Skybound and Image Comics have revealed interior pages and the lineup of variant covers for Ghost Pepper #12, from creator/writer/artist/letterer Ludo Lullabi and colorist Adriano Lucas. The epic conclusion to this celebrated arc will arrive in comic book shops on June 10, 2026.
Ash’s true nature is revealed for all to see! But what does this mean for the fate of the planet?
In addition to the main cover by Ludo Lullabi, the lineup of variant covers for Ghost Pepper #12 also includes an open-to-order cover by Hicham Habchi, the final installment in the 1:10 incentive variant cover series by Frédéric Pham Chuong, a 1:25 incentive variant cover by Balám, and a 1:50 incentive variant cover by Jay Anacleto and Romulo Fajardo Jr.
The full list of covers is below:
Ghost Pepper #12 Cover A by Ludo Lullabi (Lunar Code: 0426IM0376)
Ghost Pepper #12 Cover B by Hicham Habchi (Lunar Code: 0426IM0377)
Ghost Pepper #12 Cover C (1:10 Incentive) by Frédéric Pham Chuong (Lunar Code: 0426IM0378)
Ghost Pepper #12 Cover D (1:25 Incentive) by Balám (Lunar Code: 0426IM0379)
Ghost Pepper #12 Cover E (1:50 Incentive) by Jay Anacleto & Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Lunar Code: 0426IM0380)
Welcome to our revamped “Crowdfunding Corner” rounding up some of the latest crowdfunding news. We’re going beyond just announcement projects, we’ll be tracking to make sure these projects get delivered as well as what we think the “risk” of backing them are.
We’ll be updating the format as we get a better handle of the needs of this sort of coverage, so stay tuned and check out the first round of projects!
GODZILLA x KONG: The Art of Monsterverse Comics
Publisher: Legendary Comics Creative Team: Various Launch Date: Currently Funding – ends June 12 2026 3:02 PM EDT Risk: Low – Legendary and Rocketship have run numerous previous successful crowdfunding campaigns
GODZILLA x KONG: The Art of Monsterverse Comics, a premium 240-page hardcover art book celebrates 12 years of Legendary’s Monsterverse comics and graphic novels.
This oversized collector’s volume (9.3″ x 12.2″) brings together breathtaking artwork from across the Titan-filled universe—featuring Godzilla, Kong, and the full roster of legendary creatures.
Inside, fans will discover stunning pieces from acclaimed artists including Arthur Adams, Zid, Drew Johnson, Christian Ward, and many more as well as an all-new original cover by fan-favorite Godzilla artist EJ Su, created exclusively for this release.
This campaign offers features and collectibles designed specifically for dedicated fans and collectors:
Hardcover edition with exclusive spot UV and foil finishes
A deluxe boxed edition available only through Kickstarter
Limited-edition collectibles and premium add-ons
A special edition case with a numbered signature card signed by Alan Quah and Zid
An archival giclée print collection (3 prints) featuring artwork by Christopher Shy, Zid, and Arthur Adams, printed on museum-quality cotton paper with certificate of authenticity
A 14-karat gold-plated Godzilla and Kong pin set
All digital rewards included
A PDF version of the full art book
An exclusive Monsterverse wallpaper
That One Matt Bors Comic
Publisher: N/A Creative Team: Matt Bors, Ryan North, Anna Merlan, Brian “Box” Brown, Ryan Broderick, Gemma Correll, Laura Hudson, K.C. Green, Kathryn Hemmann, Mattie Lubchansky, James Kochalka, Shay Mirk, Parker Molloy, Greg Pak, Ben Passmore, Tom Tomorrow, and more. Launch Date: Currently Funding – ends June 11 2026 3:00 PM EDT Risk: Low – Previous successful crowdfunding campaigns have been run and delivered
In September 2016, Matt Bors drew a four-panel cartoon that he had no idea would quickly become “that one Matt Bors comic.” You’ve probably seen it in some form—and only the final panel. A smirking guy, Mister Gotcha, is improbably perched in a well, while a peasant in the form of a centuries-ago serf carrying a bundle of sticks says, “We should improve society somewhat.” Mr. Gotcha replies, “Yet you participate in society. Curious. I am very intelligent.”
Well, we’re doing an entire book about this panel and its implications, titled, appropriately, That One Matt Bors Comic. It won’t be page after page of the panel—we’re not that post-modern. Instead, the book features new essays and fresh cartoons by people who think about memes, society, cultural conflicts, economics, and politics. It also includes an interview with Matt (the cartoonist and collaborator), conducted by me, Glenn Fleishman (editor and publisher), about the strip’s creation, its memeification, Matt’s ambivalence about its interpretation, and how people use the strip to promote the opposite of its intent.
We also look back at The Nib, Matt’s groundbreaking comics journal that temporarily created a new market, and new visibility, for dozens of cartoonists, comics writers, and comics journalists. Nib designer Mark Kaufman will be our design consultant. (See “Who’s Making This Book” for more about Matt, Glenn, and Mark.)
The strip identifies a rhetorical move that serves neoliberal ends: redirecting structural critique into questions of individual consistency. This strategy delegitimizes even modest calls for improvement. In other words, this one jerk deflates any effort at improvement by making a specious argument that nothing is possible if we engage in a system.
Matt struck a chord, and many remixes ensued, substituting other faces, slightly changed dialog, or even entirely redrawn versions or riffs. “We should improve society somewhat” became a shorthand used in essays and on social media.
One of the few to be trained in the ways of the Jedi after the fall of the Republic, Ezra Bridger grew up an orphan on the streets of Lothal during the reign of the Empire. Although he had learned to be wary of strangers, his introduction to the Ghost crew – a small band of rebels fighting back against the Imperial regime – forever changed his outlook and his destiny. Training in the ways of the Force under the mentorship of Kanan Jarrus, Ezra became a Jedi Padawan and a pivotal part of the emerging rebellion.
The Ezra Bridger 1/6 Scale Collectible Figure by Hot Toys features a newly developed headsculpt equipped with separate rolling eyeballs (to adjust the character’s gaze) and sculpted hair, perfectly capturing the likeness of this resourceful and altruistic character. The figure also includes an interchangeable helmeted head, complete with weathering effects.
Ezra Bridger’s costume is expertly recreated, featuring a tailored jacket with chest plate, paired with brown trousers. Additional details include his wrist communicator, a microfiber belt with a blaster holster and Lightsaber holder, shin guards, and shoes. Collectors can also display the helmet as a separate accessory.
Ezra is also equipped with a blaster pistol, a LED-lighted Lightsaber hilt, a standard hilt, and multiple blade effects. the figure also includes a jetpack and back plate, which can be magnetically attached, along with two translucent orange flame exhaust effects. An array of interchangeable hands enables dynamic poses, enhancing the overall display potential.
Discover the gripping, emotional, and magical tales in the pages of these series from manga publisher Kana! Follow the coming-of-age story of two school kids who find love and acceptance despite their trauma in Scars. Embark on a journey across a post-apocalyptic frozen landscape in the folklore-inspired series Silence. Jump into the action-packed boxing drama of two brothers who discover a mysterious, supernatural power in Space Punch. This bundle includes the complete volumes of all three series in digital form, so grab it now at the price of your choosing and support BINC with your purchase!
DC has announcedNext Level: One Shot #1, a brand‑new 48‑page DC All In special from writer Gerry Duggan, artist Fernando Blanco, and letterer Buddy Beaudoin, spotlighting the one and only Deadshot in a high‑stakes mission that pushes DC Next Level toward its explosive future.
In Next Level: One Shot, DC’s deadliest assassin goes to the Next Level and uncovers a conspiracy that will change everything. Duggan and Blanco tell the tale of a job gone sideways, a father and his daughter, and a web of super-powered lies that stretches throughout the entire DC Next Level cast of characters…and points in the direction of war on the horizon. This epic issue tells you everything you need to know about what’s next for Next Level…if you survive the experience.
Next Level: One Shot #1 is written by Gerry Duggan, with art and a main cover by Fernando Blanco. Variant covers are provided by Mark Spears, Jorge Corona, and Carmine Di Giandomenico, with a 1:25 variant cover by Mario Foccillo and a foil variant by Mark Spears. Next Level: One Shot #1 is priced at $5.99 US for 48 pages, with card stock variants at $6.99 US, and will be available on August 19, 2026.
The forecast calls for…goblins?! Wizards of the Coast has announced Secret Lair Commander Deck: Goblin Storm, a new Commander Deck featuring eccentric strategies and incredible art by Wizard of Barge, available exclusively on Secret Lair starting May 18.
Designed by Magic: The Gathering’s Carmen Klomparens and Eli Rice, this deck delivers aggressive, fast-paced Goblin attacks alongside the patience and control of the Storm mechanic, creating a truly unique play experience. Paired with the playful, distinctive style of Wizard of Barge, which depicts the Goblins of Magic as silly, loveable little gobbos, this 100-card Commander Deck is unlike any other. It includes 12 borderless foil cards with brand-new art for cards including Zada, Hedron Grinder; Krenko, Mob Boss; Broadside Bombadiers; Grapeshot; Roaming Throne; and more. Plus, 22 brand-new borderless basic Mountains in Wizard of Barge’s signature style!
It all comes in a special deck box, accompanied by everything you need to take over the table: Foil Goblin tokens, a Storm Count tracker with new Wizard of Barge art, a sweet storage box to keep your new storm contained, and more.
The Goblin Storm Commander Deckwill include:
1x Ready-to-play 100-card Commander deck
12x Foil borderless cards featuring new artwork
22x Foil borderless Mountains featuring new artwork
Are you prepared for the incoming storm? You can view the full decklist on DailyMTG. The forecast is clear: Secret Lair Commander Deck: Goblin Storm hits the Secret Lair storefront on May 18 at 9:00 AM Pacific Time for $149.99 while supplies last.
Museum of the Moving Image and Crunchyroll together are celebrating the 10th edition of the Crunchyroll Anime Awards, with a gallery screening program on view from May 15–October 12, and a free live watch party of the 2026 Anime Awards in the Museum’s grand Redstone Theater on Saturday, May 23.
This screening program, titled Anime’s Ascendant Decade, presented in the Museum’s Jane Henson Amphitheater, will feature full episodes from Crunchyroll Anime Awards–nominated and -winning series spanning 2017 to the present.. Each episode will play on continuous loop in the gallery for a two-week period. The selected episodes (to be announced on the Museum’s website) reflect the range of contemporary anime: intimate character drama, fantasy, action, romance, science fiction, and inventive storytelling. Together, they offer a snapshot of anime’s growing global reach and cultural influence and impact.
Also in the Jane Henson Amphitheater, the Museum will present a mural-size artwork by Japanese manga artist Acky Bright.
The Crunchyroll Anime Awards is the leading annual awards program honoring the creators, musicians, and performances powering the global love of anime, will take place in Tokyo on Saturday, May 23 and be livestreamed worldwide. In conjunction with the ceremony the Museum will host a free live watch party for New York audiences, bringing anime’s biggest night to the big screen in the Museum’s Redstone Theater.
The pre-show begins at 4:00 a.m. (New York time), followed by the main event at 5:00a.m. Doors will open by 3:00 a.m., for fans to view the gallery program, enjoy refreshments, and take photos in cosplay before the livestream begins. The event will be free and open to the public, with MoMI and Crunchyroll members offered priority RSVP access to the event. Other details will soon be announced.
Crunchyroll is turning a new page in collaboration with Kodansha USA Publishing by bringing some of the most iconic manga franchises to Crunchyroll Manga. This marks a major step in Crunchyroll’s commitment to anime fans around the world as the ultimate destination for anime and manga fandom.
Starting on May 18, the Kodansha titles joining the Crunchyroll Manga catalog will include Attack on Titan, Fire Force, Tokyo Revengers, Your Lie in April, The Seven Deadly Sins, BAKEMONOGATARI, Chihayafuru, with more Kodansha titles to follow. These landmark series, many of which have defined anime, demonstrate Crunchyroll’s growing investment in premium entertainment.
Crunchyroll and Crunchyroll Manga reflect a seamless experience where fans can toggle from page to series with ease in a unified platform where discovery, storytelling, and fandom connect. Kodansha builds on Crunchyroll Manga’s growing roster of premier publishing partners, including AlphaPolis, COMPASS, MobileBook.jp, Shueisha, Square Enix, Titan Manga, VIZ Media, and Yen Press. Together, they reinforce Crunchyroll Manga as a single, seamless destination to fall in love with manga.
See the complete list of titles from Kodansha coming to Crunchyroll Manga on May 18:
Attack on Titan
Attack on Titan: Before the Fall
BAKEMONOGATARI
Beck
Chihayafuru
DAYS
Domestic Girlfriend
Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro
Fire Force
Kiss Him, Not Me
My Boss’s Kitten
Nodame Cantabile
Parasyte
Peach Girl
Say I Love You.
School Rumble
The Fable
The Seven Deadly Sins
Tokyo Revengers
Tsuredure Children
Vampire Dormitory
Watari-kun’s ****** Is About to Collapse
Your Lie in April
Featured titles from Kodansha:
Attack on Titan (created by Hajime Isayama) – A century ago, the grotesque giants known as Titans appeared and consumed all but a few thousand humans. The survivors took refuge behind giant walls. Today, the threat of the Titans is a distant memory, and a boy named Eren yearns to explore the world beyond Wall Maria. But what began as a childish dream will become an all-too-real nightmare when the Titans return and humanity is once again on the brink of extinction…
Fire Force (created by Atsushi Ohkubo)– The city of Tokyo is plagued by a deadly phenomenon: spontaneous human combustion! Luckily, a special team is there to quench the inferno: The Fire Force! The fire soldiers at Special Fire Cathedral 8 are about to get a unique addition. Enter Shinra, a boy who possesses the power to run at the speed of a rocket, leaving behind the famous “devil’s footprints” (and destroying his shoes in the process). Can Shinra and his colleagues discover the source of this strange epidemic before the city burns to ashes?
Tokyo Revengers (created by Ken Wakui) – Watching the news, Takemichi Hanagaki learns that his girlfriend from way back in middle school, Hinata Tachibana, has died. The only girlfriend he ever had was just killed by a villainous group known as the Tokyo Manji Gang. He lives in a crappy apartment with thin walls, and his six-years-younger boss treats him like an idiot. Plus, he’s a complete and total virgin… At the height of his rock-bottom life, he suddenly time-leaps 12 years back to his middle school days!! To save Hinata, and change the life he spent running away, hopeless part-timer Takemichi must aim for the top of Kanto’s most sinister delinquent gang!!
Parasyte (created by Hitoshi Iwaaki) – They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade—and take control of—a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret—except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?
The Seven Deadly Sins (created by Nakaba Suzuki) – When they were accused of trying to overthrow the monarchy, the feared warriors the Seven Deadly Sins were sent into exile. Princess Elizabeth discovers the truth—the Sins were framed by the king’s guard, the Holy Knights—too late to prevent them from assassinating her father and seizing the throne! Now the princess is on the run, seeking the Sins to help her reclaim the kingdom. But the first Sin she meets, Meliodas, is a little innkeeper with a talking pig. He doesn’t even have a real sword! Have the legends of the Sins’ strength been exaggerated…? Prepare to get swept away by an epic fantasy story and colorful cast of characters that will rewrite the history of manga as we know it!
Your Lie in April (created by Naoshi Arakawa) – Kosei Arima was a piano prodigy until his cruel taskmaster of a mother died suddenly, changing his life forever. Driven by his pain to abandon piano, Kosei now lives in a monotonous, colorless world. Having resigned himself to a bland life, he is surprised when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a violinist with an unorthodox style. Can she bring Kosei back to music, and back to life?
BAKEMONOGATARI (written by NISIOISIN and illustrated Oh!Great) – One day, high-school student Koyomi Araragi catches a girl named Hitagi Senjougahara when she trips. But-much to his surprise-she doesn’t weigh anything. At all. She says an encounter with a so-called “crab” took away all her weight… Monsters have been here since the beginning. Always. Everywhere.
Don’t Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro (created by Nanashi) – Nagatoro is a freshman in high school who loves teasing and torturing her older male classmate! What’s her motivation and why does Senpai put up with her? Does Nagatoro just want to create misery for Senpai? Or maybe she secretly likes him?
Chihayafuru (created by Yuki Suetsugu) – Chihaya is a girl in the sixth grade, still not old enough to even know the meaning of the word zeal. But one day, she meets Arata, a transfer student from rural Fukui prefecture. Though docile and quiet, he has an unexpected skill: his ability to play competitive karuta, a traditional Japanese card game. Chihaya is struck by his obsession with the game, along with his ability to pick out the right card and swipe it away before any of his opponents. However, Arata is transfixed by her as well, all because of her unbelievable natural talent for the game.
Additionally, a new title from Shueisha, Dricam!!, created by You Chiba, will also be added to Crunchyroll Manga on May 18.
Hasbro is teaming up with Amazon to host the BEYBLADE X Grand Prix, a series of tournaments across North America, with support from ADK Emotions NY Inc. and T-Licensing Inc. The competition kicks off with qualifiers in Canada on July 25 and culminates in the Canada Grand Prix on August 29 and U.S. Grand Prix on September 5. Top Bladers from these events will earn the opportunity to advance to the BEYBLADE X Grand Prix Final in Bangkok.
Tournament
Region
Tournament Date
Location
Qualifier
CAN
July 25
Toronto, Ontario
Vaughan Mills
Qualifier
U.S.
August 1
East Rutherford, NJ
American Dream
Qualifier
U.S.
Date TBA
Florida
Location TBA
Qualifier
U.S.
August 15
Dallas, TX
Galleria Dallas
Qualifier
U.S.
Date TBA
Orange County, CA
Location TBA
CAN Qualifier & Grand Prix
CAN
August 29
West Edmonton, Alberta
West Edmonton Mall
U.S. Qualifier & Grand Prix
U.S.
September 5
Minneapolis, MN
Mall of America Rotunda
At each stop, participants can enjoy free play throughout the event, with on-site registration and competition split into dedicated sessions for ages 8–12 and ages 13+. Ages 8–12 compete in morning sessions, followed by afternoon sessions for ages 13+, with awards presented at the conclusion of each bracket. All times are local, and additional details, including official tournament rules and participating locations, can be found at Beyblade.com and will be updated periodically.
Bladers will battle using Hasbro’s BEYBLADE X tops, putting their customization and strategy skills to the test as they compete their way through the tournament. The all-new BEYBLADE X SNEAK ATTACK BATTLE SET features a pop-up rail that creates high-speed Xtreme Dash action and explosive collisions, perfect for sharpening skills before battle. Also available for pre-order, the BEYBLADE X ROCKET GRIFFON H UX INFINITY STARTER PACK SET and BEYBLADE X LEFT SPIN STRING and LAUNCHER SET will launch July 15, 2026. Fans can visit the BEYBLADE X store on Amazon.com for the latest tops and stadium releases.
Kodansha is collaborating with Concacaf, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, to officially “kick off” Blue Lock: Diamonds in the Rough, a nationwide online competition inviting fans and soccer players across the U.S. to show off their style, creativity, and ego. This mindset defines Blue Lock, Kodansha’s global-hit soccer-centric elimination-game saga by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura.
Inspired by Blue Lock, the campaign brings the high-stakes world of the series off the page and onto the pitch. By bridging professional soccer and global manga, Kodansha and Concacaf are creating a space where two of the world’s most passionate fandoms can collide in a new way.
Starting May 27, fans ages 13+ can submit soccer-inspired videos and photos through the Blue Lock: Diamonds in the Rough website for a chance to be crowned the Ultimate Striker. To enter, participants post their content on social media using #bluelockdiamonds and complete their submission at www.bluelockdiamonds.com.
Fan voting on the website will determine which submissions advance to the semi-final round. The final winners will then be selected by a panel of judges. Winners will be announced live at Comic-Con in San Diego.
Beyond the Ultimate Striker Grand Prize, fans can compete across five additional categories—Just Like Blue Lock, Best Use of Manga, Best Fan Energy, Best Cosplay (Group), and Best Cosplay (Individual)—with exclusive Blue Lock prizes and collectibles up for grabs across the board. Weekly raffle prizes will also be awarded to registered Kodansha Reader Portal users throughout the campaign.
The collaboration will also extend into collectible products, retail experiences, and live activations tied to the world of Blue Lock. Fans can visit select comic shops, bookstores, and Kinokuniya locations across the U.S. that will feature custom in-store installations, photo opportunities, and bonus gifts with purchase.
Striker’s Collection, a limited-edition BLUE LOCK × Concacaf project launching on Kickstarter, will feature officially licensed collector pieces inspired by the intensity of the game and bold “ego” energy.
The campaign will culminate and come alive with the Blue Lock: Diamonds in the Rough Experience at Kodansha House, to be held in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, from July 2–12, where fans can step into the world of Blue Lock and have the chance to meet the creators at Kodansha House and Anime Expo at the LA Convention Center from July 2–5.
