Something For The Weekend: Your Regular Round-Up Of Comic Book News, Reviews And Announcements

In another week of comic book news dominated by the effects of coronavirus on comic book companies, retailers and creators there was really no escaping it as all comic book websites sought to keep you all informed, while also offering up a few positive stories too and the last few reviews of comics from mainstream publishers before they shut there doors.
One again we offer your pick of the more popular stories, reviews and entertainment news to help you try and relax on this Saturday afternoon. There’s plenty here that’ll keep you busy, but not too busy, we hope, that you won’t pop in again at 5pm (ET) for today’s ‘Shooting the Breeze’ interview with AHOY Comics Editor-in-Chief Tom Peyer (The Wrong Earth, Dragonfly And Dragonflyman).

Stay safer and stay indoors.

1. Here in the UK because 2000 AD and other weekly comics are sold in non specials comic book stores, Rebellion carried on delivering and delivering they did in more ways than one with the big reveal that ex-Chief Judge Hershey was back from the dead. Our regular Rebellion correspondent, Richard Bruton gave you the details just hours ahead of the new issue hitting the stands. Read all about it here, including a preview of this thrill-shocking Prog.
2. Sadly with no new comics this week there was no chance for readers to pick up Kieron Gillen, Jim Rossignol and Jeff Stokley’s odd-bod bonanza, The Ludocrats #1 from Image Comics, but you did seem to like our advance review that you can read here.
3. Keeping with reviews, popular ones this past week included Judge Dredd: False Witness #1 from IDW, X-O Manowar #1 from Valiant Entertainment and Batman Beyond #42 from DC Comics.
4. While mainstream comics all but dried up this week, our promise to take this opportunity to shine a spotlight on many independent creators, publishers and titles seems to have landed well with you, our readers. Comics people seemed to dig that we featured this week were Quince, a 15 issue collection from Fanbase Press, The Toking Dead #1 from The Still Toking Comics and American Dreams #1 from Alignment Comics, all offering up very different subject matter indeed.
5. The return of Rick and Morty on May 3rd was one of a few popular announcements this week, as you’d expect. Why not check out the trailer here, as reported by our animation expert, Tito W James?
6. Sticking with animation for a moment and we featured a very hot Kickstarter from Iron Circus Comics publisher Spike Trotman, cartoonist Tracy Butler, and animator and director Fable Siegel: a cartoon adaptation based on Butler’s Eisner-Award nominated Depression-era anthropomorphic animal webcomic, Lackadaisy. Check out the details here.
7. With more and more of us self-isolating or respecting the government requests to stay at home and stay safe, announcements for entertainment we could do in the comfort of our own homes were must-reads this week with Disney promising gamers a reimagining of popular House of Mouse and Pixar characters in their mobile RPG Disney Mirrorverse.
8. Disney must be doing something right, as the news of a new characters coming to Marvel Contest of Champions was also met with some cheer when announced by Gary Catig earlier this week too.
9. There were other ways to get more involved with creators this week too, with Will Sliney’s online daily YouTube tutorials looking like a load of fun and Mark Millar’s Flash Gordon watch-party also hitting with older readers. Especially with Sam Jones getting in on the action too. Great fun.
10. Last but not least, regular contributors Tony Thornley and Brendan M Allen got together to chat about great comic books you may want to reread or get to know for the first time in our new feature New To You Comics. We hope you caught their discussion about Dark Horse’s Negative Space trade? If not, have a look now, and do keep an eye out for their deep dive into Joss Whedon and John Cassaday’s X-Men run in just a few days time. Right here on comicon.com.

Honourable mentions should also go to this comic book publishers who tried to offer a glimmer of hope with their charitable initiatives to help keep retailers in business. The likes of AHOY Comics, Vault Comics, Black Mask Studios and so many others all tried to rally troops and for that we salute you all!