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SDCC 2026: Ignition Press Celebrates its First Year with Seven new Series

Ignition Press

Ignition Press is kicking off its first anniversary of publishing creator-driven comics this week leading up to and culminating at the biggest industry event of the year, Comic-Con International 2026 in San Diego (SDCC).

Ignition Press began publishing original series in July 2025 with its public debut at SDCC. At the Ignition Press Room—a standalone, open to the public, and free pop-up—the publisher introduced fans to seven debut series: Murder Podcast, Voyeur, Deluge, Roots of Madness, The Beauty, NO Place, and Arcadia.

On the eve of its one-year anniversary, Ignition Press has revealed a revised summer release schedule with seven new series launching over seven weeks beginning July 1st through August 12th. Additionally, Ignition Press will celebrate all its previously released or continuing series with new promotions and activations. The anniversary celebration will crescendo at SDCC 2026, where exclusives for all seven new series will be available for purchase before the celebration continues in comic shops through mid-August. Ignition Press will reveal additional details about its SDCC plans as part of its returning Ignition Sequence: SDCC 2026 marketing initiative.

The seven launching series commemorating Ignition Press’s first anniversary are:

  • The Dogsitter #1—a brand new rom-com treat for dog lovers from the Ares & Aphrodite team of Jamie S. Rich and Megan Levens with Nick Filardi and AndWorld Design;
  • Dispatched #1—an express delivery of an action thriller from B. Clay Moore and Daniel Gete with Lee Loughridge and AndWorld Design;
  • Minotaur #1—a groundbreaking sci-fi ongoing series for the AI Age by Si Spurrier and Mike Dowling with Sofie Dodgson and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou;
  • Sicko #1—a horrifying medical thriller where an autoimmune disorder becomes a weapon from Tini Howard and Amilcar Pinna with Amanda Grazini and Ariana Maher;
  • The Patron #1—a fine art murder mystery that is truly horrifying by Christian Ward and John J. Pearson with Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou;
  • Airwalker—the first original graphic novel for the publisher, a brand new superhero for a modern age directly from the mind of the late, great Stan Lee with Jeremy Haun and Danny Luckert with AndWorld Design;
  • And finally, Cult-de-Sac #1—a homeowner’s nightmare where the HOA is more than just odd from Cullen Bunn and Fico Ossio with Ulises Arreola and AndWorld Design.

Ignition Press’s updated summer release schedule includes the following titles:

July 1st: The Dogsitter #1, Showdown #2, The Other/Half #3, and Ripcord #4 ;
July 8th: Dispatched #1, Innards #2, Tyler Rake: An Extraction Story #3, and Just Brutal #4;
July 15th: Minotaur #1, Arcadia #6, and Murder Podcast #8;
July 22nd: Sicko #1, Bad Thoughts #2, Everyone Loves A Jewel Thief #3, Bloodland #5, and The Beauty #7;
July 29th: The Patron #1;
August 5th: Airwalker OGN (available August 4th in bookstores), The Other/Half #4, and Ripcord #5;
August 12th: Cult-de-Sac #1, The Dogsitter #2, Innard #3, Showdown #3, Tyler Rake: An Extraction Story #4, Just Brutal #5, and Murder Podcast Vol. 1 TP (available August 11th in bookstores).

SDCC 2026: Marc Maron, Bruce Dickinson, Mike McCready, David Dastmalchian, and more to join Z2

Z2 Comics San Diego Comic-Con 2026

Z2 returns to San Diego Comic-Con in a major way this year, teaming up with TalkShopLive to bring an all-star lineup of musicians, actors, authors, and creators to Booth #1529 for an unforgettable week of live interviews, appearances, and signings. Featured guests include Marc Maron, Bruce Dickinson, Mike McCready, David Dastmalchian, Charlie Benante, Spencer Charnas, and more. In addition to fan events at the booth, McCready, Dickinson, and Maron will headline featured panels celebrating their upcoming books, while Dastmalchian, Benante, Carla Harvey, the producers of …And Out Comes the Wolf, and Cage Claypool will join Z2 for special discussions about forthcoming projects. Additional panel details and schedules will be announced at a later date.

Z2 BOOTH #1529 SIGNING SCHEDULE:

Thursday, July 23rd

Noon – 1pm: Lee Jennings of The Funeral Portrait
1pm – 2pm: Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills
4pm – 5pm: Mike McCready of Pearl Jam

Friday, July 24th

11am – Noon: Marc Maron, Brendan McDonald and Brian “Box Brown of WTF
Noon – 1pm: Spencer Charnas of Ice Nine Kills
1pm – 1:30pm: Lee Jennings of The Funeral Portrait
1:30pm – 2:00pm: Charlie Benante of Anthrax/Pantera and Carla Harvey of Lords of Acid
2:45pm – 3:00pm: Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden

Saturday, July 25th

11am – Noon: Danny Peykoff, Jamie Neese and Jason Neese the Producer/Directors of …And Out Comes The Wolf
1:30pm – 2:30pm: David Dastmalchian
3:00pm – 4:00pm: Charlie Benante of Anthrax/Pantera and Carla Harvey of Lords of Acid

Among the highlights of Z2’s San Diego Comic-Con lineup are several major publishing premieres and exclusive releases. Fans will get their first look at Marc Maron’s WTF IS A PODCAST, Les Claypool’s Frizzle Fry, the next chapter of Bruce Dickinson’s acclaimed The Mandrake Project, and Mike McCready’s Farewell to Seasons, an alternative history of Seattle’s groundbreaking 1990s music scene. Z2 will also debut new collector’s editions of fan-favorite titles created in partnership with Ice Nine Kills and “Weird Al” Yankovic, further expanding its catalog of music-driven graphic storytelling and collectibles.

Together, Z2 and TalkShopLive are creating new opportunities for authors, musicians, artists, and creators to amplify their work through innovative publishing, fan engagement, and commerce during San Diego Comic-Con. Personalities with TalkShopLive channels include Robert Downey Jr., Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, Garth Brooks, Dolly Parton, Kenny Chesney, Jessica Secrest, Ringo Starr, Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, KISS, and many more. Through TalkShopLive, talent can simulcast live video simultaneously to Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube while also embedding shoppable content directly on their websites using TalkShopLive’s patented embeddable video player.

SDCC 2026: Alex Ross spotlights Marvel Dimensions plus Exclusives

Alex Ross is one of the most universally acclaimed creators in comics and the Alex Ross Art booth is always a must-see destination at Comic-Con. This year, Alex Ross Art will be celebrating the upcoming release of his new book Marvel Dimensions, an all-new graphic novel written and illustrated by Alex Ross that twists the Marvel Universe in ways readers have never seen before. Marvel Dimensions arrives this September from Abrams ComicArts and Marvel Comics. Don’t miss the opportunity to get an up close look at a curated selection of original art from the book, at Booth #2415.

You can find the Alex Ross Art at Booth #2415 located on the show floor at Comic-Con International San Diego 2026. Known for its high-end art gallery look and feel, fans of all ages are invited to stop by the infamous booth to view Ross’ legendary paintings, drawings, and sketches — including rare, never-before-seen originals that showcase the artistry behind the legend.

Alex Ross Art will release a series of SDCC 2026 exclusive prints and collectibles, including a small quantity of limited-edition fine art pieces available only at this event. Each exclusive includes a Certificate of Authenticity and represents a piece of comic book history from his ever-expanding catalog.

Exclusives include:

  • COMICS! The Magazine Get the exclusive SDCC 2026 edition of COMICS! The Magazine issue #5 featuring an interview with Alex Ross and a wraparound cover showcasing the X-Men Origin art from his new book Marvel Dimensions. This special convention issue comes free with purchase at the Alex Ross Art Booth and will only be available while supplies last.
Cover of Comics! The Magazine #5 by Alex Ross, featuring a vivid illustration of superheroes and characters in a dynamic scene, with a house and trees in the background.
  • Origins: Spider-Man, Origins: X-Men, Origins: Dr. Strange, Origins: Avengers

Each is an all-new piece based on the painted “Origin” spread from Marvel Dimensions, which chronicles the many origin stories of Marvel’s most iconic heroes. Rendered meticulously, Ross visually tells the story of the birth of each. They will be available as an archival paper edition featuring character text ($195, LE 100) or a larger canvas giclée version without text ($895, LE 25). Both editions come signed by Ross and include a certificate of authenticity.

  • Portraits of select Marvel Dimensions characters including Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, X-Men, and Hulk.

Don’t miss a chance to win an 11×17″ print of Ross’ Origins: Iron Man unlettered art. Fans can enter the giveaway and join the waitlist at alexrossart.com/pages/sdcc-2026 

A dynamic comic-style illustration featuring various scenes of superhero action, including Iron Man in a vibrant pose, blending sepia tones with intricate details of characters and environments.

Previously Announced Exclusives include:

Marvel Dimensions Universe  based on the painted cover for Ross’ upcoming Marvel Dimensions

A vibrant comic book cover titled 'Marvel Dimensions' by Alex Ross, featuring iconic Marvel superheroes like Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and others, set against a dynamic backdrop with fiery elements.

Origins: Silver Surfer  an all-new piece based on the painted “Origin” spread from Marvel Dimensions.

A stylized illustration of the Silver Surfer gliding on a cosmic surfboard, surrounded by various panels featuring text about his origin and journey. The artwork features a vibrant purple and silver color scheme, emphasizing the character's celestial nature.

And check out this panel at the convention:

Sunday, July 26, 2026

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM  Room 10
Marvel Comics at Abrams Books 

Marvel’s original graphic novels from Abrams Books take center stage in a discussion of Marvel Dimensions by Alex Ross, X-Men: Elsewhen by John Byrne, Doctor Strange: Endless Nightmare by Kevin J. Anderson, Thor: Behemoth of the Black Moon by Eric Powell, and the A Mighty Marvel Team-Up books by Mike Maihack and Dean Hale. Charles Kochman (editor in chief, Abrams ComicArts) joins the discussion as panelists share behind-the-scenes insights into the creation of these projects and discuss what’s ahead for Marvel’s publishing program at Abrams Books. Moderated by Sven Larsen, vice president, licensed publishing at Marvel Entertainment. 

SDCC 2026: Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees Expands with its Halloween Special featuring James Tynion IV, Tony Fleecs, Tyler Boss, Dave Wachter, Che Grayson, Matt Emmons, and Jared Cullum

The award-winning Patrick Horvath has been the definitive voice behind Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, a cuddly yet shocking story which took the comic industry by storm and sold over 400k comics and collections as a franchise. The recently concluded sequel, Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring, is in the running for the “Best Limited Series” Eisner Award, and now, Horvath’s inviting other acclaimed creators to take a stab at Samantha Strong’s bloody and beloved world in Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Halloween Special.

Arriving this October, the Harvey Award-winning Horvath joins forces with superstar creators James Tynion IV and Tyler Boss, Tony Fleecs and Dave Wachter, Che Grayson and Matt Emmons, and Jared Cullum to craft a must-read original one-shot featuring the adorable citizens of Woodbrook gathering around a campfire to share terrifying stories.

It features covers by Patrick Horvath, Tony Fleecs, Peach Momoko, and J. Gonzo and there’ll be more news about the future of Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees will be revealed at San Diego Comic-Con.

SDCC 2026: Jem and the Holograms x Cold Slither Drop an Electric New Theme Song

Two iconic worlds. One epic collaboration. The Jem and the Holograms theme tune collides with the legendary Cold Slither for a high-energy crossover that’s truly outrageous. Get ready for electrifying vocals, unforgettable riffs, and a clash of rock royalty like you’ve never heard before.

The unmistakable sparkle of Jem and the Holograms collides with the legendary Cold Slither in a high-powered crossover that’s as nostalgic as it is explosive. This reimagined take on the classic Jem and the Holograms “Theme Song” delivers electrifying vocals, unforgettable riffs, and a clash of rock royalty fans never knew they needed – until now!

Hasbro had previously announced The Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary Celebration of Life Concert, which will feature special performances by Cold Slither and Britta Phillips (original singing voice of Jem from Jem and the Holograms), plus more. The special live event takes place July 23 at House of Blues San Diego. Tickets and VIP packages are available now here.

SDCC 2026: Hasbro And Reigning Phoenix Music Bring The Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary Concert

The Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary Celebration of Life Concert

Hasbro and Reigning Phoenix Music have announced The Transformers: The Movie 40th Anniversary Celebration of Life Concert, a special live event taking place Thursday, July 23, at House of Blues San Diego during Comic-Con week. The concert is part of Hasbro’s “Apology Tour,” a playful, year-long campaign celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Transformers: The Movie and acknowledging the moment fans still haven’t quite recovered from.
 
Featuring music from The Transformers: The Movie: The Soundtrack: The Reformatted Edition performed live by Knights of Unicron, along with a special performance of “The Touch” by Stan Bush, the concert pays tribute to the soundtrack that helped turn an animated movie into a cultural touchstone for generations of fans.
 
The concert also features a powerhouse lineup of fan-favorite performers, including Vince DiCola, whose legendary score helped define the sound and spirit of The Transformers: The MovieCold Slither, who returns to the stage after last year’s live debut at Comic-Con, bringing their loud and rebellious sound straight from the world of G.I. JOE; and Britta Phillips, the original singing voice of Jem from Jem and the Holograms, whose glitter, glam and truly outrageous pop flair makes every performance unforgettable. Together, these performers will turn the evening into a full-scale celebration of iconic Hasbro music and entertainment fandom that is… More Than Meets the Eye!
 
Additional special guests and performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
 
Event Details – THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE 40th Anniversary Concert

SDCC 2026: The Ghostbuster Exclusive Escapes Containment

KENNER CLASSICS THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS ECTO-GLOW GLOW COPTER VEHICLE

(HASBRO \ Nintendo | Ages 4 & Up | Approx. Retail Price: $67.99 | Available exclusively at San Diego Comic-Con. Limited quantities will be available to order on HasbroPulse.com after the convention. While supplies last.) 

Thirty-five years later, the unreleased Glow Copter is finally cleared for takeoff! Better late than never, right? A coveted Kenner deep cut, this long-lost vehicle arrives to complete The Real Ghostbusters Ecto-Glow lineup in a gloriously ghostly style. The Real Ghostbusters’ eye in the sky lands as a standout collector piece. With vintage-inspired Kenner styling, glow-in-the-dark deco, a spinning rotor, and a ghost bomb, the Ecto-Glow Glow Copter Vehicle set brings lost toy history straight to the shelf.

  • Authentic Kenner Heritage: Design inspired by the 1980s Kenner The Real Ghostbusters line.
  • Collector-Ready Lineup: Includes Ecto-Glow Hero Louis Tully and Meanie Weenie Ghost figures.
  • Signature Glow Deco: Vehicle, action figures, and select accessories glow in the dark.

SDCC 2026: Hasbro unveils its G.I. JOE Exclusives including Shipwreck vs. Cadet Deming and Fatal Fluffies!

Hasbro has revealed two new G.I. JOE action figure exclusives heading to San Diego Comic-Con 2026G.I. JOE Classified Series #204 Fatal Fluffies action figure and #205 Shipwreck vs. Cadet Deming (There’s No Place Like Springfield) action figure set!

Fatal Fluffies and Shipwreck Vs. Cadet Deming figures will be available for purchase exclusively at the Hasbro booth during San Diego Comic-Con (while supplies last). Following the convention, limited quantities will be available to order on HasbroPulse.com.

G.I. JOE CLASSIFIED SERIES #205, SHIPWRECK VS. CADET DEMING (THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE SPRINGFIELD)

(HASBRO | Ages 4 years & up | Approx. Retail Price: $64.99 | Available exclusively at San Diego Comic-Con. Limited quantities will be available to order on HasbroPulse.com after the convention. While supplies last.) 

G.I. JOE is a highly skilled, on-demand, special operations force of men and women from around the globe tasked with defending the world from Cobra, a ruthless criminal organization bent on total domination. Recreate Shipwreck facing off against Cadet Deming in a battle of wills as the G.I. JOE sailor takes on the Crimson Guard interrogator inspired by “There’s No Place Like Springfield” from G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero. This highly articulated 6-inch-scale action figure set lets fans recreate the episode in which Cadet Deming subjects Shipwreck to an elaborate fabricated reality to extract secret intelligence. With premium deco and detailing, the set includes 13 cartoon-inspired accessory pieces, including Shipwreck’s swappable hair piece, glass of dosed milk, and parrot companion Polly accessory wielding a device to blast the evil Synthoids impersonating Shipwreck’s loved ones and G.I. JOE allies. The classic window packaging showcases the accessory loadout, figure-specific File Card Icons, original character artwork, and dynamic digital renders. 

Look for other G.I. JOE figures and toys to build your roster of heroic G.I. JOE’s and Cobra villains (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.). 

G.I. JOE CLASSIFIED SERIES #204, FATAL FLUFFIES

(HASBRO | Ages 4 years & up | Approx. Retail Price: $54.99 | Available exclusively at San Diego Comic-Con. Limited quantities will be available to order on HasbroPulse.com after the convention. While supplies last.)

G.I. JOE is a highly skilled, on-demand, special operations force of men and women from around the globe tasked with defending the world from Cobra, a ruthless criminal organization bent on total domination. Bring home one of the strangest threats in G.I. Joe history with Fatal Fluffies, inspired by the classic G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero cartoon miniseries “The Pyramid of Darkness”! This highly articulated 6-inch scale G.I. Joe Classified Series set features premium deco, detailed design, and accessories inspired by the episode, including Cobra Commander’s greeting, a swappable facial expression, whip, laser blaster, 2 small flame effects, and a large fireball effect that plugs into the transformed Fatal Fluffy’s open mouth. The outer sleeve design nods to the nostalgia of Saturday Morning Cartoon-viewing with a faux cereal box loaded with Easter Eggs referencing the classic “Pyramid of Darkness” miniseries, while featuring the classic window-box display showcasing the figures along with accessory loadout, File Card Icons, original character artwork, and dynamic digital renders. 

Look for other G.I. JOE figures and toys to build your roster of heroic G.I. JOE’s and Cobra villains (Each sold separately. Subject to availability.). 

SDCC 2026: IDW Dark’s Fatal Fest blends Survival Horror with Hollywood Satire from Hannah Rose May and Andrea Scalmazzi

How far would you go to achieve your dream? Would you kill for it? Creator and writer Hannah Rose May and IDW Dark ready to unleash a first tease at Fatal Fest, her next nail-biting and bold original terror with IDW Publishing‘s horror imprint.

When six emerging horror filmmakers are invited to compete at Fatal Fest, the mysterious festival run by reclusive horror maestro Frank Finch and his legendary production empire, Fatal Films, they discover this is no ordinary film festival. Frank has one simple rule: to create true fear, you must experience it. If they want to win the Fatal Fest, they need to be willing to kill for it

Featuring artwork by Andrea Scalmazzi, Fatal Fest is a harrowing and twisted exploration of obsession with IP, the thirst for fame and Hollywood’s ruthless commodification of art. Survival horror collides with culturally relevant satire and readers won’t be able to look away from the brutal ride.

IDW Dark and May will unveil more details about Fatal Fest at San Diego Comic Con in July.

Fatal Fest

Stardust’s Eisner Nomination Removed from Ballot while Comic-Con takes a look at its Submission Policy

Eisner Awards Nominee

Last week, we broke the news that a nominee for the 2026 Eisners featuring some AI work. Stardust the Super Wizard Anthology was nominated this year under “Best Anthology.” Managed by Van Jensen, the anthology featured an impressive amount of talent and raised over $39,000 from 614 supporters on the Zoop crowdfunding platform.

One of those who contributed was Michael Todasco using his “AI persona,” Alex Irons for an included page. Irons has an author page on Amazon showing numerous releases over the years and the bio admits it being an AI “author.” Todasco boasted on LinkedIn about the page inclusion in the anthology. You can see Todasco’s post as well as the page from the anthology on our original article. Below is the author bio from Amazon.

Alex Irons is not a real person. Books under his name are written by AI tools like ChatGPT, Bard, and other large language models. The real-life person guiding those queries is a writer, entrepreneur, and technology enthusiast currently pursuing an MFA in writing at Johns Hopkins University.

All proceeds from Alex’s books go to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley.

Numerous contributors have come out publicly stating that they had no idea about the use of AI until after it was decided and the inclusion was not disclosed on the crowdfunding page.

As you can imagine, the nomination ignited a firestorm with petitions launched to not just rescind the nomination but also ask Comic-Con and the Eisners to create a policy regarding AI and its use in works submitted for nomination in future awards.

Comic-Con has released a statement that Stardust‘s nomination has been rescinded by its editor and that the convention will look at drafting a policy that will impact future awards.

In light of the recent disclosure that Artificial Intelligence was included in a work submitted for Eisner Award consideration, the judges have indicated that had they been aware of this information, they would not have voted for its inclusion. The editor of the anthology in question has also rescinded this submission for inclusion. Therefore, the submission has been removed from the list of nominees and will not appear on the ballot.

It is clear that the ever evolving landscape of technology, as it relates to art, will  benefit from further review and discussion. For this reason, San Diego Comic Convention will undertake that effort and will produce a policy that better reflects its long standing efforts in the protection of artists and creators alike.

-Comic-Con International

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