Tag Archives: jim rugg

An intergalactic revenge rampage unfolds in Myth of 8-Opus

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From fan-favorite creator Tom Scioli comes an all-new, intergalactic tale of revenge in the upcoming The Myth of 8-Opus. This ongoing series is set to launch in February 2027 from Image Comics.

The action-packed series premiere will also feature variant covers by Erik Larsen and Jim Rugg as well as a D’orc Team-up variant by Scioli himself.

For centuries, intergalactic peace was kept by the warrior known only as 8-Opus! Ten years ago, he disappeared and chaos reigned supreme. Buried in a techno-cosmic sarcophagus, within a crimson pyramid on a hellish grailworld, kept alive by a combination of science, sorcery, and spite, 8-Opus breaks free, vowing revenge on whoever put him there. If he’s going to survive, 8-Opus will have to fight a host of demi-gargoyles, old foes, and even the old friends who’ve abandoned him to his fate.

Part god, part man… trapped in a hellish world of maniacs and monsters, 8-Opus battles for justice in this one-of-kind story that readers won’t want to miss.

The Myth of 8-Opus will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, February 24.

Vintage comic-style illustration of a muscular orange robot wearing a green collar and belt against a teal background.
Retro comic-book cover showing a red-suited superhero with green armor and a sword battling robotic enemies, with the title “The Myth of 8000” above.
Illustrated comic-style cover titled “The Myth of 8-Opus,” featuring a fierce astronaut with an 8 symbol on his forehead surrounded by colorful abstract shapes.
Illustrated comic cover showing a vast volcanic pit with ladders, pyramids, flying dragons, a castle, and the title “The Myth of 8-Opus”
Comic-book page showing Egyptian-inspired figures, a futuristic machine, an explosion, and a character emerging from flames.
Vintage comic-book page showing a muscular cyborg emerging from rubble with speech bubbles and a lower panel featuring a mysterious calling card and scattered debris.
Vintage comic-book page showing an armored superhero facing illustrated opponents in multiple action panels.
Vintage comic-book page showing a red-suited superhero battling amid explosions, with floating character portraits and speech bubbles.
  • Cover A by Scioli
  • Cover B by Larsen
  • Cover C by Rugg
  • Cover D D’orc Team-Up variant by Scioli 

Wolverine: Weapon X joins the Marvel Age of Comics

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The Marvel Age of Comics is a series of concise, affordable, beautifully designed books that explore the history of over 85 years of Marvel Comics. Barry Windsor-Smith‘s Weapon X storyline and the legacy of Windsor-Smith is explored in Wolverine: Weapon X by Jim Rugg.

When Weapon X hit shelves in 1991 it was a product of a new era. More mature readers meant more mature content. Antiheroes and super hero characters with more ambiguous moral codes began to rise in popularity.

In Weapon X, Windsor-Smith pulled off the ultimate inversion of the male super hero fantasy. Helplessness.

He’s credited as the writer, penciller, inker, colorist, and co-letter of the storyline. Unhampered by continuity, he handled storytelling very differently than the standard Marvel house style approach, and Rugg pays close attention to his storytelling choices as well as his artwork, linework, and unusual drawing technique, which at times relied on color shapers without using ink lines.

Thirty-five years after its first publication, Windsor-Smith’s Weapon X is still celebrated. In 1991, it was ahead of tis time. Today its is timeless.

Jim Rugg’s Wolverine: Weapon X is out now.

The Superfan Podcast launches Season 2 with more Guests Talking about What They Love Besides Comics

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SuperFan Podcast Season 2

What fascinates, captivates, and influences the people who create comics and graphic novels? In Season Two of the Superfan Podcast co-hosts Kristen Simon (Executive Editor at Mad Cave Studios’ Nakama Press), Christian Gossett (Story Artist, Eyes of Wakanda, The Red Star), and Superfan Promotions founder David Hyde will talk with some of the biggest stars of the comic book industry to find out what they’re passionate about — outside of comics.

The Superfan Podcast season two debuted with a conversation about professional wrestling with Eisner and Ignatz Award winning cartoonist, designer, zinemaker, and illustrator Jim Rugg (True Crime Funnies, Hulk Grand Design). In the freewheeling, no-holds-barred episode, Rugg reflects on who has the best gimmick in wrestling, the appeal of heels and heroes, and the art of kayfabe.

Season Two of the Superfan Podcast features an all-star line-up of award-winning writers and artists, including Gender Queer cartoonist Maia Kobabe on the appeal of K-pop, #1 New York Times bestselling cartoonist Johnnie Christmas (Swim Team) on the mystery of Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass, Eisner Award-winning artist/designer Paul Pope (THB) on the glorious career of guitarist Rowland S Howard, Eisner Award-winning artist Erica Henderson (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl) on her love of Terry Pratchett’s seminal, satirical Discworld novels and acclaimed artist Elsa Charretier (Love Everlasting) on the many merits of game-based dog training. For each episode, the co-hosts also share a dessert recipe and a recommended cocktail and mocktail inspired by the conversation.

In the K-pop world…there’s people buying every single album a whole group has released, or maybe every single variant album a group has released, or they’re trying to collect every single photocard ever released of a specific member of a specific group…The collecting impulse is strong!

-Maia Kobabe

Listen to this week’s episode with Maia Kobabe now.

Each episode of the podcast is paired with a dessert and a cocktail and/or mocktail.

Folks who want to get the show notes which include the recipes each week, should subscribe here.

Featured Segment Extras

Cocktail

There is an amazing BTS recipe site called BTS Army Kitchen. Check. It. Out.

Super Wave

Ingredients

  • 2 oz coconut water
  • 2 oz pineapple juice
  • 2 oz blue Curaçao
  • 1 oz coconut rum
  • Swedish Fish (garnish)

Directions
Shake ingredients with ice, pour over ice, and garnish with Swedish Fish.

Recipe source
https://www.btsarmykitchen.com/post/super-wave

Mocktail

Shooky’s Cookie Crumble Latte

Ingredients

  • 2 oz freshly brewed coffee or espresso (cooled)
  • 1 cup milk
  • ½ cup sugar cookie syrup
  • Coffee ice cubes

Directions
Pour syrup into a glass, add coffee ice, top with milk and coffee, stir, and enjoy.

Recipe source
https://www.btsarmykitchen.com/post/shooky-s-cookie-crumble-latte

Dessert

BTS-Approved Street Snack: Quick & Easy Hotteok (Korean Sweet Pancakes)

If K-pop had a smell, it might just be cinnamon sugar melting inside a crisp, golden pancake. Hotteok (호떡) is a classic Korean street dessert that’s been fueling idol trainees, fans waiting in concert lines, and late-night café crowds for decades. Think of it as Korea’s answer to the doughnut + crepe + hug combo — soft, sweet, and a little dramatic when that caramel filling oozes out.

The Superfan Podcast is a production of Superfan Media. Season Two’s episodes have been edited by Bryant Dillon with production help by Fanbase Press, who are title sponsors of Season Two’s episodes.

The Superfan Podcast theme song is performed by the band Low in the Shag, featuring Daniel Shulman on bass, Sasha Brustinov on keyboards, Ziv Fisher on drums, Eric Garcia on guitar, Jacob Shulman on saxophone, and Derek Zimmerman on percussion. The song was written by Daniel Shulman, who has played bass for Garbage and is currently performing with The Halloween Jack, alongside Gilby Clarke (Guns N’ Roses), Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), and Eric Dover (Alice Cooper). The Superfan Podcast logo is designed by Criswell Lappin, former Creative Director of the legendary Metropolis Magazine, whose design work can be seen at criswelllappin.com.

Head Lopper returns next month and new covers have been revealed!

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An all-new story arc of the Head Lopper series by Andrew MacLean will kick off with an extra-length issue in April from Image Comics—just in time to mark the 10 year anniversary of its original launch. The series will feature a line-up of highly collectible variant covers by such fan-favorite artists as: Alex Horley, Jeffrey Alan Love, Dylan Burnett, Jim Rugg, and James Harren.

MacLean’s masterclass in kinetic action and dark humor will be on full display in Head Lopper (2026) #1. Witness Norgal behead mythic beasts while his chatty, severed-witch-head companion, Agatha, provides relentless sass. It’s visually stunning, high-fantasy carnage that proves decapitation is better with company.

Head Lopper #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, April 22:

  • Cover A by Andrew Maclean – Lunar Code 0226IM0299
  • Cover B by James Harren – Lunar Code 0226IM0300
  • Cover C by copy incentive by Jim Rugg – Lunar Code 0226IM0301
  • Cover D by copy incentive by Dylan Burnett – Lunar Code 0226IM0302
  • Cover E by 1:10 copy incentive by Jeffrey Alan Love – Lunar Code 0226IM0303
  • Cover F by 1:25 copy incentive by Alex Horley – Lunar Code 0226IM0304
  • Cover G by Sketch Cover – Lunar Code 0226IM0305
  • Cover H I Hate Fairyland Team-up – Lunar Code 0226IM8088

Andrew Maclean’s Head Lopper returns to shelves this April to celebrate 10 years

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Longtime Head Lopper fans will have something to celebrate this Spring with the highly anticipated return of Andrew MacLean’s beloved adventure comic. An all-new story arc of the ongoing series will kick off with an extra-length issue in April from Image Comics—just in time to mark the 10 year anniversary of its original launch.

MacLean’s masterclass in kinetic action and dark humor will be on full display in Head Lopper (2026) #1. Witness Norgal behead mythic beasts while his chatty, severed-witch-head companion, Agatha, provides relentless sass. It’s visually stunning, high-fantasy carnage that proves decapitation is better with company.

Head Lopper #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, April 22:

  • Cover A by Andrew Maclean – Lunar Code 0226IM0299
  • Cover B by James Harren – Lunar Code 0226IM0300
  • Cover C by 1:25 copy incentive by Jim Rugg – Lunar Code 0226IM0301
  • Cover D by 1:10 copy incentive by Dylan Burnett – Lunar Code 0226IM0302
  • Cover E by 1:10 copy incentive by Jeffrey Alan Love – Lunar Code 0226IM0303
  • Cover F by 1:25 copy incentive by Alex Horley – Lunar Code 0226IM0304
  • Cover G by Sketch Cover – Lunar Code 0226IM0305
Head Lopper #1

Deadpool Celebrates April Pool’s Day Again and Brings Variant Covers

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This year, Deadpool will once again host April Pool’s Day, an epic April Fool’s Day celebration! In addition to a boatload of surprises including merchandise, digital content, and more, Marvel Comics will bring the fun to comic shops with a new Deadpool: April Pool’s Day one-shot written by legendary Deadpool scribe Gail Simone and drawn by acclaimed artist C.F. Villa and other fan-favorite talent. April Pool’s Day Variant Covers also return with four new covers by superstar artists Mark Bagley, Chad Hardin, Matteo Lolli, and Phil Noto, each depicting Wade Wilson doing what he does best—driving Marvel’s heroes wild with his absurd antics!

IT’S APRIL POOL’S DAY IN THE 616!

Join Wade Wilson as we celebrate April Pool’s Day, the way our ancestors did – with tricks, gags, and potentially universe-ending calamity. Wait, what was that last one? The real trick is, Wade’s being serious when he figures out how deadly the situation is on April 1st, and no one believes him! But you do, right? Because if not, this could spell the end of the Marvel Universe as we know it!

Check out David Baldeón, Todd Nauck, and Jim Rugg’s Deadpool: April Pool’s Day #1 covers. The one-shot will also feature a variant cover by Kei Zama that spotlights Death’s Head. Plus, see the first two April Pool’s Day Variant Covers and stay tuned for more to be revealed in the months ahead.

  • IRON MAN #3 APRIL POOL’S DAY VARIANT COVER BY MATTEO LOLLI – 75960621491400351
  • PUNISHER #2 APRIL POOL’S DAY VARIANT COVER BY CHAD HARDIN – 75960621516400261
  • WOLVERINE #18 APRIL POOL’S DAY VARIANT COVER BY PHIL NOTO
  • CAPTAIN AMERICA #9 APRIL POOL’S DAY VARIANT COVER BY MARK BAGLEY

Blood Squad Seven Yearbook delivers an Extra-Length, Action-Packed, Mind-Bending Epic in March 2026

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Joe Casey and Paul Fry will bring fans Blood Squad Seven Yearbook #1. This action-packed issue will hit shelves in March 2026 from Image Comics.

Within Blood Squad Seven Yearbook’s extra-length, brain-breaking conclusion to this international—and interdimensional—storyline… secrets will be revealed! Worlds will collide! Heroes will struggle! Legends will die! And things—both past and present—will never be the same!

Spinning out of 2024’s Dutch mini-series, Blood Squad Seven explores ’90s superteam dynamics through a contemporary lens.

Thirty years ago, Blood Squad Seven was America’s most popular superhero team. Its members were seen on television, on magazine covers, scoring million-dollar endorsement deals…. They were celebrities and they were everywhere.

But that was then… this is now. And so, a new generation of modern-day heroes takes up the mantle—or perhaps, the poisoned chalice—fulfilling a promise made decades ago: to be the heroes that a fractured America needs.

While deconstructions of superhero nostalgia typically center around the classic characters of the Silver Age, Blood Squad Seven delves deep into ’90s comic book themes with this reimagining of what would happen if heroes from that decade returned to action after a 30-year absence.

Blood Squad Seven Yearbook #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, March 25, 2026:

  • Cover A by Paul Fry
  • Cover B 1:10 copy incentive by Jim Rugg

Usagi Yojimbo: Kaito ’84 is one to not miss when it debuts March 2026. We check out the Ashcan!

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In 1984 Osaka, the bloodline of Miyamoto Usagi lives on through Kaitō, a cunning rabbit thief with a rebellious spirit. He embodies his ancestor’s legacy in a way the stoic samurai we know and love never could. A daring new heist for a legendary spear sets Kaitō down a perilous path, forever altering his destiny and placing the fate of Osaka, and perhaps the world, on his shoulders.

Coming to comic shops March 2026!

Story: Zack Rosenberg, Jared Cullum
Script: Zack Rosenberg
Art: Jared Cullum
Usagi Yojimbo created by: Stan Sakai

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Third Eye Comics
Golden Apple

Enjoy the Neon and Synth Music with Usagi Yojimbo: Kaito ’84

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Dogu Publishing and Dark Horse Comics take the heroic epic of the rabbit ronin into the electrifying age of the 1980s with Usagi Yojimbo: Kaitō ’84, a five-issue series, story by Zack Rosenberg and Jared Cullum, script by Rosenberg and featuring full watercolor art with hand lettering by Cullum, winner of the National Cartoonist Society award. 

Each meticulously crafted issue features a cover by Cullum and two variants including one from Sakai himself as well as a thrilling lineup of artists like Eisner and Ignatz Award-winner Jim Rugg, superstar creator Kevin Eastman, indie sensation David Petersen, BAFTA award-winner Kim Hu, and the unmistakable Daniel Warren Johnson across the series, which begins in March 2026.

In 1984 Osaka, the bloodline of Miyamoto Usagi lives on through Kaitō, a cunning rabbit thief with a rebellious spirit. He embodies his ancestor’s legacy in a way the stoic samurai we know and love never could. A daring new heist for a legendary spear sets Kaitō down a perilous path, forever altering his destiny and placing the fate of Osaka, and perhaps the world, on his shoulders.

Get ready for a new legend to begin in Usagi Yojimbo: Kaitō ’84 #1 (of 5)when it arrives in comic shops on March 11, 2026, for $4.99. 

Youngblood #1 Reveals its Retailer Exclusive Covergeddon

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This November comic shop retailers are all-in on Rob Liefeld‘s highly anticipated return to his iconic Youngblood series. Youngblood (2025) #1 has stacked the deck with a whopping 27 retailer exclusive covers and Image Comics is ready to deal some damage.

The original Youngblood #1 was the opening salvo in the Image Revolution and remains one of the bestselling independent comics of all time with sales over one million copies. With Liefeld finally back at the helm of his signature creation, Youngblood is in full power mode once again.

The Direct Market will be battle ready for the Liefeld Legion onslaught. Comic shop retailers suiting up with their very own exclusive Youngblood (2025) #1 covers are:

  • Big Time Collectibles featuring Rob Liefeld cover art
  • Big Time Collectibles featuring John Giang cover art
  • Big Time Collectibles featuring John Giang cover art
  • Big Time Collectibles featuring Rob Liefeld cover art
  • Geek Street Productions featuring Rob Liefeld cover art
  • Geek Street Productions featuring Rob Liefeld cover art
  • Top Shelf featuring Jimbo Salgado cover art
  • Top Shelf featuring Jimbo Salgado cover art
  • PCB Hobby featuring Sajad Shah cover art
  • PCB Hobby featuring Sajad Shah cover art
  • Black Saber Comics featuring Jordan Noir cover art
  • Heroes & Fantasies featuring Leno Hernandez cover art
  • Shell Beast featuring Tezco13 & Smunchy cover art
  • Shell Beast featuring Tezco13 & Smunchy cover art
  • AnZ Comics featuring Rob Liefeld cover art
  • AnZ Comics featuring Ivan Tao cover art
  • AnZ Comics featuring Alan Quah cover art
  • AnZ Comics featuring Kev Mallqui cover art
  • Midtown Comics featuring Rob Liefeld cover art
  • Countdown Comics LLC featuring Marat Mychaels cover art
  • East Coast Comics featuring Franck Uzan cover art
  • TenFwd Comics featuring Tyler Kirkham cover art
  • Comic Inspiration featuring Jeff Monk cover art
  • FURYCOMIX featuring kyuYong Eom cover art
  • Nirvana Comics featuring Riley Brown cover art
  • Windy City Comics featuring B.Ernest Williams cover art
  • Third Eye Comics featuring Jim Rugg cover art

In addition to the battery of retailer exclusive covers, Youngblood (2025) #1 will dominate the shelves with an impressive roll-out of eye-popping covers by Skottie Young, Daniel Warren Johnson, Ryan Stegman, Ryan Ottley, Kael Ngu, Erik Gist, and Mark Spears for the launch.

Youngblood (2025) #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, November 5.

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