Vampirella Archives Volume 5, The Stone of Shiro: The Fall of Shiro, Dirty Donny Must Be Destroyed: The Art of Donny Gillies, and Aperture
From Dynamite Comics, Papercutz, IDW Publishing, and Nakama Press
News and previews coming up!
Including:
More Vampirella in Vampirella Archives Volume 5.
A new graphic novel from Papercutz.
A new art book from IDW Publishing.
And romance in a new graphic novel, Aperture.
Vampirella’s Fabulous Fifth Paperback Archives Continues Affordable Format!
From the archives, there is more Vampirella for fans in Vampirella Archives Volume 5. Check out the details from Dynamite Comics.
Dynamite Entertainment announces an essential new release for fans of one of its most popular and historic characters. The new paperback edition of Vampirella Archives Volume 5 hits the shelves of stores and fans this April, continuing the affordable reprints of the Daughter of Drakulon's original run of adventures as well as diverse anthology tales.
This fabulous fifth volume includes issues #29-35 of the Vampirella magazine originally released by Warren Publishing. These stories were originally released from 1973 to 1974.
With four volumes in tow behind it, fans can pick and choose the eras that appeal to them or buy the line in any order thanks to its anthology stylings, or go for the full set with a new entry scheduled for every two months. The fourth volume right before this new one included the key origin retelling from the 1972 annual, one of the most essential Vampi stories, as well as contributions from Bronze Age greats like Steve Englehart, Doug Moench, Steve Skeates, and powerhouse artists Jose Gonzalez, Esteban Maroto, and more.
There are several highlights in this fifth volume! First and foremost, every included issue features a Vampirella tale, amounting to a fifth of the total page count. A new run on the character by Flaxman Loew largely starts here, encompassing issues #28-36, 38-42, 51. He's joined on all his stories here by definitive Vampirella artist of the era Jose Gonzalez — except the final one drawn by Jose Ortiz.
Vampirella #30 is one of the biggest key issues in the run, with the introductory first appearance of Pantha. The feline frenemy of the Daughter of Drakulon was created by Steve Skeates and Rafael Auraleon. She stars in four stories of her own in this book, with further solo stories in issues #42, 44, 90, 93-99, 101-104, 106, 108, as well as several iconic crossovers with Vampirella and other features of the magazine. Though not historically as prominent, the Ramon Torrents character Fleur also first appears here, with two stories, one later in #68, and part of the big crossover issue alongside Pantha and Vampi in #50.
Another major draw for this stretch of stories is the highest concentration in the series by Jeffrey Catherine Jones. Issues #32-34 all feature her contributions. On one she is joined by Bernie Wrightson, a compatriot of the legendary The Studio collective they were in alongside Barry Windsor-Smith and Michael Wm. Kaluta. Other contributions of hers can be found in issues #4, 5, 9, 12, and 50.
Beyond these three exciting angles, fans can also enjoy writing and artwork from creators including Doug Moench, Richard Corben, Steve Skeates, Esteban Maroto, Fernando Fernandez, and others.
As a sneak peek at the next volume, fans can expect the three Vampi stories drawn by Leopold Sanchez, Esteban Maroto's visions of Dracula, and an unexpected return for Archie Goodwin.
Kindness Is the Strongest Magic of All!
From Papercutz is the first volume of a new fantasy graphic novel - The Stone of Shiro: The Fall of Shiro.
Some adventures begin loudly. Others begin quietly and change everything.
Papercutz, the beloved kids imprint of Mad Cave Studios, proudly announces THE STONE OF SHIRO: THE FALL OF SHIRO, the forthcoming middle-grade graphic novel debut from writer Sue Ruffle, illustrated by Stefano Spaziani (Ninjago, Batman, Spider-Man), with lettering by Ringo Award-nominated Justin Birch. The Stone of Shiro: The Fall of Shiro
Blending classic fantasy adventure with warmth and humor,centers a different kind of hero, one defined by compassion, resilience, and the courage to care. A story for the quiet kids and the gentle kids, and for readers who feel deeply and do not always see themselves reflected in traditional heroic narratives. Found family and empathy as a strength guide every step of the journey.
Why him? He doesn’t want to be a hero… but he’s their only hope!
In the magical realm of Shiro, life for the young Mushling Cale is anything but easy. He’s stuck with rowdy housemates, falling behind at school, and barely scraping by as a part-time busboy. His only joys are his beloved pet Truffles and a strange blue button he wears for protection.
Cale just wants to be left alone with Truffles, but when alien invaders steal the magical Stone that protects his world, Cale is unwittingly thrust into a perilous quest to find it. Armed only with a mysterious scroll, separated from Truffles and stripped of his talisman button, he and two loyal friends are pulled into an unknown, dark, and dangerous world. Lost and vulnerable, Cale must now outwit shadowy creatures, survive impossible challenges, unlock ancient secrets, and find the courage to become the hero Shiro needs… before it’s too late!
Author Sue Ruffle said, “At its heart, this is a story for children who don’t see themselves as heroes yet… the quiet kids, the gentle kids, the ones who care deeply but don’t always feel brave. If this book helps even one child to see that their kindness matters and that they, too, can make a difference, then our story deserves to be in as many hands as possible. And I’m excited to be working with Papercutz to make this happen. Because I believe that every child deserves a story that ‘sees’ them!”
“The Stone of Shiro is a reminder to not give up when life feels difficult,” added Stefano Spaziani. “Cale is small, unprepared, and often afraid. But with determination and the help of trusted friends, he finds the strength to face challenges that seem far beyond him. I hope Cale can be an example and inspiration for all of us.”
Drawing from a tradition of European influences, pairing expressive art and imaginative worldbuilding with a character-led storytelling, The Stone of Shiro: The Fall of Shiro is for readers drawn to animated fantasy adventures like How to Train Your Dragon, Trollhunters, and The Dragon Prince—blending imaginative worlds, quirky creatures, and heartfelt friendships with character-first storytelling.
The Stone of Shiro: The Fall of Shiro is available in paperback ($12.99, ISBN 9781545826829) and hardcover ($17.99, ISBN 9781545826836) formats, will be released on June 30, 2026, and is now available for preorder through comic retailers, bookstores, and directly from Papercutz.
IDW Getting Dirty Publishing
IDW Publishing has announced a new art collection in a large format with Dirty Donny Must Be Destroyed: The Art of Donny Gillies
Things are about to get dirty! Break out the black light and crank up the tunes as one of the most celebrated visual artists in music and pop culture, Donny Gillies, is set to release a stunning collection of his work with Dirty Donny Must Be Destroyed: The Art of Donny Gillies, in stores September 29.
This 224-page memoir coffee table book celebrates the renegade spirit and art of Donny Gillies, better known as Dirty Donny— one of the most influential artists to invade the pop culture scenes of the punk, rock ‘n’ roll, and heavy metal underground. Known for his distinct style on concert poster art, Stern pinball machines, and skate decks Donny’s iconic images have graced from some music’s biggest acts, include Metallica, Kiss, Aerosmith, Primus, NOFX, and the Melvins, as well as his stunning black light poster art for the Netflix hit series Stranger Things. Donny’s visceral, blacklight-charged style has earned him collaborations with major brands and bands and a reputation as a go-to artist for anything that needs attitude and heat.
“I have been working closely with IDW to bring you something above and beyond any project I have ever tackled. From physical UV reactive Blacklight pages, poster pull-out features, deep dives into my personal archives and in depth storytelling from myself and some of Rock’s most infamous characters, this promises to be one bang-on piece of pop culture,” says Donny. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg, I’m very excited to have the opportunity to put my life’s work all in this one coffee table book. Artwork from the very beginning all the way up to my best and most recent works to date.”
“Donny is a true master of his craft, an insanely talented painter and illustrator, always working, always pushing himself.” —Brann Dailor, Mastodon
This monster volume busts Donny’s studio door wide open; featuring UV reactive blacklight printed pages of unpublished pieces, rare rock posters, prints, custom and production pinball machines, as well as automotive finishes on drums, helmets, cars, and guitars sit alongside candid essays, and interview-style narration with the man himself. Diving into the last decade of his work and curating the most iconic images of his career, Dirty Donny Must Be Destroyedfunctions as both an art-book treasure trove and an oral history, ‘the big book of Donny,” as he calls it—gives fans and collectors new context for the images they’ve loved and the behind-the-scenes detail they crave. This is truly a must-have for both Donny fans and connoisseurs of the rock aesthetic.
Dirty Donny Must Be Destroyed: The Art of Donny Gillies will be available wherever books are sold, as a full-color hardcover (ISBN: 979-8-88724-201-9) on September 29, 2026, for a list price of $49.99. For more information please visit the IDW Publishing web site.
Love finds its way through time, even when history tries to pull it apart.
It’s a first young adult graphic novel coming soon from Nakama Press, with Aperture
A sweeping YA time-slip romance where love bridges a century, but history threatens to tear it apart.
Nakama Press, an imprint of Mad Cave Studios, announces APERTURE, a standalone young adult OGN from Pacific Northwest-based writer Kirsten Thompson (I Am Hexed) and acclaimed Brazilian illustrator Huenito (Teeth of God). Blending romance, history, and quiet wonder, Aperture explores the fragile space where connection forms, and the forces that threaten to break it…
When Sage, a first-year university student, discovers a forgotten camera in the library archives, she’s thrust into a world beyond her own time. The camera links her to August, a student who walked the same halls more than a century earlier. What begins as a miraculous connection soon deepens into something neither of them expected. But history has a way of pulling people apart—and as WWI looms for August, the closer they grow, the more impossible it seems to hold on.
Writer Kirsten Thompson said, “Aperture is a story about taking unusual routes to figuring out where and who you want to be, and letting that take you to unexpected places and the people that can be found and loved along the way. It’s also a love letter to libraries and all their infinite possibilities (shout out to UW’s Suzzallo Library’s staircases and cozy reading nooks) with pining, some theater, and a mystery extending from the 1900s to present day.”
“To me, what makes Aperture special is seeing myself in these deeply relatable characters,” artist Huenito added. “Their love and support for one another alter their destinies, much like the people in my life who have done the same for me. In the end, I believe this is what the book is all about—how we all hold that same transformative power, even in our smallest acts—and I hope that readers will close this book encouraged to be this positive force that changes someone else’s story.”
Rooted in emotional intimacy and longing, Aperture is a story about finding connection in unexpected places and choosing it even when time itself stands in the way.
The 224-page OGN arrives August 25, 2026, and is now available for preorder at your favorite retailer and directly from Nakama Press.
Really solid curation of upcoming releases here. The Vampirella Archives approach is smart becuase it lets newcomers jump in without needing the whole back catalog. I actually found that anthology-style releases work way better for getting into older series thn starting at issue #1, since the quality can be inconsistent early on.