Tag Archives: aaron lopresti

A returning Michael LeRoi is pitted against current Shadowman Jack Boniface in a battle for the Deadside

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An icon from an acclaimed era of Valiant history returns to challenge for Shadowman’s throne this March in Tales of the Shadowman #7: Legacy of Leroi #1 by Alien Books and Valiant Comics. Spearheaded by the fan-favorite team of rising star AJ Ampadu and artist Sergio Monjes, this new story arc introduces a new version of Michael LeRoi, originally created by writer Garth Ennis and artist Ashley Wood, and best known for his starring role in the Shadowman video game series released by Acclaim in the 1990s.

The Valiant Beyond universe, a new-reader friendly iteration of the classic comics franchise, launched earlier this year and features short story-arcs allowing for readers to jump easily into the ongoing series every few months. Legacy of Leroi will kick off the third arc of Tales of the Shadowman this March and is designed to bring readers up to speed while rewarding long-time fans for their dedication.

Shadowman is stretched thin as the protector of New Orleans and the Deadside. Now, a pair of mambos come to him for help in recovering the remains of a loved one from the Blood Desert. This quest will shake Shadowman to his core as one of the most beloved characters from Valiant history makes their long-awaited return to comics in the first chapter of “Legacy of LeRoi!” AJ Ampadu and Sergio Monjes continue their ACCLAIMED run on Shadowman and you’re just in time to jump on board!

Valiant Beyond: Tales of the Shadowman #7: Legacy of Leroi #1 goes on sale April 1, 2026 and features covers by Aaron Lopresti and Federico Mele. 

Two New Zorro Mini-Series are Launching in 2026 from Alien Books

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Alien Books, building off the success of the Zorro Remastered crowdfunding campaign from earlier this year, has announced plans for two new comic book mini-series starring the iconic masked avenger Zorro. Zorro and Zorro’s Legacy will be produced in collaboration with the team at Zorro Productions, Inc. and sold into direct market comic shops next year through Alien’s sub-distribution partnership with IDW Publishing.

The first mini-series, titled Zorro, will launch in April 2026 from the team of comics legend Howard Chaykin and super star artist Jorge Fornés. The series will follow Don Diego de la Vega as the crime-fighting Avenger faces off against Napoleon Bonaparte forces in a showdown for the ages.

Zorro’s Legacy, launching in June 2026, pairs fan-favorite writer Dan Abnett and artist Aaron Lopresti as they break new ground for the franchise, exploring the adventures of a modern-day descendant of Zorro in Los Angeles and his quest to live up to his newly-discovered heroic roots in a grounded series perfect for fans of mature street-level stories.

Additional details and artwork for both Zorro and Zorro’s Legacy will be shared in the months to come.

Preview: Archie vs. The World (One-Shot)

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Archie vs. The World (One-Shot)

Script: Aubrey Sitterson
Art: Jed Dougherty
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Jed Dougherty
Variant Cover: Aaron Lopresti
On Sale Date: 1/25
32-page, full color comic, $3.99

In a post-apocalyptic future, our hero Archie Andrews is cursed to walk the world alone—well, alone with his souped-up jalopy. But Archie can defend himself—in fact, he’s the master of a brutal, deadly form of martial arts and must use his skills when he comes face-to-face with his rival and evil mirror image, Reggie. This action-packed one-shot is equal parts Mad Max: Fury Road and The Fist of the North Star, and reunites the “Jughead the Burgarian” team from the smash-hit comic THE BEST ARCHIE COMIC EVER!

Archie vs. The World (One-Shot)

Preview: Archie vs. The World (One-Shot)

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Archie vs. The World (One-Shot)

Script: Aubrey Sitterson
Art: Jed Dougherty
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Jed Dougherty
Variant Cover: Aaron Lopresti
On Sale Date: 1/25
32-page, full color comic, $3.99

In a post-apocalyptic future, our hero Archie Andrews is cursed to walk the world alone—well, alone with his souped-up jalopy. But Archie can defend himself—in fact, he’s the master of a brutal, deadly form of martial arts and must use his skills when he comes face-to-face with his rival and evil mirror image, Reggie. This action-packed one-shot is equal parts Mad Max: Fury Road and The Fist of the North Star, and reunites the “Jughead the Burgarian” team from the smash-hit comic THE BEST ARCHIE COMIC EVER!

Archie vs. The World (One-Shot)

Early Preview: Archie vs. The World

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Archie vs. The World

Script: Aubrey Sitterson
Art: Jed Dougherty
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Jed Dougherty
Variant Cover: Aaron Lopresti
Final Order Cutoff: 1/2
On Sale Date: 1/25
32-page, full color comic, $3.99

In a post-apocalyptic future, our hero Archie Andrews is cursed to walk the world alone—well, alone with his souped-up jalopy. But Archie can defend himself—in fact, he’s the master of a brutal, deadly form of martial arts and must use his skills when he comes face-to-face with his rival and evil mirror image, Reggie. This action-packed one-shot is equal parts Mad Max: Fury Road and The Fist of the North Star, and reunites the “Jughead the Burgarian” team from the smash-hit comic THE BEST ARCHIE COMIC EVER!

Archie vs. The World

Archie fights for survival in a post-apocalyptic new comic!

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Archie Comics looks into the future — and it’s not great! — in an all-new one-shot comic, Archie vs. The World, hitting store shelves in January! The blockbuster sci-fi special pits Archie and pals against a post-apocalyptic wasteland where only the strong survive, in a pedal-to-the-metal brawl that could only be told by writer Aubrey Sitterson and artist Jed Dougherty. Archie vs. The World will be the pair’s first solo title from Archie Comics.

Archie vs. The World sees Archie face off against Reggie in a brutal (and hilarious!) fight for control of a secret water source, prized for its rarity in the devastated future setting. The gang uses souped-up vehicles and weapons to eke out their existence, including a radically customized version of Archie’s classic broken down jalopy which will be familiar to longtime fans of the 80-year-old publisher. Each page-turn heightens the spectacle as more iconic Archie characters and concepts are introduced, including reimagined versions of Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Josie and the Pussycats.

Archie vs. The World, with colors by Matt Herms and lettering by Jack Morelli, releases January 18 in comic shops nationwide and is available for pre-order now. It will feature a cover by Jed Dougherty and an open-to-order variant cover by Aaron Lopresti.

Greg Pak returns to Sakaar in Planet Hulk: Worldbreaker!

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In 2006, writer Greg Pak along with artists Carlo Pagulayan and Aaron Lopresti crafted “Planet Hulk,” one of the most iconic stories to ever grace the pages of Incredible Hulk, and this November, Pak will return to this storyline in Planet Hulk: Worldbreaker! This five-issue limited series will take place a thousand years into the future and present a shocking expansion and culmination of the mythos of Sakaar. Pak will be joined by visionary Devil’s Reign artist Manuel Garcia.

Considered a modern Marvel masterpiece, “Planet Hulk” told the rousing story of Hulk’s time on the alien planet Sakaar after being exiled from Earth by the Illuminati. The epic story arc had a defining impact on Hulk that’s still felt today and went on to inspire spinoffs and media adaptations. Now, the saga continues…

A thousand years from now on the planet Sakaar, a young woman with green skin searches for the legendary Green Scar to help save her brother from a group of apocalyptic cultists. But which Hulk will she find? And after all these years, is he truly the Sakaarson, who will save us all — or the Worldbreaker, who will destroy us? 

Check out the cover by original “Planet Hulk” artist Carlo Pagulayan and return to Sakaar when Planet Hulk: Worldbreaker #1 arrives on November 30th.

The SHIELD by Rob Liefeld and David Gallaher has Sold Out at Diamond

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The star-spangled action-packed Archie Comics one-shot starring The Mighty Crusaders: The SHIELD has officially sold out at Diamond Comic Distributors.

The SHIELD, originally introduced in 1941’s Pep Comics #1, months ahead of Captain America’s debut, is the first superhero to feature elements of the American flag in its costume design. Various iterations of the character have appeared over the years under the Red Circle Comics imprint and the character’s costume even made an appearance in The CW’s Riverdale TV series.

The Mighty Crusaders: The SHIELD One-Shot is a high-octane adventure filled with intrigue and mystery. The issue is by artist Rob Liefeld, writer David Gallaher, and letterer Jack Morelli. You can read our review.

Review: The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield

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The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield

Archie Comics latest attempt at making the Mighty Crusaders characters work has brought Rob Liefeld into the fold to try and launch this into something that sticks around. If The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield is any indication of how it’ll fare, I doubt Rob or this attempt will be on long.

The original Shield is lost in time. There are others who have carried the name. The Shield that is leading the Mighty Crusaders is telling the rest of the team of another. The latest is a man with little memory but enough to know he’s a near-invincible hard-ass who can eat bullets like they are nothing and just smash some random people who bust in his house for an unknown reason. And that’s it!

The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield seems to come off as a story drawn out first and then they had to add some story pages and that’s probably being generous. Sadly, I think the visuals are pretty bland. It has the feel of a book of pin-up shots with a story being secondary. Liefeld does some good work explaining all the different people who were The Shield and there’s enough mystery with this current person who has taken up the mantle. I do think the art is decent and the coloring and lettering work well but Rob’s writing isn’t helping this much.

I’m not looking to take shots on someone in the industry but I just don’t feel like The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield is a great comic or really good use of Liefeld’s art. I do think The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield ends up recycling a lot of his poses and typical artistic foibles. Archie Comics just doesn’t stick to anything that’s not the Archie digests and I would not be surprised if this newest launch just disappears. I guess you can just enjoy The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield while it lasts but I doubt this is going to last long at all.

Story: Rob Liefeld Script: David Gallaher Art: Rob Liefeld Letterer: Jack Morelli
Story: 4.0 Art: 6.0 Overall: 5.0

Archie Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

Preview: The Mighty Crusaders: The Shield

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THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS: THE SHIELD (ONE SHOT)

Script: Rob Liefeld, David Gallaher
Art: Rob Liefeld, Jack Morelli
Cover: Rob Liefeld
Variant Covers: Francesco Francavilla, Aaron Lopresti, David Mack, Jerry Ordway, Rob Liefeld (Top Secret), Sketch Variant
On Sale Date: 6/30
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.

THE SHIELD IS BACK! America’s first patriotic superhero, The Shield, has persevered through countless challenges and always manages to come out on top! But what happens when forces beyond anyone’s control threaten The Shield’s legacy of fighting for truth and justice? Follow Joe Higgins as The Shield (and get ready for some surprises!) in this new one-shot comic featuring art by Rob Liefeld and a story by David Gallaher.

THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS: THE SHIELD
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