After the deluge of news last week, this week’s slate is a bit lighter. But you know what that means? I get to highlight some appealing comics! So, let’s get to all that in this edition of Comics Disassembled, as I highlight the things I liked or didn’t like from the week of comics, led by Marvel continuing to be in flux.

Midnight Up, Ultimate Down (For Now)

There are two ways you can read the news that Marvel’s going to release all three debuts of its upcoming Midnight line — that’s Midnight X-Men #1 from Jonathan Hickman and Matteo Della Fonte, Midnight Fantastic Four #1 from Benjamin Percy and Kev Walker, and Midnight Spider-Man #1 from Phillip Kennedy Johnson and ScieTronc — on October 7th, with those three releases being the only comics the publisher will drop on that Wednesday.

One is how the publisher is positioning it. They believe in these books so much that they have to, have to, give them their own space and to simultaneously debut them in a way that will make them feel like the big deal they are. The line’s Executive Editor Dan Buckley (yes, that Dan Buckley, someone who previously wasn’t an editor and was most recently announced as leaving the company next year) really talks it up as the certified Next Big Thing™, saying, “the more we realized it was far more than just the birth of another new universe—it was on an entirely different scale creatively, a doorway to something that was not only immediately exciting, but had immense long-term promise.” That’s a lot of hype! I’d love for it to be true.

Then there’s the other way to read it, which is…these books weren’t going to be ready on time, or at least ready enough to be sustained if X-Men launched in August as planned and Fantastic Four debuted in September as was originally announced. So, let’s push it back and position it as a thoughtful plan (that, of course, came after the originally announced plan, decreasing the thoughtfulness of it a fair bit), one designed to elevate the line and its potential.

I have no idea which one is true. It’s very possible both are. It’s also possible neither are. I have no idea. But the point is, Marvel’s Midnight line is now being released as a showcase piece on October 7th, and Marvel’s going to put all of its weight behind it. I’m still cautiously optimistic about this line, and I don’t think it’s a bad plan, but this eleventh hour change to Midnight feels a bit strange. Like Marvel is trying to turn a frown upside down, making something that could have been a problem a strategic realignment that was always — always! — going to happen. Whatever the reason is, it’s happening, and we’ll see how it works.

Two more things. One small bit I liked from this reveal was the idea that all the covers will come as “Cloaked Covers,” meaning they’ll be partially obscured, with them remaining shrouded until readers pick them up on the stands. While I’m enormously skeptical that Marvel will be able to resist revealing the cover art early, as they can barely resist revealing anything early, I like the idea conceptually. It also feels very Hickman, who really loves obscuring what’s on the horizon. It also feels like it could be a way for Marvel to charge $5.99 for these comics unnecessarily. If it’s the latter, I’m not buying any of these comics. If it’s $4.99 still, I’ll check them out. I’m holding the line at $4.99!

The other thing I wanted to note has nothing to do with this. Well, kind of. Apparently — and spoiler warning for the final page of Ultimate Universe Finale #1 — the Ultimate Universe “will return,” per the final page of said release, as shared by Popverse. This comes on the heels of Marvel repeatedly and endlessly emphasizing that this was in fact the end of the line. Now, it’s possible it isn’t, and that whatever comes next will be the next new Ultimate Universe. We have no idea. But between that nonsense and the Midnight remix, it’s beginning to feel like either Marvel doesn’t have a cohesive plan or they’re fibbing a whole lot. Neither are very good! I don’t love it! I understand wanting to hype things up, but there has to be a better way to do that than the way they have been, because this just feels weird. Not a fan!

Absolute Batman, Taking Over

God help us, but Absolute Batman is getting a Funko POP!

While that’s undeniably the second biggest news related to Absolute Batman this week, as it was revealed at Annecy International Film Festival (maybe the biggest event for animation in the world) that the comic will be turned into an animated series with writer Scott Snyder acting as its executive producer and showrunner and artist Nick Dragotta being one of its producers, I cannot help but start with what I mentioned in the first line because that merging is sure to result in some of the most brutal behavior imaginable at the upcoming San Diego Comic Con. Evidently it’s not just Batman, but Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Superman as well, with this being one of the rare exclusives — each will be limited to 1,000, and come in at a $40 price point — Funko will be offering at the event.

I’m not kidding: I am predicting fights over this. Like, actual fist fights. And I suspect all 1,000 will either be signed by Snyder and Dragotta at the event or later on, because you know these aren’t going to end up with people who just want the figures. The funny thing, though, is these Funko POP! figures amusingly seem to miss the point of differentiation on these characters, as they just seem like regular POP! figures with the Absolute designs on them. They should have made them bigger! That’s the whole point! Batman and Wonder Woman are huge. It’s funny that they’re just the regular size. Not that it matters, because these will be swallowed up with a swiftness, but I find it funny.

Anyways, back to the more palatable of the news items, Absolute Batman’s getting animated! Truth be told, I don’t have a lot to add to that, beyond what this all could mean for Absolute Batman (the comic) and that side of the comics world. The Funko POP! feels dangerously close to a jumping the shark moment, but instead, I suspect the show, its announcement, and everything that comes from it will only lead to increased interest in the comic itself. I imagine this will be nothing but a good thing for the comic, and frankly, it’s about time people started paying attention to that series. I’ve been banging the drum for that underrated gem for a minute and it’s good to see the tide finally turning in Scott and Nick’s favor for once.

Speaking of which, let me use this spot to add that the absolutely elite Good Devils: Don’t Play Fair with Evil from Dragotta, David Brothers, and Image Comics is getting a reprint, and wisely, Dragotta’s doing a new cover that homages his own Absolute Batman #1 piece to draw interest. If you have not read it, I could not recommend this comic more. It was one of my Comics of 2025 for a reason, and it finished well above Absolute Batman on my end of the year rankings for a similar one. It’s a tour de force, and a heck of a showcase for Dragotta and Brothers.

Dream Math, Standing Out

In this week’s random discovery, the inimitable Floating World shared an upcoming release they’re dropping, and folks, I’m into it. It’s called Dream Math, it’s from cartoonist Tom Herpich, and it’s a 24 page one-shot about…well, life, man. Here’s what it’s actually about.

“A day in the life of the author becomes a meditation on round trips, both physical and psychological, shining a light on the joy of boredom, the magic of repetition, and the beauty of solitude.”

I love the sound of that, and while Herpich is unfamiliar to me, his work isn’t, as he’s an Emmy-winning writer and storyboard artist that’s worked on films and shows like Adventure Time, Over the Garden Wall, Steven Universe, and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, with the latter being particularly appealing. Dream Math feels like a small story with a lot of potential to it, the type of tale you’d maybe usually find in the year’s ShortBox Comics Fair, as it seems to offer strong craft and meaningful insight for readers. It seems like a personal tale, and one that will wow readers who are into this sort of thing.

Which includes me.

It’s coming in September, and because it’s a smaller press release, it comes with a larger price tag at $8. I suspect it will be worth it. If you’re feeling it, make sure to let your shop know, as they can order it through Lunar Distribution.

Kodi BACK!

This one snuck up on me, but I was thrilled to discover it: Kodi is getting a sequel!

For those unfamiliar with it, cartoonist Jared Cullum’s Top Shelf graphic novel Kodi — which told the tale of a little girl who befriended a very large bear in Alaska, before their separation results in said large bear (named Kodi) traveling across the world to find his best friend — was tremendous, to the point it was one of my Comics of 2020. It’s a heartfelt, heartwarming story that felt like an apex animated film come to life, with its real highlight being Cullum’s exquisite watercolors. It rules.

It ends well, with readers being satisfied by its conclusion, but apparently Cullum wasn’t done because I recently discovered that aforementioned sequel. Called Kodi: A Place to Call Home, this new book brings back all the things we loved about the first book but with a new story of Kodi and his best friend Katya trying to settle into their new life in the city, only to face new threats and challenges, including a “greedy zookeeper” who is looking to break the pair up (presumably by putting Kodi into his zoo, but I could be wrong). All I see when I read that is “Jared Cullum art showcase,” and that’s all I need to know. This new release is coming in September, and if you’re in the market for good comics — and who isn’t? — I heartily recommend checking this out when it arrives and the first book in the series before it hits. It’s a gem, and I presume its sequel will be as well.

Sicko, Being Sick

I used to not be a big solicits guy, but now that I’m doing a variety of email newsletters for comic book shops, you come across things you’d largely miss otherwise. Sometimes it’s entire titles, where you’re like, “Wow! I haven’t heard of this but it sounds great!” like with the sequel to Kodi. Other times it’s more specific details, like the above cover for Ignition Press’ Sicko #2, which I saw and instantly was floored by.

It’s by artist Amilcar Pinna, and it’s less about the art in isolation — although that’s tremendous as well — and more about how whoever designed the book integrated its fabulous title and the Ignition Press logo in with the art. Pinna’s bringing a little Nate Bellegarde by way of Simon Gane energy to the art, and that works and works well, but when that Sicko cuts in and the words are formed by the white of the titling and the blue of the sky…it’s just beautiful. It’s an impeccable blend of art and design. I couldn’t love it more.

I will say, it also put the title itself on my radar, and Tini Howard and Pinna seem to be crafting an intriguing tale that feels almost like Stephen King meets Hanna meets the X-Men on the surface. I’m not mad at that! I’ll be checking this one out, if only to ogle that elite mix of art and design.

Rogue x Gambit, Getting Saucy

SKTCHD is not often a resource for coverage of the Romantasy genre, but you know what? You’re getting it this week, along with one of the rarest of breeds: an honest to goodness compliment for Marvel. It comes because a Cosmopolitan (??) article revealed that Marvel and Random House Worlds are teaming up for a novel called Rogue x Gambit (An X-Men Love Story), one that finds co-writers Louangie Bou-Montes and Aabria Iyengar tackling a tale about…well, I’ll let the synopsis itself do the talking.

“In this steamy, moody romance, Rogue and Gambit race to save New Orleans’ soul from vampires and greed incarnate—if their own checkered pasts and touch-starved yearning for each other don’t destroy them first.”

That’ll play in the ol’ Romantasy genre, which, if you’re unfamiliar and can’t put the two together, blends romance and fantasy into a genre that’s taken bookstores by storm (not Storm) in recent years. This is a situation where Marvel licensing their characters out makes sense, as it’s a space they don’t operate in but one that fits their characters nicely. Even if Rogue and Gambit aren’t the household names other Marvel couples are, this one feels like catnip for the Romantasy obsessed, and I’m honestly thrilled about the move. While it might seem like a long shot, this is the type of thing that could make book readers truly fall in love with the characters and become intrigued about the idea of reading comics. It’s a no downside, high upside move, and I like it a lot.

Gigs, Being Elite

Here’s an official declaration: Mark Mosedale and Si Smith’s Gigs — their new Top Shelf graphic novel — will be featured in The SKTCHD AWRDS.

Probably a lot. And near the top, unless this year in comics proves to be one of the greatest in the history of the medium. I don’t want to get too far into why, because it’s something I will be writing about a lot. So, instead of going in-depth about Gigs — which is a story about different lives in a future where AI has taken all the work and people live on Basic Income that’s only maintained if they fulfill “gigs” that are delivered to them by an all-encompassing app — I’m going to give you five bullet points about it.

• The way it interweaves the different stories in the book, which is almost told anthology style to showcase varying lives within this world and how they’re responding to this tolerable but still dystopian future, is so smart and so clever that it should be studied by other creators to learn how the team executes it.
• Si Smith’s a genius and a revelation, and his art forms the foundation of everything in the story while elevating it at the same time.
• There’s one sequence in the story, one featuring a street artist, that might stand above the rest, and is one of my favorite sections of any comic in recent memory. It’d either be that or one of the other sections, probably.
• It’s a perfect read for the moment, as it both underlines the road we’re on but also the hope that we as people can bring to even the darkest of times.
• If I had to choose one word to describe Gigs, it’d be “masterpiece.”

So, uh, yeah, I think you all should read Gigs.

The American Manga Awards, Looking Good!

The nominees for the third annual American Manga Awards were announced this week, and if you’re in the market for a guide to manga you should be reading but haven’t yet — for one reason or another — then my friends, these nominations are for you. That said, for those unfamiliar with these awards, the American Manga Awards “honors exceptional manga, talented creators, and the publishers who translate and make them available to readers across the US and Canada,” and they’re headed by Committee Chair Deb Aoki, who might know more about manga than me and every reader of this article combined, perhaps even if you double it. It’s the real deal, so you know this nomination list has to be legit.

It’s a fascinating list, if only because it counts anything released between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026 — yes, it includes books that haven’t even been released yet! — which is why you’ll find something like Billy Bat Vol. 1 (from Abrams ComicArts’ Kana imprint, creators Naoki Urasawa & Takashi Nagasaki, and translator Kristi Iwashiro) on the Best New Manga list even though it literally came out a few weeks ago. This is as hot off the presses as it can possibly get. Sometimes the presses haven’t even fired yet!

But again, what a list! It features personal faves like Billy Bat, inee’s Love Bullet Vol. 1, and Atsushi Kaneko’s Search and Destroy Vol. 3, but also a whole mess of manga I’ve never read, including ones I’m intrigued by like cocoon. I appreciate that it doesn’t just highlight the mangaka behind the releases or the work itself, but the aspects that differentiate the editions released in the US and Canada, like the talented letterers, translators, and designers that bring them to life. That’s cool as heck. Make sure to check out the list, and hey, if you’re looking for manga to read, this is a good place to start.