Books & Comics

The First Daredevil TV Series Merchandise Is a Line of Cutesy Pop Vinyls

Ever since Daredevil blew our minds earlier this year, I’ve been itching to see some merchandise based on the Man without Fear. But while fans have been making some amazing custom toys, it’s taken a while to see anything official… until now. Funko’s ever growing mass of franchises it distills down into its chunky, giant-headed…

This Book’s Collected All the Original Topps Star Wars Cards So You Don’t Have To

As part of the merchandising blitz for the original Star Wars, Topps released five series of trading cards tied to the film. Finding a complete set today that doesn’t cost a small fortune is all but impossible, unless you’re happy to settle with this new book featuring detailed scans of every last one. Topps originally…

We Finally Know a Little More About What Happened To Cyclops In Marvel’s New Universe

The X-Men are having a rough time in Marvel’s “All-New, All-Different” universe. Usually, that’d just be like another Tuesday for them, but this time there are a lot of questions up in the air: Why is Terrigen Mist killing them? What the hell did Cyclops do to make mutants hated again? Well, we might just…

Alias Was Marvel’s First Adult Comic That Was Actually For Adults

Jessica Jones, which comes to Netflix on Friday, is a game-changer for Marvel. She’s a different sort of hero than anyone we’ve seen thus far, and ventures into darker territory. But long before Jessica Jones was changing Marvel on screen, she marked a whole new day in Marvel Comics. Almost 14 years ago to the…

The Amazing Books That Will Make Your Loved Ones Fall in Love With Reading Again

Books can transport you to strange new worlds—but they can also make your home more beautiful. And it’s the beauty and luxuriousness of nice books that make them such terrific gifts. These gift items will remind your friends and loved ones why they love books to begin with. Nemesis Games (Signed Edition) by James S.A.…

The New Star Wars Crossover Comic Rejuvenates Darth Vader’s Terrifying Reputation

Darth Vader should be an immensely intimidating figure. Emphasis on the should, because over the years, his appearances in increasingly silly scenarios as part of Star Wars’ place in pop culture have blunted his reputation. But Vader Down’s first issue is a fantastic reminder that we should never underestimate the power of the Dark Side.…

Oh God, Frank Miller Is Going to Write a Dark Knight Returns IV, Too

Dark Knight 3: The Master Race isn’t even out yet, but co-writer Frank Miller has already announced that the trilogy has turned into a quadrilogy. Miller told Newsarama that “after he reads DK3 in full, he intends to create his own fourth chapter” which, frankly, is terrifying on about eight different levels. It also pretty…

A New Comics Publisher Wants To Make Comic Books Just For Your Phone

Digital comics are all the rage these days—but as lovely and accessible comic books are now, you’re still trying to adapt one size and format to squish it down onto the screen of a phone or tablet. Now a new comic publisher wants to change that with a series of creator-owned comics tailored for smartphone…

8 Times the X-Men Were Nearly Wiped Out Forever

It’s a hard life, being a Marvel mutant. Sure, you get rad powers (maybe), but also get the rest of the world hating your guts for simply existing. On top of that, you and your fellow mutants are almost always facing apocalyptic scenarios. Here’s just eight times Marvel have threatened all Mutant-kind with oblivion. 8)…

These Amazing Korean Avengers Comics Are Finally Coming to the US

Manhwa—the South Korean term for printed comics—have long been popular, but recently more and more Western companies have been collaborating with Korean artists to bring their characters to the country. Now, thsse collaborations are starting to make their way back to the West in a comic book cultural exchange. Marvel previously collaborated with publisher Daewon…

Author Patrick Rothfuss Is Here to Talk About The Kingkiller Chronicle

Today, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. (Eastern time), fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss will be joining us to answer questions about his Kingkiller trilogy, writing about magic, stories-within-stories, and anything else you want to know. In addition to his latest work in the Kingkiller world, The Slow Regard of Silent Things, Rothfuss is also the…

The Batman ’66 Comic Just Ended in the Most Perfect Way

It’s far too soon for this amazing series to have come to a close, but sadly, it is the end: DC’s delightful digital series based on the world of the campy 1960s classic Batman TV show is over. But thankfully, its final chapter was perhaps one of its most inspired issues in the whole run.…

As dystopias have proliferated throughout science fiction, more optimistic authors such as Kim Stanley Robinson have tackled a brighter future for humanity. The New Republic has a fascinating article on the subject that’s well worth reading.

This New Space Colonization Novel Will Mess With Your Head In The Best Possible Way

Planetfall by Emma Newman isn’t what you’re expecting from a book about humans colonizing another planet. It’s much weirder, and in the end, a fair bit darker. This is a story about human failings—and the fact that we expect to understand alien beings, when we can’t even understand each other. Some spoilers ahead… In Planetfall,…

How Gotham City Evolved Into the Worst Fictional City in America

This is neat. The Nerdwriter has chronicled the 75-year history of Batman’s hometown, from its humble beginnings as New York City (really!) to the crime-ridden, neo-gothic nightmare town we know today in the movies, comics and video games. The 7-miunte video is overwrought in places, but it is cool to witness Gotham change over time.…

Why Justice League Unlimited Was, and Still Is, the Best Superhero TV Show

We live in a golden age of superhero television. Hits like The Flash, Agent Carter, Arrow, and Agents of SHIELD dominate our TV screens. We champion them for their ability to bring some of the most mind-melting comic book sagas to TV—but one show did it all before them, nearly a decade ago: Justice League…

Here’s Your Chance To Discover The Best of Russian Science Fiction

Most of us are familiar with the Strugatsky Brothers and one or two other Russian writers—but most of the science fiction produced in Russia during the 20th century remains a mystery. That’s about to change. Cornell University Professor Anindita Banerjee and University of Richmond Professor Yvonne Howell are putting out a whole book of Russian…

Web Warriors Reminds Me Why I Loved Spider-Verse In Just One Goofy Moment

Earlier this year, Marvel brought together countless Spider-heroes from across its vast comic book multiverse for Spider-Verse, a crossover event that was equal parts dimension-hopping adventure and love letter to the insane, wonderful Spider-Man canon. Web Warriors opens with a scene that’s equally joyful. Spoilers ahead for Web Warriors #1, by Mike Costa, David Baldeon,…

Guillermo del Toro Gives Jack Kirby a Perfect Tribute

In a series of tweets, Guillermo del Toro—obviously no stranger to the comics—decided to offer his own little tribute to Jack Kirby’s skill. It’s pretty much dead-on correct. The rest of the tweets are below. Contact the author at [email protected].

Here’s Your First Look at the Next Fantastic Novel From M.R. Carey!

M.R. Carey’s novel The Girl With all the Gifts blew our minds, in a very good way. It was Joss Whedon’s new favorite book, too. So it’s absolutely fantastic news that Carey has a new novel coming in early April 2016! Here’s your first look at Fellside, exclusively at io9! Here are the first two…