Comic Book Reviews, News, and Opinions
▶ WebplayerYour regular update on Comic Book reviews, the latest news about the Comics Industry, and honest opinions. comicalopinions.substack.com
Listen in the Podli app 🎧
Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.
Sep 29, 2026 · 15:30
Everyone is talking about Marvel's 1 million-copy Midnight launch. But that number may not be the most important story in the comic book industry. Marvel generated more than 1…
Sep 24, 2026 · 15:24
Most people see DC Comics’ December 2026 solicitations and see momentum. I see a test. DC has spent 2026 building attention with the Absolute Universe, major creative teams,…
Sep 22, 2026 · 13:06
The August 2026 comic book sales numbers reveal a strange split: DC led Marvel in unit sales, while Marvel led DC in dollar share. So which number actually tells us who is…
Sep 17, 2026 · 21:43
Everyone thinks the biggest comic book characters should automatically produce the biggest comic book sales. But DC Comics beating Marvel Comics in the direct market reveals a…
Sep 15, 2026 · 13:38
Marvel has a new Miracleman, but has it actually created a character readers will keep paying for? David Colton becoming the next Miracleman in Avengers: Armageddon #4 is the…
Sep 10, 2026 · 21:47
2025 comics proved they could bounce back. 2026 is showing us where that rebound is concentrating. Now the real question: is the comics industry actually getting healthier or…
Sep 8, 2026 · 20:23
Hal Jordan isn't racist. He's an arrogant, insensitive jerk who says things that sound racist, but Lanterns Episode 3 doesn't actually prove that racism is why he treats John…
Sep 3, 2026 · 20:41
Variant covers now make up 78% of DC's SKUs and 79% of Marvel's. That's not a collector fad, it's a business model. And it might be the same mistake the comic book industry made…
Sep 1, 2026 · 14:44
Marvel and DC Comics don't need to build an AI platform... they just need WEBTOON. WEBTOON just rolled out a wave of AI comic features: AI-powered translation, recommendation,…
Aug 27, 2026 · 14:22
The direct market just had its best year in a decade, so why isn't every publisher actually safe? In this video, I'm ruling on which indie comic publishers are structurally built…
Aug 25, 2026 · 8:01
Marvel's Avengers: Armageddon debuted at #3 on the sales charts. One issue later, it dropped to #11 — and the tie-in books around it aren't picking up the slack either. In this…
Aug 20, 2026 · 10:29
Why do $4.99+ comics feel like a completely different purchase than a $2.99 comic did ten years ago? This isn't just inflation — it's a behavioral shift that's quietly making the…
Aug 18, 2026 · 8:09
Marvel didn't cave to fan outrage over the Amazing Spider-Man #1000 cover, and that's actually the more interesting story. In this Timely Ruling, I break down why John Romita Jr.…
Aug 13, 2026 · 10:36
Marvel isn't losing because of bad writing; it's a structural problem. DC's Absolute line is 22 issues deep and still outselling everything on the stands. And Image just posted…
Aug 11, 2026 · 12:43
Gen Z just gave Spider-Man: Brand New Day a record-breaking opening, and the reason isn't the story. It's something the Big 2 comic publishers can't buy: safe, approachable star…
Aug 6, 2026 · 12:46
Every time a new creative team is announced on a damaged character, the fandom reacts the same way before a single page leaks: skepticism. That's not random. It's a repeating…
Aug 4, 2026 · 6:20
Dungeon Crawler Carl just outsold Marvel and DC in the graphic novel charts, BUT it's not for the reason most comic coverage is giving it credit for. I break down the actual ICv2…
Jul 30, 2026 · 8:46
Comic shops just had one of the best years in the history of the direct market: $2.2 billion in sales, record foot traffic, and a wave of new readers. Everyone in this industry…
Jul 28, 2026 · 8:23
Odin #1 sold out at the distributor and went back to print within a month. Odin #2 didn't even chart. Same creative team, same publisher, same imprint. So, what actually happened…
Jul 23, 2026 · 9:10
Nine out of ten #1 issues you pre-order this year will lose more than half their readers within two issues, and it's not because the story got bad. There's a mechanical process…
Jul 21, 2026 · 7:44
Absolute Batman isn't winning because the story's better — it's winning because of a supply strategy Marvel refuses to copy. In this ruling, I break down the print-discipline…
Jul 10, 2026 · 8:34
DC just quietly changed who a comic reader is supposed to be. The new Compact Comics Adventures line — part of DC's Spring 2027 kids' publishing strategy — isn't just a new…
Jul 7, 2026 · 9:34
Diamond Comic Distributors collapsed — and somehow Marvel and DC walked away without a scratch. The industry called it a "crisis." For the smallest comic book publishers, it…
Jul 2, 2026 · 9:01
Supergirl just became the latest box office bomb nobody in Hollywood saw coming — except comic readers, who predicted it years ago. This isn't a marketing failure. It's what…
Jun 25, 2026 · 13:04
Marvel cleared its entire October release schedule down to three books and called it confidence. It's not. It's an admission — and the data tells you exactly what they're…
Jun 23, 2026 · 13:55
Marvel can clear an entire release week for three new universes. They can't cut a check for a veteran cover inker who turned in five covers before the deadline — months ago. Greg…
Jun 18, 2026 · 14:48
Rippaverse just signed a worldwide distribution deal with Hachette Book Group — effective July 6, 2026 — after crossing $15 million in direct-to-consumer sales and moving…
Jun 16, 2026 · 13:44
ICv2 just dropped data that should make every comic reader's wallet combust. At a major direct market retailer, variant covers now account for 50–80% of every single order. DC is…
Jun 11, 2026 · 23:17
Everyone is arguing about the Supergirl movie. Half of them haven't read the comic. That's not a debate; that's noise. Before the film hits theaters on June 26, here's the…
Jun 9, 2026 · 14:42
DC Comics ran 1,200 days without a mainline Black-led ongoing. The DC Blackout boycott launched May 28th... and folded within a weekend. Here's why that was never going to work.…
Jun 4, 2026 · 13:19
DC Comics hasn't published a Black-led ongoing series in over 1,200 days. That's the claim fueling the DC Blackout movement. But this story isn't just about DC's publishing…
Jun 2, 2026 · 15:33
A director just walked away from a greenlit Amazon Prime Video series in 48 hours. Not because the show was bad. Because the internet sent death threats until he quit — and then…
May 28, 2026 · 11:44
Modern comics didn’t become “too political.” They lost the moral foundation that made superhero stories feel timeless in the first place. In this episode of Comical Opinions, we…
May 26, 2026 · 15:16
Some comic piracy is greed. But a huge percentage of it? The comic industry practically engineered the conditions for it. In this episode of Comical Opinions, we break down the…
May 21, 2026 · 12:25
If you’ve ever said “that was the last good run,” this video is for you. Comic publishers figured out something terrifying: fans may stop trusting modern comics… but they never…
May 19, 2026 · 14:54
Marvel just made the biggest structural change in modern comics history… and somehow people are acting like this is just another executive reshuffle. The head of Marvel…
May 14, 2026 · 13:39
Marvel & DC say they’re giving you progression and bold new stories… but what you’re actually getting is table scraps from the lab while the billion-dollar mainline assets stay…
May 13, 2026 · 15:55
Marvel desperately needs a win for its upcoming events, initiatives, and imprints. This week's Midnight Universe announcement had the potential to be Marvel's next big win, but…
May 12, 2026 · 9:14
Marvel’s Biggest Franchise Is Now Video-Game IP Comic fans are still buying the books, learning the continuity, and showing up every month like loyal soldiers… but Marvel’s real…
May 7, 2026 · 15:56
Why is it so hard to gift a Marvel or DC comic? Because every recommendation comes with homework, legacy numbering, and 37 different Spider-Man #1s. Meanwhile, manga just hands…
May 5, 2026 · 18:55
Miles Morales is the one character from the All-New All-Different era of Marvel that had a chance at being a topi-tier comic character. He has t successful animation presence,…
Apr 30, 2026 · 9:46
For years, Marvel and DC have told us that sales aren't disappearing; they’re just "shifting formats." They claim the monthly reader has simply become a "Trade Waiter." **The…
Apr 28, 2026 · 15:04
DC Comics gained 2.1% market share in Q1 2026. Marvel stayed flat. So where did DC's gain come from? Not competition—consolidation. ICv2's own data shows DC's gains came "largely…
Apr 24, 2026 · 13:34
People say a modern comic book is just the price of a latte, but when you buy a latte, you get a guaranteed flavor and thirty minutes of caffeine. When you spend five dollars on…
Apr 22, 2026 · 13:49
Marvel's Senior Vice President of Sales, David Gabriel, stood at ComicsPRO 2026 and promised retailers three reforms: no more regular covers in blind bags, real street date…
Apr 17, 2026 · 13:32
Marvel and DC aren't just writing Spider-Man and Batman anymore... they’re asset-managing them. In this deep dive, we explore IP Calcification: the corporate mandate to preserve…
Apr 15, 2026 · 12:41
The direct market just posted its best year in decades. And the CEO of ICv2 just admitted the entire boom is male-only. Milton Griepp stood up at ComicsPRO 2026 and said what…
Apr 10, 2026 · 9:25
Are comic books broken… or are they designed this way?If you’ve ever felt like there’s nowhere to start in comics - or that nothing actually matters anymore - you’re not…
Apr 8, 2026 · 19:03
Marvel's Event Engine is getting ready to start up again with this Summer's Armageddon event, but the fan buzz sound more like snoring than cheering. In this video, I break down…
Apr 3, 2026 · 10:08
Marvel’s “True Believers” blind bags were supposed to create excitement around Daredevil #1, but early retailer reports are telling a very different story. Damaged comics.…
Apr 1, 2026 · 13:16
DC and Marvel think Batman, The Flash, and Amazing Spider-Man can be magically fixed by bringing in superstar writers like Matt Fraction or Ryan North . But the data says…
Mar 26, 2026 · 11:32
DC and Marvel's Superman/Spider-Man crossover is the biggest comics event in years, but the exclusive retailer variant program is a bulk-order squeeze that only 15 shops can win.…
Mar 24, 2026 · 13:56
DC Comics has overtaken Marvel in direct market share for the first time in years, but what does this victory really mean for the Absolute Universe? In this deep-dive analysis,…
Mar 19, 2026 · 10:51
DC Comics just hit #1 in direct market share, and a $79 billion acquisition is about to test whether any of that momentum survives. This is a full breakdown of the Paramount…
Mar 12, 2026 · 9:58
Damon Lindelof, a writer on HBO’s upcoming Lanterns series, went on a podcast and laughed about how the whole team agreed “the green was stupid”... then brushed off the power…
Mar 6, 2026 · 13:31
Is James Gunn's DCU already crumbling under tonal inconsistency? In this video, I break down why fan goodwill is waning fast, starting with the Lanterns teaser trailer backlash.…
Mar 5, 2026 · 11:04
In this episode, I dive into those viral Batman panels that had everyone scratching their heads – the tiny mask, height swaps, and "wear each other's clothes" absurdity. Is this…
Feb 27, 2026 · 10:09
DC Comics keeps saying it cares about diversity… but the publishing data tells a very different story. In this video, we break down exactly how DC has gone more than 1,000 days…
Feb 19, 2026 · 10:46
Comic fans are constantly told that great art sells comics… but the sales data says otherwise. In this video, I break down why “Comic Art Doesn’t Matter” nearly as much as you’ve…
Feb 12, 2026 · 11:58
IDW Publishing is at a crossroads. In a recent, surprisingly candid investor call, CEO Davidi Jonas revealed a radical shift in how the company will operate: moving away from its…
Feb 5, 2026 · 22:37
Marvel is losing ground to DC, but not for the reasons most fans think. In this video, we break down one complete plan to save Marvel Comics from DC’s growing dominance by…
Jan 29, 2026 · 27:08
DC is mathematically better positioned than Marvel, and Marvel can’t copy the blueprint without tearing down the MCU. In this episode of Comical Opinions, we pull together six…
Jan 15, 2026 · 17:39
Your local comic shop is closing. And it's not Amazon's fault - it's how Marvel and DC decided to market their covers. For 60 years, comic covers were honest promises: what you…
Jan 8, 2026 · 23:47
Why do Marvel and DC’s biggest stories feel like they don’t matter anymore? In this video essay, we break down “The Illusion of Change” – the storytelling trick that lets…
Dec 31, 2025 · 16:04
Why Marvel & DC Are Failing: The Comic Shop Trap Marvel and DC aren’t failing because “comics are dead.” They’re failing because they built their business on a single shrinking…
Dec 18, 2025 · 18:10
In 2020, a single Japanese manga series outsold the entire American comic book industry. The reason isn't "better writing" - it’s Friction. In this episode of our "Fixing Comics"…
Dec 10, 2025 · 22:02
Why is professional wrestling thriving while superhero comics struggle to maintain their audience? The answer isn't in the writing—it’s in the format. In this video essay, we…
Dec 4, 2025 · 24:45
Why do superhero comics, professional wrestling, and daytime soaps tell the SAME stories yet have RADICALLY different outcomes? In this episode, we explore the shared DNA of…
Nov 26, 2025 · 17:06
Why is Marvel burying the Blue Marvel (Adam Brashear)? Despite being physically stronger than Thor and the Sentry, and his debut comic skyrocketing to over $2,600 in value,…
Nov 21, 2025 · 19:08
Why is Wonder Woman's arch-nemesis, The Cheetah (Barbara Ann Minerva), often treated like disposable C-List fodder? 🐆 She has magical claws that can cut Kryptonians, Flash-level…
Nov 18, 2025 · 18:04
Rob Liefeld says the X-Men are failing because they aren't "macho" anymore. He's wrong. The X-Men aren't suffering from a lack of macho characters. They're suffering from a…
Nov 12, 2025 · 13:13
Is Panini's alleged antitrust scheme secretly devaluing your entire comic card collection? This deep-dive exposes the $1.7 million federal lawsuit filed by Wild Card against…
Nov 10, 2025 · 14:58
The cancellation of the $90 million Batgirl movie was a corporate masterstroke, not a creative failure. In this deep-dive monologue, we EXPOSE the staggering financial strategy…
Nov 7, 2025 · 22:38
Is Marvel's massive new Armageddon 2026 event a brilliant, universe-shaking saga... or a foolish gamble destined for executive failure? In this episode of Comical Opinions, we…
Nov 5, 2025 · 19:03
Is Marvel Comics secretly failing? Dive deep into the disturbing financial data - including the devastating 55% flop rate - that proves corporate executives are prioritizing…
Nov 3, 2025 · 11:34
DC Comics just made a bizarre move: they canceled the Batman Universe: The Deluxe Edition hardcover by Brian Michael Bendis and changed its release date to the year 2079. This…
Oct 29, 2025 · 21:41
Marvel made $1 BILLION or more on several of its films in the first three phases of the MCU, but they can only pay their foundational creators a paltry $5,000 for characters…
Oct 27, 2025 · 12:35
Is DC Comics winning the market share war, or are they cannibalizing the entire collected editions market? The raw data from ComicHub and ICv2 shows DC surging past 30% market…
Oct 24, 2025 · 13:05
Image Comics just filed explosive court documents accusing their former distributor, Diamond Comic Distributors, of attempting to steal $3,000,000 worth of comic books during its…
Oct 22, 2025 · 13:07
The Ultimate Universe is set to end in April 2026, but the real story is the chaos and confusion behind the scenes. Marvel made a shocking, unilateral decision to pull the plug,…
Oct 20, 2025 · 14:39
Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort just dropped a truth bomb that confirms every long-time fan's worst fear: Marvel Comics is no longer the source material, but the marketing…
Oct 16, 2025 · 13:15
DC announced a near-total ban on generative AI art, positioning themselves as the ultimate defender of human artists. Meanwhile, Marvel’s Wonder Man series exposed a massive,…
Oct 13, 2025 · 17:46
DC Comics is now dealing with the fallout of the oldest corporate maxim: "Rules For Thee But Not For Me." The company is facing a massive double standard controversy over the…
Oct 10, 2025 · 13:15
Marvel’s best-selling Ultimate Universe line is officially ending in April 2026 with the Ultimate Endgame event. But you’re being told the wrong story. We have the confirmed…
Oct 8, 2025 · 21:52
ICv2 released its September 2025 Sales Rankings for Western Periodical Comics, and DC is the clear winner when it comes to owning the Top 10. However, the top-of-the-list success…
Oct 3, 2025 · 10:39
Marvel just pulled the ultimate corporate bait-and-switch. They gave their rival platform, GlobalComix, the one feature Marvel Unlimited is missing—day-and-date speed—but it…
Oct 1, 2025 · 20:04
Are you tired of jump scares and watered-down cinematic horror? The scariest thing you'll see this Halloween isn't on a movie screen - it's in a comic book. We're here to prove…
Sep 29, 2025 · 10:12
Stop submitting portfolios to Marvel and DC. The traditional publishing path is obsolete for new comic creators who want to own their work and reach a mass audience. This video…
Sep 26, 2025 · 9:07
Are you a Marvel fan who thinks comic books are the peak of visual storytelling? You might be missing out on a whole world of incredible stories. In this video, we'll dive into…
Sep 24, 2025 · 11:31
Have you ever wondered why your new comic books cost so much more than they did just a few decades ago? The common explanation is inflation, but that's a lie we've been told. In…
Sep 22, 2025 · 9:55
The comic industry is a multi-billion dollar business, but is it built on a lie? When Batman #1 "sold" over 500,000 copies, it made headlines—but that headline is a misdirection.…
Sep 19, 2025 · 9:56
In the 1970s, the comic book industry was a mess of censorship, creative stagnation, and financial struggles. But a small group of creators completely changed the game, laying…
Sep 17, 2025 · 8:59
This video reveals the shocking truth behind the new Deadpool & Batman comic crossover! You think it's just a soulless Marvel and DC cash grab? Think again. This single issue is…
Sep 15, 2025 · 8:50
The Diamond Comics bankruptcy is a wild legal story, but it's gotten even wilder. In this deep dive, we break down the final, catastrophic issue of the comic world's…
Sep 12, 2025 · 7:31
The global comic book industry is a multi-billion dollar powerhouse, but at the ground level, your local comic shop is struggling. What's going on? In this video, we expose the…
Sep 10, 2025 · 6:42
Discover the untold story behind Marvel's greatest cosmic epic! The Illuminati's plan to exile the Hulk was supposed to be a final solution, but a shocking twist of fate on the…
Sep 8, 2025 · 10:07
Is corporate synergy the reason your favorite comic book stories are being erased? This video argues that it's not an accident—it's a financial mandate. We dive deep into the…
Sep 5, 2025 · 7:11
Is the comic book industry dying, and if so, whose fault is it? In this video, we dive into the data from an in-depth industry study to uncover the truth about why new comic book…
Sep 3, 2025 · 6:12
This video reveals the untold sales war between Marvel and DC. While the public focuses on box office battles, a silent but fierce conflict has been raging for years on two…
Sep 1, 2025 · 5:55
Is Comic-Con dead? The numbers say "yes"—at least for the comic book industry. The once-beloved comic convention is losing its soul as it becomes a generic pop culture event.…
Listen in the Podli app 🎧
Follow your favourite podcasts, listen offline and in the car with CarPlay and Android Auto, and always pick up where you left off. Free to try.
Your podcast? Get the Podli badge for your site