You Wait All Day For An Omnibus, Then Three Come Along

As we were talking about Afterlife With Archie the other day, it's worth pointing out that just in time for Halloween this year Oni Press - in collaboration with Archie Comics - is releasing a deluxe hardcover collection of all ten issues of the comic.

R.I.P. Riverdale! Once in a generation, a story so potent, so powerful, so horrifying rises from the grave to redefine the comics medium’s greatest icons.

Enter: The first-ever deluxe collection of Afterlife with Archie — collecting the totality of the groundbreaking, cemetery-shaking comics masterpiece from Harvey Award–winning writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Stephen King's The Stand: American Nightmare) and Eisner Award–winning artist Francesco Francavilla (Batman: The Black Mirror) that first introduced Riverdale’s teenage icons into a merciless world of ritual magic, undead terror, and survival at any cost!

When a tragic death befalls Jughead Jones’s closest companion, his grief drives him to the doorstep of Sabrina the Teenage Witch... and into the thrall of a dark magic that will soon turn the whole of Riverdale into a ravenous pack of undead zombies fueled by a desire for human flesh.

Hunted by the reanimated corpses of their friends and loved ones, can Archie, Betty, Veronica, and the rest of America's most beloved teenagers battle back by a legion of the dead... and live long enough to stop the entire world from being consumed by the same unholy hunger?

Pal vs. pal. Classmate vs. classmate. Living vs. dead. They swore to be friends until the end... but they never expected the end to look quite like this.

This definitive hardcover collection of the riveting and relentless milestone that the New York Times calls “gruesome [and] masterly” re-presents the entirety of the Afterlife with Archie saga — including the never-before-collected issues #6–10 — in an oversized format that also features a complete cover gallery and behind-the-scenes materials on the development of Archie Comics’ first all-out horror epic.

The Afterlife With Archie Deluxe Edition is scheduled to rise from the grave on October 27.

But that's not all, young adventurers, we also have a two volume collection of Marvel's original run of high-octane, pulp yarns involving the world's most famous archaeologist: Indiana Jones.

Both hardcover volumes are due to be dug up on September 29.

With Raiders being my all-time favourite movie and my enduring crush on Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) also being no secret, you know this pair of eldritch tomes will be finding a way onto my shelves.

Each volume holds over 500 pages of Indy goodness from the '80s, featuring the work of such legends as John Byrne, Walt Simonson, Dennis O'Neill, Christopher Priest, David Michelinie and more.

At the height of the popularity of Indiana Jones in the 1980s, Marvel Comics - and some of the biggest creators of the era - took on the challenge of bringing the iconic hero from the silver screen to the printed page, and the results were every bit as exhilarating as you’d expect!

Now these action-packed adventures are being collected in a pair of volumes destined to be treasures worthy of Indy himself!

Volume one includes adaptations of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, plus the first half of the Further Adventures of Indiana Jones series that expanded the character’s mythos in blockbuster fashion!

Volume one collects: Marvel Super Special (1977) #18, #30; Further Adventures of Indiana Jones (1983) #1-16

With clouds of war gathering ominously over Europe and a Great Depression gripping the world, one globe-trotting professor’s appetite for adventure and discovery remains unsated! Join Dr. Henry Jones as he scours the farthest corners of the planet in a constant race to keep priceless artifacts out of the wrong hands!

This volume collects the second half of the action-packed Further Adventures of Indiana Jones series alongside the official adaptation of beloved film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - featuring work by some of the biggest talents of the 1980s.

Volume two collects: Further Adventures of Indiana Jones (1983) #17-34, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) #1-4

"Beware My Power: Green Lantern's Light!"

Sinestro, Guy Gardener, Manhunters, alien planets: this trailer for the forthcoming Lanterns series has finally got my attention.

The previous teases suggested something a bit too Snyderversey for my tastes, but this three-minute trailer actually makes the show look like it could be some serious comic book fun, drawing on the Green Lantern Corps' rich and deep lore.

In brightest day, in blackest night; no evil shall escape my sight.

Let those who worship evil's might, beware my power: Green Lantern's light!

Jonah Hex's Return Ensures The West Remains Weird

We haven't seen a decent appearance by DC Comics' Western antihero Jonah Hex for a good, long while, but the scarred bounty hunter returns this October in a new six-part miniseries, Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death.

Written and illustrated by Michael Walsh - known for The Silver Coin, Universal Monsters: Frankenstein, and Exquisite Corpses - this latest slice of Weird West horror for Hex begins with our protagonist seemingly retired and living in the small town of Ashecott.

Of course, it's not long before an ancient evil rises and Hex is forced to put his guns back on. Could this be his chance for redemption?

This title is one of the latest additions to DC's Next Level publishing initiative, which begins in September, bringing more classic characters and teams back into their current continuity:

Below are a couple of dialogue-free sample pages from Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death:

ONE PRIME TO RULE THEM ALL

Knowing full-well that it's my 60th birthday in November, Prime Video has just released trailers for two franchise shows dropping that month that are right in my wheelhouse: one a returning fantasy series, the other a new sci-fi spin-off from a great couple of movies.

BLADE RUNNER 2099

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER, SEASON THREE

Rings of Power continues to chart the rise of Sauron in Middle-Earth, starting November 11, while all eight episodes of Blade Runner 2099 will drop on November 25.

Coincidentally, both shows have popular roleplaying games based on them, published by Free League.

Indiana Jones And The Return to Marvel Comics

Main cover art for issue 1 by Bryan Hitch

Just when it felt I was giving up on Marvel Comics, they only go and drop this massive, surprise, revelation at this weekend's San Diego Comic Con: a brand new Indiana Jones comic is coming in December!

Happy Christmas!

Indiana Jones and The Sword of Pandemonium is a five-issue miniseries written by Jason Aaron, with art by Aaron Kuder.

In the wake of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indy’s most notorious villains, including the impossible return of an archenemy, seek a terrifying new source of power to recoup their loss - one that’s fallen into the hands of his former companion, Marion Ravenwood.

Now, Indiana Jones has to race to the far corners of the globe in search of a biblical weapon, embarking on an epic quest that will put both his archaeology skills and scepticism of the supernatural to the ultimate test!

This is being described as the "beginning of a new era of Marvel’s Indiana Jones comics", so while it's a pity it's not an ongoing Indiana Jones title straight off the bat, like in the "good old days" of Indy's first stint at Marvel, things sound promising.

With Jason Aaron scripting the Indiana Jones and The Sword of Pandemonium mini it is pretty much guaranteed to be a best-seller and will hopefully lead to more books in the near future.

Connecting variant cover art by Aaron Kuder

Variant cover art by Alex Ross

Hits and Myths of Old-School Epics

"Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is now in theaters and receiving largely ecstatic reviews. Critics have called it "a staggering achievement," and fair enough: the film was built around an enormous IMAX shoot and a real commitment to capturing as much as possible in camera rather than leaning on CGI.

"But call me an old man for saying this: for all its scale, the world it builds can feel too polished, too glossy, more museum piece than lived-in ancient world.

"So I went back to seven old-school productions drawn from ancient myth and the sword-and-sandal tradition. They simply don’t make them like they used to, and most modern attempts are barely watchable."

A wonderful collection of classic tales of Ancient Greece on the silver screen (which includes a couple of my Harryhausen favourites), compiled by the ever-reliable Luminism channel.

Archie Injects New Life Into Live-Action Zombies

When Jughead's beloved pet Hot Dog is killed in a hit and run, Jughead turns to the only person he knows who can help bring back his canine companion — Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Using dark, forbidden magic, Sabrina is successful and Hot Dog returns to the land of the living. But he's not the same... and soon, the darkness he brings back with him from beyond the grave begins to spread, forcing Archie and the gang to try to escape Riverdale!

There are some who say the zombie has had its day as a horror antagonist and should be left to rot.

Thankfully Disney doesn't listen to such naysayers and has greenlit a live-action adaptation of one of the finest, modern zombie stories in decades: Afterlife With Archie.

It is scheduled to debut on Disney Plus in Autumn 2027, which seems like the right time of year.

The show is based on the comic book series from 2013 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Francesco Francavilla, with Aguirre-Sacasa acting as showrunner.

Not only was it an incredible horror comic, but Afterlife With Archie was also one of the strongest character-led comics of recent years.

Unfortunately, as well as generating great critical acclaim, fan adulation, and a reputation for the sheer brilliance of the story and its visuals, the comic is also remembered for never actually reaching a conclusion.

Of course, the tale had to have a Lovecraftian twist in it!

Much like Doctor Who, it was never officially cancelled, it's just been on an extended hiatus... resting (in peace).

Only the first 10 issues of Afterlife With Archie were published and while subsequent ones were solicitated they never actually appeared.

Ironically, this was largely because Aguirre-Sacasa's career in television took off, with Riverdale and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.

Let's hope that several episodes into the new streaming show, Aguirre-Sacasa doesn't get distracted by another 'better offer'.

Rumour has that more issues of the comic are also now "on the way", but no dates have been announced, and we'll believe that when we see it.

Of course, if the show 'overtakes' the story being told in the comics, we do run the risk of another Game of Thrones crash-and-burn. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Will It Ever End?

Four friends post-college plans are derailed when a wrong turn traps them on a never-ending backroad.

The success of Backrooms has a lot to answer for, opening the way for a flood of these "people trapped in never-ending liminal spaces" movies.

I predict that It Ends is either going to be mind-blowingly incredible with an unimaginable twist ending or it's going to suddenly stop in an oh-so-clever manner without explaining anything, pissing off the attentive audience in the process.

Obviously, I'm hoping for the former, but experience (of so many promising horror movies failing to stick the landing) has me bracing for the latter.

Given that the characters appear to be trapped in their car for the most part, I guess a lot also hinges on how annoying they turn out to be.

Have to admit, though, the stylish poster gives me hope.

It Ends is due to arrive in cinemas on August 21.

Ahoy, Me Hearties! Archie's Raising The Jolly Roger

Main cover art for issue one by Ray-Anthony Height and Studio Skye-Tiger

You know I love a good Archie team-up comic, right? Well this one has the added bonus of being about pirates!

Beginning in October, the five-issue miniseries Vengeance Unchained: The Legend of Black Caesar is a collaboration between the legendary basketball player Shaquille O’Neal and Archie Comics.

It will recount: "the rise of one of history’s most mythological pirates" as a "grounded, character-driven pirate epic which follows the transformation of an African king into a feared outlaw of the Caribbean, blending historical inspiration with cinematic storytelling".

The series is being written by the Eisner-nominated writer Stephanie Williams, with artwork by Ray-Anthony Height and Studio Skye-Tiger.

Scorpions, Ninjas, and Hulks... Oh My!

It's a Brand New Day for Peter Parker. Fighting crime full-time as Spider-Man in a world that doesn’t remember him — and the pressure of seeing his old friends move on without him — sparks a change in Peter he may not have the power to control.

But that transformation might also be the only thing that can stop a shocking new threat to the city and those he loves - a powerful villain no one can even see.

The world may have forgotten Peter Parker, but he hasn’t forgotten them.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: The Tea Room At Pooh Corner

I've found my people... just leave me here!

I can't believe it's been over three-and-a-half years since we've visited Pooh Corner.

It was supposed to have been a well-earned Spring Break for Rachel, but we'd gotten tangled up in a mess of time-sapping medical appointments.

Eventually, after a morning of medical check-ups for the both of us, and a couple of laps with Alice around the Tonbridge recreation ground, we decided to seize the day and head out to Hartfield, on the edge of the Ashdown Forest, for a Winnie The Pooh adventure.

Our first stop was Pooh Corner in Hartfield's High Street, where we managed to snag a parking spot right outside the front door (there's no car park there, so it's pot luck finding on-street parking).

Formerly the village sweet shop (and Christopher Robin's getaway from the pressure of being a young celebrity and the constant press intrusion in his life), the building has now been converted into an incredible tea room and Pooh'seum (a well-stocked museum chronicling the creation of the Pooh stories and everything that spun out of that).

Alice was a massive hit in the tea room, with the staff, owner, and other visitors. I can't remember a time when she's had so much attention from strangers. It was adorable to see both grown-ups and children lavishing affection on here.

Everything in the tea room is Winnie The Pooh-themed, from the plates and tea pots to the table numbers.

The food was incredible... and got the Knight Family seal of approval. We probably ate too much. But, so what? We were on holiday!

EVERYTHING was Pooh-themed!!!

After filling our tummies, Pooh-style, we hopped back in the car and drove into the forest (aka The Hundred Acre Wood), found a car park and then set off into the trees, following the signs to "Bridge".

Our goal was to see the legendary Pooh Sticks Bridge, probably one of the most iconic locations in children's literature.

It was quite a downhill hike and Rachel was concerned I might not be able to make it back up the hill afterwards, but I was driven both by the spirit of 'carpe diem' and a deep-seated desire to visit this iconic bridge for the first time in many, many decades.

There were plenty of people on the path, heading in both directions, and we were expecting the bridge to be rammed when got there.

But by some miracle once we arrived it was just us for about five or 10 minutes, so we had a chance to take pictures and explore.

The only real error we made was not bringing any 'Pooh sticks' as the area around the bridge was, unsurprisingly, barren of fallen twigs.

But to be honest that didn't matter. It was just magical to be walking in the footsteps of Christopher Robin, Winnie The Pooh, Roo, Kanga, Eeyore, Rabbit etc

As expected the journey back up the steep hill was harder and slower, but there are wooden seats along the way making for suitable rest stops and as long as we stayed in the shade (not always possible) it wasn't too hot.

From the company, the food, the adoration of Alice to walking in The Hundred Acre Wood and standing on Pooh Sticks Bridge, this was one of the best days out we'd had in ages, which is why I'm surprised we haven't gone back.

Sure the walking was hard at times, but I never felt as though I would pass out or be taken ill as is often the case on such escapades.

 Instead, I came home tired and content, fired up for future adventures.

Bring your own Pooh Sticks, as none will be found within the environs of the bridge

On the return journey we spotted the entrance to Owl's house up in a tree