Easter Sunday in the Midwest. Sunrise service. The Lord has risen, and the hungry will come. A visitor crash-lands in the woods surrounding the picket-fence suburbia where little Piper lives with her mom Tina and her nasty stepdad Don. The world is frightening and alien for both Piper and her new…friend… but on this day of cosmic forgiveness, when her family falls apart, the unlikely pair may find their own salvations.

Although I am a big fan of Percy’s superhero stories, but also his science fiction tales as well, I didn’t really know what to fully expect from a sci-fi horror taking place around Easter. Percy does a fantastic job laying a foundation for an ambitious story in this first issue with a lot happening in a short number of pages, but also not a lot happening at the same time.

Egg Hunt has the vibe of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial as far as a young child and the interaction with some sort of creature not of this world. There is a great deal of mystery woven into this story so far. Where the sci-fi aspects are present, the horror side of things hasn’t fully reared its ugly head. That is outside of how horrible some men can be, especially Tina’s stepdad Don. He isn’t present for many panels in this first issue, but damn do I sure already hate him a good amount. Percy knows his way around science-fiction stories and this one is definitely just getting started.

I know Percy has big plans for Egg Hunt, both because the writer doesn’t do half-ass when it comes to good stories, but also because this first issue only sets the plot in motion and leaves us eagerly awaiting more. From what I can tell, I cannot wait. But it’s not just the story that makes the first issue of Egg Hunt something to marvel, but the artwork by Fernández nearly steals the show. The visuals and illustrations have a strong cinematic feeling and the angles from which the story is told gave into the mystery even more. Topped off with great colors by Giada Marchisio and lettering from Micah Myers, Egg Hunt #1 is a visual feast.

Egg Hunt is a beautifully illustrated, wonderfully weird sci-fi mystery horror that is off to a great start. Truthfully, you had me at Benjamin Percy and science-fiction, so unsurprisingly this new series has the making for an excellent run. The first issue of Egg Hunt has just enough unsettling moments to hint at the horrors still to come.

Egg Hunt #1 hits local comic shops on November 18, 2026 from Mad Cave Studios.

Egg Hunt #1 Covers

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While we are not the official voice of your decision, we want to help guide you in the right direction for comics releasing November 11, 2026.

I Saw Spawn: A Twisted Christmas Tale #1

Writer: Chris Killian, Andrew Sanders
Artist: Todor Hristov
Publisher: Image Comics

The sequel to last year’s acclaimed Christmas horror story, I Saw Santa! Writers Chris Killian & Andrew Sanders take readers back to the twisted world of serial killers, Santa, and of course Spawn. The North Pole is shaken by a gruesome massacre that bears the signature of serial killer, Charlie Kohl. As Santa Claus investigates, dark forces begin to corrupt Santa’s workshop from within, and it’s clear Spawn is the only one who might be able to put a stop to this terribly twisted Christmas. The tale unfolds with the glorious art of Todor Hristov. Truly a new Holiday tradition not to be missed!

Minor Threats: The Cleaner #1

Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Mark Torres
Publisher: Dark Horse

Twilight City is a hard place to live — and an easier place to die. But some bodies never make the headlines. When the capes make a mess too big to bury, they call one number: The Cleaner.

By day, David O’Halloran is a struggling small business owner. By night, he’s the spandex world’s last call for cleanup — disposing of the un-disposable with precision, secrecy, and a price. But when his path crosses with the deadly and dazzling Diamond Dahlia, everything changes. She has a secret past with the legendary vigilante The Insomniac, and it’s about to erupt onto the blood-slicked streets.

It’s superhero noir from Gerry Duggan (X-Men, Deadpool, Falling in Love On The Path To Hell) and superstar artist Mark Torres (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).

Masterminds TP

Writer: Zack Kaplan
Artist: Stephen Thomson
Publisher: Dark Horse

When an ambitious and troubled video game programmer dares to audition for a secret society in the gaming/tech industry, composed of cutthroat, genius masterminds that promise to help their members achieve their wildest dreams, he and his rebellious co-worker find themselves in a gauntlet of real-life puzzles that quickly turn deadly. But in order to win, they must solve the dangerous challenges, unlock the group’s true motives and unveil the real architect of this ordeal. Are they truly smart enough to survive the mysterious game of the Masterminds?

Author Zack Kaplan (Kill All Immortals, Port of Earth) and illustrator Stephen Thomson (Aliens: Definace, Black Panther and the Crew), the creative team behind The Midnight: Shadows, join forces with colorist Thiago Rocha and Eisner award-winning letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou to bring you an enigmatic thriller for the age of tech industry omniscience.

By the end of this first issue, I was on the edge of my seat, eager to see what crazy thing will come next. Masterminds delivers an immersive reading experience unlike anything else in comics, elevated by a stellar creative team. Masterminds is a must-read series from Dark Horse. – CLICK HERE to read the review of the first issue

The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace TP

Writer: Hannah Rose May
Artist: Kelsey Ramsay
Publisher: IDW Publishing / IDW Dark

It’s 5:00 a.m. at 10 Downing Street. The prime minister jolts awake to a call that stops his heart: The royal family has been lost at sea.

Parliament is in chaos. Buckingham Palace is in lockdown. Conspiracy theories flood airwaves and social media. Some say it was an attack on the prince and princess, others believe it was the result of an ancient family curse.

But the real crisis is that the only heir left standing is Theo Belmont, a scandal-prone playboy, tabloid fixture, and barely-recovered addict. Now the crown he never wanted is his. Can Theo rise to meet his destiny or will the weight of it drag him into darkness?

Hannah Rose May (The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, Rogues’ Gallery) and Kelsey Ramsay (Moon Dogs, Godzilla: Heist) return to exorcise the demons haunting England’s most famous address.

The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace is an haunting and unsettling story with fantastic artwork, a true masterpiece in horror. Hannah Rose May and Kelsey Ramsay craft a tale filled with unease, addiction, and family drama while something dark lurks in the background. It’s just where I never knew I wanted this series to go. – CLICK HERE to read our review of the first issue

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The North Pole is shaken by a gruesome massacre that bears the signature of serial killer, Charlie Kohl. As Santa Claus investigates, dark forces begin to corrupt Santa’s workshop from within, and it’s clear Spawn is the only one who might be able to put a stop to this terribly twisted Christmas.

One of my favorite stories of the past few years is Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees and when Patrick Horvath released a sequel, I didn’t really know how to feel about as the original was so damn good. However, after diving into it, I was kicking myself for even letting a sense of doubt creep into my mind. Guess what? I have a similar feeling now after reading I Saw Spawn. Maybe I should start having more faith in talent creators and special stories.

How will I Saw Spawn even come close to last year’s I Saw Santa, well… bring the story from the city to the North Pole where Santa is getting ready for Christmas while still tormented from the horrible events that took place with Charlie Kohl. Not surprisingly, those traumatic events still haunt Claus as he prepares for another trip around the world. They were terrifying, bloody, and changed him. But the show must go on, that is until things get bloody on Santa’s lawn. Not only do Killian and Sanders taking this story a bit further north, but they also bring in more Christmas lore and horror to darken the story even further.

I Saw Santa was set in the greater Spawn Universe when it dropped in 2025 and those who understand knew this with our friends Sam & Twitch investigating, but only saw a glimpse of the title character as almost a reminder that we are present in that world. Killian and Sanders bring it even closer to the universe by having this tale feature a bit more of Spawn as Santa is dealing with some serious shit at the North Pole and only can think of one person to help.

Having Spawn be more present in this sequel story puts us more squarely in the Spawn Universe, but it’s also the artwork by Todor Hristov that makes us feel right at home. Each Spawn comic has this vibe and artistic style that was set by creator Todd McFarlane many years ago and has carried us throughout. Hristov uses this aesthetic while also putting his own flair on things to make it his own.

Not familiar with Spawn and the great universe? Not to worry, the way Killian, Sanders, and Hristov have crafted these stories is in a way that allows Spawn fans to get more of the universe, but also only skims the surface for those new to the characters as well as the long history of the comics. These are Santa horror stories that feature some beloved characters from the Spawn world.

I Saw Spawn is a brutal and horrific holiday tale where Santa is at his whits end, enlisting the Hellspawn’s help. Writers Chris Killian and Andrew Sanders expand their twisted holiday world without losing what made the original special, while Todor Hristov’s artwork makes Spawn feel perfectly at home. I Saw Spawn: A Twisted Christmas Tale is a terrifying Christmas tale where delivering presents to the boys and girls of the world is the least of Santa’s worries.

I Saw Spawn: A Twisted Christmas Tale #1 hit local comic shops on November 11, 2026 from Image Comics.

I Saw Spawn: A Twisted Christmas Tale #1 Preview

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While we are not the official voice of your decision, we want to help guide you in the right direction for comics releasing November 4, 2026.

Archie in Hell #1

Writer: Patrick Horvath
Artist: Tyler Crook
Publisher: Oni Press

TO BE SAVED… HE MUST BE DAMNED! In the bloodstained tradition of AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, something wicked this way comes to Riverdale in an infernal new ongoing series from multiple Eisner Award winner Patrick Horvath (Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees) and Russ Manning Award winner Tyler Crook (Out of Alcatraz, Harrow County)!

They say that every small town has a secret. Well, in the case of Riverdale, it’s one heck of a humdinger: An ancient order of cultists has infiltrated its townspeople, bent on using human sacrifice to usher a demon lord into our mortal plane. And they’ve finally identified the final target they need to bring a century’s worth of planning to fruition: hometown football champion and all-around good guy Archie Andrews. But this secret cabal never dreamed that actual witches walk Riverdale’s streets… and when cult and coven clash in the final stages of Archie’s secret-ritual sacrifice, the consequences will be cosmic… and young Archie Andrews will find himself damned to something far worse than Hell’s inner circle.

Unstuck from time and space. Bound to a terrible curse. Late for school. Things are about to go from bad to downright diabolical as Horvath and Crook unleash the most malevolently merciless Archie Comics tale ever told… and, truly, you’ll never, ever expect what happens next.

Archie in Hell is a wildly fun, wickedly gruesome trip to Riverdale that proves once again that Archie and horror are a match made in hell. Writer Patrick Horvath and artist Tyler Crook bring their horror expertise to the pages of an Archie story, delivering new story that is somehow lighthearted and terrifying at the same time. Archie in Hell is the odd one out in the first three new Oni Press Archie titles, but also the most fun. – CLICK HERE to read the entire review

Spider-Woman #1

Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Andrea Broccardo
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Spider-Woman’s 50th Anniversary celebration continues in this new series. Old foes back from the dead! Mysteries around every corner! And a bloodthirsty Carnage just barely kept contained! It’s a recipe for Spider-Woman’s darkest adventure yet. Don’t miss this electrifying first issue!

Dungeons & Dragons #1

Writer: Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly
Artist: Ibraim Roberson
Publisher: Dark Horse

A draconic apocalypse approaches the Forgotten Realms, and it has one name on its lips: MORDENKAINEN. Now, stripped of his magic but never out of the fight, the most powerful wizard in all reality will need the help of Faerûn’s most legendary heroes to restore the balance.

Creative hivemind Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly team with artist Ibraim Roberson for a brand-new ongoing epic that will shake the world(s) of Dungeons & Dragons!

Corpse Knight TP

Writer: Michael Chaves
Artist: Matthew Roberts
Publisher: Image Comics

A FANTASTICAL HORROR STORY ABOUT HOW FAR FAMILY WILL GO TO PROTECT EACH OTHER.

As war ravages France, a young girl named Foy lives in relative peace with her father… until tragedy strikes. As Foy struggles to fend for herself, she’s granted a miracle — her father returns from the dead to protect her.

Now, they embark on a sacred quest, confronting murderers, wild animals, wandering armies, and black magic plaguing the countryside. As Foy comes face to face with the dark side of miracles and the secrets of the Corpse Knight, she must question if the man by her side has always been a monster…

Acclaimed storytellers Michael Chaves (The Conjuring franchise) and Matthew Roberts (Universal Monsters: Creature from The Black Lagoon Lives!) present a haunting new horror series where family is family, whether they’re alive or undead…

Corpse Knight #1 surprised me in the best possible way. It’s a grim, emotional, and visually striking premiere that blends a ton of heart and horror, doing so with confidence. Michael Chaves proves he understands what it takes to craft a great comic, even if this is his first go-around. He lets the story breathe while Matthew Roberts and Rico Renzi’s artwork heightens each page with haunting and unforgettable imagery. Corpse Knight balances brutal horror with real emotional weight, making it a must-read story. – CLICK HERE to read the entire review of the first issue

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Two siblings who are life-long comics fans find their way to horror comics, in spite of the fears they inspire. As the terrifying visions from the pages of the comics start to come to life, Erica Slaughter will have to hunt down one of horror’s most recognizable figures — Swamp Thing himself!

I had no real idea of what to expect from Swamp Thing is Killing the Children outside of the trust I had in the Slaughterverse, but also the creators behind it and their ability to craft ousting stories not just for BOOM! Studios but also some of the most cherished DC characters as well. Tynion and Dell’Edera have a long history of creating some outstanding tales, so I at least had to put my trust in their minds. I am glad I did.

This story could’ve been handled in multiple ways, but the decisions made by the creative team surprised the hell out of me in such a good way. Taking the crossover story to a new level and crafting a tale that makes sense and does both universes justice. The formula of one character entering another universe by some sort of event that plopped Erica Slaughter into the DC Universe or Swamp Thing into the Slaughterverse would’ve almost felt forced, but by using fresh storytelling made this come hit even harder than I expected.

Swamp Thing is Killing the Children is just as much as DC Comic as it is a BOOM! Studios story, but really felt at home in the Slaughterverse. You get the children frightened by monsters and Erica coming in to save the day, something that if it didn’t happen would’ve let me down. The tension is built from the very first page and felt throughout the story. You get the action-packed battle you’ve come to except in a Slaughterverse story, along with a bit of heartfelt moments between the brothers and the life they have been dealt. A wonderful blend of emotions.

The way this creative team set this comic made it feel like it was in the right place. It’s can be hard to explain, but it felt like it was supposed to be where it is. It didn’t feel forced, it didn’t feel like a fish out of water, it felt purposeful and part of the overall stories being told in both the Slaughterverse and at home in a Swamp Thing story. Like I said before, some feel like they just don’t work, and Swamp Thing is Killing the Children is far from that.

Swamp Thing is Killing the Children is a beautiful blend of superhero and horror that works perfectly. Writer James Tynion IV and artist Werther Dell’Edera craft an unexpected crossover that proves the best mashups don’t just bring two worlds together, they make you believe they were always meant to collide. Swamp Thing is Killing the Children is a story that feels at home in the Slaughterverse but also like a love letter to the great DC Comics universe.

Swamp Thing is Killing the Children #1 hits local comic shops on December 2, 2026 February 24, 2027 from BOOM! Studios.

Swamp Thing is Killing the Children #1 Covers

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While we are not the official voice of your decision, we want to help guide you in the right direction for comics releasing October 28, 2026.

Satanic Panic #1

Writer: Matt Miner
Artist: Clayton McCormack
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios

A sleepy 1980s town is stalked by a masked slasher at the height of the Satanic Panic, where every heavy metal record, Dungeons & Dragons campaign and teenage outsider is treated as evidence of devil worship. As fear spreads and bodies pile up, three local misfits become the prime suspects in a series of gruesome murders. Join D&D geeks and Ozzy enthusiasts Naz, Sal, and Terry as they race to clear their names, survive an increasingly blood-soaked town and unmask the real killer before paranoia claims more innocent lives. But in a community eager to blame the weird kids, proving their innocence may be deadlier than facing the murderer.

From Ringo Award and GLAAD Media Award-winning writer Matt Miner (Poser, Young Men in Love, Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins) and artist Clayton McCormack (Batman: White Knight Presents – Generation Joker) comes a brutal new horror series that blends slasher terror and the paranoia of the Satanic Panic into one unforgettable nightmare.

Satanic Panic kicks things off with a debut issue that mixes everyday small town horrors with the terror of a slasher and maybe something more. Writer Matt Miner and artist Clayton McCormack craft a meaningful, yet terrifying comic that will frighten you on many levels. There is definitely something here with this first issue. – CLICK HERE to read the entire review

Godzilla: Revenge of the Deadzone #1

Writer: Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan
Artist: Pablo Tunica
Publisher: IDW Publishing

The Wanderer is held captive by G-Force!

Far, far away from his home in the Deadzone, the Wanderer is a captive in New York City! As he’s poked and prodded by a team of scientists, he’ll fill in the gaps of his mysterious past… and learn of the government’s true plans for the future of the Deadzone.

Join Ethan S. Parker, Griffin Sheridan, and Pablo Tunica as they return to the Deadzone in this five-issue miniseries!

I Saw Santa: A Spawn Universe Christmas Story TP

Writer: Chris Killian, Andrew Sanders
Artist: Thomas Nachlik
Publisher: Image Comics

In a world where SANTA rewards well-behaved children with gifts and punishes the naughty with a stocking full of coal, one troubled child takes a dark turn.

Offended by his lump of coal, he vows to make it his life’s mission to haunt Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick. As the situation escalates, Sam and Twitch stumble upon a series of grim discoveries, but it is ultimately Spawn who must confront this relentless tormentor and restore peace to the holiday season.

I Saw Santa is a brutal and terrifyingly fresh Christmas story that is the perfect blend of holidays and horror. Writers Chris Killian & Andrew Sanders and artist Thomas Nachlik deliver an incredibly accessible tale in the Spawn Universe where Santa is pushed to his limits and blood is shed. The only thing that makes I Saw Santa even better is that we get more this holiday season. – CLICK HERE to read the entire review

White Sky Vol. 1 TP

Writer: William Harms
Artist: J.P. Mavinga
Publisher: Image Comics

After the world is shattered, a teen girl must journey through a haunted wasteland, hunted by monsters and scavengers alike, to save her father.

Five years ago, the sky turned white, and the world was destroyed.

Forced out of hiding, teenager Violet and her father, David, flee toward the ruins of San Francisco, where they believe they’ll be safe. But after catastrophe strikes, the two of them are separated, and Violet has no choice but to face the horrors of the world, and the ghosts that rule it, on her own.

Joined by a psychic-medium and pursued by bloodthirsty scavengers and ravenous horrors from beyond the grave, Violet fights to find and rescue her father.

White Sky is a suspenseful, tension-filled, emotional, and horrifying post-apocalyptic ghost story that hits hard. What William Harris and Jean Paul Mavinga accomplish with this first issue puts this story towards the top of great post-apocalyptic tales in comics. White Sky is the most impactful comic of 2026, so far, and likely to end up on a lot best of lists when the year comes to close. – CLICK HERE to read the enter review of the first issue

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While we are not the official voice of your decision, we want to help guide you in the right direction for comics releasing October 21, 2026.

The Mandalorian and Grogu – Nightmare on Nevarro #1

Writer: Delilah S. Dawson
Artist: Alessandro Ranaldi
Publisher: Mad Cave Studios / Papercutz

Sinister creatures with glowing red eyes are terrorizing the people of Nevarro, and it’s up to the Mandalorian Din Djarin and his foundling Grogu to put an end to the haunting! Once again, the pair venture into the belly of Nevarro’s magma-filled lava tubes to uncover the truth. Between menacing cave creatures, a deranged mining droid, and the red-eyed flying specters, surviving the darkness may be the greatest challenge of all. It’s a spooky Star Wars adventure where not everything is as it seems!

ThunderCats #1

Writer: Greg Pak
Artist: David Cousens
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment

Superstar writer Greg Pak (World War Hulk, X-Men, Superman/Batman) joins rising star artist David Cousens (Cheetara: Worldbreaker) to present a stunning new chapter in the ‘Cats history!

The THUNDERCATS face a strange, dangerous new life on their Earth, sharing the world with the SILVERHAWKS, a multitude of other societies, and the cat-hating MU’TANTS. This is a time for outreach and diplomacy… or it would be, if it weren’t for a mysterious omen from the sky that unleashes a beast within team leader LION-O, transforming him into the deadly FERAL KING!

The Book of Nosferatu #1

Writer: Michael Moreci
Artist: Todor Hristov
Publisher: Ablaze

Every monster has a beginning! Learn the origin of Nosferatu in this adult tale of unrestrained gothic horror written by Michael Moreci (Barbaric, Dick Tracy) and illustrated by Todor Hristov (Stranger Things)!

Emil’s wife is missing, but no one in his village will do anything about it. No one will even speak of it. It’s like she never even existed. But Emil knows the truth: Bella did not simply vanish, she was taken, prey to the region’s terrifying blight…Nosferatu. Unable to break through the taboo surrounding any interference in these cursed matters, Emil turns away from society and into a world full of unknown and strange powers. What terrible things lurk between the villages in the deep, dark woods, and how can he harness them to find his beloved bride? Can he harness them at all, or will he too succumb to their curses?

Bleeding Hearts Vol. 1 TP

Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Stipan Morian
Publisher: DC Comics / Vertigo

The zombies won—and 10 years after the fall of humanity, they’re the dominant form of life (or not-life) on Earth. They’ve developed their own cultural practices, their own language, and their own society, all organized around hunting and devouring the few living humans unlucky enough to still be fighting for survival. Mouse-Pokes-Golf-Ball-Through-Hole-in-Head (“Poke” for short) is a valued and beloved member of the Brain-Splashes-and-Sizzles-on-Hot-Rocks Horde of the Undead, and with his brother-in-arm Mush, he’s happy to shamble along through the only world he can remember … until the day his heart mysteriously starts beating again. And in a blink, the first humans he sees have stopped looking like food and have started looking like … friends …?

The team behind 20th Century Men, the bold mission statement that launched writer Deniz Camp and artist Stipan Morian to the next level of the comics industry, has reunited at last to bring you a world ruled by ruthless kill-or-be-killed logic, pitted against the demands of a single beating, bleeding, emotional heart!

The post FEATURED 4: The Mandalorian and Grogu – Nightmare on Nevarro #1, ThunderCats #1, and October 21 Comics appeared first on Capes and Tights.

A sleepy 1980s town is stalked by a masked slasher at the height of the Satanic Panic, where every heavy metal record, Dungeons & Dragons campaign and teenage outsider is treated as evidence of devil worship. As fear spreads and bodies pile up, three local misfits become the prime suspects in a series of gruesome murders. Join D&D geeks and Ozzy enthusiasts Naz, Sal, and Terry as they race to clear their names, survive an increasingly blood-soaked town and unmask the real killer before paranoia claims more innocent lives. But in a community eager to blame the weird kids, proving their innocence may be deadlier than facing the murderer.

As a child of the 1980s I was a generation separated from the height of Satanic Panic, being only 4 years old when life moved into the 1990s, but I don’t live under a rock and know it was a weird time to be alive. What this comic, with the iconic name, does is give you a bit of insight to the crazy time, while also giving us the slasher goodness that we could hope for.

Yes, Satanic Panic is filled with the gruesome horror we showed up for, but also shows the horrific things those who are deemed to be considered outsiders went through during these times in places such as this. Let’s be honest, kids still have to deal with this shit in present day as well. Not just the bullying for playing Dungeons & Dragons, but the homophobia and racism that runs ramped through small towns.

These kids are just wanting to have a bit of fun, smoke a bit a grass, listen to heavy metal, and play D&D with their friends, but all hell breaks loose – with them being the victims – and they become the target just for being a bit different. The group of teens become an easy target when your small town police is filled with homophobic and racist police. But there is something more sinister in this town and it goes beyond the closed-minded leaders.

Satanic Panic has the brutal horror moments, but also the more conversational intimate moments that spread the unease and dread. The suspense is lingering and the mystery is at an all-time high as the first issue comes to a close. It’s a dark and moody, slasher-y first issue that has me eagerly awaiting more.

The artwork is edgy, dark and gritty adding to this horror vibe. McCormack’s lines have a tension to them that just deepens the horrors that light within. Oliver Mertz adds colors that are also dark and ominous, rounding out the visuals.

Satanic Panic kicks things off with a debut issue that mixes everyday small town horrors with the terror of a slasher and maybe something more. Writer Matt Miner and artist Clayton McCormack craft a meaningful, yet terrifying comic that will frighten you on many levels. There is definitely something here with this first issue.

Satanic Panic #1 hits local comic shops on October 28, 2026 from Mad Cave Studios.

Satanic Panic #1 Preview

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Offended by his lump of coal, he vows to make it his life’s mission to haunt Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick. As the situation escalates, Sam and Twitch stumble upon a series of grim discoveries, but it is ultimately SPAWN who must confront this relentless tormentor and restore peace to the holiday season.

There is something that works so perfectly when horror crosses paths with the holiday season. The juxtaposition of holiday cheer and terrifying horror that make me feel the warmth of the season. Things are supposed to be jolly during Christmas, but when a horror story is placed squarely in this merry season it screams even louder.

Killian and Sanders could’ve crafted a story based in the Spawn Universe that was just Santa, Christmas, and the season of giving with Spawn as the forefront character and I would’ve still be in line on new comic day to grab the book. But what the creative team does with I Saw Santa is so much more. The use of Sam and Twitch to investigate a horrible murder on Christmas Eve to kick things off made so much more sense, both fitting the mold of a Spawn story but also making it accessible to those unfamiliar with the universe.

Spawn is approaching issue 380 with 400 on the horizon, not to mention the many off-shoot series in recent years, so I can be daunting to want to dive into a mini series such as I Saw Santa, knowing it was based in the Spawn Universe. However, Killian and Sanders deliver a tale that grazes the lore of Spawn without making the reader feel lost. This allows us to enjoy this horrifying story without the burden of catching up on 34 years of Spawn comics.

This is a Santa Claus story, one that is unique and fresh, but it is also a gruesome and visceral horror story. Something we don’t see often, but works so well together. While this tale could’ve been placed in its own universe outside of Spawn, the slight connective tissue made it so much more special. The appearance of a few familiar faces and storylines, again…that don’t distract from the accessibility of the story, gave the tale a bit more depth for those who know. Sam and Twitch are fantastic characters and using them to place the story where it is made me smile when opening the very first page.

Nachlik illustrates a story that feels like Spawn, but also brings this dark holiday vibe to it as well. The artist doesn’t shy away from the gruesome and grotesque, making I Saw Santa not for the faint of heart. I do appreciate the moments of verbalizing a particular death without the imagery to go along with it, when you get to that point you’ll understand. The brutality is meaningful and not just for the shock factor, which made the story that much more of an enjoyable reading experience than just disturbing factor. Colors by Dan Kemp are dark and moody which lends itself to both the Spawn Universe and the horrors within.

I Saw Santa is a brutal and terrifyingly fresh Christmas story that is the perfect blend of holidays and horror. Writers Chris Killian & Andrew Sanders and artist Thomas Nachlik deliver an incredibly accessible tale in the Spawn Universe where Santa is pushed to his limits and blood is shed. The only thing that makes I Saw Santa even better is that we get more this holiday season.

The collected edition of I Saw Santa: A Spawn Universe Christmas Story hits local comic shops on October 28, 2026 and bookstores everywhere on November 24 from Image Comics.

I Saw Santa Vol. 1 TP Preview

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This week on the Capes and Tights Podcast, Justin Soderberg welcomes comic writers Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly to the program to discuss Star Trek: The Last Starship, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive, Dungeons & Dragons, and more!

Lanzing and Kelly, also known as Hivemind, are an Eisner-nominated and New York Times bestselling writing duo known for their work that spans across television, comics, novels, podcasts, and feature films. In comics, you may have read stories they have scribed for Star Trek, Star Trek: Year Five, Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty, Guardians of the Galaxy, NYX, Thunderbolts: Doomstrike, Batman Beyond: Neo-Year, One Bad Day: Clayface, Gotham City Garage, Joyride, and more!

More recently the writing duo has been hard at work on Star Trek: The Last Starship, which had it’s first volume drop in trade paperback on September 8, 2026 from IDW Publishing, as well as the IDW Dark title You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive hitting shelves in October 14, and Dungeons & Dragons at Dark Horse coming November 4.

#303: Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly – Star Trek: The Last Starship

The post #303: Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly – Star Trek: The Last Starship, You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive appeared first on Capes and Tights.