John Romita Jr’s cover for Amazing Spider-Man #1000 is the latest comic book tempest in a teapot. Van Poelgeest and Bertram are reteaming for a new Image Comics series. That Texas Blood returns in September.
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Episode Transcript:
John Romita Jr. Spider-Man cover ignites debate.
Van Poelgeest and Bertram reteam for dark fantasy series.
That Texas Blood returns in September.
This is Comic Book Club News for June 24, 2026.
John Romita Jr. Amazing Spider-Man #1000 Cover Ignites Heated Debate:
Back when Marvel officially announced Amazing Spider-Man #1000, they released two main covers. The first was a story-based cover, the second one penciled by John Romita Jr. and then painted over by Paolo Rivera. The latter immediately sparked debate as it looked like a LEGO-headed Spider-Man was shrugging on the top of a building as if to say, “Amazing Spider-Man #1000? Eh.”
Compounding things, there’s been some confusion about whether the cover was pulled and then reinstated, though it is now seemingly not one of the two main covers, but a variant, while a cover by Pepe Larraz has taken the main cover slot.
Full disclosure: I avoided covering this latest tempest in a teapot here on Comic Book Club News as, well, it’s people arguing online. But also it’s a little difficult to talk about a purely visual debate in audio format. Either way, as the internet has lumped on this cover, the comic book community has circled the wagons around living legend Romita, saying that it’s okay — perhaps even good — that he’s experimenting. And I tend to agree, similar to the debate over late period Frank Miller covers. Does everything work? Certainly not. But should we be encouraging artists to try weird things, and occasionally fail? Absolutely. That’s how you get innovation, and that’s what separates human artists from machines.
Amazing Spider-Man #1000 hits stores on September 16, 2026.
Van Poelgeest And Bertram Reteam For The Karman Blade:
Last week we got the news that writer Darcy Van Poelgeest is taking on Doom Patrol for DC Comics. And while I’m personally thrilled that artist Niko Henrichon is working on that book, seeing Van Poelgeest’s frequent collaborator Ian Bertram on a variant cover bummed me out that the two weren’t working together again. Well, bummed… No more! As Van Poelgeest and Bertram are following up Little Bird and Precious Metal with The Karman Blade, a new four-issue dark fantasy epic from Image Comics.
In the new book, per PR, “a young man on the outskirts of a dying, desert world is chosen by a blade forged of stars to slay the despotic deity, Kalu, and free the water he hoards in his Kingdom. Yet before the boy can begin his journey, he must first face his demons, and answer the Karman Blade’s call: Are thou he, who taketh me in hand? Are thou he, who shall slay a God?“
This is right in line with the duo’s previous work, which deftly wove mind-bending fantasy with deeper questions about faith, so… Cool!
The Karman Blade #1 hits stores on September 9, 2026.
That Texas Blood Returns In September:
Originally scheduled to be released this month, the new arc of That Texas Blood will now hit stores in September from Image Comics.
The six-issue arc by Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips, titled “Hell Comes To Allison Ranch,” finds “Sheriff Joe Bob Coates and Deputy Wilson Hart are called to the Allison Ranch—the largest and richest ranch in the United States—where family grievances are blooming into full-blown war. This first issue will be loaded with bonus materials including behind the scenes peeks, newly conducted interviews, essays, and cartoons.”
At least part of the reason for the delay? Also earlier this month, FX announced they’re developing That Texas Blood as a TV series. So — pure speculation here — with Condon and Phillips both extremely busy guys, this gives curious readers a chance to catch up on the story so far, before hopping into the new arc.
That Texas Blood: Hell Comes to Allison Ranch #1 hits stores on September 23.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And no, I don’t want no shrugs. A shrug is a cover that gets no love from me.
Got tips or stories you’d like us to cover? Email us at comicbookclublive@gmail.com.
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