Judging By The Cover: Favorites

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NEWS

1. 'Superman/Spider-Man' #1 gets full creative team reveal and first cover look
2. Marvel’s X-Men enter a dangerous new era as Shadows of Tomorrow' begins: March 2026 covers & launches revealed
3. Darth Maul returns in a brutal new era, and Marvel’s prequel series reveals his darkest plan yet
4. Marvel’s next huge event is already underway and Wolverine & Captain America hold the keys to ARMAGEDDON
5. Ultimate Universe shocker: Hickman opens up as Marvel debuts ‘Endgame’ preview + 9 never-seen sketch covers
6. DC Vertigo unveils first 2026 trailer—plus exclusive new Covers for March titles
7. The Viltrumites are coming for Battle Beast in a blood-soaked new arc in March 2026
8. Event Horizon is back from hell: Prequel sells out, sequel comic set 200 years later
9. WEBTOON just changed everything for creators: Massive 2026 overhaul announced!
10. Skeletor just leveled up: Masters of the Universe becomes an ongoing series in 2026

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Amazing Spider-Man #17 (Pepe Larraz, Joe Kelly)
2. The End 2099 #1 (Steve Orlando, Ibraim Roberson)

Alex:​​

1. Absolute Batman #15 (Scott Snyder, Jock)
2. Our Soot Stained Heart #1 (Joni Hägg, Stipan Morian)

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Ultimate Wolverine #12 (Condon, Cappuccio)
Dave: Absolute Batman #15 (Scott Snyder, Jock)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

1. Alex: The Power Fantasy #14 (Gillen, Wijngaard) & DIE: Loaded #2 (Gillen, Hans)
2. Dave: Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #5 (W. Maxwell Prince, Martín Morazzo)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

1. Dave: Book of Revelation #3 (Ivan Shavrin but also Fabrizio De Tommaso)
2. Alex: Nightwing #133 (Dustin Nguyen variant)

Interview: Ben Percy talks The End Times and Punisher in 2026 (out in February)

1. Origin of the Project:
   Last we spoke we talked a bit about The End Times, but now the project sees the revival of Stephen King’s Bachman universe through Bad Hand Books, how’d that come to be?
2. Expanding the Bachman Lore:
   Claudia Inez Bachman has always been a shadowy figure in King’s mythos — how did it feel to help bring her to life as a writerly voice in her own right?
3. Collaboration with Stephen King:
   What was the collaboration process like with King himself? Did you two discuss tone, continuity, or the meta-narrative of Bachman’s legacy?
4. Post-Apocalyptic Themes:
   You’ve described this world as “the world has ended and it’s rebuilding.” What emotional or thematic space did you want to explore in that aftermath, compared to the usual “apocalypse in progress” stories?
5. Social Commentary:
   The project examines misinformation and the role of local journalism — how do those themes mirror our current media landscape, and what kind of response are you hoping to evoke from readers?
6. Physical vs. Digital Experience:
   With both a newspaper edition and a digital version available, what do you hope readers gain from physically holding this story in their hands versus reading it online?
7. Continuing the Bachman Tradition:
   Bachman’s work was often darker and more cynical than King’s mainline fiction. Does The End Times lean into that same spirit of anger and disillusionment?
8. (Fun / Silly Question):If The End Times really were the last surviving newspaper on Earth, what headline would you want your byline to appear under? (“Local Writer Saves Humanity”? “Coffee Shortage Ends Civilization”? 😄)