For episode 7 of The Ashcan Edition, host Brant Lewis interviews award-winning writer-artist Ngozi Ukazu about her recent work in the Fourth World of DC comics with the graphic novel Barda and her recently announced follow-up Orion. So get ready to learn more about what interests her about Jack Kirby’s work, why more people need to get on the Orion fan train, and how love can save the day.
You can follow Ngozi on social media @ngoziu. You can also follow Brant Lewis on Bluesky @brantlewis.
Music is Win This Battle Win This War by Everet Almond.
The New Gods #1 is an epic first chapter in the ongoing saga of some of the DC Universe’s most powerful beings from Ram V, Evan Cagle, and Francesco Segala. The Jorge Fornes-drawn opening is pure Jack Kirby: florid prose, krackling stars, and of course, “The Old Gods died”. However, this comic isn’t a nostalgia trip, but creates a new conflict for the residents of the New Genesis in light of Darkseid’s passing in the DC All In Special. (You don’t need to read that comic to understand what’s going on here though.) There’s a new New God on the horizon to balance the scales between dark and light, but this also threatens Highfather’s domain so its coming isn’t necessarily seen as a positive. Caught in between are key players like Orion, Mister Miracle, Metron, and a napping Big Barda. (Being a mom and a Bird of Prey is hard work.) V and Cagle give these powerful beings humanistic traits in both their dialogue and mannerisms while not shying away from the universe-spanning scope of the book.
Seriously, if you’re a fan of anything cosmic, then New Gods #1 is the book for you. Fornes plays the previously mentioned overture, then Evan Cagle leads off his portion of the interior art with a Jonathan Hickman-meets-Leonardo Da Vinci’s journals data page, and it’s off to races. Cagle and Segala never lose sight of storytelling fundamentals like character acting and panel transitions while depicting the glittering spires of New Genesis, the corridors of a Parademon-controlled corporate mining planet warehouse, or the puke-stained couch at the Free residence. Tom Napolitano’s lettering also accentuates key moments in the comic like a static-ringed bubble when Highfather interrupts Orion’s ass kicking with a dark message. Evan Cagle’s visuals match the flow of Ram V’s dialogue. His linework is more fluid when Scott Free and Orion are shooting the breeze and more rigid when Metron is warning Highfather of an upcoming prophecy. Also, Doom-Crow being Highfather’s name for Metron is like something straight out of Tolkien, but V writes sassier dialogue than the Oxford don.
Hear me out, but at times, New Gods #1 feels like a modernization of a long lost Stan Lee and Jack Kirby collaboration. The Kirby side is Cagle’s cool sci-fi visuals mixed with craggy faces for characters like Highfather and Orion (In one panel.) plus any time V’s writing feels like cracking open the Hebrew Bible. The Lee side is Free’s insecurity about being a father, Orion debating between duty and morality, or even Lightray and Fastbak flying through New Genesis and vying for Allfather’s favor like a B-list hero trying to make the Avengers or a young Spider-Man trying to join the Fantastic Four. New Gods #1 combines timeless archetypes and relatable neuroses to make an enjoyable not unlike those classic Silver Age Marvel Comics. Thankfully, Ram V uses a lot less narrative captions than Stan Lee and lets Evan Cagle’s layouts sing.
New Gods #1 checks all the boxes for a great first issue. It has an aesthetically memorable opening scene, a cast of characters that are easy to latch onto and introduced in a way that flows with the plot, and moral dilemma that also acts as a series hook. Plus it ends on a splash page that is Kirby-meets-Akira Toriyama. Even if the last time you cared about the New Gods was their appearances in Grant Morrison’s JLA or in the DC Animated Universe, this is still worth picking up and immersing yourself in this messy, mythic world.
Story: Ram V Art: Jorge Fornes, Evan Cagle Colors: Francesco Segala Letters: Tom Napolitano Story: 9.0 Art: 9.2 Overall: 9.1 Recommendation: Buy
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
In 2025, fans will be able to collect new printings of some of the most influential comic book stories ever told: Fantastic Four #1-12 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and X-Men #131-142 by Chris Claremont and John Byrne.
Timed to the release of Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated The Fantastic Four: First Steps film, in theaters on July 25, these Facsimile Editions of the first 12 issues of Fantastic Four give readers a chance to experience the book that started it all! And X-Men #131-142 covers two essential X-Men milestones: The Dark Phoenix Saga and Days of Future Past! These all-time great Marvel Comic books will be boldly re-presented in its original form, ads and all. The Fantastic Four Facsimile Editions will also be available with stunning Foil Variant Covers.
It all begins in January with Fantastic Four #1 Facsimile Edition and X-MEN #131 Facsimile Edition.
In Fantastic Four #1, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby changed super-hero storytelling forever when they introduced Reed Richards, Ben Grimm and Susan and Johnny Storm. Together, the adventurous quartet blast off on an experimental rocket flight – only to be bombarded by life-altering cosmic rays! Reed becomes the elastic Mister Fantastic! Ben transforms into the rocky Thing! Sue turns into an Invisible Girl! And Johnny flames on as the Human Torch! They’ll use their incredible powers to help humankind – starting by fending off the menace of the Mole Man! It’s the next best thing to buying Fantastic Four #1 off the stands back in 1961!
In X-Men #131, Kitty Pryde meets more of the X-Men in a vital chapter of the Dark Phoenix Saga! When Cyclops, Phoenix, Nightcrawler and the mutant pop star Dazzler save a young girl as she flees her pursuers from the Hellfire Club, little do they know she’s destined to become one of the most iconic X-Men of all! But with Storm, Colossus and Wolverine still prisoners of the White Queen, the young Kitty Pryde must lead her new allies back into the lion’s den to come to their rescue. Can Emma Frost withstand a psychic battle with an increasingly ruthless Jean Grey? And will Dazzler accept an offer to join the X-Men? Following the Dark Phoenix Saga, next year’s X-Men Facsimile Editions will also cover another pivotal X-Men saga: Days of Future Past!
Preorder these upcoming Facsimile Editions at your local comic shop today!
Dark Horse Books presents Madman Omnibus Editions, new paperback editions collecting Mike Allred’s homage to superhero fiction, metaphysical philosophy, 1950s sci-fi films, pop music, and more. From Madman’s first appearance through his mysterious origins to his adventures throughout time, space, and pop-art absurdity, follow Frank Einstein’s superhero alter ego Madman as he adventures through Snap City and encounters many zany and timeless characters and villains in this true humorous and heartfelt comic book classic!
Madman Omnibus Volume 1 will be available in stores on June 24, 2024 and will include stories written and illustrated by Allred with colors by Laura Allred and Han Allred. It also collects Madman’s adventures from 1990 to 1996, reprinting “For the Record,” Madman (original series) 1–3, Madman Adventures 1–3, and Madman Comics 1–10, Mike Allred’s never-before-published first foray into comics called THEY!, and featuring bonus pinups and art by some of comics’ greatest talent like Frank Miller, Jack Kirby, Moebius, Frank Frazetta, Emily Carroll, and more!
Madman Omnibus Volume 1(6.625” x 10.1875”, 680 pages) will be available in bookstores June 24, 2025 and comic shops on June 25, 2025. It is now available for preorder at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Things From Another World, and your local comic shop and bookstore for $49.99.
It’s one of two new comic book days! What are you all excited for? What do you plan on getting? Sound off in the comments below! While you think about that, here’s some comic news from around the web to start the day.
Having just launched in 2023, publisher Erasmus Fox (EFI) is pleased to announce a wide-ranging licensed publishing deal with Marvel featuring a variety of products including 3D-enhanced comic books, unique gallery-quality art portfolios, art books, and brand-new prose novels to be distributed to retailers through Lunar and Diamond via Pan Universal Galactic Worldwide (PUG) .
Starting this June, the first product will be a line of collectors-edition reprints of groundbreaking comic issues from the Marvel archives presented in PUG Worldwide”s spectacular Pan-Dimensional 3D. The first title in the line will be New Mutants #98Pan-Dimensional 3DEdition, reprinting and digitally enhancing the first appearance of Deadpool by the senses-shattering creative team of Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza. The book will be available in all its 3D glory in comic shops starting in June 2024.
Each Pan-Dimensional 3D Edition will include the complete full-color issue digitally enhanced in red/blue 3D and will be polybagged with custom Pan-Dimensional 3D Glasses that match each title.
The next Pan-Dimensional 3D Editions will be Deadpool (1997) #1 by the legendary team of Joe Kelly and Ed McGuinness reprinting Wade Wilson”s first ongoing series, followed by X-Men #1 by Jim Lee and Chris Claremont, reprinting the best-selling comic of all time in 3D for the first time ever—with the epoch-defining gatefold cover (plus the original second giant fold-out Jim Lee image on the other side of the cover too!).
Subsequent Pan-Dimensional 3D Editions will include Black Panther #1 by the King himself, Jack Kirby; Incredible Hulk #340 (the battle between Gray Hulk and Wolverine) by Todd McFarlane and Peter David, with more to come!
Future projects between Marvel and PUG Worldwide—including prose novels and art books—to be announced at a later date!
Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing. Disclosure: Graphic Policy’s founder Brett is a member of the Zoop team.
If you’re a fan of comics, then you no doubt know that the godfather of modern comic books is none other than “The King”, Jack Kirby. The co-creator of the Marvel Universe, including such mainstays as Captain America, Fantastic Four, X-Men,, The Hulk, Iron Man, The Avengers and many others, Kirby has firmly established himself on the Mount Rushmore of comic book creators. Fans have always clamored for more of Kirby’s work, and now with the work of Jack Kirby coming to crowdfunding for a historic first time, those fans can get their hands on the collected edition of Sky Masters of the Space Force – The Complete Sunday Strips in Color! The crowdfunding campaign for the book has launched on Zoop.
Sky Masters of the Space Force Sunday comics from 1959-1960 features art and story by Jack Kirby with masterful inking by Wallace Wood, Dick Ayers, and Kirby himself.
And you may be asking yourself, how can new work from Jack Kirby be coming out? Well, that’s all thanks to Tom Kraft and Rand Hoppe, President and Director respectively of The Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center. They have teamed with book designer Ferran Delgado to re-print his Eisner Award nominated book in an expanded deluxe edition! The book compiles the long out of print color Sunday strips of Sky Masters from the 1950s.
Every strip has undergone meticulous remastering back to its vibrant, full-color brilliance thanks to the work of designer/producer Ferran Delgado. But that’s not all – discover an array of never-before-seen visionary scrapbook panels, articles by renowned experts, and examples of stunning original art, among other surprises added by the Jack Kirby Museum & Research Center for this special brand new edition.
In 2024, Marvel is bringing back Giant-Size comics—more monumental and earth-shaking than ever before! Honoring the 50th anniversary of the epic Giant-Size storytelling of 1970s, these new Giant-Size issues will be home to pivotal status quo shifts, exciting first appearances, and dramatic developments! Writer Fabian Nicieza and acclaimed artist Creees Lee continue the Giant-Size milestone celebration in February with Giant-Size Fantastic Four #1.
Giant-Size Fantastic Four #1 will pack startling revelations about the past and set up an wildly uncertain future as the Fantastic Four discover a hidden secret about Atlantis in the form of NATLUS! Awakened after thousands of years, be there when this ancient ruler re-stakes his claim on the throne of Atlantis!
IMPERIUS REX! Namor is imprisoned, serving out his sentence as the disgraced King of Atlantis! So when a new yet ancient threat arises from the sea, who better to leap into the fray than Marvel’s First Family: the FANTASTIC FOUR! Embark on a GIANT-SIZE deep dive into some of Atlantis’ most dangerous history…and the present that can scarcely hope to contain it!
Giant-Size Fantastic Four #1 will also include a reprinting of Fantastic Four #33, a classic issue from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby featuring betrayal, action and high drama – in the Atlantean style! Get your first look at Natlus on Bryan Hitch’s cover below and stay tuned for more Giant-Size announcements in the months ahead!
In the early 90s, Steve Rogers transformed into Capwofl in writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Rik Levins’ unforgettable “Man and Wolf” story arc. Now over 30 years later, Capwolf is back in his own limited series, Capwolf & The Howling Commandos!
Written by Stephanie Phillips and drawn by Carlos Magno, this four-issue limited series will tell an all-new story where Steve becomes a terrifying werewolf during an early World War II mission. Luckily, his fiercest allies are by his side–Nick Fury and the Howling Commandos! After years of combat, this elite squad of soldiers thought they’ve seen it all but this might be their wildest adventure yet as the series captures the spirit of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s classic wartime storytelling with a modern mystical twist!
When Captain America is transformed into a werewolf on the front lines of World War II, he’ll need the help of the Howling Commandos to take down a band of Nazi cultists who intend to use supernatural forces to turn the tide of battle. But can Cap control the skeptical, jaded Commandos when he can barely control himself?
Check out an assortment of covers, including a Hidden Gem wraparound piece using Jack Kirby art of the original Howling Commandos and the issue two cover! And be there when the Marvel Universe hears Capwolf’s howl once again this October!
Disney+ recently launched a documentary focused on Stan Lee and as expected its contents are rather controversial. While history will debate the absolute truth, and may never really know it, the documentary embellishes history and puts Lee front and center in the creation of everything Marvel. Unsurprisingly, that hasn’t gone over well with quite a few people. Neal Kirby, the son of Jack Kirby put out a lengthy statement regarding the documentary. Now, The Kirby Estate has released an official statement you can read below.
The newest Stan Lee documentary is another example of regurgitating falsehoods and repeating long debunked ideas into the creation of these beloved Marvel characters. Jack and Stan were an amazing team, whose combined talents ushered in an entire universe of superheroes that have inspired generations. The Jack Kirby Estate has and will continue to ensure that comic book and pop culture fans understand the importance of Jack in the creation of the Marvel Universe. This continuation to push a challenged narrative, hurts the legacy of Stan Lee as well, and continues the disregard towards Jack in the creation of these iconic characters. It truly pains the family to once again have to fight the ensure Jack’s legacy and his global contribution to the comics industry. Jack Kirby was more than an artist, he was a visionary and creative force, whose contribution to the creation of many Marvel character goes way beyond putting pencil to paper. Stan Lee will rightfully be remembered as a champion of comic books, creative powerhouse and figurehead of one the world’s most cherished brands. It is now time for the world to discover the other creative forces behind their favorite superheroes. The Jack Kirby Estate invites you to learn more about Jack’s version how how these superheroes were created and his inspiration for doing so. Jack loved his fans and creating for them was not just a job, it was his passion. There are many resources that now add historical facts that are finally changing the one-sided narrative that has been pushed throughout the years. We look forward to one day having a documentary that tells both sides of this amazing story. Until that time, we’ll continue to ensure Jack’s legacy is protected and find solace in knowing that these co-creations continue to inspired and entertain people around the world.
