2025 was insanely turbulent just in general. Not only was distribution radically disrupted, but publishers has to figure out on-again-off-again tariff issues repeatedly as many of their vendors and suppliers had radical shifts in how much they had to charge thanks to that walking shitstain in the White House. On top of which, we're in a Jenga-style economy where a single nervous brick can spell disaster. All of this means a great deal of business uncertainty. To mitigate that, I think publishers are going to lean into known quantities and we will see a large number of licensed and cross-licensed material. We're going to see more Batman/Deadpool type books. I recall seeing an announcement about a Fantastic Four/Planet of the Apes crossover for early in the year already. We're going to see more publishers farm out previously licensed material to other publishers as well -- Titan just announced they're going to put out an omnibus edition of some of Marvel's Conan comics. There's going to be a lot more blurring of lines of who's allowed to print what characters because publishers are looking for more known quantities that have an inherent fanbase built in from another IP holder.
Avengers JLA Facsimile Edition #2I'll also note that, although I'm not 100% sure on the current status of the Star Wars license, I'm also seeing Star Wars comics being published by Marvel, Dark Horse, Titan Comics, and VIZ. And let me iterate again that this is just a casual perusal of the April previews for me to find all this.
The Justice League and the Avengers battle one another across two Earths for possession of the 12 weapons that will determine the fate of both universes! While their teammates put everything they've got toward winning this most desperate game, Batman and Captain America join forces to investigate those who've set up the board... and determine if there isn't yet another game in play.
DC X Sonic The Hedgehog The Metal Legion #1
The worlds of DC Comics' Justice League and SEGA's Sonic the Hedgehog collide once more in another thrilling crossover filled with action, adventure, laughs, and perils! Mysterious mechanical rings have appeared on both worlds, linking them together and leading to all things wonderful, worrisome, and weird! The heroes are happily reunited, but little do they suspect there's a sinister origin to their reunions.
Jay and Silent Bob: Jays of Future Past #1
DOOM DECREES "THE DIM-WITTED DUO MUST DIE!" Capped, tan American Jay and friendly neighborhood wider-man Silent Bob make a quick stop in the Marvel Universe! But when Doctor Doom decrees these Jersey guys must die, the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the X-Men and and a whole hoary host of heroes must team up on a joint mission to save the dim-witted duo from a lethal case of super-hero fatigue! "From the moment in Mallrats when they made the very first reference to Wolverine in cinema history, I've always wanted Jay and Silent Bob to meet their Marvel heroes in a comic book crossover - so much so that I pitched it to Stan the Man himself the day he shot his cameo in the movie way back in 1995. Thirty years later, Jays of Future Past represents both a love letter to the magic and mayhem of Marvel as well as giggle-inducing proof that our childhood dreams can still come true, even at age 55." - Kevin Smith
The Rocketeer: The Island #4
Kong has kidnapped Betty, but he must protect her from the only beast on the island scarier than him—a giant T. rex named King Bloodscale! And all the Rocketeer can do is try to keep up! Will there be a new king of the island? Or will Beauty kill the Beast? John Layman and Jacob Edgar bring you a final fight you never saw coming!
Conan and Dragonero #1
Two worlds collide in a savage crossover years in the making! CONAN OF CIMMERIA and DRAGONERO meet for the first time in an epic clash of steel, sorcery, and survival. Pulled to the mysterious land of Erondár by dark forces, Conan comes face to face with the famed dragon slayer, Dragonero, and the two warriors must set aside suspicion to stand back-to-back against a supernatural force poised to doom both their worlds. Published for the first time outside of Italy, this landmark crossover brings together two legendary heroes in a story that honors classic sword-and-sorcery while forging something bold and unforgettable. The barbarian and the dragon hunter draw their swords together!
Thundercats/The Powerpuff Girls
In the greatest crossover since peanut butter met jelly, The Powerpuff Girls travel from Townsville to Third Earth and discover the world of the ThunderCats! After being trapped in a runaway rocket by Mojo Jojo, the Townsville Trio find themselves on a strange planet where their super-powers don’t work. Luckily, someone named Snarf is there to provide a situation report — and wouldn’t you know it, there’s evil that needs defeating! But without their Chemical X-enhanced abilities, what can Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup do against a foe like Mumm-Ra? Find out as writer PAULINA GANUCHEAU and artist COLEMAN ENGLE open up the Treasures of Thundera in ThunderCats/The Powerpuff Girls!
Thundercats X Silverhawks #3
The greatest crossover event in the galaxy continues! Cheetara and Tygra are overwhelmed by invading Darkbird forces, and the SilverHawks are desperate for interplanetary backup to arrive. But everything on Third Earth stops when there’s a massive explosion in the sky...
Iron Man Super Smash
(published by Abrams)
In this action-packed and heartfelt second original graphic novel in the Iron Man: Mighty Marvel Team-Up series, Iron Man must work with the Incredible Hulk to save a group of innocent monsters from being used for destructionIt’s monster mayhem! When Iron Man looks to connect with the Hulk outside of super heroing, Tony Stark creates a new suit big enough to keep up with Hulk’s desire to smash! But when a group of monsters are unleashed across the world, Stark realizes that all of that smashing might be doing more harm than good. And when it seems like there is more to these monsters attacking at random, Hulk and Iron Man must put their heads together and find out who is really behind these monster attacks and calm the monsters at large!
Marvel Dimensions
(published by Abrams)
Alex Ross, the award-winning and bestselling creator of Marvels, Kingdom Come, and Fantastic Four: Full Circle, takes readers through the Marvel Universe—but all is not as it seems Marvel Dimensions is legendary artist Alex Ross’ second book in the Marvel Arts series, following the national bestselling, critically acclaimed, and award-winning Fantastic Four: Full Circle. The story opens with a sweeping tour through the classic origins of Marvel’s most iconic characters. Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Wolverine, and many others appear in dramatic, fully painted spreads that echo their earliest stories. A narrator describes each moment with confidence, guiding the reader through these touchstones of Marvel’s history. But as the story moves forward, the tone begins to shift. The voice behind the narration is not who the readers expect and carries a motive that slowly pushes the narrative somewhere darker and far more unpredictable. Once this change becomes clear, the book expands into something larger and more surprising. Storylines twist in on themselves, characters behave in unexpected ways, and events ripple across the Marvel Universe with growing tensions. Ross uses the structure of the book to create anticipation and pull the reader deeper into a mystery that keeps widening. Every new sequence reveals another layer, building toward a final act that reframes everything that came before it. A bonus 32-page comic book is included that is pivotal to the storyline. With Marvel Dimensions, Ross approaches the Marvel Universe from a new angle with new character invention that invites readers to question what they think and what they know. Marvel Dimensions may be the latest title in the Marvel Arts line . . . but it is only the beginning.
X-Men Elsewhen Vol 01
(published by Abrams)
Legendary comic book creator John Byrne returns to the title he first drew 50 years ago, Uncanny X-Men, with this one-of-a-kind new graphic novel series, X-Men: Elsewhen. This three-volume graphic novel series picks up the story from Byrne's original run, taking the characters in new and unexpected directions. In Volume 1 of X-Men: Elsewhen, the Dark Phoenix Saga is over and Phoenix is . . . alive?!Diverging from the epic finale of the original storyline from 1984, X-Men: Elsewhen presents a universe where Jean Grey's powers and intellect have been greatly reduced, and from there, everything you thought you know about the X-Men is forever changed.John Byrne's monumental return to the X-Men heads in entirely new and surprising directions, as the X-Men head back to the Savage Land, face their climactic adventure with the Sentinels, and contend with special guest–stars such as the Avengers and the Fantastic Four along the way. X-Men: Elsewhen is a three-volume graphic novel series in the Marvel Arts line that sees the return of acclaimed X-Men artist Byrne decades after his last work on the series. Byrne has written and penciled every page and inked multiple chapters, all of which pick up the story from where his first go–round ended, taking this beloved lineup of characters—and his fans—in exciting new directions.
DC Silver Age Covers and Stories Artists Edition
(published by Image Comics)
A COLLECTION OF DC SILVER AGE ART UNLIKE ANY OTHER! A one-of-a-kind look at artwork from DC Comics’ Silver Age that redefined The Flash, Green Lantern, The Atom, and more in this gorgeous, oversized Artist’s Edition! Dive into some of DC Comics’ finest stories and covers from the Silver Age in this massive Artist’s Edition, featuring all the interior pages from beloved comics like the 1960s Green Lantern #1, complete stories from CARMINE INFANTINO’s run on The Flash and SHELDON MAYER’s run of Sugar and Spike, and even more Silver Age treasures. With a unique look into an era that changed comics forever, DC Silver Age Covers and Stories Artist’s Edition also features over 75 classic covers from a Who’s-Who of iconic artists like JOE KUBERT, CARMINE INFANTINO, GIL KANE, and more. Although appearing to be in black and white, all the art is scanned in color, enabling the reader to see the work as close to the original as possible—ink gradients, blue pencil, and all the unique nuances that make original art so special—are all clearly visible and printed at the same size as drawn. The Artist’s Edition featuring comics and covers from DC Comics’ Silver Age is an art book disguised as a comic collection. The only better way to see these pages is by looking over the artist's shoulder at their drawing board!
King Conan The Original Comics Omnibus Vol 03
(published by Titan Comics)
This mammoth volume includes one of the more rarely collected stories from the conclusion of John Buscema’s first long tenure on the Conan line of books as presented here and in the Conan of the Isles graphic novel. The rest of this collection includes the remaining run of issues of Conan the King as penned by Don Kraar and then Jim Owsley (aka Christopher Priest) with notable artistic runs by Mike Docherty and Geoff Isherwood. Collecting: Conan the King (1984) #36-55 and Conan of the Isles graphic novel (1988) Marvel Graphic Novel #42
This is not just Marvel and DC playing the game; this is most of the major publishers/IP holders getting involved. These are people saying, "Can we sell enough to justify a Thundercats comic? Maybe, maybe not. But we'll definitely get extra customers from Powerpuff Girls fans that will help make it profitable!" Publishers who are putting out other publishers' work because they decided they don't have enough original material themselves that will sell, so they borrow on the IPs of other companies.
It's obviously way too early into 2026 to say if this indeed a trend, much less a notable story for all of 2026. But I certainly wasn't wrong in predicting we were going to see an increase in this type of thing! Expect to see more of this throughout the year.
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