Major Spoilers Comic Book Podcast

R.L. Stine stumbles, a serial-killer comic intrigues, Brubaker delivers another Criminal winner, and then we go deep on The Outcasts — fascism, class systems, mutants, AI, and why some old comics still feel way too current. RSS Feed Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) REVIEWS LIFE AND DEATH OF LUCAS DREAMWALKER #1 Writer: RL Stine Artist: Francesco Francavilla Publisher: BOOM! Studios Cover Price: $5.99 Release Date: May 27, 2026 Journey with the Dreamwalker through new realms of terror! How many times can you be killed in a dream before you die? Legendary horror author R.L. Stine and award-winning artist Francesco Francavilla explore that very question as the mystery of Lucas's third death is foretold in this pulpy, noir, somnambulist adventure! Originally published in the hit horror anthology series Hello Darkness, this dreamy oversized issue collects Parts 1–3 of the nightmarish saga into one thrilling read! Rating: 2/5 You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4e1GLlS KILLER INFLUENCES #1 Writer: Joey Esposito Artist: Valeria Burzo Publisher: IDW Publishing Cover Price: $4.99 Release Date: May 25, 2026 Killer Influences follows Melvin, a serial killer who is aspiring to be one of the most infamous to ever do it, a true American nightmare. His problem? He's so efficient and methodical that he doesn't have a brand. No one has connected his crimes—except for Kylie, an aspiring true crime influencer who is flailing at a small-town newspaper. When she comes across Melvin's crimes and reaches out to him… she figures out how she's going to become a star. She will give Melvin the identity he needs to be the iconic serial killer he wants to be, while she follows his exploits on her channel and becomes famous. Kylie and Melvin make a pact that will make their dreams come true and destroy their lives in the process. Eisner Award nominee Joey Esposito (The Pedestrian, Batman: Urban Legends) and rising-star artist Valeria Burzo (Castle Full of Blackbirds, EC Comics) deliver a scathing and thrilling true crime serial killer saga with Killer Influences! Rating: 3.5/5 You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4tUNJxJ FIVE GEARS IN REVERSE Writer: Ed Brubaker Artist: Sean Phillips Publisher: Image Comics Cover Price: $22.99 Release Date: May 27, 2026 In one of the wildest, most action-packed books that Brubaker and Phillips have ever done, we delve deep into the life of one of CRIMINAL's most complex and tragic characters, Ricky Lawless as he tries to pay off a deep debt to a mobster, while things just keep going from bad to worse. Rating: 5/5 You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/3RtjEIg TRADE DISCUSSION THE OUTCASTS Writers: John Wagner and Alan Grant Artist: Cam Kennedy Publisher: DC Comics Release Date 1987 The series takes place in a bleak world ruled by mega-corporations and corrupt politicians that prey on the weak and poor members of society. In this world, all manners of outrageous habits exists: Slaughterbowl (a hyper violent sport comparable to football) and government controlled euthanasia centers are among them. At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching require significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep Major Spoilers strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today. If you know someone who loves comics, share this post and episode with them!

Marvel goes horror with the new Midnight Universe, Rockford Files gets a reboot, White Boat #3 and Catacombs of Torment #11 bring the scares, and then we head to Oz for a surprisingly rich discussion of Ultimate Oz Universe: The Lost Lands. RSS Feed Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) Thanks for listening to the Major Spoilers Podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work. REVIEWS WHITE BOAT #3 Writer: Scott Snyder Artist: Francesco Francavilla Publisher: DSTLRY Cover Price: $8.99 Release Date: May 18, 2026 After learning the dark secrets of the mysterious island, Lee is left to decide if he wants to join these cosmic cultists or make a break for freedom. But when he's unwilling to leave his metamorphic monster of a brother behind, he will make a fateful decision that might save their necks but doom the entire planet! WHITE BOAT reunites Scott Snyder, the visionary writer who redefined comic book dread with Wytches and introduced Batman into a terrifying, cerebral era reunites with modern noir master Francesco Francavilla for a white-knuckle descent into Lovecraftian maritime madness! EC CATACOMB OF TORMENT #11 Writer: Dustin Weaver, Matt Bors, Liam Johnson Artist: Dustin Weaver, Arjuna Susini Publisher: Oni Press Cover Price: $4.99 Release Date: May 20, 2026 OH NO? OH YES! IT'S A SINEW-SNAPPING EC ORIGIN SPECTACULAR! EC's very own Mistress of Malice, the Tormentor, finally takes center stage to reveal her hopes ("to see your bone marrow!"), dreams ("slathering you in scalding oil!"), and aspirations ("finding excruciating new ways of using the ball peen hammer!") in this VERY SPECIAL and EXTRA BLOODY tale of who she is and how she came to be! Join us for an "all-scar" celebration of Her Royal Majesty of Pain as modern EC Comics master Dustin Weaver (Avengers, Paklis) dons his bloody red pen to write and illustrate this magnificently malignant chapter in Horror Host history! Plus: More new torturous tales from the depths of the Tormentor's catacomb await, courtesy of fiendishly minded creators Matt Bors (The Toxic Avenger), Liam Johnson (Armitage), Arjuna Susini (Lamentation), and more! Don't miss our most devilish ish yet—or she'll leave you for last! You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4dlRia3 TRADE DISCUSSION ULTIMATE OZ UNIVERSE: THE LOST LANDS Writer: Cullen Bunn, Larry King Artist: Mike Deodato, Jr. Publisher: AWA Studios In this captivating graphic novel, you'll meet Tip who embarks on a transformative journey through the Lands of Oz, uncovering the truth about his origins and the magic within him. During his wild adventure, he encounters familiar faces — like Dorothy and the Tin Woodman — and meets new characters, like Hungry Tiger and H.M. Wogglebug, T.E., as he ventures through wonderous places like Fiddlestick Forest and Gillikin Country. Through thrilling twists and unexpected turns, Tip unravels the mystery of his birth and discovers his true identity and destiny. Steeped in rich lore and imaginative storytelling, this Oz adventure is firmly rooted in Baum's OZ canon, blending nostalgia with fresh perspectives for fantasy lovers and longtime Oz fans alike. You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4dxTrRc At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching require significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep Major Spoilers strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today. If you know someone who loves comics, share this post and episode with them!

The Major Spoilers crew returns after a brief hiatus with Marvel's Fantastic Four #8, Mad Cave's wild Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre, Titan's colorized Savage Sword of Conan, and a surprisingly glowing deep dive into Usagi Yojimbo: The Tengu War. Plus, a spirited debate on recoloring classic comics. RSS Feed Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) REVIEWS THE SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN: REFORGED #3 Writer: Roy Thomas Artists: Various Publisher: Titan Comics Cover Price: $9.99Release Date: February 18, 2026 In the desert city of Zamboula, Conan is attacked by a group of cannibals who feast on weary travelers. Together with a mysterious dancer named Zabibi, he learns the city's rulers turn a blind eye to the nightly hunts so long as those who live there aren't on the menu. But when Conan agrees to help Zabibi kill a depraved priest who cursed her lover, he'll find himself caught in a web of illusion and betrayal within the temple walls of the ape-god Hanuman! Reprinting the adaptation of the original Robert E. Howard story from Savage Sword of Conan #14, presented here for the first time in stunning color! Amazon affiliate link FANTASTIC FOUR (Vol. 8) #8 Writer: Ryan North Artist: Humberto Ramos Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $3.99 Release Date: February 18, 2026 It's back before everything changed, and I'm still in grad school — just a kid, really. My name is Susan Storm, and I've just become the Invisible Girl. Our first encounter was with the Mole Man — he was the first time we found it necessary to use our powers, to truly become the Fantastic Four. Reed prayed it would be the last. But his prayers weren't the kind that got answered. What happened next wasn't what I thought would happen — it wasn't what any of us thought would happen. I want you to know that I tried. I really did. I didn't mean for things to end up the way they turned out. But there are some mistakes you can't take back. And there are some wounds that don't kill you, even though they should... Amazon affiliate link Florida Hippopotamus Cocaine Massacre #1 Writer: Fred Kennedy Artist: James Edward Clark Publisher: Mad Cave Studios Cover Price: $4.99 Release Date: February 18, 2026 A no-nonsense federal agent and a lone-wolf cop chase down a brutal drug lord in a flooded amusement park swarming with blood-crazed hippos and cut-throat mercenaries. Disco Hippo Wonderland is the number one amusement park in Flamingo City. But few realize its corpulent owner, Jans M'jor Discau, is about to release the most potent drug ever created: Coke45! Fortunately for humanity, Agent Clarke Nebraska is on the case! She'll bring down Discau come heck or high water! That was the plan, until her undercover agent, Tico Senecoza, was captured! And before she can rescue him, Miquel—Tico's sexy loose cannon of an older brother beats her to the punch, storming into the park with bullets flying. Discau panics, dumping the Coke45 into the hippo enclosure and letting them loose on the park, before fleeing into Wonderland's tunnel network! Nebraska's plans are totally off the rails, and things get worse when a marijuana smoke fueled hurricane drowns the park in torrential rain! Now it's up to Nebraska and Miquel to create an uncomfortable truce to bring Discau down before he escapes! Become a Patron USAGI YOJIMBO: TENGU WAR! Creator: Stan Sakai Publisher: IDW Publishing Release Date: March 22, 2022 Cover Price: $35.00 Usagi seeks out an old teacher, Sojobo, but upon finding him, learns that a new brand of Tengu mountain goblins have invaded the Western Peak. Savage and relentless, they are determined to drive the established Tengu out and prey upon the people of the area. For the first time, Usagi must ally himself with yokai against an even greater enemy, in "Tengu War!" Then, in "The Master of Hebishima," Usagi delivers a basket of lizards to an eccentric monk who lives on a remote island infested with snakes, where he learns they share a history that goes back to the Great Wars and the Battle of Adachi Plain where Usagi became a ronin. In the final story, "Yukichi," Usagi encounters a young swordmaster carrying out the dying wish of his master. Yukichi must deliver Itsuki-Sensei's swords to his nephew, Daido, who will take over his school, however, they must pass through the territory of a rival school intent on preventing them from completing their mission. Purchase via our Amazon affiliate link At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep Major Spoilers strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today. Thanks for reading Major Spoilers! This post is public so feel free to share it.

This week, we react to Jason Momoa's Lobo look, review Harley Quinn x Elvira #4 and Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2026, break down Magic: The Gathering's Lorwyn Eclipse (and that investor suit chatter), then go long on Absolute Batman Vol. 1—the smash that's redefining DC's 2026 strategy. RSS Feed Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) REVIEWS AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL 2026 Writer: Saladin Ahmed Artist: Federico Vicentini Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $4.99 Release Date: January 28, 2026 RAPID RESPONDERS! SPIDER-MAN shows new speedster RAPID around the friendly neighborhood! Rapid has A LOT to learn about the super-hero game! But the training wheels come off when SCREWBALL live streams death and destruction across NYC! Purchase via our Amazon affiliate link HARLEY QUINN x ELVIRA #4 Writer: Amanda Conner/Jimmy Palmiotti Artist: Juan Samu/Amanda Conner Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment/DC Comics Cover Price: $4.99 Release Date: January 28, 2026 With things getting too hot to handle back in Brooklyn, Elvira and Harley abscond to the cooler climes of Transylvania to crash with one of Elvira's best buddies in his tastefully appointed castle. But despite their reputation as old-school hedonists, the Count's already-invited guests don't much care for this pair of interlopers - and they've got some decidedly medieval ideas for how to deal with party crashers! Purchase via our Amazon affiliate link Lorwyn Eclipsed (Magic Set) Release Date: January 23, 2026 Explore the forever day and eternal night of Lorwyn Eclipsed and you may find one of 500 serialized versions of Bitterbloom Bearer, illustrated by beloved artist Rebecca Guay in a special borderless showcase treatment. Available only in Collector Boosters. Purchase via our Amazon affiliate link TRADE PAPERBACK DISCUSSION ABSOLUTE BATMAN VOLUME 1: The Zoo Writer: Scot Snyder Artist: Nick Dragotta Publisher: DC Comics Bruce Wayne comes from nothing. He's not the scion of a wealthy empire in Gotham City, he's the son of a public school teacher who he experienced the unimaginable horror of random gun violence as a child, changing the trajectory of his life forever. With no limitless resources, no billions to fund him, no mansion, and no butler to care for him, Bruce has shaped himself into an entirely different breed of Batman, one that is equal parts brain and brawn, who exists exclusively in the grittiest and most underserved parts of Gotham with no high society mask to fall back on. Purchase via our Amazon affiliate link At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep Major Spoilers strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

We kick things off with Cyberpunk 2077: Chrome #1, celebrate Avengers #800 with a thunderous roll call, and dodge Nazis and kaiju in Escape from Skull Island #1! Then strap in for BIG RIG, where an 18-wheeler becomes a holy weapon in a swords-and-demons road movie. Also: bacon vs. sausage RSS Feed Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) REVIEWS CYBERPUNK 2077: CHROME #1 Writer: Doug Wagner Artist: Tommaso Bennato Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Cover Price: $4.99 Release Date: January 14, 2026 A group of friends including a netrunner, a fire graffiti artist, an aspiring rockerboy, and an autotechie set off for a fun photoshoot at a landfill, where among heaps of rubbish, scrap, and metal, they'll find a shot to die for! Rumor has it the place is haunted, and they're about to find out, in Night City, there are things far more frightening than ghosts. [rating:4/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/49NZIX8 AVENGERS #34 (800) Writer: Jed McKay/Brian Michael Bendis Artist: Farid Karami/Mark Bagley Publisher: Marvel Comics Cover Price: $7.99 Release Date: January 14, 2026 AVENGERS LEGACY ISSUE #800! EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES mark a critical MILESTONE with eight hundred issues! Everything has been building toward this: MYRDDIN's ENDGAME! KANG stands revealed at the precipice of a NEW UNIVERSE! PLUS: This issue will feature a special 14-page backup story written by Bendis and drawn by superstar artist Mark Bagley, reuniting the powerhouse pair known for their work together on Ultimate Spider-Man and Avengers Assemble. [rating:3.5/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/4pEySFw ESCAPE FROM SKULL ISLAND #1 Writer: Simon Furman Artist: Christopher Jones Publisher: Titan Comics Cover Price: $4.99 Release Date: January 28, 2026 AN OFFICIAL CONTINUATION OF THE SKULL ISLAND ANIMATED SERIES! Trapped on Skull Island, a desperate band of survivors struggles against the land's relentless horrors while an ancient threat rises from below. But as chaos unfolds, flashbacks reveal Kong's turbulent youth. Now, as hordes of monstrous beasts close in on the stranded humans, the most dangerous enemy of all regains strength to once more challenge Kong's throne. [rating:2.5/5] You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/3YGrSNt BIG RIG Writers: Post Malone, Adrian Wassel Artist: Nathan C. Gooden Publisher: Vault Comics Cover Price: $24.99 The Dark Ages… Demon hordes plague Europe as Hell invades Earth. The Six Petals, a secret sect of The Knights Templar, pray for a holy weapon to drive back the scourge. What crashes to earth instead is The Rig, a fully loaded tractor trailer. In the aftermath of its arrival, the only man left standing is an enigmatic former priest. He will become Trucker and lead the fight against Hell—with 25 tons and 18 wheels of demon-slaying machine. You can purchase this issue via our Amazon affiliate link - https://amzn.to/3LxFrvz Thanks for reading Major Spoilers! This post is public so feel free to share it.

As we close out the year at the Major Spoilers Podcast, we talk about whatever is on our minds, which turns out to be Roomba, that Trash Boy Anime, our favorite comic book characters, and more! Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at http://patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure the Major Spoilers Podcast continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) CLOSE Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends!

In this installment of Critical Hit - A Major Spoilers Podcast: The party searches for the opening to Melvin's lair. Character sheets and battle map images for this episode are available at Patreon.com/MajorSpoilers Subscribe via Apple Podcasts Show your thanks to Major Spoilers for this episode by becoming a Major Spoilers Patron at Patreon.com/MajorSpoilers. It will help ensure Critical Hit continues far into the future! Join our Discord server and chat with fellow Spoilerites! (https://discord.gg/jWF9BbF) Contact us at podcast@majorspoilers.com A big Thank You goes out to everyone who downloads, subscribes, listens, and supports this show. We really appreciate you taking the time to listen to our ramblings each week. Tell your friends about the podcast, get them to subscribe and, be sure to visit the Major Spoilers site for more.