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Fantastic Four First Appearance: A Look Back at the First Family’s debut

Marvel’s First Family is making her first steps (again) this summer on the big screen with a new adaptation set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the MCU officially launched in 2008 with Iron Man, the Fantastic Four laid the groundwork for the Marvel Comics we know today.

Now is a good time to take a look back at the debut of the Fabulous Foursome in The Fantastic Four #1, which hit the shelves on August 8, 1961—64 years ago.

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The X-Files Comics: A Reading Guide to Mulder and Scully’s Comic Book Adventures

Not many live-action TV shows have expanded their stories into comic books. Star Trek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Firefly are the most successful examples, of course. Science fiction is a genre that lends itself perfectly to the medium. So it’s no surprise that The X-Files, the biggest sci-fi sensation on TV during the 1990s, expanded into the world of comics. 

Since the first issue was published in 1995 by Topps Comics, multiple comics have starred the famous FBI agents Mulder and Scully. Some are based on actual episodes of the show created by Chris Carter, while others are original stories that run alongside or continue the series after its cancellation. And now that there are talks about reviving the X-Files comics at Marvel, let’s take a look back at the long history of the franchise in print.

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What to Read This Month: The Best Comics of July 2025

Between Marvel Omnibus, DC Omnibus, the Epic Collection, DC Finest, Compact editions, and everything else publishers put out, there’s always way there’s always more to discover! Launched this past March, What to Read This Month highlights each month’s notable releases. Here’s our selection for May, featuring some great stories from… And if you missed last month’s picks, you can find them here.

July’s Comic Picks

All title summaries are taken and/or summarized from the copy provided by the publisher.

Dr. Werthless: The Man Who Studied Murder (And Nearly Killed the Comics Industry)
By Harold Schechter and Eric Powell

After the award-winning “Did You Hear What Eddie Gein Done?”(go read it!), true crime author Harold Schechter and cartoonist Eric Powell take a look at another complex man who occupy a special place in pop culture. Dr. Fredric Wertham didn’t murder anyone, but he almost killed the comics industry. 

Reviled by comic book fans as a witch-hunting zealot who stirred up a panic among the parents of America for his own self-promoting purposes, he was also a renowned psychiatrists who, among other accomplishments, opened a clinic in Harlem for disadvantaged African-American patients and played an important role in the desegregation of the nation’s schools. Believing that murder could be abolished through a proper understanding of the mental and social roots of criminal violence, he took a genuinely humane approach to some of the most notorious homicidal maniacs of his time, while simultaneously exploiting their stories for his own commercial ends.

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Upcoming Batman Comics, The Release Schedule (July-December 2025)

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Fighting crime in Gotham City is a full-time job — one that Batman has been doing for the past 85 years, and he’s not slowing down! As one of the most popular DC Comics heroes, the Caped Crusader always stars in many series, from his adventures in the main continuity to the Absolute version and other stories set in different realities.

DC Comics releases many books featuring the Dark Knight every year, in different formats, and it can sometimes be hard to keep track of when a book is coming out, whether it’s the latest omnibus, a new edition of an old series, a reprint, or the latest volume in a new collection.

To help you keep track of what Batman is up to, we have compiled a list of what’s coming in the second half of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. Don’t forget to check out our Batman guide to find out where each story fits into his timeline.

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Reading Jason Comics: A Guide to Explore the Norwegian Cartoonist’s World

John Arne Sæterøy, known professionally as Jason, is a Norwegian cartoonist born in Molde in 1965. He began publishing comics in magazines during the 1980s but gained wider recognition in 1995 with his first graphic novel, Pocket Full of Rain (Lomma full av regn). Two years later, he launched his own comic book, Mjau Mjau, before shifting his focus exclusively to graphic novels in 2002.

Influenced notably by Hergé, Jason’s work is defined by clear line drawing, minimal text, and the frequent use of anthropomorphic characters. He often uses a four-panel grid (or nine) and favors a muted color palette, but a good part of his oeuvre is in black & white. His visual style remains consistent across his body of work, making his oeuvre coherent and immediately distinguishable from that of other cartoonists.

However, he doesn’t stick to one genre when it comes to the stories he tells. He can write crime and science fiction tales, historical pastiche, romance, and monster stories, often blending historical fiction with pulp tropes. He references Buster Keaton, explores Hemingway’s life with a twist, and talks about his long hikes in Europe. But he always focuses on human problems, exploring solitude, unspoken desire, or the absurdity of routine, often with a touch of melancholy, a dry humor, and an emotional edge.

Since 2001, Jason’s comics have been published internationally, with English editions appearing through Fantagraphics Books. His books are often released earlier in France, where he has lived since 2007 (currently in Montpellier). His work has received multiple awards, including the Eisner Award, the Inkpot Award, the Brage Prize, and the Sproing Award.

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The Best of Franklin Richards Comics, Your Essential Reading Order

Mister, I'm the law 'round these parts, said Franklin Richards wearing a cowboy hat and pointing a smoking revolver forward, with his sister Valeria standing behind him.

With Reed and Susan Storm Richards as his parents, Franklin Benjamin Richards was destined to be anything but ordinary. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Franklin made his first appearance in Fantastic Four Annual #6 (1968), and readers have watched him grow up in the pages of Marvel Comics ever since.

Franklin Richards is a reality-warper and one of the most powerful beings in the universe. An Omega-level mutant, he manifested his powers at a very young age, far earlier than most mutants, at a time when he had little control over them. But his powers were only part of the challenge.

As the son of two founding members of the Fantastic Four, the nephew of Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), the godson of Ben Grimm (the Thing), and the older brother of Valeria Richards, Franklin has lived some extraordinary adventures and been part of some cosmic events. Over the years, Franklin has been kidnapped by Doctor Doom, traveled across space and alternate realities, put his life on the line, and even taken on the heroic mantle of Powerhouse.

Discover Franklin Richards’ most important stories with our Recommended Reading Order and explore his place in Marvel’s history.
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Tomb Raider Comics, Your Guide to the Top Cow Series Starring Lara Croft

Alongside Indiana Jones, Lara Croft is one of the most famous archaeologists in popular culture, and for good reason! The heroine of the video game franchise Tomb Raider, she is an intelligent and athletic British adventurer who travels the world in search of mysterious artifacts and other magical items. She solves complex puzzles, swims into seemingly impossible places, and shoots bad guys in dangerous locations such as ancient ruins. She does all this while wearing a tank top, shorts, socks, and combat boots, with her hair tied up in a French braid. Most importantly, she stays cool while doing it all!

The first video game was released in 1996. It was the start of a media franchise consisting of many action-adventure games, novels, comics, feature films and short films, animated television series, and even two theme park rides.

Tomb Raider’s first comic book wasn’t published by Top Cow but by the Mean Machines Sega gaming magazine in issues #47-50. Written by the game’s writer Vicky Arnold and penciled by artist Paul Peart-Smith, it was a comic book promotion for the first Tomb Raider game. Our British adventurer also featured, a few years later, in a comic book produced by French publisher Glenat, which was quickly taken off the market for licensing issues. At this stage, Top Cow has finally secured the Tomb Raider’s rights, and was starting to publish Tomb Raider comics.

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Marvel’s Secret Wars Explained: The Events That Changed Comics

Fans had been dreaming about it for years, but it was ultimately the call for a toy line that would finally give life to the biggest team-up Marvel Comics could put together in 1984. Secret Wars was a commercial opportunity and became an industry-altering event that forever changed comics. No matter what people think about Jim Shooter’s tenure as Marvel editor-in-chief, this is his legacy.

Secret Wars (1984): The Original Battleworld

It was 1984, and toy manufacturer Kenner was about to launch its DC Comics-inspired line of action figures, Super Powers. At Mattel Toys, it was necessary not to let the comic book market go to the competition. That’s what led to a collaboration with Marvel Comics. Jim Shooter was all in and proposed to produce a story to promote the new line of Marvel action figures, “Cosmic Champions.” The title would eventually change, but the idea would stay the same: to provide a showcase of marketable superheroes and supervillains.

Following focus group tests, the twelve-issue limited series became “Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars.” The story starts with an omnipotent being called the Beyonder abducting dozens of characters to a patchwork planet named Battleworld. There, he announced, “I am from beyond! Slay your enemies and all that you desire shall be yours! Nothing you dream of is impossible for me to accomplish!” What follows is constant action, alliances, twists, and lasting developments that impacted the Marvel Universe.

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Peacemaker Reading Guide: Exploring Christopher Smith’s DC Comics Quest For Peace

“A man who loves peace so much that he is willing to fight for it!” That’s the original tagline from 1966 Fightin’ 5 #40. Published by Charlton Comics and created by writer Joe Gill and artist Pat Boyette, Peacemaker is Christopher Smith, a pacifist American diplomat, who is wearing red and white tights and a strange helmet to fight against super-criminals and other warlords. At least, he did it during the 5 issues his self-titled series lasted. He was just a bland hero of another era, but one that DC Comics acquired alongside The Question, Blue Beetle, and Captain Atom.

Peacemaker Kills For Peace in The DC Universe

It was the 1980s, and Peacemaker was one of the characters that was going to be reintroduced, making their debut in the new Alan Moore-Dave Gibbons series, Watchmen! But things got too dark, and DC Comics decided not to follow this road. Instead of Peacemaker, we got the Comedian, a character who made a bigger mark on the history of the comics industry than Christopher Smith’s vigilante alter-ego. At least, until James Gunn put him in his movie The Suicide Squad. Played by John Cena, the character is now the star of his own TV Show.

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Hellboy Omnibus Reading Order!

A large, red-skinned half-demon with a tail, horns, cloven hooves, and an oversized right hand made of stone, Hellboy does not go unnoticed. Mike Mignola’s creation made his first appearance in the San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2 (August 1993), more than thirty years ago. Since then, a whole Universe surrounding him has taken shape, filled with governmental agents, folkloric creatures, and Lovecraftian horror.

Hellboy has worked for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.) and lived solo adventures set in many periods, but also spawned several spin-off series featuring other characters such as Abe Sapien or Lobster Johnson. Publisher Dark Horse Comics has collected many tales, story arcs, and spin-offs in several formats, such as trade paperbacks, Library Edition, and, of course, the famous Omnibus format.

The first Hellboy Omnibus (which was a reprint of B.P.R.D. Plague of Frogs) was released in 2011. It has been followed by many others, as there are more than 30 Omnibus sets in the Hellboy Universe at the time of writing. Initially only available in hardcover, paperback versions have been released since 2014. As the world of Hellboy continues to expand, we take a closer look at the Omnibus collection, which offers a great way for both new and seasoned readers to discover Big Red’s history.

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