August 13, 2025
Publishers printing graphic novels and other illustrated titles in the country—especially ones featuring maps of disputed territories—can run into problems when the censors come knocking. Just ask Joe Sacco. more 
At a time when graphic novels by queer cartoonists and artists of color routinely top book ban lists, comics librarians are forging alliances with nonprofits, businesses, and artists to drive change and fight censorship on the community level. more
The latest entry in Scholastic’s Graphix manga line brings a familiar face to a new medium: Dav Pilkey is adapting his bestselling Captain Underpants chapter books into manga. Graphix will publish Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga, written and adapted by Pilkey and illustrated by the Japanese manga artist Motojiro, on April 7, 2026. more
The longtime publisher of deluxe editions has refashioned itself as a hip purveyor of beautifully designed contemporary and popular titles in addition to august versions of literary classics. more
In his new graphic novel, Defiant, the Captain America: Brave New World screenwriter tells the little-known story of Robert Smalls, who escaped slavery in 1862 and went on to become a U.S. Congressman. more
In this darkly disturbing supernatural tale, the heroic dead bleed power into the ground…only to be unearthed by a down-on-her-luck young woman to unforeseeable consequences. From New York Times bestselling author Daniel Kraus and rising star artist Dani! For fans of Unbreakable, Athanasia is a superhero story seen through the darkest lens. (Sponsored) More
Charles Burns and Whitney Gardner are among the 41 nominated authors and illustrators across seven categories for this year’s Harvey Awards. Winners will be announced this October at New York Comic Con. more
Meg Lemke joins Heidi MacDonald, Calvin Reid, and Kate Fitzsimons to recap our coverage of San Diego Comic-Con 2025, salute this year’s Eisner Award winners, celebrate Heidi’s own Eisner win for comics-related journalism, and more.
Live from the SDCC 2025 show floor, Meg speaks with Anna Meyer (l.), debut creator of the graphic novel Saint Catherine from 23rd Street Books, and Tony Weaver Jr., creator of Weirdo, the Eisner-nominated debut graphic memoir from First Second. more
Meg checks in with Mimi Pond about her graphic biography Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me, out from D&Q in September, on the SDCC show floor. more
Calvin Zooms with cartoonist Tim Fielder as Fielder traverses the SDCC exhibition floor; Heidi interviews Alessandra Ferrari, head of content at Wattpad Studio, about webnovels, webtoons, and new creators; and Meg talks with Ben Wickey and his wife, Mariana Yovanovich, about Wickey’s debut graphic novel, More Weight. more
Cartoonist Michael Sweater’s graphic collection Everything Sucks: Kings of Nothing captures the antics of a very funny crew of shiftless stoners determined to avoid responsibilities of any kind. Sweater’s playfully drawn and colored funny animal comics present the entertaining, albeit aimless, adventures of Noah and Calla, two proud deadbeats who spend most of their time laid up in Noah’s crashpad of a house, where they endlessly play video games and smoke weed. In this 10-page excerpt, Calla heads out for a stroll and encounters a friend crawling out of the sewer—and, later, Noah, who’s been locked out of his cat-filled house while cooking a grilled cheese sandwich. Everything Sucks: Kings of Nothing by Michael Sweater is out now from Silver Sprocket.
Eisner winner Romanova follows Goblin Girl with another exceptional autofiction, this time set amid the hedonism of Austin’s SXSW festival. Like the title suggests, this one has spirit to spare. more
A fantastical world is run through the wringer by a capricious deity in this gorgeous and bloody graphic adventure. This will captivate readers of ancient mythology and Jack Kirby alike. more
Austrian German Kummer’s English-language debut offers a magical and unpredictable fusion of fantasy, science fiction, crime thriller, and drama. Fans of genre-benders like Nimona and The Mushroom Knight will want to explore Kummer’s weird worlds. more
In this arresting collection of political cartoons, Sabaaneh plucks heart-stopping moments from the tumult of the war in Gaza. By freezing these moments so beautifully in time, Sabaaneh refuses to let readers look away. more
- Sophie Castille Award Nominees: Ryan Holmberg and Diana Schutz are among this year’s English-language nominees for the graphic novel translation prize, presented by VIP Brands, Comica and the Lakes International Comic Art Festival.
- Tariffs Come for Comic Shops: The Comics Journal explores the unexpected ways tariffs are affecting comic book stores around the country.
- Comics Censorship 101: The “Comics Under Fire” panel at SDCC offered strategies for teachers and librarians to combat book bans that target comics, reports Comics Beat.
- The Forgotten History of the Hugos: File 770 spotlights the contributions of the late Ben Jason to the design of the Hugo Award trophies.
- Cleveland Goes Super: A Superman statue has been unveiled in the city where writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster first conceived of the character, per the New York Times.
- ‘The Hobbit’ Rakes in the Cash: Bidding for a rare first edition of The Hobbit, which was recently discovered in a home in Bristol, England, has already exceeded $25,000, reports the New York Times.
- No Agent, No Problem: Subclub compiles a list of 10 indie presses that will publish graphic novels from unagented authors.
- R. Crumb Returns: Fantagraphics will release Tales of Paranoia, a new one-person anthology comic by Robert Crumb, in November, according to ICv2.
- Copaganda in Comics?: Book Riot analyzes how portrayals of police in superhero comics have changed since 2021.
- Superhero Movies Get Campy: From Superman to Fantastic Four, this was the year Hollywood finally pulled off comic book camp, argues Variety.
- Homestuck Gets Animated: The multimedia webcomic that took over the internet in the 2010s is set to be turned into an animated series, reports the AV Club.
- Manga Artists Can’t Keep Up: As manga continues to boom in both print and digital formats, publishers are facing a shortage of manga artists to keep up with the breakneck pace of the genre’s growth, per Screen Rant.
- Kickstarting Quantum: Quantum editor Steve Tanner has launched a Kickstarter for the four latest issues in the comics series, including the brand-new, long-awaited #12.
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The Fanatic Editor: John Maher
Editor Emeritus: Calvin Reid
More to Come podcast cohosts: Kate Fitzsimons (producer), Heidi MacDonald, and Calvin Reid
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Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to: Joe Murray.
Editor Emeritus: Calvin Reid
More to Come podcast cohosts: Kate Fitzsimons (producer), Heidi MacDonald, and Calvin Reid
PW graphic novels reviews editor and "Stargazing" cohost: Meg Lemke
Follow us on X @PWComicsWorld and on Facebook.
Send advertising questions about this e-newsletter to: Joe Murray.
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