Skybound Entertainment Archives

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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After IDW Comic’s release of Cobra Commander #1, There’s More Than Meets The Eye In Store!

Yo Joe! It’s about time there’s a retcon and reimagining on why Cobra Commander must be feared, and IDW Publishing and Skybound delivers!

Cobra Commander #1 Comic Book Cover Spoiler Alert

The reason behind why I think Cobra Commander ranks as one of pop culture’s greatest villains is because of the performance by the incomparable Chris Latta. Not only has he provided the voice to Starscream in Transformers, but also voiced Mr. Burns when The Simpsons first premiered! Although the personalities are somewhat similar for the first two, the latter is vastly different. And while reading Skybound and IDW Comics’ updated origin story about this character, I can only hear his warcry resonating in the back of my head!

This take written by Joshua Williamson takes what’s from the animated movie–for better or worse–seriously! He’s a renegade and a scientist from Cobra-la, a lost civilization cut off from “the world,” and it leads me to think it’s located somewhere on Earth rather than be another planet. After getting chided by Golobulus, he’s given a chance at redemption. He must build a secret militia, and so begins the first issue.

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LEGO’s Garmadon is Breaking Bad With His Own Solo Adventure!

Ninjago’s greatest villain, Garmadon, now has a comic book! This joint collaboration between Image Comics, Skybound and The Lego Company has everything to satisfy fans of the cartoon.

LEGO® NINJAGO®: GARMADON #1 Cover Ninjago’s greatest villain, Garmadon, now has a comic book! This self-titled work is a joint collaboration between Image Comics, Skybound and The Lego Company and the first two issues have everything to satisfy fans of the cartoon. There are linguring questions that needs answering.

The only thing really missing is a mini-fig to go with the release, and I suspect that’s being saved for the eventual trade paperback. This series answers nearly everything you want to know about this villain but are afraid to ask. Thankfully, readers don’t have to recall everything from the animated series to know where this series is headed.

Garmadon walked away from it all in season 10, March of the Oni and I’ve talked about the season in my look of that chapter. He once wanted to conquer all of Ninjago, and after defeating the greatest threat of them all, the Oni, I suspect the desire to control an entire world just isn’t good enough. He learned to be part of a greater whole. Ever since then, he’s uncertain about where his future lays. He’ll have to reevaluate his goals.

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How to Deal with the Magi Order in Excellence, an Interview w Khary Randolph

Excellence

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

In comic book stores May 8th.

Excellence is a terrific comic book series soon to be released by Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment. It arrives in stores a little more than a month after the Netflix program, The Order, debuted. It’s merely coincidence that both are similar. Core to the central tale is in how both heroes are out to disrupt the secret societies they are entering into because of something they did (or now represent). I’m being vague as to not spoil the fun in reading the first issue.

Writer Brandon Thomas (Voltron) and artist Khary Randolph (Noble, Tech Jacket) has been working on their version for the past two years and their work takes a bit of inspiration from here and there. Their story concerns Spencer, a young lad coming of age and thinking he has all the answers. The Aegis are the guardians of humanity, if not the protectors of sacred knowledge. When this lad is about to be inducted, he learns about the things they have done and figures there are better ways to deal with it. However, in what he proposes, not everyone agrees.

I chatted with Randolph about this work during Emerald City Comic Con 2019, and what readers can expect:

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Takeaways from this year’s Emerald City Comic Con

Emerald City Comic Con LOGO Despite changes which had many fans vocal about the 16th annual Emerald City Comic Con, I found they were not too distracting to the overall experience. Attending the event for all four days than my usual two had me quickly accustomed to the modifications. Walking between hotels was not a big deal. The disabled were able to get around too. Escalators and elevators (twelve of the latter were available) and the slowdown was not completely terrible. Proper planning can allow most to arrive at their respective panel in time.

The added security is a must when considering the climate these days. With more conventions are taking precautions to protect the attendees, they are needed. My pro tip includes having a pouch to keep all items that can set off detectors and staff can see what you have instead of waving a wand.

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