Kid Flash and The Flash of China run in Speed Force Announced exclusively at ComicsBeat, Speed Force is the latest Flash book to spin out of Dawn of DC push. The book follows September’s The Flash #1, which follows current Flash and former Kid Flash Wally West. According to the solicit from DC, “Wallace West and Avery Ho: the young speedsters have been Teen Titans, Justice Leaguers, and above all, members of the Flash Family. As they become aware of mysterious changes happening to the Speed Force, they race to Keystone City, where they encounter old friends, new threats, and a chance to forge their own paths.” Kid Flash has been a DC comic staple since the ‘60s, and the character has appeared in books like The Flash, Teen Titans, and more. However, Kid Flash has never truly been the star of his own ongoing book. The closest would be Bart Allen, who had an ongoing when he was still Impulse. Bart would also star in the Flashpoint tie-in Kid Flash Lost, but that was just a three-issue mini-series. Introduced in 2014, Wallace West is The New 52’s rebooted version of the original Kid Flash, Wally West. Wallace became the new Kid Flash after a future version of himself sent his powers back in time. When the original Wally returned in DC Rebirth and started going by Flash, Wallace retained the Kid Flash identity and began going by his full name (now often shortened to Ace) to avoid confusing the two characters. Avery Ho, the Flash of China, is a relatively new addition to DC, being introduced as part of the DC Rebirth Flash story. Gaining her powers from the speed force storm over Central City, Avery proved she was worthy to keep her powers. She went on to join the Justice League of China and Justice Incarnate. Wallace and Avery have been fast friends (no pun intended), though the 2021 Valentine’s Day special DC Love is a Battlefield revealed she had feelings for Wallace that she did not articulate. With the two journeying together through the Speed Force, it’s possible longtime fans may finally see the two move their relationship forward.

Dawn of DC Blue Beetle writer confirms series ending in July DC ComicsDC’s ‘Blue Beetle’ comic will be ending in July, as confirmed by the series writer on Twitter. Another Dawn of DC title is drawing to a close this year, with ‘Blue Beetle’ #11 being confirmed as the series finale by writer Josh Trujillo on Twitter. “As you may know, July’s issue 11 will be the final chapter of our ‘Blue Beetle’ run,’ Trujillo said on Twitter. ‘We are beyond grateful to DC for letting us tell these stories, but we’re sad to say goodbye to Jaime after so many years together.” Fans from across social media have come out to shower ‘Blue Beetle’ with praise, including creators like Cully Hamner, who responded to Trujillo’s tweet with “And what a run it’s been.” Other fans expressed their love for the title in the comments and disappointment over ‘Blue Beetle’ ending, with many expressing their love for the series’ take on Jaime and his interactions with his wide supporting cast. ‘Blue Beetle’ followed Jaime Reyes, the current wielder of the Blue Beetle scarab, as he started a new life in Palmera City while contending with a host of technicolor alternate Beetles. The series launched following the success of the six-issue mini-series ‘Blue Beetle: Graduation Day,’ the runner-up for the 2021 DC Round Robin contest. It also launched alongside the 2023 ‘Blue Beetle‘ film, one of the few DC films of the past year to remain in the current DCU canon. BLUE BEETLE #11 (W) Josh Trujillo (A, CA) Adrian Gutiérrez WHAT’S NEXT FOR JAIME REYES? Jaime Reyes has found himself since becoming Blue Beetle. He’s made new friends, saved the world, and found a new place to call home as he’s struck out on his own. So what’s next for Blue Beetle and the rest of la familia escarabajo? On sale July 3, 2024

Daredevil’s worst costume is back in all-new Marvel series Black Armor Marvel ComicsThough Daredevil is traditionally known for his red costume, he’s worn a few other looks over the years. Now his most infamous look is back in a new lost years story. Daredevil’s always been a high-profile character, though his successful MCU and Netflix jaunts definitely helped raise his star. Much like other heroes, he’s gone through a number of eras that define him in the eyes of readers. Whether it be becoming the ninja leader of The Fist or being possessed by the supernatural Beast, Daredevil has had some of Marvel’s most unique changes over the year, but he spent most of it in his trademark red costume. A brief spell in the ‘90s changed that, though. Now Marvel has announced it is revisiting that era in Daredevil: Black Armor. Announced at San Diego Comic-Con, the four-issue limited series brings Ol’ Hornhead’s classic creative team for a run in what many consider to be Daredevil’s worst look. Daredevil’s ‘90s black armor didn’t last long in the comics The infamous black armor debuted in Daredevil #321. Facing off against the Wild Pack, Daredevil decided he needed to have tougher protection. He ditched his familiar red outfit and replaced it with a black and red suit with armor plating. Though he didn’t wear the suit long, it wasn’t a look fans cared much for. The suit was ridiculed by fans and became something of a running joke in publications like Wizard for years. Daredevil would soon ditch the armored costume and return to his classic outfit. The armored costume never reappeared in the main series, though DD would change his look a few times over the years. In Black Armor, D.G. Chicester returns to tell a new story from the time period. This time, Daredevil is up against Marvel’s deadliest foes, and Chicester explained to Marvel that he couldn’t be happier to be undertaking it. “Returning to Matt and Daredevil and that costume where I left them — as the writer I am now — has been an amazing experience,” he said. “It’s knowing how to jump off a rooftop — but accepting the challenge that you don’t always know where you’re going to land. I hope fans of my Fall From Grace and Fall of the Kingpin stories find more to enjoy in my take on hyper senses and heightened action — especially seen in an entirely new way thanks to the dynamite art and visual storytelling of Netho Diaz and JP Mayer.” Daredevil: Black Armor #1 releases November 22.

Daredevil’s arch-nemesis Kingpin just took control of the X-Men’s most dangerous foes Marvel comicsIn the wake of Fall of X, the X-Men have sustained massive losses and are facing huge changes. Now their rival organization, the Hellfire Club, is seeing new leadership – The Kingpin. Fall of X sees the X-Men undergoing some big changes in the wake of the Hellfire Gala Massacre. Now one revelation is that the Hellfire Club has changed leadership, thanks to the machinations of Emma Frost. The Hellfire Club has always been something of a direct counterpart to the X-Men, and its members are behind some of the most memorable moments in X-Men history. Most recently, the Hellfire Club allied with Dr. Stasis and Moira X to orchestrate the Hellfire Gala Massacre. With most mutants dead or missing and Professor X in exile, Hellfire Club leader Sebastian Shaw thought he would have made a fortune. Instead, he’s found himself destitute and the Club in the hands of a new owner – the Kingpin. The Kingpin takes over the Hellfire Club It’s been known that Kingpin and Emma Frost were up to something, though it wasn’t clear what. In an issue of Invincible Iron Man set shortly after the Massacre, Frost and Fisk are seen working on a contract, but it’s not revealed what it was at the time. In Immortal X-Men #14, Wilson Fisk is finally revealed to have become the new White King of the Hellfire Club. He takes over the organization and rescinds Shaw’s membership, making him an outcast. This version of the Hellfire Club is a return to form. While the Club itself has never really been disbanded, its most recent iteration was reimagined as an international trade organization for the mutants. Dubbed the Hellfire Trading Company, it took on a notably more pirate theme with Kate Pryde in command of operations. The latest development sees Sebastian Shaw, long one of the X-Men’s most manipulative foes, up against the ropes. In addition to losing his seat within the Hellfire Club, he voluntarily gave up his mutant power at the wishes of Orchis. It’s also a huge twist for Kingpin. The former mayor and arch-nemesis of Daredevil has found himself changing allegiances often over the years. Most recently, he’s claimed citizenship of Krakoa through is wife, Typhoid Mary. Regardless, becoming the Hellfire Club’s White King puts Fisk in an entirely new ball game as a Marvel villain. The Fall of X has been full of twists and turns so far, from the resurrection of Ms. Marvel to the dramatic character shift of Kitty Pryde. Sebastian Shaw’s shift makes him even more dangerous than ever and puts the X-Men’s father figure right in his crosshairs.

Daredevil powers and weaknesses in Marvel Comics and MCU explained Marvel Comics/Marvel StudiosDaredevil is a Man Without Fear, but you’d probably be less scared, too, if you could see everything around you in a 360-degree radar. Here’s a look at his incredible powers in Marvel Comics and the MCU. The return of Daredevil to the MCU has been one of the hottest commodities for the last several years. After a surprise cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home and a big return for Disney+’s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, the Man Without Fear is finally making his way back. Daredevil: Born Again will mark the next Daredevil-centric MCU story, and fans may want to dip their toes back into the comics. There are decades of stories to follow along with and plenty of tales that focus on Daredevil’s origins and incredible powers. Before his next MCU appearance, here’s a quick look at Daredevil’s powers in the comics and MCU. Daredevil powers in Marvel Comics & MCU Radar sense Perhaps Daredevil’s most prominent power is his incredible 360-degree radar sense. Daredevil’s radar sense gives him a keen awareness of everything around him. The MCU series has depicted this as more of a fuzzy way of seeing the world with its “world on fire” approach, but the comics have a much more definitive look, presenting it as a highly precise method of viewing the world. How Daredevil’s radar sense actually functions has several possible explanations, but it’s not tied in any way to echolocation, despite what the 2003 movie would have you believe. With the radar sense, Daredevil is able to essentially replace his lost eyesight. It’s a major contributing factor to how he’s able to be so acrobatic, coupled with abilities like his enhanced sense of touch and enhanced balance. It comes at a price, though, as stories where Daredevil’s vision is restored show him fighting at a disadvantage. Enhanced senses In addition to his radar sense, Daredevil’s other senses are also enhanced. Just how much they’re enhanced depends on how long he’s had them (and, let’s be real, how strong the writer wants him to be). In Daredevil #1, his abilities were fairly mundane. He could tell if someone was in a room by hearing their heartbeat, identify someone by their smell, tell how many bullets were in a gun by its weight, and count the grains of salt on a pretzel with his tongue. Over the years, though, his powers have become truly remarkable. Daredevil is a living lie detector thanks to his ability to read heartbeats, while his sense of touch allows him to read temperature shifts when someone enters a room. Expert ninja training It may not be a power, but it’s still worth highlighting Daredevil’s phenomenal fighting prowess. Daredevil is an honest-to-god ninja, after all. Daredevil trained as a fighter since childhood, having helped his father, “Battling” Jack Murdock prepare for boxing matches. After his accident gave him enhanced powers, Matt was trained by Stick, a grandmaster of the ninja cult known as The Chaste. Daredevil would only occasionally ally with The Chaste to battle The Hand, choosing instead to use his abilities to defend Hell’s Kitchen. Is Daredevil blind? Daredevil has been blind since childhood. A young Matt Murdock saved a blind man who was about to be hit by a truck but put himself in harm’s way instead. The truck spilled a radioactive isotope, which blinded Matt. That same radioactive isotope is responsible for Daredevil’s enhanced powers. Daredevil’s blindness has rarely been portrayed as a handicap, though stories where he loses his radar sense depict him as at a disadvantage when fighting. Numerous stories over the years have presented the idea that Matt Murdock could have surgery to restore his eyesight. Early issues had Karen Page pleading with Matt to have an experimental procedure that could restore them, while characters like Moon Dragon, Beyonder, and Iron Man have found methods to restore his eyesight. Daredevil has refused these, though, as the cost of losing his eyesight versus the benefit of his enhanced abilities compromised his beliefs. Daredevil weaknesses in Marvel Comics & MCU Enhanced Senses In much the same way that they’re a boon, Daredevil’s enhanced senses are a weakness. Anyone who can successfully overwhelm just one of his senses may put him at a disadvantage if not outright harming him. Stories have dealt with this taken to the extreme, like a stint in the ‘80s where his senses were driven into overdrive, resulting in him needing an isolation chamber. Other stories have established ways to confuse or overload his senses, such as two men telling conflicting stories in the same room, leading to their heartbeats being too similar for Daredevil to tell them apart. A fun caveat of this is Daredevil’s struggle in the modern age. His radar sense can’t see through water, so someone can use fire suppression sprinklers to dull his vision. Even more troublesome, his enhanced senses are absolutely useless when presented with a modern smartphone screen, leading to several moments where an iPhone nearly ruined Daredevil’s greatest secret. Non-superhuman Daredevil is still a regular human and is susceptible to the same things a regular human would be. That includes not just your run-of-mill aging and illnesses but also the physical wear and tear of being a superhero. The isotope which enhanced his abilities did not offer him any type of enhanced durability. Gunshots, knife wounds, and broken bones all stop him in his tracks. He’s also just plain tough as hell. He can numb himself to pain, but a lot of it is attributed to his upbringing at the hands of a boxer and a ninja cult, as well as his devout Catholic faith. The result is a hero with an incredible tolerance for pain and a never-say-die attitude. That’s all for now on Daredevil’s powers but stick with Dexerto for more Daredevil and MCU news.

Ten best Daredevil comics to read before the MCU’s Born Again Marvel Comics/Marvel StudiosWhether you’re waiting for Daredevil and Kingpin to return in Born Again or just want to celebrate the Man Without Fear’s 60th anniversary, these ten comics from Marvel are sure to get you caught up and excited for new Daredevil stories. Daredevil is celebrating his 60th anniversary this year. While the year was supposed to be run in with the launch of Daredevil: Born Again, that doesn’t men there won’t be any celebration. Whether you’re celebrating Daredevil’s 60th anniversary or are patiently waiting for the next MCU adventure, here are the ten best Daredevil comics and where you can buy them. Contents The Man Without Fear – Guardian Devil – Daredevil: Yellow – Out – The Red Fist Saga – Daredevil by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee – The Devil in Cell Block D – Devil’s Reign – Last Hand – Born Again – 10. The Man Without Fear Fans of the Netflix series will be quick to recognize Man Without Fear. The seminal series by industry legends Frank Miller and John Romita Jr. laid the groundwork for the Netflix series and is the inspiration for much of Daredevil’s modern backstory. Released in 1993, The Man Without Fear is a five-issue retelling of Daredevil’s origins. After decades of being embroiled in an eternal conflict with The Hand, this tale returned Matt to a street-level Marvel hero, updating his origins as a crime fighter and how he evolved into Daredevil. These days, Daredevil’s origin is fairly well explored. But for 1993, this return to form led to a darker, grittier Daredevil than fans were accustomed to, setting the stage for much of the hero’s crime drama-inspired stories at the turn of the century. 9. Guardian Devil Though a distant memory today, the Marvel Knights relaunch was a really incredible time to be a comic fan. After a period of downturn in the ‘90s, the relaunch returned characters like Black Panther and the Inhumans to prominence. Daredevil was the marquee character of the Marvel Knight comics imprint, with a very high-profile story written by Kevin Smith and drawn by Joe Quesada. Guardian Devil puts Matt’s role as a superhero and his faith as a Catholic directly at odds when he finds himself safeguarding a baby who may be the antichrist. The story was praised at release for its classic Daredevil stylings and how it humanized the characters, though its twist-ending villain met with some disappointment from fans. While the comic itself has yet to be adapted, much of its imagery and its climactic Bullseye fight made their way to Daredevil Season 3. 8. Daredevil: Yellow If The Man Without Fear retold the heroic origins of Daredevil, then Yellow retells the human origins. Set shortly after Guardian Devil, this mini-series by the superstar team of Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale explores the early days of Daredevil when he was still running around in his original yellow and red suit. Yellow is framed as an exploration of the grieving process, with Matt writing letters to the deceased Karen Page to cope with her loss. In the letters, Matt recounts his early days as a costumed adventurer and the formation of his early law firm with Karen and Foggy. Yellow was part of a series of stories by Loeb and Sale, who by this time were an acclaimed duo for their work on Batman: The Long Halloween and Superman For All Seasons. It’s certainly a more modern and emotional take on Daredevil’s beginnings, but it’s a lovely counterpoint to grim and dark Man Without Fear. 7. Out Out by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev features one of the most shocking modern Daredevil moments: the public reveal of Matt Murdock’s identity. It’s not necessarily a new idea. After all, the legendary Born Again begins with Karen Page selling Matt’s identity, information that makes it’s way to the Kingpin. But Out does it in such a grander, messier scale. Matt Murdock is outed as Daredevil in a tabloid, and his already unusual personal life offers a weirdly immediate validity to the claim. Matt struggles not just with the reality of being exposed, but the domino effect it has on his personal and professional life. The revelations of Out would haunt Matt for the better part of a decade, making it a modern Daredevil must-read. 6. The Red Fist Saga Ever since his vision was stolen, Matt Murdock has been on a collision course with destiny. He is fated to battle The Hand to a bitter end, raised to be a weapon to stop the cult from taking over the world. The Red Fist Saga sees Matt finally forced to reckon with that reality. With the world believing Matt Murdock has died, he can fully commit himself to becoming Daredevil and joining Elektra as a leader of The Fist, an organization designed to destroy The Hand. Red Fist Saga is the endgame of Chip Zdarsky’s legendary Daredevil run, with some truly spectacular moments, including Daredevil’s wedding and a confrontation with The Punisher. The story does lose some nuance if you’re a new reader, but there’s something here for everyone. 5. Daredevil by Mark Waid & Chris Samnee Daredevil comics have something of a reputation for being dark and melancholic. For 2011’s Daredevil relaunch, writer Mark Waid and artist Chris Samnee changed that by giving the Man Without Fear some levity. Recovering from being possessed by The Beast following the Shadowland event, Matt Murdock returns to New York, reinvigorated and seeking to reestablish himself. This run is unusually cavalier, with a Daredevil who could almost be described as swashbuckling. Where most runs would dive back into the melancholy of Matt Murdock’s misery, Waid and Samnee’s run explores a Daredevil with a renewed lust for life, free from the shackles of guilt – or at least pretending to be. This run, spread across two volumes, also includes an incredible twist, making Daredevil’s identity public and relocating him from the dreary Hell’s Kitchen to sunny San Francisco. 4. The Devil in Cell Block D Stuck in prison, the Kingpin plays the biggest card he’s been holding. In exchange for his release, he’ll tell the feds everything he knows about Matt Murdock’s actions as Daredevil. Surprisingly, it works. Nothing they have on Kingpin can stick, and Matt’s actions are illegal. This leads to The Devil in Cell Block D, a story that sees Matt in prison awaiting trial. But he’s locked up with criminals he put away…and the Kingpin. The Devil in Cell Block D is a hell of a story, told in the shadow of Marvel’s massive Civil War event. If the tension of Matt being locked in prison isn’t enough to entice you, then the mystery of just who the hell is running around Hell’s Kitchen in a Daredevil costume is sure to win you over. 3. Devil’s Reign With the help of The Purple Man’s children, Matt Murdock erased everyone’s memory of him as Daredevil. He started his life over. But the Kingpin has discovered what was taken from him, and now he wants to make Daredevil pay. Devil’s Reign follows Kingpin’s bid for bloody revenge after Daredevil messed with his mind, all while he attempts to cement his power as the mayor of New York. All of Marvel’s NYC heroes are here to lend a helping hand, but make no mistake about it: this is absolutely a Daredevil event. Devil’s Reign is the payoff to a lot of big ideas, including the Kingpin’s evil Thunderbolts and the superhero ban in New York. It’s also the inspiration for the MCU’s Daredevil: Born Again revival, so there’s no better time than now to give it a read. 2. Last Hand Matt Murdock may have the worst luck with his secret identity. The latest to discover he’s Daredevil may be the worst, though–it’s none other than his oldest foe, Bullseye. But Bullseye is evil and twisted. He won’t just hunt down Matt and call it good. He wants to ruin him, and that involves picking a fight with someone very, very close to him. Someone who is supposedly the greatest assassin in the world. Bullseye vs. Elektra is easily one of Marvel’s most iconic fights, and Last Hand is easily one of the most important single Daredevil stories ever published. The fallout of this story kicks off a lifetime of Daredevil arcs, and its ramifications are still being felt today. 1. Born Again Karen Page left New York to become an actress, but she came back with a crippling drug addiction. She sells the only thing she has left: the secret identity of Daredevil. A piece of paper that drifts through the criminal underworld until it reaches the one person who knows what to do with it: the Kingpin. The Kingpin systematically destroys everything about Matt Murdock: his reputation, his name, and even his home. Beating Daredevil in a fight, Kingpin fakes the unconscious Murdock’s death by placing him in the back of a stolen cab, sinking it in the East River, and waiting. And to the Kingpin’s shock, the car is found – but there’s no body. It goes without saying that Born Again is THE Daredevil story, as a paranoid and broken Matt must find the will to fight back from a total loss. While its use as the title for the MCU reboot is likely more marketing than anything, the original Born Again is a tense trial by fire that made Daredevil a household name. Fans looking to find where the fascination with the character began need look no further to learn why Daredevil is known as the Man Without Fear. The ten best Wolverine comics & where to find them | Ten best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | X-Men Krakoa Age finale: Magneto’s resurrection, Iron Man’s downfall, & more | X-Men ’97 Easter eggs: All Marvel Comics & movie references explained | The best graphic novels of all time and where to find them | Marvel Comics’ Blood Hunt reading guide: Spider-Man tie-ins, Morbius’ return & more | How old is Wolverine? Age in comics, X-Men & Wolverine actor age explained If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

How old is Daredevil? Marvel character’s age in MCU and comics explained Marvel Comics/Marvel StudiosMost Marvel heroes don’t have a lot you can base their age around, but you can get closer to how old Daredevil might be when you consider his legal education. We’re nearly a decade passt the debut of Netflix’s Daredevil, a series which fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of. Much like his comic counterpart, time moves differently for the MCU’s Daredevil. Though the actors age in real-time, an actual age is rarely given for the characters themselves. It’s an effort to keep the stories timeless and the characters relatable as fans of all ages come in and out of the stories. While they may never be given specific ages, though, some fuzzy math and paying attention to the back story of a character can give us an approximation of a character’s age. What is Daredevil’s age in Marvel Comics? Daredevil appears to be in his mid-to-late 30s, despite having debuted in 1964. This is because of Marvel’s sliding timescale, which is designed to keep stories current but ensure characters don’t outright age out of their stories. Thanks to the time scale, Marvel characters who debuted in the ‘60s have only aged a handful of years. It also means events are sometimes retconned or changed, like Reed Richards and Ben Grimm’s history as World War II veterans being retconned to veterans of a non-descript war. In his first appearance, Matt Murdock appears to be slightly older than heroes in their mid-to-late 20s like Spider-Man. There’s also Matt’s law background, which means he’s undergone extensive schooling prior to his Daredevil years. Mid-to-late 30s lines Matt up with most other Marvel heroes and makes the most sense considering his background. Daredevil’s age in the MCU explained Current MCU Daredevil actor Charlie Cox is currently 41, and presumably, his Matt Murdock is meant to be around that age, if not slightly younger. The Netflix series never actually confirms his age, but Cox first portrayed the character when he was 33. This would put him just a hair older than the previous Daredevil, Ben Affleck. When he played the role in 2003’s Daredevil, Affleck was 30 years old. Ironically, the oldest Daredevil is also the original. Rex Smith was 34 when he played Matt Murdock in Trial of the Incredible Hulk, a television movie intended to serve as a backdoor pilot for a Daredevil series that never made it to production. For more Daredevil and Marvel Comics news, stick with Dexerto.

Who is Cyclops? X-Men leader’s powers & origins explained Marvel Comics | Marvel StudiosBefore the return of the X-Men to television, theaters, and a rebooted comics presence, here’s everything you need to know about their leader, Cyclops. The upcoming release of X-Men ’97 and the looming arrival of the X-Men in the MCU has fans looking back to classic X-Men characters yet again. Currently, the X-Men in the comics are preparing for another reboot. Though details about the next era of X-Men have not been revealed yet, fans expect something more traditional that lines up with their depiction in future projects. Appropriately, perhaps no one is more front-and-center in the X-Men than Cyclops, the character who has been the face of the team since they debuted. Who is the X-Men’s Cyclops? Traditionally, Scott Summers, aka Cyclops, is the leader of the X-Men. He debuted alongside the other original X-Men – Marvel Girl, Angel, The Beast, and Iceman – in 1963’s The Uncanny X-Men #1. Cyclops was orphaned as a child when he was thrown out of a crashing plane by his parents, along with his brother, Alex. The two are separated after Alex is adopted out of the orphanage, which is secretly run by genetic terrorist Mister Sinister, who takes an interest in Scott’s potential. Eventually, Scott’s mutant gift—powerful optic blasts emitted from his eyes—would manifest. However, head trauma sustained in the plane accident left him unable to control his powers without special glasses made of ruby quartz. After an accident with his powers nearly killed a crowd, Scott fled the orphanage. Eventually, he would find himself in the care of Professor Charles Xavier, who took him in as his first student. Even after the other members of the original team departed Xavier’s following Giant Size X-Men #1, Cyclops remained a mainstay. His tenure as an X-Man is marked by some remarkable feats, including shepherding the mutant race in the wake of M-Day back to survivable numbers and his tenure at Xavier’s, where he’s led young mutants to prosperous lives both in and out of the X-Men. While most humans fear him because he’s a mutant, plenty of other heroes show him respect, though it’s often begrudgingly. Many of his actions to defend mutants–like fighting the Avengers to keep them from capturing the Phoenix Force or attacking government officials who incarcerated young mutants–leave him branded a terrorist. However, he’s also had some truly staggering trauma inflicted on him, including the revelation that his second wife, Madeline Pryor, was a clone made by Sinister to manipulate him and the decision to leave his newborn son, Nathan, to be raised in the future so he could survive a techno-organic virus. In the Krakoa era, Cyclops serves as something of a figurehead for the mutant race, leading by example as an elected member of the X-Men. Cyclops’ powers & weaknesses in Marvel Comics explained Cyclops’ mutant power consists of powerful concussive beams generated through his eyes. The beams are fueled by ambient cosmic radiation, which his body processes into energy. Though they fire from his eyes, Cyclops has minimal natural control over them as a result of head trauma. He can only stop them unaided by shutting his eyes or covering them with his hands; otherwise, they fire wildly in a wide burst when his eyes are open. The beams can be stopped by ruby quartz, which he has numerous accessories–including sunglasses, visors, and contact lenses–forged from to control and direct them. With his ruby quartz visor, Cyclops has precise control over the beams. He’s able to fire a wide burst that can level fields or fire a narrow beam with such accuracy that he can punch a hole in an object–or a person. Extensive combat training has given him sniper-like accuracy with his beams. It is a common misconception, but the beams do not produce heat. Instead, they’re a purely concussive force. While Cyclops himself has no telepathic abilities, his training with Professor X, Jean Grey, and Emma Frost has given him extensive psychic training and conditioning, making him incredibly resistant to telepathic attacks. Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More | Sabretooth War: Everyone who died so far in Wolverine’s bloodiest story ever | The darkest alternate Earths in the Marvel Multiverse | Is Wolverine an Avenger? X-Men character’s other superhero teams explained | X-Men ’97: Is Morph based on a Marvel Comics character? | What level mutant is Wolverine? X-Men character’s power level explained | How X-Men Blue: Origins’ retcons change Nightcrawler and Mystique’s relationship | Who is Wolverine’s worst enemy? X-Men character’s nemesis explained | How old is Wolverine? Age in comics, X-Men & Wolverine actor age explained

Who is Cassandra Nova? Deadpool 3 villain explained Marvel Studios | Marvel ComicsThe first trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine may confirm the debut of one of the X-Men’s deadliest and weirdest enemies, Cassandra Nova. One of the biggest surprises to come out of the first Deadpool & Wolverine trailer would be the first look at the film’s big bad, Cassandra Nova. While Nova has not been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios, she was confirmed as being played by The Crown actor Emma Corrin thanks to, of all things, a US Copyright Office filing. Cassandra Nova is a product of one of the X-Men’s most popular and most bizarre eras. What’s more, her jump to film would mark the first time some of the weirder, more modern X-Men ideas have made the leap to the big screen. Cassandra Nova is a dark reflection of Charles Xavier Debuting in the pages of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s critically acclaimed New X-Men, Cassandra Nova is not a mutant but rather a Mummudrai, a being from the Astral Plane who presents itself as the antithesis of a host. She manifested inside the womb alongside Charles Xavier, intending to possess his body; however, after taking on his powers, she was able to mimic his human form and use his body as a template to form her own. Once she developed, Cassandra attempted to strangle Charles in the womb, but he lashed back with a psychic blast and killed her physical form. However, enough of the stillborn body’s cells survived that she was able to regrow her body. Convinced that she and Charles are the only real things in the universe, she sets about destroying everything Xavier loves. Plotting her revenge, an adult Cassandra Nova uses Sentinels to destroy the mutant island of Genosha, massacring half of Earth’s mutants. She then attacks the X-Men and uses Cerebra to swap bodies with Xavier. Before Xavier can reveal he is trapped in Nova’s body, his neck is broken by Emma Frost in retaliation for the Genoshia attack. He’s then shot by the Nova, who is now in control of his body. As Xavier, Nova outs the longtime mutant activist as a mutant and reveals the X-Men to sow distrust among Earth, then takes to space with the Shi’ar empire. Nova breaks the mind of Xavier’s longtime lover, the Shi’ar Majestrix Lilandra, and returns to Earth with the Shi’ar army, intent on taking back her original form. Eventually, Cassandra Nova is foiled when she attempts to use Cerebra again, this time to access the mind of the Earth’s mutants. However, Jean Grey was able to save the memories of Xavier with her own telepathic powers, splitting them up and storing them in the minds of other mutants. Once Nova’s memories make contact with Xavier, he reasserts control of his body. Trapped without a form, Nova is tricked by Emma into possessing the body of a shapeshifting Shi’ar warrior, her mind erased and the body stored in a box. Nova would reappear over the years, notably as a trauma manifestation of Emma Frost’s during Astonishing X-Men, and for real when Jean Grey was resurrected in X-Men Red. She was last seen in the pages of Marauders, where Emma and Kate Pryde trapped Cassandra millions of years in the past. How will Cassandra Nova factor into Deadpool & Wolverine? It has not been confirmed yet that the mysterious figure we see in the Deadpool 3 trailer is Cassandra Nova, though all signs point to it. Early scoops for Deadpool & Wolverine have pointed to Nova, portrayed by English actor Emma Corrin, as the film’s primary antagonist. However, it’s unclear if this will be the mythological Shi’ar being of the comics or if the film will take a more streamlined approach to the character, such as making her a variant of Xavier (Patrick Stewart is also heavily rumored to be making some kind of appearance, though this is not yet confirmed). While there’s no clear indicator how, exactly, Cassandra Nova could factor into the film’s plot, it is worth noting it could have dire consequences for one supporting character: Deadpool fan-favorite Negasonic Teenage Warhead. Negasonic Teenage Warhead’s few comic appearances are in the earliest Cassandra Nova stories, debuting as an X-Men student with the ability to see the future. She’s on Genosha under Emma Frost’s tutelage but is explicitly killed in Cassandra Nova’s massacre. Though she later reappeared as a hallucination of the traumatized Emma, the character would be resurrected during the Necrosha event, eventually changing her appearance to more closely resemble her film counterpart. Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More | Marvel Comics’ Blood Hunt reading guide: Spider-Man tie-ins, Morbius’ return & more | Best Deadpool comics for new readers | Do Wolverine and Deadpool have the same powers in Marvel Comics & MCU? | How old is Deadpool? Age in MCU & Marvel Comics explained | Who is Dogpool? Deadpool 3’s dog sidekick’s comic origins explained | Five best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | X-Men Krakoa Age finale: Magneto’s resurrection, Iron Man’s downfall, & more

Does Carol die in The Walking Dead? TWD comics vs show explained AMC / Image ComicsThe Walking Dead fans have enjoyed seeing Carol play out a much different character arc to the comic book series. Here, we look at whether Carol will die in The Walking Dead and how her original fate differs on AMC’s TV show. Carol Peletier has featured in the vast majority of The Walking Dead’s episodes on television, but as is the case with any popular character, fans are always on edge about whether they will survive for much longer. Fans can anticipate Carol’s return in Season 2 of Daryl Dixon‘s spinoff show, where Daryl faces the dilemma of choosing between staying in France and reuniting with Carol and the group in the United States. While she might be enjoying a great run on television, is the time ticking on her future in TWDU? Does Carol die in The Walking Dead? Comics vs TV show Carol Peletier is still alive in the AMC television show, but her fate in the comic book series is different – as Carol did die within the first 50 issues. That said, the character has taken on a life of its own on-screen and continues to be popular. When does Carol die in The Walking Dead? In the television show, Carol has not faced death yet. However, in the comic book series, Carol met her demise in issue #42, which was released in 2007. Who kills Carol in TWD… How does she die? In the television show, Carol has not been killed. In the comics, her death was a result of a suicide by allowing a walker to bite and kill her. Who plays Carol in The Walking Dead? Melissa McBride is the actress who brings the character Carol Peletier to life in The Walking Dead. Besides her portrayal of Carol, Melissa McBride has taken on various roles in her career but is best known for her part in the series. While Carol’s fate looked uncertain as the main television show ended in Season 11, looking settled in the Commonwealth. Next up, fans can anticipate her return in Season 2 of Daryl Dixon‘s spinoff series, ‘The Book of Carol,’ scheduled for release in 2024. In Season 1, she had a minor part to play by trying to tell Daryl somebody had returned… Until the radio died and the message wasn’t delivered. What comes next? We’ll have to wait and see.

New Captain Marvel comic may have confirmed one massive Ms. Marvel MCU theory Marvel ComicsThe upcoming Captain Marvel relaunch gives Carol Danvers her predecessor’s Nega Bands. Does this confirm a major plot point of the upcoming The Marvels? We’re just a few short months out from the release of The Marvels, which means it’s time for the corporate synergy machine to start its work. And the machine might just be working overtime for this one. Ms. Marvel just underwent her most significant change since her debut, dying in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man so she could be reborn as a mutant. Meanwhile, Captain Marvel herself is getting a relaunched series and a snazzy new costume. That synergy is creating an interesting dynamic, though. The upcoming Captain Marvel relaunch also brings an important Marvel Comics artifact back into the forefront, perhaps spoiling a major plot point for The Marvels. Captain Marvel is reintroducing the Nega Bands to the Marvel Universe A solicit shared by Marvel reveals that Captain Marvel #2 sees a new character, cat burglar Yuna Yang, bound to the Nega Bands – and entangled with Captain Marvel. Bound together, the two find themselves fighting for their lives against a new villain, Omen, who is on the hunt for the Nega Bands. The Nega Bands are incredibly significant, as they’ve been the source of rumors surrounding Ms. Marvel since her Disney+ series. In the Disney+ show, Ms. Marvel’s powers come from a bangle that belonged to an ancestor. Fans began theorizing that the bangle is one of the Nega Bands. This theory was given more fuel in the season finale’s post-credit scene, where Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel switch places. All the talk of entanglement in the trailers for The Marvels hasn’t helped, either. The Nega Bands are a legendary Marvel artifact, first introduced in 1969’s Captain Marvel #16. The bands were created for the first Captain Marvel but trapped him in the Negative Zone. The bands would eventually be bonded with the Hulk’s best friend, Rick Jones, who could tap the bands together to swap places with Captain Marvel, creating an Earth-born secret identity for the Kree hero. While there have been multiple incarnations of the Nega Bands, they most often find themselves in the hands of the current Captain Marvel. Rick Jones again got possession of them following 1999’s Avengers Forever event, this time bound to Mar-Vell’s son, Genis-Vell. Most recently, one of the original Nega Bands was reforged into wedding rings for Mar-Vell’s other son, Dorrek-Vell, when he married the Scarlet Witch’s son, Wiccan. The design of the Nega Bands shown on the Captain Marvel covers is strikingly different from the typical, simple bands seen in the past, so these may be a new set of bands or the originals have been reforged yet again. The presence of the bands indicates the kind of corporate synergy that Marvel is fond of right now, as seen in their latest Thunderbolts line-up. For the latest on Marvel Comics, head over for our continuing coverage.

Captain America Funko Pop & Pin assembles with nearly 40% off Amazon’s latest deal lets you save 39% on a special 60th anniversary Captain America Funko Pop vinyl and enamel pin set from the Avengers comics. For collectors with an eye for exclusive deals and Marvel merch, pay attention – Funko’s Avengers 60th Anniversary Captain America Pop vinyl and pin set is now available at an impressive 39% off for a limited time. This highly detailed Captain America Funko Pop captures the famous hero mid-action, shield raised and ready for battle. Modeled after Steve Rogers‘ colorful costume from Marvel’s 2015 Avengers, the 4.25-inch vinyl sports metallic red and white stripes, wings on the temples of his blue helmet, and stylized “A” symbol on his forehead. The Pop perfectly encapsulates everything fans love about the Star-Spangled Avenger. Pairing perfectly with the throwback figure is a 2-inch enamel pin also featuring Cap’s timeless design. The metal-backed pin makes a perfect companion for the Pop – doubling up on beloved Captain America iconography that has endured across comic evolutions since his debut. Save nearly 40% on Captain America Funko Pop and Pin As a founding member and leader of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes team, Captain America has starred in countless classic Avengers stories. This exclusive 60th Anniversary set celebrates his legacy as one of Marvel’s most famous super soldiers. Pitting his super-strength, agility, and expert combat skills against threats like Hydra and Ultron, Cap always inspires other heroes to keep fighting for justice. Expand your Funko and Marvel merchandise collections by scoring this limited-edition bundle at a 39% savings. But hurry – a star-spangled, shield-slinging special like this won’t last forever. Catch the deals now before they disappear! No villain stands a chance with the Avengers Pop and Pin standing sentry in your collection. Captain America and the Avengers will continue battling evil for another 60 years and beyond! If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Captain America #6 gives Cap’s shield a huge demon-busting magic upgrade Marvel ComicsCaptain America gets a big magic upgrade with help from Doctor Strange, allowing him to fight off a demon. The recent Captain America relaunch has moved Marvel’s star-spangled Avenger into somewhat unknown territory, pushing the character outside his comfort zone. He’s started the run out dabbling in being a landlord. However, he also found himself fighting a monster from hell. It’s all in a day’s work. Sure, Cap’s fought plenty of magic users, but this time, he’s facing a literal demon. Thankfully, he has a little help, which has led to one of his biggest upgrades ever. Captain America’s shield just got a huge upgrade from Doctor Strange Captain America #6 pits Cap against The Emissary, who is taunting him on behalf of the demon Asmoday. Cap’s getting his ass absolutely handed to him for a good chunk of the fight, barely managing to hold back The Emissary to allow Misty Knight and Sharon Carter to free hostages. Fortunately, he has a little help from Doctor Strange. Strange, who is communicating with Captain America via a puppet that extends the range of his telepathy, summons the Eye of Agamotto and fuses it with Captain America’s shield. “Pretty sure this is the only thing you can use safely and can defeat Asmoday.” Strange remarks. The result is a big magic upgrade for Cap, who is then able to go blow-for-blow with The Emissary. The current run, which brings acclaimed writer J. Michael Straczynski back to the character, has so far focused on Captain America balancing the investigation into the demon Asmoday with becoming the landlord of his childhood apartment complex. Next month’s Captain America #7 continues the thread with a solicitation that promises “a bold new arc that will send ripples across the Marvel Universe.” Captain America #6 is available now from Marvel Comics. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

The classic Doctor Strange spell that could end Marvel’s Blood Hunt – and why it won’t work Marvel ComicsThe first issue of Marvel’s Blood Hunt event teases the Montesi Formula as a solution to the vampire problem, but a previous event has already made it impossible. Blood Hunt has kicked off May’s comics with a fang—I mean a bang—as vampires take over the Marvel Universe. However, the event has already kicked off with a possible solution that it hearkens back to a classic Doctor Strange story. But while The Montesi Formula did succeed in its previous appearance, there’s already a written-in explanation for why it won’t work this time. Warning, spoilers for Blood Hunt #1 follow. How Doctor Strange used The Montesi Formula to kill vampires The Montesi Formula itself is first formally mentioned in 1974’s Dracula Lives. The formula is a Darkhold incantation discovered by a priest, Giuseppe Montesi. Though Giuseppe is able to use the incantation to destroy a vampire in the story, he’s killed and the note he wrote it on is destroyed by Dracula himself. It’s important to remember just how different Marvel’s landscape was in the ’70s. Vampires, werewolves, and creatures of the night were a fairly sizable chunk of their output, as the company had made its name on horror comics in its earliest days. As trends shifted, though, these books would introduce new heroes who are more familiar to readers today, like Blade and Moon Knight. But the Marvel Comics era of vampires and Dracula as an existing character would come to a close in 1982. In a four-part Doctor Strange arc, the Sorceror Supreme discovers not only the Montesi Formula but that casting it while in possession of the Darkhold will create a spell powerful enough to remove the curse of vampirism from the plane of existence. Doctor Strange #62 sees the Sorceror Supreme successfully cast that spell, and as a result, vampires are removed from the field for years. They wouldn’t return until 1990’s Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #18, when the Lord of Vampires, Varnae, is revived. Soon after Varnae’s revival, vampires—including Dracula himself—start to exist throughout Marvel once again. Though they occasionally appear in books tied to the magical aspects of Marvel after their revival, they flourish in the mid-2010s when they encounter the X-Men during the Curse of the Mutants arc. Why Blood Hunt can’t be stopped with The Montesi Formula It is possible the Montesi Formula could be used to some degree to aid the heroes of the Marvel Universe in Blood Hunt, but it’s not a solution. That’s because of the Darkhold itself—or, specifically, the lack thereof. Even Doctor Strange needed the actual Darkhold to cast the spell at a high enough level to eradicate the vampirism curse. However, the 2022 event The Darkhold saw the book itself destroyed, as the Scarlet Witch consumed it and its power to prevent the return of Chthon. Since then, the Darkhold has been considered lost. Though Agatha Harkness attempted to recreate her own in 2023’s Contest of Chaos event, both Harkness and the living personification of the Darkhold she created have not been seen since. Without the Darkhold, it seems impossible to use the Montesi Formula at its full power. As such, the best it could do would likely be to kill a few vampires in its immediate vicinity. Even that may be tough, though, considering the issue seemingly kicks off with Doctor Strange being impaled by Blade. Blood Hunt #1 is available now for Marvel Comics. To keep up with the event, be sure to check out Dexerto’s Blood Hunt Reading Guide. Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More | X-Men: From the Ashes – New X-teams, costumes, & the fate of Xavier’s School | X-Men Krakoa Age finale: Magneto’s resurrection, Iron Man’s downfall, & more | DC Comics Absolute Power reading guide: Will the Justice League return in next event? | Sabretooth War: Everyone who died so far in Wolverine’s bloodiest story ever

Marvel Comics’ Blood Hunt reading guide: Spider-Man tie-ins, Morbius’ return & more Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics is home to a vampire takeover for 2024’s Blood Hunt event, which sees Spider-Man, the Avengers, the X-Men, and more unite to battle a supernatural threat. First announced at New York Comic-Con, Blood Hunt is a limited series event that takes the Marvel Universe by storm during the Summer of 2024. With the world blanketed in an eternal night, vampires and other creatures of the night come forth to overwhelm Earth. With the world seemingly doomed, Earth’s heroes band together to stand against what seems to be an inevitable death. The presence of vampires and other monsters may surprise some fans, but it shouldn’t. Marvel’s always had one toe dipped into the realm of horror comics after their early success in the genre. Even when Marvel shifted to superhero comics, characters like Dracula and Werewolf by Night kept the legacy alive, regularly crossing over with titles like X-Men and Moon Knight. Every Marvel’s Blood Hunt tie-in comic, mini-series, & one-shot Contents Blood Hunt limited event series issues – Blood Hunt tie-in issue – Blood Hunt mini-series issues – Blood Hunt one-shots – What comes after Blood Hunt? – Marvel’s Blood Hunt kicks off with a Free Comic Book Day tie-in. After that, the story will continue in a five-issue limited series, with tie-in issues spanning everything from Amazing Spider-Man to Doctor Strange. The core Blood Hunt series will actually have two distinct releases: a normal edition for all ages and a special red band expanded edition with additional gore and violence. This continues Marvel’s current trend of leaning into more violent offerings, like Wolverine’s current Sabretooth War arc. Blood Hunt Main Series Blood Hunt will be told primarily through a five-issue limited series, a free prequel comic and a Free Comic Book Day one-shot. Blood Hunt tie-in issues The story of Blood Hunt spills out of the five-issue limited series, as the event ties into the Vengeance of the Moon Knight, The Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers, Doctor Strange, Venom, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Fantastic Four ongoing titles. Blood Hunt mini-series issues In addition to the main limited series and tie-ins, a number of Blood Hunt mini-series will spin out of the event. Some pretty substantial Marvel events will happen here, including the return of the Midnight Sons and Black Panther being transformed into a vampire. Blood Hunt One-Shots Marvel has teased six Blood Hunt one-shots that will tie into the event. On February 20, Marvel announced four of these books would be X-Men-related, bringing the mutants back into contact with vampires for the first time since 2010’s Curse of the Mutants. All the X-Men books will also be running alongside the X-Men reboot, From the Ashes, though the books appear to still be using Krakoa-era logos. The final two one-shots will feature stories focused on Werewolf by Night and Hulk. What comes after Blood Hunt? While Blood Hunt is still a few months away as of this writing, Marvel is already teasing what’s next after the event. The major players will certainly have big changes, but we know at least one book will release: a new Werewolf by Night title by Jason Loo (who will write the Werewolf by Night: Blood Hunt one-shot) and Venom artist Sergio Dávila. Interestingly, the new Werewolf by Night will continue the Red Band/Explicit Content trend, offering readers a more violent and mature series than Marvel traditionally produces. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission. X-Men Krakoa Age finale: Magneto’s resurrection, Iron Man’s downfall, & more | Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More | Sabretooth War: Everyone who died so far in Wolverine’s bloodiest story ever | Five best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | The best Fantastic Four comics to read before the next movie | Best Deadpool comics for new readers | Daredevil comics to read before the MCU’s Born Again | Marvel Comics Ultimate Spider-Man – New origin, villains & more | The darkest alternate Earths in the Marvel Multiverse

Black Manta fans are expecting nightmare fuel in Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom DC Comics/Warner BrosAquaman and the Lost Kingdom’s focus on Black Manta has some long-time fans wondering if the shocking death of Aqua-Baby is coming to the big screen. Black Manta is front and center of the recent teaser trailer for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which is a relief to fans. Manta barely factored into the original film, being unceremoniously removed from the field even before the halfway mark. Black Manta has been a notorious Aquaman villain since the early days of the hero. His desire to kill Aquaman by any means necessary has become almost a meme, he’s petty enough to rival even Reverse-Flash. That’s not always the case, though. Some stories have depicted Manta as downright terrifying, and one story that could play into Aquaman 2 could be the darkest turn for a comic book movie yet. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom fans wonder if Black Manta killing Aqua-baby could happen The event in question is Black Manta’s killing of Aquaman’s infant son, Arthur Curry Jr., better known as Aqua-Baby. The event takes place in 1977’s Adventure Comics #452, an issue that is so unassuming in its cover art that you wouldn’t know it features the death of an infant. Instead, the cover shows Aquaman and his teenage sidekick, Aqualad, fighting to the death. In the issue, Aquaman and Aqualad are forced to fight in an arena by Black Manta. To motivate them to fight, Black Manta has placed Aqua-Baby inside a bubble slowly filling with oxygen, threatening to suffocate him. It is shocking even today to see a story end with a hero holding a dead infant and swearing revenge. That hasn’t stopped many social media users from wondering aloud if the upcoming Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom would utilize the scene. The conceit is that Black Manta will release Arthur Curry Jr. once either Aquaman or Aqualad is dead. The two fight until they’re able to see through Manta’s ruse and find a way to shatter the bubble holding Arthur Jr., but it’s too late. The death of Aqua-Baby would be a defining moment for Aquaman. It took the rivalry between Aquaman and Black Manta, at that time just a typical Silver Age matter, to a much darker place, as both sought nothing less than to kill the other for a time. The event could serve a similar purpose for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The teaser proposes a much darker film, with Aquaman’s childhood home at one point seen on fire as he stands among the rubble. Black Manta is seen as a much more terrifying threat, scarred from his previous fight with Aquaman and seeking righteous vengeance. It seems unlikely the film would take the leap to having Black Manta kill a character like Aqua-Baby. It would be a huge leap to ask viewers to watch something like killing a child, not to mention the sudden shift to Aquaman being a father. But it remains to be seen how the film will actually build the rivalry between the two characters. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom releases on December 20. For more Aquaman and comic book news, make sure to follow all our coverage.

Cosplayer shows off stunning and toothy Venomized Black Cat costume Marvel ComicsA cosplay shared by graciethecosplaylass is merging Black Cat and Venom together in one terrifying costume with bite. Pretty much everyone gets a symbiote in Marvel Comics these days. The days of there only being a handful of symbiotes are long behind us, as a bevy of symbiotes and hosts populate the universe. This also means there are more opportunities than ever for fans to cherry-pick their favorite symbiote character. Be it reading comics, picking up games, or creating fan art, there are so many options to choose from now. For cosplayers, the possibilities are all but endless. One cosplayer has now shown off an exciting – and terrifying – take on one of Spider-Man’s closest allies and greatest villains united. Venomized Black Cat cosplay is stunning – and toothy In a post shared on her Instagram, cosplayer Gracie McClung is showing off her venomized Black Cat. It’s a stunning cosplay that has some teeth to it. No, there are literally teeth. Dozens of handmade teeth adorn the arms and chest of the costume, making up elements that are typically fur on the Black Cat costume. In a reel shared to her page, Gracie showed off the painstaking process of making each tooth, consisting of triangles being cut, warped and formed under heat. The rest of the cosplay is incredibly detailed, a black body suit with the classic black suit logo and the trademark white veins that modern Venom incarnations don. A simple domino mask with a similar Venom flourish caps off the outfit. There is a comic basis for the suit, though it’s not canon to the story. The design is based on an Ariel Diaz variant cover for 2022’s The Amazing Spider-Man #29. Black Cat does wind up wearing the Venom symbiote on Earth-258, as seen in Extreme Venomverse #2, where she bonds with the symbiote after Spider-Man separates from it in the original story. Black Cat also gets a symbiote in the 2008 video game Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, where she’s a potential endgame partner for Spider-Man, should players choose to go the evil route. For more Spider-Man and comic book news, be sure to stay with Dexerto.

Birds of Prey reveals who would win if Harley Quinn and Batman’s toughest kid fought DC ComicsThe debut issue of the new Birds of Prey reveals Batgirl and Harley Quinn had a brief fight, but the winner may surprise literally everyone. It feels like it’s been a long time coming, but Birds of Prey is finally back at DC Comics. The new team, led by original team member Black Canary, comes together to help find Canary’s missing daughter, Sin. To save her, Black Canary brings together a team of DC’s most terrifying, badass women, including Cassandra Cain/Batgirl, Big Barda, and Zealot. But the team’s not enough, and they need a fifth member. Batgirl reveals she knows the perfect person to be the fifth and goes on to tell a surprising story. Through this story, fans learn that she previously had a fight with Harley Quinn, the outcome of which nobody could have predicted. Birds of Prey reveals Harley Quinn can beat Batgirl in a fight Batgirl isn’t necessarily proud of it, but the story involves her losing a fight with Harley Quinn. The two run into each other on an investigation, and Harley lashes out because she assumes Batgirl is there to steal her thunder. Batgirl attempts to subdue Harley but instead just gets her ass kicked. Every time she attempts to counter, Harley manages to one-up her. There’s no clear winner, as Harley knocks them both out a window and flees, but Batgirl makes no mistakes: Harley Quinn nearly beat her. It may seem out of left field, but for long-time fans, it makes sense. Before she became Batgirl, Cassandra Cain was raised to be a living weapon who knew only fighting. As part of this, she was never taught to speak or read and could only speak the language of fighting. Cassandra has made leaps and bounds in learning how to communicate since becoming Batgirl, but she’s still fluent in the “language” of combat. It’s what makes her the best fighter in the Bat-family. But Harley is just so random that Cass doesn’t stand a chance. She’s preparing for one attack and then gets surprised with something completely out of left field. Considering Cass relies so heavily on being able to read an opponent, it makes sense that someone as random as Harley Quinn could beat her. How Harley meshes with the team is yet to be seen, but you can pick up Birds of Prey #1 on stands now to see how they all meet. For more Birds of Prey and comic book news, be sure to follow all our coverage.

Ten best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut Marvel ComicsThe X-Men are on their way to take over the MCU, and these stories are the quintessential tales before their next big-screen debut. The X-Men are back and in a big way. In the comics, the end of the Krakoan Age is making way for a massive soft-relaunch, From The Ashes, which sees the X-Men return to their roots around the world. On TV, we’re seeing a resurgence nobody saw coming in X-Men ’97 (which finally made people realize how cool Cyclops is!). And as all this goes down, movies are getting ready for a mutant takeover yet again, as Deadpool & Wolverine opens the floodgates for the X-Men to join the MCU. It’s a great time to be a fan, and no better time than now to get started if you’re not. If you aren’t familiar, here are ten X-Men books you should read before their MCU debut. Best X-Men books to read before the new MCU X-Men Movie Uncanny Avengers – Giant-Size X-Men #1 – Wolverine Vol. 1 – Astonishing X-Men – Proteus – House of M – E is for Extinction – The Dark Phoenix Saga – Days of Future Past – God Loves, Man Kills – If you want to dive into the source material before the first MCU outing, these X-Men stories are the perfect primer for new fans just getting started or old fans looking to revisit a favorite. Uncanny Avengers In the wake of Avengers vs. X-Men, tensions between humans and mutants have never been higher. To that end, Captain America seeks to form a new team of heroes to help bridge the gap. Dubbed the Unity Team, the Uncanny Avengers are the Avengers’ strongest members alongside the X-Men’s most notable mutants. Taking the lead is Cyclops’ brother, Havok, seeking to fix the perception of mutants after his brother’s actions alongside the Phoenix Five. Uncanny Avengers gets real weird, real fast, as time travel, alternate dimensions, and the concept of fate rear their heads. If you can stick with it, though, you’ll be treated to one of the more notable X-Men-adjacent stories in recent history. Giant-Size X-Men #1 If you’re looking for the beginning of the X-Men, look no further than the original soft reboot. Marvel’s Merry Mutants spent much of the ‘70s in publishing limbo, with the Uncanny X-Men title reverting to reprints as they debated what to do with the property. Giant-Size X-Men #1 picks up some time after the last new X-Men stories, as Cyclops and Professor X assemble a new team. Their mission is to rescue the remaining original team, who have been kidnapped by the sentient island, Krakoa. The elements that debut here, including a more internationally-flavored team that includes Wolverine, Storm and Nightcrawler, would go on to become X-Men mainstays, making this almost required reading for modern fans. Wolverine Vol. 1 Wolverine became almost immediately popular when he was introduced, thanks in part to his mysterious origins. Slowly, details about his past and personality are drip-fed to readers, and it only seems to make him more popular. It culminates in 1982’s first Wolverine solo series, a four-part mini-series by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller. By this point, Claremont has already begun to establish the samurai mentality that would define Wolverine for the character’s life, and this solo fleshed it out even more. Here, Wolverine prowls Japan to save his then-lover, Mariko. The relationship between Wolverine and Mariko is an iconic one with an unforgettable, tragic end, but some of its most important moments start here. Astonishing X-Men Joss Whedon may be a controversial figure these days, but once upon a time, his name was a sign of something big. His run on X-Men isn’t just an all-time classic, but it’s still, to this date, the best jumping-on-point for new readers. While it isn’t quite the soft reboot that Giant-Size was, Astonishing X-Men #1 does a lot to re-establish just who the X-Men are. It’s both a throwback to the classics while addressing the previous few years of X-Men stories. Those stories were incredible, but their darker tone and black leather costumes absolutely date them. Astonishing quickly established the tensions among the team, setting up the drama of the new Xavier Institute. What starts with the X-Men returning to heroics and a grand lingering threat – a proposed “cure” for the mutant gene – quickly becomes an all-out war and one of the better space epics for the team. Astonishing X-Men is a rollercoaster ride for fans, new and old alike. Proteus Proteus isn’t talked about as much today as the stories that surround it, but who can blame fans? It’s flanked by genuinely some of the best comic stories ever written, let alone X-Men tales. The story contends with the revelation that Moira McTaggart’s son has escaped his prison on Muir Island. Dubbing himself Proteus, this deranged energy being jumps from host to host, seeking to kill his father. It’s not just the stakes of all the people Proteus kills but his absolute mastery over reality and how he shatters it. The X-Men very nearly lose this one. Even in winning, though, one X-Man pays an incredible price, changing the trajectory of their character arc forever. House of M When the Scarlet Witch suffers a mental breakdown, she unravels reality, leading to the disbanding of The Avengers. Their quest to find Wanda puts them at odds with the X-Men. The two teams’ attempts to capture Wanda ends in a shock of white light, and everyone awakens to a new reality. House of M presented a Marvel Universe where mutants were not feared; rather, they flourished and dominated under the leadership of Magneto. The degree to which this story shaped the next decade of Marvel stories cannot be understated, as it led not only to the personal growth of multiple Marvel heroes but to a radical new status quo for the X-Men. With their numbers reduced to just under 200 and many important mutants losing their powers, House of M puts the X-Men on the verge of extinction, a status quo they’ve only just come back from. The MCU has already adapted elements of this for Wandavision, but a proper House of M project is still something fans clamor for. E is for Extinction The X-Men had a rough going into the new millennium. After the roaring success of the ‘90s, there was a brief period where the main titles struggled to find their footing, torn between sticking to what had worked and trying to capitalize on the success of the first film. Writer Grant Morrison fixed that, though. Alongside artist Frank Quitely, the X-Men were reimagined somewhere in between. Bright spandex was traded for more atypical tactical wear, while the X-Men returned to more grounded stories about the struggles of mutants over world-ending wars. E is for Extinction kicks off the era with a bang, introducing the terrifying Cassandra Nova. Even more so, the story is notable today for finally outing Professor Xavier as a mutant and his school as an institute for educating mutants, breaking a status quo that had been around since the earliest X-Men stories. The Dark Phoenix Saga If you’re looking for the quintessential classic X-Men story, The Dark Phoenix Saga is the one. This haunting classic is the first one many fans think of when lamenting their idea of a perfect old-school X-Men story. So many of the elements of the modern X-Men are introduced here. The story sees the debut of Kitty Pryde and Dazzler, introduces Kitty and Colossus’ flirtation, and cements Cyclops as a leader of the X-Men. But it also establishes the fraught dangers of Jean Grey’s association with the Phoenix and the fallout of that bond. Dark Phoenix Saga is a dark, winding epic that sets the bar for other stories to follow. The repercussions of this tale are still being felt more than 40 years later, and its narrative remains as timeless as ever. Days of Future Past Days of Future Past presents a dark future for mutants. Sentinels patrol the streets, with locked away in internment camps. Wolverine, Kitty Pryde, and the few remaining X-Men attempt to save the world from a nuclear holocaust, all in the far-flung future of…2013. OK, sure, it’s dated now, but make no mistake about it. Days of Future Past tells a story of a dystopian future like no other. With their options running out, the Kitty of 2013 has her consciousness sent back to 1981, where she changes the future to save the mutant race. Did it work? Fans are left to interpret that for themselves. Though some sequels and prequel stories, such as Days of Future Present, have touched on this timeline, it was never actually revealed if Future Kitty’s efforts were in vain. But Days of Future Past, on its own, remains prime X-Men storytelling with a gripping narrative and some of the most iconic visuals of the franchise. God Loves, Man Kills As tensions between humans and mutants reach an all-time high, the X-Men face their most challenging threat. William Stryker is a charismatic televangelist who is preaching about the evils of mutants. He’s also funding an army of assassins, the Purifiers, who aspire to kill all mutants. Originally published in the Marvel Graphic Novel collection, God Loves, Man Kills is a grim tale. Its opening pages show the Purifiers at work executing mutant children, and much of its subject matter revolves around the heady subject matter of mutant rights versus the misinterpreted word of god. God Loves, Man Kills is long heralded as one of the most important X-Men stories of its time, but its relevance has sadly not diminished over the years. This is an important tale in the lore of the X-Men and perhaps the strongest example of the hate and prejudice the team stands against. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

The ten best Wolverine comics & where to find them Marvel ComicsWhether you’re looking to catch up before Deadpool & Wolverine or for a comfort read after X-Men ‘97, these Wolverine comics are the best they are at what they do. Times are good if you’re a Wolverine fan. The upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine isn’t just bringing the Fox characters to the MCU, it’s also bringing a ton of comic flair. There’s also X-Men ‘97, and while Sabretooth War is nearing its end, a relaunched Wolverine series is just around the corner. If you want to know more about the comic Wolverine and what makes him so great, these 10 comics make up the best Wolverine stories you can find. 10. Wolverine: Alone! Maybe cheating to include this on a list of the best Wolverine comics, but Uncanny X-Men #133 is one of the first examples of Wolverine as a solo hero. It’s also easily the most memorable. Set in the throes of the iconic Hellfire arc, ‘Wolverine: Alone!’ sees Logan battling his way from the sewers up through the Hellfire Club to save his team. This book is one of the most iconic X-Men stories, let alone Wolverine ones, and has been referenced and quoted endlessly over the years. 9. Origin After decades of mystery surrounding Wolverine’s origin, fans finally got a glimpse of his true backstory in Origin (later retitled Wolverine: The Origin). Suffice it to say that Wolverine’s true origin surprised everyone. Origin is a much more emotional tale than anyone expected. It is a tale of loss and love, giving the character a gut-punch origin that kept fans on their toes for its six-issue run. 8. Bloodlust Wolverine is in the bitter Alaska wilderness when his senses go haywire. He can’t pick up anything around him, and now he’s having visions of murder. Worst of all, he’s enjoying it. With a friend in danger, Wolverine must battle the harsh elements and a race of mysterious beings while he can’t even trust himself. Bloodlust was the second Wolverine annual, but it’s a timeless, masterful tale. Alone, confused, and determined to make things right, the story is a surprising examination of Wolverine’s nature as a fighter and what drives him to keep raising his fists. 7. Enemy of the State You don’t have to worry about making your Wolverine versus other heroes dream matchups because Marvel already did it. Enemy of the State sees Wolverine killed by the Hand and resurrected as a deadly assassin. For six issues, Wolverine carved a bloody tear through the Marvel universe, with only his fleeting resistance to Hand programming saving his soul. Elektra, the Fantastic Four, and Daredevil get absolutely demolished, but it’s the final showdown with the X-Men that will definitely stick with readers. 6. Old Man Logan Look, by now, I shouldn’t have to explain Old Man Logan to you. Over the years, this has become one of the most beloved Wolverine stories ever told. If you’ve been living in the Wastes for the past decades: an older, retired Wolverine is in debt to the Hulks, the inbred descendants of Bruce Banner, and takes off on a cross-country road trip with a blind Hawkeye to get the money he needs to save his family and his farm. It’s one of the darker and more interesting alternate worlds in Marvel’s history, but it’s also one hell of a story that will keep fans on their toes. 5. Wounded Wolf ‘Wounded Wolf’ is one of the more underrated stories where Wolverine is out of his element. Here, he’s disoriented and injured while on the run from Lady Deathstrike, with his only hope for salvation being five-year-old Katie Power. Fortunately for Wolverine, Katie’s Energizer of the Power Pack, but it doesn’t make things any easier. Writer Chris Claremont made the deliberate choice to make the brutal Wolverine also one of the X-Men’s kindest figures, especially when it comes to kids. His interactions with Katie are genuinely heartwarming, and it’s a shame we’ve never really seen these two interact more. 4. All-New Wolverine Following Logan’s death, his clone, Laura Kinney, stepped up to take on his legacy. As the All-New Wolverine, the former X-23 confronted her past and proved herself more than worthy of the mantle of Wolverine. These stories do a lot to flesh out X-23 as her own person and more than cement Laura as a worthy character in her own right. There are two pretty great volumes of Laura as Wolverine that even include her own remix of Enemy of the State. She briefly returned to X-23 a few years later, but these days, she’s back to sharing the Wolverine identity. All-New Wolverine remains a really fun read and is a great primer for her upcoming appearance in NYX. 3. Weapon X Long before Origin, long before even Wolverine was really aware of the depths of his past, fans got an early glimpse with the incredible ‘Weapon X,’ a story that ran through Marvel Comics Presents #72-84. Barry Windsor-Smith crafts a devastating story that is brutal and violent, exploring the hell Wolverine endured as a subject of the Weapon X program. Brutal and heartbreaking, this story stands the test of time as one of the best Wolverine stories. 2. Kitty Pryde & Wolverine Wolverine is a cold-blooded, ends-to-a-means killer, but writers found gold in juxtaposing his stone-cold demeanor by making him a mentor to younger X-Men. That started with his close relationship with Kitty Pryde, and this early story is an incredible example of how well the dynamic works. Kitty steals away to Japan when her father is being targeted by Ogun, and Wolverine follows when he thinks she’s in danger. Not only does the story build on Wolverine and Kitty’s relationship, but it also sets up Kitty to learn ninja skills of her own, something that comes into play with her current identity. 1. Wolverine If you want classic Wolverine, you just can’t go wrong with Chris Claremont and Frank Miller’s original, iconic limited series. This four-part arc sees Wolverine in Japan, hunted by the worst of the criminal underworld, while the life of his then-lover, Mariko Yashida, hangs in the balance. This first story reveals a lot about Wolverine’s samurai upbringing and his complicated code of honor, defining much of the character and his adventures for decades to come. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Ten best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | X-Men Krakoa Age finale: Magneto’s resurrection, Iron Man’s downfall, & more | X-Men ’97 Easter eggs: All Marvel Comics & movie references explained | The best graphic novels of all time and where to find them | Marvel Comics’ Blood Hunt reading guide: Spider-Man tie-ins, Morbius’ return & more | How old is Wolverine? Age in comics, X-Men & Wolverine actor age explained

The best Superman comics for new readers and where to find them DC ComicsIf you want to catch up on Superman before the DCU kicks off, here are the best Superman comics and where to read them. It’s only a matter of time before James Gunn’s Superman: Legacy becomes a reality. The upcoming film, the latest salvo in the revamped DCU’s opening shots, promises a fresh, modern take on Superman that aspires to set itself apart from previous iterations. Comics have been trying to do that for years, too. As far back as the ‘80s, Superman was often subject to total revamps, where small details became established norms. This is how Lex Luthor went from maniacal scientist to shrewd businessman and how Krypton keeps fluctuating between a scientific utopia and a war-torn planet. If you’re a new reader trying to figure out where to start or a lapsed fan trying to get back into it, these are the best Superman comics for new readers. For this list, we’ve focused on quintessential tales that don’t require a heavy knowledge of continuity or strong familiarity beyond the basic concepts of Superman. Contents Superman: The Man of Steel – Superman: Birthright – Son of Superman – Superman For All Seasons – Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? – The Death of Superman – Batman/Superman: World’s Finest – Kingdom Come – For The Man Who Has Everything – All-Star Superman – 10. Superman: The Man of Steel After Crisis on Infinite Earths, the DC Universe rebooted itself. DC had spent the past several decades building an extensive multiverse but deemed it too confusing and sought to streamline stories to make them more accessible to readers. There were a lot of changes, but Superman may have been the biggest. DC’s flagship character got a total overhaul. Gone were the years of joke powers, where Superman was an invincible, god-like being who could do anything so long as the story needed it. Written and illustrated by John Byrne, Superman: The Man of Steel scaled Superman back in a big way. He wasn’t as strong, he couldn’t breathe in space, and he was more humanized than ever. This is also the story that brought Lex Luthor into the modern day, dropping the mad scientist act for a sleazy business tycoon that’s lasted all the way to today’s stories. 9. Superman: Birthright Superman’s origin has been set in stone for a while now, but there is still the occasional attempt to update it. While efforts like Superman: The Man of Steel or Geoff Johns and Gary Frank’s Superman: Secret Origin have always been lauded, Superman: Birthright may be the most notable modern take by today’s standards. Superman: Birthright has some serious pedigree behind it, being written by Kingdom Come author Mark Waid. Waid depicts Superman in a more human light than most, giving him grounded struggles with the anxiety and depression of feeling alone in a world that can never really know him. The book also has some truly stunning set pieces in both the quiet moments of contemplation and frantic action, thanks to Leinil Francis Yu’s art. Birthright focuses on the early years of Superman, establishing his relationships and rivalries in a more modern setting. The story served as the official modern origin of Superman for a spell, and much of its story was adapted for Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Though it’s no longer considered the canonical modern origin, Superman: Birthright is still an incredible character study into the humanity and legacy that drives Superman. 8. Son of Superman Writers tried for years to make Superman a family man. Though he married Lois Lane in the ‘90s, the editorial reportedly pushed back on the notion of Superman having a kid because they were worried he’d be too unrelatable to readers. The lead-up to DC Rebirth gave them an opportunity to test the waters, though. After the timeline reset of New 52 gave fans a younger Superman, the original Clark and Lois would eventually return from another timeline with their young son, Jonathan, who slowly finds out about his father’s legacy and his own developing powers. Superman as a father is such a brilliant idea, and it’s no better encapsulated than Son of Superman, the collection of the first DC Rebirth Superman stories. The creative team across these seven issues truly understood the assignment, giving fans a Superman who is both meaningful but also heartfelt. Superman as a dad just makes sense, and it’s a delight to finally see that potential realized. 7. Superman For All Seasons In our piece on the best Batman stories, I discussed Batman: The Long Halloween, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s character-driven mystery story following The Dark Knight in his second year of crime-fighting. Sale and Loeb’s follow-up to this was a stunning tale about the Man of Steel and his struggle with identity. Uniquely, Superman For All Seasons isn’t really about Superman, though. It’s about the transformation of Clark Kent and just how much of him remains in the eyes of those closest to him. The story isn’t told from his point-of-view but rather from that of Pa Kent, Lois Lane, Lex Luthor, and Lana Lang, with each issue focused on what Superman and Clark respectively mean to their lives. It’s far too often that a story mythologizes Superman as a larger-than-life figure. For All Seasons instead approaches the burden of blending both identities while not losing what makes him special. The story has a powerful emotional heartbeat, and Sale’s already impressive art gets some truly stunning coloring by Danish artist Bjarne Hansen, making For All Seasons a timeless, nostalgic tale of Superman’s origin. 6. Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomrorow? is in an interesting place in DC history. It’s not a separate story but rather a two-part adventure published in Superman #423 and Action Comics #583. Released in the interim between Crisis on Infinite Earths and the rebooted The Man of Steel, the story is essentially the last hurrah of the pre-Crisis Superman. Written by Alan Moore and illustrated by legendary Superman artist Curt Swan, the story follows the Man of Steel’s supposed last days, as his closest allies are threatened when his identity is publicly exposed. Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? has some incredibly rough moments. The death of Krypto is easily one of the most haunting in comics and one that will stick with you. But the ending, which has a twist to be remembered, still gives the story something of a hopeful tone. This was considered the definitive Superman story for a long while, and for good reason. 5. The Death of Superman I don’t have to tell you the sheer importance of The Death of Superman. It’s the book that kickstarted (and, arguably, ruined) the modern notion of the event comic. The story itself started as something of a beautiful accident. They just needed a way to delay Lois and Clark’s wedding so it could have synergy with the then-airing Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. The stopgap solution? Just kill Superman. It’s a sensational story, but the care and attention that went into killing the biggest comic book icon ever is something remarkable, and fans the world over continue to love and cherish the knock-down, drag-out fight between Superman and Doomsday, even to this day. 4. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest On paper, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest shouldn’t be as good as it is. There have been multiple books teaming up the two, including the iconic Superman/Batman run from 2005. World’s Finest sets itself apart by becoming a period piece. While its original arc was largely a set-up for the Lazarus Planet event, the book has made its mark as an update of Silver Age-era Batman and Superman stories, following the heroes during an admittedly more innocent time in their lives. Superman: Birthright and Kingdom Come writer Mark Waid returns to the characters for this one, while Dan Mora does some of the best art in a comic book today, period. The result is a book that is more fun than anyone could have guessed. And while it does focus on the titular World’s Finest, the book features appearances from all sorts of DC characters, like Robin, Supergirl, Metamorpho, and even the Doom Patrol. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest is a perfect introduction not just to Batman and Superman but to the wider DC Universe. 3. Kingdom Come Kingdom Come has long been a DC Comics mainstay, featured in stories ranging from modern comics in World’s Finest to the CW in the Arrrowverse’s Crisis on Infinite Earths adaptation. It’s in some manner inspiring James Gunn’s Superman, too, if only in its logo. But Kingdom Come is arguably a turning point for comics. Superheroes of the ’90s were a gritty affair, defined by violence and blood and being as edgy as possible. Kingdom Come forces that mentality to reckon itself against none other than Superman, as it asks if the Man of Steel’s methods are really that outdated. In a tale modeled after the book of Revelations, Mark Waid and Alex Ross craft a masterful story with gorgeous painted art and some of the best character work in comics. All these years later, Kingdom Come is as important as ever, an enduring tale about the nature of superheroes and the cost of the hope they must inspire. 2. For The Man Who Has Everything Kal-El wakes up one morning on Krypton. He’s happily married to Lyla Lerrol, and they have a rambunctious family of children. It’s not a perfect world, though. His father, Jor-El, is the shame of Krypton, his claims of the planet’s destruction proving to be little more than a scientist’s misguided fearmongering. But to Kal-El’s fear, a disillusioned Jor-El is becoming more dangerous than ever. It’s all a lie, obviously. Superman is in the thrall of the mysterious Black Mercy, a flower that gives its hosts a hallucinogenic perfect world as it feeds off their bodies. In the real world, Mongul is posed to finally kill Superman, while Batman, Wonder Woman, and Robin fight to free their friend before it’s too late. Originally published in Superman Annual #11, For The Man Who Has Everything is a gut punch of a story by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, the team that made Watchmen. Its a rare example of a Superman pushed to his brink, and is considered essential reading for Superman fans. The story has been adapted multiple times, most notably for an episode of Justice League Unlimited, which has the distinction of being one of the few adaptations Alan Moore gave his blessing to. 1. All-Star Superman DC’s All-Star line probably would have become a distant memory today if it weren’t for All-Star Superman. Against all odds, the line produced hands-down the best Superman story to date. What would you do if you knew you were going to die? Superman, having been tricked by Lex Luthor into absorbing too much solar power, becomes stronger than ever but is faced with the reality that his cells can’t handle the power. He’s dying and sets about using his remaining year of life to finish every seemingly impossible task he’s faced and leave behind a better universe for everyone. All-Star Superman is Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s magnum opus, a timeless Superman tale about the Man of Steel facing death with stoicism and bravery. This is, perhaps, the peak story of a compassionate Superman doing incredible feats and being just a big damn hero. All-Star Superman is revered as one of the best Superman stories of all time, and for good reason. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission. DC Comics Absolute Power reading guide: Will the Justice League return in next event? | How tall is Superman? Character’s height in DCU & DC Comics explained | Why did Superman wear a black suit? Recovery suit explained | Superman vs. The Flash: Which Justice League superhero is faster? | The five best Batman comic books for new and returning readers | Ten best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | Ten best Daredevil comics to read before the MCU’s Born Again | Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More

Best new comics week of February 14: Amazing Spider-Man #43, Green Lantern #8, & more DC Comics | Marvel ComicsThe Joker’s origin depicts a dark future for Gotham, while Spider-Man’s Gang War reaches its penultimate issue in the best new comics for February 14, 2024. It’s not the biggest week for comics, but there’s a lot going on. Fans who are enjoying the various ongoing arcs from Marvel and DC will find a lot to love this week. Marvel is wrapping up its Gang War event for Spider-Man. The penultimate issue drops in this week’s Amazing Spider-Man, as do more tie-in issues starring Miles Morales and Shang-Chi. But if Gang War isn’t your thing, there’s still the latest attempt at a Joker origin, the return of a fan-favorite Green Lantern, and the sensational return of Magneto’s children – biological or otherwise – in various X-books. Best new comics releasing this week These are the best new comics releasing the week of February 14, 2024. DC Comics title will hit shelves on Tuesday, February 13, while other publishers such as Marvel, Image, and IDW will release books on Wednesday, February 14. You can find your local comic shop at Comic Shop Locator or purchase digital copies via the digital storefronts linked below. Batman #143 Chip Zdarsky’s swing at a Joker origin has already proven to be one of the more unique ones. The story appears to finally unify the controversial Three Jokers concept but also paints an image of a dark future where Joker wins. There are also some pretty huge retcons, like revealing Henri Ducard trained Joker to spite Batman. The past decade has done a lot to make Joker a more credible, terrifying threat than ever, but this might be the story that makes him into a force of nature. THE JOKER YEAR ONE, PART TWO! The terrifying tale of “The Joker Year One” continues as a mysterious figure from Batman’s past has come into Joker’s orbit, changing the Clown Prince of Crime forever! And what secrets does the re-formed Red Hood Gang have for Batman’s future? By Chip Zdarsky, Andrea Sorrentino, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Stefano Nesi, Dave Stewart, Alejandro Sánchez, & Clayton Cowles The Amazing Spider-Man #43 While the current Amazing Spider-Man run has been almost universally maligned by fans, it must be doing something right. ICv2 reports Amazing Spider-Man topped January 2024’s sales charts, only outsold by Ultimate Spider-Man and the massive Fall of the House of X. This week finally sees the various factions of the Gang War coming to blows in what may be their final battle. There are a lot of players on the field, and this one has the potential to shake up the entire street-level side of the Marvel Universe. The Final Fight of GANG WAR starts here! The biggest and most brutal battle in Spider-Man history starts now, so batten your hatches!!! If you thought you knew what Madame Masque or Hobgoblin or Beetle or Diamondback was capable of, THINK AGAIN! By Zeb Wells, John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, Marcio Menyz, & VC’s Joe Caramagna Green Lantern #8 The current Green Lantern is putting Hal against his worst foe: himself. Stranded on Earth with a ring that can’t leave the atmosphere, there’s a conspiracy brewing that only Hal is aware of. Add to that the destruction of various Central Power Batteries belonging to other Lantern Corps and you’ve got all the makings of a tense thriller. But I don’t care about any of that because Kyle Rayner is back! He’s on the cover and everything! Kyle might be the poster child for DC’s mishandling of ‘90s legacy characters, a beloved fan favorite who drops off the face of the earth for long stretches of time. What’s he been up to for the last eight issues? HAL JORDAN VS. THE UNITED PLANETS! After the revelations of what happened on Korugar, Hal discovers the United Planets are consolidating power in the universe by nefarious means, but before he can stop them, representatives of the United Planets Corps have arrived to arrest Hal for unlawful use of emotional spectrum energy in a quarantined zone! By Jeremy Adams, Amancay Nahuelpan, Romulo Fajardo Jr., & Dave Sharpe Fall of the House of X #2 The implosion of the X-Men’s Krakoan Age is reaching a crescendo. Surprisingly, that somehow culminates in this being a great week to be Magneto’s kid. Fall of the House of X sees Magneto’s only remaining biological kid, Polaris, stepping up to the plate in a big way. Polaris soaring through space with a Celestial head in tow and leading an army of brood is a sight to behold and could easily be the deciding factor for the fight against Orchis. (If Fall of the House of X isn’t your thing, though, you can also check out this week’s Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver #1, which sees Magneto’s adopted kids facing the fallout from his death) NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT! The X-Men may be at their lowest spot, and they may be on the brink of complete eradication…but they are not going down without a fight! Polaris returns to guide the X-Men home, bringing a wicked surprise for Orchis! This epic tale split in two continues as the Krakoan Age nears its conclusion! By Gerry Duggan, Lucas Werneck, Bryan Valenza, & Travis Lanham Transformers #5 The relaunched Energon Universe is something I admittedly rolled my eyes at when I first saw it. I grew up around Transformers and GI Joe, but I never really was in that fandom. But I’ll be damned if this initiative hasn’t got its hooks in me. Duke and Cobra Commander are just good comics, but Transformers might be something magical. This ongoing really captures the tone and awe of what makes Transformers great and might be my favorite Optimus Prime depiction on the market today. Starscream revives one of the most powerful Decepticons to eliminate the Autobots once and for all. By Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer & Rus Wooten Sinister Sons #1 I loved Super Sons. Superboy and Robin having misadventures was one of the most wholesome things to come out of DC Rebirth. I’m glad Jon and Damian still have a friendship, but it remains so disappointing that this concept was taken away from fans when Jon was aged up. So you can imagine my excitement for Super Sons writer Peter J. Tomasi to take a crack at its antithesis, Sinister Sons. Can the sons of General Zod and Sinestro capture fans with the same mischievous energy that made Super Sons so great? MEET DC’S DEVIOUS NEW DUO! FROM SUPER SONS WRITER PETER J. TOMASI AND FAN-FAVORITE ARTIST DAVID LAFUENTE! They’re bad to the bone, ready to brawl, and the sons of two of the deadliest villains in the galaxy: they’re the Sinister Sons and the DC Universe will never be the same! When the son of General Zod was cast off of his adopted homeworld of New Kandor, Lor-Zod runs afoul of a kid on a mission: Sinson is out to prove he’s got what it takes to live up to the family name of Sinestro! But all is not as it seems, and the sons’ journeys will take them into the heart of darkness in this sensational first issue! Superstar scribe Peter J. Tomasi returns to the world of DC youth once again—joined by fan-favorite artist David Lafuente—to craft one of the most dynamic debuts of a duo in DCU history! By Peter J. Tomasi, David Lafuente & Tamra Bonvillain Every new comic releasing the week of February 14, 2024 Abbott: 1979 #4 – Action Comics #1062 – Alice Cooper #5 – The Amazing Spider-Man #43 – Archie Showcase Digest #17 Valentine’s Day Special – The Assassin’s Apprentice II #3 – Batman #143 – Batman and Robin #6 – Batman: City of Madness #3 – Beorn: The Littlest Viking Saga #4 – Beware the Planet of the Apes #2 – Black Panther #9 – Blade #8 – Blade Runner 2039 #10 – Blood Commandment #4 – Bloodborne: The Bleak Dominion #4 – The Bloody Dozen: A Tale of the Shrouded College #3 – Blue Beetle #6 – Blue Book: 1947 #1 – Bombshell and TommTomm #3 – Boris Karloff’s Gold Key Mysteries #2 – The Cabinet #1 – Creepshow: Joe Hill’s Wolverton Station #1 – Daredevil: Black Armor #4 – Dark Spaces: The Hollywood Special #6 – Dead Detective #3 – Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu: Gang War #3 – Deer Editor #2 – The Deviant #4 – The Devil’s Grin #5 – The Displaced #1 – Divine Power Made Me #1 – Dracula: After Man #1 – Dutch #1 – Dying Days #3 – Earthdivers #15 – Empath #4 – Faceless and the Family #4 – Fall of the House of X #2 – Femforce #202 – Firefly: The Fall Guys #5 – Genesis II #5 – Green Lantern #8 – Grimm Fairy Tales 2024 Valentine’s Day Lingerie Pinup Special #1 – Hecate’s Will #5 – The Hunger and the Dusk #6 – I Hate Fairyland #11 – If You Find This, I’m Already Dead #1 – The Infernals #1 – Jennifer Blood: Battle Diary #3 – Jungle Comics #25 – Kill Your Darlings #6 – A Legacy of Violence #10 – Lifeboat – Mad #36 – Manga Z #19 – Masterpiece #3 – Miles Morales: Spider-Man #16 – The Ministry of Compliance #3 – The Miracles #2 – The Miracles #3 – Myst: Dragon’s Guard #1 – Night Thrasher #1 – The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos #7 – Our Bones Dust #3 – Outsiders #4 – Penthouse Comics #1 – Petrol Head #4 – Planetary Expansion #1 – Poor Man Funnies #2 – Prometheus in Chains #5 – Rebel Moon: House of the Bloodaxe #2 – Red Hood: The Hill #1 – Rick and Morty: Meeseeks P.I. #4 – Rock & Roll Biographies #23 – Savage Red Sonja #4 – Scarlet Witch & Quicksilver #1 – The Scorched #26 – Sinister Sons #1 – The Sire: Lost in Time #4 – Speed Force #4 – Spider-Gwen: Smash #3 – Star Wars: Darth Vader #43 – Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #3 – Super Scouts #1 – Super Scouts #2 – Superior Spider-Man #4 – Sweetie Candy Vigilante #1 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #148 – Thunderbolts #3 – Transformers #5 – Tuskers #1 – Usagi Yojimbo: Ice and Snow #5 – Valentine Bluffs Massacre #1 – Vampirella #666 – Van Helsing: Bonded by Blood #1 – Vengeance of the Moon Knight #2 – The Weatherman #2 – Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #5 – The Witcher: Wild Animals #4 – Wolverine #43 – Zawa + The Belly of the Beast #4 – If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best new comics releasing January 31, 2024: Wolverine #42, Beast World #6 & more DC Comics | BOOM! Studios | Marvel ComicsA tour through DC’s Silver Age, the end of Beast World, and the return of dead X-Men round out the best new comics for the week of January 31, 2024. It’s a fifth week for comics, which used to mean a big event or something special. Nowadays, it usually means annuals or business as usual. The fifth week is a plight surrounding the weekly nature of comics. With a schedule built around releasing new comics every Wednesday, you’d occasionally wind up with five Wednesdays in a month. With the extra publishing weight, publishers used to publish massive events like DC One Million or Amalgam Comics. This week does see some slightly lighter releases, but the companies are managing well enough. DC will release a couple of annuals while Marvel continues to build its massive X-Men event. Here’s what you should look for in January 31’s new comics. Best new comics week of January 31, 2024 A tour through DC’s World’s Finest, the return of dead X-Men, and the next evolution of the Power Rangers marks the best new comics for the week of January 31, 2024. DC titles will hit stands on January 30, while other publishers will be released on January 31. You can find your local comic shop at Comic Shop Locator. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest 2024 Annual The main book is currently tied up in Return to Kingdom Come, which concludes its arc in February. That doesn’t mean the annual can’t have a little fun. Though it sounds like at least one story will feature the notorious imp Mr. Mxyzptlk taunting Superman, the rest of the book sounds like it’s setting up the future of World’s Finest. With stories featuring Metamorpho, Bumblebee, and the Challengers, all signs point to this incredible book (which we named as one of the best of 2023) continuing its heartwarming exploration of Silver Age DC. A WORLD TOUR OF THE WORLD’S FINEST! It’s the world’s finest annual! As the battle against Magog rages on Earth-22, Batman and Superman discover a surprising secret by way of the 5th dimension! Meanwhile, Metamorpho’s story picks up after the events of the Elementary arc as our hero journeys deep within an ancient tomb that may have a hidden, deadly connection to his secret origin! Plus, Batman recruits the Challengers of the Unknown for a top-secret mission, and a special, sizzling story stars the Teen Titans’ most buzzworthy member, Bumblebee! It’s a world tour of the World’s Finest in this first-ever series annual, curated by World’s Finest architect Mark Waid! By Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Christopher Cantwell, Cullen Bunn, Stephanie Williams, Jorge Fornés, Rosi Kämpe, Edwin Galmon, Dennis Culver & Travis Mercer Avengers: Twilight #2 The first issue of Avengers: Twilight has some heavy hits, with the death of Daredevil and the return of Captain America. Not to mention the reveal of Tony Stark’s son and the horror of Tony’s current state. Zdarsky’s long-gestating Avengers epic has all the early hallmarks of an all-time classic. This issue sees a new take on Bullseye and is the first outing of a revived Captain America, so there’s no better time to get started on this dystopian future epic than now. With the clock ticking to New Year’s Day, and the world against him, CAPTAIN AMERICA must build an army to save America! Will his surviving friends sign up, or is he going to have to lead the ragtag group called THE DEFENDERS against the expert military marksman known as BULLSEYE? By Chip Zdarsky, Daniel Acuña, Cory Petit, & Alex Ross Titans: Beast World #6 There aren’t really words to describe how exciting it’s been to see the Titans finally take their rightful place. DC has teased the notion of a Titans-led universe and an aged-up Justice League since the late ‘00s, and seeing them at the center of a major event was a thrill. Beast World definitely had more weight than anyone could have guessed, and its biggest twists – including the death of Beast Boy – are sure to have long-lasting repercussions. How will Raven cope with the return of her demon self? Is Beast Boy really dead? Is this all just secretly paving the way for a Justice League return? We’ll find out soon enough. THE DC UNIVERSE MUST EVOLVE OR DIE IN THE BEAST WORLD FINALE! DR. HATE REVEALED! As Raven makes her final stand against the chaotic evil sorcerer, the Titans race against time to cure the world of the epidemic caused by Beast Boy. How far will the team go? How much will the friends sacrifice? Watch as the DCU is forced to evolve or die in this shocking conclusion! By Tom Taylor, Lucas Meyer, Ivan Reis, Eduardo Pansica, Danny Miki, Júlio Ferreira, Brad Anderson, Romulo Fajardo Jr., & Wes Abbott Power Rangers Unlimited: The Morphin Masters #1 BOOM! has been quietly running a major epic with its Power Rangers event. Darkest Hour has reached a crescendo with the long-awaited confrontation between Lord Drakkon and Ranger Slayer, the story’s long-suffering, alternate-reality versions of Tommy and Kimberly. Morphin Masters will continue the expansion of the lore of Power Rangers. There’s been a ton of heavy-lifting done with the idea of what the Morphin Grid actually is and how it relates to the wider world of Power Rangers. With the return of long-time writer Ryan Parrott, this promises to be an issue for the ages. Following the shocking events of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #116, an iconic character has entered The Grid, searching desperately for the Morphin Masters and the answers they might possess. But as Dark Specter’s infection grows increasingly more dangerous… new revelations are uncovered that will shake the Power Rangers universe to its very core! Iconic Rangers writer Ryan Parrott returns to the franchise alongside co-writer Rachel Wagner (Power Rangers, Rogue Sun) and artist Daniel Bayliss (Firefly). Fans will not want to miss this key tie-in issue expanding the epic Darkest Hour event! By Ryan Parrott, Rachel Wagner, Daniel Bayliss, Arthur Heli, Ed Dukeshire, & Toni Infante Dead X-Men #1 It wouldn’t be a week of comics without the promise of some more X-Men hijinks. Dead X-Men dives into the Rise of the Powers of X with a new team of X-Men comprised of dead heroes. Cannonball, Prodigy, Frenzy, Dazzler, and Jubilee were the first casualties of the current X-Men narrative, killed by Nimrod just after they were elected to be the new X-Men. Dead X-Men sees them brought from beyond the grave as Xavier attempts to kill Moira X before her mutant powers activate. If they succeed, they’ll prevent the Orchis takeover of Earth, but at the cost of the mutant sanctuary of Krakoa. DEATH WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING! When the world turned against Krakoa, these five mutants lost their lives…but their mission as X-Men is just getting started. To preserve Xavier’s dream, they must accomplish the impossible—or die again trying! Spinning out from RISE OF THE POWERS OF X, discover…who are the DEAD X-MEN?! By Steve Foxe, Bernard Chang, Jonas Scharf, Vincenzo Carratù, & Pere Pérez Wolverine #42 Sabretooth War kicked off in a truly grisly fashion, with Wolverine’s son used to spell out a bloody birthday message and versions of the original X-Men torn apart. Marvel’s clearly trying to capitalize on telling Marvel’s most violent Wolverine story, and so far, they’re pulling it off. Still, it’s hard to deny this feels somewhat disjointed. Sabretooth War is running throughout Wolverine #50, but it’s all going down while Fall of the House of X decimates the X-Men and X-Force looks for Beast. How long until Wolverine is stretched too thin? SABRETOOTH WAR—PART 2! VICTOR CREED and the SABRETEETH have big plans for LOGAN. See the war escalate under the claws of the many Creeds! By Victor LaValle, Benjamin Percy, Cory Smith, Frank D’Armata, Cory Petit, Leinil Francis Yu, and Romulo Fajardo Jr. Every new comic releasing the week of January 31, 2024 The 06 Protocol #4 – The Agent #2 – Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #4 – American Psycho #3 – Amorini: Amateur Cupid #1 – Avengers Inc. #5 – Avengers: Twilight #2 – Batman / Superman: World’s Finest 2024 Annual – Batman and Robin 2024 Annual – Batman: Off-World #3 – Betty and Veronica Jumbo Comics Digest #321 – Bloodborne: The Bleak Dominion #4 – Bombshell and TommTomm #4 – Capable #2 – Carnage #3 – Charred Remains #2 – Cinderella: Princess of Death #1 – Cissy #3 – Coda #5 – Conan the Barbarian #7 – The Cryptidnals #5 – Dark Ride #10 – Dark Souls: The Willow King #1 – DC Power 2024 #1 – The Dead Lucky #11 – Dead X-Men #1 – Deadly Hands of Kung-Fu: Gang War #2 – The Devil That Wears My Face #4 – Doctor Who Magazine #600 – Drive Like Hell #4 – Duke #2 – Dust #6 – Dying Days #3 – Dying Days #4 – Edenwood #4 – Empath #4 – Fung Gi #3 – Greenhorns #2 – Grimm Fairy Tales #80 – Harriet Tubman: Demon Slayer #5 – Haunted House: A Love Story #3 – Hell Riot #4 – Hexpaw: Left Paw of the Devil #2 – Holmes & Houdini #1 – House of Slaughter Pen & Ink #1 – The Incredible Hulk #8 – Interstellar Dust #3 – Jack Kirby Collector #89 – Jill and the Killers #1 – Jungle Comics #25 – Killadelphia #33 – King Kong: The Great War #6 – King Spawn #30 – Leaded Gasoline #1 – Lilo & Stitch #1 – Local Man #9 – Manga Z #19 – Maniac of New York: Don’t Call It a Comeback #3 – Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars: Battleworld #3 – Marvel’s Voices: Legends #1 – Miguel O’Hara: Spider-Man 2099 #5 – Moon Man #1 – Murder by Mail #3 – Omega Gang #7 – One Piece #1105 – ORCS!: The Gift #2 – Pathfinder: Wake the Dead #5 – Power Girl: Uncovered #1 – Power Rangers Unlimited: The Morphin Masters #1 – Previews #425 – Previews: Customer Order Form #425 – Project Riese #6 – Quest #5 – Rad Wraith #2 – The Ribbon Queen #7 – Rick and Morty: Maximum Crescendo #1 – Robotech: Rick Hunter #3 – Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac – Time Odyssey #4 – The Seance Room: Harry’s Opus #1 – Sheena: Queen of the Jungle: Fatal Exams #5 – Sidequest #4 – The Sire: Lost in Time #3 – Sirens of the City #6 – Somna #2 – Spectrum: The Worlds of Gerry Anderson #2 – Spider-Boy #3 – Spine-Tingling Spider-Man #4 – Squish and Squash #2 – Star Trek: Picard’s Academy #5 – Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #40 – Syphon #3 – Titans: Beast World #6 – Trinity Special #1 – Tuskers #1 – Tuskers #2 – Undead Evil #1 – Vanity Remastered Edition #2 – W0rldtr33 #7 – Wolverine #42 – Wonderland Child of Madness #3 – Working Class Wizards #1 – If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best new comics May 8: The Boy Wonder #1, X-Men: Forever #3, Ain’t No Grave #1, & more Marvel Comics | DC ComicsThe new comics for May 8, 2024, begin with a return to Robin’s younger days and a brand-new Avengers team led by Captain America. If you’ve come out of 2024’s Free Comic Book Day festivities and are hungry for more great comics, you’re in luck. The second week of May’s releases is jam-packed as Marvel’s Blood Hunt continues and the X-Men’s Krakoa Era races to a finish. May 8 best new comics & where to buy them Contents: The Avengers #14 – Wolverine #49 – The Boy Wonder #1 – X-Men: Forever #3 – Doctor Strange #15 – Ain’t No Grave #1 – These are the best new comics for the week of May 8, 2024. You can find your local comic shop at Comic Shop Locator or purchase digital copies via the storefronts linked below. The Avengers #14 By Jed MacKay, Carlos Fabian Villa, Federico BLee, Cory Petit, Joshua Cassara, & Guru-eFX Wolverine #49 By Victor LaValle, Benjamin Percy, Geoff Shaw, Alex Sinclair, Cory Petti, Leinil Francis Yu, & Romulo Fajardo Jr. The Boy Wonder #1 By Juni Ba, Chirs O’Halloran, & Aditya Bidikar X-Men: Forever #3 By Kieron Gillen, Luca Maresca, & Mark Brooks Doctor Strange #15 By Jed MacKay & Pasqual Ferry Ain’t No Grave #1 By Skottie Young, Jorge Corona, Jean-François Beaulieu, & Nate Piekos. May 1 best new comics & where to buy them Contents: Blood Hunt #1 – The Flash (2024) Annual #1 – X-Men #34 – Nightwing (2024) Annual #1 – Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #1 – Space Ghost #1 – Blood Hunt #1 By Jed McKay, Pepe Larraz, and Marte Gracia The Flash (2024) Annual #1 By Si Spurrier Tom Derenick, Scott Koblish, George Kambadais, Amancay Nahuelpan, Lee Loughridge, Matt Herms, Marissa Louise, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Mike Deodato Jr., and Jão Canola X-Men #34 By Gerry Duggan, Joshua Cassara, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Marte Gracia Nightwing (2024) Annual #1 By Travis Moore, Ivan Plascencia, Alex Guimarães, Tamra Bonvillain Deadpool & Wolverine: WWIII #1 By Joe Kelly, Adam Kubert, Frank Martin Space Ghost #1 By David Pepose, Jonathan Lau, Taylor Esposito, Francesco Mattina If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

March 6’s best new comics: Spider-Men #1, Ultimate X-Men #1, Last Ronin II #1, & more Marvel Comics | IDW ComicsSpectacular Spider-Men’s launch, a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin sequel, and the debut of the all-new Ultimate X-Men round out the best new comics for March 6, 2024. If last week’s new comics were about wrapping up storylines, this week’s are about setting up the future. DC begins laying the groundwork for Zur-En-Arr’s role in Absolute Power this week in a new Batman arc, while Ms. Marvel and X-Men continue the march towards the inevitable finale of Fall of X. The latest prong of the Ultimate Comics initiative also drops this week, as fan-favorite Peach Momoko brings a new take on the X-Men. If that’s not your thing, though, the classic Ultimate U will get some love with Peter and Miles team up in the new Spider-Men ongoing. Best new comics releasing March 6 Ultimate X-Men #1 – Batman #145 – X-Men #32 – The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 – Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution #1 – Every new comic releasing March 4 – These are the best new comics releasing the week of March 6, 2024. DC Comics title will hit shelves on Tuesday, March 5, while other publishers such as Marvel, Image, and IDW will release books on Wednesday, March 6. You can find your local comic shop at Comic Shop Locator or purchase digital copies via the digital storefronts linked below. Ultimate X-Men #1 Marvel continues to run its new Ultimate Comics initiative hard and fast, with the X-Men finally making their way to center stage. This time around, the book focuses on fan-favorite Armor, a mainstay of the Astonishing era books who only briefly appeared in the previous Ultimate universe. Armor provides an interesting twist on the X-Men formula, giving fans a look at the team from outside the normal line-up. At this point, we don’t even really know who the Ultimate X-Men are, so this book could be a huge surprise. Visionary creator Peach Momoko (DEMON DAYS, STAR WARS: VISIONS) creates a new generation of X-Men for an all-new universe! Hisako Ichiki is a teenage girl who just wants to live a normal life—go to school, hang out with her friends, ignore the political strife broiling over after the events of ULTIMATE INVASION—but life has other plans for her. In Japan, urban legends have sprung to life and brought some unusual new powers with them…Meet Armor, Maystorm and a group of new Ultimate X-Men the likes of which you’ve never seen before! By Peach Momoko, Travis Lanham Batman #145 A lot has changed from the end of the Failsafe arc to now. For one, we know that the Batman of Zur-En-Arr, which has taken over the body of the mechanical Failsafe, will be a major player in this summer’s DC event, Absolute Power. How we get from here to there is a story that could have major ramifications for the Bat-family, and it’s going to start here. Dark Prisons sees Batman and The Joker forced to work together to escape a prison, but how will the surprising reveal of the three Joker personalities factor into this escape? A THRILLING NEW ARC IS HERE… “DARK PRISONS” BEGINS! Following The Joker: Year One’s stunning reveals, Batman must engineer an escape from Zur’s prison… but what dark secret does Zur now hold that’s a game changer for the Dark Knight and the entire DC Universe? By Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jiménez, Tomeu Morey, & Clayton Cowles X-Men #32 This week in Fall of X, X-Men sees Shadowkat and Magik team up to cut a bloody swath through a host of Orchis. We’re racing towards a finale, with last week seeing Iron Man take his place for the final blow in his massive Sentinel Buster armor. We’re getting fewer and fewer details about the actual events of the issues as we get closer to the finale. That being said, Kate’s dragon Lockheed is back after a long absence, which is sure to please long-time fans. BESTIES WITH BLOODY BLADES! Kate Pryde and Illyana Rasputin have been best friends for a long time. They’ve had good times, and they’ve had bad times. One thing they can always agree on? Stomping anti-mutant bigots’ heads. By Gerry Duggan, Phil Noto, & Clayton Cowles The Spectacular Spider-Men #1 It seems like a slam dunk to have both Spider-Men co-lead a book, so it’s wild that it took this long. While the two have regularly appeared in each other’s books over the years, the last time they explicitly were co-leads would have been Spider-Men II way back in 2017. Spectacular Spider-Man already has a hell of a pedigree, with Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon writer Greg Weisman helming the series. Future solicits also reveal some interesting twists may be coming up, teasing a returning Gwen Stacy and a budding Miles Morales and Ms. Marvel relationship. The stars of two of Marvel’s biggest series come together in their first ongoing series ever! That’s right, Peter Parker and Miles Morales are going to team up on the regular, comparing notes and using said notes to take on some of their most dangerous bad guys. This duo is better than dynamic, amazing, sensational, superior… they’re SPECTACULAR! And with Greg Weisman, writer of the fan-favorite animated Spectacular Spider-Man series, returning to Spidey along with Spider-Legend Humberto Ramos, you know it’s going to be epic. By Greg Weisman, Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, Edgar Delgado & Joe Caramagna Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1 Returning to the frontlines of Fall of X, Ms. Marvel continues her tenure alongside the X-Men in Mutant Menace. The series, written again by MCU star Iman Vellani, is set to follow up on the mysteries of last year’s The New Mutant. The New Mutant was a surprisingly deep story, with Ms. Marvel providing an excellent viewpoint for readers who may not be as used to the terror and persecution Marvel’s mutants have traditionally faced over the years. With a story focusing on how Kamala’s community reacts to her coming out as a mutant, expect this one to hit hard. HATED AND FEARED! Ms. Marvel has officially come out to the world as a mutant and a member of the X-Men… and she’s about to learn just how hard things can get for mutantkind! Kamala Khan is used to being a hometown hero—there’s no way her community would turn on her just because she’s a mutant, right? …Right?? The writers of the hit MS. MARVEL: THE NEW MUTANT miniseries (including the MCU’s own Kamala Khan, Iman Vellani) return to chronicle Ms. Marvel’s next steps into exploring her mutant identity! By Sabir Pirzada, Iman Vellani, Scott Godlewski, & Erick Arciniega Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution #1 It cannot be overstated just what a meteoric success The Last Ronin was. That original story, following the last surviving Ninja Turtle in his quest to defeat the Foot, resonated with readers in a way no one expected. The Last Ronin has spawned toys, an upcoming video game, and all sorts of tie-in media. Now, though, it’s time for a proper sequel, following the next generation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their ongoing fight for justice. More than a decade after the Last Ronin defeated the Foot Clan, New York City finds itself in a state of steady decline. Now, the disparate gangs vie for economic and political control and that the chaos is taking its toll. It’s clear to Casey Marie that if something isn’t done soon, the city she knows and loves will be lost forever. So, whether they’re ready or not, she and her young pupils must raise a new coalition and lead the charge to keep the peace. Witness the rise of the next generation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as they fight to restore peace to the streets they live below! Legendary TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman proudly presents the next epic chapter of The Last Ronin, reassembling the acclaimed creative team from the original monster bestseller for a second oversized, prestige format miniseries event! By Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman, Ben Bishop, Esau Escorza, Isaac Escorza, Luis Antonio Delgado, & Shawn Lee Every new comic shipping week of March 4 Aliens: What If…? #1 – Animal Warriors of the Kingdom #1 – Antarctica #9 – The Avengers #11 – The Bat-Man: First Knight #1 – Batman #145 – The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #3 – Betty and Veronica Double Digest #322 – Betty and Veronica Friends Forever: Sleepover #1 – Beyond Real #2 – Birds of Prey #7 – Blue Beetle #7 – Captain America #7 – Crave #4 – Daredevil: Gang War #4 – Dark Souls: The Willow King #2 – Dead by Daylight #4 – The Devil That Wears My Face #5 – Disney Villains: Cruella De Vil #2 – Doctor Strange #13 – Empath #5 – The Fog #1 – Gargoyles: Dark Ages #6 – Giant-Size Spider-Gwen #1 – Godzilla: Best of Destoroyah #1 – Golgotha Motor Mountain #1 – Gumaa: The Beginning of Her #4 – Gunslinger Spawn #29 – Interstellar Dust #4 – Jennifer Blood: Battle Diary #4 – Kaya #16 – King Spawn #31 – Kneel Before Zod #3 – Knights of the Dinner Table #311 – Lady Death: Demonic Omens #1 – The Last Mermaid #1 – Love Everlasting #13 – Mabel & Francine – Marvel Must-Haves #1 – Monster Fun #17 (Beastly Books Special 2023) – Monster Tag Team: The Boogeyman vs. The Scarecrow #1 – Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1 – Night People #1 – Ninja High School #192 – No Spell Lasts Forever #2 – No’madd The Unconquerable: The Cave of Broken Tombs #5 – One Piece #1109 – Pine and Merrimac #3 – Planet Comics #27 – Poison Ivy #20 – Ranger Academy #5 – Red Light #3 – The Sensational She-Hulk #6 – The Sentry #4 – Shazam! #9 – The Spectacular Spider-Men #1 – Star Wars #44 – Star Wars: The High Republic #4 – Subgenre #4 – Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum #2 – Superman ’78: The Metal Curtain #5 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #11 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution #1 – Thanos #4 – Time Traveler Tales #4 – Torpedo 1972 #1 – Ultimate X-Men #1 – Underheist #2 – Venom #31 – Void Rivals #7 – The Walking Dead Deluxe #84 – Weapon X-Men #1 – Witch Hammer #3 – X-Men #32 – If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

March 13’s best new comics: Amazing Spider-Man #45, Fall of the House of X #3, & more Marvel Comics | DC ComicsSpider-Man feels the fallout from Gang War, the Transformers wrap up their first arc, and the X-Men prepare for war in March 13’s best new comics. The middle of March brings us a slightly slower tempo for new comics. The various publishers have found themselves in between arcs and stories. That doesn’t mean nothing is going down, though. The Fall of X event is quickly picking up pace as lines are drawn and teams get in place for their final strike. Meanwhile, Spider-Man is setting up its next major event, which promises the return of Norman Osborn as the Green Goblin. Here are the best new comics shipping this week to help you prepare for what’s to come. Best new comics week of March 13 The Amazing Spider-Man #45 – Transformers #6 – Action Comics #1063 – The Immortal Thor #8 – Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #2 – Fall of the House of X #3 – Every new comic releasing week of March 13 – These are the best new comics releasing the week of March 13, 2024. DC Comics titles hit shelves on Tuesday, March 12, while other publishers – such as Marvel, Image, and IDW – will release books on Wednesday, March 13. You can find your local comic shop at Comic Shop Locator or purchase digital copies via the digital storefronts linked below. The Amazing Spider-Man #45 Spider-Man’s Gang War has ended (though fans may get a second stab at its story if the latest Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 leaks are to be believed). Now, all eyes are on the next major milestone: The Amazing Spider-Man #50. We’re still a while away from Spidey’s next major brawls, which include the return of Ben Reilly/Chasm and Norman Osborn’s seeming return to form as the evil Green Goblin. For now, this issue promises more about the mysteries of Ravencroft, and the growing tension between Spidey and the newly superheroic Mary Jane. Transformers #6 The first arc of Transformers is winding down, but don’t expect the book to stop pulling punches. Upcoming solicits already tease a war for leadership among the Decepticons and a surprise return. For now, though, the first salvo in the latest Autobots/Decepticons war is about to land, with the last issue seeing a grievously injured Prime alone against the Constructicon Devastator. Is the stage being set for Prime’s noble sacrifice? Action Comics #1063 Superman’s had a lot of bizarre team-ups over the years, but this one definitely takes the cake. In the wake of Bizarro’s magical inversion of the world, the Man of Steel has to team up with the most sane man left on Earth – The Joker! We’ve seen Superman and Joker run into each other a lot over the years, and alternate Earth tales like Injustice see that confrontation get deadly. Whether the two work together well enough to form a coherent team will be something to behold. The Immortal Thor #8 It’s almost a mostly forgotten bit of trivia at this point, but Marvel pulled off a pretty huge Thor retcon a few years ago. It was established that his mother was not Frigga or the Phoenix, but actually Gaea, the Earth Goddess. Thor’s origin as Gaea-born has been referenced off-hand, but it wasn’t even that big a deal in the story where it was revealed, seeing as how the mini-series that would have explored it was canceled. Preview pages for Ewing’s Immortal Thor promise a confrontation with a radically altered Gaea, hinting another retcon may be incoming. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #2 The debut issue of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return had some huge surprises. Not only was it revealed the Power Rangers had dissolved after defeating evil and losing one of their own, but the former Red Ranger was back in action and had gone missing. But readers couldn’t have possibly been prepared for the shocking final page, with Trini’s niece showing up on Kimberly’s doorstep, demanding to be the new Yellow Ranger. It may be a story beat fans recognize from the recent 30th-anniversary special, but longtime fans are sure to be intrigued by the story. Fall of the House of X #3 The pieces are slowly falling into place for the end of the Krakoa Age. Magik is back on the field, having had her powers restored with help from Polaris, while Iron Man sets up to fight back against Orchis with his latest armor, the Sentinel Buster. With Fall of the House of X, we see the final stages of the war taking shape. Cyclops is back in play, and the damage caused by various strike teams is starting to rack up. The all-out confrontation is just a few weeks away, and it promises to change the X-Men forever. Every new comic releasing week of March 13 Abbott: 1979 #5 – Action Comics #1063 – Adventureman: Ghost Lights #2 – The Agent #4 – Alien: Black, White & Blood #2 – The Amazing Spider-Man #45 – The Assassin’s Apprentice II #4 – Avengers: Twilight #4 – Batman / Dylan Dog #1 – Batman and Robin #7 – Batman and Robin and Howard #1 – Big Ethel Energy: Season 2 #56 – Black Widow & Hawkeye #1 – Blood Hunt Diaries #0 – Blowtorch Bad Roads #2 – Blue Book: 1947 #2 – Bristlemouth: A Cove Horror #1 – The Cabinet #2 – Carnage #5 – Dark Ride #11 – Dark Spaces: Dungeon #4 – Dead X-Men #3 – Fables #162 – Fall of the House of X #3 – Firefly: The Fall Guys #6 – Fishflies #5 – Genesis II #6 – Ghost Rider: Final Vengeance #1 – Green Lantern #9 – Greenhorns #2 – Helen of Wyndhorn #1 – Hexpaw: Left Paw of the Devil #2 – House of Slaughter #21 – I Hate Fairyland #12 – I Heart Skull-Crusher #1 – The Immortal Thor #8 – John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando: Rise of the Sludge God #1 – Kayless #1 – Lady Liar #57 – A Legacy of Violence #11 – Little Black Book #1 – Looney Tunes #277 – Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #2 – Monster Fan Club #2 – Naff Comix! #3 – Napalm Lullaby #1 – No/One #8 – The North Valley Grimoire #5 – The Nowhere Man #5 – The One Hand #2 – Our Bones Dust #4 – Outsiders #5 – Petrol Head #5 – Power Pack: Into the Storm #3 – The Prism #6 – Red Hood: The Hill #2 – Rick and Morty: Super Spring Break Special #1 – Sinister Sons #2 – Skeeters #4 – Speed Force #5 – Spider-Gwen: Smash #4 – Star Trek: Sons of Star Trek #1 – Star Wars Insider #224 – Star Wars: Darth Vader #44 – Star Wars: Mace Windu #2 – Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures #4 – Suicide Squad: Dream Team #1 – Symbiote Spider-Man 2099 #1 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #149 – Thundercats #2 – Transformers #6 – Ultimate Black Panther #2 – Vengeance Is For The Living #1 – Washed in the Blood #1 – The Weatherman #3 – Wesley Dodds: The Sandman #6 – What If…?: Venom #2 – Wolverine #45 – World of Archie Double Digest #138 – The Wrong Earth: Dead Ringers #1 – Zawa + The Belly of the Beast #5 – If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

April 24th best new comics: Ultimate Spider-Man #4, Daredevil #8, Wolverine #48 & more IDW | Marvel ComicsUltimate Spider-Man debuts a new Gwen Stacy, while Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles drop the final issue of its latest run in the best new comics for April 24, 2024. As April winds down, we’re getting a better idea of how the summer is going to look for Marvel and DC. Absolute Power and Blood Hunt are poised to be huge events that shake the universes to their core. Before we can get into that, there’s a lot of set-ups to do. X-Men titles continue their march toward the end of Krakoa with the reveal of a traitor in their midst. Meanwhile, Spider-Man has to do battle with his clone, and Daredevil celebrates six decades of battling evil. April 24, 2024: Best new comics & where to buy them Contents: Ultimate Spider-Man #4 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #150 – Daredevil #8 – Rise of the Powers of X #4 – Wolverine #48 – The Amazing Spider-Man #48 – These are the best new comics for the week of April 24th, 2024. You can find your local comic shop at Comic Shop Locator or purchase digital copies via the storefronts linked below. Ultimate Spider-Man #4 By Jonathan Hickman, David Messina, Matt Wilson, Cory Petit, and Marco Checchetto Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #150 By Sophie Campbell, Dan Duncan, Vincenzo Federici, Fero Peniche, Ronda Pattison, and Shawn Lee Daredevil #8 By Saladin Ahmed, Ty Templeton, Ann Noccenti, D. G. Chichester, Elsa Sjunneson, Erica Schultz, Aaron Kuder, Clayton Cowles, and John Romita Jr. Rise of the Powers of X #4 By Kieron Gillen, R. B. Silva, David Curiel, Clayton Cowles Wolverine #48 By Victor LaValle, Benjamin Percy, Cory Smith, Alex Sinclair, Cory Petit, Leinil Francis Yu The Amazing Spider-Man #48 By Zeb Wells Todd Nauck, Sonia Oback, Joe Caramagna, John Romita Jr. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

The best Guardians of the Galaxy comics & where to find them Marvel ComicsIf you’re curious about how Marvel Comics handles the Guardians of the Galaxy, here are the best stories to start your journey with. It’ll probably be a while, if ever, before we see the Guardians of the Galaxy in the MCU again. The series ended on a high note in 2023, with a critically acclaimed finale by the current steward of the DCU, James Gunn. Marvel won’t keep you waiting for comics, though. There’s been some presence of the Guardians in comics fairly consistently since 2008, long before the MCU was even a universe. There’s been a lot of changes to the team over the years, with characters coming and going and arcs evolving to resemble and differentiate from their film counterparts. If you want the best idea of who the Marvel Comics Guardians of the Galaxy are, these are the best stories to start with. The best Guardians of the Galaxy comics From the team’s formation to a war with Thanos, these are the best Guardians of the Galaxy comics. Annihilation: Conquest – Star-Lord If you’re looking for the modern origin of the Guardians of the Galaxy, here’s where you want to start. While the various characters met and worked together through the Annihilation event and its sequel, Annihilation: Conquest, it wasn’t until this story that they first teamed up. They’re still not the Guardians of the Galaxy, but they’re close. Set in the shadow of the Phalanx Conquest, this four-issue mini-series resets Star-Lord’s character arc to make him a more approachable protagonist and introduces a ragtag team that includes Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Mantis, and more. The Star-Lord of Conquest still won’t necessarily be recognizable to MCU fans, as Peter is depicted as more of a traumatized war veteran in these stories. But these lay the foundation for later stories and team-ups as the team takes shape. Guardians of the Galaxy: Legacy The Guardians of the Galaxy team fans know and love starts to finally take shape with Legacy. This makes for arguably the definitive line-up and story for the modern Guardians, which writers Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning masterfully defined by contrasting them against the previous iterations. See, before Annihilation & the MCU popularized them, the Guardians of the Galaxy were actually a team of heroes in the year 3015, with their biggest connection to the modern era being their leader, Vance Astro, a mutant from 1988 who found himself in 3015 after a space flight gone wrong. He leads the Guardians and eventually even carries Captain America’s shield. Astro finds himself falling back in time to the 20th Century yet again, where he meets Quill and his new team, consisting of Rocket, Phyla-Vell, Drax, Gamora, and Adam Warlock. Astro inspires them with tales of his time with his own team, which leads to the decision to take on the Guardians name. War of Kings Guardians of the Galaxy quickly became fan favorites under Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, but War of Kings made them household names. This was the event where the Guardians were dragged into a massive war that also tied them into the X-Men titles. In War of Kings, the Shi’ar and the Kree go to war, led by the twisted former X-Man Vulcan and the Inhumans, respectively. The fate of the galaxy is on the line as Vulcan and Black Bolt, two beings with the potential to become unstoppable powerhouses, are on a collision course. The Guardians don’t feel like a huge part of the conflict, but it’s hard to deny just how big War of Kings feels and how important it was to Marvel’s then-popular cosmic stories. This is arguably the last time the Guardians feel like a unit of war-bound soldiers, too, as the MCU popularity would take centerstage a few years later. Star-Lord: Grounded (2017) There have been multiple attempts at Star-Lord series over the years. For my money, none better suited the character than 2017’s mini, which was tied into the Grounded event, which saw the Guardians members stranded on Earth when the team briefly dissolves after their ship breaks down. Star-Lord finds himself in the most unusual place of all, stranded on a planet he’s from but doesn’t know. The book provides an opportunity for some unique interactions, too, including Peter as a bartender, working community service, and running into characters he normally can’t, like Old Man Logan, Daredevil, and The Shocker. But the real beauty here is Star-Lord Annual, which bridges the gap between Star-Lord’s Earth adventures and the Guardians’ return to form beautifully. Stranded on a mysterious planet, Star-Lord must contend with an unknown terror and his own dread that something is coming for him. It’s a beautiful, done-in-one story that really highlights how Star-Lord can be a great character, in my opinion. All-New Guardians of the Galaxy: Communication Breakdown By the time of 2017’s All-New Guardians of the Galaxy run, you have a very MCU-adjacent team. The line-up consistently matches the one from the movies, and the characterizations are more in line with what fans know. With Communication Breakdown, though, there are some changes. Gamora is in the midst of a mysterious quest, Groot is effectively trapped in a baby form, and Drax has become a devout pacifist. The story ends up leading into a dark period for the Guardians, as the endgame of this adventure is ultimately the Infinity Quest arc, which sees Gamora kill Thanos and break bad once she gets all the Infinity Gems. But in the immediate, Communication Breakdown is an absolutely killer arc with some of the best Guardians storytelling to date. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More | Marvel Comics’ Blood Hunt reading guide: Spider-Man tie-ins, Morbius’ return & more | The best graphic novels of all time and where to find them | Best Comics of 2023 | Five best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | Five best Daredevil comics to read before the MCU’s Born Again | The five best Batman comic books for new and returning readers | The best Superman comics for new readers and where to find them | The best Fantastic Four comics to read before the next movie

The best graphic novels of all time and where to find them DC Comics | Image ComicsFrom Alan Moore’s teardown of superheroes to Frank Miller’s redesign of Batman and more, these stories make up the best graphic novels of all time. Did you know the first graphic novel wasn’t published until the 1970s? We can’t really pin down the very first one, but Britannica cites Will Eisner’s A Contract with God, and Other Tenement Stories as the first-ever graphic novel. Since then, the graphic novel has become its own thing. They’re different from comics in that they’re often larger, self-contained stories, though they can also be a series of serialized stories released as reprints or collections. They’re also most often targeted at older readers and, as such, take on more mature themes. All this is to say it’s a little hard to write a list of the best graphic novels of all time. I can’t read everything, and modern comics seem to blur the line between graphic novels and trade paperbacks more and more as themes mature and reboots change how often books are reprinted. But I feel confident in saying that these stories are at the top of the list and are must-reads for anyone who wants to step beyond monthly comics for something with a little more bite. The best graphic novels of all time If you’re ready to dive into the best comics has to offer, here are the best graphic novels of all time. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns There are so many Batman stories you could put on this list in place of The Dark Knight Returns. Batman: Year One, The Killing Joke, and more have all had grand implications in the history of comics. But The Dark Knight Returns still feels special, somehow. While Year One canonized the modern Batman, Dark Knight Returns was the template. It reintroduced a darker, grittier Batman, paving the way for Burton’s 1989 film and serving as the foundation for Ben Affleck’s take on Batman. How other Batman stories have aged can change a lot depending on how you feel about some elements. While The Dark Knight Returns still has a deeply political leaning with its take on Reagan and how it handles Superman, it’s still at its core a classic tale of one man standing up for a better tomorrow. Saga Saga is something of a once-in-a-lifetime affair if you’re a comic fan, the kind of lightning in a bottle that you rarely see. Everything you’ll read compares it to a sci-fi Romeo & Juliet, and they’re not wrong. The story follows Alana and Marko, lovers from warring cultures who are seeking a peaceful life with their daughter, Hazel. Everyone in Saga is a shade of grey, but the story brings with it a powerful narrative about love and the lengths anyone will go to for it. Saga is remarkably forward-thinking and progressive, handling topics like love, sex, and war with a deft hand and no shame about acknowledging the elephants in the room. If you’re looking for a series with a sense of humor and plenty of adventure that will make you think, laugh, and cry, Saga deserves a spot on your pull list. All-Star Superman For a character as quintessential as Superman, it’s so odd that more of his graphic novel outings aren’t considered classics. There are plenty of classic Superman stories: Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow?, Kingdom Come, The Nail, Earth One; they all tell classic Superman stories, but they don’t seem to enter the conversation that much anymore. A lot of that could be because All-Star Superman changed the narrative. In All-Star Superman, the Man of Steel sets about completing the “twelve labors of Superman” as he’s faced with the prospect of certain death. It’s a quintessential Superman tale that seemingly overshadowed everything that came before and has come out since. All-Star Superman is a brilliant study of what makes Superman…well, super. Nothing has really explored the character in much the same fashion since, and as a result, it remains one of the most talked about Superman stories of all time. Maus It’s far from the first graphic novel, but Maus might be the first time a graphic novel was treated as having educational value. This 1991 graphic novel collects Art Spiegelman’s autobiographical story of his father’s survival in the Holocaust, depicting Jews as mice and Germans as cats. Maus is striking in its visual design, with its heavy use of contrasted black-and-white art and stylized talking animal designs. Don’t let it fool you, though; Maus is a weighty, text-heavy read about a dark time in history. But it’s endeared itself to comic fans and become an essential part of the culture. Just how beloved is Maus? When it was moved onto a list of banned books in 2022, the outcry gained national attention and kicked off a whole new discussion about the pitfalls of banning books. Maus is rightfully hailed as one of the most important comics of all time and a must-read for anyone just starting out. Watchmen Truth be told, I feel guilty for putting Watchmen on this list. It feels so obvious and overdone to mention it as the king of all graphic novels. That perception has, sadly, damaged it over the years, but it is undeniable: nothing on this list carries any weight without Watchmen’s teardown of the medium. Watchmen is often treated not as the bar against which all other comics are measured. And it’s just not that. Watchmen is Alan Moore’s dissection of the superhero genre, a teardown of what makes it great and what makes it awful. If you recommend this to a new fan, someone who just started out and wants to understand comics, it’s going to be lost on them. But you can’t deny that Watchmen is important and fascinating. It’s an examination not just of the ridiculous notion of superheroes but of all the tropes the reader willingly turns a blind eye to as they engage in the world. Watchmen truly is the greatest graphic novel of all time, but it’s also important to remember it for its criticisms of the genre. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Best Comics of 2023 | The best Superman comics for new readers and where to find them | The five best Batman comic books for new and returning readers | Five best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | Five best Daredevil comics to read before the MCU’s Born Again | Echo: Five Marvel Comics stories to read before the MCU series | The best Fantastic Four comics to read before the next movie | Top 5 comics to read after seeing Blue Beetle

The 10 best Deadpool comics for new readers Marvel ComicsGearing up for Deadpool 3? These Marvel comics will offer the best glimpse into the mind of the Merc with a Mouth, although it may not be a mind you want to see into. The only MCU movie to release in 2024 will be Deadpool & Wolverine, in a twist that nobody saw coming. The film is the outlier following mass delays in the fallout from the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The film will be released on July 26, 2024, and behind-the-scenes leaks have already made some huge revelations. Meanwhile, rumors are heating up that a trailer is incoming, possibly during the Super Bowl. If you want to get caught up on Marvel’s regenerating degenerate before the film, these Deadpool comics will give you an excellent glimpse into the mind of Deadpool. Marvel’s best Deadpool comics for new and returning readers Contents: Uncanny Avengers: Lost Future – Cable & Deadpool: If Looks Could Kill – Deadpool vs. The Punisher – Secret Agent Deadpool – Deadpool & Death Annual ’98 – Dead Presidents – Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe – Uncanny X-Force: The Apocalypse Solution – The Circle Chase – Deadpool by Joe Kelly – If you’re new to the character or are just looking for a refresher, these are the best Deadpool comics for new readers. Uncanny Avengers: Lost Future Uncanny Avengers saw Wade joining the team in its second volume as something of a surprise. Deadpool’s tenure on the team marks a fairly significant period in his life, as it highlights just how far he’s come in the superhero community. These days, though, it’s mostly remembered for kicking off a controversial pairing between Rogue and Deadpool. And if you think the Rogue and Magneto pairing was controversial, it’s a pale shadow compared to this one. The pairing is somewhat downplayed now, though the two get a few sweet moments in Fall of House of X’s Uncanny Avengers relaunch. Regardless of how you feel about the pairing, though, this might be the best pure example of Deadpool evolving into a superhero. Cable/Deadpool: If Looks Could Kill Once upon a time, Deadpool wasn’t the instant draw for fans that he is today. He was still popular, but the books weren’t lighting up sales charts with the general public. With the streamlining of the X-Men titles in the early 2000s, Deadpool found himself in a team-up book with time-displaced future soldier Cable. The story saw the two thrust into a partnership when their DNA is mixed together, resulting in Deadpool being dragged along unwittingly whenever Cable uses his teleporter. But the wild thing is…Cable/Deadpool is really good. The irreverent Deadpool and the stoic Cable paired together perfectly, and their stories mixed the big-stakes action of Cable trying to save the future with the low-brow humor of Deadpool just trying to make a living. Cable/Deadpool is a genuinely unique affair, a once-in-a-lifetime team-up book that features some of the best stories these characters have ever had. Deadpool vs The Punisher The Punisher presents a unique challenge to comic book writers. Outside of a few exceptions, he doesn’t normally get a proper rivalry. He just kills his villains. That’s what makes Punisher squaring off against Deadpool such an interesting idea. The question asked by the series is dead simple: can Punisher keep killing Deadpool and stay alive? The two are at odds over a villain, The Bank, and how to deal with him, which leads to one of Marvel’s wackiest (and goriest) wars. Deadpool vs. The Punisher isn’t a book that ever takes itself too seriously, but fans who want to see these two titans of murder collide need to give this one a read. Secret Agent Deadpool The best Deadpool stories kick off with a strong premise. Secret Agent Deadpool exemplifies this with a strong twist set-up that puts the Merc With a Mouth on his suavest adventure. Deadpool believes he’s hired to kill a philanderer, but it’s actually super cool secret agent Jace Burns, who Deadpool promptly blows up. In the process, Deadpool winds up in possession of Burns’ watch. Spy agency the Risk Management Organization mistakes the scarred Deadpool for a badly burned Jace. Secret Agent Deadpool sees Deadpool get what is arguably his dream job. He’s thrown into the spy game with all the gadgets and perks he could possibly want, which sets up for some of the best comedy and action you can imagine with the character. Deadpool & Death Annual ‘98 The 1998 Marvel Annuals had a unique gimmick of teaming up heroes. Deadpool, as always, couldn’t do things the same as everyone else, so he hung out with Death. Deadpool and Death remain one of the most iconic pairings in a comic book, and it all starts here. Falling off a cliff, Deadpool relives portions of his life in his dying moments, all the while forming a unique bond with Death. Deadpool cheats death here and several other times. However, his on-again/off-again relationship with Death would persist for years, even when he was granted seeming immortality by Thanos as part of a jealous effort to keep the two apart. Dead Presidents A necromancer fed up with the state of America resurrects dead presidents to lead the country into a new golden age, but the zombie Presidents aren’t all there. This leads to a huge public controversy when Captain America is seen decapitating a zombie Truman. SHIELD obviously can’t have that. The obvious workaround is to hire a mercenary to do the dirty work of eliminating the zombie Presidents, which is where Deadpool comes in. Dead Presidents is the opening salvo of a really spectacular Deadpool run co-written by comedian Brian Posehn. This run does a lot to re-establish Deadpool in the larger Marvel universe and update the character’s confusing origins, but it also is just great to see a fun romp where Deadpool hangs out with other Marvel heroes. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe The X-Men, seeing Deadpool worse off than ever, commit him to the Ravencroft Asylum. There, the nefarious Psycho-Man poses as a psychiatrist, aiming to use Deadpool’s Weapon X brainwashing to make him the perfect weapon. Instead, something breaks. Deadpool has always been off, but now he’s keenly aware of just how dire his life is – and that of everyone around him. The broken Deadpool sets out to kill everyone in a misguided effort to “save” them. This remains one of the most beloved universe massacres in Marvel history and showcases Deadpool at his most lethal. Plus, there’s a twist ending that comic book fans will love. Uncanny X-Force: The Apocalypse Solution By the time of Uncanny X-Force, Deadpool had shown up on a handful of teams, but this may be the one fans first really took to. The first Uncanny X-Force arc, The Apocalypse Solution, sees Wolverine assemble a new X-Force to stop the return of Apocalypse. The catch: Apocalypse has been revived as a child. Uncanny X-Force asks a lot of hard questions but does show a more tender side of Wade. Sure, there are gag moments like Deadpool feeding strips of his own flesh to Archangel so he won’t succumb to famine, but his reaction to the notion of having to kill the child Apocalypse is unforgettable. Deadpool: The Circle Chase It’s pretty easy to look at Deadpool post-1997 and just enjoy the wacky hijinks, but there is some nuance to how he got there. 1994’s Deadpool: The Circle Chase is something of a forgotten gem that sets the stage for that. Set shortly after Deadpool’s X-Force adventures, The Circle Chase sees Deadpool on a mad tear around the world in search of the ultimate weapon. Along the way readers finally get a glimpse at Deadpool’s origin, learning of his background as a cancer survivor and seeing his early days in the Weapon X program. More than that, this is the first admission of Deadpool’s that he could be more than a killer. While it may not be a direct line between this story and the 1997 Deadpool launch, The Circle Chase definitely laid the groundwork for today’s version of the character. Deadpool by Joe Kelly It feels like cheating to name an entire run, but it really needs to be this way. If you want the best Deadpool comics to start with, it’s the seminal Joe Kelly run that starts in 1997’s Deadpool #1. For much of the ‘90s, Deadpool was a wacky merc, and his character was slowly developing. The 1997 run defined the character, with many elements from this run making their way to the movie. There are just too many iconic moments from this run to pick one. From Deadpool’s first meetings with T-Bird to the legendary issue where he’s stuck in a 1960s issue of Spider-Man, Joe Kelly’s Deadpool is the place to start for the definitive Merc With a Mouth experience. 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The best comic book love stories to read for Valentine’s Day DC Comics | Marvel ComicsSpend your Valentine’s Day curled up with your favorite loved ones in this collection of the best comic book love stories ever told. It’s Valentine’s Day, which means everyone is in the mood for some lovestruck media. We’ve already discussed some of our favorite Valentine’s Day media here, including romance movies and food, but comic books have a unique connection to the day. Over the decades, comic books have shifted focus. Superheroes have been the big thing since World War II, but before that, there were all sorts of other topics, like horror stories, true crime tales, and westerns. Teen romance made for some of the biggest comics before the superhero boom. Naturally, that history of romance comics can still be felt today, both in characters (like Patsy Walker, a former teen romance comic star turned superhero) and in tone, like the books on this list, which consist of some of the best romance-focused Valentine’s Day stories you can find. The best Valentine’s Day comic book reads From superheroes in love to horror monsters finding romance, these superhero love stories make for the best Valentine’s Day comic books. Vision & The Scarlet Witch The long-simmering romance between the synthezoid Vision and the mysterious Scarlet Witch was one of Marvel’s premier love stories for a long while. That relationship reached its seemingly natural conclusion in the ‘80s, culminating in their first mini-series. 1985’s Vision & the Scarlet Witch was only 12 issues long, but you’ll recognize it if you read it. The book’s base premise – Vision and Wanda quit the Avengers to begin their life together in the quiet town of Leonia, New Jersey – made up many of WandaVision’s hallucinations. Vision & the Scarlet Witch focuses a lot on the drama of the unusual couple and their respective families, which include at minimum three mass murderers. The story is mostly remembered today for the birth of Wanda’s twins, whose later retcon as aspects of Mephisto would contribute to Wanda’s mental health crises during the ‘00s. Young Heroes in Love DC Comics seemed a lot more willing to get weird in the ‘90s, but the wildest thing it did during that decade might be Young Heroes in Love. The series follows a fledgling superhero team, the Young Heroes, whose leader, Hard Drive, can actually read and alter minds. What follows is a sordid tale of young love, emotional manipulation, and deep reflection as Hard Drive brainwashes his team to control everything from secret identities to romantic pairings in an effort to build his perfect, effective superhero team. Young Heroes in Love is honestly pretty messed up by today’s standards, but it’s never done in a disgusting way. A lot of that is thanks to a cast of relatable characters with real problems and goals; you can’t help but feel awful for Thunderhead, a musician with a heart of gold whose super strength means he no longer has the dexterity to play his guitar. A unique situation with rights means Young Heroes in Love will probably never get a follow-up, which is honestly pretty disappointing, but it does at least end with some closure for readers. The 18-issue run is easier than ever to read today, too, thanks to DC Universe Infinite. Saga of the Swamp Thing Before Alan Moore tore comics to its foundation in Watchmen, he revitalized one of DC’s most popular characters. Moore’s run on Saga of the Swamp Thing is unnerving, albeit legendary. The story of a scientist transformed into a plant monster pivots hard into body horror as Swamp Thing learns he’s sentient swamp matter and his memories of being a man were never real. But hear me out: Saga of the Swamp Thing also features one of Moore’s best love stories. That’s thanks to the relationship with Abigail Arcane, who was introduced in the original run of Swamp Thing as the daughter of his nemesis, Anton Arcane. For much of Moore’s run, Swamp Thing and Abby pine for each other as she is torn between a disintegrating marriage and the challenges of loving Swamp Thing. In Rite of Spring, Abby finally leaves her marriage, leading to her and Swamp Thing confessing their feelings in a truly emotional series of pages. And, in a moment that has made every “weirdest comics moments” list for three decades, the two consummate their relationship by sharing a trip via a hallucinogenic tuber – no, seriously. It sounds weird because it is, but Rite of Spring is still regarded as one of the most beautifully written single issues of a comic book for good reason. Midnighter & Apollo Introduced in the pages of Stormwatch, Midnighter and Apollo are most often regarded as a twist on Batman and Superman’s relationship, but that’s never been entirely accurate. Still, the pairing of the sunny god-like Apollo and the brutal fighting machine Midnighter has had more than its share of eyebrow-raising moments over the years. Part of the 2016 DC Rebirth initiative, Midnighter & Apollo brought the two back together after a few years of turmoil. In the story, their relationship is put to the test when Midnighter’s quest for vengeance leads to Apollo being killed and sent to hell. What follows is a grisly couple of issues as Midnighter punches his way through hell to save Apollo. The love and admiration they have for each other is on display throughout the whole series, and it’s refreshing as hell to see someone as blatantly machismo-coded as Midnighter openly discuss his romantic feelings for Apollo. Midnighter and Apollo have been on the backburner since helping Superman in The Warworld Saga, but it’s only a matter of time before they’re back on center stage. Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows In one of the most controversial comic book moments ever, Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson sell their marriage to the devil Mephisto to save Aunt May. Their marriage is erased, their relationship fractured, and the daughter they would have had is never born. Fans hated this decision in 2007, and they still hate it in 2023. Fans got something of a reprieve, though, during Secret Wars, where one of the mini-series revealed an alternate world where Peter and Mary Jane bested the devil, saving their marriage and having a daughter, Annie Parker. The Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows mini was so popular that it got an ongoing, set on an alternate Earth, and eventually tied into the Spider-verse. The story, which expands on the idea of a Spider-family to make Mary Jane and Annie superheroes in their own right, was a beloved fan favorite that arguably ended way too soon. For fans missing out on Peter and MJ’s relationship (or who just aren’t that in love with Ultimate Spider-Man’s new twist on the concept), Renew Your Vows is a must-read. Saga Romance-themed comics in the modern age are mostly relegated to indie books and small press publishers for some reason. Most of your romantic comic book stories take place in the pages of other stories as the B plot or the character arc as a superhero in spandex takes a break from punching that week’s big bad. Saga, which I previously spoke about in our list of the greatest graphic novels of all time, is a different beast. The story follows Marko and Alana, lovers who found each other across the lines of war and bigotry. Kicking off as Alana gives birth to their daughter, the two must escape bounty hunters and power-hungry royals to find a peaceful life for their new family. Saga puts Marko and Alana through hell, but it’s very clearly the story of their forbidden romance and the love that keeps them going. The book is often praised as a modern-day Romeo & Juliet, which couldn’t be more accurate. It may not be the most traditional love story, but it’s the one that is sure to pull at your heartstrings the hardest.

Batman just made an unexpected character proud and it gets emotional DC ComicsDC’s greatest heroes and darkest villains are confronting their greatest fears in the Knight Terrors event. Batman, however, may have found a surprising respite from someone very important to him. The following contains spoilers for Batman: Knight Terrors #2 The line-wide DC Comics event Knight Terrors has already left fans with some memorable moments. Be it Black Adam forcing Mary Marvel to watch as he kills the Shazam Family or the Joker’s absolute misery after the Dark Knight dies from a slip-and-fall accident, fans will surely be talking about the event for years to come. Unlike the other characters, Batman is well aware that he is in a nightmare and is trying to take back control. Unfortunately, Deadman has possession of Batman’s body, and it’s keeping him in the dream. Knight Terrors: Batman #2 sees the Dark Knight forced to face his fears as Insomnia, the God of Nightmares forces him to relive his past. In the process of facing these fears, though, Bruce learns he’s made someone proud: himself. Batman makes a young Bruce Wayne proud of him While trying to escape his dreams, Batman comes across a chained, black door which Insomnia believes is where knowledge about the Nightmare Stone is hidden. However, after Insomnia is banished, Batman reveals it’s something much more precious. Behind the door is Bruce’s memory of the night his parents died, where he sees himself as a young boy weeping over his parents’ bodies. Uneasy and unsure, Batman wonders if he let himself down as he looks down at the version of himself. Instead, he offers the young Bruce the comfort of where his life will go. He tells him that while he’ll live in the shadows alone, he’ll eventually have “friends you can’t imagine” and “children who will make you into a better man.” The young Bruce Wayne tells Batman he’s proud of him for all he’s accomplished, and the two seemingly find a sort of bitter peace about their tragedy. At that moment, though, Batman seemingly awakens from the nightmare. It’s a landmark moment for Batman, a character who has long bounced back and forth between embracing the tragedy of his past and being so deeply stuck in it that he can never move forward. Having Batman come to terms with his life and the young Bruce express pride in his actions is a huge step forward for the character. Fans have taken note, too, expressing how much they enjoyed the moment between Batman and Bruce. How this change impacts Batman beyond the Knight Terrors event remains to be seen, as regular publication of Batman and Detective Comics resumes in September. The next chapter in this story, Knight Terrors #2, releases on August 9th.

Batman just beat the Joker by using a vintage Bat-meme DC ComicsBatman and the Joker’s first meeting has been a highlight of The Brave and The Bold, but Batman just pulled off a surprise victory with an old Bat-meme. It’s a pretty big time for Batman and Joker stories. The conclusion to the recent Mindbomb arc in the ongoing Batman series is leading to the anticipated Joker: Year One arc, which may provide some answers on the character’s origin. We know quite a bit about The Joker today, thanks to stories like The Killing Joke, Three Jokers, and more. The earliest Joker tales are often revisited, with a new twist or updated story beat added to them. The Winning Card has done the latter, with the creative masterminds behind The Vision retelling the tale. The ending features a hell of an unexpected surprise, though. The Joker is no match for the Bat-tery meme Batman: The Brave and the Bold #9 features the conclusion to Tom King and Mitch Gerads’ stellar Batman: The Winning Card. The story is an updated retelling of the first meeting of Batman and The Joker, depicting a Dark Knight who is out of his depth and wholly unprepared for the Clown Prince of Crime. To beat him, Batman had to pull out all the stops. In this instance, it meant confusing The Joker with an ancient meme. The “bat-tery” meme is a meme that may as well be old as time itself, by Internet standards. According to Know Your Meme, the first known instance of its use was a 2018 tweet by user @fro_vo. Since then, it’s become a common meme, with image sets either using the original joke or some variation of that “Bat-” joke. While Batman has occasionally had a quip or off-beat comment, it’s still unusual to see the stoic vigilante cracking such a blatant joke. Of course, the tone is closer to that of another classic Batman moment, the finale of The Killing Joke. There, The Joker finally tells Batman a joke and, in a moment writer Alan Moore referred to as “a brief moment of lucidity,” the two rivals share a laugh. As for The Winning Card, the moment definitely is a surprise, and many readers likely weren’t expecting to see a 7-year-old meme referenced by Batman. Still, it doesn’t detract from the overall story, which we recently hailed as one of the best stories for new Batman fans. Batman: The Brave and The Bold #9 is available now from DC Comics.

DC reveals creepiest Joker ever but everyone just sees Courage the Cowardly Dog meme DC Comics | Cartoon NetworkThe latest issue of Batman reveals a terrifying new take on The Joker, but fans only saw King Ramses from Courage the Cowardly Dog. The current Batman arc is doing a lot to make The Joker seem like a huge threat. The Joker: Year One isn’t just retconning his past, it’s setting up where he’ll go in the future. The issue takes place across two timelines. In one flashback timeline, we learn how Joker underwent mental training similar to Batman’s, which resulted in the alleged “Three Jokers,” in fact, revealed as multiple backup personalities similar to Zur-En-Arrh. But the second timeline, set in the future, has unveiled perhaps the creepiest Joker design ever. Naturally, Reddit had something else in mind. Fans compare DC’s creepiest Joker to a Courage the Cowardly Dog episode Multiple Reddit threads popped up this week talking about The Joker’s appearance in Batman #143. In the story, an older Joker has taken over Gotham City in the future. The Joker is presented as an eerie, mythical figure. He’s got a thin, emaciated build as he rises from the river, resulting in a terrifying Joker results straight out of a horror movie. Naturally, fans only saw a Courage the Cowardly Dog character. “Return the slaaaaaaaaabbb” one user chimed in on one Reddit thread. “If you want to stop me, Bats, you need to return the slab.” another said. “I instantly thought of this episode of Courage! 😂” one user said in another thread full of users making similar pleas to “return the slab”. The Redditors are referencing King Ramses’ Curse, an episode of Courage the Cowardly Dog that originally aired in 2000. The episode sees Eustace in possession of King Ramses’ slab. Ramses appears as a ghastly figure, imploring Eustace to return the slab and terrorizing the family. While Joker isn’t asking to get a slab back, he is proving to be a terror. The story sees him having taken over Gotham City with a virus that spreads through laughter and reveals he’s even managed to infect the Bat-family. Batman #143 is available now from DC Comics.

Batman gets another brand-new Knight Terrors costume DC ComicsKnight Terrors is racing toward its finale, but not before the book manages to surprise fans with one more Batman look. This time, Batman’s new Batsuit incorporates parts of Deadman’s costume. DC Comics’ Knight Terrors event has been a surprise for anyone who enjoys character exploration. The series has used the concept of a villain invading the dreams of heroes to really explore what makes these heroes tick. While the event has been a line-wide DC affair, Batman has been a focal point across the story. In his nightmare, he faced the trauma relating to his parent’s death. The result was a tender moment of a young Bruce admitting he’s proud of him. Despite being asleep, Batman has still been fighting Insomnia with help from Deadman, a dead former acrobat who cannot be seen in his ghost form but can possess and control living beings. In Knight Terrors #3, Deadman uses his possession of Batman to venture into his own dreams, giving fans a brand new Batsuit that incorporates elements of Deadman’s costume. Knight Terrors introduces a new Deadman-inspired Batman costume In Knight Terrors, the villain Insomnia is seeking the Nightmare Stone for reasons that aren’t entirely clear yet. However, the Stone can’t be found in either the waking world or the nightmare world. Deadman and Robin surmise it must be between the worlds and venture into a state of half-awake and half-dreaming with help from Sandman (the original Justice Society version, not the Neil Gaiman creation). Deadman being a spirit, he has to possess Batman’s body to enter the dream world. This results in Batman and Deadman’s looks being merged while they’re together. While the new Batsuit retains Batman’s general aesthetic, it takes on Deadman’s white-and-red color scheme and adds a giant D and his trademark flared collar. It’s the latest of multiple instances where the event has toyed with Batman’s appearance to tell a story, though this one appears just to communicate that Deadman is in control. In Knight Terrors: Batman, Bruce spent much of the story trapped in his child form and later in the form of the mugger who killed his parents. He later donned a more sinewy, muscular Batsuit after embracing his trauma within the nightmare. It’s another example of how the event is using appearance to play with reader expectations and explore character motivations in a way the main books cannot. Even Deadman gets some unexpected growth, revealing his death was much more painful than he implies. All that remains to be seen is if these stories will influence ongoing stories once Knight Terrors ends. Of course, a new Batman design also means that toy collectors are rubbing their hands together over when they can add this one to the collection. If past releases are any indication, it’s only a matter of time before McFarlane Toys gets this mold on shelves.

Batman finally proved he’s stronger than Dracula in an Elseworlds trilogy DC ComicsFans wondering if Batman was strong enough to beat Dracula finally got their answer in 1991’s Red Rain, but its dark ending led to some of DC’s most haunting Elseworlds tales. With Halloween upon us, the time has come yet again for comic book fans to weigh in on their spookiest character match-ups. This inevitably winds up becoming a lengthy list of Batman fan fights. It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Batman in official live-action hasn’t had many crossovers, but fan films and productions like Superhero Beatdown have pitted him against everyone from Darth Vader to the Predator. In the comics, Batman has had some of the most haunting crossovers, crossing paths with the likes of Alien’s Xenomorphs, Judge Dredd, and even Spawn. But for something a little more classic in the Halloween season, there’s always the seminal Elseworlds Vampire trilogy. In Elseworlds, Batman defeats Dracula but loses himself The trilogy of books has a number of names – Red Rain trilogy, Batman & Dracula trilogy, etc. Most commonly, the books are known as the Vampire trilogy, a series of Elseworlds stories that pit Batman against the horrors of the night. And, of course, if Batman’s fighting a horrific vampire, the gold standard is Dracula himself. The original story, Batman & Dracula: Red Rain, finally definitively answers the question, “Could Batman beat Dracula?” The answer, it turns out, is yes, Batman is stronger than Dracula and can beat him – but not without losing everything. The book begins with Batman receiving something of a power upgrade from Tanya, a rogue vampire who wishes to help him overthrow Dracula. The enhanced powers allow Batman to defeat vampires, but he doesn’t lose himself to the vampire’s curse as he’s not actually dead. That changes in the fight with Dracula, though. Moving in for the killing blow opens up Batman to Dracula’s bite, which drains his last remaining blood – and his final vestiges of humanity. Red Rain ends with Batman fully embracing his new life as a creature of the night, Bruce Wayne all but dead. Batman’s vampire adventure becomes a haunting trilogy Red Rain is an iconic but dark Elseworlds tale. The follow-up stories, however, are even darker. Batman: Bloodstorm presents a Batman who cannot control his bloodlust. In a final encounter with Joker, Batman drains his blood and stakes him so he cannot become a vampire. However, the Joker’s blood inspires a dark, murderous impulse in the Dark Knight, and he pleads with Alfred to stake him so he cannot kill again. The final installment, Batman: Crimson Mist, sees Alfred try to revive Batman to save a Gotham that is falling apart without him. However, years of decaying while stakes have driven him mad. Alfred and Commissioner Gordon reluctantly team up with Two-Face and Killer Croc, but in the end, all four are dead as Batman steps into the sunlight, allowing himself to die and hope for a final peace. Though the trilogy is well over 30 years old at this point, it remains a popular story. The juxtaposition of Batman with vampires just plain makes sense, and the surreal artwork of Kelley Jones has resulted in some of the most terrifying and iconic Batman imagery ever put on paper. It’s surreal that it all came out of trying to answer if Batman could beat Dracula. Batman & Dracula: Red Rain is available to read on DC Universe Infinite and makes perfect reading for the spookiest time of the year. For more Batman and comic book news, be sure to follow all our coverage.

Batman fans can’t decide the worst lore addition in the series DC ComicsReddit users are having a jovial discussion about Batman’s worst lore, but some of the stories highlight just how unsettling the Dark Knight actually is. The Batman Reddit is where users go to discuss all the newest news and hottest takes. The community is now at odds with the franchise’s most cursed lore, though. The conversation started from a popular meme that has been circulating Reddit communities. It asks what specific bit of lore about a community means you’re “in too deep” and “can no longer reverse the massive psychic damage you have inflicted on yourself.” For the Batman Reddit, there are plenty of examples, and fans can’t seem to decide which route is the worst. Batman Redditors discuss the Dark Knight’s silliest lore The top comments all focus, in a sense, on the death of the second Robin, Jason Todd. However, they’re more focused on how Joker escaped Batman’s vengeance in that instance. “Joker briefly became the ambassador of Iran,” user AshamedFish2 points out. “And it was the only reason Batman didn’t kill him after he killed Jason.” user Mineformer follows up. “He literally couldn’t, at risk of starting a war.” Others pointed to a largely forgotten aside from the story Batman: Widening Gyre. Written by Kevin Smith, the maxi-series is notable for never having its final six issues published after prolonged delays. As user g1SuperLuigi64 pointed out, though, Widening Gyre dramatically changes a key Batman moment. “That, if we take Kevin Smith’s word for it, Batman pissed his pants when he blew up the wall for his “None of you are safe” speech in Year One,” he said. Another user, android151, added, “It is amazing that [Kevin Smith’s] Green Arrow run is so good considering how bad the Widening Gyre is. Not only does it give us this, but it also never finished, and it killed off Batman’s TRUE BEST LOVE INTEREST.” Batman’s darkest lore may be its most disturbing Some users took the assignment a little more seriously, though. Many of the instances brought up are genuinely haunting pieces of Batman lore. “Batman once made Robin’s girlfriend his new Robin to piss off actual Robin but didn’t bother training or informing her properly because she was basically just a footnote in a childish pissing contest with his teenage sidekick.” user SwingsetGuy brings up. “She got tortured to death, but Bruce didn’t memorialize her and mostly ignored that it had happened at all.” Many also pointed to infamous DCAU events, like Warner Bros nixing a joke about Batman performing oral sex on Catwoman for the Harley Quinn cartoon or the story that paired up Batman and Batgirl. “A comic depicted Bruce and Barbara having an affair while the latter was dating Dick; Barbara got pregnant and lost the baby. And I think Dick found out and beat the shit out of Bruce.” user MisterVictor13 said. “Fuck, who thought that was something any Batman fan wanted to read?” Other users pointed to the multitude of stories in which Nightwing is implied to have been raped, events which are now largely ignored in the comics but a major source of contention among die-hard fans. “Pretty sure Tarantula raped him too during one of the Nightwing runs after killing Blockbuster.” user Oop-pl1 mentioned. “There’s also an instance where Mirage pretends to be Starfire and has sex with him. And then everyone blames HIM for it.” said user sleepy_shh. There are plenty of other incredibly dark stories in Batman’s past that are no longer discussed, fans point out, including the dubious circumstances of Damian Wayne’s conception. It’s only a matter of time, though, until a writer takes another swing at these moments or tries to come up with their own equally shocking Batman moment that can be the next community-destroying piece of unsettling lore. For more DC Comics and Batman news, be sure to follow all of Dexerto’s coverage.

Batman fans call Gotham War’s take on Catwoman a ‘massive disservice to characters’ DC ComicsBatman and Catwoman fight to save Gotham City in The Gotham War, but fans are furious with how the characters are being written. The first issue of the next Batman event hit shelves today. Unfortunately, the reception so far has been mixed. Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War is the follow-up to DC’s Knight Terrors event and Batman’s universe-hopping adventure in his own title. Kicking off after Batman has been in a coma for eight weeks, the event sees Catwoman attempt to wrangle Gotham City’s crime while Batman is out of the picture. While the idea behind the story is certainly a unique one, fans have already taken to Twitter to express their displeasure with the story and how it handles its characters. Batman fans hate Gotham War’s portrayal of the Bat-family Critics so far have been very kind to Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Battle Lines #1, which is just the opening shot of the upcoming event. Outlets like AIPT gave the book a 7, citing overly familiar beats but fun characterization. Comic Book Dispatch gave the book a 9/10, calling the book “a fascinating character study of Catwoman, Batman and the henchmen who work in the shadows of Gotham’s criminal network.” But fans are not being so kind. Many have taken to social media, loudly calling out the book’s interpretation of the Bat-family. In particular, they’re singling out Catwoman’s characterization. In The Gotham War, Catwoman’s solution to Batman’s war on crime is to train the low-tier thugs of Gotham to be elite cat burglars like herself. The result is less violent crime, as the normal big bads don’t have henchmen to hire, and the only victims are the rich of Gotham. Catwoman’s ground rules are simple: no unnecessary violence, only steal from the wealthy, and donate some of what you steal to charity. Batman, naturally, doesn’t care – so far as he is concerned, crime is crime, period. The Bat-family is divided on if Batman or Catwoman is right, but fans are absolutely livid, calling this take on the Bat-family “a massive disservice to characters” with “terrible characterization,” and many are calling the entire plot forced. Battle Lines is just the opening of the event, which runs across Batman titles for the next two months. The book also promises deeper revelations as Batman continues to deal with his twisted backup personality, The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. The looming threat of the Riddler also makes itself known in this prelude, though he may be more friend than foe this time around. Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War – Battle Lines #1 is available now. For more Batman and comic book news, make sure to check out all our coverage.

What is Batman Day? 2023 free comics, events, and more DC Comics/Warner Bros Discovery/RocksteadyDC Comics and Warner Bros. Discovery have announced plans for Batman Day 2023 on September 16. Here’s what you need to know. Batman Day isn’t an officially recognized holiday, but maybe it should be. The event has been an annual occurrence since 2014 and features some major releases for the Caped Crusader. Originally conceived as a means of celebrating Batman’s 75th anniversary, Batman Day is now a massive celebration of all things Batman. DC and its partners ring in the occasion with special products, unique experiences, and new collectibles being released. With Batman Day just two weeks away, plans have finally been announced for everything DC will be offering for the occasion. What is Batman Day? The first Batman Day was in July 2014. DC celebrated the event with the release of New 52’s Detective Comics #27 and a slew of other goodies, like Batman masks, capes, bookmarks, and more. After the original Batman Day, the event was moved to September, but neither date really holds any significance. While the original was held in July to tie into San Diego Comic-Con, the subsequent Batman Day events were moved to September because there wasn’t much else going on that month. While it has remained in September ever since, the date is seldom consistent, though DC tends to hold Batman Day on the third Saturday of the month. This year, Batman Day is September 16. How will DC Comics celebrate Batman Day Whether you’re a new fan looking to get started or a longtime fan looking up the festivities, here’s everything you can find or do on Batman Day. Batman Day 2023 Free & Special Edition Comics Participating comic shops will have a handful of comics, some of which are free and some of which are special Batman Day editions. Those comics include: Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War: Prelude Batman Day Special Edition #1 – Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #1 Batman Day Special Edition – Batman #608: Batman Day Special Edition – Batman ‘89 Hardcover Collection – Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #1 – In addition, the DC Universe Infinite service will have a list of iconic Batman stories available. Subscribers will have a curated list of team-up stories, while a selection of Batman’s stories will be available for free. Batman Movie Experiences on Batman Day The highlight for many will be a limited screening of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy – Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises – in participating theaters. These will mark the first time in years the films have been in theaters. For those not in an area hosting a screening, the Max streaming service will celebrate the day with a Batman hub. The service includes most Batman films, including The Batman, the Dark Knight Trilogy, Batman, Batman Returns, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm and more. In addition, select Batman movies will be airing on WBD’s various networks. HBO will air The Batman, while Adult Swim will air Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. TNT will also be airing the Dark Knight Trilogy, as well as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. TBS will also air a selection of Batman-themed Big Bang Theory episodes. Younger fans will also be able to participate. Cartoon Network will air new episodes of the preschool series Batwheels, while the DC Kids YouTube channel will upload new videos featuring Batwheels, Spin Master toys, and more. Batman Day new toys, video games, and collectibles The week of Batman Day also sees a number of home media releases. For starters, that week marks the release of Batman: Arkham Trilogy on Switch, bringing the three Batman: Arkham titles to Nintendo’s handheld console. There are also a number of collectibles being made available in the DC Shop, including a Batman ‘66 TV Series sculpture, limited edition Batmobile pins and a new Batman: The Animated Series bomber jacket. For those who are interested in digital collectibles, a number will be made available, including DC Bat Cowl digital collectible holders, DC digital trading cards and digital comic packs. McFarlane Toys will also offer a free digital collectible for anyone who connects their wallet before Batman Day. For more Batman and comic book news, be sure to follow all our coverage.

Batman fans freaking out over which way he faces on Dark Knight Returns cover DC ComicsThe cover of The Dark Knight Returns might be Batman’s most influential image ever, but some fans are realizing they’ve been misinterpreting which way he faces on it for nearly 40 years. To describe The Dark Knight Returns as influential feels like an understatement. The 1986 mini-series by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson was not only one of the most important Batman stories of its time, but it left an impression still being felt today. In the immediate, The Dark Knight Returns inspired the tone of Tim Burton’s classic Batman in 1989. More recently, the look and demeanor of TDKR’s Batman directly influenced Ben Affleck’s portrayal and costume in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Fans love The Dark Knight Returns, whether it’s in movies, action figures, or even cosplays. Those fans are now having their own existential crisis, though, as their perception of the book’s first cover is called into question. Which direction Batman faces on The Dark Knight Returns cover is confusing fans The madness started in a November 26 tweet by comics_jeff, who shared an image of the classic cover of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1. For comics_jeff, it’s called everything he knows into question, as he thought Batman was leaping away from the reader for his whole life. “I just had my mind blown cuz what do you mean Batman is not with his back faced to the readers,” Jeff tweets, “Please tell me I’m not the only one.” The tweet features the original cover and a line art mock-up of how Batman is positioned under the shadow on the cover. “I always thought it was like this.” Jeff shared in a follow-up tweet where he outlined the silhouette to show what he thought was correct: Batman with his back to the reader, leaping into the night. It seems odd that the image is such a source of contention. The cover is iconic in all the best ways: Batman, cloaked in shadow, leaping through the air. One hand outstretched, one raised into a fist, a lightning bolt cracks behind him. It is the definitive image of a series made of definitive images. But comics Twitter had a similar reaction. Many users are now coming out of the woodwork, both to agree with and clown on Jeff’s observations. “This is this year’s ‘is the dress black and gold’ then.” Matt Ferguson tweeted, referencing the dress controversy from 2015. “I mean, whatever, it’s fine — no, it’s GREAT — either way. A perfect, all-time classic cover,” Batman: Confidential writer Andy Diggle tweeted, “But jumping TOWARDS you is always more grabby and dynamic than jumping away from you. Especially when it’s FUCKING BATMAN.” Batman is facing forward in the Dark Knight Returns comic The controversy does seem to be settled for now, at the very least, and by the man who started it, no less. In a later follow-up tweet, Jeff shared an image of the original Miller draft art, which clearly indicates a front-facing Batman. Miller’s original draft holy shit pic.twitter.com/2Pma7iY8T5 — ultimate jeff (@comics_jeff) November 27, 2023 Still, it’s easy to see where the confusion starts. Not only does the original art leave this somewhat up to interpretation thanks to its effective use of silhouettes, but film adaptations that came later have gotten it wrong. “Dude, the movies thought it was from the back.” user SilverKreates shared, with an image of Affleck’s Batman recreating the pose in Batman v Superman and the animated adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns. Both feature their own take on the classic cover, but in both instances, Batman is depicted from behind. Whether this is an intentional stylistic change or an honest mistake, we may never know. For more Batman and comic news, keep it locked to Dexerto.

Batman cosplayer shows off scary accurate Dark Knight Returns costume DC ComicsA cosplayer and foam sculptor has shown off their cosplay of Batman from The Dark Knight Returns, and it looks like a classic comic drawing brought to life. Batman cosplayers are not an unusual sight. The character’s popularity translates to every other medium, after all, be it TV shows, movies, or action figures. But there are some genuinely impressive lengths cosplayers will go to to nail the perfect Batman look. One such cosplayer shared their photos to Reddit and is wowing users with a terrifying Batman ripped straight out of the Dark Knight’s most iconic story. Cosplayer shows off Batman costume straight out of The Dark Knight Returns Reddit user karrver_fx shared the images to the r/cosplay subreddit, showing off a terrifyingly accurate Batman from The Dark Knight Returns. The look includes the Frank Miller-designed Batman’s signature stocky build and a menacing sneer. The costume is the work of Shelly Karrver of Karrver Studio Creature FX & Design. They shared a behind-the-scenes look at the suit on their Instagram, showing the impressive amount of foam latex and detail work that went into building the costume. Karrver is no stranger to terrifying and impressive monster builds, including Spider-Man’s latest ally Rek-Rap and Throg, the God of Thunder. Reddit was equally impressed, discussing the accuracy of the costume and the stunning work that went into it. “Absolute unit” one user commented, “It’s almost like a figure. Incredible job.” “What?? It’s a costume??” another added, “I thought [it was] a sculpture.” “In a way, it is a sculpture,” Karrver responded, “We sculpted the mask and chin, but, yes, there is a person Inside this suit!” Released in 1986, The Dark Knight Returns is a seminal Batman story written by Sin City creator Frank Miller with illustrations by Miller and Klaus Janson. The four-issue series redefined Batman as a dark vigilante figure. The Dark Knight Returns is largely credited with restoring the darker aspects of Batman after the 1960s series made camp such a prominent aspect of the character, and as such, has inspired many Batman projects. Its tone laid the groundwork for 1989’s Batman, while its costume and armored Batsuit were direct inspirations for Ben Affleck’s take in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. For more comic book news, be sure to stick with Dexerto’s continuing coverage.

Ten best Batman comic books for new and returning readers DC ComicsBefore Batman makes his inevitable return to the big screen, these stories are the best comics to show readers, new and old, what makes the character so great. With 80 years of stories, there are a ton of iconic Batman comic books. Many of them have inspired some of your favorite movies, and many of them will go unknown to fans as they become forgotten over time, even with services like DC Universe Infinite making them more available than ever. There are a handful of Batman stories that are considered iconic, though, and have inspired multiple films about The Dark Knight. If you’re looking to get started or are a lapsed fan looking to get back into the character, these books make excellent starting points. Contents: The Killing Joke – Batman: Year One – Batman: Rebirth – No Man’s Land – Knightfall – Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Winning Card – The Dark Knight Returns – Arkham Asylum – A Serious House on Serious Earth – Hush – The Long Halloween – Whether you started reading in the Silver Age or have never touched a comic in your life, these are the best Batman comics to start with. The Killing Joke It’s hard to recommend The Killing Joke in 2024, but at the same time, it’s hard to deny it’s important legacy. The way The Killing Joke handles Barbara Gordon, in particular, has caused it to age incredibly poorly. Even Alan Moore himself has spoken out about the decision to paralyze her in this story, calling it’s treatment of Barbara “too nasty, too physically violent.” If you can look past that, you’ll get an incredible showdown between Batman and Joker. The Killing Joke is filled with nuance and detail, and Moore’s depiction of the meeting of these two titans is something unforgettable. Batman: Year One In much the same way that Frank Miller redefined Daredevil with Born Again, he gave us the ultimate modern Batman with 1987’s Year One. The story, written by Miller and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli, examines the earliest days of Batman while minimizing the fantastical elements of the character. If you know anything about Batman, it probably came from Year One. While it did have some influence on Batman ‘89 and Batman: The Animated Series, it most heavily influenced Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins. Batman: Year One may be nearly 40 years old now, but it still exudes a timelessness thanks to the noir leanings and straightforward narrative that Miller and Mazzucchelli weave through the story. It’s a rare instance of a relatable and vulnerable Batman, and it makes the perfect starting point for a new reader. Batman: Rebirth For a more modern take on Batman, there is no better place to start than the Batman: Rebirth era. For completionist sake, the easiest way to identify this is the one-shot Batman: Rebirth #1 and issues 1-85 of the 2016 Batman ongoing. This sounds like a lot, but it is one long narrative. The story, written by current Wonder Woman scribe Tom King, focuses a lot on Batman and the seeming perpetuity of his war on crime. Throw in an epic, drawn-out war with Bane and Bruce having to contend with his father from the Flashpoint timeline, and you have some truly memorable moments. It’s not a perfect run, as many fans will tell you. The long-simmering Batman and Catwoman romance teased a beautiful conclusion that was derailed, while many readers took issue with pacing and certain story elements. But if you’re looking to dive deep into modern Batman, the Rebirth era (and the accompanying Detective Comics run) is the way to go. No Man’s Land No Man’s Land came out of seemingly nowhere. A massive earthquake rocks Gotham, leveling most of the city and sending an already harried population scrambling to survive. With the criminal element emboldened and the government deciding to instead declare Gotham City beyond saving, Batman and the Bat-family must find a way to restore order as the city struggles to rebuild, all while Batman himself finds much of the technology that aids him destroyed. No Man’s Land today is a modern classic, having served as at least partial inspiration for Matt Reeves’ The Batman. But living through this arc, a tense month-to-month battle for survival where even the Justice League wasn’t able to help, is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Knightfall The sinister Bane wants to rule Gotham, but first he must contend with Batman. So he releases every inmate from Arkham Asylum, wears down Batman physically and mentally. Then, when Batman is at his absolute weakest, he breaks his back. With Bruce acknowledging his Batman career is seemingly done, he chooses a new heir to the mantle of the Bat: Jean-Paul Valley, the traumatized agent of the Order of St. Dumas, better known as Azrael, the Avenging Angel. It doesn’t go well. Jean-Paul’s traumas are enhanced by The System, a mental programming that makes him into a violent, unhinged Dark Knight. Donning a new suit of armor and wicked metal talons, his Batman is a nightmare to behold. Fans loved it, though, with Knightfall and its ensuing counterparts – Knightsquest and Knightsend – being some of the most memorable Batman stories ever told. Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Winning Card Tom King makes his second appearance on this list, this time alongside frequent collaborator Mitch Gerads. While King may have defined the modern Batman in Rebirth, the superstar duo of King & Gerads have left their mark on one of the oldest and most well-known Batman tales. Brave and the Bold is an anthology series featuring The Authority, Wild Dog, and more, but the main attraction for many fans is The Winning Card. The serialized tale hearkens back to the early days of Batman and his earliest encounter with The Joker, retelling and expanding upon the classic tale from Batman #1. There’s a mood and tone here that is impossible to deny. The King and Gerards partnership has already defined modern classics with The Vision, Strange Adventures, and Human Target. The Winning Card feels like the natural evolution of those stories, and it’s a shame it’s likely being lost on many readers due to its serialized nature. Brave and The Bold, on its own, is an excellent anthology series, but The Winning Card is more than enough to justify giving this series a read. The Dark Knight Returns It feels weird to suggest The Dark Knight Returns to new readers. There’s a bizarre legacy surrounding this one now, thanks to its influence on the greater pop culture of Batman and the controversy and reaction to its various spin-offs and sequels. But you cannot deny how important The Dark Knight Returns is, not just to Batman but to comics as a medium. The story is so iconic that it salvaged Batman from decades of being some of a pop culture joke following the camp of the ‘60s. Batman was always a dark and foreboding figure, but The Dark Knight Returns made him a gothic creature of the night once again. If you’re a fan of the darker Batman of the Burton films or want to see where Snyder got the inspiration for Batman and Superman’s epic brawl, this is the one to read. Arkham Asylum – A Serious House on Serious Earth The inmates of Arkham have called Batman to the Asylum on April Fool’s Day. It sounds like there are hostages, but instead, he finds something shocking. Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth is a landmark story about the horrors of the dilapidated Asylum. Grant Morrison and Dave McKean craft a truly unsettling world for a story that will stay with you in words and visuals for years. Much of Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth’s tones and concepts did eventually make their way to other media, influencing Rocksteady’s acclaimed Batman: Arkham series. Hush It’s 2002, and you’ve got a banner year of Batman comics. Acclaimed writer Jeph Loeb is ready to write the main Batman book. Sensational artist Jim Lee, renowned for being the definitive force behind ‘90s X-Men books, is handling Batman art chores for the first time. What do you do? The answer was Batman: Hush, a 12-part event that let Jim Lee draw every major Batman character and villain all in one go. This is an absolute roller coaster of a story with some of the best art and pacing the Batman books ever got (and it gave us a hell of a Superman, too). Narratively, Hush sets up a lot of stories the Batman titles would explore in the following years, including the return of Jason Todd and the deepening Batman/Catwoman relationship. But Hush still stands tall as an iconic Batman story thanks to its Who’s Who characters and nonstop action. The Long Halloween It’s hard to imagine a more definitive, thorough take on Batman than Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s depiction in The Long Halloween, long hailed as one of the best comics ever, Batman or otherwise. This year-long series follows Batman at the end of his first year as a crimefighter, exploring his relationship with Harvey Dent and the Gotham PD on the trail of the vicious Holiday Killer. The Long Halloween explores Batman’s rogues gallery in frightening detail, showcasing some of his earliest encounters with villains. It also focuses on the human side, revealing new depths to Bruce Wayne and his relationship with characters like Harvey Dent and Dick Grayson. Most importantly, though, the story lets Batman be a detective first and foremost. There are no world-ending aliens or massive superhero crossovers here. For fans who want to see a Batman working to solve a crime and track down a killer, The Long Halloween is the ideal modern Batman. Best Comics of 2023 | Ten best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | Ten best Daredevil comics to read before the MCU’s Born Again | The best Fantastic Four comics to read before the next movie | DC Comics Absolute Power reading guide: Will the Justice League return in next event? | Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Batman and Robin #1 reveals Damian’s coping mechanism has gotten surprisingly meta DC ComicsBatman and Robin #1 kicks off with a renewed focus on the dynamic duo, but Damian Wayne’s penchant for art also returns in a surprising form: a crude, hand-drawn comic book. The highly anticipated Batman and Robin #1 has finally been released, ushering in a new era for the dynamic duo. Isolated from the rest of the Bat-family as a result of the current Gotham War event, the father-and-son pair is reconnecting and working together better than ever. The debut issue sees the two working together like they haven’t spent the past two years on the outs. Batman and Robin squash an attempted kidnapping by White Rabbit in record time, establishing a new level of teamwork we’d not seen from the two before. It’s the moments that come after that are truly surprising, though. The issue gives us a brief glimpse into what’s really going on with Bruce and Damian – including a new take on one of Damian’s oldest hobbies and coping mechanisms. Batman and Robin #1 reveals Damian is making a comic book It was revealed months before release that this book would be as much about Bruce and Damian reconnecting as father and son as it would be about Batman and Robin reuniting after their big fallout a few years ago. The issue takes time to show us that there’s still some friction, though and gives us some insight into Damian’s thoughts via a comic he’s seen drawing. The comic is very crude and obviously in the early stages of creation, but the content indicates Damian is still at odds with his place in the world. There is some indication that he’s frustrated with not being able to live a teenage life. Most notable are lines at the end referring to his parents, Batman and Talia. Damian refers to his mother as a hero and his father as a criminal, hinting at some lingering resentment following Lazarus Planet and Batman vs. Robin, where Batman tries to stop Damian from helping Talia escape custody. There’s also a line noting that “they often forgot how to be parents,” indicating Damian may not have entirely forgiven his mother, either. Damian has been depicted as being an artist since his earliest days. Origin stories told in Batman and Robin #0 have shown him being taught to paint as part of his training with the League of Assassins. Later stories showcase Damian using art as a coping mechanism through art pieces Bruce and Aflred found after his death. While the art itself was always a coping mechanism, Damian has never shown interest in comics, making this a slightly more meta take on it. Considering part of Damian’s new direction is going to include becoming a high school student, it should be interesting to see if the book continues to use comics to offer insight into Damian’s feelings. Batman and Robin #1 is available now from DC Comics. For more Batman and comic book news, be sure to follow all our coverage.

Batman ‘89 sequel will adapt parts of a canceled DC film A sequel to Batman ’89, Batman ’89: Echoes, has been announced by DC Comics, and it’s using elements from a canceled Batman and Robin sequel for the story. Batman ‘89 had a long road to becoming a comic. Though it was released in 2021, the comic was first revealed in 2016 when teaser art was shared by artist Joe Quinones. While Quinones revealed that pitch was rejected at the time, DC Comics eventually greenlit the story. Batman ’89 was a sequel to Batman Returns and made use of many aborted plot threads from the first two films. In Batman ‘89, Harvey Dent, depicted as Billy Dee Williams, turns into Two-Face and a young man depicted as Marlon Wayans eventually becomes Robin. Now it looks like a sequel is set to continue the trend by picking up notes from a canceled Batman film. Batman ‘89: Echoes uses Batman and Robin’s canceled sequel as inspiration Exclusively revealed by Comic Book, Batman ‘89: Echoes sees Batman missing after the death of Harvey Dent. With Gotham in turmoil, a new villain – the Scarecrow – rises. The cover for #1 also features a curious tease, with a woman with a pale face and a familiar smile looming in the distance. It all sounds like the story is taking notes from Batman Triumphant, which makes sense. The film was meant to be a massive celebration of the franchise. The planned film would have included the debut of Harley Quinn, who would have been the Joker’s daughter, and the arrival of the Scarecrow. Triumphant was canceled in pre-production following the dismal performance of Batman and Robin. However, rumors and studio notes indicate a number of names being considered for roles, including Madonna as Harley Quinn and Jeff Goldblum as Scarecrow – who Quinones appears to have modeled this version after in art he shared on Twitter. It seems that Batman ’89: Echoes will be following a similar trend by adapting these plot points that would have been included in the cancelled Batman Triumph. Batman ‘89 used story beats from Batman and Batman ‘89 that went unused. These included Harvey Dent becoming Two-Face (Wiliams, who appeared in Batman and Batman Returns, was replaced for a very different take in Batman Forever) and the arrival of Robin (Marlon Wayans was cast as Robin for Batman Returns but was famously cut after being cast.) Today, the canceled Batman Triumph is perhaps best known now for a scripted sequence including a massive Scarecrow hallucination, which would have seen the return of every villain from the Batman franchise – including Jack Nicholson’s legendary Joker. It’s possible both Harley Quinn and a fear-gas-induced Joker could be showing up in Batman ‘89: Echoes, but it’s yet to be confirmed. The first issue will be released on November 28.

Batman 1989’s most obvious weakness just cost him a fight with his DC Comics variant DC Comics/Warner Bros.The return of Batman, as played by Michael Keaton, sees a dream match take place in DC Comics this week, but one Batman’s stiff neck proved to be his downfall. The Batman epic Mindbomb is well underway, pitting The Dark Knight against his toughest challenge yet: himself. In the storyline, Batman’s twisted backup personality, The Batman of Zur-En-Arrh, has asserted control of Batman’s body. While Zur-En-Arrh moves to kill The Joker once and for all, Batman is forced to fight with Zur-En-Arrh versions of Batmen from other worlds. In essence, it’s an opportunity to have DC’s Batman fight versions of himself from other media. It means fans finally got Batman of the comics versus Michael Keaton’s prolific film Batman, but the fight may not have been what they wanted. The Dark Knight just beat the Michael Keaton Batman by exploiting his stiff neck In Batman #140, Batman is struggling to ward off multiple variants of himself in his mind. He manages to throw them off the scent by dragging them into the mind palace where he stores his memories. With the various Zur-En-Arrhs separated, Batman fights them one-on-one. It’s honestly kind of a joy to behold, as he fights versions based on Adam West’s Batman ’66, Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. But fans do finally get a showdown between the Batman of DC Comics and the 1989 film Batman, as played by Michael Keaton. It looks like Batman ’89 may get the upper hand with some acid rounds, but the comics Batman uses the sound tactical strategy of attacking from behind to win with one strong kick. It’s an obvious riff on an age-old flaw with the design of the Keaton Batman the immobile neck of the suit’s cowl. Because of the thick foam rubber the suit is made of, Keaton’s Batman is unable to turn his head. The limited movement proved beneficial at the time, as it opened the character up for a unique way of moving. It’s got a kind of graceful clunkiness that is endearing to fans but is nonetheless the butt of many jokes. These days moving the head in a Batsuit is a non-issue for films, thankfully. While the original run remained the thick, movement-restricting design, the Batsuit of The Dark Knight used a two-piece design, while Ben Affleck’s Batman had built-in baffles that collapsed to allow movement. Batman #140 is available now from DC Comics. For more Batman and comic book news, be sure to stay on Dexerto. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Are X-Men and Avengers in the same universe in Marvel Comics & the MCU? Marvel ComicsDeadpool & Wolverine may bring the X-Men and the Avengers together in the MCU, but are they in the same universe in Marvel Comics? The upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine movie brings the Merc with a Mouth into the multiverse and will pair him up with Wolverine (or a multitude of Wolverines, if reports are to be believed). It’s a big step towards incorporating the X-Men into the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it does create some confusion. After all, they’re both Marvel Comics properties, so aren’t they already in the same universe? With that in mind, here’s a quick look at the Marvel Comics & MCU takes on the X-Men and Avengers and if they’re in the same universe together. X-Men and Avengers co-exist in the Marvel Comics universe In Marvel Comics, the X-Men and Avengers have always existed in the same universe. Both teams debuted at the same time, with Uncanny X-Men #1 and Avengers #1 both hitting stands on September 1, 1963. Though they didn’t have a ton of overlap in early stories, that would change down the road. Today, there’s a veritable sea of crossovers, like the world-changing House of M and the all-out brawl in Avengers vs. X-Men. You even have The Avengers playing a role in decided X-Men-focused events, like Iron Man and Emma Frost’s faux-marriage in the current Fall of the House of X. However, the overlap extends beyond events. Original X-Man The Beast is a card-carrying member of both teams, having joined The Avengers for a spell after graduating from Xavier’s School, while well-known Avengers like Captain Marvel have joined the X-Men during periods when their powers were in flux. The MCU Avengers and X-Men aren’t in the same universe – yet In the MCU, the Avengers and the X-Men are on separate Earths. However, that could change soon. The original film take on Marvel’s mutants, debuting in the 2000 X-Men movie, was a Fox property that exists in its own self-contained universe containing the X-Men and Deadpool films. In contrast, the MCU Avengers made their debut in 2012’s appropriately titled The Avengers, where they formed after a handful of solo films established the characters. Following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, all eyes were on the MCU to see when the X-Men would appear. The first true MCU take on the X-Men made their debut in the post-credits stinger of The Marvels. There, Monica Rambeau finds herself in another universe, seemingly rescued by The Beast and a version of her mother who became Binary. That could change with the upcoming release of Deadpool & Wolverine, which sees Deadpool enlisted by the TVA to save the timeline. We know Deadpool will be meeting up with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, but it remains to be seen if that will be the same one who debuted in 2000’s Fox, effectively bringing that continuity to the MCU or a variant from another timeline. Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More | Marvel Comics’ Blood Hunt reading guide: Spider-Man tie-ins, Morbius’ return & more | Best Deadpool comics for new readers | Do Wolverine and Deadpool have the same powers in Marvel Comics & MCU? | How old is Deadpool? Age in MCU & Marvel Comics explained | Who is Dogpool? Deadpool 3’s dog sidekick’s comic origins explained | Five best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut

Are Wolverine’s claws made of bone or metal in Marvel Comics? Marvel Comics/CapcomWolverine’s claws are easily one of the most iconic images in comics, but fans are often confused as to whether he has bone or metal claws. When you think of Wolverine, even from his very first appearance, you imagine his gleaming metal claws. However, for a good portion of the ‘90s, Wolverine didn’t have them. If you picked up any comic, you saw Wolverine with claws that appeared to be made of bones, while X-Men: The Animated Series gave him metal claws. You may have assumed this was just an inconsistency unless you went and played Marvel vs. Capcom 2, which featured a Wolverine with metal AND bone claws. It can be kind of difficult to understand just what is going on with Wolverine’s claws. The answer, as always, involves nearly a decade of comic storytelling and multiple twists designed to keep fans guessing. Does Wolverine have bone claws or metal claws? Wolverine’s claws are made of bone, but they’re coated in metal. The metal is an unbreakable adamantium alloy, which can cut through anything and remains razor-sharp. They were intended to be retractable blades stored in his gloves in his first appearance, but this was changed to be a mutation. For decades, it was assumed that Wolverine’s claws were pure metal and were something he received as part of the Weapon X program’s experimentation. That all changed in X-Men #25 when Magneto ripped the adamantium off Wolverine’s skeleton, and he found he had claws made of bone. Wolverine’s claws were revealed to be a natural mutation, in addition to his enhanced senses and healing factor. His bone claws aren’t as durable as his metal ones and can still break, but the bone will eventually regrow. How Wolverine got his adamantium claws Wolverine got his original adamantium claws and skeleton from the Weapon X program. He was part of an experiment to make living weapons and was one of the few capable of surviving the adamantium bonding process. He just had bone claws for several years after Magneto ripped the adamantium from his skeleton, with multiple stories teasing and never following through with giving him back the metal skeleton. He eventually got the adamantium back from Apocalypse, who restored it so Wolverine could better serve him as the Horseman of Death. It should be noted that while Wolverine can be resurrected in the Krakoa Era, the adamantium skeleton is not a natural mutation and does not revive with him. It was revealed that Beast was able to acquire an adamantium supply and the means to bond it to skeletons, a process which has been done several times for both Wolverine and Laura Kinney. Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More | Sabretooth War: Everyone who died so far in Wolverine’s bloodiest story ever | Five best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | X-Men Krakoa Age finale: Magneto’s resurrection, Iron Man’s downfall, & more | The darkest alternate Earths in the Marvel Multiverse | Is Wolverine an Avenger? X-Men character’s other superhero teams explained | X-Men ’97: Is Morph based on a Marvel Comics character? | Wolverine vs Cyclops: Which X-Men leader is stronger? | How Marvel used Wolverine’s real name as the ultimate fakeout | What level mutant is Wolverine? X-Men character’s power level explained | How X-Men Blue: Origins’ retcons change Nightcrawler and Mystique’s relationship | Who is Wolverine’s worst enemy? X-Men character’s nemesis explained | How old is Wolverine? Age in comics, X-Men & Wolverine actor age explained | How tall is Wolverine in the MCU and Marvel Comics? | Can Wolverine die? All the ways the X-Men hero can be killed

Are Batman and Spider-Man friends? Marvel & DC characters’ crossovers explained Marvel Comics | DC ComicsBatman and Spider-Man are perhaps the most unlikely of duos, but a pair of team-up stories established the two as friends, albeit barely. Everyone who grew up with superhero toys imagined all their heroes playing in the same sandbox. Of course, Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hung out with GI Joe. Why wouldn’t they? It’s not that far-fetched, though. While Marvel and DC haven’t crossed over as much lately, there have been a number of high-profile crossovers between the two and other publishers. It didn’t used to be that way. Marvel and DC heroes crossed over regularly. Some of them, like Batman and Spider-Man, even crossed paths multiple times, forging unlikely bonds. Have Batman and Spider-Man ever been friends? While Batman and Spider-Man are unlikely to reference each other today, there was a point in time when they had a friendly relationship. So, yes, you could say Batman and Spider-Man are friends. The two first begrudgingly teamed up in 1995’s Spider-Man and Batman, a one-shot in which the two must contend with Carnage and The Joker. Though the two start off at odds in the grand tradition of superhero crossovers, the story ends with them coming to an understanding and shaking hands. A 1997 sequel, Batman and Spider-Man, followed up on this while retaining the continuity of the previous adventure. Batman and Spider-Man saw the heroes up against the League of Assassins in a quest to save the Kingpin’s wife, Vanessa. Batman is initially cold to Spider-Man, but they quickly dispense with that when Spidey insists their reunion should start with a handshake. It may seem random, but 1995 and 1997 were rife with crossovers between Marvel and DC. The two companies enjoyed a friendly rivalry fueled by the success of Marvel vs DC (or DC vs Marvel, depending on which issue you bought). Even before then, though, crossovers weren’t uncommon. In fact, Spider-Man was part of the first company crossover ever, teaming up with Superman against Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus in 1976’s Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man. Beyond that, there were other fun crossovers, like a character who seems to be Barry Allen in an issue of Quasar following Crisis of Infinite Earths or any of the many instances of Clark Kent hanging out in the background of a panel. For a long while, it was generally assumed that the two company’s worlds co-existed but were never mentioned unless a crossover was actually happening. These days, the lines are a little more defined, with Marvel and DC not having a proper crossover since 2004’s JLA/Avengers. However, with a massive reprint of the DC Versus Marvel event on the way, it may only be a matter of time before the two paths cross again. Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More | Best Comics of 2023 | The best Superman comics for new readers and where to find them | The best graphic novels of all time and where to find them

Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom fans want Arthur to bring something with him from comics Warner Bros./DC ComicsThe long-awaited Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom trailer has fans calling out for the hero to receive his hook hand, one of the more iconic (and notorious) changes the character underwent in the ’90s. With just three months until its theatrical release, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is finally getting some promotion. A short teaser released on September 10 showed the first new footage for the film in nearly a year and confirmed a full trailer for September 14. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom has had a long, embattled filming. Reports of multiple reshoots, multiple cuts, and a notably quiet promotional period have led many to believe the film to be in trouble. Nonetheless, fans are hyped now that a trailer is on the horizon. For many longtime fans of Aquaman, the opportunity to bring a classic and controversial piece of Aquaman’s past to the big screen is too good to pass up. DC fans call for Arthur’s hook hand to appear in Aquaman 2 With the many fights seen in the trailers and the perceived darker tone of Black Manta’s quest for vengeance, fans are calling for Aquaman to get his iconic hook hand in the film. The hook (or, more specifically, harpoon) hand is a conceit of the darker, grittier ‘90s era of DC Comics and was an attempt to freshen up the character following the Zero Hour event. In 1994’s Aquaman #2, the villain Charybdis fights Aquaman by a river full of piranhas. Charybdis forces Aquaman’s hand into the water, where they eat his hand to the bone. Unable to repair the hand, Aquaman instead replaces it with a harpoon. He would later replace it with a mechanical prosthesis and the mystical water-bearer hand he received from the Lady of the Lake, which he wore until his death. His hand would ultimately be restored when he was brought back to life following Blackest Night. Aquaman’s hook hand was so persistent it even made its way to an animated adaptation – albeit in a much grislier sense. His debut in the Justice League season 1 story, The Enemy Below, sees Aquaman shackled to the ocean floor, watching his infant son facing imminent death. Only able to free one arm, Aquaman cuts off his own hand in order to save his son, replacing it with the familiar prosthetic hook for the remainder of Justice League. For longtime fans, the hook represented a bold new era. Aquaman also ditched his classic orange scale mail shirt and grew out his hair and beard. The era is viewed as formational in the period where Aquaman went from being the joke of the Justice League to the mighty King of Atlantis, a depiction which persists today. For others, though, it was a bit of a joke. Aquaman had for years been “the guy who talked to fish,” so attempts at making him edgier were an uphill battle for DC. It didn’t help that this was running after or alongside other similar “edgy” makeovers, including Hal Jordan becoming the evil Parallax, Batman being replaced by the violent Azrael during the Knightfall arc, and Wonder Woman losing her title to Artemis. Whether or not the hook will actually make a return in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom remains to be seen, but the upcoming trailer could shine some light on the future of Arthur’s appendages. For more Aquaman and comic book news, be sure to follow all our coverage.

April 17th best new comics: Nightwing #113, Fall of the House of X #4, & more DC Comics | Marvel ComicsIt’s a huge week for DC with the 300th issue of Nightwing while the X-Men prepare to make their final stand in the best new comics releasing on April 17th. There’s a pretty big week for comics ahead, as Nightwing celebrates a major milestone and the X-Men prepare to make their final stand. There are a lot of ongoing stories here that are preparing to crescendo, so there’s no better time to catch up than now! With that being said, these are the best new comics releasing the week of April 17th, 2024. You can find your local comic shop at Comic Shop Locator or purchase digital copies via the storefronts linked below. Contents Nightwing #113 – Superman #13 – Fall of the House of X #4 – Wonder Woman #8 – The Spectacular Spider-Men #2 – Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #26 – Every new comic releasing April 17th – Nightwing #113 What it’s about: LANDMARK 300TH ISSUE! Since the 1940’s, you’ve seen him go from acrobat to orphan; from Dick Grayson to Robin; from Robin to Nightwing. You’ve seen him work alongside the universe’s most powerful heroes, against existence’s most sinister villains. You have seen Dick Grayson do so many things, but now, in his 300th issue, you will see him… well, you’ll just have to pick up the issue and find out. Join us for this legacy 300 milestone! What we think: Nightwing has always been one of my favorite DC heroes, but I first became really attached to the character during the legendary days of Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel. Considering the road it took to get here, 300 issues seems like a fever dream. As a longtime fan, it’s so great to see Dick get his flowers as not just a fan-favorite in a long-running series but as one of the preeminent figures in the DC Universe. A lot of this will likely be dedicated to the set-up for next month’s Fallen Grayson storyline, but I’m really excited for the celebration this issue promises. Superman #13 What it’s about: Superman and Lobo… team-up? Together, the Man of Steel and the Main Man race across the universe on a hunt for the Lobo Army and Brainiac. Can they get along long enough to get to them before Brainiac enacts the next stage of his dangerous plans to create a new House of Brainiac?! What we think: The first part of House of Brainiac was a very pleasant surprise, pitting the Man of Steel against the forces of Brainiac and an army of Lobo clones. If that’s not enough to pique your interest, then that final shot of every prior incarnation of Brainiac definitely heralds something ghoulish coming. This week sees the original main man, Lobo himself, return to the forefront, hopefully hearkening back to some of the fun that was had with the character during the Justice League of America or Lobo and Crush runs. Fall of the House of X #4 What it’s about: MY ALLY, MY ENEMY! They say a wounded animal can be the most dangerous kind of animal to face. As the fight between the mutants and Orchis reaches a deadly pitch, a startling revelation rocks the X-Men to their core. The two series that are one come together in one horrible betrayal as the Krakoan Age nears its conclusion! What we think: The future of X-Men is starting to take shape as Marvel reveals more From the Ashes. We know things will not necessarily be rosy for mutants, with several fleeing to New York while Cyclops forms a mutant strike team in Alaska. The penultimate issue of Fall of the House of X is sure to shine a light on the grim fate that awaits mutants, especially now that we know of a rising city of sentinels. Wonder Woman #8 What it’s about: THE AMAZON WARRIOR VS. THE SOVEREIGN! Wonder Woman vs. The Sovereign! After being captured by a team of villains, Diana finds herself at the mercy of the scariest of them all. Unbeknownst to our hero, the Sovereign has been pulling her strings since the very beginning of our tale, and now it’s time for her to see the world his way as she falls under the influence of the Lasso of Lies! Plus, Trinity visits the past and unexpectedly changes the future! What we think: While the one-off side story of Wonder Woman and Superman in a galactic mall was a treat, I’m thrilled we’re getting back to the main story. Wonder Woman #6 featured an epic brawl between Diana and her toughest villains that may have been one of the best comics I’ve ever read. This series has been quietly humming along and is getting nowhere near the acclaim it deserves; anyone with even a passing interest in Wonder Woman really needs to be picking this one up now. The Spectacular Spider-Men #2 What it’s about: “ARACHNOBATICS” CONTINUES! Surprising anyone who knows Peter Parker (but probably not those who know Miles Morales), the Spider-Men have been keeping up their weekly meetup at the Coffee Bean! Sadly, that hasn’t given them any insight into the machinations of the Jackal!!! And what do all these mysterious interludes add up to? What we think: The threat of the Jackal looms, which almost certainly means clones and clone sagas abound. More importantly, though, is the much looser and lighter tone this title has compared to Miles and Peter’s solo books. After so many years of the two having a strained relationship, having a book where they’re working on their friendship is a real breath of fresh air. Plus, Humberto Ramos on Spider-Man is always welcome! Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #26 What it’s about: BEWARE THE POWER OF THE DOOM-MITE! Following the imp-shattering events of the BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD’S FINEST 2024 ANNUAL and #25, it’s up to Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite to convince Batman and Superman that they’re for real this time! If this dynamic duo of odd couples can’t work together, then our entire dimension is in jeopardy! What we think: It feels like it’s been forever since the tease for the upcoming jaunt into the Fifth Dimension, but we’re finally here. Batman/Superman remains one of the best DC books with fun, snappy writing and gorgeous art. If you’ve enjoyed the throwback stories and vintage tone of this title so far, then the whimsy and weirdness of imps like Mr. Mxyzptlk and Bat-Mite will definitely appeal to you. All new comics releasing April 17th 7174AD #1 – The Agent #5 – Almost Dead #2 – Animal Pound #3 – Army of Darkness Forever #7 – The Assassin’s Apprentice II #5 – Assassin’s Creed: The Fall #1 – Avengers: Twilight #5 – Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #26 – Batman: Off-World #4 – Beware the Planet of the Apes #4 – Beyond Real #3 – Black Widow & Hawkeye #2 – Blade Runner 2039 #12 – Bloodshot Unleashed: Reloaded #2 – Blow Away #1 – Blue Book: 1947 #3 – Bombshell and TommTomm #4 – Captain Marvel #7 – Catwoman #64 – Cauldron of Horror #4 – Cobra Commander #4 – Covenant #78 – Darkstalkers: Jedah #1 – Darkwing Duck: Justice Ducks #2 – Dead X-Men #4 – Deprog #2 – The Displaced #3 – Dudley Datson and the Forever Machine #1 – Edie: You Are What Eats You #3 – Elvira Meets H.P. Lovecraft #3 – Fall of the House of X #4 – Gargoyles: Quest #1 – Ghost Rider: Final Vengeance #2 – Giant-Size Hulk #1 – Golgotha Motor Mountain #2 – Green Lantern: War Journal #8 – Hack / Slash: Back to School #4 – Helen of Wyndhorn #2 – Humbaba #2 – I Heart Skull-Crusher #2 – James Bond 007 #4 – Jay Garrick: The Flash #6 – Jill and the Killers #4 – John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando: Rise of the Sludge God #2 – John Constantine, Hellblazer: Dead in America #4 – Kent Menace Chronicles #1 – Kill Your Darlings #8 – Lore Olympus #273 – Lotus Land #6 – Love Me: A Romance Story #1 – Mad #37 – Miles Morales: Spider-Man #19 – Moon Man #2 – My Hero Academia #420 – My Little Pony: Kenbucky Roller Derby #3 – Nightwing #113 – Oz: Fall of Emerald City #1 – Parliament of Rooks #5 – Penthouse Comics #2 – Plague Seeker #1 – The Prism #7 – Quick Stops: Volume 2 #4 – Rick and Morty Finals Week: Brawlher #1 – Rock & Roll Biographies #2 – Roxxon Presents: Thor #1 – Sam and Twitch: Case Files #2 – Simulation Theory #5 – Something Epic #9 – Spawn #352 – The Spectacular Spider-Men #2 – Spellweaver #3 – Spider-Boy #6 – Spider-Woman #6 – Star Trek #19 – Star Wars: Mace Windu #3 – Star Wars: The High Republic – Saber for Hire #1 – Superman #13 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Untold Destiny of the Foot Clan #2 – Three Stooges Centennial #1 – Titans #10 – Trumps #2 – Tuskers #3 – U & I #3 – Ultimate Black Panther #3 – Underheist #3 – Vampirella #668 – Vampiress Carmilla #21 – The Walking Dead Deluxe #87 – The Weatherman #4 – What If…?: Venom #3 – Wonder Woman #8 – World of Archie Jumbo Comics Digest #139 – Zuriel #1 – If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Who is Anti-Venom in Marvel Comics? Brutal Spider-Man character explained Marvel ComicsOne of the most sinister villains Spider-Man villains ever became one of its most brutal heroes when Eddie Brock was mutated into the horrifying Anti-Venom. Marvel’s approach to the Venom storyline for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was fairly novel. What started as a simple, updated take on the symbiote storyline quickly spiraled out of control. That’s sort of how it went in the comics, though it was obviously a much longer affair. Anti-Venom is the result of a long run of stories, resulting in multiple versions of the character. The first Anti-Venom shows up just after the Brand New Day event. Here, a major Spider-Man villain underwent a drastic change. Note, spoilers for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to follow. Every Anti-Venom in Marvel Comics explained The original Anti-Venom was Spider-Man nemesis Venom Eddie Brock, the original host for Venom, is the first Anti-Venom in Marvel Comics. Much like Spider-Man 2’s Anti-Venom, Eddie obtains the powers after a fateful interaction with Martin Li. Eddie had separated from the Venom symbiote by this time and was dying from cancer. During the New Ways to Die storyline, Li used his powers to cure Eddie of his cancer, but the process reinvigorated remnants of the Venom symbiote that were attached to Eddie. The cells were mutated into something new, dubbed Anti-Venom. Anti-Venom was immune to symbiotes and had a bizarre healing touch that could actually rob Spider-Man of his powers. Agent Venom becomes Agent Anti-Venom The original Anti-Venom is eventually destroyed to make a cure for the Jackal’s Spider-Virus. Brock would be powerless for a period, eventually rebonding with the Venom symbiote. The former Agent Venom, Flash Thompson, sought to reclaim Venom from Eddie. The fight exposed Flash to synthetic Anti-Venom serum that was being designed to restrain Eddie Brock. The serum reacted to the remnants of Venom in Flash’s body, creating a new Anti-Venom symbiote for Flash Thompson. Agent Anti-Venom would eventually die fighting the Carnage-bonded Norman Osborn, Red Goblin. After death, the Anti-Venom symbiote’s codex, a record of its host and powers, would be bonded into the symbiote’s hive mind. Anti-Venom is reborn through a Symbiote Dragon Flash’s personality was also included in the hive mind, as it was intrinsically linked to Anti-Venom. During King in Black, he discovered he could exert control over the symbiote dragon formed from the Anti-Venom codex. Flash used this control to bond the Anti-Venom dragon with his corpse, reanimating it and, for better or for worse, cheating death. The new Anti-Venom had his previous powers but also could shapeshift to retain some of its symbiote dragon features, like wings and claws. The latest iteration of Flash as Anti-Venom was last seen fighting alongside the Savage Avengers, who helped a Deathlok-converted Miles Morales stop a time-traveling Ultron. Anti-Venom in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 takes a similar approach to Anti-Venom. Here, Anti-Venom is a remnant of Venom that is attached to Peter after he splits from the symbiote. Martin Li helps Peter shake off the symbiote hive-mind connection. As a result, he’s able to keep the Venom powers, but they’re not connected to anything. He also gets a fancy new white suit in the process. Peter’s Anti-Venom powers do enhanced damage against symbiotes. They’re one way the game makes Peter stronger for its finale against Venom and a hoard of symbiotes. That’s all we have for Anti-Venom in Marvel Comics & Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. For more Spider-Man and Marvel Comics news, be sure to follow all of Dexerto’s coverage.

Amazing Spider-Man teases a dark new direction for Spider-Woman Marvel ComicsA new Spider-Woman ongoing series was teased at San Diego Comic-Con. Now the first details of the series are being revealed, and it sees Jessica Drew forced to solve a heartbreaking mystery. Spider-Woman’s having a rough go at it. Hot off the heels of her last ongoing being quietly canceled in March 2022, she was briefly killed and untethered from reality during the End of Spider-Verse event. Though that death was eventually undone, Spider-Woman, aka Jessica Drew, has been in publication limbo ever since. She hasn’t even really shown up for any guest appearances, and it appears to be related to her new ongoing series. The recently announced new Spider-Woman ongoing is part of the Gang War event running throughout the Spider-Man titles. However, while Spider-Woman is being enlisted to help stop some of the biggest threats to date to Marvel’s New York City, it seems she has a more pressing matter. Spider-Woman sees Jessica Drew hunting for her missing baby Amazing Spider-Man #31 wraps with a short teaser of the upcoming series. In it, Jessica is on a rampage, beating down multiple villains across the bar with no name. Her friends haven’t heard from her in weeks, and no one knows what’s wrong with her. The reveal at the end is chilling, as Spider-Woman corners a Hydra agent. The agent kills himself with a cyanide capsule before she can reveal what she’s looking for – her missing baby. The implication that Hydra could have stolen Spider-Woman’s baby is a chilling one. Jessica Drew has a long history with Hydra, who trained her to be an assassin after she first received her powers. She soon defected after refusing to assassinate Nick Fury but has regularly had run-ins with the organization, most recently having to rob one of their facilities when she learned her powers were killing her. The early buzz for Spider-Woman #1 makes no mention of the specifics about what happened to Spider-Woman’s baby, but Marvel does tease, “As she tries to solve the heartbreaking mystery that’s upended her entire world, Spider-Woman will come face-to-face with a terrifying new force of evil.” Spider-Woman #1 hits stands on November 29. In the meantime, there are plenty of other big changes afoot in Spider-Man comics, not least of all being the introduction of Mary Jane Watson as Jackpot or the announced sequel to Spider-Man: Reign.

Aliens vs. Avengers: Release date, cover art, plot details & more Marvel ComicsIf you’re looking forward to the upcoming Aliens and Avengers brawl from Marvel, here’s everything you need to know before the series drops. The upcoming ‘Aliens vs. Avengers’ pits the Avengers against the legendary Xenomorphs for the first time. Before the series releases in July, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Marvel Comics crossover event. Contents What is Aliens vs. Avengers? According to Marvel, the book is set in a new timeline decades in the future with older versions of Marvel characters. In addition to showcasing the first meeting of the Avengers and the Xenomorphs, the book promises to expand on Alien lore with the reveal of the homeworld of the Engineers, the race shown to be responsible for the creation of the human race in ‘Prometheus.’ The four-issue ‘Aliens vs. Avengers’ mini-series will be written by Jonathan Hickman (Ultimate Spider-Man) and illustrated by Esad Ribić (Thor: God of Thunder). The duo is perhaps best remembered for their work on 2015’s ‘Secret Wars,’ which merged the 616 and Ultimate Universes into one. ‘Aliens vs. Avengers’ marks the first time the Marvel Universe will crossover with the Xenomorphs. Over the years, they’ve had multiple crossovers with other publishers, but the acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney has opened the door for crossovers such as this. A previous crossover saw Wolverine go claw to claw with the Predator in a war of attrition that lasted for decades. The first issue hits stands just before the release of ‘Alien: Romulus,’ the seventh overall film in the Alien franchise. The new film is set between ‘Alien’ and ‘Aliens,’ focusing on a group of space colonists who encounter the Xenomorphs on an abandoned space station. Aliens vs. Avengers issues Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More | Marvel Comics’ Blood Hunt reading guide: Spider-Man tie-ins, Morbius’ return & more | X-Men Krakoa Age finale: Magneto’s resurrection, Iron Man’s downfall, & more | Sabretooth War: Everyone who died so far in Wolverine’s bloodiest story ever | DC Comics Absolute Power reading guide: Will the Justice League return in next event? | The darkest alternate Earths in the Marvel Multiverse

Adamantium vs Vibranium: Which Marvel Comics metal is stronger? Marvel ComicsWolverine’s adamantium skeleton and Black Panther’s vibranium claws are two of Marvel’s most iconic and powerful weapons, but which of the two is stronger continues to be hotly debated. There are two big metals that rule the Marvel Universe: Adamantium and Vibranium. Though there are other metals, like the X-Men’s reality-defying Mysterium or the powerful Uru that makes up Mjolnir, Adamantium and Vibranium continue to dominate the conversation. Adamantium, an artificially created metal alloy, was the go-to, unbreakable metal for years. It was used to coat Wolverine’s skeleton, and the assassin Bullseye had his spine coated with adamantium. Its counterpoint is Vibranium, a naturally mined resource in the kingdom of Wakanda, said to be found in the meteorite that killed the dinosaurs. Both metals have their strengths and weaknesses, but one has to be stronger than the other. However, it may end up being that they simply balance out their strengths against their weaknesses. Adamantium is stronger than Vibranium Pound for pound, Adamantium is presented as a much stronger metal. Adamantium and Vibranium have similar properties, but Adamantium is the go-to for weapons and defensive structures. A lot of this does have to do with availability. Vibranium is difficult to procure and fiercely protected by Wakanda. While Adamantium was once incredibly rare, it and its various, weaker variants have become increasingly more common. Still, while it’s reached a point that Beast has an Adamantium vat for when X-Men like Wolverine are revived, it doesn’t change the fact that actually making the Adamantium alloy is a difficult process. There’s also still a threshold to which Adamantium can be manipulated by heating it or other means (like Magneto ripping Wolverine’s adamantium off his bones), and weaker Beta variants of Adamantium lack the strength of its pure variants. But compared to Vibranium, the pure form of Adamantium is the stronger material for making weapons. Vibranium’s properties make it a better defensive material That same strength that makes Adamantium preferable for weapons is what makes it less useful in other applications. It’s rigid and unyielding, but that means it doesn’t offer a lot of give when used defensively. Vibranium shines here, though. It has a natural ability to store and disperse kinetic energy, meaning any blows it takes are dissipated via the metal, not the wielder. This is the unique property that makes Captain America’s shield, which is made from a combination of vibranium and an unknown metal, so effective. Vibranium does still get its due as an offensive metal. Black Panther makes use of it in his claws, and they’ve proven to be sufficiently capable of feats like scratching Cap’s shield. As an outright weapon, though, its composition pales in comparison to adamantium’s durability. Every Free Comic Book Day 2024 title: Ultimate Spider-Man, X-Men, Star Wars & More | Sabretooth War: Everyone who died so far in Wolverine’s bloodiest story ever | Five best X-Men comics to read before their MCU debut | X-Men Krakoa Age finale: Magneto’s resurrection, Iron Man’s downfall, & more | The darkest alternate Earths in the Marvel Multiverse | Is Wolverine an Avenger? X-Men character’s other superhero teams explained | X-Men ’97: Is Morph based on a Marvel Comics character? | Wolverine vs Cyclops: Which X-Men leader is stronger? | How Marvel used Wolverine’s real name as the ultimate fakeout | What level mutant is Wolverine? X-Men character’s power level explained | How X-Men Blue: Origins’ retcons change Nightcrawler and Mystique’s relationship | Who is Wolverine’s worst enemy? X-Men character’s nemesis explained | How old is Wolverine? Age in comics, X-Men & Wolverine actor age explained | How tall is Wolverine in the MCU and Marvel Comics? | Can Wolverine die? All the ways the X-Men hero can be killed

Across The Spider-Verse originally had this DC Comics Spider-Man variant Amalgam ComicsSpider-Man: Across the Spiderverse brought a number of Spider-Men from various media into one huge film. However, the film had to omit the character Spider-Boy because of DC Comics. It’s been a few months since Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse hit theaters. Since then, character and costume designer Kris Anka has been answering questions on Twitter and sharing his various designs for Spider-Man variants who appeared in the film. In Across the Spiderverse, Miles Morales is taken to a multiversal hub where Spider-Men from various universes meet. Miles, however, is treated as an anomaly and faces persecution from the leader of the group, Spider-Man 2099. Though there are hundreds of Spider-Man throughout the film, many more wound up on the cutting room floor. One such character didn’t make the cut because of their ties to one of Marvel’s most important stories from the ‘90s. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse had to cut Spider-Boy The image in question, shared on Twitter by Anka and reported by ComicBookMovie.com, comes from a photo a fan took at an expo. The fan asked if it was real, and Anka confirmed it was indeed a legit design. “It is real, I’ve never posted the actual drawing.” Anka explained, “Obviously, we ended up not being able to use it cause legal law reasons.” Spider-Boys’ origins have ties to DC vs. Marvel, a landmark series in which Marvel heroes and DC heroes duked it out, with some outcomes even being determined by fan poll. Following issue #3, the universes were briefly merged in an effort to prevent them from imploding. The result was a brand new imprint, Amalgam Comics, which starred fused versions of Marvel and DC characters. The first run of Amalgam Comics consisted of 12 one-shot comics, half produced by Marvel and the other half by DC. Marvel produced Spider-Boy #1, a fusion of Superboy and Spider-Man (who, at the time, was Ben Reilly). Spider-Boy was a clone character who appeared to have Spider-like powers but actually had gravity powers (similar to Superboy’s Tactile Telekinesis). Rather than the traditional web shooters, Spider-Boy carried a pistol dubbed the web shooter that fired webbing. A second wave of one-shots followed the next year that included Spider-Boy Team-Up, but neither Spider-Boy nor the Amalgam characters have appeared since. The precarious legal situation of Marvel and DC sharing ownership means a reappearance is unlikely, and meant the Spiderverse team wasn’t able to use them. While Spider-Boy may not make an appearance, there’s plenty of other fan service to be found in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which swings onto digital services August 8 and Blu-ray September 5. The sequel, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse, has been delayed indefinitely.

DC Comics Absolute Power reading guide: Will the Justice League return in next event? DC ComicsDC Comics has announced Absolute Power, a new event starring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, which fans already think may herald the return of the Justice League. DC has been dabbling in smaller events for the past year or so as the Dawn of DC initiative has taken center stage. Now, the company is getting ready for its first massive event in nearly two years, which kicks off with its long-teased Free Comic Book Day special. Will Absolute Power bring back the Justice League? Absolute Power is the first truly massive event since Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. DC has been focused on the Dawn of DC initiative, which saw fan favorites and new heroes take center stage as the Justice League largely stepped out of the spotlight. For the past year and a half, the Titans have been DC’s preeminent superteam, while events were limited to smaller-scale (though still undeniably big) affairs such as Knight Terrors and Beast World. Absolute Power looks to be shifting the scale of power back to focus on the Big Three and could be setting up for what many have viewed as inevitable: the return of the classic Big 7 iteration of the Justice League. Absolute Power will see Amanda Waller successfully steal the powers of every metahuman on Earth. With Earth’s strongest heroes helpless, it’s up to the very human resistance speared by Batman to save the world and stop Waller’s plans dead in their tracks. DC Comics Absolute Power reading guide Contents Absolute Power main series reading guide – Absolute Power tie-in reading guide – Absolute Power mini-series reading guide – Absolute Power consists of a whopping 25 issues, spanning a main series and several mini-series tie-ins. The main series will be penned by the Batman/Superman: World’s Finest team of legendary comics writer Mark Waid and artist Dan Mora. Absolute Power main series reading guide Absolute Power tie-in reading guide Absolute Power mini-series reading guide X-Men Krakoa Age finale: Magneto’s resurrection, Iron Man’s downfall, & more | X-Men: From the Ashes – New X-teams, costumes, & the fate of Xavier’s School | Aliens vs. Avengers: Release date, cover art, plot details & more Sabretooth War: Everyone who died so far in Wolverine’s bloodiest story ever | The five best Batman comic books for new and returning readers | The best Superman comics for new readers and where to find them | Marvel Comics Ultimate Spider-Man – New origin, villains & more

Best Comics of 2023 Marvel Comics/DC ComicsFrom men without fear to boy wonders taking a long-overdue turn in the spotlight, 2023 had some of the best comics in a long while. 2023 was a rough year if you were a fan of the comic books on film genre. The CW put the final nail in the Arrowverse’s coffin, while The Flash marked the end of the Snyderverse and The Marvels marked the MCU’s lowest low to date. But for comics fans, it was a blockbuster year. Events like Fall of X are bringing exciting closure to some of the most intriguing mysteries in years, while DC came out of Dark Crisis and Lazarus Planet to a renewed slate of storytelling. If you love your four-color heroes, 2023 was a year to remember. With that in mind, these are our picks for the best Marvel and DC comics of 2023. 5. Fantastic Four The Fantastic Four had a great run under Superior Spider-Man creator Dan Slott, and it seemed like it would be the run to beat. Go figure; they did. Volume 7 takes Marvel’s First Family to new, seemingly improbable heights. Separated from loved ones and splintered as a family, the FF found themselves on a journey of rediscovery as they kicked this volume off. Since then, they’ve reunited, met The Thing’s legendary Aunt Petunia, pushed the Invisible Woman’s powers to the limit, and even fought dinosaur versions of themselves. Throughout it all, the run has been a fun, adventurous romp focused on the FF, their relationships, and how they impact their own little slice of the Marvel Universe. 4. Wonder Woman Tom King has been the name in comics for the past decade or so. His work on titles like The Vision, Strange Adventures, and Batman has made him a household name. To describe the announcement of his Wonder Woman run as exciting would be an understatement. And it delivered in spades with a stellar opening adventure, a tense set-up as Wonder Woman found herself outlawed, and a balletic fight as Diana proved why she’s DC’s strongest fighter. It is bittersweet to see the character get another reboot, putting her ongoing back at single digits while other characters cross the 1,000 issues threshold. But the gripping tale of Diana and the mystery surrounding her daughter Trinity, all under the masterful hands of King and artist Daniel Sampere, make for one of the best things DC ever put out. 3. Daredevil Fans knew Daredevil was going to be in for a rough ride when this run started in 2022, but I don’t think anyone really grasped what that meant. 2023 kicked off with Daredevil and The Punisher having the biggest knock-down drag-out fight in their comics history. That was only the beginning, too. Daredevil ended this run in hell – literally – fighting off demons in an effort to prevent The Hand from becoming Earthly conquerors. It’s a run that ended on a wild note but one that kept readers on the edge of their seats. It didn’t hurt that it dove-tailed so beautifully into the current run, which has already had a hell of a hook in the form of a resurrected amnesiac Matt Murdock rediscovering his Daredevil days. 2. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest One of the grandest losses of DC’s many reboots has been the iconic Silver Age stories fans grew up with. It was seemingly inevitable that some older fans would be left behind as the DC Universe Thankfully, Mark Waid and Dan Mora refused to let the era die. The duo brought it back in bombastic fashion with Batman/Superman: World’s Finest in 2022, but the book’s continued success in 2023 has cemented it as one of DC’s most joyful books. From its throwback reimagining of Batman and Superman’s first meeting to the tense return to Mark Waid’s dark epic Kingdom Come, World’s Finest is one of the most consistently entertaining books on the market. It’s also a gem of a title for fans of more classic stories. 1. Nightwing It’s hard to imagine anyone topping the year Nightwing has had. The former Robin has always been a fan favorite, but 2023 was the year he leaped into center stage at DC Comics (where, arguably, he belonged). After spending 2022 tied up in Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, 2023 kicked off with Nightwing #100, a celebration of the character that made him DC’s front-and-center superhero. It also put him and his Titans comrades at the forefront as the DC Universe’s new Justice League. For longtime fans, it’s thrilling to see Dick finally get the recognition he so rightfully deserved. It’s also a long overdue delight to finally see him in a well-adjusted relationship with Barbara Gordon and continuing to build bonds with his brothers, Jason Todd and Damian Wayne. Now if only he and Batman could patch things up… Those are our picks for the best Marvel & DC Comics of 2023. For more comic book news, be sure to stay locked to Dexerto. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

15 best Marvel action figures for superhero fans Superhero movies are all the rage nowadays, and with the Marvel Cinematic Universe going strong there are more Marvel heroes on the silver screen than ever before. For fans of Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-Man, and more, collecting Marvel action figures lets you bring home your favorite comic book icons. From detailed movie recreations to classic comic designs, these 15 best Marvel action figures offer quality, pose-ability, and faithfulness to their big-screen counterparts. 1. Iron Man MK4 Suit-Up Figure with Platform This 7” Iron Man toy catches Tony Stark’s high-tech MK4 suit with great attention to detail. A moveable design, metal-look coating, and LED-lit base allow recreating scenes from 2010’s Iron Man 2. With a clear stand and cockpit base, this very thorough mech toy makes a great Marvel collection centerpiece. 2. Deadpool Collectible Figure with Accessories This 7” Deadpool figure captures the wacky “Merc with a Mouth” in ZD Toys’ Super War-Game style. Made in classic Deadpool red and black with moveable parts and detailed clothes, it has many weapons and extras to kit out the antihero for any job. Works great alone or with other Marvel guys. 3. Spider-Man: No Way Home Iron Spider S.H.Figuarts Bandai’s S.H.Figuarts toy line is popular for closely remaking comic and film characters. The No Way Home Iron Spider has a bright red metallic color and flexible spider legs for action poses. Includes web parts and multiple eyes, hand, and accessory options to customize. 4. Venom Symbiote Wolverine S.H.Figuarts This wild mash-up figure combines Spider-Man baddie Venom with X-Men’s Wolverine. Ready for battle with clawed hands and bulging veins, this beastly Wolverine looks ready to pounce. Fans can recreate clashes using S.H. Figuarts’ famous swappable parts and poses. 5. Iron Man MK-4 15th Anniversary Figuarts Figure Imported by Bandai’s collector Figuarts label, this special version celebrates 15 years of their top-shelf action figure line. Based on the MK-4 from 2010’s Iron Man 2, it stands 5.7” in the iconic red and gold suit with special anniversary packaging and base. Includes blast effects to pose flying or in combat. 6. Thor: Ragnarok Hulk S.H.Figuarts Not many can match the Hulk’s raw power and fury, and this S.H. Figuarts piece catches him at his most dangerous from 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok. Towering and armed, it recreates one of his most memorable big-screen looks. The weapons let fans set up gladiator arena scenes. 7. Threezero DLX Scale Iron Man Mark 50 Iron Man’s sharp Mark 50 armor from Avengers: Infinity War is a 1:12 electronic statue with Threezero’s skill. At 6.9” with working LED lights in the eyes and chest and 15+ moveable joints for posing. Has effect parts and swappable armored hands for flying or blasting poses. 8. Black Panther ARTFX Figure As seen in 2018’s hit movie, Kotobukiya’s 1:6 Black Panther statue captures the comic and movie favorite king of Wakanda. Expertly sculpted with textured vibranium suit textures meticulously hand-painted for character accuracy. Completed by a decorative base with T’Challa posed atop ancient ruins. 9. Magneto Marvel Comics Fine Art Cold Cast Figure At 15 inches tall, this cold-cast Magneto resin sculpture has a serious presence perfect for diehard X-Men collectors. From his trademark helmet to his stern face, the careful sculpting and painting mirror the Master of Magnetism bursting into action. Each multi-part statue is finished and numbered by hand in limited editions. 10. Spider-Gwen Bishoujo Figure Kotobukiya brings Spider-Gwen to life in comics-style Bishoujo’s “pretty girl” form. Unmasked face, free-flowing hair, and determined expression let Gwen Stacy’s web-slinging alter ego take a proud stand as a spider leader. Has an extra masked head and specialized base for swinging between buildings. 11. Doctor Strange ArtFX Premier Figure Benedict Cumberbatch’s mystical Master of the Arts is recreated in Kotobukiya’s 1:10 ArtFX Premier line, capturing an iconic scene from 2016’s Doctor Strange film. Layered fabric sculpting on clothes and magical hand gestures conjuring effects bring training sequences at Kamar-Taj to the shelf. The completed diorama sits atop a translucent base with arcane printed symbols. 12. Spider-Man: Homecoming Movie Statue Hoping to build buzz for 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming adding Peter Parker to the MCU, Kotobukiya made this crouched statue. Poised atop crumbled concrete in the iconic hand-tailored Stark super suit, the wall-crawler looks ready to swing into his next dust-up. Great for any diehard fan’s prized Spidey collection. 13. Deadpool Fine Art Statue by Kotobukiya This deluxe Deadpool statue directly from Japan goes all-out for the ‘merc with a mouth’s biggest devotees. Upwards of 14 inches tall on an X-Men-themed base, it embodies his heavily-armed signature look in fine cold cast resin. Includes swap-out heads and weapons to switch up the display. 14. Carnage Marvel Universe ARTFX+Figure The disturbed offspring of Venom enters Kotobukiya’s ARTFX+ statue line with expert symbiote sculpting. Towering with tendrils ready to strike, this fixed-pose premium collectible captures the vicious intents of Spider-Man baddie Carnage via sculpted muscles and costumes. 15. Kotobukiya Marvel Comics MK278 Thor Statue A high-end 1:10 statue, this Kotobukiya Marvel sculpture stands out with complete resin sculpting and hand-painted artistry. Limited run production includes individually numbered certificates, proving buyers get one-of-a-kind statutes. Created to showcase iconic comic motifs and aesthetics, it makes a statuesque display out of renowned Marvel good guys and villains. With Marvel’s Movie Universe growing, expect even more heroes and villains to make the leap from comics to collectibles. Whether posed on comic-style bases or frozen mid-fight, excellent sculpting and faithfulness to movie designs make these Marvel action figures worthy additions to any fan’s shelf. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

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Adam Fitch: Why Valorant esports will eclipse CSGO commercially Riot/ValveThere have been debates around the potential impending ‘death’ of Valve’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive since Riot Games’ new shooter Valorant surfaced, even before it officially launched in June 2020. While there are no real signs so far that this will be the case, there may be some value in comparing the games in terms of their competitive activities. While the two can, and likely, will coexist, there’s an interesting contrast to the games’ esports efforts and how their respective developers are handling such scenes. Besides the fact that both games are five-versus-five shooters with in-game economies, there aren’t many similarities — especially on the esports front. I believe that the way Valorant has been designed, in both its casual and competitive aspects, means it has a higher ceiling for commercial success. Specifically, I believe Valorant esports has all the makings of a title that will be more fruitful for the organizations that invest in it as well as Riot Games themselves. Valve are notoriously hands-off when it comes to CS:GO esports, only truly getting involved when Major tournaments come around twice a year or when situations like conflicts of interest and coaching bugs arise. They could shut down the competitive side of their game in a major way with no warning and nobody could do anything about it; this doesn’t produce as much trust as having a developer that’s actively looking to improve and grow their scene. While Valorant esports is in its nascent stages, there’s enough evidence to look at now — and a whole other scene in League of Legends to potentially give us a look into the future of the game — so we can finally have this discussion. Valorant is righting CS:GO’s wrongs Two of the biggest complaints when it comes to Counter-Strike in esports is the lack of support from developer Valve and the money that’s likely being left on the table through the terrorist theme that’s present. There may be some companies that flock to the game because it’s mature and ‘edgy,’ but that’ll never trump the amount of prospective commercial entities that wouldn’t touch the title with a barge pole. Whether you think it removes the personality of the game or otherwise, the terrorist themes in Counter-Strike undoubtedly hurt it on a mass scale when it comes to both commercial interest and broadcast viability. Media rights are the biggest revenue stream in many traditional sports but it’s unlikely that this title will ever be able to drink from that well due to its realistic art design and premise, terrorists and counter-terrorists aiming to kill each other, blood, and other elements that are potentially unsettling to people. Valorant, on the other hand, has been purposefully designed to step around most of those issues. The characters have fantastical powers and designs, the powers themselves aren’t realistic, and there’s no terrorist theme. The shooting aspect of the game could be its only downfall but even that has been toned down dramatically. There’s a much larger chance of Valorant being shown on television and mainstream digital channels, and this is where media rights deals come into play. We saw League of Legends esports rake in an estimated $113m for Riot Games in August 2020, and that was just for global events such as Worlds and the Mid-Season Invitational to be shown on Bilibili in the Mandarin language. Many more of these deals can be made in LoL and, potentially, Valorant due to their accessibility. CS:GO as it stands would never be able to achieve success on this scale. Closed vs. open ecosystems The reputation of League of Legends esports is largely responsible for the influx of investment that Valorant esports received from organizations early on, and it’s running a closed ecosystem. Riot Games have earned a lot of trust from teams, especially those already involved in one of their titles, and that’s for good reason. Perhaps the most commercially successful esport to date is League of Legends. Housed under the ‘LoL Esports’ banner, it has regional leagues with multi-million dollar buy-ins, no end of sponsor interest, and millions of dedicated viewers. With the developer being as involved as they are with Valorant, we’ve every reason to believe that they’ll be looking to replicate the successful model they have deployed in League of Legends over the years. They recently announced the Valorant Champions Tour, in which they’re in complete control, that signals they’re going for a similar but accelerated model for their shooter. We’re already seeing early signs of LoL’s sponsorship success transferring to Valorant esports. Red Bull and Secretlab are global partners of LoL Esports, Verizon sponsors the North American LCS, and HyperX partnered with European Masters in 2019. They’re all also sponsoring the ongoing Valorant First Strike tournament series. CS:GO not being under one roof means a prospective sponsor, let’s choose bookmaker Betway as an example, would have to enter three deals to sponsor the entirety of top-tier competition. ESL, Flashpoint, and BLAST all hold competitions including the best teams in the world, and are separate entities. Sponsoring events from all three companies — rather than a single entity — could well be much more costly, require more attention to stay on top of, and it’s unlikely that the three would be happy to have the same activations as they want to stand apart from their peers. While a closed ecosystem eliminates the chance of underdog stories with teams, it makes more sense commercially in many instances. Not to mention, teams partnered with Riot Games for leagues like the LEC and LPL are incredibly happy with the price they’re paying and the security provided with no chance of being relegated. It not only pleases sponsors but those taking part in the scene too. Valorant esports has its own problems that definitely affect the commercial viability for the organizations looking to get involved, however. Salaries are rumored to be inflated to an insane degree among top teams like Team Liquid and G2 Esports, and having to fork out thousands and thousands each month — beyond what you may be able to recoup — is not healthy. This will need to be addressed unless teams can generate revenues that are not currently present in CS:GO. Nonetheless, the future looks dazzling for the shooter. It would take either a colossal disaster on Riot Games’ behalf, or a host of great changes on Valve’s end, for Valorant to not be commercially superior to CS:GO in the realm of esports. It won’t kill CS:GO, but it will be a better investment.

Adam Fitch: Analyzing the esports winners at The Game Awards 2020 Colin Young-Wolff/Riot GamesThe Game Awards is an annual awards show, celebration, and launchpad for the entirety of the gaming industry — an entertainment sector that is larger than the common person may realise. With celebrities in attendance, new games being announced, and everything in between, it’s fair to say that the night is a big deal. Now, esports is a niche of gaming. As a result, naturally, it’s smaller. In fact, in most cases, esports is simply just a marketing activity for many games developers. Valve don’t have any meaningful input with CS:GO beyond the two annual Majors, for example, whereas Riot Games have gone all-in on esports as a means of promoting League of Legends and ensuring it stays in the conversation year-round. At this year’s iteration of The Game Awards, esports decently represented in terms of the categories it was involved in; five of almost-30 awards that were handed out on November 10 — albeit virtually — were focused on competitive gaming. So, as we tend to do in esports, it’s time to reflect on how we’re being represented and received by those outside of our ever-growing industry. Were the right winners chosen? Let’s take a look. Also, if you want to see the entire list of categories and subsequent winners from this year’s awards, you can find them here. Best Esports Game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Infinity Ward/Raven/Activision) – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Valve) – Fortnite (Epic Games) – League of Legends (Riot Games) – WINNER – Valorant (Riot Games) – It’s hard to argue against League of Legends in this category, truthfully. Not only is it the biggest esport in terms of viewership, but it also has the most comprehensive global structure and a player count that’s always impressive. Almost everything is in place for the MOBA to thrive. Specifically in 2020, I feel there was a somewhat unfair advantage in Riot’s corner. With events and travel restricted on a global basis for much of the year, only one of the major tentpole events was carried out in-person: the League of Legends World Championship. Not only is the event an absolute behemoth in any normal circumstance, it stood out from the crowd more than ever due to the circumstances. However, this is down to Riot’s determination and immense planning to make it happen so they can’t be discredited on that front. They took a chance and it paid off tenfold. Valorant is too new, having only just had its first set of major events in First Strike, Modern Warfare wasn’t one of the good Call of Duty instalments by any means, CS:GO is facing plenty of obstacles and has been for a little while, and Fortnite hasn’t done anything particularly noteworthy in 2020. This is a deserved win for League of Legends esports. Best Esports Athlete Ian ‘Crimsix’ Porter / Call of Duty – Heo ‘Showmaker’ Su / League of Legends – WINNER – Kim ‘Canyon’ Geon-bu / League of Legends – Anthony ‘Shotzzy’ Cuevas-Castro / Call of Duty – Matthieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut / CS:GO – Brush off your controllers & stretch those fingers, the Best Esports Player is Showmaker!! 🏆 #TheGameAwards pic.twitter.com/b7etVtWBMh — The Game Awards (@thegameawards) December 11, 2020 I’m not going to pretend as if I’m entirely neutral here, I’m an FPS man at heart. Nonetheless, it’s undeniable that both Showmaker and Canyon had a great 2020 — finishing the calendar year off nicely with a win at LoL Worlds as teammates in DAMWON Gaming. However, as rife with MVP picks at tournaments, we tend to (often-wrongly) believe that a player who won the tournament has to be up for the honour. I don’t think that should always the case. They both placed fifth in the LCK Spring regular season and fourth in the Spring playoffs before going on to LCK Summer and Worlds. That has to be taken into account, by my money. Neither Shotzzy or Crimsix of the Dallas Empire went on a dominant run throughout the entirety of the inaugural Call of Duty League season, to be fair, and ZywOo continued to prove himself as a contender for the title of ‘Best player in CS:GO’ despite having a string of underwhelming event results himself with Team Vitality. I think this is a hard category to call, you’d have to compare the impact of the players to truly judge them against each other, and we only see what happens in-game. I would choose Crimsix, the player with the most event wins in Call of Duty history, because he proved on multiple occasions that he isn’t slowing down — all whilst mentoring two less-experienced players. After being a large part of dynasties with both Complexity Gaming and OpTic Gaming, he’s on the way to affirming that he has what it takes to forge a third. Best Esports Team DAMWON Gaming / League of Legends – Dallas Empire / Call of Duty – San Francisco Shock / Overwatch League – G2 Esports / League of Legends – WINNER – Team Secret / Dota 2 – Dallas Empire don’t deserve the award, G2 Esports dominated in Europe but fell short internationally, San Francisco Shock won when it mattered but didn’t dominate as much as they could have, and DAMWON Gaming started off rough but got going as 2020 progressed. Team Secret went on an unreal run in Dota 2, claiming eight consecutive trophies over the course of four months, and they’re my pick because of just how convincing they were for such a large portion of the calendar. I know G2 are lovable and full to the brim of personality whether they win or lose, but it’s not all about that. Nonetheless, they provide European League of Legends fans with hope, this likely worked in their favour and I understand it. We’ve got a whole lotta Esports wins here on #TheGameAwards! Congratulations to everyone! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/rbtiIoNdR7 — The Game Awards (@thegameawards) December 11, 2020 Best Esports Event BLAST Premier: Spring 2020 European Finals (CS:GO) – Call of Duty League Championship 2020 – IEM Katowice 2020 (CS:GO) – League of Legends World Championship 2020 – WINNER – Overwatch League Grand Finals 2020 – As I mentioned earlier, Riot Games’ risk paid off with the bubble for Worlds. They even managed to have a crowd for the grand finals and this is an aspect of live events that cannot be understated. BLAST have done a great job introducing new features while teams were playing online this year, but I simply don’t see how any of the events can compare to the grand finale of League of Legends esports’ 2020 season. It’s always a spectacle, but it really got a boost from being one of the rare offline events since restrictions were placed. Best Esports Host Eefje ‘Sjokz’ Depoortere – WINNER – Alex ‘Machine’ Richardson – Alex ‘Goldenboy’ Mendez – James ‘Dash’ Patterson – Jorien ‘Sheever’ van der Heijden – Last but not least by any means is Best Esports Host. This role is pivotable in any broadcast — somewhat managing the flow of the event, building up storylines to make matches even better, and setting up their analyst colleagues. All five of the finalists here are great and most of them should have been in with a shout to receive the trophy, but I think The Game Awards made the right choice. Being able to competently host events in four different languages, always managing to put on a good show, and even proving herself once again in CS:GO at the top of the year, Sjokz is the full package when it comes to hosting. Machine, Goldenboy, Dash, and Sheever have all done commendable work throughout 2020, that’s for sure, but I cannot argue with this particular choice by any means.

Adam Fitch: The future of esports organizations isn’t competition 100 ThievesEsports is the widely-accepted name for video game tournaments but as the gaming industry expands and matures, the lines between casual and competition continue to blur. I’m not rallying for the term ‘esports’ to include more than competitive gaming by any means, quite the opposite in fact, but organizations that comprise the industry are doing much more than simply competing against each other these days. In an effort to become profitable — these orgs are businesses at the end of the day — team brands are having to look elsewhere to generate revenue. Housing competitive players is not a cheap endeavour when you consider salaries, travel, accommodation, bonuses, and all other subsequent expenses that are agreed upon. It’s tough to monetize this side of gaming considering events, disregarding Valve’s annual The International for Dota 2, don’t dish out enough prize money to provide a return on investment. You can sell spots on jerseys and make your players promote products on social media, but it’s simply still not enough — especially with salaries growing disproportionate to the return said players provide. The future of esports organizations? Forbes released their annual esports organization valuations earlier this month, which were met with scepticism by many, but they do have some use regardless of their accuracy. Not only does the report include the magazine’s valuations for the top 10 teams, it provides estimated annual revenue and how much of it came from esports. Now, these are to be taken with a pinch of salt for plenty of reasons, but they do provide some level of insight into where the money is coming from at many of the leading organizations in the industry. By looking at the portion of income that’s relevant to esports, with the context of their estimated overall revenue, we can build a picture of where these organizations are placing their bets for the future. North American org TSM came in at the top spot in Forbes’ list with a speculative valuation of $410 million. Their estimated revenue for the year is $45 million, with 50% of it coming from esports. Swift Media, the parent company of the team, also operate AI-driven gaming coach app Blitz, they house plenty of popular gaming influencers, and earlier this week launched talent agency ICON. TSM compete in titles such as League of Legends, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Valorant, and Rainbow Six Siege, but it’s very clear that they’re trying to be more than simply a competitive organization when you look at their entire structure. They’re signing influencers to spread awareness of the TSM brand, managing them through their now-public talent agency, and competing in titles as a loss leader that serves a large fan base. They’re monetizing their overall audience — which is a hybrid of gaming and esports fans — while maintaining an application that’s presented as an entirely-separate product. Esports is effectively a marketing tool, allowing them to foster new supporters and remain in conversations across the entire industry, without actively trying to monetize their followers through esports itself. TSM can sell their audience to brands through content and even cross-promote with the thriving Blitz app. Other companies like ReKTGlobal are also building out an in-house infrastructure that surrounds their esports properties with supporting ventures that are where the real money is made. ReKTGlobal owns and operates Rogue, Call of Duty League franchise London Royal Ravens, and a bevvy of supplementary brands: talent management firm TXG, content agency Greenlit, fan loyalty specialists Fullcube, and marketing firm Fearless. They’re building audiences through esports, but that’s seemingly not where they’re looking to generate profits. Media companies or esports organizations A couple of other organizations in the list are worth pointing out too, namely FaZe Clan and 100 Thieves. Both brands are firmly mixing esports with larger entertainment and merchandise; the former are even further along in fleshing out their portfolio through an investment in meal supplement brand CTRL and their own production studio. Read More: 2HYPE YouTube group joins 100 Thieves – Both organizations have roots purely in gaming, with FaZe Clan making names for themselves in Call of Duty and 100 Thieves being founded by former professional player Nadeshot, but they’re not married to the idea that this is where they must remain. While keeping gaming integrated into everything they do, they’ve invested heavily in steaming and content creation — areas that are undeniably more fruitful when it comes to finances as of now. 100 Thieves have an audience for their competitive initiatives, an audience for their content, and an audience for their incredibly-hyped apparel line. Now, if they do their job correctly, they will manage to achieve a healthy amount of crossover between these audiences. This allows them to keep their name relevant and capture new followers by competing, monetise their audience by selling sponsorships off of the impressive numbers their creators achieve, and also sell their merchandise. No wonder their estimated esports revenue for 2020 was only 35%. There’s a very similar approach here for FaZe Clan too, who are doing what 100 Thieves do at a larger scale — but understandably so considering they’ve been around for a decade longer. Their revenue share from esports is even smaller at only 20%, though they’re estimated to have raked in around $40 million in total. More than competition I believe that each organization, at least those that will be successful long-term, will have their own take on how to go about monetizing their esports efforts through external methods, but each of them will attempt it. When you consider the amount of money that can be lost in competing (especially when there are million-dollar salaries for single players being dished out more and more these days) it makes complete sense for companies to look for alternative ways to keep the lights on. Read More: TikTokers become Royal Ravens co-owners – They likely love esports and believe it will become more financially-beneficial in the future through increased viewership, better deals with tournament organizers, and the blossoming of media rights, but they need to generate cash. Raising money from venture capital firms is not a revenue stream by any means. The essence of esports will always be competing but the intersection of competitive gaming, content creation, internet personalities, and lifestyle initiatives is only going to grow. This is the area in which I believe the successful organizations of the future will occupy.

Adam Fitch: The true tragedy of North’s closure NorthIn the early hours of February 5, it was announced that Danish esports organization North have ceased operations — a stark reminder that endless investment isn’t a sustainable business operation. Parken Sport & Entertainment, the parent company of F.C. Copenhagen, and Nordisk film founded North in January 2017 as they picked up a successful Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster. They quickly made a name for themselves, especially in the Nordics, as a contender to the likes of Astralis. The brainchild of a football club and a media company, the organization was primed for nothing but success. If you look at the genetic makeup of a successful current-day team, you’ll understand why. Let’s take FaZe Clan and 100 Thieves as examples. Both North American organizations are known for competing, whether that’s in Call of Duty or CS:GO, but a lot of the attention that comes their way is generated by content. They each have a solid roster of creators and influencers that bring eyeballs to the brand, which then is also represented on the biggest stages across many of the premier titles. Parken Sport & Entertainment and Nordisk Film, in theory, have the experience and know-how in their respective fields to replicate the model utilized by the two organizations I’ve mentioned. I don’t think it’s a lack of resources that meant they never quite got there, either. North did indeed have some success in the server, it’s the media side of the equation that faltered. Read More: 11 worst esports rebrands – The brand felt pretty empty, and that was somewhat acknowledged by those behind it when they felt the need to entirely change their ethos and visual identity. In early 2020, they unveiled changes that they believed would propel them into a better market position — unfortunately, the new branding fell flat. Dexerto’s own Richard Lewis did an immaculate job explaining why that was the case. While the official announcement for North’s closure places a lot of responsibility on the global health situation for their demise, it seems more like mismanagement. New management took over in October 2019 and it only really felt like they hit their stride in the past couple of months, potentially setting themselves up for future prosperity. Today’s untimely news proves that it was too little, too late. The co-founding entities tried to find investors to keep the organization afloat for the foreseeable future but failed in their search, according to their announcement. Now, why could that be? Either the terms of the potential cash injection were unreasonable or everybody they courted deemed North to be unworthy of a gamble — in a world where esports is more hyped in the mainstream than ever after an unusual 2020, this again suggests to me one thing: Mismanagement. I heard from a couple of sources that those involved with the project only knew of the organization’s impending closure just two hours or so before it was made public. This, alongside a couple of tweets recently published about future content, suggests that the decision was made last-minute. They left things too late, exhausted their options, and failed to make things happen. Whether this was indeed a case of blatant mismanagement or travel restrictions truly was to blame for their demise, the case of North is a mark against those who claim that the health situation was a net positive for the esports industry. Read More: Astralis to open facility in amusement park – I wrote about this in a previous column; there are so many roles in our industry rendered unperformable with the absence of events. It’s a damn shame. It almost invalidates their misfortunes when snake oil salesmen run around exclaiming that esports will now go mainstream because of perfect, unbelievable, amazing 2020 filled with nothing but growth. Regardless, the point of this week’s musing isn’t to point fingers and blame people. North had the foundations for monumental growth and success and failed to reach that point, sure, but right now there are players and supporting staff who have just had the rug pulled from under them. When you think of the effects of 2020 on esports, it’s worth noting instances like this alongside the viewership metrics you’re showing off to people. I hope everybody lands on their feet and this serves as a stark reminder that vast financial backing isn’t the golden ticket to profit.

Mike LaBelle column: What to expect from eMLS Cup 2021 eMLS FIFA Esports is a growing competitive space that’s still in its early stages of development. But, we have seen enough in eMLS Cup qualifiers to say this year’s competition might be the most exciting to date. Take a look around and all of the big franchised leagues these days have a major division for their pro players to compete in. Call of Duty has the CDL, Overwatch has the Overwatch League, and for FIFA the pinnacle of the season is making it to the FIFA eWorld Cup at the end of the year. It is here that our players fight to be named the best in the world, and it all takes place in August following the conclusion of the Global Series. There are some captivating domestic competitions on the road to that event, though, and one of those is North America’s eMLS Cup. The NA scene has been competing for this major honor since 2018, back when it all began with the inaugural season. For those who don’t know, most of the best professionals in our region are signed to eMLS franchises. Each is directly affiliated with a specific Major League Soccer organization, and eMLS competitors are valued members and assets of the overall organization. After battling it out for qualification in eMLS League Series One & Two, the top 12 players go toe-to-toe, for not just a beautiful gold trophy and the honor of lifting it, but also the top three placements will earn direct seats to the EA SPORTS FIFA 21 NA Global Series Playoffs. A pathway to the eWorld Cup, and a chance to take home a large slice of that $40,000 prize pool. Not a bad weekend right? eMLS experience Just to give you some insight into what it means to play in eMLS, it’s been a life-changing experience for me as I’ve proudly represented the New York Red Bulls. I’ve been treated incredibly well by the entire organization, and I’ve always felt at home with RBNY. For me, the New York Red Bulls are the pinnacle of eMLS and a lot of that is down to the work of Jayne Bussman-Wise, their senior director of content and communications. She’s a major leader & innovator in the esports space, partnering gaming and traditional sports at New York Red Bulls. Many competitors in this year’s eMLS Cup will also feel the same connection with their teams, and we’ve actually seen a few inherit rivalries based on MLS clubs’ history on the actual pitch. Almost all of those taking part are content creators in the space, too, meaning fans are starting to get to know them on a more personal level. eMLS grows each year in terms of viewership, prize pools, and the competition level between clubs. Excitement guaranteed in eMLS Cup There’s a lot at stake and based on this year’s game, there’s never been a better time to start watching. This year, we’re witnessing a lot more goals than in previous seasons. There’s less focus about controlling games and retaining the ball – winning the possession stats, as it were – so end-to-end soccer is really commonplace. This can make for some thrilling moments, like we saw in eMLS League Series Two as XbLeU scored a last-minute winner with Cristiano Ronaldo, in a 6-5 win against BenR. FT: Cristiano Ronaldo in the 90th minute! @xbleu7 progresses to the Semi-finals with a thrilling 6-5 win. #eMLS pic.twitter.com/d34Q3U7p0b — Dexerto Sports (@DexertoFC) February 13, 2021 Some of the skill moves added have also been super effective in breaking down defenses, mainly the Bridge Dribble, Skill Move Cancelations, and the Player Lock System as an off-the-ball passing technique. While it all sounds a bit technical, it does create small skill gaps amongst the top competitors in the league. The storylines There are multiple narratives going into eMLS Cup, too. Those who tuned in last time will remember New York Red Bulls pro George Adamou took the trophy home last year in a NY derby finale, so it’s going to be interesting to watch along on his quest to defend his title. That won’t be an easy task, either. There’s more money on the line – a prize pool of $40,000 – stiffer competition, and everything is online again which does present its obstacles. As a matter of fact, all eyes will be on The Empire State. Based on the bracket, we could also be heading towards a rematch of the NYC Derby match between George Adamou and New York City’s Didychrislito. Both players are in top form this season and if that continues at eMLS Cup this rivalry could be on the books. Two previous champions lock horns in the very first round of games, too, as Kid M3mito and Doolsta were drawn against each other. If there was ever a time to prove yourself, eMLS Cup 2021 is the time to go on a run. Little re-introduction or reminder to the community that both of these competitors still have that champion’s pedigree. Ones to watch We’re all expecting non-stop, fast-paced action from each fixture in eMLS Cup this year. Some players are bound to shine brighter than others on the big stage, though. Of the 12 competitors taking part, there are four that demand our attention this year, for sure. George Adamou Defending champion George Adamou comes into eMLS Cup as a strong favorite. He’s followed up last year’s triumph with strong performances right through the season, and is no stranger to the big stage. It will not be easy out there, though stepping up to a challenge is exactly what Adamou does best. Didychrislito Despite being one of the most decorated players in NA, you could argue that Didychrislito has never enjoyed a run of form like this in his career. Didy has performed at eMLS League Series One and Two, and New York City fans will be hoping the former world champion can secure a boxset of victories with an eMLS Cup. Fiddle Representing FC Cincinnati, Fiddle has always been domestically strong. One thing fans would say about him is that they’ve come to expect at least one event win from him each year in the NA scene, and that’s an accurate analysis. He won the League Series One and Two last year, not to mention our Summer Cup Series. While he might not be on the most consistent vein of form, he’s odds-on to make a mark on this tourney. XbLeU Last but not least is XbLeU, who has finished top of the table in both regular seasons. He might be a new signing for Austin FC and is yet to reach a final in bracket play, though he’s been the most consistent regular-season player in eMLS. Still a name to watch out for because the talent is present, but it’s just a matter of bringing together the mentality in those crucial moments. eMLS Cup takes place between March 20-21. If you’re looking for more eMLS Cup information from Dexerto, here’s a few articles that may interest you:

Adam Fitch: LoL, Call of Duty are rightfully the most marketable esports properties Last week, sports industry media company SportsPro released their list of the “World’s 50 Most Marketable Properties” in sports and, perhaps surprisingly, both League of Legends and Call of Duty made the cut — coming in at 12th and 41st, respectively. [jwplayer kdJ2gBn6] This may sound extreme to some, with just football housing numerous world-renowned properties; from the Premier League, to the UEFA Champions League, to the FIFA World Cup itself. Add in that teams themselves are very much properties in their own rights and the listing of both League of Legends & Call of Duty may be pungent sources of contention for some. The first thing that must be considered when judging whether esports titles can stand tall against well-established, decades-spanning sports properties is the set of criteria used to base judgements and estimates on. By now, almost everybody who’s a sports fan has been exposed to esports in one shape or form — whether through an ESPN broadcast or F1 wholly embracing its gaming counterpart during the global health crisis — but there’s still a lot of convincing to do as to esports being a sport (operating on the belief that it’s necessary at all). SportsPro used a “universal currency,” devised by SponsorPulse, to identify the opportunity score of over 185 global sports properties, made up of seven key metrics that were tested on over 30,000 people each month. Engagement, excitement, favorability, intensity, momentum, passion, and purchase consideration are the metrics used to develop the overall score that properties were compared upon. These metrics provide what I believe to be a somewhat fair foundation to judge the overall hype, attraction, and commercial viability of a sports property — it satisfactorily serves its purpose. With any sort of list or power ranking it’s important to take into account bias and subjectivity, and scoring properties still offers the opportunity for those things to creep in, but at least we know the boundaries in which we’re operating. Finally, let’s get into the infiltration of this list from two interestingly-contrasting titles. The League of Extraordinary Growth Riot Games may have finally warranted the “s” in its name with the expansion of its offering through Valorant, Wild Rift, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra, but League of Legends is still the developer’s golden child. Released in 2009, it’s not taken long for household brands — the likes of Spotify, Mercedes-Benz, and Louis Vuitton — to get involved on the esports side of the equation, and it’s impressive when compared to the commercial interest and scale of other upstart sporting efforts like the XFL. For this year’s League of Legends World Championship, Riot Games has put together its most impressive roster of partners to date by mixing endemic and household names together in a variety of activations. From Cisco providing network infrastructure to Red Bull sponsoring in-game happenings, not to mention in-game banners for Mastercard and Alienware, there’s a lot of value to be obtained by putting a brand in front of an average of almost 1,000,000 avid gamers (according to Esports Charts.) This level of pull for Riot Games isn’t commonplace in esports by any degree of the imagination. It’s a testament to the attractive, successful property that the developer has built over the course of a decade and the hard work of employees such as Naz Aletaha, who serves as the head of global esports partnerships. It’s not possible for every game to secure a breadth of mainstream and endemic brands like this. Now, the list doesn’t state whether it’s the League of Legends esports ecosystem as a whole or simply its global efforts that found its way to 12th place, which could change things significantly. If it indeed includes the entire game’s competitive efforts, then you also have to consider LEC’s KitKat, Kia, and Shell, and LCS’ Buffalo Wild Wings, Samsung, and Verizon, for example. This possibility alone speaks volumes about the depth of commercial opportunities that the MOBA yields. The League of Legends competitive scene has undergone impressive growth with the formation of its regional approach — its Belgian League alone is sponsored by Audi and Burger King — and it creates an almighty commercial offering for prospective partners on a global, regional, and national level. This infrastructure can’t be found to this degree in other major titles, whether it’s Dota 2 or Fortnite. It’s worth considering that Chinese live streaming company Bilibili reportedly paid around $115M to acquire the Chinese broadcast rights to just the League of Legends World Championship for three-years. Media rights may be the main revenue stream for sports properties but that’s not the case in esports, though Riot Games’ flagship game is showing that it’s possible. League of Legends on a casual basis is huge across Asia and Europe and popular in North America, so it has an amazing viewer base, a whole host of competitive offerings, and the hype of non-savvy spectators of esports as a whole. With all of this in mind, it’s entirely possible that Riot Games’ MOBA could be a more enticing marketing option for companies looking to advertise to a legion of young, technology-adept potential customers. All-in-all, it’s fair for League of Legends to be highly-regarded through a commercial lens and I feel it indeed deserves to be high in the list. Call of Duty League leapfrogs Overwatch League Sneaking onto the list in 41st place, ahead of the New England Patriots, Paris Saint-Germain, and tennis’ French Open, is the Call of Duty League. A repackaged and reformatted version of the Call of Duty World League that had been chugging along at modest viewership numbers for years, the Call of Duty League is the second geolocated franchised league to come from Activision Blizzard following the Overwatch League. Despite having to readjust its plans of having franchises hosting events in their home cities due to unfortunate circumstance, the competition had no problem in attracting commercial partners — nor more viewers. Long written off as a “dead” esport that will only ever entertain hardcore Call of Duty fans, Call of Duty League and its 12 shiny new franchises drummed up a lot of interest and secured a lot of deals. The likes of Sony, PepsiCo, YouTube, the U.S. Army, and T-Mobile all chose to get in on the action despite a pivot to online play. Despite a lack of transparency in the financial terms of most deals in the esports industry, we know such partnerships aren’t being sold for pennies. The narrative of a new league, which is capitalizing on the titanic player base of the Call of Duty franchise, growing in viewership and looking to drum up location-based fandoms like in traditional sports, is compelling for marketing managers at technology and consumer-good companies. Let’s be real. The viewership for Call of Duty esports is dwarfed by a plethora of other games so it simply doesn’t pack as much of a punch when it comes to putting eyeballs on a brand’s logo. What it does have in its back pocket, though, is that a high percentile of the existing viewers are avid players of the franchise and have likely supported competitive Call of Duty for years. Consider the legion of fans that a Scump or FormaL has, never mind an OpTic Gaming (which was spiritually succeeded by NRG’s Chicago Huntsmen and is the fastest-growing franchise in the league) or FaZe Clan. So while it may not be the biggest league in the industry, Call of Duty League has a lot of merits — viewership is growing, new players are climbing through the ranks and building followings, the city-based approach has freshened things up, it has a lot of capital behind it (which allows for experimentation) and, importantly, new and existing companies alike are flocking to advertise through it. What may be surprising here is how Call of Duty League has managed to make the Top 50 following its inaugural season, while its predecessor and sister competition, the Overwatch League, is nowhere to be seen. This could be down to dwindling passion and viewership in the league, a degrading interest in the game’s casual player base, or simply that brands such as State Farm, T-Mobile, and Coca-Cola are much less plentiful in terms of commercial interest when compared to the exciting, industry-rattling launch of the competition. Turning a casual fan base into a viable esports market Looking at the two titles in comparison, they’re both hermetically-sealed and entirely governed by their wealthy and well-connected developers. They each have rabid casual fan bases spanning multiple regions, and both are garnering more eyeballs than ever on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube. When it comes to the CDL, the LCS, the LEC, and similar League of Legends endeavors, you know which team brands are going to be involved for the long-term. There’s no risk of smaller, less attractive organisations with less resources or popularity being promoted into the league. Other major titles you may think of, such as Valve’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or Dota 2, are structured differently when it comes to esports. CS:GO has tournament organizers battling each other with no means of commercially acquiring a package deal across them all. Valve isn’t particularly interested in getting involved with that, nor controlling the ecosystem itself, unlike what Activision Blizzard and Riot Games have done themselves. This results in a more fragmented and less reliable means of advertisement and marketing for brands, and that’s why you see the same faces — Intel, Betway, and DHL, for example — and rarely any additions when it comes to Valve’s iconic FPS. Whether it’s believed that esports is a sport or not, it’s clear that some titles are proving to be a hit when it comes to sales, and that’s a promising sign for the future of esports should others follow suit before long.

Adam Fitch: Guild Esports have proven doubters wrong GuildWhen British esports organization Guild Esports launched in June 2020 they were met with scepticism and cynicism, and I was among the crowd dishing it out. Now, nine months on, I believe I owe them an apology. The doubt aimed at the newly-launched organization at the time came from simple facts: they declared David Beckham as a co-owner, they planned on implementing a sports-style academy system, and they leaned in heavily on the mainstream press. In esports, we’re used to things being done in a particular fashion and it was clear Guild weren’t planned on fitting in. In retrospect, I believe I gave them a hard time partially because I didn’t understand what they were aiming to do. Bringing in Beckham and planning to become publicly-listed with no achievements to date besides being in the BBC? Who do they think they are? Plus, we’re used to seeing celebrity investors getting involved with a team and then fading into the background. In the public realm, they’re useful for a momentary PR boost and that’s about it. Perhaps they are indeed offering expertise behind the scenes, but they’re under-utilised in a forward-facing capacity considering their fame. It appeared to be a quick cash-grab, listing themselves on the London Stock Exchange and making millions of pounds — effectively off of Beckham’s name — with a hopeful valuation of £50m. Esports is supposed to be about competitive excellence and vibrant personalities, not utilizing a high-profile celebrity to raise millions in a matter of months. It felt iffy. Wrongly, when I think of a new organization starting out, I envisage a start-up that begins small. Perhaps they just have one team, and it’s not one of the best teams at that. They have to earn their stripes and prove that they’re serious (and well-intentioned) before they earn our respect and make a killing in the process. Upon recent reflection, I was simply close-minded. When uproar followed a report explaining that Beckham would be paid $20m for them to effectively make a name off of his, I actually understood what they were doing more. This was a large-scale attempt at something we’ve seen plenty of in online entertainment as of late, influencer marketing. You don’t get much more influential than David bloody Beckham, that’s for sure. While people were ranting because Guild didn’t make a song and dance about the influencer deal they had in place with the former England footballer, the information was readily available. One under-acknowledged aspect of Guild Esports is that they’re one of the more transparent organizations we have in our entire industry. They have to be because of their status as a public company. If they keep things shady, they’re violating regulations. As soon as they sign a sponsorship deal, they have to make that known to their shareholders (for all intents and purposes, the public.) Easy. We are a public company and transparency is our brand. The exact deal fig isn’t being provided due to commercial confidentiality requested by our partner, which we must respect.https://t.co/lA498eBIqy — Carleton Curtis (@carletoncurtis) March 25, 2021 Since launching and successfully floating on the LSE, Guild have proven to be taking esports seriously. They’ve signed teams in VALORANT, Rocket League, FIFA, and Fortnite, and are exploring an entry into Counter-Strike: Global Offensive too. They even grabbed their first trophy recently as well. They’ve hired excellent creative staff to try and conquer one of the core pillars of the industry, content. Each announcement video they post is innovative and well-made, assets that wouldn’t feel out of place as a television commercial during prime time. Just look at what they’ve produced for player signings and sponsorship deals as solid examples. For their logo, and subsequently their merchandise, they were thoughtful upon launch. Whether you like the branding or otherwise, the organization tapped successful streetwear designer Fergus Purcell to devise their visual identity and first range of apparel. Let’s revisit the widely-regarded three pillars of success for a modern-day esports team. Competition, content, and merchandise. They’re not afraid to spend to sign players they feel give them a chance at success, they’re creating what I consider to be some of the best content in Western esports and have signed plenty of creators, and they’ve tapped an iconic figurehead of streetwear to spearhead their clothing offering. As far as I can tell, they’re taking things seriously and should be considered as such. The pillar of their business I can’t yet judge is their academy system. There’s been a lot of talk, just as there was for competitive excellence among their ranks, but I haven’t seen any action just yet. That’s fine, of course. Things take time, they’re having to build the plane as they’re flying it and we’re in the middle of an almost-global lockdown. This is an area I’m interested in though. If they are the ones to implement a working, logical academy initiative that helps new talent be discovered, hone their craft, and then go on to greatness that this would be a lucrative talent pipeline. We see it in sports like football and, with Beckham’s first-hand experience with Ridgeway Rovers before he joined Manchester United, this would cement Guild’s spot among the top tier of esports team brands by my standards. It’s not just myself who’s recognizing what they’ve done in their still-short lifespan. After March 25’s Subway announcement, other community members commended what Guild are building. Guild Esports hasn’t even been around a full year and with David Beckham’s name have raised $26 million, entered 4 Esports, signed almost 20 pros, and now signed a multi million $ deal with Subway… 6 inch meatball sub anyone else? — Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) March 25, 2021 It is indeed worth noting that Guild have announced three partnerships so far. These deals are somewhat the lifeblood for many organizations, helping them to keep afloat as they work out how they can actually generate meaningful revenue. So far, Becks’ org have announced a deal with household gaming brand HyperX, a £3.6m three-year sponsorship with a fintech company, and a “multi-million-pound” two-year deal with the aforementioned fast-food chain. If we were to use partnership acquisition as a metric for organization performance, as some people no doubt do, then they’re also doing well in that arena. I reserve the right to be sceptical when companies enter the industry out of nowhere with interesting plans (to say the least) but I will say that Guild have opened my eyes and widened my perspective. It would be a boring industry if no innovation took place, if nobody had the willingness and the spunk to try something new. Hell, perhaps Guild are currently constructing the blueprint in which future organizations follow for a successful launch.

Adam Fitch: New fan engagement schemes are promising but not light tasks Envy/Cloud9Esports organizations are finally exploring ways to create deeper, more meaningful connections with their fans, but are they prepared for what a huge undertaking this can be? While teams are amassing millions of followers across social media platforms, with fanatical supporters even getting tattoos of their logos, it’s easy to be mistaken in thinking that they’re the stars of the show that is esports. However, players and personalities are the real stars. This is demonstrated frequently when esports athletes change teams and their dedicated fan base follow suit, now switching their team colors and overall allegiance. It’s not brands that are pulling off incredible plays on the server, nor brands signing autographs and taking selfies at events; again, it’s the players. They command most of the audience and, in a majority of cases, the diehard support of thousands. In traditional sports, you may find your lifelong team depending on where you’re born or the colors that are placed on you by your family. Manchester United, Dallas Cowboys, Gloucester Rugby — the list goes on, and across numerous sports as just demonstrated. This is different in most cases when it comes to esports. What are organizations doing to combat this trend, or at least attempt to build up a bigger fan base that is in it for the long haul no matter the result or roster? In the last few months, they’ve turned to fan membership schemes. These programs typically take the form of subscription-based perks, in which fans can buy into a program that awards them with increased engagement, insight into behind-the-scenes happenings, and perhaps even helping to influence upcoming decisions. Of course, there are perhaps other reasons for these programs to be popping up. The global health situation has cancelled almost every in-person event or at least forced an online substitution to take place since March 2020. Revenue may be down for many, if not all, organizations that don’t have other streams in place to work around the lack of merchandise sales and fan initiatives. Regardless, experimenting with new revenue streams is important in an industry that’s notoriously difficult to make a profit in — at least on the team brand front — can’t hurt, right? Subscription services Kicking off with what is starting to become a trend, one of the most popular organizations in the space, Team Liquid, launched the beta for Liquid+ on August 11. The initiative provides an environment where “regular fan interactions earn opportunities for elite rewards, fan experiences, and access to players.” North America organization Envy were next, announcing EnvyUS on November 9 with premium memberships costing $29.95 per year. Fellow North American org Cloud9 followed Envy just a day later, announcing Stratus. Starting on January 1, and costing $500 per year, they are taking a similar approach to their predecessors — providing an “exclusive annual membership experience” for “superfans.” The eye-watering disparity in price between EnvyUS and Cloud9 Stratus is somewhat off-set by the welcome package that the latter offers. It includes a mouse pad, custom keycaps, a keychain, and limited edition t-shirts & jersey. This may not make up for the $500 price tag, but C9 will likely offer more ‘free’ physical items throughout the course of the subscription. Now, this has been done before. SK Gaming had their own subscription service, SK Insider, over a year ago; accounting for 50% of the organization’s revenue at one point according to their co-founder. This may sound promising for the more recent initiatives but revenue was much harder to come by back then, especially in scale, so it’d be irrational to think that level of contribution to an org’s income is likely in 2020 and beyond. It is indeed encouraging to see such initiatives from major organizations though, and if they prove to be a success in the future then no doubt this type of offering will become commonplace in the industry. Third-party platforms There are third-party attempts to increase and deepen engagement already in play, too. Socios.com have partnered with the likes of OG, Team Heretics, and Natus Vincere to encourage participation from fans. They offer ‘fan tokens,’ which are effectively platform-exclusive currency that supporters buy with their own money and then use to engage in fan polls and other methods of garnering engagement. While it’s hard to say whether Socios.com are proving to be successful for teams on an engagement front, the involvement of longstanding and prominent orgs add a bit of credence to the concept. Fnatic’s sneaky attempt On November 11, around the time of Cloud9 and Envy’s announcements, London-based Fnatic revealed that they were to launch a crowdfunding attempt. Aimed at giving small pieces of the business to fans, they were hoping to reach a total of £1m in exchange. The announcement coincided with the news that they had just raised an additional $10m, taking their investment to a total of around $35m to date, and proving that they weren’t simply turning to fans in a moment of desperation. I see this as similar in motive to what the aforementioned organizations are doing. With a small sub-section of fans eventually owning a piece of the pie, they’re essentially buying into the future success of the team and are financially incentivized to support them for the foreseeable future. If the goal of all of these efforts is to make fans stick around longer and be more emotionally (and financially, in some cases) invested, then Fnatic’s approach may be different but it has the same motive. You’re securing long-term fans that want to see you grow and succeed more than ever before. Engagement isn’t easy Now, keeping fans engaged with membership programs isn’t a light undertaking. Liquid, C9, and Envy are offering access to exclusive content that’s not available to the public — personnel is needed to make that happen. They also need to speak with their ‘superfans’ more often, and personnel is needed for that also. Hosting events, whether online and offline, requires plenty of hands in most cases too. These teams can’t afford to now only focus on their paying fans, they need to keep their wider fan base happy with content, merchandise, experiences, and engagement that they’ve grown accustomed to. It’d also be advisable for them to try and obtain new fans also, and that’s not going to come easy. These initiatives could well be a new, necessary stream of income for even the biggest of organizations, but it won’t be easy. This is just the start of things to come but I hope everything promised is fulfilled and such programs become a mainstay in the industry.

Adam Fitch: Esports’ conflicts of interest problem is unavoidable David Lee/Riot GamesWhen you look up what ‘conflict of interest’ means in a dictionary, you’ll find: “A phenomenon in every industry but especially rife in esports, a conflict of interest is the result of greed and malpractice in business.” OK, you won’t find that, but it may as well be the case. It’s technically a situation in which a person or organization has multiple, competing interests. A decision regarding one interest could affect another. It could be having ownership of an entity that conflicts with the activities of your employer. In the context of esports, most of the instances of conflicts of interest are indeed ownership. It could be a businessperson having financial interest in competing teams or a professional player competing for one organization while owning a stake in another. Simply put, there’s a huge game of trust being played here — allowing these instances to exist means that you either believe in the integrity of the involved persons or you don’t care about the potential for duplicity. Either are dangerous. In a closed system like with Riot Games’ LCS — a North American league that’s made up of 10 partner teams — it’s interesting. It’s in the interest of every stakeholder for the competition to succeed, they all have financial involvement. They’re all effectively business partners, or subdivisions of the same company. We’ve already seen instances of troublesome conflicts of interest in its short lifespan and the public, frankly, only sees a smidgeon of what happens behind-the-scenes. Deepening the issue, many of the players have competed alongside each other and are chums. The teams have dealt with each other for years. When you become good friends over the years, there’s a good chance some elements of professionalism are left at the door when dealing with each other. Even in more open ecosystems like that of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, though ESL and Flashpoint alike would love for it to be closed, conflicts of interest are everywhere. So much so that the game’s developer, a company notorious for staying away from the official competitive side of the title, had to intervene. A major issue is that these practices trickle from the top down. You only have to look so far as to ESforce to understand how interconnected and self-serving business can be in esports. The Russian competitor has been a major player in the industry for years and controls organizations, a news publication, and a tournament operator. It used to be much worse, too. It’s saddeningly easy to think of existing examples of conflicts of interest to this day. An article of its own would be warranted should I rattle off a list of them here so I won’t, but I really want to get across just how prominent they are — so much so that the much of the industry at large has a blasé attitude towards them. It’s not whether shady dealings are happening, it’s that there’s the opportunity for them to take place that’s the problem. If I own two teams, a tournament operator, and a betting site, just imagine what is possible there. If I own multiple team brands and a news publication, that’s free publicity whenever I so desire! I can even write my own narratives that will go down in history as we look back at esports’ humble beginnings in decades to come. The solution? That’s a tough nut to crack. Esports doesn’t have a universal governing body, a fact that’s both good and bad depending on how you look at it, and thus people are effectively free to do as they wish. There’s not a barrier to entry when it comes to many of the top titles. You can start your own news outlet on any given day. Want to host an event? Get the approval of the game’s developer, set a decent prize purse, and teams will flock. Anybody can operate in esports. Read More: Danish esports organization North shuts down – Game developers and tournament operators have the power to stop teams from competing in select events, so that’s one solution. That’s not a one-size-fits-all remedy though. Frankly, as esports stands, we can’t cleanse the industry of the majority of potential conflicts of this sort. Especially at the very top. What we, the communities that comprise the esports industry, can do is hold these people and entities to account. Speak about instances of conflicts of interest on Twitter, Reddit, and other public spaces. Educate your fellow fans, industry professionals, even those involved in the situation who may not be aware of where an issue stems. We don’t have the power to stop these incestuous relationships from existing ourselves but conversation may just convince the powers that be to do something effective. Some conflicts of interests are solvable, some aren’t, but all should be treated seriously in the name of integrity. We can’t let businesspeople sweep these practices under the rug if we want esports to be fair. It is an industry predicated on competition, after all.

Adam Fitch: Sorry Dr Disrespect, mobile esports are thriving MLG/PUBG/GarenaEarlier in November 2020, streamer Dr Disrespect spoke down towards mobile gamers on Twitter by questioning how it could be a “serious thing” — however, he’s just failing to understand how popular competition on mobile already is. While mobile gamers and industry figures alike came to the defense of mobile gaming when the Two-Time took aim at the platform, there’s still a serious misconception around mobile esports and the success it’s already achieved. Firstly, it’s worthwhile addressing the “serious” comment from Doc. While mobile devices perhaps don’t allow for precision that PCs do, there’s still a major skill gap between average and professional players and that lends itself perfectly to competition. The most common and widely-accepted definition of esports is a “video game played competitively for spectators,” mobile tournaments meet such a criteria on a daily basis and it’s already serious to hundreds of thousands of viewers on a weekly basis. This skepticism from one of the faces of gaming is emblematic of a larger problem of platform elitism that plagues gaming on all levels. Ever since the popularization of esports there has been debate between console and PC gaming, centering around not only which type of players are better but whether console esports have unfair advantages due to features such as aim assist. Tribalism is also a factor in this spritely, never-ending discussion, with players grouping together based on their platform of choice and nonsensically taking aim at those who have other preferences. The only time in which such a debate would be productive is if cross-platform play is embraced in serious competition, which seems to be a long way away from ever becoming a reality. Fortnite developers Epic Games received plenty of criticism when implementing this feature in casual play, never mind in their esports activities, so it’s probably safe to assume no companies are rushing to make this a reality for the time being. Infrastructure matters Something that all good games need to be viable on a competitive level is infrastructure. Creating an appropriate structure for esports initiatives is important, whether it’s by a game’s developer or a third-party tournament organizer. A great example of this in the realm of mobile esports is Clash Royale, one of the more popular titles from Finnish developers Supercell. The real-time strategy game has its own official team-based league from the company themselves, with top-tier gameplay spanning nine weeks and culminating in a year-ending world championship. This level of support and structure actually goes beyond what some PC and console games receive. On the third-party organizer front, especially in the West, you only have to look as far as ESL to see how seriously mobile esports is being taken. As well as hosting regular online events for the likes of Call of Duty: Mobile, Clash of Clans, Brawls Stars, and Clash Royale, they have the ESL Mobile Open for elite players. Recently incorporating the Middle East and North Africa into the European arm of the competition, it’s said that ESL hosted over 500,000 players in the inaugural season alone. The second season involves PUBG Mobile, Auto Chess, Asphalt 9: Legends, and Clash of Clans, and will be expecting even more success with the widening of the player base. In North America, the Mobile Open from ESL is already in its sixth season and has a headline sponsorship from the world’s largest telecommunications company, AT&T. There are other examples of infrastructure being fleshed out for mobile titles, but you get the gist. A sight for sore eyes One major factor of how we define success in esports is viewership. With a healthy amount of eyeballs on a product comes sponsorship opportunities, bragging rights, and further validation that fans are interested in watching the elite face off against each other. With that in mind, it’s never been clearer that mobile esports isn’t just a major part of the future of the industry — it has already arrived. According to analytics agency Esports Charts, mobile events made up three of the five most popular tournaments in October 2020. This happened alongside the League of Legends World Championship taking place, which is not only one of the most anticipated occasions in the esports calendar but as it turned out to be one of the only LAN events we’d seen in six months. Asia and Latin America are where mobile esports are truly thriving at the moment, rivaling the popularity of any other title you decide to compare them with. This is proven from last month’s peak viewership statistics, where MOBA title Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and battle royale game Garena Free Fire occupied three of the top five placements. Ryan ‘Fwiz’ Wyatt, the head of gaming at YouTube, posted a thread on Twitter on November 26 backed up the sheer popularity of Free Fire on the platform. In 2019, it was YouTube’s fourth most-viewed game and it’s proving to have some longevity considering its monthly viewership peaked in October 2020. While this level of success isn’t replicated across all regions just yet, that’s how esports typically work. Call of Duty and Counter-Strike are mainly popular among those in North America and Europe, for example, which is reflected in the demographics of both the top-level players and the viewership alike. The same applies to mobile but it’s not an excuse for ignorance. The future? Mobile devices are generally more accessible than a high-end computer or new-generation gaming console so there’s a much higher ceiling on participation in mobile esports by default. Whether adoption from mobile users does indeed propel it into becoming the de facto competitive option is yet to be seen, but such potential can’t be ignored. With viewership rivaling (and even oftentimes besting) that from console and PC esports alike, it’s sheer ignorance to state that mobile gaming isn’t already a major player in the industry. If you fail to see that from the investment that’s being funneled into mobile titles, or the number of people who already enjoy playing and spectating, then perhaps you’d like to argue that grass isn’t green too.

Adam Fitch: Brands are still king in city-based Call of Duty League Call of Duty was home to a handful of the most recognizable organizations in esports for a decade, but all that changed when the Call of Duty League was unveiled in October 2019. [jwplayer WGyDcVLl] OpTic Gaming, Team Envy, and FaZe Clan are all organizations that fans of competitive Call of Duty will be very well-acquainted with. Having won countless trophies between them, they were undoubtedly the three most popular brands in the FPS franchise. After all, Call of Duty is where the iconic OpTic Gaming got their big break, transitioning from sniping to competing at MLG events across the United States. So when a reimagined league, that would do away with brands fans all knew and loved, was speculated to be inbound in mid-2019, industry figures, players, and supporters alike were skeptical of the move. The successor to the Call of Duty World League would instead opt to create a franchise system, utilizing a geographical element and launching all-new brands with the 12 organizations that were happy to put up $25m to buy-in. Throwing away what fans had grown accustomed to – especially in a scene where the majority of the fan base support just a single brand in OpTic Gaming – was always going to be a risk. When the franchises were unveiled in October and November of 2019, there was some relief. FaZe Clan had partnered with a venture capital firm to co-own a team in Atlanta, Envy had secured Dallas, and Hector ‘H3CZ’ Rodriguez would return to Call of Duty by launching a franchise in Chicago as part of NRG. Other well-known organizations, the likes of Luminosity, Misfits, Rogue, also bought in and founded associated brands, too. While there’s not an accurate method of measuring the growth of location-based fans that have since discovered Call of Duty esports and decided to support their local team, it is easy to spot another trend. A healthy percentage of pre-existing CoD fans have stayed with their favorite teams from the Call of Duty World League and even before that. Though OpTic Gaming found their way into the new-look league, the departure of H3CZ and Scump saw fans’ allegiance follow them to NRG and the Chicago Huntsmen. Instead, the brand was owned and operated by Immortals Gaming Club and witnessed a fall from grace that is seldom seen in esports. FaZe Clan fans were avidly supporting Atlanta FaZe, Dallas Empire had a legion of fans from their Envy association, and the Huntsmen became the new home of the Green Wall — the former titanic fan base of OpTic. It soon became clear to any general spectator that the original brands, to a major degree, were still the driving force of the Call of Duty League. According to analytics firm Esports Charts, the three most popular teams in the finals were Atlanta FaZe, Dallas Empire and Chicago Huntsmen. The first two mentioned did make it all the way to the final series but, nonetheless, the trio racked up the most hours watched on-stream with around double the amount of the other franchises. Following the end of the first season, which saw the Empire eventually take home the Championship trophy and recognition, this was only demonstrated further. Stealing a franchise spot 100 Thieves made themselves a household name in Call of Duty in a short amount of time prior to the CWL, namely because of former OpTic Gaming legend Matthew ‘Nadeshot’ Haag owning the side. It didn’t hurt that they accrued a couple of trophies during their time in the shooter, too. They ended up not joining the league from the get-go. Earlier this month, however, in the height of the off-season, they answered the wishes of their hundreds of thousands of fans by acquiring one of the two Los Angeles slots. The franchise they acquired, interestingly, was previously occupied by the deflated OpTic Gaming. Normally, the departure of H3CZ’ brainchild would be a moment of sorrow, but this was joyous and celebrated industry-wide. The arrival of Los Angeles Thieves and the following reception — which saw them become the fourth most-followed CDL franchise on Twitter in just a matter of hours behind the aforementioned teams — was another tell that branding and personality are currently more important than location. Speculation and rumors then emerged about what would happen with the OpTic brand, which seemingly would now be abandoned. On October 11, the prayers of the Green Wall were heard loud and clear as it was announced that H3CZ had indeed managed to pull off the ultimate heist. Chicago Huntsmen, which had become the most-followed franchise after the first year, would cease to exist; making way for OpTic Chicago. Much like the emergence of LA Thieves, only more amplified, not just Call of Duty fans but all of esports erupted in celebration and joy for H3CZ, team legends like Scump and FormaL, and for the iconic ‘OG’ brand itself. Order had been restored. While they did indeed retain their Chicago slot, none of the fanfare was aimed in that direction. Instead, Call of Duty esports had witnessed the return of two major brands. While there may be local Chicagoans and Angelenos that shared their excitement at these developments, a message was sent rocketing throughout the core of the league — brand is still king and there’s no sign of that changing, especially when it comes to the beloved few. How does this impact the league? This eventuality is actually the perfect outcome for Activision Blizzard and their new Call of Duty League. It was a sizeable risk hermetically-sealing the competition with 12 new brands, one that could have seen interest in competitive CoD die down dramatically. Instead, they’ve implemented location-based branding as planned, and have managed to retain the fan bases of the teams that came before franchising. They have a solid foundation of viewers and fanatics from the past and can look to expand the overall pool of supporters through geo-targeted marketing and more innovative in-game advertisements. With Los Angeles Thieves and OpTic Chicago in action when the league returns, albeit potentially with online-play, the Call of Duty League has just received a huge boost that will undoubtedly help them to keep breaking viewership records moving forward. Not only that, but merchandising, content, and other team-based revenue streams could well see a dramatic surge with the arrival (or re-emergence in the case of OpTic) of major brands, which is a plus. In a business venture where the success of one brand is the success of the 11 others, a rising tide lifts all boats.

Adam Fitch: 2020’s true impact on the esports industry ESLNobody could have predicted that 2020 would have taken the turn that it did, and that’s especially true in esports. Many events were pre-planned and expected to take place as usual, but travel and hosting restrictions meant we collectively had to pivot to continue the primary purpose of the craft — entertaining fans. Many video games are built with online play at the top of mind but 2020 has proven that in-person competition and spectating is where esports comes to life. The cheers and boos of thousands of people, all connected in the moment through their passion for the game being played, creates an atmosphere that transforms gaming from a hobby to a celebration of excellence. It was taken for granted until it was taken away from us. Most, if not all, industries were affected by the global health situation but esports — and gaming at large — also had a moment in the spotlight due to the absence of sports. The robust nature of the industry due to its online capabilities meant the show could go on, but I want to make it clear that we weren’t able to present the best version of what has been created over the past two decades. The situation meant that we naturally grasped on to any signs of positivity that we could find but I believe this meant some people have overblown the great aspects of the esports’ temporary rise to prominence. It doesn’t mean that esports benefitted in 2020 because the BBC picked up Rocket League and ESPN broadcast sim racing for weeks. Esports’ shortcomings amplified Esports was shown on national television networks, more eyeballs were on gaming than perhaps ever before, but the unique elements of this year simply amplified the good and bad of esports. Partly due to the nascent, untrodden status of esports and partly because of inexperience and incompetence, it’s hard for many companies in esports to make a profit. Raising venture capital looks attractive and signals a level of success but this is not revenue. Companies aren’t necessarily healthy because investors are betting on them. It’s important to know this. Read More: Chaos EC confirm CSGO exit – If tournament organizers are burning hundreds of thousands of dollars hosting events with thousands of fans in attendance, many of which buy confectionaries and merchandise and interact with sponsor activities, then imagine the level of loss that’s possible when paying consumers are taken out of the equation. If teams can’t make money despite earning millions in prize winnings and promoting brands, something more needs to be done to monetize their collective audience; this requires a lot of innovative thinking and has been limited to online activities. We’ve started to see this materialize through fan engagement programs but it simply hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for those that comprise esports. Team brands specifically rely too heavily on sponsors and partners. We knew it already but having concrete evidence may just help convince any remaining doubters. Just look at Chaos’ departure from Counter-Strike and their reasoning for it: “As the year continued it became clear that in-person entertainment was not going to be viable and esports events and tournaments were going to experience massive change,” their official announcement read. “This would have far reaching impacts throughout the ecosystem, particularly on sponsor value, removing a large portion of revenue that esports teams need to stay competitive and effectively support their players.” Without brands paying to advertise through organizations, it’s nigh-on impossible to house teams in several games. They’re simply not in a conducive state when it comes to profit outside of a select few companies that are excelling when compared to their competition. There’s also an argument that ‘too much of a good thing’ is real in esports. Let’s look at CS:GO again for this point as it’s a great example, sadly. With ESL, Flashpoint, and BLAST all vying to stand out in a crowded scene in an attempt to capture the market, there was viewing fatigue. We saw the same teams competing against each other on what felt like a weekly basis, with teams being separated by region and having to face off against each other regularly in the numerous events that took place. It’s hard to care about a match when you know you’ll see the two teams play again in a few days — it feels inconsequential. There are plenty of areas of the industry that require growth for success to be possible, but you get the point. 2020, to me, amplified many of these aspects. Magnifying the good With that said, though, it’s not been all doom and gloom. The good aspects of esports were also magnified in 2020. It’s a robust industry that can continue to operate under challenging circumstances, albeit at a limited capacity. It’s a vessel of entertainment for millions, providing a level of escapism for enthralled viewers and giving something for people to get excited about. Read More: BBC creating LEC documentary following EXCEL – Whether it’s needed or not for esports to be a success, it was embraced by mainstream figures — mainly athletes — more than ever throughout this year, claiming a stage many may believe it deserves. While this trend didn’t sustain as the year went on, who knows how this will progress in the future? I’m grateful that it was proven to more people that esports doesn’t need sports. It can stand on its own. In fact, based on what we saw in 2020, there’s a case to be made that sports are more reliant on us. We already have a young demographic with expendable income; the very audience that all entertainment sectors, including sports, desperately wants to capture. If they want to tap into our fan base, they need to approach gaming and esports in an authentic manner and play by our rules. This indeed benefits us, and it shows just how pivotable esports may become in the future as it continues to grow and command acceptance. Being realistic I’m not aiming to dissect our industry or expose all of its underdeveloped areas. Instead, I want to make sure we’re level-headed with our assessment of how 2020 was. It’s great to be positive but some people are simply focusing on the mainstream attention we received and the viewership we amassed, neglecting to equally highlight where things can be improved. With companies folding and people losing jobs, it’s difficult to see people heralding esports as indestructible. Think about photographers, interviewers, events support staff, and the dozens of other professions that are based heavily on in-person happenings. To pretend they don’t exist, or at least weren’t affected, is irresponsible and perhaps even reprehensible. We’re now in 2021 and we still don’t know when we can operate as normal once more. Times will still be tough for many. We owe it to not only those impacted but ourselves and our peers to be honest about esports’ current state and how we can make it even better in the future. Only with honesty and accountability can we address problems and improve upon them. I don’t know how things will develop but I do know that esports is an industry made up of many great people and it’s thanks to all of them that things kept ticking in 2020. I sincerely hope that we can take small steps forward towards a more sustainable space in 2021 and beyond.

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Register Sign in Login to enable dark mode. Sign up for free to unlock exclusive perks: See fewer ads An Ad-lite experience on articles. Dark Mode Customize your Dexerto experience, choose between dark or light. Great deals with our monthly newsletter Recommendations for unmissable entertainment. Save money with the best online deals in Gaming, TV and Movies, and Tech. Already have a Dexerto Media Group account? Login Register Gaming Entertainment TV & Movies Esports Tech Connect With Us Twitter Twitch YouTube More Archive About Us Advertise With Us Sign up free now Sign in Gaming Entertainment TV & Movies Esports Tech Connect With Us More Esports CoD Champs 2020 CoD Champs 2020 | All All Call of Duty Which CDL Team Can Win Champs From Losers? Alex Garton Call of Duty Which CDL Team Can Win Champs From Losers? Alex Garton Call of Duty Road to CDL Champs glory: Empire, Huntsmen, FaZe, Royal Ravens Calum Patterson Call of Duty CDL Champs Aug 29 recap & highlights: Huntsmen crash out, Grand Final set Albert Petrosyan Call of Duty How to watch CDL Championship Weekend: streams, schedule, brackets, scores Albert Petrosyan Call of Duty Dallas Empire win CDL Champs: final placements, highlights, results, MVP Albert Petrosyan Articles Call of Duty How much every Call of Duty League team earned in 2020 including Champs Brad Norton Call of Duty Crimsix clarifies comment on Dallas Empire being his “best team ever” Jacob Hale Call of Duty CDL Champs stream “hack” reveals new Black Ops Cold War teaser Theo Salaun Call of Duty How to earn CDL Knife Blueprint & more from watching CoD Champs Weekend Theo Salaun Call of Duty H3CZ explains why he ‘didn’t watch’ historic Huntsmen vs OpTic match Andy Williams Call of Duty How Clayster & Crimsix’s young guns fired Dallas Empire to CDL Championship Weekend Calum Patterson CoD Champs 2020 How Zer0 turned London Royal Ravens into CDL Championship contenders Daniel Cleary Call of Duty How Scump & Formal led Huntsmen to CDL Championship Weekend Shane King CoD Champs 2020 How FaZe’s Simp & Priestahh are tearing up CDL Champs Shane King Call of Duty RamboRay Column: Our biggest threat is ourselves Raymond Lussier 1 2 3 View Archive

Chipotle Challenger Series to return at DreamHack Atlanta – Everything you need to know In partnership with Chipotle. Find out more about the Chipotle Challenger Series below. The Chipotle Challenger Series, the first-ever battle royale tournaments hosted specifically for fans at DreamHack events, will return at DreamHack Atlanta after the success of DreamHack Dallas. Once again, attendees will get the chance to compete to be the last fans standing. Chipotle Challenger Series general information and sign up The second event takes place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, running from November 15-17. This time the game of choice will be Epic Games’ incredibly popular Fortnite Battle Royale, with attendees able to play on their own PCs or with ones provided by DreamHack in the FreePlay area. The Challenger series is available to all event attendees for free, all you need to do is follow this link to sign up! Chipotle Challenger Series format and schedule In DreamHack Atlanta’s Chipotle Challenger Series, players will battle it out in Fortnite solos. There will be four qualifiers, also known as heats, with the top 25 from each qualifier advancing to the grand-finals, where the winner will be decided. You can find the full schedule below: Friday 15 November, 4PM – 5PM – Heat 1 – Friday 15 November, 8PM – 9PM – Heat 2 – Saturday 16 November, 4PM – 5PM – Heat 1 – Saturday 16 November, 4PM – 5PM – Heat 2 – Sunday 17 November, 1PM – Grand Final – Sunday 17 November, TBD – Award Ceremony – What can you win in the Chipotle Challenger Series? You’ll be an instant winner just by entering as there are free burrito cards for all participants! Chipotle swag will also be handed out to finalists and the Chipotle Challenger Series Trophy and Look Pack will go to the winner. This includes a VIP experience at DreamHack and free Chipotle for a year. DreamHack Dallas’ tournament featured battle royale title PLAYERUNKNOWN’s Battlegrounds while Atlanta’s game of choice switches to the ever-popular Fortnite when DreamHack descends upon the city in November. In Dallas, teams of two signed up to compete in heats which took place on Friday and Saturday. Winning teams then advanced to the final round where the Chipotle Challenger Series Winner was crowned on Sunday. However, things will look slightly different in Atlanta. Chipotle and esports: This is far from Chipotle’s first foray into the world of esports. In 2017 the company made headlines as one of OpTic Gaming’s main sponsors and the Chipotle logo was on proud display when the organization’s Call of Duty roster took home the trophy at the 2017 Call of Duty World League Championship. In 2018 Chipotle became a title sponsor of Team SoloMid’s competitive Fortnite roster, specifically the TSM Fortnite house in California. This has led to various collaborations, including one of the world’s most recognized streamers, Ali ‘Myth’ Kabbani, creating his own burrito inside a Chipotle store. The Chipotle Mexican Grill brand is now linking up with more esports royalty in the form of DreamHack – an esports tournament and convention organizer with roots that stretch back to the 1990s.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic shows off insane Porsche 911 Targa birthday present iamzlatanibrahimovic/PorscheFootball star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has shown off the sleek new Porsche 911 Targa he picked up for his birthday, and it sure looks like a ride worthy of one of the greatest players of our generation. Ibrahimovic is without a doubt one of the most well-known names in football. The striker is considered by many to have been one of the best ever at his position during his prime and is still going strong to this day. The 39-year-old is now back at his old stomping grounds playing for AC Milan, and doing quite well for himself, netting a cool $3.9 million when he signed his first six-month contract with the club in January. Perhaps to celebrate his return as a Rossoneri player, Ibra seems to have spoiled himself with an awesome-looking Porshe 911 Targa to celebrate his birthday on October 3. Happy Birthday to Zlatan pic.twitter.com/xgq2cTgmok — Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) October 3, 2020 The coupe appears to be the same color red as preferred by Milan, a very fitting choice for the man who’s most definitely one of the club’s star players, and a possible sign he could be in Italy for the long haul. A classy tan interior sits within, and we would guess it’s filled with all the latest bells and whistles to be found in 2020 that money can buy. The 911 is probably what most people think of when they hear the name Porsche, and the Targa is one of the higher-end models, starting at around $120,000 and going up from there. Of course, Zlatan is too humble of a human being to tell us all how much he dropped on his new whip, so we might never know exactly how much he shelled out for it. With all the money he’s made during his career though, we would say he can certainly afford it. Now that Ibra has the perfect color of Porsche to go with his club kit, all that’s left for him to do is bring another Serie A title back to Milan to really complete his comeback.

YouTubers Tavarish and Savage Garage hint at buying $1m+ Bugattis YouTube: Tavarish / TheStradmanWith TheStradman taking delivery of his long-awaited first hypercar in the form of a Bugatti Veyron, it seems that other YouTubers are following in his footsteps; Will the incredible Veyron become the next ‘flex’ car for automotive YouTubers? Supercars such as the Lamborghini Aventador and Huracan were once the stuff of dreams for automotive YouTubers. With plenty of bolt-on modifications, instant recognition, and ‘baller’ status, they were ideal for showcasing that a channel had ‘made it’ in the automotive sphere. However, now that so many channels have gone through the process of owning, modifying, and ultimately selling their Lamborghinis, there needs to be another ‘flex’ car to show a level of achievement. View this post on Instagram A few things I’ve discovered. 1.) No car should ever be built to have this much power lol. 2.) To the undercover police officer who lit me up last night when I was doing a pull next to you, thank you for flipping off your lights and continuing on with your evening. 3.) I need to put my attorney on retainer. 4.) Utah has the best Views on Views ? 5.) I never wear a purple @stradmerch hat and shirt combo together but somehow I did it accidentally ??? #Bugatti #Veyron Are more YouTubers buying Bugatti Veyrons? A number of channels – including TheStradman himself – have built crazy twin-turbocharged Lamborghini Gallardos, but it seems even these custom-built supercars no longer cut it. Following the reveal of his own 2008 Bugatti Veyron, TheStradman seems to be attracting a number of other automotive YouTubers on his Instagram page, who allude to their own Bugatti-themed purchases. YouTuber Tavarish started the rumor mill by commenting on Stradman’s delivery video “Welcome to the club… wait” and has then taken the rumors up a gear by commenting on Stradman’s Instagram post: “We should race!” Tavarish isn’t the only YouTuber to be hinting at the purchase of a Bugatti hypercar. Savage Garage has also added fuel to the hypercar fire, having simply posted a picture of the Bugatti logo on their Instagram with the caption “trinity”. Will we see a ‘trinity’ of Bugatti Veyrons? Whether this is their way of hinting that there will be a YouTuber ‘trinity’ of Veyrons is unclear, but if both Tavarish and Savage garage follow through with their purchases then it would indeed be a trinity situation. SG also seems to suggest it is indeed a Veyron that they are purchasing, commenting on Stradman’s Instagram post “Let’s twin soon.” Does this suggest not only the purchase of a Veyron but perhaps even one in a matching specification to Stradman’s? Given the price of these incredible 1001hp hypercars rests around the $1m mark, they represent a big investment for a YouTuber, and certainly have a degree of ‘flex’ surrounding them. Hopefully, for those that have purchased them, they go back up in value due to their status and rarity – so long as they don’t get too extensively modified.

YouTuber WhistlinDiesel slams TheStradman’s response to ‘childish’ drama YouTube: WhistlinDiesel/TheStradmanFollowing the purchase of his Audi R8, YouTuber WhistlinDiesel is now a self-confessed ‘car guy’ but it seems his dislike of the car community hasn’t lessened, as fellow YouTube TheStradman found out the hard way. YouTuber ‘beef’ is nothing new, and WhistlinDiesel and TheStradman have a prior history of this, having traded blows over Instagram back in August. While many thought that their brief ‘spat’ would be the end of the drama, WD was keen to re-ignite this drama on Instagram, having posted what some would deem a ‘childish’ reply to one of TheStradman’s posts. Responding to a post asking his followers what color his Bugatti Veyron should be wrapped, WD replied to Stradman saying: “if you wrap your Bugatti grape purple like everything else I’m going to dig my eyes out with spoons.” Trying to start a flame war? Since the pair have previously had issues, it seems that Stradman was in no rush to start any further beef, and simply blocked WhistlinDiesel’s account. Unfortunately for Strad, it seems that this wasn’t enough to solve the issue, and may have even made things worse. With WD having over 700k Instagram followers, some of them took it upon themselves to ‘spam’ Stradman with copies of WD’s original comment on his posts. Whether they were looking to incite a ‘flame war’ or simply wind up Stradman is unclear, but he did respond to them. Evidently riled by WD’s behavior, Stradman replied saying “I don’t need him hating on my posts to garner attention for himself.” With Strad having previously stated that WD “destroyed cars for views,” this isn’t the first time he has been called out for using controversial tactics to raise attention. Despite trying to sell himself as a ‘car guy’ WhistlinDiesel seems intent on keeping ‘truck’ and ‘car’ guys at war with each other. In his post allegedly meant to be an apology to Stradman, he calls the car community “not as hardened as the truck community” since they were so quick to react to his words. View this post on Instagram I can tell from the first couple of weeks here it’s going to be a long crazy ride in the car community since they’re probably not as hardened as the truck community ? This is going to take some time but in the end you’ll all be chill with it. I’m just the @alex.choi from hell. thestradman you seem like a super nice guy. @streetspeed717 is also a super nice guy and we had fake beef for months even though he has a piece of crap corvette. Hence why none of my posts are directed at you personally, just the @welchs color on every single car. In the end they’re just cars that will be scrapped someday, not people. Behind Instagram I’d be any of your friends in person. @life_of_palos plz take notes for next vid ? “In the end, you’ll all be chill with it” It also appears that WD has no plans to back down from being controversial or confrontational, calling himself “the Alex Choi from hell” and saying “this is going to take some time [getting used to WD in the car community] but in the end, you’ll all be chill with it.” With many people including YouTuber Life of Palos calling out WD for his initial comment, we may not have heard the last of the WhistlinDiesel vs TheStradman drama.

YouTuber VinWiki reveals worlds cheapest Aston Martin Vanquish YouTube: VinWikiDepreciation can be a wonderful thing, letting buyers afford supercars that would usually be well out of their budget. Ed Bolian of VinWiki is well-known for his love of bargain supercars, but this time he got more than he bargained for. YouTube channel VinWiki founder and host Ed Bolian is renowned for his unusual supercar buying choices. Put to good use in the CarTrek series with fellow YouTubers Tavarish and Hoovies Garage, Ed’s skills may have landed him the world’s worst Aston Martin. Explaining his choice to buy an Aston Martin Vanquish in the first place, Ed says “I really really wanted to get a Vanquish; I think it’s one of the most impressive-looking cars Aston ever built.” Given his love affair with the car, he set his sights on finding the cheapest one he could get his hands on. Ed Bolian buys ex-druglord Aston Martin Part of the reason that the Vanquish has depreciated so heavily from their original $245k+ price is their reputation for “terrible” gearboxes and poor reliability. Ed is no stranger to such things, however, so this did not put him off buying one. Having found a suitable candidate with only 23,000 miles on the clock, Bolian began his inquiries. It turns out that despite being at auction and in the car of two car dealers, there was very little information on the car. Eventually, it was discovered that the car was imported back from Columbia, and according to Ed’s friend it “looks like it was owned by a drug lord!” With no history, details, or service records, the car was sold as-seen, which turned out to be Ed’s downfall. In the end, he was able to score the car for $25,000 – becoming the cheapest Vanquish that Ed had ever seen for sale. Upon arrival, it turns out that Ed may have got more than he bargained for. It turned up already displaying numerous faults. The car was started in ‘limp mode’, the gearbox was flagging warnings, and the car was “very, very unwell” in his words. The fuel pump was also an issue, and the car would shut down half the motor unexpectedly. Seeking a ‘master mechanics’ opinion, the news was not good. Bolian received a text from the mechanic stating, among other things, the he “doubted the car was ever driven on a [paved] road.” In the end, Ed was able to drive the car for his new YouTube series, but not until it had received serious work, including a new clutch, fuel pumps, and other consumables. Despite its low list price, the Aston needed some serious maintenance, likely totaling up to a considerable amount. Remember – these old supercars may be cheap, but maintaining them is the real kicker.

YouTuber VINwiki reveals the surprisingly low cost of owning supercars YouTube: VINwikiOwning a supercar, hypercar or exotic vehicle is something that many people aspire to achieve during their life. YouTuber Vinwiki explains just how rich you need to be to own a supercar, along with how to buy an ‘exotic’ one responsibly. With many children growing up with posters of Ferraris or other supercars on their bedroom wall, owning a supercar can feel like a dream for most of us, with only a select ‘lucky’ few ever attaining such a goal. According to Ed Bolian (better known as VINwiki), that’s simply not the case. It is in fact totally possible to own an ‘exotic’ car without needing to have a 7-figure bank balance. It’s all about buying “responsibly”. How to buy a supercar responsibly Financing the car is one method of attaining your dream car without a massive initial outlay. Once the deposit has been put down, the remaining cost (and any additional charges such as interest) are spread across a number of monthly payments. This means that you are able to own your “dream car” sooner, but it may cost more in the long run. Explaining how to budget for a supercar, Ed explains that “a car’s value should not exceed 80% of your yearly taxable income for a bank to approve any form of a loan or finance agreement, nor should your outgoing exceed 50% of your monthly income.” While the initial purchase of the car can be costly, Ed is quick to point out that it’s not necessarily the initial cost, but the cost of upkeep that will be the ‘silent killer’ of your bank balance. The hidden costs of supercar ownership Upkeep costs vary from model-to-model. For example, the average upkeep and cost of a ‘major’ problem for a car such as an Audi R8 will be far less than that of a Ferrari 458. Insurance is another consideration to make, as is security, and where the car will be kept overnight. The biggest factor to consider when purchasing your car according to Ed is your “Vunerability – what liabilities exist inside this car” as this is the easiest way to “wreck yourself financially.” Things such as depreciation, repair costs, and general upkeep fall into this category and must be considered when purchasing an exotic car. Ed also recommends setting aside around a month’s income for emergency repairs, more if you’re dealing with newer or more high-end exotic cars due to parts costs and increased likelihood of electronic issues. In essence, supercar ownership can be easy if done sensibly: So long as you have factored in repair costs, considered depreciation, and have funds ready or approved, there is no greater risk in owning a supercar than owning any other car – the bills are just higher.

YouTuber Vehicle Virgins reveals why he traded in his Ferrari 458 Special Vehicle Virgins – YouTubeFor a car enthusiast like YouTuber Vehicle Virgins, it can be hard to part ways with your beloved vehicle, but he ended up having a good reason why he did it. In a series of videos uploaded on Jan 22 and 23, viewers discovered that the YouTuber picked up a pair of brand-new cars, but had to trade in his beloved Ferrari to do so. The Californian ended up getting two new cars out of it, so, in the end, it ended up being worth it. The first vehicle he picked up was a Rolls Royce. He explains that he had his eyes on a Rolls Royce Wraith for quite a while and the perfect opportunity to purchase one presented itself here. “I’ve always wanted a Wraith,” he said. “When I got my S-class, a Wraith is what I wanted. When I got my E63, as funny as it sounds, a Wraith is what I wanted. And, finally, it’s in the price range. This is 2015 with 16,000 miles on it that I can afford.” (Segment begins at 9:51 mark for mobile users) In a stunning turn of events, just the next day Vehicle Virgins was on his way to buy a new car in the Rolls Royce he had just purchased the day before. It ended up being a twist for viewers because he revealed he had to trade in his Ferrari 458 Special to do so. Midway through the second video, he explains the decision to do that came down to him not having a ton of time to enjoy the car. “I tried to stomach it, put a bunch more miles on it and it just like, I don’t know, I can’t drive it as much as I’d like to,” he said. “I’m officially done. Trading it in for the Wraith and some cash and something else.” (Timestamp 5:47) As it turns out, the “something else” ended up being the Ferrari 812 Superfast. “Okay, so, I kinda lied,” he said at the 6:44 mark. “I kinda sorta got an 812 Superfast. I have wanted a v12 Ferrari for a long time and after having one of these for a week from Ferrari I was like that’s gotta be the best GT car ever made.” To summarize, he ended up getting two new cars out of his one, so it’s a fair tradeoff. Let’s just hope the YouTuber can actually take some time to enjoy this one more than he did his previous Ferrari.

YouTuber TJHunt unveils new custom exhaust for Corvette C8 YouTube: TJ HuntPopular cars YouTuber TJ Hunt has revealed his brand-new custom exhaust for his Corvette C8 and the upgrade makes his car sound a whole lot meaner when it revs up. Like other YouTubers who base their content around their cars, TJ Hunt has a collection of cars that he regularly showcases, reviews, and even mods for his viewers. The American has close to 1.7m subscribers and regularly attracts close to one million viewers to his almost daily uploads. In his newest video, the popular YouTuber revealed the finished custom exhaust that he had been working on getting for his Chevrolet Corvette C8 and though it might not be the biggest change you can make to a car, it does make his Corvette sound pretty mean when it is cruising the streets. TJ noted that he had been working with MagnaFlow on the project and that it was finally set to be put on to his car so that he could get back behind the wheel and take it home. What he claimed to be the world’s first custom exhaust for C8 was pretty different to what was added as stock. The stock exhaust, the YouTuber noted, did a “really good job” of keeping the sound dampened because of the system that was in place but a custom one could really take things up a notch. As he had the exhaust fitted and his bumper put back together, Hunt watched as his car was revved up and produced a hellacious noise from the new exhaust – though it wasn’t going to ruin anyone’s hearing all that much as it quickly quietened down when the engine wasn’t being revved. After having it tested for any rattles and potential further tweaks, the YouTuber finally got to take it out of the garage and take it for a spin on the road – where he claimed his car felt “much more alive on the inside.” TJ took for a further spin and gave some other thoughts on the changes, adding that it helped reduce noise inside the car and allowed his vehicle to sound “phenomenal.” Of course, while he and his viewers might be fans of the changes, he’ll have to wait and see if anyone else comments on the car from further afield once the exhaust goes into production. The YouTuber jabbed back at The Grand Tour host James May after the British TV presenter ‘roasted’ his Ferrari 458 GT3.

YouTuber TJ Hunt’s girlfriend shares scary medical diagnosis TJ Hunt, YouTube[jwplayer mgzBNoPb]Longtime YouTube star and noted car enthusiast TJ Hunt returned to YouTube to update fans on the condition of his girlfriend, Sabrina Leamon, after she suffered a frightening health incident a week ago. While Hunt is best known for his automotive-focused videos, in which he buys, reviews, test-drives, and mods both luxury and sports cars, the YouTuber took a sharp turn from his usual fast-paced content with a sobering update on his girlfriend’s health. In their July 16 upload, simply titled “An update video,” Leamon revealed that she’d suffered a seizure at her work a week ago, and had been hospitalized for seven days and six nights thereafter. Leamon stated that she’d felt an “aura” coming on just before lunch and blacked out, after which she underwent a CT scan to rule out any potential issues with her brain. https://www.instagram.com/p/B-75oWgHwvq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link What the CT scan uncovered was deeply concerning: Leamon showed off the results to Hunt’s audience, showing that a mass was inside her brain, which was later biopsied by surgeons and is currently undergoing testing. Although the couple does not yet know the nature of the mass, they are both keeping their spirits “as high as physically possible” and are not coming to a decision regarding the future until they receive the biopsy results. Hunt also revealed that Leamon cannot be left alone as she is on “seizure watch,” and has had her driver’s license suspended for the next six to nine months — a devastating development for the car junkie. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ohxk2nb06/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link “Hopefully, these [test results] will come back, and it won’t be bad news,” Leamon said of the situation. “It’ll maybe just be, fingers crossed, like an infection, or something they can treat with medicine, and they’ll tell the DMV I can have my license back.” This isn’t the first time Leamon has had issues like this, either; the YouTuber explained she’d suffered a similar incident a year ago during a car show, where she suddenly gained a black eye and a swollen tongue. Thus far, fans have shown overwhelming support for the couple as they await the results of Leamon’s test after a frightening health diagnosis that has turned her life as a car lover upside down.

YouTuber TJ Hunt gives James May cheeky jab after roasting his Ferrari TJ Hunt / DRIVETRIBEPopular YouTube star TJ Hunt has fired a shot back at James May after handing his stunning Ferrari 458 GT3 just a four out of 10 rating. The Grand Tour co-host has been quite active on the video sharing platform of late, whether it be commenting on the real problems facing the electric car market or roasting content creators about the cars they choose to drive. The Stradman, Adam LZ, Mr JWW and others had their cars featured in a video from DRIVETRIBE on March 8, where May was left with the simple task of sharing his verdict on each of them- and it’s fair to say that TJ Hunt wasn’t best pleased after seeing what James said about his car. For those who don’t know already, Hunt can often be seen sharing a number of different car related videos to his successful YouTube channel, which has over 1.66 million subscribers at the time of writing. In an upload on March 10, the content creator took a C8 Corvette out for a spin, which included a speed run, donuts and much more, even taking a moment to show fans what May had said about his car – and chose to hit back with a tongue-in-cheek comment of his own. He said: “Although he gave us a four out of ten on the looks, to be honest I didn’t think he was going to give a high score. He’s more of a purist and an older man – an old guy. He’s an old guy,” before adding that he was delighted by the 10/10 May gave him for effort on the project. (Timestamp in video below at 8:40) If you didn’t catch the original video (below), where May absolutely roasted a number of YouTubers’ cars, it’s fair to say that he had his doubts about the Ferrari 458 GT3 that Hunt owns. He said: “It’s not a real GT3 racing car, as was. It’s a 458 Italian that he bought as, I believe, a bit of a wreck, and he’s put GT3 body parts on it like the front – they’re all pucker. The front, the chin, the wheels and so on. It’s very well done, not going to deny that, but I think it’s a little bit flashy because it’s not actually true.” “It’s a little bit like reproduction furniture or vegan cheese,” he continued. “Also mate, you’re going to knock the front off in about 10 minutes and that spoiler on the back is a little bit outré.” (Timestamp in video below at 0:54) May gave him 10/10 for effort, but just 4/10 for the taste – clearly not exactly what Hunt wanted to hear. Whether or not we see these two feature in future videos together remains to be seen, although James does appear to be interested in the YouTubers projects. We wouldn’t be surprised if even more content creators pick up on his roasts in the near future, so make sure to keep an eye on what could be a steadily ensuing “beef” for May vs YouTubers.

YouTuber TGE reveals car that’ll replace his Lamborghini Aventador SV TGE TV – YouTubeYouTuber TGE has finally revealed his next car after ditching his Lamborghini Aventador SV months earlier. Getting rid of a car like the Aventador may confuse a lot of people, especially when that’s one of the nicest vehicles in the world. If someone makes the choice to drop this car, you better believe that they are going to pick up something that’s worthy of taking up the mantle. TGE went down to look at a plethora of different vehicles in order to narrow his choices down. He looked into several different brands, but finally, he made his choice. However, before making anything official, he went for a ride with his long-time friend Dean to discuss the decision. He has been somebody TGE has always trusted with purchasing a new car, so he wanted to get his blessing first. The popular car YouTuber revealed the car he has his eyes on to replace the Aventador is the Porsche Carrera GT. He revealed a large part of this is because Dean spent several years working with the automotive company and actually became a bit of a specialist during his time at Porsche. After having a back and forth about the car and how it’s evolved over the years, TGE concluded by saying the vehicle is “at the top of his list.” (Conversation with Dean begins at 11:27.) He even might have even been swayed by fans on Instagram. “I am just being tagged in Carrera GT stuff every five seconds on Instagram,” he said. While this car hasn’t been manufactured since 2007, it remains a very popular choice among collectors. The YouTuber explains that you’ll have to do your research before you purchase one because you don’t want to buy anything that’s been “wrapped around a tree and rebuilt.” With all that said, he hasn’t gotten the car yet, explaining he still has to go through the proper channels and fill out paperwork before it’s official. Barring a last-second change of heart, or an offer he can’t refuse, it sounds like the Carrera GT will be the entering his garage in the near future.

YouTuber TGE reveals “richest” and rarest Bentley ever made YouTube: TGE TVPopular car YouTuber TGE TV has revealed perhaps the most expensive and rarest Bentley ever in the form of the Bentley Continental GT Series 9 edition – which has parts made from actual gold. Car YouTubers from around the world can be found making content on the vehicles that they own, or following the pattern of reviews that you might find on a show like Top Gear or The Grand Tour. These reviews might come from renting a car for a few days and pushing them to their limits, or being lucky enough to know someone who has the hookup and can get you behind the wheel of something special. Well, for TGE TV, he was lucky enough to drive the “richest” Bentley on the road. The Bentley in question is the Continental GT Series 9 edition, of which there were only 100 ever made. The car is based on the iconic Bentley Blower that captured victory at Le Mans in 1930 and celebrates the companies centenary year. With it being an anniversary celebrating car, the British manufacturers made it pretty special – with parts being made out of Carbon fiber, trimmings made of 18 Carat gold, Swarovski crystals in the headlights, and even logos from the original racing car. Thanks to his pal Dean, TGE managed to drive the convertible version – of which there are only 17 of them in the world. Though it might be the “richest” car around, the price tag isn’t as eye-watering as say a McLaren P1 or Bugatti Chiron – but it is still valued at around £260,000. After taking it for a drive, the YouTuber was astounded by how impressive it was. “I get told off for using this word a lot on the channel but thing is cash. There’s no other way to describe it. It is the richest thing on the road pretty much. There’s something about it, it is just cash,” he said. However, TGE probably isn’t going to be buying it from his friend anytime soon, as he accepted that video was probably the only time he’ll ever get to drive one. Though, that’s more than can be said for a lot of other Bentley enthusiasts.

YouTuber surprises daughter with Lamborghini Murcielago gift YouTube: DailyDrivenExoticsFor many of us, getting our first car is a rite of passage. However, when your dad is Damon from YouTube channel DDE, getting your first supercar is more important, as shown in DDE’s November 14 video. YouTubers DailyDrivenExotics (DDE) have had a rollercoaster of a year. From moving house, building the new DDE HQ, and buying (then selling) their first hypercar, it’s been one heck of a year for Damon and Dave. Any child is lucky to have their parents buy them a car, but when that car is a Lamborghini Murcielago, it’s a whole new ball game. Well, that’s exactly what Damon did for his daughter Mia as a surprise gift. While the rest of the family were in on the act, Mia was entirely clueless. Damon from DDE surprises daughter with Lamborghini The Lamborghini Gallardo was Damon’s first supercar, so it makes sense for him to pass that down to his family. While not exactly the same as Damons, Mia’s surprise Lamborghini was still impressive. Having revealed that both of his daughters have driven most of the DDE fleet, Damon admits that he has been planning the surprise for a while. Earlier in 2020, he bought Mia a Kia for her first car, and decided to interrogate her during the drive to the dealership. “Besides the Kia, what’s your favorite car brand?” he asked, which was promptly answered with “Lamborghini… because your (Damon) first supercar was a Lamborghini that I got to drive in.” Clearly, the surprise was going to go down well. Clip starts at 7:22 At the dealership they bluff for a while, saying: “We’re shopping for a new supercar” before Damon caves and hands Mia the keys to her new Lamborghini Murcielago LP-560. Clearly taken back, she begins crying, and says: “What, wait… no no no… what? I’m like 10, I don’t deserve a Lamborghini!” After unveiling the car and sitting in it for the first time, she still can’t believe what’s happening. Mia repeatedly asks “are you sure you’re not messing with me? We always joked about this happening but I never thought you’d seriously do it!” According to Damon, his other daughter Tyla is up next, though she “doesn’t quite have her full license yet” so it may be a while before that happens. Either way, being gifted a supercar is an awesome gift, and we’ll be seeing more of it on the DDE channel soon.

YouTuber Supercar Blondie unveils her new ultra-luxury car YouTube: Supercar BlondiePopular car YouTuber Supercar Blondie has unveiled her latest luxury car – and it’s undeniably one of the most beautiful you will ever see. Supercar Blondie has earned herself over 3.5 million YouTube subscribers with her supercar content, including reveals of secret Bugatti hypercars and giving insightful looks over exciting new cars such as the BMW i4. That said, usually she’s just taking a look at other people’s cars, showing off the very best features of vehicles we could only dream of one day owning – but now she’s taken one in for herself, and it may be the best yet. In a video posted on May 6, Blondie – real name Alex Hirschi – unveiled her brand new ride after a week of searching and waiting, pulling out a brand new Rolls Royce Wraith Black Badge. It’s not a car that takes much time to fall in love with, especially in the cream/off-white and black colorway she’s got it in, looking like a more modern version of an absolute classic, which is really exactly what you want from a Rolls Royce. Blondie reveals that it’s been a dream of hers to own this car for over a year, citing the car’s incredible power – more so than of her previous Lamborghini Huracan – and the sporty look made it a no-brainer for her. The 2020 Black Badge Wraith starts at $380,000, a huge jump from the standard Wraith’s $120,000 price tag offering the aforementioned sportier look with fresh wheels and different interior designs, but retaining the classic Rolls Royce quality, comfort and beauty. It’s easy to see why Blondie fell in love with it, even despite the eye-watering price tag stamped on it, but you can see how excited she is as the car rolls in, and asks viewers whether they think she should get a unique wrap on it or some modifications to jazz it up even more.

YouTuber Stradman lists half of car collection for sale & reveals prices YouTube: TheStradmanPopular car YouTuber TheStradman is selling half of his car collection, and has told viewers his asking price for the likes of his Ford GT, a C8 Corvette, his heavily-modded Toyota Supra and more. Stradman has become one of the most well-known car YouTubers on the platform, thanks especially to his unique taste and matching purple wraps he puts on most of his cars, amassing over 2.5 million subscribers. Now, though, he’s revealed that those cars are up for sale, with four cars totalling almost $500,000 – which is actually quite a steal when you look at the individual prices. Stradman – real name James Condon – didn’t reveal why he was selling his collection, only hinting that there was something big coming in the future. Needless to say, with the possibility of making half a million dollars, Condon must have some pretty impressive plans in motion. While much of his May 23 video was spent discussing the Toyota Supra and his more recently-acquired C8 Corvette, he revealed that he would be selling them all, telling viewers how much he’s looking for each vehicle and opening his emails to offers. While he explains that it’s not all entirely set in stone, here are the prices he gives for each of the cars he’s looking to sell: Toyota Supra – bidding starts at $70,000 (revealed earlier in the video) – C8 Corvette – $105,000 – Ford GT – $250,000 – Ford Focus RS – $32,000 – (Timestamp 10:52) Condon did go on to say that while all these cars are up for sale, he might not necessarily sell them all, and it comes down to which ones sell first. “More than likely, I will not be selling all four,” he said. “If the Corvette sells, if the Supra sells, maybe I can keep the Ford GT.” He does add, though, that at £250,000, he believes the GT might be one of the cheapest in the nation, so buyers could be getting an absolute steal if they decide to pick this up. Which cars he eventually ends up selling remains to be seen, but they all look to be pretty good deals, and it will be interesting to see how he decides to use the money for his next big project.

YouTuber smashes his dad’s $3.5m Pagani hypercar in dramatic crash YouTube: Blake Covington / GGExoticsDriving your parent’s car is always a risky business, but when that car is worth over 3 million dollars, it’s even more of a risk. Unfortunately for YouTuber GGExotics, that risk ended badly, after he totaled his dad’s Pagani Huyara Roadster. GGExotics has fast become well-known on YouTube thanks to his impressive car content. With his dad being a billionaire, Gage has access to a variety of iconic hypercars, including a Ferrari LaFerrari and Bugatti Chiron. While the previously-mentioned hypercars are certainly impressive, the rarest car in the fleet was a purple Pagani Huyara Roadster. Costing around $3.5 million, it was also one of the most expensive cars that he owned. GGExotics crashes Pagani Huyara Roadster Unfortunately, despite having driven the Huyara a number of times, including during a ‘life swap’ with YouTube star Tanner Fox, disaster struck the Pagani. First reported by YouTuber Life Of Palos, Gage has reportedly crashed his father’s multi-million dollar Pagani. Thankfully, everyone seems to be OK and no other vehicles appear to be involved, but the Huyara is in a bad way. The footage shared by Life Of Palos shows the entire front end completely smashed up, with both front wheels significantly off the ground. Given that the body of the Huayra is made from Carbon Fiber, it’s not likely that it will be a repairable crash. While the main thing is that everyone involved is OK, it has led to a number of people questioning whether a 17-year-old should be driving the $3.5m hypercar. It is well-documented that he has prior experience driving cars such as this (thanks to the number of videos on his YouTube channel) but he has also shown himself driving at high speeds on public roads. Not only that, but we imagine the insurance on such a vehicle would be sky-high. Given that the car is his fathers’, we can only hope that he was also insured on the car in the correct manner. Whatever happens, it’ll be interesting to see if the car is repaired, or simply sent to the great hypercar scrapyard in the sky. No doubt we’ll be hearing more about the situation from those involved soon enough. Gage from GGExotics speaks out Since we initially published this article, the driver Gage has now released a full statement about the accident. Speaking in a video on his friend RideWithRy‘s channel, Gage basically confirms that the car did in fact hit a tree after he lost control, causing the wreck. “Thank god we were wearing seatbelts” said Gage “as the roof came off [and] the doors flew off.” Thankfully beyond what appears to be a busted arm/shoulder (judging by his sling in the video), no-one was hurt. He also took the opportunity to shut down claims that the accident occurred because he was “too young” to be driving the car, saying that it “wasn’t the case.” Looking to the future, Ry said “we will continue to make videos, but we might take a break since this was a big incident.” Regardless of whether the car can be saved in any way, the main thing is no-one was injured in the wreck.

YouTuber slams Tesla for their “ridiculous” service YouTube: Engineering ExplainedOwning a Tesla has a number of benefits, such as reducing your carbon footprint, and enjoying the instant power available from the electric motors. There are downsides too, however, as YouTuber Engineering Explained revealed. Having owned his Tesla Model 3 for around two years at the time of writing, Engineering Explained has revealed his single biggest issue about Tesla ownership. While build quality and autopilot issues are often the subjects that make headlines, according to the YouTuber, they aren’t the biggest frustration with the brand. In fact, it’s an issue that many owners likely take for granted, or have limited experience with: Service and parts. The biggest issue with Tesla ownership. While Jason of Engineering Explained admits the Tesla Model 3 is “probably the best daily driver out there”, that’s not to say it’s without issues. Specifically, the issues are with the Tesla service team, as opposed to the car itself: “The good news is with electric cars, you don’t need service very often. The bad news is that when you do, it’s difficult to get.” The first big issue that Jason had was when he drove through a pothole, cracking two wheels in the process. Unfortunately, it took Tesla’s service department six-and-a-half hours to get him back on the road. That wasn’t even the worst experience, though. The biggest problem was when the Model 3 was booked in for a simple wheel change and brake service. Having booked an appointment, Jason was presented with a loan car for the day, and told to come back later. However, when he called up five hours later (for what should’ve been a 1 or 2 hour job) the centre were ‘unsure’ whether he could collect the car. Not only that, but he also was given the run-around by his local service center. After requesting a simple set of upgraded ‘track package’ brake pads, he was led down an email rabbit hole. A “ridiculous” process to get parts After speaking to his local service center, they suggested speaking to a higher authority. Unfortunately, the higher authority simply sent him back to the service center that he was turned away from in the first place. Having contacted both individual addresses and still getting no further towards getting the pads, Jason said he thought it was “ridiculous” how difficult the process was. He also found it “bizarre” how it was so difficult to order such a simple part as some brake pads. These are consumable items, so should be easy to order for anyone that needs them. It turns out that it wasn’t just Jason that had issues here, as Rich (of Rich Rebuilds) simply laughed and said “you don’t” when he asked how to get Tesla parts. Clearly, in spite of the electric vehicle revolution that Tesla is partly responsible for, they don’t seem to be able to provide basic service needs. With ever-nearing deadlines of electrification across the globe, this may be one area Tesla has to seriously work on.

YouTuber Shmee150 targeted by obscene vandalism on Nurburgring YouTube: Shmee150 / PistonHeads: D4JMTPopular YouTuber Shmee150 has begun the subject of attacks from trolls who used the graffiti at the Nurburgring to voice their dislike of him. Sometimes people get jealous of those that appear to be at the top of their game and will take to talking about them online rather than in person. Though, for famed automotive YouTuber Shmee150, it seems that an individual (or individuals) had a particular dislike of his work and chose to desecrate one of his favorite places on earth – the Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany. Famous for his vast supercar collection nicknamed the ‘Shmeemobiles’ and his regular vlogs and car reviews; Shmee150 – real name Tim – has been personally attacked by obscene graffiti painted onto the Nurburgring circuit. Clip starts at 4:30 Severe penalties for slander While the perpetrators may have thought this was just a cruel joke, a joke in poor taste, or perhaps a way of getting famous, the repercussions for such actions are severe. German law is far stricter when it comes to acts of slander or defamation than those in the US, as discussed by Life Of Palos in his latest video addressing the situation. Explaining how the German law on defamation is split into three categories (insult, defamation, slander) the graffiti in question would fall under the ‘defamation’ category, the second most severe. Unfortunately for these ‘artists’ by defaming Shmee in writing, it actually doubles their potential sentence. Defamation in German law carries a punishment ranging from a severe fine, or potentially even imprisonment for 1 year. Since the graffiti on the Nurburgring is public and classed as defamation “through the dissemination of written materials” the penalty actually rises to 2 years jail time. Shmee150 reaction to graffiti Surprisingly, Tim is yet to post a public response or reaction to the graffiti that has been painted onto the German race track. Perhaps it is because he doesn’t want to feed the trolls that did it, or maybe he wants to avoid giving them any further exposure through his multi-million subscriber social media channels. Whatever the reason may be, Shmee is keeping quiet, for now at least. Of course, there is the chance he may not pursue prosecution of the perpetrators, though that does not mean they are out of the woods yet. With such a big public stunt like this plenty of people will know who carried it out, not to mention possible prosecution from the Nurburgring team themselves.

YouTuber Shmee reveals how much it costs to own a Ferrari GTC4Lusso YouTube: Shmee150YouTuber Shmee150 has revealed the eye-watering cost of keeping his Ferrari GTC4Lusso V12 running for a year – while also taking into account the massive amount he may lose while owning it for a few years. The popular car enthusiast, who has amassed nearly two million subscribers on YouTube, has a highly sought after collection of vehicles that he regularly reviews and makes videos around. Long-time viewers have seen him make plenty of content around Ferrari’s – including the FF and GTC4Lusso – with the latter being the newest, and his current daily driver car. However, it isn’t the cheapest car to run on a daily basis and over its lifetime is going to lead to some incredible costs that the YouTuber broke down. During his aptly titled ‘How Much Does it Cost to Own a Ferrari?’ video, Shmee took viewers through the running costs of the car that costs around £300,000 when it’s brand-new and off the production line. According to the YouTuber though, he didn’t buy his new, instead, purchasing one that is just over a year old and ended up priced around £200,000. Of course, that’s a nice chunk of change to be spending, but he didn’t do it all in one go. Instead, he went the finance route, paying around a quarter of the asking price as a deposit and then around £2,000 a month in payments. While that may seem like his biggest cost, it isn’t. Instead, the depreciation of the car’s value is going to set him back the most as, according to Shmee, if he kept it for three years, this would be the most “significant” cost. However, keeping it running for those three years isn’t cheap either. The British YouTuber noted while that as Ferrari has free servicing for a car’s first seven years, buying a warranty costs £4,000 per year after the first four years and just keeping it fueled up is a further £3,500 to £4,000 a year. “I’m not going to sit here and pretend that this is not an expensive car, we are still talking £35,000 a year for 10,000 miles of driving but that’s in a Ferrari which is awesome and I find that – with the combination of the included servicing and the sense of you choose which car to buy – really, really cool,” the YouTube explained. That total price includes the personal costs of insurance and keeping it parked up, but they can, obviously, depend on the owner. “its not as bad as you might think it is,” Shmee added about the total cost. “For me, of course, it’s the perfect match,” he said before praising the Ferrari’s practicality compared to his other vehicles. “It’s a really, really good package.”

YouTuber Shmee finally reveals entire car collection YouTube: Shmee150Popular car YouTuber Shmee150 showed off his complete car collection for the first time and as expected, it’s pretty insane. The popular car enthusiast, who has racked up over two million subscribers on the platform, has one of the more unique collections of vehicles compared to his fellow content creators. After recently revealing how much it costs to own a Ferrari GTC4Lusso and use it as a daily driver, the YouTuber decided to celebrate a decade of making videos by taking his whole car collection out of storage and showing them off altogether. While some car YouTubers can lay claim to owning a few Ferrari’s, McClaren’s, and Lamborghini’s, Shmee’s collection is pretty wide-ranging. He has a few supercars in the forms of limited edition Aston Martin GT8, Ford GT, McClaren Senna, and a McClaren 675LT Spider. Yet, he’s got a few other toys as well. They include further limited edition forms of the Mercedes AMG GTR Pro, 2019 Toyota GR Supra, and two different Ford Focus – as well as his Ferrari GTC4Lusso and AMG G63 G Wagon. Even though they are his cars and he drives them, Shmee was certainly taken aback by seeing the full collection together and looking ready to cruise the road as a convoy. “The cars are all lined up, all here together for the first time – and this is, quite frankly, ridiculous,” the YouTuber said. Though he wasn’t taking them on the road, and was just setting them up for a few photoshoots, the YouTuber did have a little fun with his pocket rocket custom Segway Go-Kart. However, when he brought it all to a close a few hours later, even he still couldn’t believe the progress he’s made in a decade of YouTube. “I could never have predicted where this journey was going to take things, from the beginning back then when it was uploading videos of cycling around central London chasing cars, filming these kinds of things at the time, but I never could have expected this,” Shmee said. With the new decade well underway, there should be plenty of opportunities for Shmee to add to his collection, especially with a few new supercar launches planned. If he get his hands on them, though, remains to be seen, but at least fans can look forward to a whole boatload of new content surrounding the ones he already owns.

YouTuber Seb Delanney reveals true cost of Porsche Cayman GT4 ownership YouTube: Seb DelanneyWith so many YouTubers seemingly changing up their garages every other month, they can make it look like anybody can own high-performance cars with ease. Seb Delanney breaks down the real cost of his Porsche Cayman GT4 and explains why he decided to ultimately cancel the order. Sometimes things don’t quite work out, circumstances change, and we make new plans. Things didn’t exactly go to plan for car YouTuber Seb Delanney after placing the order for his 2020 Porsche Cayman GT4, quickly regretting his decision and electing to cancel the order. But just how much does it cost for a YouTuber such as Seb to buy these sorts of new high-performance cars that you regularly see all over vloggers and content creators’ channels? Well, wonder no more. In his latest video, Seb takes us through a step-by-step breakdown of the costs that would have been involved if he had proceeded with his order. How much the 2020 Porsche Cayman GT4 costs Opting from the start to specify his car with resale values in mind, the GT4 was going to be black-on-black with red accents. This also had the added bonus of being an easy colour to match wraps to, something that Seb admits he had planned to do to the Porsche further down the line. The base price for the car was pretty high at $140,118 (including tax) but after adding a variety of functional and aesthetic options the final price went up to a whopping $155,320 after dealer deductions. Porsche are famous for their expensive options, and this is no exception. Seb’s choices ranged from the LED light pack at $914 to the ‘Clubsport’ handling package at $5,265. His most expensive option was the Porsche 918-style bucket seats which came in at a mind-blowing $6,510! Why Seb cancelled his order With the final cost of options being $25,225 in options alone, Seb opted to finance the car over a fixed period of 49 months to spread the cost. After a down payment of $22,031, Seb would’ve paid $1,732 per month. Keep in mind that figure doesn’t include fuel bills, maintenance or any applicable road taxes. The content creator admitted that after seeing a 2020 Cayman GT4 ‘in the flesh’ and having realized how many cars Porsche was making (more cars = lower residual values) he decided to cancel the order. It’s not all bad news, though, as he ended up purchasing his gorgeous Ferrari 430 which is a fantastic (and arguably more exciting) car, so it all worked out in the end.

Scotty Kilmer explains why electric cars will soon be “dirt cheap” Scotty Kilmer/TeslaYouTube auto personality and mechanic Scotty Kilmer has predicted that Teslas and other electric vehicles will drastically drop in price going forward into 2020. The work of Tesla and other manufacturers in the electric car market have only seen their products become more common in the last few years, but Kilmer says even though they’re more readily available, you can’t force people to buy them. With oil and gas becoming more expensive in recent years, some may have presumed more people would switch over to the less expensive option in electric cars, although Kilmer said many still seem to prefer spending money on good old gasoline-powered vehicles instead. Sales of electric vehicles in China, where most of them are produced, were down 77% in the last 8 months, according to Kilmer. “Now this is before the Coronavirus stuff,” the YouTuber clarified. “You can force someone to make something [electric cars], but you cannot force people to buy it.” The Coronavirus’s potential effect on the price of oil is another problem electric cars may have to contend with, as it may actually fall in due course, on top of being an untested technology when compared to gas cars as well. “If oil is cheap, if gas is cheap, that’s even less of an incentive for people to go out and get electric cars,” the 66-year-old continued. “There’s less incentive for people to switch to an electric technology that really hasn’t proven itself.” Teslas, and the likes, have also been mainstream for much less time than their gas-powered counterparts, which can make them less convenient to operate as well. “There’s less infrastructure for it, takes too much time to charge the vehicles,” Kilmer pointed out. “Takes you two minutes to fill it up with gas, might take you 20 hours to charge up your electric battery.” Top Gear star James May even said he had the same issue with electric cars, that they take too long to charge and it doesn’t last long enough, in a recent video, but whether or not the market for this type of product changes drastically as Kilmer seems to be suggesting remains to be seen. If you hear all the potential problems facing electric vehicles and still decide you want one though, 2020 could turn out to be the year to pick one up.

YouTuber roasts “cringe” car videos on TikTok YouTube: Drew PeacockTikTok continues to dominate the social media scene, with everything from hilarious short videos to fully-fledged scandals. There’s also a ‘car’ section of the app, but one YouTuber has let rip when discussing the genre, branding it “cringe.” Roasting other people’s cars on social media is always interesting, but the outlandish cars on TikTok in particular have proven to be the perfect material for YouTuber Drew Peacock. While platforms such as Instagram or Twitter are well-known for hosting the ‘car scene‘, TikTok is relatively new to automotive fans. The vertical-only videos restrict a lot of typical ‘shots’ used with cars, while the short-form videos prevent any sort of in-depth reviews or content. That’s not to say that car enthusiasts haven’t tried to make use of the platform. However, according to Drew, it hasn’t been particularly successful for many. YouTuber brands car scene TikTok as “cringe” Having gathered a number of viral and well-viewed TikToks to review, YouTuber Drew Peacock went in with an open mind, saying his fans have “wanted him to do a TikTok review for some time.” Unfortunately, things got off to a bad start with a heavily-modified Honda. The big wing, custom graphics, and neon lighting didn’t sit well at all with Drew. Not only was the car not to his taste, but it set him off on a rant about the scene in general on TikTok. He labeled it “cringe” and said it was full of “whack-a** cars and with popular songs over [the video] to make it look hard.” Things didn’t get much better from there. Having watched a video of a heavily-cambered Nissan 350Z without music, he says the clips are just “useless” especially without the musical overlay to add interest. TikTok seems to host plenty of modified car videos, since the cars themselves are visually striking. However, these were branded “goofy” and “the dumbest **** ever.” Each to their own, but if your car can’t go more than one block without attracting police attention, there’s probably an issue there. Overall, despite a few race videos that seemed to be amusing, the general consensus of the video was that car TikTok isn’t a great place to be. While there’s no doubt there will be plenty of people that love the videos featured, they clearly weren’t to this YouTubers taste.