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REVIEW: Human Nature: Book 1

Human Nature: Book 1
By Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, and Jeff Welch
208 pages/Abrams ComicArts/$29.99

When an inventive filmmaker like Darren Aronofsky produces a graphic novel, it warrants attention. His work on Black Swan, The Wrestler, and Requiem for a Dream, among other movies, shows an inventive director but also an inquisitive storyteller, examining different aspects of the human condition. Here, without budgetary limitations, he tackles the biggest issue of them all: life after death.

Here, he partners with his frequent screenwriting collaborator Ari Handel, along with screenwriter Jeff Welch (Bet Your Life), who first conceived the idea in 2011, although none of them could craft a script that secured studio funding. (George Clooney was considered for Duke, which would have been an interesting approach.) This is a first for them all, which may be why the story takes so long to ramp up.

We are introduced to Duke, a self-made success who leverages his poultry business to become one of the world’s richest men. He seeks a way to cheat death, taking the Walt Disney route of cryogenics, hoping that the brain tumor slowly killing him can be cured at some future date. He finds such a company but decides it costs too much, so he buys it out and grows it into profitability through scale by offering to freeze the near-dead for a mere $99.99.

Duke is not a pleasant person, letting the bottom line dictate his choices, refusing to acknowledge people’s frailties. The only glimmer of kindness emerges when he discovers the existence of Pembroke, an adult daughter he never knew. He’s frozen before he can search, thanks to the unscrupulous actions of his number two.

His search for her drives some of the story. When he awakes, Duke discovers an unrecognizable world, one where aliens have invaded and remain unknown, their motivations and actions unexplained. We see him slowly learning to please his captors by singing whatever songs he can recall, and trying to engage with his neighboring captives.

We learn all of this as an elderly Duke tells a group of initiates his story sitting around a campfire. Most of the book is then an extended flashback.

It’s billed as a satire, and it’s a very subtle satire, more about the human failings and corporate greed – so far. We’ll have to wait and see. It’s also billed as Book 1 of a trilogy and utterly fails the reader by ending on a cliffhanger. For $30, I would think the reader deserves enough story to feel satisfied, welcome to return for the next installment. Here, we are forced to buy Book 2 to continue the story.

Martin Morazzo is best known for Ice Cream Man, a title I am unfamiliar with, but I really enjoyed his work on 2018’s She Could Fly. But his art is richly textured, and the writers give him plenty of space for vast vistas or thousands of chicks. He doesn’t skimp on detail and invites us to immerse ourselves in this new reality. He is ably supported by the subtle colors from Chris O’Halloran and Aditya Bidkar’s lettering.

Overall, it’s a breezy read with plenty to look at and enjoy. As for giving us much to consider, well, that will just have to wait.

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Warner Archive Collection’s 17th Anniversay Sale is Underway

Warner Archive fans—this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

Movie Zyng is proud to be the exclusive host of the Warner Archive 17th Anniversary Sale, featuring over 650 titles from one of the most beloved collector lines in home entertainment.

Here’s the offer:

  • Buy 4 titles for $54
  • Add additional titles for just $13.50 each

This year’s sale is especially exciting, with over 100 titles included that have never been part of previous anniversary promotions—making this your best opportunity yet to fill gaps and discover new additions for your collection.

We know longtime collectors will notice the slight shift from prior 4-for-$49 pricing—but there’s good news:

  • Movie Zyng has significantly reduced shipping costs, offsetting most (if not all) of that difference
  • Every purchase earns Zyng Reward Points, adding even more value to every order

How to participate:

  1. Browse eligible Warner Archive titles
  2. Add your selections to cart
  3. Enter code ARCHIVE17 at checkout

Sale Dates: March 23 – March 31

Whether you’re upgrading your library or diving deeper into the Warner Archive catalog, this is the definitive moment to do it.

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REVIEW: The Undertaker Volume One

The Undertaker Volume One
By Xavier Dorison and Ralph Meyer
112 pages/Abrams ComicArts/$25.99

While the Western has risen and fallen in favor here in America, it has continued to fascinate European creators, who have produced works set in an era they know only from history and movies. Among the more interesting offerings has been the Undertaker series from French-born Xavier Dorison and Ralph Meyer. They have been producing multiple story cycles since 2015, and last week their English-translated stories (by Tom Imber) finally reached us.

“The Gold Eater” cycle introduces us to Jonas Crow, who is, in 1868, an itinerant undertaker, arriving in Anoki City to collect the body of mining tycoon and grade-A asshole Joe Cusco. Rather than bequeath his wealth, he has decided to take it with him, swallowing gold nuggets. He has contracted with Crow to bring his corpse to the spot of his first gold strike and bury him there. His faithful assistant, Rose Prairie, is blackmailed into assisting him because if she doesn’t, some unknown innocent will be killed in three days’ time.

As they set out, they collect the Chinese governess Miss Lin, and the three are beset by Cusco’s former employees, led by McKullen, the town’s sheriff,  who learn of the gold and want it. Add in American soldiers seeking Crow, wanted for murder and known as the Butcher of Skullhill, and we’re off to the races.

Meyer wanted to write a Western, and Meyer conceived of the Crow to subvert the traditional notion of the Western hero. Here, he’s closer to Jonah Hex than John Wayne, cynical and solitary, uncomfortable with sharing the hearse wagon with the women. He is accompanied by the injured vulture Jed, whom he speaks to more than the women.

Once we’re off, the action is fast-paced as Crow and company have to contend with a harsh environment and with men willing to risk everything to get the gold their families need. There’s desperation to spread around, along with violence.

Working within the tried-and-true Western conventions, the story also addresses universal themes of loyalty, responsibility, and, of course, greed. Justice and morality are examined in the actions the Undertaker takes to protect the women and fend off the men, as he tries to honor his obligation.

Meyer’s Franco-Belgian art is rich in period detail and paces the action sequences quite well. He colored the work with Caroline Delabie in subtle tones, subduing the harsh glare of the sun and desert.

Each cycle is in two parts, so we can hope this does well enough for the remainder of the series to come to the States.

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Paulo Siqueira Provides Inter-Connecting Variant Covers to Civil War: Unmasked

New York, NY— March 20, 2026 — This May, Marvel Comics honors the 20th anniversary of Civil War with CIVIL WAR: UNMASKED, a five-issue limited series by writer Christos Gage (Battleworld), artist Edgar Salazar (The Last Wolverine). The series delivers unseen stories set before, during, and after the iconic event, including startling insights into the storyline’s more impactful moments. Each issue will have a connecting variant cover by artist Paulo Siqueira with colors by Rachelle Rosenberg that captures some of these historic moments, including Spider-Man’s legendary unmasking, to Captain America and Iron Man’s decisive final battle.

WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU ON NOW?

The original Civil War went on to become one of Marvel’s best-selling collections and the inspiration behind sequels, films, video games, and more. CIVIL WAR: UNMASKED celebrates its legacy by recapturing the era’s exciting spirit and shedding light on its most historic developments. An anniversary series two decades in the making, the sagas will be packed with twists and surprises, including ones that will impact present-day storytelling.

“The really cool thing for me, re-reading the original event, was realizing how many opportunities there were to go deeper into the story,” Gage told Marvel.com in a recent interview. “That’s why we called it Unmasked. It’s an allusion to the literal unmasking required by the Superhuman Registration Act, of course, but it also refers to getting into the heads of some of the main characters to ‘unmask’ why they made some of the consequential decisions they did.”

CIVIL WAR: UNMASKED #1 (OF 5)
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Art by EDGAR SALAZAR
Colors by MORRY HOLLOWELL
Cover by GEOFF SHAW
Five-Part Connecting Variant Cover by PAULO SIQUEIRA
On Sale 5/6

CIVIL WAR: UNMASKED #2 (OF 5)
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Art by EDGAR SALAZAR
Colors by MORRY HOLLOWELL
Cover by GEOFF SHAW
Five-Part Connecting Variant Cover by PAULO SIQUEIRA
On Sale 6/10

CIVIL WAR: UNMASKED #3 (OF 5)
Written by CHRISTOS GAGE
Art by EDGAR SALAZAR
Colors by MORRY HOLLOWELL
Cover by GEOFF SHAW
Five-Part Connecting Variant Cover by PAULO SIQUEIRA
On Sale 7/8

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David Avallone Mixes and Matches in Altered States

March 19, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment announces a mind-bending, multiversal masterpiece starting this June, as Altered States: Warlords brings together some of the publisher’s biggest stars for a crossover epic by David Avallone (Elvira Mistress of the Dark, Bettie Page) and Mariano Benitez-Chapo.

Welcome to Altered States… Dynamite Entertainment’s daring take on parallel realities, alternate tales, and unexpected outcomes in the vein of beloved brands like What If? and Elseworlds. Avallone and company are ready to ramp things up for readers with the most ambitious story in the line to date!

Red Sonja, the She-Devil of Hyrkania, suddenly finds herself far away from the familiar Hyborean lands — transported to the ruby sands of Barsoom, or as Earth-readers know it, Mars. What follows will set up events that ripple across time and space, drawing in additional legendary heroes from all across the galaxy.

John Carter and Dejah Thoris, known as the veritable Warlords of Mars, will leave their mark in this story. Meanwhile, another beloved Edgar Rice Burroughs icon, Tarzan, the Lord of the Jungle, comes directly from Earth into this tale. Last but certainly not least, a native of the mysterious planet Drakulon will join the fray — Vampirella!

“[Editor] Joe Rybandt asked me if I’d be interested in doing an Altered States series using Dynamite characters, all centered around Barsoom – the Mars of Edgar Rice Burroughs. That sounded like a whole lot of fun, and right up my alley,” said writer David Avallone. “My first thought was ‘Red Sonja: Warlord of Mars.’ Red knocks over the first domino, so to speak, challenging the cult of the Holy Therns at its founding, and setting off a whole alternative timeline where John Carter isn’t the first human from Earth to reach Barsoom… with seismic repercussions for Martian culture, religion, and society. Naturally, the Therns and their goddess Issus are none too happy about that. Over the course of the series, we’ll see how that affects Carter’s arrival and reception, and new adventures with Edgar Rice Burroughs’ jungle lord Tarzan and a mysterious princess from the planet Drakulon — you know her as Vampirella — as they all find their way to the Red Planet.”

Writer David Avallone is renowned for his seamless voices for wisecracking heroines like Elvira and Bettie Page, as well as a pulse for pulp. He reunites for Altered States: Warlords with rising star artist Mariano Benitez-Chapo. The Argentinian-turned-Philadelphian grad of The Kubert School is stepping up for his biggest project yet, following a string of Savage Tales specials with Avallone.

The series is complemented with a range of gorgeous variant covers pulled from across the worlds of Altered States. Superstars Joseph Michael Linsner and Mike Rooth wow with covers showcasing the She-Devil in the first issue, with other characters to follow. Benitez-Chapo contributes covers for each issue, all designed to connect with one another. Note that final covers for subsequent issues will be in full color, showcasing his stunning pencil-and-ink work, and variants will also be available, presenting his work in that manner. Cosplayer Jackie Goehner features on a photo cover, complete with an impressive axe. 

The first issue will also be available through a mystery blind bag release. This offering includes three separate versions of the issue, randomly pulled from a range of virgin, line art, and other premium books for collectors.

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Marvel Makes a Splash with new Swimsuit Special

New York, NY— March 20, 2026 — Last summer, the Marvel Swimsuit Special, an iconic ‘90s comic one-shot, made its long-awaited return in Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes & Rivals #1! Following its success, get ready for things to get even hotter this July with MARVEL SWIMSUIT SPECIAL: BRAND NEW BEACH DAY #1, an all-new one-shot packed with tongue-in-cheek stories and gorgeous pinups of Marvel heroes from some of today’s top artists, including Pasqual Ferry, Valerio Schiti, Dan Panosian, Javier Garrón, Carmen Carnero, and many, many more!

Get YOUR SUPER HERO BEACH BODS READY!

You asked for it, so you’ve got it – Marvel Swimsuit Special is back again! And this time, we’re holding nothing back!

In addition to stunning pinup art, MARVEL SWIMSUIT SPECIAL: BRAND NEW BEACH DAY #1 will include four fun, zany, half-naked stories from across the Marvel Universe:

  • No one skips the gym here! Hulk, She-Hulk, Doc Samson, and new hero Powerlift break a sweat in a story by Cody Ziglar (Miles Morales: Spider-Man).
  • This is how you throw a party in Atlantis! Namor hosts the most epic beach party you’ve ever seen in a story by Daniel Kibblesmith (Loki).
  • No one brings the heat like the X-Men! See mutants—of all shapes and sizes—hit the beach in Rainbow Rowell’s story that proves how nothing looks better than self-confidence!
  • And the adrenaline really gets pumping in a beach slasher tale starring Spider-Man by Anthony Oliveria (Avengers Academy)!

MARVEL SWIMSUIT SPECIAL: BRAND NEW BEACH DAY #1
Written by CODY ZIGLAR, DANIEL KIBBLESMITH, RAINBOW ROWELL & ANTHONY OLIVEIRA
Art by PASQUAL FERRY, VALERIO SCHITI, DAN PANOSIAN, JAVIER GARRON, CARMEN CARNERO & MORE MARVEL ALL-STARS  
Cover by J. SCOTT CAMPBELL
Variant Cover by JOHN ROMITA JR.
On Sale 7/1

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Girl in the World by Caroline Cash

Caroline Cash took over the Nancy comic strip at the beginning of this year, after a try-out run (before and after a couple of other creators) a year before. Her predecessor was Olivia Jaimes, a female creator who rejuvenated the strip in 2018 and is shrouded in mystery. Well, slightly more mystery than any other name on a national media entity where you never see the human being behind it – she’s pseudonymous and has guarded her privacy, though the assumption is she’s also known as a cartoonist under her real name, whatever that is. [1]

I liked the Jaimes Nancy; so far (it’s January 31 as I write this) I’m liking the Cash Nancy; and I liked Cash’s brief run in 2024. So I figured I should see what else Cash has done. She was best-known, pre-Nancy, for her ongoing comic PeePee PooPoo, with a confusing numbering scheme that has so far gone 420, 69, 80085, and 1. (I may have the order wrong, for obvious reasons.) Before that, though, she had a standalone graphic novel, Girl in the World , as her comics debut in 2019. So I took a look at that.

Girl follows a large cast, almost all female – there’s one gay man I remember, and possibly other men in minor roles as passers-by, but it’s a story about a lose friend group of women, during one long night. (Yes, there is a Bechdel Test reference at the end.) They’re all young, and I guess to complete the cliché I should say they’re all restless, too. They’re all part of the same set in whatever city this is – Cash herself is from Chicago, but the city here is unnamed but mostly low-rise, rowhouses and buses and dark late-night streets.

These girls – I guess I should call them girls, from the title? – have different things they can do this night: the organized ones are Facebook events, to make this even more 2019, but the characters mostly ditch organized frivolity early and spend their time traveling with each other to the next thing, talking and just hanging out.

There’s no larger plot: this is a book about those conversations, about what this group of young women are thinking about and worried about and unhappy about in this random night in 2019. They’re different people – Cash does, I think, give them all names and personalities, but the names don’t get used much, as friends don’t dialogue-tag each other all that often.

Cash’s art style shifts and alters – at first I thought she was creating looks for each cluster of characters, but I think, in the end, it’s more a new creator working on her first long work – trying new things, using all of the tools she has, pushing in every direction she can, using each new blank page to learn something new.

Girl is a very “indy” book – that art style, that kind of storytelling, that feeling of a young creator trying things out in public. I find that kind of work energizing, and this is a great example of the type.

[1] I would love to work up a conspiracy that Cash is actually Jaimes, and this is a complicated double-fakeout to go public and switch her art style. But Cash is barely thirty, and I think was still in art school when “Jaimes” took over Nancy, so the timeline really doesn’t work. Sad, because that would be an awesome thing to at least pretend to believe in.

Reposted from The Antick Musings of G.B.H. Hornswoggler, Gent.

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Dynamite Joins Compact Edition Trend Starting with Pathfinder

March 19, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment is proud to announce the first entry in a curated line of Compact Editions, offering some of the most revered storylines by fans and critics in an unbeatably affordable format perfect for new readers, sharing the medium, and those looking to try them out. It all starts this June with the debut of Pathfinder: Dark Waters Rising.
This book features a whopping 224 pages of epic adventure and is offered for just $9.99 from US retailers at a 5.5 by 8.5-inch format. It collects issues #1-6 of Dynamite’s initial Pathfinder series from 2012, plus a bonus 10-page story, “The Last Mosswood Goblin,” and over 30 pages of worldbuilding details to both enhance the story and assist in playing the titular tabletop roleplaying game.

Bestselling author Jim Zub drives these journeys, well established for his fabulous fantasy in titles like Conan the Barbarian, Skullkickers, Wayward, and an extensive bibliography at Marvel Comics. He’s joined by artists including Andrew Huerta.

The warrior Valeros trusts in his sword skills and his companions, which include the enigmatic sorceress Seoni, the clever elven rogue Merisiel, the formidable wizard Ezren, the seasoned dwarven ranger Harsk, and the brave cleric Kyra. However, this group of adventurers is unprepared for the threats that lie in wait. The fragmented goblin tribes of Varisia are coming together in unprecedented ways.

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Threats Ramp up as Amazing Spider-Man #1000 Approaches

New York, NY— March 19, 2026 — The 1000th issue of Amazing Spider-Man arrives in September, and the lead-up to the monumental milestone has already begun! Joe Kelly’s hit run with artists Pepe Larraz, John Romita Jr., and more has been heating up since Peter Parker returned from his cosmic adventures in “Death Spiral,” a new crossover with Venom that kicked off earlier this month. Today, fans can peek ahead at what awaits on the other side of this bloody affair with the reveal of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #30-31, hitting stands in June.

In AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #30, Kelly and guest artist Pete Woods continue to introduce the newest member of Spidey’s rogues gallery. One of Spider-Man’s oldest friends was caught in a terrible accident – and Peter Parker is to blame! Don’t miss SPIDEY VS. SPORE! But should Peter even BE fighting in a tragedy of his own making?! And learn the answers to an earth-shattering riddle from the battle with Torment in “Death Spiral”!

On creating Spore, Kelly said, “From the beginning of my run, Nick [Lowe] and I talked about a new villain that harkened back to early Amazing Spider-Man classics. Someone with science-based powers, caused by a lab accident, etc. But rather than give this villain an excuse to hate Spider-Man, they would be decided anti-Peter Parker. Enter Brian Nehring, who not only has a complex childhood past with Peter, but also blames him for the accident that transforms him into Spore! Pete Woods did an amazing job on his design- creepy and modern. He’s a sick puppy… Brian, not Pete… maybe Pete.”

Then in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #31, Patrick Gleason joins Kelly for “THE TALK.” Just in time for AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000, Peter Parker’s world is turned upside down with one of the biggest reveals in Spider-Man history. Don’t miss this pivotal story that leads directly into AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1000 and beyond! 

On what fans can expect from the revelatory issue, Kelly shared, “There is so much to say about this issue… It’s heartbreaking, for one. Some of the most honest and emotional stuff we’ve done. Pat Gleason delivers a powerhouse performance and captures everything I’d hoped for. It’s also one of those times where you can honestly say, ‘This changes everything.’ A family secret comes to light, rocking Peter and May to the foundation of their relationship. It’s huge and has ramifications well past issue #1000. I try not to oversell these sorts of moments… but this is the big one.”

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Crazy 8 Press and StarWarp Concepts Invite your to Visit Southwatch

NEW YORK, NY – March 19, 2026— Author collective Crazy 8 Press announced today the soon-to-launch Kickstarter campaign for Southwatch Stories – A Darkside Chronicles Anthology, a new steampunk-inspired collection of class warfare stories in collaboration with series creator Richard White.

On an unnamed world, the island city of Southwatch is a steampunk marvel of science, technology, and innovation—if you live in Dayside, above the clouds, as the wealthy elite. But if you’re scurrying for survival in Darkside, the island city’s lower ranks engulfed by a toxic cloud of poison and pollution, existence is a very different endeavor indeed.

In a battle of the haves and have-nots, readers will be taken on a dark, nefarious journey through the underbelly of this original steampunk fantasy world, where humans and mechanical beings form partnerships, alliances… and deals they’ll come to regret.

Stories are set to appear from Crazy 8 Press members Robert Greenberger, Hildy Silverman, Paul Kupperberg, and Aaron Rosenberg, and from an all-star line-up of contributors including Natalie Bartley, Phil Giunta, Bobby Nash, Dayton Ward, Steve Saville, and Richard White. Stretch-goal authors include Richard Dansky and Michael Stackpole.

Inspired by “The Cloud Minders” episode from Star Trek: The Original Series, White set out to explore what happens where there’s “no green grass, no animals, and where old tech and super-science merge—and collide.

“Darkside is the penalty of hubris,” White said. “The creators of this steampunk tech-inspired world get to live in Dayside’s plume of luxury while everyone else lives in squalor. The wealthy are willing to make that trade-off, if they consider it at all. But for everyone else, their motivations are quite different.”

“We’ve been looking to expand our projects into steampunk,” said Crazy 8 Press founding member Bob Greenberger. “Richard’s dark vision for this world is exactly the kind of environment we wanted to explore.”

The Kickstarter campaign to launch Southwatch Stories – A Darkside Chronicles Anthology will run from March 30 to April 30, 2026. Published through White’s StarWarp Concepts with support from Crazy 8 Press, print and e-books will become available to backers in November, and to the general public shortly thereafter.

Back the Kickstarter campaign today.

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