Archie Comics will cross over with Army of Darkness. 200 books including several graphic novels will be removed from Edmonton Public Schools. Spawn The Dark Ages returns.
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Episode Transcript:
Archie takes on Army of Darkness.
Canadian schools remove graphic novels.
Spawn: The Dark Ages returns.
This is Comic Book Club News for September 3, 2025.
Archie Takes On Army of Darkness In New Crossover:
Archie Comics is in a crossover renaissance, thanks to the one-shot Archie Meets Jay and Silent Bob, which introduced the Riverdale teens to Kevin Smith’s creations, and Archie vs. Minor Threats, a currently running miniseries pitting them against Patton Oswalt and Jordan Blum’s C-tier supervillains. Well, get ready for the hat trick, as Archie and Dynamite have announced an upcoming crossover between Archie and Army of Darkness.
This isn’t the first time the two publishers have crossed over. Previously, they released a 12-issue-long crossover between Betty and Veronica and Red Sonja and Vampirella. And while there were no further details released about this upcoming crossover, including creative team on the book, issue count, release date, or even the actual title, Dynamite does promise that this is “the first in a series of crossovers,” calling it “part of a new multi-title deal for a slate of blockbuster pop culture collaborations.”
This also comes at an interesting time for both publishers. While Dynamite is reportedly struggling thanks to the ongoing situation with the bankrupt Diamond Comics Distributors, Archie Comics has also reportedly been seeing some issues, including declining release of their classic digest editions. However, things seem to be turning around, as Archie recently announced a movie adaptation from writer Tom King, and there’s a rumored Disney+ adaptation of Afterlife with Archie as well.
Edmonton Public Schools To Remove 200 Books, Including Graphic Novels:
In the latest case of mass book banning, Edmonton Public Schools in Canada will reportedly remove 200 books, including several graphic novels.
The news comes from Bleeding Cool via the CBC, per a memo from the schools, which states that, “Following a division review process, the following books have been identified as containing explicit sexual content.” As usual with these sorts of bans, beyond YA books by John Green and classics like The Handmaid’s Tale, Brave New World, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and Perks of Being a Wallflower all being pulled, the books also contain a fair amount of LGBTQ+ subject matter branded as “sexual content.”
That includes Gender Queer, the Oni Press graphic novel frequently listed as the most banned book in America, as well as Saga, Watchmen, Fun Home, Blankets, Preacher and bizarrely only the eighth volume of Giant Days.
The Canadian government is reviewing the list, though it has stated it will make changes based on developmental levels if necessary; it’s up to the Edmonton Public School Board to make the final decisions.
Spawn: The Dark Ages Returns:
Spawn: The Dark Ages, the old-timey armored Spawn who would really like to balance your humours with leeches, is back. And even better, it’ll come from writer, artist, inker, and colorist Liam Sharp.
Said Sharp via press release, “Returning to Spawn: The Dark Ages after so long has been a wild and wonderful ride! I wanted to create something truly unique, that didn’t require any former knowledge of Spawn, or the dark ages in general.”
The new story will focus on the Devil’s Spawn, the master of the Wild Hunt, as a newly crowned king seeks him out to save his kingdom.
Spawn: The Dark Ages #1 will hit stores on October 8.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. CBC meaning Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, not Comic Book Club.
Got tips or stories you’d like us to cover? Email us at comicbookclublive@gmail.com.
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