Welcome back to The Beat Digest, a twice-weekly round-up of the biggest comics-related news stories we’ve missed every Tuesday and Friday. Is there a story out there you think we should cover? Be sure to let us know in the comments.
Phantom 2040: A New Shadow teaser by John Amor§ King Features launched Phantom 2040: A New Shadow, a reimagining of the 1994 cartoon, based in turn on Lee Falk‘s cult hero, written by Alex Segura & Michael Moreci (Dick Tracy), with art by John Amor (Urban Animal). Set a century after the original comic, the strip follows Carlos Osorio, an ex-soccer player in a dystopian world, who takes up the titular mantle when a billionaire claims it for himself. The first season will run for 20 chapters, releasing every Wednesday, and you can begin reading the first four installments here.
§ Speaking of animated series featuring the Phantom, Mad Cave announced Defenders of the Earth: Dark Destiny, a sequel to last year’s maxiseries, written again by Dan DiDio, and featuring Alex Sanchez succeeding Jim Calafiore on art. The series will see Flash Gordon, the Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, and Lothar stand trial for the devastation they wreaked on Mongo defeating Ming the Merciless last time, while their kids venture into a secret base, formerly occupied by Ming’s son Kro-Tan, to find Rick Gordon’s missing mother. Issue #1 releases December 10.
Damsel from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S. cover by Mau Mora§ Meanwhile, Mad Cave’s young adult imprint Maverick announced Damsel from D.I.S.T.R.E.S.S., a fantasy adventure by Andrew Clemson (Bete Noir) and Mau Mora (Dust Bunny). Out February 3, the OGN follows Bec, the top operative of her kingdom’s intelligence agency, who was abandoned by her father as a child. “When a Dwarven princess is kidnapped, Bec must leap into action! But can she complete her mission when the ghosts of her family’s past hang heavy over this case?”
§ Via Instagram, Heartstopper creator Alice Oseman confirmed the sixth and final print volume of the webcomic will be released in the UK on July 2, and the US and Canada on July 6, 2026. “Almost time to say goodbye to Heartstopper… Still drawing it right now and having a great time!!! But I will be very sad when it’s over,” she said. The British schoolboy romance began online in 2016, and its final chapter kicked off in 2024. The final book should coincide with the release of the movie (which Oseman also wrote), that will conclude the Netflix series in lieu of a fourth season.
Marvin “Krondon” Jones III as Tobias Whale on Black Lightning (2018-21)§ Deadline reports Marvin “Krondon” Jones III has been cast as Tombstone/Lonnie Lincoln in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. He is the second villain to be confirmed for the film, following Michael Mando‘s Scorpion/Mac Gargan. Jones, who previously voiced the albino mobster in Into the Spider-Verse (and who has albinism himself), was originally set to reprise the role in Sony’s canceled El Muerto film. Despite Tom Holland‘s recent on-set injury, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently set to release in theaters on July 31, 2026.
§ Via AIPT, Abrams ComicArts unveiled Marvels: The Novelization, an adaptation of Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross‘s legendary 1994 miniseries by Steve Darnall (Uncle Sam). Due out May 2026, the book will retell the story of photographer Phil Sheldon, as he witnesses the events of the Marvel Comics universe from the 1940s to the early ’70s. Four color, and four black-and-white illustrations by Ross will be included in the book, which will mark the second time the comic has been fully adapted, following the audio play from 2019.
A1 Deadline Special cover§ A Kickstarter for A1 Deadline Special will launch in October. An 80-page revival of both Garry Leach and Dave Elliott‘s 1989-92 anthology A1, and Brett Ewins and Steve Dillon‘s 1988-95 series Deadline (best known for being the debut of Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett‘s Tank Girl), the book will feature new and old comics by Martin, Hewlett, Simon Bisley, Alison Sampson, Rufus Dayglo, Shaky Kane, and Eryk Donovan, as well as the late Dillon and Ewins. A full list of contributors will be revealed later this month.
§ In more Kickstarter news, via Fangoria, the previously reported Rocky Horror Show graphic novel Bride of Rocky Horror will now be crowdfunded on the platform by multimedia company Bit Bot Media (which also published the recent video game of the film.) The book, which was originally set to be released by Dark Horse, was created by Magdalene Visaggio & Noemi Vettori, and follows Janet several years later after the events of the original story, as she uncovers the whereabouts of her ex-fiancé Brad Majors. You can sign up to be notified of when it goes live at the prelaunch page, here.
§ Finally, Dynamite will publish Fire and Ice: Nekron, a special starring the film’s villain this December. Written by Sara Frazetta (daughter of the film’s co-producer, Frank Frazetta) with art by Geof Isherwood, the book will reveal the backstory of Nekron, and particularly how his evil nature was the result of his mother Queen Juliana’s pact with the Wolf-God Ulghir. It marks the second Fire and Ice special from Dynamite, following last year’s Teegra, by Bill Willingham (writer of the heavily-delayed main series) and Gabriele Di Caro.
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