Knull returns to Marvel Comics. A new, mature readers Red Hood ongoing series is coming to DC. A contest to win tickets to the Superman premiere may be causing controversy.
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Episode Transcript:
Knull, god of the symbiotes, is back.
Red Hood mature readers series announced.
Krypto contest causes controversy.
This is Comic Book Club News for June 18, 2025.
Knull Is Back In Venom #250:
Guess who’s back? Knull is back. King in Black. That’s to the tune of “Without Me” by Eminem, by the way. But as predicted, Marvel Comics has wrapped up its 616 Day announcements with the reveal that Knull, God of the Symbiotes, will be returning in the legacy numbered Venom #250.
Written by Al Ewing with art by Terry Dodson, per Marvel this will kick off a “major symbiote saga” which pits the back in the land of the living Knull — he was killed off at the end of the “King in Black” crossover — against Venom, who is currently bonded to Mary Jane Watson.
Knull was first introduced during Cates and Stegman’s run on the title in 2018, and anchored the “King in Black” event that consumed the comics universe. Later, he was featured as sort of the main villain in Venom: The Last Dance, played by Andy Serkis, with a promise that big things were in store for the baddie on screen. Those big things have yet to materialize, but the whole Sony Spider-Man Universe is a thing in and of itself, so let’s not get too distracted and get back to the comics instead.
Not only will Knull be back, but Venom #250 will also include an Eddie Brock: Carnage story by Charles Soule and Carlos Gomez, which takes Eddie back to his time as Venom. And following the anniversary issue, Venom will retain its numbering, continuing with Venom #251, Venom #252, etc. You know how sequential numbers work.
Venom #250 hits stores on October 1.
Red Hood Mature Readers Ongoing Series Announced By DC Comics:
You asked, and DC has delivered: Red Hood, a new, ongoing, in-continuity, mature-readers-only comic book series, written by Gretchen Felker-Martin with art by Jeff Spokes. The DC All In series is for ages 17+, and finds Jason Todd ditching Gotham City for New Angelique — and Huntress is along for the ride.
In the series, Jason takes his bike, his costume and two suitcases filled with guns and bullets to the city… Only to discover there’s a super-powered, telepathic serial killer who is aiming to take down the New Angelique police. While he gets caught up in the conspiracy surrounding the murders, Helena Bertinelli shows up to either join Red Hood or work against him. Or maybe under him, if you know what I mean, hubba hubba, awooga awooga, tongue rolls out of mouth and I start howling like a cartoon wolf.
Promises DC editor Arianna Turturro, “Red Hood is the in-continuity story Jason Todd fans have been waiting for… Jason is going to take a crack at doing things on his own terms in a city of his own. And well, you’re going to need to read the series to see how that goes. But let’s just say that we’re not pulling any punches. Buckle up.”
Red Hood #1 hits stores on September 10, 2025.
Krypto Superman Premiere Contest Causes Controversy:
Last month, DC Comics announced Krypto’s Golden Biscuit sweepstakes, where two readers who picked up a polybagged version of the first appearance of Krypto the Superdog on June 18 would win a chance to go to the Superman movie premiere in Los Angeles. Well, turns out it may be controversial due to an unannounced promo tied to the contest.
Per The Beat via Bleeding Cool, as shared by one of those retailers who likes to send Bleeding Cool pictures of comics ahead of time for whatever reason, if you don’t win, you instead get a code for a free month of the DC Universe Infinite Ultra Tier, which allows you to read free DC Comics online. The code, by the way, is “BISCUIT” and you can redeem it at DCUniverseInfinite.com/Join/Biscuit, but you didn’t hear it from me.
Without any particular sourcing, Bleeding Cool shares that retailers are furious about DC seemingly tricking them into ordering physical comics just to promote digital comics, and those stores are demanding a refund and/or trashing all the copies.
However, studies have shown that digital comics do not have any impact on physical comic sales, and in fact sometimes help spur them on. So rather than putting those copies of Krypto’s first appearance in the dog house, maybe it’s time to invest heavily in Krypto.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And Marvel should cover Knull in astroturf, so he can be the Grassy Knull.
Got tips or stories you’d like us to cover? Email us at comicbookclublive@gmail.com.
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