The Pull List — June 18, 2026: Hickman & Kubert's Spider-Man, The Muppets Meet Marvel
📅 This Day in Comic History
- 1915 — Editor Julius Schwartz is born. He later became one of the chief architects of the Silver Age at DC, relaunching heroes like the Flash and Green Lantern for a new generation of readers. (According to the Wikipedia comics anniversaries portal.)
- 1997 — Cartoonist Ruth Atkinson passes away. She created Millie the Model and drew the debut of Patsy Walker, the character who would eventually become the Marvel hero Hellcat. (According to the Wikipedia comics anniversaries portal.)
- 2001 — Hank Ketcham, the cartoonist behind the long-running Dennis the Menace strip, dies. (According to the Wikipedia comics anniversaries portal.)
Want a piece of that Silver Age legacy on your pull list? Browse the publishers who carry on it.
Shop DC Comics → Shop Marvel →
☕ Today's Big Story
Hickman and Kubert reteam for a grittier Spider-Man
Spider-Man: Long Way Home #1 arrived in shops on June 17, pairing writer Jonathan Hickman with artist Adam Kubert for a story set apart from regular Marvel continuity. According to Marvel and reviews at ComicBook.com and The Comics Beat, the debut centers on a three-way scramble for a Cosmic Cube involving Peter Parker, Frank Castle, and Bruce Banner — and the first chapter leans heavily into Castle's corner of the conflict. Reviewers singled out Kubert's cinematic page layouts for setting the pace. We're stocking the Dave Johnson foil variant for collectors who want the eye-catching cover.
📰 Also This Morning
🎬 The Muppets crash the Marvel Universe
- Marvel announced The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe #1, an anthology one-shot timed to the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show.
- According to Marvel, CBR, and Bleeding Cool, the lineup includes Chip Zdarsky, Pete Woods, and a deep bench of additional creators.
- It's slated to reach shops on September 23, 2026.
IDW lines up a Halloween horror special
- According to Comic Book Club, IDW is releasing a Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees Halloween Special.
- Series creator Patrick Horvath is joined by guest talent including James Tynion IV, Tony Fleecs, and others.
DC widens its all-ages Compact Comics line
- According to Comic Book Club, DC is expanding its pocket-sized Compact Comics format with new all-ages Adventures titles.
- It's an easy on-ramp for younger or newer readers.
🔥 New First Issues to Watch
🔥 Marvel Tokon: First Strike #1
Marvel's fighting-game-flavored event kicks off here, with a Cover A by Juan Frigeri. First issues tied to a fresh franchise push tend to draw early collector attention, so it's one to keep an eye on. If you like big crossover brawls and roster-driven action, you will love this. On sale August 5, 2026.
🔥 What If…? X-Men #1
Marvel's What If…? banner turns its alternate-reality lens on the X-Men, with a Cover A by Lucas Werneck. With mutant interest running high right now, this is a natural pickup for X-fans and speculators alike. If you like the X-Men '97 era and twisty alternate timelines, you will love this. On sale August 26, 2026.
📚 In Print & Collections
Hellraiser Facsimile Edition #1 | A faithful facsimile reprint of a vintage Hellraiser debut issue, with a Bradstreet cover | Single-issue facsimile, BOOM! | On sale August 26, 2026
🗣️ Rumor Mill
The following is unconfirmed and should be treated as rumor until officially announced.
- 🎬 RM-061 (2026-06-18) — According to SuperHeroHype, citing the scooper MyTimeToShineHello, Sydney Sweeney is reportedly being eyed for a role in Marvel Studios' planned X-Men film. Neither the studio nor the actress has commented.
- 🎬 RM-062 (2026-06-18) — According to SuperHeroHype, citing Jeff Sneider's The InSneider, reports tie Brian Tyree Henry to Harvey Dent and Sebastian Stan to Victor Zsasz for The Batman 2. Treat as casting chatter only.
P.S. — Today is the birthday (1915) of editor Julius Schwartz, who helped launch the Silver Age by reinventing the Flash. One good idea can reshape a whole industry.
Follow Epic Panels
Come hang out with us: Facebook · Instagram · TikTok · YouTube
The Pull List is free — subscribe to get the briefing in your inbox every morning.