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Free Comic Book Day is Almost Here! Top Picks of the 2025 Season.

When Free Comic Book Days offers to folks, the best in what pop culture represents, it’s safe to say which franchises have lasting power as long as those IPs stay consistent.

Free Comic Book Day is almost here! And in 2025, the selection has only gotten more diverse to include anime style offerings. That is, Tamashii Nations and Gunpla have teamed up to put together an exclusive Mobile Suit Gundam Wing bonus comic. Not every retailer will offer this, so it’s best to hunt around in your local city to locate who has this or not.

Besides this title, the other works I’m excited about are the following. I will include notes where possible as I received previews of Mad Cave Studios release to whet my appetite for picking up the print edition. Instead of Gatchaman, this time they’re expanding their selection of nostalgia classics to include Speed Racer! There’s another title, but please read on to find out.

Boom Studios 20th Anniversary Special

BOOM STUDIOS 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPEC In this collection, readers can discover the vast range of titles this publisher offers. This collection offers the best from the worlds of BRZRKR with “Something is Killing the Children,” Mouse Guard with “Irredeemable,” and an EXCLUSIVE all-new Hello Darkness story. Here, what’ll be offered is the best of from the worlds of BRZRKR with “Something is Killing the Children,” Mouse Guard with “Irredeemable,” and an EXCLUSIVE all-new Hello Darkness story.

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Cobra Commander is More Than Ruthless in #2 and #3 of Image/Skybound’s Mini-Series!

In the Energon Universe, Cobra Commander is a lot more cunning and ruthless than anyone realises, and could he be be an anti-hero?

Image Comics & Skybound Entertainment
Spoiler Alert

In issues #2 and 3 of Cobra Commander, just what kind of relationship he will have with the Dreadnoks gets dissected and broken down! Those moments will have a few readers cringing, and others like myself cackling with laughter like The Joker. It’s about time we have a story that can crawl underneath your skin!

The latest issue is all about about who can take the pain. Whether that’s physical or psychological, there’s lots to like with this latest issue. The shock from Buzzer says it all! Unlike the cartoons where this gang are nothing but buffoons and you don’t get to know them, this version offers a bit of backstory and reveals in how bloody ruthless they can be. We see some carnage in #2, but in this continuation, what I loved witnessing is how CC is establishing himself in this hierarchy. This up and coming leader of a global terrorist network needs to prove why he is this motorcycle gang’s superior.

As for Zartan and what he is up to, I do not know! This air of mystery from series writer Joshua Williamson has me rereading the comic in search for clues. It’s easy to see his sister Zarana holding all the cards, but as for what she knows, she’s not telling. Although Destro, Major Bludd, Storm Shadow and Dr. Mindbender have yet to make their entry into this reimagined comic book universe, I am eager to see how the creative team behind this Energon universe will update them.

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The Aftermath; Cherry Bomb Toys Blows Up Their Ultimate Toy Fair to Two Days!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Nobody can ever know about the possible discoveries to be found at Cherry Bomb Toys’ Ultimate Toy Fair. Instead of a one-day event, it is now two. At least a third of the space was occupied by local shops with items from their vaults and the rest are from either long-time collectors or hobby enthusiasts’ massive collections. Had I spent more careful time on Saturday, I might have spotted the set of miniatures from Dark Crystal the Movie! This product from 1982 was from Pinnacle.

In past shows, I acquired the Orguss from the Super Dimension Century series of the same time. It’s missing the gun, and in due time, I will have the CAD design skills to create and 3D print the replacement part. I even found an Invid once; I passed on it because it was very battle damaged. The thrill of the hunt for random goodness defines why I continue going. The fact it’s a weekend event now had me curious and I had to explore the possibility of what I could find when not everyone will be vending for both days.

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“Welcome To Cobra Island” Artist Coming to Hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia

wordburglarrapplicablecover By James Robert Shaw
(The Wind up Geek)

Readers please be advised: This article may contain links to content with explicit language and mature subject matter.

Sean Jordan, the man responsible for releasing an entire album dedicated to the GI Joe license titled “Welcome to Cobra Island”, returns to his hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia this October. Currently based in Toronto Jordan spent his early career in Halifax performing under the stage name Wordburglar. Jordan has released a total of eight studio albums since his debut SJ the Wordburglar in 2003. Of those albums Burglaritis (2005) was nominated by the Canadian Music Week‘s Indie Awards for “Favourite Urban Artist/Group or Duo”. It was also the third most played hip-hop album on Canadian college radio in 2006 according to a year-end chart summary by the band Earshot. The track “Word Owner” won a fan-voted award for “Best Lyrics” by CBC Radio 3.

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Cobra Can’t Shoot But They Sure Can Rap!

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)

Ever heard of Wordburglar? Well you should. Or at least all of Geek society will now after watching this cool music video dedicated to the big boys in blue, Cobra. Sure this evil organization had some rough times against G.I. Joe led by Michael Bell (Duke) in the original animated series, or by a muscle bound Dwayne Johnson (Roadblock) in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, but you can bet your Mauler tank they know how to unwind.

If you listen carefully to the lyrics you’ll notice much of Wordburglar’s influence for this song came not from the Sunbow animated series but from Marvel Comics’ original 155 issue run (1982 – 1994).

Wordburglar is a Canadian rapper out of Halifax, Nova Scotia which has previously given to the world another rap artist called Classified. Classified’s hits include 5th Element and No Mistakes.

Rap Viper is available on Wordburglar’s Welcome To Cobra Island (2013) album.