The Empire Report

FUNDA Expo 2026 Montreal graphic
FUNDA Expo Opens Today at Windsor Station — A New Montreal Con for Toys, Gaming & TCG
FUNDA Expo, a brand-new toy, gaming, and TCG convention presented by EB Games Canada, opens today at Windsor Station in Montreal — with CGC doing live grading on-site. Read more...
Transformers The Movie 40th anniversary re-release graphic
The Transformers: The Movie Returns to Theaters for Its 40th Anniversary, Sept 17–22
The Transformers: The Movie returns to theaters September 17–22 for its 40th anniversary in 4K — Hasbro's "Apology Tour" for Optimus Prime's death, arriving weeks after Peter Cullen's passing. Read more...
Legend of Zelda movie title reveal graphic
The Legend of Zelda Movie Gets Its Title — and a New Release Date
Nintendo's live-action Zelda film finally has a title — simply 'The Legend of Zelda' — plus a new April 30, 2027 release date, revealed at the same Direct that dated... Read more...
Weekly FOC Picks and Speculation banner featuring this cycle's on-FOC cover art: Amazing Spider-Man 1001, Vampirella Vs Darkstalkers Special 1, Thundercats 2026 1, Batman 14, Archie Vs The Terminator 1, and G.I. Joe A Real American Hero Tomb Raider 1
Weekly FOC Picks & Speculation — September 9–14, 2026
This Monday, September 14, 2026, is Final Order Cutoff — the deadline for retailers to lock in orders on books shipping in the weeks ahead. This digest covers three different... Read more...
New Comics This Wednesday — September 9, 2026: this week's hot picks fanned out (Six of Us, Spawn '77, Batman: Bad Seeds, Action Comics, Star Wars: The Book of Boba Fett, Transformers)
New Comics This Wednesday — September 9, 2026
New comics land Wednesday, September 9 — and it's a stacked one, headlined by a Tom King reunion with his Vision collaborators, a chart-topping new Transformers arc, and Todd McFarlane... Read more...
On FOC This Week banner featuring the actual Sept 7, 2026 Final Order Cutoff cover art: Firefly #1, Geiger #25, Poison Ivy #48 Dark Knight Returns anniversary variant, and Vampirella X Witchblade Special #1
Weekly FOC Picks & Speculation — September 4–7, 2026
This Monday, September 7, 2026, is Final Order Cutoff — the deadline for retailers to lock in orders on books shipping in the coming weeks. This digest covers three different... Read more...
New Comics This Wednesday, September 2 2026 graphic
New Comics This Wednesday — September 2, 2026
New comics land Wednesday, September 2 — and it's a big one, headlined by DC's three-pronged "Next Level" relaunch of Doom Patrol, Legion of Super-Heroes, and Teen Titans, plus a... Read more...
Marvel retailer relations, Joe Kubert centennial, and Batman Day industry news graphic
Marvel's Retailer Push, DC Honors Joe Kubert & Batman Day Meets Local Comic Shop Day
Marvel rebuilds retailer trust and expands Compact Comics, DC honors Joe Kubert's 100th birthday, and Batman Day collides with Local Comic Shop Day on September 19. Read more...
This Week in Comics — industry news roundup graphic
This Week in Comics: Marvel's Midnight Era Begins, DC Pushes Three September Books & 2000 AD Hits a Snag
This week in comics: Marvel's Midnight X-Men brings back Jonathan Hickman, DC delays three September books, 2000 AD hits a printer snag, and Local Comic Shop Day 2026 gets its... Read more...
Fan Expo Canada 2026 Recap graphic featuring Batman: The Dark Knight Returns cover art
Fan Expo Canada 2026 Recap: Frank Miller, Joe Quesada & a 30th-Anniversary Weekend in Toronto
Fan Expo Canada's 30th-anniversary edition wrapped August 30 in Toronto — Frank Miller, Joe Quesada, Mark Hamill, and a Lord of the Rings reunion headlined four days at the MTCC. Read more...
McFarlane DC Multiverse Sinestro toy news graphic
McFarlane's DC Multiverse Sinestro Pre-Order Opens September 10 — Green Lantern Corps Wave Completes
McFarlane's DC Multiverse Sinestro (Green Lantern Corps) figure opens for pre-order September 10, completing a wave that began rolling out in late August. Read more...
Onimusha: Way of the Sword game news graphic
Onimusha: Way of the Sword Releases This Friday — Capcom Moves Up Its Return
Onimusha: Way of the Sword releases September 4 — Capcom moved the date up from September 25 after strong demo demand. Read more...
Clash of the Thundermans TV news graphic
Clash of the Thundermans Hits Paramount+ Thursday: A Superhero Family Comes Undone
Clash of the Thundermans premieres on Paramount+ Thursday, September 3 — a superhero family movie event for Nickelodeon's long-running Thundermans franchise. Read more...
Weekly FOC Picks & Speculation — Week of August 31, 2026: cover art collage for Midnight X-Men #1, Midnight Fantastic Four #1, Midnight Spider-Man #1, Absolute Batman #24, Angel #1, and Lancer #1
Weekly FOC Picks & Speculation — Week of August 31, 2026
Final Order Cutoff for this week's order window closes Monday, August 31 at 10:00 PM ET — the last chance for your local shop to lock in copies of these... Read more...
Upper Deck and Hasbro trading card partnership graphic
Upper Deck and Hasbro Announce Major Trading Card Partnership — Transformers, Power Rangers, G.I. Joe & More
Upper Deck and Hasbro announced a new multiyear licensing deal covering Transformers, Power Rangers, G.I. Joe, M.A.S.K., and more — starting with a Transformers 40th Anniversary trading card set. Read more...
History of Grand Theft Auto graphic
The History of Grand Theft Auto: From Top-Down Original to GTA VI
From 1997's top-down original to the GTA VI era: a look back at how Grand Theft Auto became one of gaming's most influential franchises. Read more...
GTA VI everything we know graphic
GTA VI: Everything We Know So Far (Updated as News Breaks)
Everything confirmed about GTA VI so far — release date, price, setting, and what's still unknown. Updated as real news breaks. Read more...
One Piece OP-17 and Pokemon 30th Celebration graphic
One Piece OP-17 Drops Tomorrow — And Pokémon's Biggest Release of the Year Follows in 3 Weeks
One Piece OP-17: The World's Strongest Warriors releases worldwide August 28, followed by Pokemon TCG's historic first-ever simultaneous worldwide launch, the 30th Celebration set, on September 16. Read more...
McFarlane Batman 66 2-pack preorder graphic
McFarlane's New Batman '66 Collector Edition 2-Pack Is Now Up for Preorder
McFarlane Toys opened preorders August 25 on a Batman Classic TV Series Collector Edition 2-pack — Adam West and Burt Ward's 1966 looks, with a working Shakespeare bust Batcave gag. Read more...
Marvel's Wolverine September 15 release graphic
Marvel's Wolverine Releases September 15 — A Team X Story Straight From the Comics
Marvel's Wolverine from Insomniac Games releases September 15 on PS5 — a Team X, Trask, and Madripoor story built straight from the comics. Read more...
Lanterns HBO episodes 1-2 recap graphic
Lanterns, Two Episodes In: Where the Story Stands (and What Critics Are Saying)
Lanterns is two episodes into its HBO run — a spoiler-light recap of where the story stands, plus a look at the genuinely mixed critical reception so far. Read more...
Coyote vs. ACME 2026 movie graphic
Coyote vs. ACME Finally Hits Theaters August 28 — The Movie Warner Bros. Tried to Shelve
Coyote vs. ACME, the animated/live-action hybrid Warner Bros. once shelved for a tax write-off, finally reaches theaters August 28 — here's the story, the cast, and how it survived cancellation. Read more...
FOC August 31 Marvel Midnight and Absolute Batman 24 graphic
FOC August 31, 2026: Marvel's Midnight Universe Launches & Absolute Batman #24
FOC Monday, August 31 covers Marvel's new Midnight horror universe (three simultaneous #1s) and Absolute Batman #24, Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta's next chapter in the Absolute line. Read more...
New Comic Book Day August 26 2026 graphic
New Comic Book Day — Wednesday, August 26, 2026
New Comic Book Day, August 26, 2026 — Amazing Spider-Man #35 builds toward ASM #1000, Absolute Catwoman #3 continues, plus Tomb of Apocalypse #1. Read more...
Weekly FOC Picks and Speculation August 24 2026 graphic
Weekly FOC Picks & Speculation — Week of August 24, 2026
Final Order Cutoff for this week's order window closes tonight — Monday, August 24 at 8:00 PM ET. That's the last chance for your local shop to lock in copies... Read more...
Weekly FOC Picks & Speculation — August 17–23, 2026
Weekly FOC Picks & Speculation — August 17–23, 2026
This week's top FOC speculation picks: Absolute Batman #23 (Absolute Clayface debut), Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1, Venom #260, JSA #22, and more — plus where to grab copies. Read more...
Pokemon TCG Ascended Heroes Tins restock graphic
Pokémon TCG Restocks Ascended Heroes with New Tins, Aug 28 — Plus a Look at the 30th Anniversary Set
Pokémon TCG restocks Ascended Heroes with three new tins arriving August 28, plus a look ahead to the TCG's 30th Anniversary Celebration set on September 16. Read more...
McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse August 2026 wave graphic
McFarlane Toys' New DC Multiverse Wave: Pattinson's Batman, Pfeiffer's Catwoman & Oldman's Gordon
McFarlane Toys' newest DC Multiverse Deluxe Theatrical Edition wave features Robert Pattinson's Batman, a battle-damaged Michelle Pfeiffer Catwoman, and Gary Oldman's Commissioner Gordon. Read more...
Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls launch graphic
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls Launches — And Reportedly Crashed PlayStation's Servers
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls launched August 6 on PS5/PC from Arc System Works — a 4v4 tag fighter that reportedly crashed PlayStation servers during its beta. Read more...
Clayface 2026 movie graphic
Clayface Hits Theaters October 23: DC's Body-Horror Take on a Classic Batman Villain
Clayface, DC Studios' body-horror take on the classic Batman villain, hits theaters October 23, 2026. Cast, plot, trailer, and where it fits in the DCU. Read more...
New Comic Book Day August 19 2026 graphic
New Comic Book Day — Wednesday, August 19, 2026
New Comic Book Day, August 19, 2026 — headlined by Bug Wars: The Coming of Wardoom #1 and Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #4, plus Punisher vs. Spider-Man #2 and... Read more...
D23 2026 Recap: X-Men Cast and Avengers Doomsday graphic
D23 2026 Recap: Marvel Reveals Its X-Men Cast, New Avengers: Doomsday Footage & VisionQuest Trailer
D23 2026 recap: Marvel Studios reveals its X-Men movie cast (Sadie Sink, Adam Driver, and more), new Avengers: Doomsday footage, and the VisionQuest trailer. Read more...
New Comics This Wednesday — August 12, 2026
New Comics This Wednesday — August 12, 2026
New comic book day is here! Here's everything hitting the shelves — and our shelves online — this Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Grab your pull-list favorites and check out this... Read more...
Weekly FOC Picks & Speculation — August 10-16, 2026
Weekly FOC Picks & Speculation — August 10-16, 2026
This week's Final Order Cutoff landed on Monday, August 10th — the last call for shops to lock in their orders before these books head to press. FOC is historically... Read more...
New Comic Book Day August 12 2026 graphic
New Comic Book Day — Wednesday, August 12, 2026
New Comic Book Day, August 12, 2026 — headlined by Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1, plus He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #6, Supergirl #16, and Star Wars: The Fall... Read more...
FOC August 10 2026 DC Next Level Triple Launch graphic
FOC August 10, 2026: DC's Next Level Triple Launch — Legion of Super-Heroes, Doom Patrol & Teen Titans
Final Order Cutoff Monday, August 10 covers three new DC Next Level launches: Legion of Super-Heroes #1, Doom Patrol #1, and Teen Titans #1. Read more...
FAN EXPO Canada 2026 — Comic Event News graphic
FAN EXPO Canada 2026 — Frank Miller Signs in Toronto, Aug 27–30 (A Road Trip from Montréal)
FAN EXPO Canada returns to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre August 27–30, 2026, with Frank Miller doing autographs, sketches, and Dark Knight Returns collectibles. Here's what Montréal-area fans need to... Read more...
New York Comic Con 2026 Preview — Comic Event News graphic
New York Comic Con 2026 Preview — Frank Miller, Jim Lee & Scott Snyder Headline the 20th Anniversary Show
New York Comic Con celebrates its 20th anniversary October 8–11, 2026 at the Javits Center. Here's who's confirmed so far — Frank Miller, Jim Lee, Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, James... Read more...
SDCC 2026 Recap — Comic Event News graphic
SDCC 2026 Recap: Lanterns Lights Up Hall H, The Demon Returns, and Marvel Reveals Ghost Rider
San Diego Comic-Con 2026 recap — DC's Lanterns trailer with Sinestro and the Manhunters, a new ongoing Demon series from James Harren, and Marvel's Ghost Rider and Black Panther 3... Read more...
Weekend Reading July 25-26, 2026 graphic
Weekend Reading — Saturday July 25–26, 2026
Weekend reading July 25–26 2026. ROM Special #1 open to order — FOC tonight. Four Batman animated projects running simultaneously. Eleven KCC keys incoming July 29 (Queen in Black #1... Read more...
Spider-Man Brand New Day and Batman Caped Crusader Season 2 graphic
Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2 — Both Open Tomorrow, July 31
Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens July 31 in theaters. Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2 premieres July 31 on Amazon Prime Video. The Avengers: Doomsday trailer attached to every Brand New... Read more...
Predator vs the Planet of the Apes #1 key issue graphic
Predator vs the Planet of the Apes #1 — KCC Key, In Store July 29
Predator vs the Planet of the Apes #1 is in store July 29 with a KCC key flag — the first-ever crossover between these two iconic properties. $5.99, 6 variants.... Read more...
Superman Annual Year One Thousand #1 key issue graphic
Superman Annual: Year One Thousand #1 — KCC Key, In Store July 29
Superman Annual: Year One Thousand #1 is in store July 29 with a KCC key flag. Set in the year 3026 — DC's far-future timeline. $5.99, 4 variants. Here's what... Read more...
New Comic Book Day July 29 2026 graphic
New Comic Book Day — Wednesday July 29, 2026
New Comic Book Day July 29 2026. Eleven KCC keys. Queen in Black #1 leads (23 variants). Superman Annual: Year One Thousand #1, Predator vs Planet of the Apes #1,... Read more...
Key Issues to Watch NCBD July 29 2026 graphic
Key Issues to Watch — NCBD July 29, 2026
Eleven KCC-flagged keys for NCBD July 29 2026. Queen in Black #1 leads (23 variants, $7.99). Superman Annual: Year One Thousand #1, Predator vs Planet of the Apes #1, Mortal... Read more...
Queen in Black #1 key issue graphic
Queen in Black #1 — KCC Key, 23 Variants, In Store Wednesday July 29
Queen in Black #1 is in store July 29 with a KCC key flag and 23 variants — the highest count of the week. Al Ewing and Iban Coello. Hela... Read more...
Final Order Cutoff July 27 2026 ROM Special graphic
Final Order Cutoff — Monday July 27, 2026
FOC closes tonight July 27 at 10:00 pm ET. ROM Special #1 leads — Robert Kirkman, open to order, ships August 26. M.A.S.K. Origins #1 also open to order August... Read more...
Every Batman Animated Series Right Now graphic
Every Batman Animated Series Right Now — Caped Crusader S2, Absolute Batman, Joker: Laugh Riot, and Knightfall
Four Batman animated projects are in production or premiering right now. Batman: Caped Crusader Season 2 premieres July 31. Absolute Batman adult animated series announced at Annecy 2026 (Snyder as... Read more...
ROM Special #1 graphic
ROM Special #1 — The Spaceknight Enters the Energon Universe, Open to Order Now
ROM Special #1 is open to order, shipping August 26 2026. Robert Kirkman and Lorenzo De Felici. ROM's first Energon Universe appearance — originally a blind bag exclusive in M.A.S.K.... Read more...
Weekend Reading — July 18-19 2026
Weekend Reading — Saturday July 18–19, 2026
Weekend reading July 18–19 2026. Avengers: Doomsday official trailer is live — Doctor Doom, original X-Men cast, December 18. NCBD July 22: Action Comics #1100 (KCC key), X-Men Hellfire Murder... Read more...