July Roundup

One of the biggest events in pop culture San Diego Comic-Con 2026 ramps up. Sure to see numerous big announcements from all the small to major players. Meanwhile the comics world is mourning the loss of influential writer Gerry Conway, whose work on Spider-Man, The Punisher, and countless other titles left a legacy. Debate continues around Tillie Walden’s Charity & Sylvia following questions over attribution and adaptation.

While concerns are being raised about the potential impact of the Kids Online Safety Act on comics publishing, creators, and online communities. Alongside these developments, educators and librarians continue championing comics as valuable tools for literacy, learning, and reader engagement. The Harvey Awards have opened voting for eligible industry professionals, while the finalists for the 11th Annual Dwayne McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics have been announced, celebrating excellence and inclusivity across the medium

NEWS

The Comics Journal

• Gerry Conway, influential comics writer and co-creator of characters including The Punisher and Firestorm, is remembered for creativity, mentorship, and lasting impact.
• Cartoonist Archie Bongiovanni discusses creativity, imperfection, and comics-making, highlighting an approachable artistic process and authentic self-expression.
• A retrospective on The Crow at 40 explores its lasting impact as a cult graphic novel of grief, goth culture, and outsider identity.

The School Library Journal

• Exclusive preview announces Nakama Press’s new middle-grade fantasy graphic novel, highlighting adventure, magical discovery, and upcoming publication details.
• Publishers unveiled new manga titles for younger readers at Anime Expo, expanding age-appropriate choices and growing youth-focused collections.
• Spider-Man: Mighty Mayhem delivers action-packed, kid-friendly adventures, offering young readers humour, excitement, and accessible superhero storytelling.

The Comics Beat

• The Kids Online Safety Act could threaten comics publishing, online anonymity, free expression, and independent creators.
• Five finalists were announced for the 11th Dwayne McDuffie Award, celebrating diversity, inclusive storytelling, and emerging comics talent.
• Daniel Warren Johnson’s new Image Comics series Chainkata follows a chainsaw-wielding warrior queen on an epic interstellar quest for peace.
• Silver Sprocket Artists Collective goes public with allegations of unpaid royalties, accounting problems, and poor treatment after a year of failed talks.
• Seven Seas acquires the Ultraman licenses for 60^th anniversary

Other

• The Harvey Awards are now open to eligible industry professionals for voting, recognising excellence in comics, manga, and graphic novels.
• Drawn & Quarterly defended Tillie Walden’s Charity & Sylvia after historian Rachel Hope Cleves disputed credit, attribution, and compensation.
• A new academic book explores Stan Lee’s philosophical influence, highlighting comics’ enduring value as powerful tools for literacy and education.
• Periodical is an honest, humorous comics anthology exploring menstruation, promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and supporting period-poverty charities.
• Dark Horse Comics announced a new leadership structure, internal promotions, and key executive appointments to support future growth
• Marvel Comics is relocating its publishing division from New York to Burbank by July 2027, with Stephen Wacker named new editor-in-chief
• At ALA 2026, comics creators and librarians strengthened connections through creator events, industry discussions, and the Graphic Novel & Comics Roundtable’s first Outstanding Comics Awards.
• Dav Pilkey Dog Man graphic novels are being adapted into a stage musical, with writer Kevin Del Aguila discussing the process of bringing the comic to theatrical life.

REVIEWS

• Metadoggoz blends cyberpunk fantasy, punk energy, and stunning artwork, with ambitious visuals outweighing a loose, fragmented narrative.
• Katie Skelly’s Heaven earns praise for its striking visual storytelling, blending mystery, atmosphere, and compelling graphic-novel artistry.
• The Spark Experiment combines graphic storytelling with hands-on science activities, encouraging creativity, curiosity, and STEM learning for young readers
• The Last Day of H.P. Lovecraft pairs striking, dreamlike art with a fragmented deathbed narrative that gestures at big questions but never quite answers them.

INTERVIEWS

• Alice Oseman reflects on concluding Heartstopper, celebrating its impact on LGBTQIA+ readers while looking ahead to new stories
• The Patron creators Christian Ward and John J. Pearson sit down to discuss their new Ignition Press series.
• Adam Tierney talks about his upcoming IDW graphic novel 13 Demons Dead, plus Godzilla’s Monsterpiece Theatre Presents Romeo & Juliet & Godzilla.
• Iman Vellani discusses her jump into comics writing with new Image series Chachu, touching on her Ms. Marvel path, the creative team, and balancing superhero versus creator-owned work.
• Frank Miller reflects on art, storytelling, and collaboration in a conversation tied to his new memoir Push the Wall: My Life, Writing, Drawing and the Art of Storytelling
• Roberta Gregory reflects on revisiting Naughty Bits decades later for Bitchy!, discussing Midge McCracken’s evolution and her legacy as a pioneering woman cartoonist.

COLLECTIONS

• Booklist’s Guide to Graphic Novels in Libraries highlights the growing value of graphic novels and manga in library collections, offering recommendations, readers’ advisory tips, and insights into how comics support literacy, inclusion, and reader engagement across all ages.
• DC has unveiled its Spring 2027 young readers lineup, including the new Compact Comics Adventures range. Affordable, all-ages editions featuring Batman, Superman, Justice League, and Teen Titans stories
• No Flying No Tights recommends thoughtful comics about grief, loneliness, and resilience, offering comfort and connection for readers feeling sad
• Image Comics recommends five graphic novels featuring crime, coming-of-age, skate culture, fantasy, and superhero stories.
• A new reading guide outlines the Ghost in the Shell manga, explaining reading order, sequels, spin-offs, and the series cyberpunk legacy.

MEDIA

• A documentary traces Ed Brubaker’s journey from being sidelined as a top Marvel writer. Despite creating characters like the Winter Soldier, to betting on independent work over the studio system.
• A manga exploring how happiness, sadness, and personal tragedy intertwine. Questioning whether success and contentment always align, through Hirayasumi’s quietly complete portrait of peace.
• Comics Tropes explores how Alfred, Batman’s loyal butler and father-figure ally, has been shaped over decades by the many different writers and artists who’ve contributed to the character.
• First trailer for the Avengers: Doomsday has been released.
  

NEW RELEASES

Junior

• Bat Pat Vol. 2 by Trevor Mueller (Papercutz) [9781545823835]
• Dadbot 2: Rise of the Robots by Jack Noel (Picadilly Books) [9781800788299]
• House of Harkness by Preeti Chhibber, Jodi Nishijima, Kiichi Mizushima (Marvel Comics) [9781546146834]
• I Survived the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, 1941 by Lauren Tarshis, Peter Wartman (Scholastic’s Graphix) [9781546137764] 
• Jeff the Land Shark Friends and Rivals by Kelly Thompson, Tokitokoro (Marvel) [9781302966942]
• Jurassic Jeff: Phone Home by Royden Lepp (9780593565452) [Random House]
• Lex Luthor: Diabolical Genius by Christof Bogacs, Valerio Chiola (DC Comics) [9781799503460] [Australian creator]
• Neverlanders: Get Lost by Tom Taylor, Jon Sommariva (Penguin Random House) [9780593351796] [Australian creators]
• Offside by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Mari Costa (Scholastic’s Graphix) [9781339023601]
• Sol Goes for Goal! by Gabi Mendez, Julio Anta (Random House) [9780593651674]
• Speed Racer Adventures Vol. 1 by Franco, Derek Charm (Papercutz) [9781545823798]
• Star Wars Adventures Vol 3 by Various Creators (Hardie Grant’s Children’s Publishing) [9781761218286]
• Super Unicorn Princess: Toxic Takeover by Mike Hartigan (Simon & Schuster) [9781398536012]

YA

• Across the Widest Sea by Jean Cremers (Maverick) [9781545827314]
• The Adventure of Black Cat Nyango, Vol. 1 Since I Got a Rare Attribute, I Aim to Be a Carefree Adventurer by Yuko Sato, Chira Shinoura, Shishimaru (Yen Press) [9798855431636]
• Coming Out Perfect by Richard Mercado (Scholastic’s Graphix) [9781339001593]
• Corpse de Ballet by Megan Kearney (St Martins Press) [9781250824592]
• Forgive-Me-Not by Mari Costa (St Martins Press) [9781250784179]
• Gargoyles Clan Buildingby Greg Weisman, Karine Charlebois, Christopher Jones (DynamiteEntertainment) [9781524125936]
• Heartstopper Volume 6 by Alice Oseman (Hodder Children’s Books) [9781444974881] and (Scholastic) [9781546102441]
• Ladies of the Knight by Fiona Marchbank (Oni Press) [9798894880402]
• The Last Session: The Complete Campaign by Jasmine Walls, Dozerdraws (Maverick) [9781545827840]
• Luca the Dragon Vet Vol 1 by Yuna Hirasawa (Kodansha) [9798888778456]
• My Tokyo Summer by Abby Denson, Utomaru (Scholastic’s Graphix) [9781339006536]
• School Bus Graveyard, Volume 1 by Red (Ink Pop) [9798217122868]
• See You There, Beyond the Ocean by Monday Recover, Chiao Meow (Yen Press) [9798855423518]
• Starship Godzilla: First Wars by Chris Gooch, Oliver Ono (IDW) [9798887244570] [Australian creator]

Adult

• 300 New Days With You by Sai Asai (TokyoPop) [9781427884954]
• The Adventure Zone Story and Song by Clint McElroy, Carey Pietsch, Travis McElroy, Justin McElroy, Griffin McElroy (Macmillan Publishers) [9781250861740]
• Along the Line Writing with Comics and Graphic Narrative in Geography by Juliet Fall (9782889156818) [Wiley]
• Anxietyland And Other Adventures in Mental Healthby Gemma Correll (Penguin) [9780241572894]
• Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Rite of Spring by Patrick Horwath (IDW) [9798887243849]
• Blink and You’ll Miss It by Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, Keith Browning (Boom Studios) [9798892158374]
• The Children of Light by Jean Pleyers (New York Review Comics) [9781681379845]
• The Credits Roll into the Sea Volume 1 by John Tarachine, Jocelyne Allen (Dark Horse) [9781506752136]
• DOGGO by Ryuki Onuma, Hikari Komaru (Seven Seas) [9798897652716]
• Forest of the Rabbits by Enjo (SuBLime) [9781974762781]
• Ghost Pepper Vol. 2 Taste of Cinders by Ludo Lullabi (Image Comics) [9781534332485]
• Green Arrow Year One: DC Compact Comics Edition by Andy Diggle, Jock (DC Comic) [9781799508083]
• The Guy in the Chair by Utkarsh Ambudkar, Hannah Rose May, Guillermo Sanna , Dearbhla Kelly (Random House)[9781506750996]
• Heaven by Katie Skelly (Fantagraphics) [9798875002243]
• How I Make Comics by Kim Deitch (Wiley) [9798875001673]
• Love and Sex in the Promised Land The Private Lives of Israelis and Palestinians By: Salomà Parent-Rachdi, Deloupy  (Wiley) [9798875001697]
• Memories of Giselle by Katia Vecchio (Image Comics) [9781534330757]
• Moonray Blood Song by Brandon Graham, Wyatt Kennedy, Xurxo G Penalta , Alessandro Canzanella (Diamond Comic) [9781961581098]
• Our Soot Stained Heart by Joni Hägg, Stipan Morian, Ropemann, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (Mad Cave Studios) [9781545826539]
• Sun-Ken Rock Vol. 1 by Boich [Kodama] (9781966523208)
• TMNT Journeys, Vol. 1 by Jim Lawson, Peter Laird (IDW) [9798887244655]
• Ultimate Exorcist Kiyoshi, Vol. 1 By: Shoichi Usui (VIZ Media) [9781974755646]