Boxes, Gatchaman, Judge Dredd: A Better World, Wind Breaker & Tokyopop/Mattel Team-Up
Thirdbear Press, Mad Cave Studios, Rebellion, and Kodansha
The latest news, previews and more in comics including:
Submissions open from Thirdbear Press.
A new story in Gatchaman: Only One Earth.
A new collection from the pages of 2000 AD.
New print manga from Kodansha.
And a team-up between Tokyopop and Mattel.
Submissions - BOXES Comic Magazine
Thirdbear Press have submissions open for those who want to be featured in volume four of their anthology comic, Boxes.
BOXES Comic Magazine is focused on showcasing short comics by exciting artists and articles discussing various aspects of comics. You have until Sunday 23rd February 2025 to send in your ideas.
Check out the details and how to apply here:
Gatchaman’s Greatest Challenge Yet: Can the Team Stop Galactor’s Psychic Army?
Mad Cave Studios has announced a new story with an all-star team on board in Gatchaman: Only One Earth.
Mad Cave Studios, in partnership with Tatsunoko Production, is proud to announce the latest Gatchaman series, GATCHAMAN: ONLY ONE EARTH!
Dive into an exciting comic inspired by the legendary Japanese anime, brought to life with a script by fan-favorite comics creator Tommy Lee Edwards (Batman, Hellboy) and artwork by renowned animator and illustrator Nuno Plati (Wolverine & The X-Men). Series writer Edwards pulls double duty as artist on Cover A, while Plati provides the striking variant Cover B, and the acclaimed Zach Howard (The Last Wardens, Hellboy) provides a special Cover C retailer incentive variant.
Berg Katse is ravaging the country of Atrena for rare mythical elements that create a psychic link between Galactor pilots and their weaponized mechs. As Joe and Ken’s friendship is pushed to the limit during a mission to save Atrena’s princess, the Science Ninja Team uncovers an ancient temple that may hold the key to defeating Galactor once and for all. The first issue of an exciting event that connects to the Gatchaman ongoing series from Mad Cave Studios!
"Our upcoming Gatchaman: Only One Earth mini-series gives Nuno and me the chance to expand upon some of what I’ve been writing in the Gatchaman one-shots,” said Tommy Lee Edwards. “In this, we pay homage to the kinds of character-driven adventures and eco-friendly themes that were important to the franchise’s original creator, Tatsuo Yoshida."
“It's amazing to be able to be a tiny part in the history of these legendary characters, and to have someone like Tommy by my side leading the way, whose talent and experience is among the best of the best, is just the icing on a very special cake,” said Nuno Plati. “Special thank you to our editor, Chas! Pangburn, for being the best at what he does, and to Mike Marts for welcoming me into the Mad Cave family!”
Get ready—Gatchaman: Only One Earth #1 soars into action on Feb. 5, 2025, and is now available for preorder!
Judge Dredd: A Better World - A Modern Classic Out This January!
An amazing story from the pages of 2000 AD, with implications being felt in the current storylines, Judge Dredd: A Better World is out soon from Rebellion.
It’s the story which shocked readers and changed the face of Mega-City One! Judge Dredd: A Better World is available now for pre-order in both standard edition paperback and webshop-exclusive hardback editions.
Don’t miss out on your chance to own the critically acclaimed modern classic which left readers gasping! Out January 29th from all good retailers, this is a must-read for any comics fan who likes their action with a hard dose of political commentary.
Judge Dredd: A Better World is a modern Judge Dredd classic, a powerful story focusing on a large-scale experiment with the aim of making Mega-City One a better place for the citizens who live there, but if the experiment is successful them the power of the Judges could well be destroyed.
Judge Miaitland, a member of the Judge's Accounting Department and long-time Dredd ally, is tasked with finding ways of making law enforcement more affordable in Mega-City One. But this directive from the Chief Judge himself leads her down a rabbit-hole as she discovers a surprising truth: if the department were to defund the Judges and reallocate the money to education, community and culture instead, she could reduce crime levels permanently!
After getting permission to trial her analysis within a small sector of the city, forces rise up against her: the media slams her as a naïve liberal who wants to take money away from law enforcement, influencers see her experiment as a way to try and cause trouble (and get ratings); and powerful forces from within the Judge Department itself plot ways to bring her experiment tumbling down...
Writers Rob Williams and Arthur Wyatt, with artist Henry Flint, craft a taut political thriller that challenges readers to reassess what they think of the world of Judge Dredd. This collection also includes “Carry The Nine” and “The Pitch” with artist Boo Cook, “The Hard Way” with artist Jake Lynch.
A ground-breaking, heart-breaking story of hope, fear, politics and pathos, ‘A Better World’ is the modern Judge Dredd classic you do NOT want to miss!
Praise for Judge Dredd: A Better World:
“Please excuse me while I pick my jaw up after that one” – Comics Beat
“Taut, pointed and bizarre, like much of the best Dredd … Flint is a trippy-noir marvel” – Kieron Gillen
“An instant classic story … Judge Dredd remains one of the most relevant and incisive comics for our times” – Newsarama
Judge Dredd: A Better World is available for pre-order now, and will be on shelves in January 2025.
Kodansha Accelerates Print Debuts of WIND BREAKER to Monthly Releases Starting July 2025
Kodansha has announced that they are ramping up the print release of Wind Breaker.
Kodansha USA Publishing announced today that WIND BREAKER by Satoru Nii—the fan-favorite high school brawler manga that also inspired the anime streaming on Crunchyroll—will see an acceleration in its print schedule to monthly releases starting July 2025.
WIND BREAKER by Satoru Nii is an action-packed high school delinquent manga series that saw its English-language debut as a digital-first release in April 2022. Already reaching fan-favorite status, its popularity only increased as it began publishing in print August 2023. Inspired by the original manga, a hit anime produced by CloverWorks began airing August 2024, and a second season slated for 2025 was immediately announced following the end of the first season in June 2024. Manga fans can currently read up to 17 volumes digitally, and up to 8 volumes in print. The print edition of WIND BREAKER volume 9 will debut February 4, 2025.
In the world of WIND BREAKER, Haruka Sakura wants nothing to do with weaklings—he’s only interested in the strongest of the strong. He’s from Fuurin High School, a school of near-dropout degenerates known only for their brawling strength. And in a town known for its territorial disputes, Haruka’s got only one goal—become the hero his town deserves.
Print editions of WIND BREAKER are available through physical and online book vendors like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, and more, while digital editions are available upon release across all our participating digital vendors, including Bookwalker, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Nook, Kobo, MyAnimeList, Mangamo and more! Fans can also purchase and read all Kodansha digital manga directly on kodansha.us.
MATTEL & TOKYOPOP Announce Publishing Partnership for Manga Style Graphic Novels
An interesting collaboration here, with Tokyopop producing manga graphic novels based on the IP’s owned by Mattel.
Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT), a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world, and pioneering manga and anime media brand TOKYOPOP, today announced a partnership to develop original manga-style graphic novels for children ages 8-12 based on Mattel’s Hot Wheels® and Barbie® brands.
The first titles, including a western-style manga graphic novel series inspired by Hot Wheels and new stories featuring characters from Barbie, are set to debut in print in 2026. These series will feature fresh artwork and original stories, bringing the cherished brands to new audiences in innovative formats.
“Hot Wheels and Barbie have long been symbols of storytelling, creativity and inspiration, engaging audiences across generations,” said Ryan Ferguson, Global Head of Publishing at Mattel. “We are thrilled to partner with TOKYOPOP and expand these iconic franchises through captivating stories, bringing new adventures to fans.”
“Hot Wheels and Barbie are two of the world’s most adored toy and entertainment brands and we are excited to partner with Mattel to develop and publish new original manga-style graphic novels,” says Marc Visnick, TOKYOPOP COO and Publisher. “TOKYOPOP’s catalog is renowned for bestselling titles featuring notable characters for readers of all ages. Adding Barbie and Hot Wheels to our roster brings an exciting dimension, and we look forward to sharing these legendary brands and bold new adventures to our global audience of readers.”
The top-selling toy globally, Hot Wheels introduces over 130 new car designs annually and has 25,000 variations in existence today. Barbie, the most diverse doll brand in the world, has inspired girls for over six decades, and continues to be a symbol of empowerment, imagination, and limitless possibilities.
This partnership builds upon Mattel’s ongoing efforts to further engage fans through storytelling. In 2024, Mattel previously announced its own publishing imprint, with Simon & Schuster serving as its sales and distribution partner.
