ComicCollx Daily — Thursday, September 24, 2026

From comicstoresnearme.com →

Good morning. The industry mourns a prolific talent, Marvel's Midnight launch hits a milestone but falls short of DC's rival, and a decades-old animated cliffhanger finally gets resolution.

👉 See today feed → — refreshed all day.

Joshua Cassara, the Marvel artist who defined the visual language of the Krakoa era through his acclaimed runs on X-Force and X-Men, died Wednesday at age 46 from heart complications. Cassara's career accelerated in 2019 when he was tapped to illustrate the flagship X-Force series, his kinetic action sequences and character designs becoming synonymous with Marvel's bold mutant relaunch.

His work bridged the gap between classic superhero dynamism and modern cinematic storytelling. Cassara's layouts carried a raw energy that made even quiet character moments feel charged, and his action choreography set a new standard for mutant combat sequences. Beyond the X-books, he contributed to multiple Marvel titles during his tenure, consistently delivering pages under tight deadlines while maintaining exceptional quality.

The timing compounds the loss. Cassara was in the middle of several high-profile projects, and his style had become influential enough that a generation of emerging artists cite him as a reference. His death at 46 underscores the physical toll of monthly comic production, an issue the industry continues to grapple with as creators speak more openly about health challenges tied to deadline pressure.

Marvel has not yet announced how his unfinished work will be handled or issued a formal tribute statement. The company faces the delicate task of honoring Cassara's legacy while determining continuity plans for series he was illustrating. Fellow creators have begun sharing memories and artwork on social media, with many pointing to his generosity in offering advice to younger artists breaking into the field.

Why it matters: Cassara's death removes one of Marvel's most reliable and stylistically influential artists during a period when the X-line is again in transition. His Krakoa-era work will likely appreciate in the collector market as fans seek key issues he illustrated, particularly his early X-Force runs that helped establish the era's visual identity.

Read at source (The Comics Beat) →

Marvel Midnight launch sells one million copies but trails Absolute Batman. Marvel's new Midnight Universe initiative moved over one million copies across its launch titles and is already heading to second printings, but the line was outsold by DC's Absolute Batman, according to retailer reports. The performance marks a strong debut for Marvel's latest universe expansion, though falling short of its main competitor suggests DC's Absolute line continues to capture broader market attention. Read at source (Bleeding Cool) →

Marvel to resolve 1990s Spider-Man: The Animated Series cliffhanger. Marvel announced it will publish a comic resolving the series finale cliffhanger from Spider-Man: The Animated Series, which left viewers hanging when the show ended in 1998. Original showrunner John Semper Jr. is involved in the project, which will address the fate of Mary Jane Watson after she vanished through a dimensional portal in the final episode. The move capitalizes on nostalgia for the influential animated series while offering collectors a canonical conclusion. Read at source (Bleeding Cool) →

Joseph Illidge debuts Epiphany Engine at Baltimore Comic Con. Joseph Illidge unveiled Epiphany Engine, a 224-page crossover graphic novel produced in collaboration with Advent Comics and 43 Black comic publishers, at Baltimore Comic Con. The project represents one of the largest coordinated efforts among independent Black-owned publishers in recent industry history, pooling characters and creative teams into a single shared narrative. Distribution and retail availability details were announced at the convention. Read at source (The Comics Beat) →

Z2 Comics announces official CBGB graphic novels for 2027. Z2 Comics will publish official CBGB graphic novels in 2027, with creators Daniel Kohn and Josh Bernstein attached to the project. The deal marks another music-venue licensing play for Z2, which has built a niche publishing line around rock history properties. CBGB, the legendary New York punk club that closed in 2006, remains a potent brand among music collectors and nostalgia-driven audiences. Read at source (Bleeding Cool) →

👉 See today feed → — refreshed all day.

Social Trends — coming soon. We are building out real-time social buzz tracking for the hobby. Check back soon.

The Stash — Today’s Top Comics

Fresh graded comics the deal engine flagged today

★ Marquee find Edge Of Spider-Verse #2 (2014) CGC 9.8 First Appearance Of Spider Gwen 1st Print $724.99 · CGC 9.8, high grade, key/1st app. View on eBay →

Key · Top Pick Longshot #1 CGC 9.6 (1985) 1st Appearance - Signed by Arthur Adams L@@K! $189.99 · CGC 9.6, high grade, key/1st app. View on eBay →

Key · Top Pick Wolverine #6 Virgin Ross Timeless Variant CGC 9.8 1st Appearance Solem 🔥 $74.95 · CGC 9.8, high grade, key/1st app. View on eBay →

Get daily comic deals in your inbox →

“Deal” reflects our automated score — grade, third-party verification, and how fresh the listing is — not a guarantee of the lowest price. Listings are on eBay; price and availability can change or sell out. As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.

ACROSS THE COASTAL COLLECTIBLES NETWORK

Collect coins too? CoinsNearMe →

Get live comiccollx news any time at comicstoresnearme.com/daily-feed →