The Batman “H2SH” storyline has shifted its release schedule. Geof Darrow’s Shaolin Cowboy celebrates 21 years with new Dark Horse collection. Philbo Distribution aims to pick up Diamond’s slack.
SUBSCRIBE ON RSS, APPLE, SPOTIFY, OR THE APP OF YOUR CHOICE. FOLLOW US ON BLUESKY, INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND FACEBOOK. SUPPORT OUR SHOWS ON PATREON.
Powered by RedCircle
Episode Transcript:
Batman H2SH shifts schedule.
Shaolin Cowboy celebrates 21 years.
Philbo to pick up Diamond’s slack.
This is Comic Book Club News for June 3, 2025.
Batman “H2SH” Storyline Shifts Schedule:
Back when DC Comics announced Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb’s sequel to Batman: Hush, titled “H2SH,” they also teased that the notoriously slow Lee was well ahead on the issues for the series. And in fact, the first three issues of “H2SH” have been released on a monthly schedule. After that, though? TBD.
That’s because Batman #161, which is the fourth part of the six-part storyline, has shifted release dates from June 25 to July 23. That’s the same day Batman #162 is currently solicited for, with Batman #163, the final issue of the storyline, solicited for August 27.
Batman #161 Giant-Size Special Edition has also been shifted from June 25 to July 23, though the two following issues have not shifted release dates as of this recording.
Of note, one would think it’s important that these come out on time because Batman #1 by Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenéz is supposed to come out in September, though the exact release date for that is TBA. If “H2SH” slips further, would that cause a pushback for the new Batman run? Not so, as Comic Book Club hears that Batman #1 will publish in September, as planned.
So if the final parts of “H2SH” do run late, will we have two overlapping runs of Batman? More on this as it develops.
Geof Darrow’s Shaolin Cowboy Celebrates 21 Years With New Collection:
Geof Darrow’s award-winning Shaolin Cowboy is now old enough to drink alcohol. And in honor of this momentous event, Dark Horse Books will release a new collection, The Shaolin Cowboy: Beginning of the End Results—21 Years of Blood, Sweat, and Chainsaws.
The new hardcover will include 256 pages of comics, many out-of-print, including ones published in France by Moebius’ publishing house, and the series The Shaolin Cowboy: Start Trek.
If you’re not familiar, the wild, insanely detailed series is exactly what the title suggests: a Shaolin monk wanders a weird wild west that’s populated by creatures and monsters, bloodily cutting his way across the landscape when necessary, and just walking when not.
The book will hit bookstores on December 9, and comic book shops on December 10.
Philbo Distribution Picks Up Indie Publishers Diamond Left Behind:
While major comic book companies like Marvel, DC, and Image have all had primary distributors to fall back on after Diamond Comics Distributors went bankrupt, many smaller publishers have not had that option — and in fact, have been frantically looking for a new way to get their books in stores. Well, how about Philbo Distribution?
Per The Beat, Philbo has already signed up distribution agreements with multiple publishers, including Zenescope, Antarctic Press, and is aiming to launch orders on July 1. The new company will have their first final order cut-off date on September 1, with books set to arrive in stores on October 15.
While Philbo is touting, “an established network and extensive experience in publishing and distribution,” CEO Phillip Russertt’s experience mostly seems to include modestly budgeted Kickstarter projects — he’s successfully funded 15 of 16 posted. Whether that will successfully translate to the thorny, confusing, and seemingly profit-losing world of comic book distribution is TBD.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And I can’t wait to buy that Shaolin Cowboy collection and give it a big sip of alcohol, just pouring a wine cooler all over the pages.
Got tips or stories you’d like us to cover? Email us at comicbookclublive@gmail.com.
For more comic book news, reviews, and interviews, check out comicbookclublive.com.
Listen early and ad-free on Patreon.com/comicbookclub.
Discover more from Comic Book Club
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.