“A New Shiver for Christmas Town”: Torunn Grønbekk on writing in Tim Burton’s iconic world

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NEWS

1. Full Marvel Solicits March 2026 (Tuesday!)
   1. Marvel reveals March 2025 covers and solicits as the Ultimate Universe heads toward its Endgame
   2. Jessica Jones returns in Marvel’s darkest, bloodiest 'Alias' story yet
   3. Carnage knows Spider-Man’s secret, and Peter learns Mary Jane is Venom in the March 2026 solicts
   4. Wonder Man heads back to Hollywood, and his past is ready for a comeback of its own
   5. Marvel brings the Sentry home as creator Paul Jenkins returns for a high-stakes new series
2. Marvel goes all-out for 2026 with Comics Giveaway Day, teasing 'Amazing Spider-Man' #1000, & more
3. Marvel turns ‘Daredevil’ #1 into a Blind-Bag gamble with rare variants and secret sketch covers
4. Marvel’s most thunderous art gets the deluxe treatment in a massive new Thor book
5. DC solicits March 2026
   1. 'DC K.O.' was just the warm-up: DC ALL IN goes NEXT LEVEL with Lobo, Batwoman, Deathstroke & More
   2. DC Next Level begins in March 2026 with Wonder War and Superboys Rising
6. Image Comics announces 'Tigress Island' a pulp-fueled fever dream
7. Archie gets a radical relaunch as Oni Press reimagines Riverdale for a new era
8. Tarzan swings back into comics, and he’s older, wiser, and facing pirates who want immortality

Our Top Books of the Week:

Dave:

1. Star Trek: The Last Starship #3 (Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, Adrin Bonilla)
2. The Bat-Man: Second Knight #2 (Dan Jurgens, Mike Perkins)

Alex:​​

1. Die: Loaded #2 (Gillen, Hans)
2. Power Fantasy #14 (Gillen, Wijngaard)
3. Honorable Mentions: Author Immortal, 30 Days of Night: Falling Sun, Exquisite Corpses

Standout KAPOW moment of the week:

Alex: Rogue Storm #3 (Murewa Ayodele, Roland Boschi)

Dave: Alien vs. Captain America (2025) #2 (Frank Tieri, Stefano Raffaele)

TOP BOOKS FOR NEXT WEEK

• Alex: Absolute Wonder Woman #15 (Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman) & Event Horizon #4 (Christian Ward, Tristan Jones)
• Dave: The Will of Doom #1 (Chip Zdarsky, Cafu)

JUDGING BY THE COVER JR.

• Dave: Hello Darkness #17 (1:10 Full Art Puebla Cover)
• Alex: DC K.O.: The Joker vs. Red Hood #1 (Dustin Nguyen Variant)

Interview: Torunn Grønbekk - Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Shiver of Christmas Town - Out Jan 7, 2026

1. Expanding the World

What’s it like contributing to a Tim Burton universe project?

What excited you most about the chance to tell a new story within The Nightmare Before Christmas universe, and how did you approach capturing that distinct mix of spooky and sweet?

2. Character Focus
Sally takes center stage in this series. What aspects of her character did you want to explore or expand on that fans haven’t seen before?

3. The New Creation
Dr. Finkelstein’s latest creation, Shiver, sounds like a charming new addition to Halloween Town. What inspired this character, and what role does Shiver play in the story’s themes?

4. Trick-or-Treat Trio Trouble
Lock, Shock, and Barrel are fan favorites for their chaotic energy. How was it writing for those three troublemakers, especially as they head off to Christmas Town?

5. Visual Collaboration
Edu Menna’s art brings a lot of gothic personality to the book. How did you two work together to strike the balance between Burton-esque atmosphere and the fun of a family-friendly adventure?

6. Tone and Audience
The series is described as “perfect for all ages.” How did you balance writing something that works for longtime fans of the film and younger readers discovering Nightmare Before Christmas for the first time?

7. Franchise Legacy
The Shiver of Christmas Town follows Long Live the Pumpkin Queen: The Graphic Novel. How does this story build on that ongoing relationship between Dynamite and Disney’s Nightmare Before Christmas world?

8. The Magic of Halloween (and Christmas)
Without giving too much away, what do you hope readers take away from this story about the magic—or mischief—of the holiday spirit?

9. Character and Tone Your work often blends grit and introspection—how are you approaching Selina Kyle’s duality as both a thief and protector in your  Catwoman run, and what new sides of her character are you most excited to explore?