Wicked Comic Con Fall 2026

The official end of my con season happens when I head to the fall show of  Wicked Comic Con.

There are three shows I always try to make each summer/fall. Terrificon, Granite State Comic Con, and Wicked Con. There are always dreams of Baltimore and Heroes. But I have to be true to the local shows.

Wicked Comic Con is still trying to find it's legs I think. It is a smaller show but it is growing. It's free. It's always fun.  The show always has a decent roster of local comic talent and try to bring in a couple of 'names' when they can. 

This year the big name was Ed McGuinness who I don't think has done a show in a few years. I like his style so was pumped when I heard he was going to be at the show. I met him at the old Boston Comic Con around 15 years ago, so long ago I was getting commissions on loose pages and not in my sketch book. I got some books signed by him back then too. But I had a few books I wanted to get signed this time. And I figured I could at least ask if he was sketching to try to get something in my book.

But another name I was excited to meet was inker Matt Santorelli . I hadn't met him before at other cons and I like the books he has been on. I was lucky enough to get on his commission list and get some books signed too!

Review: Adventures of Superman #440

It is hard to believe that Sophie Campbell has somehow brought the concept of a Matrix Supergirl back into the mainstream continuity. One thing that I have loved about Campbell's run has been her respect and honoring of the Supergirl mythos. Matrix was Supergirl for almost a decade. I liked the Matrix Supergirl and the arc and growth she had. So I am thrilled to see what Campbell is going to do with her.

It's also hard to believe that it has been 7 years since I did a run on this site called 'Matrix Monday', a side project where I reviewed the history of the Matrix Supergirl. Kara Zor-El was gone from the DCU and in the post-Crisis Superman universe, just about three later, a new 'Supergirl' arrived. 

I recently realized I missed a couple of those early appearances when Supergirl had just been discovered in the Antarctica ice, didn't know who she was, and was trying to figure out her mission on this Earth. This was a true mystery! Who was this person? John Byrne and the super-creators were slowly leaking out information, one subplot page at a time.  It started in Superman #16. Here in Adventures of Superman #440 some very interesting clues are revealed.

We are also only about 18 months into the John Byrne reboot when Byrne was still rebuilding and modernizing so much of the Superman mythos. After spending some of those early issues doing reboot or homage issues, we were now into more original takes. In this issue, we get a very interesting early moment between Batman and Superman. This was still a sort of new relationship in this post-Crisis world.

I plan to do cover the Adventures of Superman lead-in pages, filling in the beginning of the Matrix story, before the Supergirl Saga.. I won't be covering this entire issue just some key moments. We'll see how the rest of the issues play out.

Jerry Ordway is on art and these issues remind me why he is called Extraordinary. Everything shines here. I also like this cover, drawn by Dave Gibbons with Ordway on inks! Superman smiling when shrugging off lightning is always a great image. We have seen it a million times.

Going all the way back to the first 'It tickles' cover from Superman #33. Amazing!

On to Adventures #440!

Review: Supergirl #18 (v8)

From the beginning of this volume of Supergirl, I have been completely impressed with writer/artist Sophie Campbell and how much she has acknowledged and respected the history of the character. There are little nods and homages to famous stories and panels. But more importantly, there is a deep understanding of the character being one of hope and kindness. But one willing to throw down if it is required. 

In Supergirl #18, we see that Campbell brings the same sense of honor to the 'other' Supergirl, the Matrix Supergirl. Matrix was Supergirl for a while. So seeing Campbell bring her back to continuity and really doing so well just makes this old Supergirl fan smile. Matrix Supergirl grew as a character and grew into a character I truly loved. I am thrilled to see her back. And I think a subplot introduced here probably hinges on her too. 

Now we had learned in New History of the DCU #3 that Matrix was in continuity. And now I wonder all her history is in continuity. Blog friend Mart Gray thought there was a side door reference to Superman killing the Pocket Universe Kryptonians in the Kingdom Of Zod Special. I think he is right!

This issue is the first Supergirl one since that end of the Kingdom of Zod event so we are sort of laying out a new playing field. We are getting back to the plots that have been simmering in this book. And we also launch the next big arc here. The book is chock full of characters. Super Force is a true Legion. But in this issue, it is clear that Kara is the straw that stirs the drink. I read this book for her. Seeing her inspire all the others is great.

Campbell is on art this issue as well and that makes the book just feel whole. I love Campbell's style. It is perfect for this title and its feel. From the new Reactron to the diagram of the Fortress to the brawl to Matrix in all her purple goo glory, the book is gorgeous.

This might be my favorite single issue of this title to date. No small feat. On to details.

Comics Feature July/August 1984

I have been reading comics for over 5 decades (I am old) and I have been blogging about Supergirl for 18 years (this site is old!). So when I discover something new and novel and fun about my favorite character, I get completely thrilled.

One of the things that I have started to look to are the comic magazines from the 80s and 90s to crack open the time capsule and learn what people were thinking and doing back then. 

At this year's Terrificon, there was a dealer who had a whole section of old magazines - Starlog, Comic Scene, Amazing Heroes, and Comics Feature. I'd never heard of this periodical but what an issue for me to stumble on.

From July/August 1984, this issue covers the Supergirl movie and gave me some new interesting info about it. But moreover, there is a Julie Schwartz interview! There is a Thor article which talks about Simonson's run which was in its infancy. There's all sorts of background info on editorial teams and creative changes. Plus, an article by Steve Bissette who was less than a year into his run with Alan Moore on Swamp Thing!

You want a cool time capsule, this is it! Come for the Supergirl movie info. Stay for everything else!

On to some details.

Review: Superman The Stranger #2

Superman:The Stranger #2 came out this week and was one of the best reads of the week for me. This is a Golden Age sort of Superman operating in the 30's. He is a populist hero. He doesn't have the wisdom of the Kents in his background. And he simply wants to help. 

Wes Craig is the writer and artist on the book and he has a clear direction he is going at here. This is a Superman trying the help the ordinary people being crushed by the system that exists around him. That makes him progressive to some and a danger to others. In this issue we see how he is trying to right wrongs that he sees around him with his physical presence. He is almost Batman-like in his approach.

Unlike last issue, the politics here aren't nearly as 'in your face' or preachy. That was one of my quibbles with the first issue. But here, the tone is tempered a bit. We are shown the issue. It isn't ham-fisted. We aren't told the issue. It is embedded in the story. 

I read comics for the story. So seeing this naive Clark trying to live a life and do what's right is a fun ride. Seeing elements ripped from Fleischer studio cartoons or the earliest of early Superman stories props up the sentiment of the story for old time fans like me. 

But it is the visuals that really struck me here. From those nods to early stories, to the inkiness of the dimly lit jazz clubs, to the very innovative page constructs of the Luthor epilogue that adds to the story, the art here is one to linger over, savor. In particular, the Luthor pages were mesmerizing as the complemented the words and feel of that scene so well.

I liked this issue a lot and look forward to seeing where this goes from here.

Review: Absolute Superman #24

Absolute Superman #24 came out this week and was another interesting, world-building issue. As I have said many times before, this book has, for the most part, been a bit of a potboiler, slowly building who Superman is over the initial skirmish with Ra's Al Ghul. But now we know who he is. 

While this is the middle of the 'Find Brainiac' arc, this really would be a perfect jumping on point for this title. If you want to know this world and this Superman, you could pick this up and get a great idea of both those things. And what I like about this issue is that it is told through the view of John Henry Irons. Steel is witnessing Superman up close and he comes out impressed and inspired. There could have been a 'Great Jumping On Point' cover dress here.

Writer Jason Aaron is showing us an interesting take on this Darkseid-fueled world. Yes, it is a darker world. But Superman is able to inspire and change this world. He is still Superman. Moreover, we see it in this issue three times over. This is the first appearance of Absolute Chemo, Atomic Skull, and Bloodsport. All of them are turned by Superman and Steel towards kindness. 

Superman is also shown to be the shy kid who is overworked and too busy thinking about others to think about himself. I wonder if we will eventually see him get to a point where he feels he can take a night off.

Juan Ferreyra is on art and his art here is less color pencil-y than I am used to but it is still gorgeous. I love the designs of the villains. And his Superman is a specimen.

On to the issue.

Granite State Comic Con 2026 recap

While Terrificon is my main showto attend, Granite State Comicon is always a on my convention season docket. One hour north into New Hampshire, the show has grown over the years of my attendance. It first was in the ballroom of the Hilton, then the expo center in the hotel, then both the ballroom and the expo center, and now the ballroom, expo center, and the arena across the street!

Every year they have a nice list of local artists in attendance with a smattering of bigger names. And each year there is someone I haven't met before. Interestingly enough, there aren't many comic dealers there. Instead, toys, shirts, posters, and other memorabelia dominate. 

Still, if Terrificon is the main course, Granite State is the dessert of the season. 

This year I was most excited to meet Steve Lieber. Lieber drew the fantastic Jimmy Olsen book that Matt Fraction wrote back in the Event Leviathan days. I loved that book. I hadn't seen Lieber at a show before so he was first on my list. Anything else I got at the show would almost gravy.

I got to his table right as the place opened on Saturday and was first on his commission list. 

Love this sketch of my favorite hero, flying in the clouds and looking up to the sun. Nice use of copic markers to add some shade and depth to things as well. 

So cool to add to the collection.