
Hosted by Jace Milam · EN

Jeremy Adams joins Jace at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to discuss the increasingly powerful version of Aquaman currently reshaping Arthur Curry's place in the DC Universe. Jeremy explains why he keeps expanding Aquaman's abilities, how the Justice League is beginning to recognize the threat he could represent, and why the title's readers have become part of a special "Aquaman club." Jeremy also talks about Kyle Rayner's throwback Green Lantern showcase, Kyle's relationship with Odyssey, the return of Jade and Major Force, and upcoming developments that could fundamentally change Green Lantern for years. Finally, Jeremy previews the animated adaptation of Batman: Knightfall, including its violent tone, terrifying portrayal of Bane, appearances by Azrael and Tim Drake, and the challenge of condensing the massive comic storyline into an 85-minute movie. Follow The Comic Source: https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource Chapters 00:00 Introduction from San Diego Comic-Con 00:35 Kyle Rayner's new Green Lantern spotlight 02:15 Jade, Major Force and major Green Lantern changes 02:56 Kyle and Odyssey's relationship 04:45 Aquaman can't be stopped 07:15 Why Jeremy keeps increasing Aquaman's power 09:03 Finding Aquaman's personality and purpose 10:22 The future of Aquaman and the "Aquaman Club" 11:53 Bringing Batman: Knightfall to animation 13:20 Closing

Josh Williamson and Hayden Sherman join Jace to discuss the return of Legion of Super-Heroes. Williamson explains the years-long process that led him to the series, his conversation with Mark Waid, why Superboy needed to return to the center of Legion mythology and why Lightning Lad serves as the emotional point of view for the opening story. Sherman discusses designing the future of the DC Universe, creating different visual languages for the Legion's many planets and drawing inspiration from classic Legion stories, European science-fiction comics, 2000 AD, Ronin, Judge Dredd and Spider-Man 2099. They also discuss introducing the enormous Legion cast gradually, honoring the property's passionate fan community and preserving the hope that has always defined the team. Follow The Comic Source: https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource Chapters 00:00 Pre-Interview Conversation 00:38 Introduction 01:00 Why Josh Williamson Chose Legion of Super-Heroes 03:52 How Hayden Sherman Joined the Series 06:49 Balancing Legion with Absolute Wonder Woman 06:56 Comics, Community and Lightning Lad 12:38 Building the Legion's Character Dynamics 14:04 Designing Distinct Worlds and Cultures 16:49 The Science-Fiction and Comic Influences 19:48 Hope at the Heart of Legion 20:19 Preordering and Final Thoughts

Christopher Cantwell joins Jace during San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to discuss an ambitious slate of upcoming work spanning Gotham City, the Green Lantern universe and the final frontier. Cantwell begins by discussing his role on the second season of Lanterns. A longtime Green Lantern reader who previously wrote Hal Jordan in Challengers of the Unknown, Cantwell describes the project as the television assignment he would have selected for himself and praises the distinctive approach established by the first season. The conversation then turns to Cantwell's two-issue Gotham Central story within the Bad Seeds event. Gotham's police department has been compromised under Commissioner Vandal Savage, leaving Jim Gordon, Espinosa and a small collection of honest officers attempting to solve a murder while carrying out orders issued by the city's corrupt leadership. That storyline establishes the foundation for Gangs of Gotham. Anarky is placed in Gotham's East End and ordered to unify its gangs before the district is bulldozed. Although he continues to consider himself an opponent of corrupt institutions, the promise of influence forces him to confront whether he still believes his own revolutionary rhetoric or has become another person willing to compromise everything for power. Stephanie Brown is simultaneously operating undercover inside the Street Demons biker gang. She has risen to become the gang's second-in-command, but Batman is the only member of the Bat-family who knows where she is. Cantwell describes a Steph who remains highly capable but is becoming increasingly isolated and resentful as her messages to Bruce go unanswered. Cantwell also explains how the series incorporates established characters including Jim Gordon, Arnold Flass, Harvey Bullock, Holly Robinson, Magpie and the Ten-Eyed Man while creating an entire ecosystem of gangs built around food, fuel, shelter, information and protection. Instead of treating the East End as interchangeable scenery, the series examines how abandoned institutions and limited resources force communities to develop their own hierarchies and systems of survival. The discussion concludes with Cantwell's upcoming Star Trek series, which examines exploration, colonization and the psychological pressure created when a crew enters genuinely uncharted territory. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Lanterns Season 2 03:47 Gotham Central and the Bad Seeds setup 05:49 How Gangs of Gotham begins 07:13 Stephanie Brown undercover 08:07 Anarky, power and hypocrisy 10:57 Jim Gordon and Gotham's honest cops 13:49 Building Gotham beyond Batman 15:18 Why Anarky matters now 18:43 Community, survival and found family 21:01 Batman's absence and Steph's isolation 23:45 Arnold Flass and Gotham's corrupt system 25:53 Holly Robinson and the East End 27:17 Cantwell's new Star Trek series 29:11 Final thoughts and preorder reminder

Marvel is laying out its future after Avengers: Armageddon, with a new Avengers series from Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto, Maximum X-Men, Eddie Brock reuniting with Venom, new books for Mary Jane Watson and Spider-Woman, and several other major announcements. This week I break down what Marvel's post-Armageddon direction could mean, along with DC launching new ongoing series for Vixen, Static and Steel, the continued expansion of the Absolute Universe, and Terminal #1 reportedly selling 300,000 copies before taking the top spot on the Prana Bestseller list. I also cover the biggest announcements from Image, Skybound, Dark Horse, IDW, Oni Press, Archie, BOOM! Studios, Mad Cave, Ignition Press and San Diego Comic-Con, along with this week's hottest books, two weeks of Prana Top 10 Best Sellers, and the biggest Final Order Cutoff recommendations for August 3. https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource 00:00 Marvel, DC & Terminal Headlines 01:05 Intro and SDCC Catch-Up 04:12 Marvel After Avengers: Armageddon 16:10 Midnight Universe, WEBTOON & Manga 23:22 Spider-Woman, Indiana Jones & Mangaverse 26:26 Muppets, Stormbreakers & Marvel Masterworks 30:57 DC News — Vixen, Static & Steel 36:11 Batman, Gotham & DC Next Level 44:04 The Absolute Universe Expands 54:02 Image Comics & Skybound 01:00:06 Terminal, Battle Beast & Savage Dragon 01:07:58 Dark Horse Comics 01:13:43 IDW & Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 01:17:15 Oni Press & Archie Comics 01:19:32 BOOM!, Mad Cave & Ignition Press 01:27:19 Bill Sienkiewicz Documentary & Eisner Awards 01:32:03 The Warbird Movie Rumor 01:34:36 What Hit 01:37:54 Prana Top 10 — July 15 01:43:30 Prana Top 10 — July 22 01:47:56 Final Order Cutoff 01:55:24 Closing & Comic Source Weekly Shirts News Sources Marvel https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/maximum-x-men-assemble-avengers-armageddon-aftermath-december-2026 https://www.marvel.com/articles/live-events/sdcc-2026-san-diego-comic-con-all-the-marvel-news-recap https://bleedingcool.com/comics/chip-zdarsky-marco-checchetto-launch-avengers-1-ahead-of-doomsday/ https://bleedingcool.com/comics/the-punisher-will-join-marvels-avengers-in-the-wake-of-armageddon/ https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/friendly-neighborhood-mary-jane-and-venom-new-comic-series-queen-in-black-aftermath https://bleedingcool.com/comics/spider-woman-ongoing-marvel-series-by-dan-watters-andrea-broccardo/ https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/indiana-jones-and-the-sword-of-pandemonium-bold-new-era-marvel-comics-december-2026 https://aiptcomics.com/2026/07/30/marvel-webtoon/ https://bleedingcool.com/comics/marvel-comics-launch-a-new-manga-line-in-japan-with-kadokawa-for-2026/ https://aiptcomics.com/2026/07/31/marvel-first-look-marvel-mangaverse-web-of-blood-ghostlock/ https://aiptcomics.com/2026/07/31/marvel-50-years-the-muppet-show-covers/ https://aiptcomics.com/2026/07/31/marvel-autumn-fall-stormbreakers-variant-covers/ https://bleedingcool.com/comics/the-first-new-marvel-masterworks-books-from-clover-press-revealed/ DC https://bleedingcool.com/comics/deniz-camp-reveals-details-of-upcoming-batman-shadow-of-the-bat/ https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-26-dc-announces-absolute-black-canary-and-beyond-ark-m-one-shots-at-absolute-universe-panel/ Image Comics and Skybound https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/rob-liefelds-highly-anticipated-avengelyne-comic-book-set-to-launch-this-october-series-already-in-pre-production-for-adaptation https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-26-robert-kirkman-talks-terminal-invincible-and-transformers-in-robert-kirkman-live/ https://www.comicsbeat.com/sdcc-26-sanford-greene-announces-bitter-root-black-white/ https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/scott-snyder-jocks-horror-masterpiece-gets-expanded-remastered-wytches-vol-1-pledged-edition-this-fall-ahead-of-tv-show-adaptation https://imagecomics.com/press-releases/jaw-dropping-savage-dragon-281-sells-out-at-distributor-instantly-rushed-back-to-print-this-week <a class="decorated-link" href="https://www.comics...

Jace and Rocky break down all five DC releases for the week of July 29, 2026. DC's Hawk Girl Summer #1 delivers an entertaining mix of standalone stories that give several underused DC characters a chance to shine, including great stories starring The Shining Knight and Kid Eternity. In Batman/Superman: World's Finest 2026 Annual #1, after the Flash, Batman and Superman all become trapped by the same villainous setup, Alfred and Pa Kent are the ones who figure out how to save them. In Justice League: Knightvision #1, Batman and Lex Luthor pursue Prometheus after their shared vision, while his use of Apokoliptian technology plants more seeds for Darkseid's next move against the heroes of the DC Universe. Detective Comics 2026 Annual #1 pairs a comedic Black Mercy story involving Batman and Lobo with a much darker Professor Pyg backup, giving readers two very different but entertaining stories. In Superman 2026 Annual: Year 1000 #1, Superman's decision to restore every version of the Legion gives the Darkseid-controlled Legion a chance at redemption while placing all of the team's different incarnations back on the table. They also discuss San Diego Comic-Con, the convention's lighter slate of major announcements, Jace's upcoming interviews with Joshua Williamson, Hayden Sherman and Christopher Cantwell, and the success of the Ignition Press pavilion. As always, Jace and Rocky rank every reviewed book and reveal their Books of the Week.

Artificial intelligence is changing nearly every industry—but what happens when criminals start using it to commit the perfect crime? Writer Zack Kaplan and Eisner Award-winning artist John J. Pearson join Jace to discuss Smart Division, their new sci-fi thriller from Dark Horse Comics. They talk about building a story around AI-assisted crime, designing two detectives with completely different worldviews, creating traditional painted artwork in a technology-driven story, and why this series feels frighteningly close to reality. If you enjoy grounded science fiction, crime thrillers, and comics that explore where technology could take us next, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Linktree: https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource Creator Links Zack Kaplan: https://zackkaplan.com John J. Pearson: https://www.instagram.com/johnjpearson https://www.patreon.com/johnjpearson 00:00 Introduction 01:20 What Is The Smart Division? 06:35 Reuniting After Mindset 09:15 Creating the Painted Art Style 12:35 AI, Crime and Giving Up Control 19:05 Designing Will and Stevie 28:10 Two Opposing Worldviews 31:05 The Opening Page and Meaning Behind the Title 35:25 Which Character Do They Relate To? 37:05 Where to Follow the Creators

Jace and Rocky break down all 14 DC releases for the week of July 22, 2026. Green Lantern #37 shows Kyle Rayner and Odyssey both learning you should never feed the trolls when Odyssey's online feud spills into the real world. Harley Quinn #64 reveals the mastermind behind the Harley Quinn Revenge Squad and proves Harley is her own worst enemy. Superman #40 uses Superboy-Prime to show that even after redemption begins, the consequences of your past never disappear. Justice League Unlimited #21 has the League finally turn the tables on Brainiac Queen with a surprise plan from Red Tornado and the Atom, while Batman and Lex learn they have something in common regarding the consequences of the Omega Tournament. Superman: Father of Tomorrow #3 shows Lex Luthor's decision to abandon science for sorcery perfectly highlighting the series' central debate over power and responsibility. Absolute Wonder Woman #22 has Barbara Minerva willingly surrender herself to Urzkartaga, but her true objective remains a mystery. The Peril of the Brutal Dark: An Ezra Kane Mystery #6 sends Ezra Kane into the skies in a biplane for a cinematic showdown with Nazi automatons that delivers the pulp-adventure ending the series promised. Swamp Thing (1989) #4 gives Swamp Thing and Abigail a hopeful ending by leaving multiversal versions of themselves behind. Dark Knights of Steel: Heir to the Sea #1 highlights Arthur Curry taking Superman's place as the extraordinary child raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent. Absolute Superman #21 delivers a perfect balance of action and character as Superman shows just how much he cares about the people who can slip through the cracks as much as he cares about world-ending threats like King Shazam. Zatanna #4 has Zatanna learn firsthand from previous Prime Magi that the role isn't what she thought it was. The Flash #35 has Wally learn that with enough data he can stop anything bad from occurring in Central City—but should he be watching everyone? And what happens when he tries to expand that to Metropolis? Action Comics #1100 ends its time-travel story with Superboy coming face-to-face with his older self, while a surprise return from a classic Superman villain leads into the next big event for the Superman Family. Detective Comics #1111 has Batman's investigation uncover the terrifying truth behind the force manipulating generations of the Prion family, and his vow to save them proves the lasting impact Prion had during his brief time with Batman. They also give a rundown of this week's collected editions, reprints and facsimile releases. As always, all books are ranked from top to bottom and each host gives a Book of the Week pick.

Marvel Comics is entering one of the biggest transitional periods in its history. This week I break down Marvel moving its publishing operations from New York to Burbank, Steve Wacker replacing C.B. Cebulski as Editor-in-Chief, and what those changes could mean for the future of the publisher. I also cover Daredevil's continued reprint momentum, DC extending Absolute Green Arrow from six issues to twelve, first looks at G.I. JOE #25 and Battle Beast #12, the ThunderCats relaunch, San Diego Comic-Con announcements from Bad Idea, Ignition Press, Rocketship Entertainment and more. Then it's time for What Hit, the Prana Top 10 Best Sellers, and this week's Final Order Cutoff books. 00:00 Intro 01:28 Marvel Leaves New York & Steve Wacker Takes Over 05:11 Daredevil Reprint Momentum 06:33 Absolute Green Arrow Extended 07:24 G.I. JOE #25 First Look 07:57 Battle Beast #12 Preview 08:33 ThunderCats Relaunch 09:15 Bad Idea SDCC News 12:06 Ignition Press Pavilion 13:49 Revenge Of TV 15:05 Eastside Saints 16:08 The Rocketfellers #13 16:53 Three Worlds, Three Moons 18:59 Final Boss Video Game 19:46 Ice Cream Man Reprint 20:33 Badrock Sells Out 21:19 Rocketship Entertainment at SDCC 22:35 Pop Kill: Big Candy 23:37 Flux House Presents #1 24:25 Todd McFarlane & J. Scott Campbell 25:21 What Hit 27:40 Prana Top 10 32:22 Final Order Cutoff 37:53 Closing

Todd McFarlane returns to The Comic Source for a wide-ranging conversation about the past, present and future of Spawn. Todd explains how drawings he created as a teenager in 1977 inspired the upcoming Spawn '77 project with Mark Spears, why the new story must carefully work around established Hellspawn mythology and what impressed him about Spears' atmospheric interpretation of the concept. He also details his unusual collaboration with J. Scott Campbell, in which both artists created distinct finished versions of the same original sketches, and discusses the hidden differences fans can discover between their covers. The conversation also explores McFarlane's limited-edition enamel pin program, his commitment to honoring announced production numbers and the importance of maintaining trust with collectors. Todd even shares a cinematic moment he wrote for the Spawn movie and imagines Jamie Foxx's Al Simmons delivering the line, "I wasn't hiding. I was waiting." The episode closes with McFarlane reflecting on creative freedom, longevity and why surviving long enough to continue making comics may be the greatest victory of all. Links: The Comic Source: https://linktr.ee/thecomicsource Todd McFarlane Productions: https://mcfarlane.com McFarlane Toys Store: https://mcfarlanetoysstore.com J. Scott Campbell Store: https://jscottcampbell.com Spawn Official: https://www.spawn.com

Zach Michaels, Director of Events at Fandom, returns to The Comic Source to preview one of San Diego Comic-Con's most sought-after opening-night events. He discusses how fans can win invitations, the work required to produce the massive celebration, and why San Diego provides an experience unlike any other major convention. Zach also reveals some of this year's entertainment and activations, including The Coverups led by Billie Joe Armstrong, Xbox and Halo: Campaign Evolved, Suntory's -196 brand, Z2 Comics' And Out Comes the Wolf, and an unconventional pep squad that will be part of the performance. Beyond the party, the conversation explores Fandom's larger mission of providing a place where every interest—from comics and gaming to anime, movies, television, and reality shows—can be celebrated without one community being elevated at the expense of another.