Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez reunite for DC’s Shadow of the Bat. Dark Horse has snagged the Barbie license. Eddie Brock is back in Black in a new Venom #1.
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Episode Transcript:
Camp and Rodríguez take on Shadow of the Bat.
Dark Horse gets Barbie.
Eddie Brock is back as Venom.
This is Comic Book Club News for July 28, 2026.
Deniz Camp And Javier Rodríguez Reunite For DC’s Shadow Of The Bat:
Deniz Camp and Javier Rodríguez cemented their rep as one of the best teams working in the biz (the comics biz, to be clear) with Absolute Martian Manhunter, which recently wrapped up its run. But as announced at San Diego Comic-Con, they’re getting the two-man band back together for the Next Level title Shadow of the Bat.
Versus Martian Manhunter, which was set in the publisher’s Absolute Universe, Shadow of the Bat is set in the main continuity of the DC Universe, and will run alongside Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez’s main Batman title… Albeit with a bit of the wild secret sauce that made AMM such a success.
So, what is that secret sauce? Part of it is what Camp does so well: reflecting the world as it is now. Said Camp, “It’s Batman coming to terms with the failure of our institutions and the trauma of his own paralleled with the trauma of the people of Gotham after a massive chemical plant explosion, along with every other traumatic event they’ve experienced.”
Shadow of the Bat #1 does not currently have a debut date, other than “Coming Soon.”
Dark Horse Gets Barbie License:
Their job is so much more than beach, as Dark Horse has announced a new deal with Mattel for a Barbie comic book series — and maybe more to come.
Alongside an announcement on BlueSky, Dark Horse shared art by artist Natalie Nardozza, who seems more over the moon than Astronaut Barbie to be included, posting, “Hi, Barbie! IT’S OFFICIAL (Only my dream come true! No big deal)”
While this is far from confirmation that Nardozza is drawing (or perhaps writing and drawing) a Barbie comic for Dark Horse, it’s a pretty natural fit. The Montreal-based artist previously worked on a few Archie Comics horror titles, Monster High, and the original graphic novel Heat of Fashion with writer Lilah Sturges, among other titles.
As for Barbie, the icon has previously appeared in 63 issues of a Marvel Comic back in the ’90s, but this will be the first time she’s appeared in the four color funnies since then. Debut date and other info is TBA.
Eddie Brock Is Back In New Venom #1:
Everything old is new again, as the saying doesn’t go. And as revealed at the Marvel Next Big Thing panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Mary Jane Watson is so out of the Venom symbiote after the end of the Queen in Black crossover, and Eddie Brock is back (in black).
Not only will Eddie be back, but the title is rebooting with a new number one issue — and a new creative team: writer Charles Soule and artist Tommaso Bianchi. Previously, Soule wrote Brock in the Eddie Brock: Carnage series, which found Brock bonded to the more murderous symbiote. Though that title was canceled, he contributed to the Death Spiral event which brought together Venom, Spider-Man, and Carnage, alongside current Venom writer Al Ewing.
As for what to expect from the book, per the synopsis… Venom stuff. He’s trying to be the “hero he knows he can be… And he’s not going to let any other super heroes say otherwise.”
Venom #1 hits stores on October 14, 2026.
For Comic Book Club News, I’m Alex Zalben. And yes, I know the “job is beach” thing is Ken, not Barbie, leave me alone.
Got tips or stories you’d like us to cover? Email us at comicbookclublive@gmail.com.
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