It’s the week before ComicsPRO’s annual conference, and it feels like everyone is holding their announcements back in advance of that event. That doesn’t mean there isn’t anything to write about, though, so let’s look at some of that as I share ten things I liked or didn’t like from the week of comics in another edition of Comics Disassembled.

Abrams ComicArts, Cooking in 2026

If you’re in the market for a comic publisher that’s doing exciting things, then turn your attention to Abrams ComicArts, as that publisher announced its killer Fall 2026 slate this week. Not only that, but it has a little bit of everything for the discerning comic reader, from additional collaborations with Marvel in the MarvelArts imprint, including Alex Ross’ Marvel Dimensions (a new graphic novel that was described as “the most ambitious and intricate graphic novel Ross has ever created, the book is built around the physical design of the object itself,” which sounds crazy and intriguing) and Doctor Strange: Endless Nightmare which comes with art by the excellent duo of Raúl Allén and Patricia Martín, a new graphic novel from Derf Backderf about radical cartoonists squaring off against the U.S. government, and a new book from Nate Powell called Diana, which connects to his 2024 release Fall Through.

But the most exciting releases are coming from Abrams ComicArts’ manga imprint, Kana. While some of that is top loaded the fall brings more of Naoki Urasawa’s Billy Bat, we’re also getting some Inio Asano shorts that are collected in English for the first time in Before Dawn and the End of the World as well as Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Kensuke Nishida’s Jagaaan Vol. 1, which is about “a disaffected police officer whose violent fantasies collide with a citywide outbreak of monstrous transformations” in a story told across 14 volumes. There’s a lot more on the horizon from Kana, and I am into all of it.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a bevy of other superb looking comics in Abrams’ lineup, as Abrams seems to have plenty of exciting reads in store for comic fans in the fall. When are they actually going to be released? Unknown! In the fall! Whenever they hit, though, I’m ready. Especially that Billy Bat action.

Have I mentioned I’m excited for Billy Bat?

Ultimate Endgame, Slowing Down

When the ending of the Krakoa Era of the X-Men came together, it was hard not to feel like it was a bit of a mess, as it somehow felt too fast and drawn out at the same time. It was a disappointing end to a period that started with so much promise. It felt like a lesson could be learned from its arc, if only because it emphasized just how much a rough ending could change the perception of a once great era.

Well, if a lesson was learned, it doesn’t seem like those were realized with the conclusion of Marvel’s Ultimate universe. Ultimate Spider-Man #24 was already delayed around two months, and now most of the rest of it is getting its schedule pushed, as Ultimate Endgame #5 — the finale of that series — has been bumped from April to June and assorted other titles have been pushed as well. It’s unclear if Ultimate Universe Finale #1, an issue wraps the whole thing up and presumably will connect to what happens in those other issues, will be sent backwards as well, but hopefully it will be. It’d be pretty strange if it kept its April 29th release date given that it’s meant to put a bow on the whole Ultimate line.

Here’s where I put a big caveat in here. Making comics is hard. There are a lot of great people involved with the Ultimate universe, from the line’s editor in Wil Moss to the creators writing, drawing, coloring, and lettering it. There’s likely a reason for this delay and it’s probably a human one. That should be remembered. But man, what a bummer. Many readers were already feeling burned by the unexpected conclusion of this line — for the record, I’m fine with that part — and its ending getting stretched out and delayed likely isn’t going to help matters much.