NYCC Shockwaves: Batman, Vertigo, And Star Trek

A fast tour through NYCC’s biggest reveals, from Batman Nightfall and Vertigo’s revival to Starfleet Academy with Stephen Colbert, major Star Wars publishing moves, and Marvel’s next waves. We weigh what matters, what’s hype, and what could reshape the next two years.

• Batman Nightfall animated event details and creative team
• Vertigo imprint revival with ten creator-owned series
• DC–Marvel crossover reprints and new one-shots
• Star Wars books, art volumes, and comics slate
• Starfleet Academy casting, tone, and premiere timing
• Marvel animation returns and comics event roadmap
• Film buzz on The Jetsons, Ripley, and Jumanji
• Host surgery update and schedule change

Please uh be sure to check us out on social media. We’re at Blue Sky and Twitter at Multiverse Tom Threads, Facebook, and Instagram as well at Multiverse Tonight. And if you’ve gotten some value out of the show and would like to pay it back, head on over to multiverse tonight.com where you’ll find our Patreon and Ko-Fee links. Check out our show notes, vis our Tee Public store, and so much more. And if this is your first time listening, go ahead and hit that subscribe button and share it with others.

Chapters

• 0:00 Cold Open And Headlines
• 0:34 Host Update And Schedule
• 1:21 Batman Nightfall Animated Event
• 3:45 Vertigo Imprint Revival Slate
• 7:34 DC–Marvel Crossover Plans
• 9:35 Star Wars Books And Comics Wave
• 14:29 Starfleet Academy And Colbert Casting
• 16:52 Marvel Animation And Comics Teases
• 21:06 Film Rumors: Jetsons, Ripley, Jumanji
• 26:05 Wrap Up And Listener Support

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:01

Tonight, what news came out of New York Comic Con last week? Colbert joined Starfleet Academy, and Jim Carrey is starring in the Jetsons? All then more on this edition of Multiverse Tonight. Welcome to Multiverse Tonight, your source for geek news. We dissect films, games, comics, and much more, bringing you entitled commentary on pop culture. This is Multiverse Tonight. Now here's your host, Thomas Townley. Well, hello and welcome to episode 251 of Multiverse Tonight. I'm, of course, uh your affable host, Thomas Townley. And well, I'm a few days away from surgery. I go in a week from this Wednesday, or no, this Thursday actually, to have my foot operated on. So uh this will be the last regular episode for you know at least a few weeks. Uh the next episode will be an interview I've pre-recorded with our uh good friend and uh artist Rick Stazy there. Rick, so uh be on the lookout for that in a couple of weeks. But uh let's go on with the DC Comics News. And we begin DC Comics News with Warner Brothers Animation announcing a multi-chapter animated event called Batman Nightfall at the New York Comic Con. Now, this uh epic saga, based on the iconic comic book of the same name, iconic book run of the same name, is set to debut in 2026. The announcement was made during the Art the Art Night Banimation and Animation panel on last Friday, confirming that the first installment is already in production with DC and Warner Brothers Home Entertainment. Now, Batman Nightfall Part 1, Nightfall will see the Cape Crusader push to his physical and mental limits when Bane orchestrates a mass breakout of Batman's entire rogues gallery from Arkham Asylum. Source material for his animated event is the beloved comic run Batman Nightfall, which featured works from critters including Doug Mennoch, Chuck Dixon, Alan Grant, Denny O'Neill, Peter David, Joe Duffy, Jim Aparrow, uh Graham Nolan, Norm Bray Fogle, and Jim Balent. Now Jeff Westmer, uh Wamister is directing with the script written by Jeremy Adams. The production team includes Rick Morales, a supervising producer, Jim Craig and Kimberly S. Moreau as producers, and Sam Register as Mike and Michael Uslan as executive producers. So that's something interesting. You know, I lived through uh Batman Nightfall back in the 90s, and it was you know it was an interesting time to be reading comics. You had the death of Superman, and then you had uh Bruce Wayne being forced into retirement and having to give over the mantle to you know this assassin named Azriel, who basically went nuts. It's it's a fantastic story. So I can't wait to see you know how they interpret this. Hopefully it'll you know basically just do this comic book uh you know in animation and not just you know make things up. DC Vergo Imprint will return with 10 new series in 2026. Now, DC Vertigo unveiled its upcoming line of uh 10 creator-owned comic books at the New York Comic-Con panel. DC Vertigo, we're back. This marked the first public announcement of the Imprint's revival slate since it was first teased at last year's Comic-Con. Moderated by DC executive editor Chris Conroy, the panel reaffirmed Vertigo's commitment to daring genre and defying storytelling. Now, the main line maintains the imprint's historic focus on boundary-pushing, convention-defying, creator-owned titles. The event featured exclusive announcements, cover reveals, and a surprise appearance by writer Jim's James Tinian IV to discuss his series The Nice House by the Sea. So, uh leading the charge, let's talk about the Nice House by the Sea. The slate officially launches in February with the Nice House by the Sea number seven kicking off the second cycle of the acclaimed horror epic by James Tinian IV, Averro Martinez Bueno, and Jordi Belair. The new cycle will feel will follow the survivors of Walter's hexagon experiment as they face the terrifying consequence of their escape and the threat it poses to humanity. Joining the Nice House by the Sea are nine all-new titles covering a range of genres, including psychological thrillers, occult espionage, and post-apocalyptic horror. First off is Bleeding Hearts by Denz Campbell, Denz Camp, Stippian Morion, and Matt Hollingsworth, which follows a zombie named Polk's heart, starts a zombie named Polk, his heart starts beating again, threatening his place in the society ruled by the dead. Then there's End of Life by Kyle Stark, Steve Pugh, and Chris O'Halrin. A top-tier hitman returns to his Midwestern hometown to care for his dying father, forcing him to confront his own mortality. The Peril of the Brutal Dark and Ezra Cain mystery. Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips bring a noir detective story that blends magic, fascism, and a stolen artifact of immense power. There's 100 Bullets, The US of Anger, from Brian Azarello and Eduardo Risso. Lono returns to America, regniing chaos and pushing the nation's darkest impulses to violent extremes. Then Black Tower, The Raven Conspiracy by Ram V and Mike Perkins. Wizard Spies in the UK navigate a global Cold War over sorcery, uncovering a hidden world of occult power. Then there's Necrotaceous by Tom Taylor and Derek Robertson, in which scientists time travel to stop a zombie virus but lands 66 years, 66 million years in the past among the dinosaurs. Fanatic from Grace Ellis and Hannah Templar, a woman's obsession with a comic book spirals into a deadly parasocial fixation on its creator. The Crying Doll from Marky from Mariko Tamaka, Tamiki, and Rosemary Valera O'Connell, a Jekyll and Hyde thriller exploring how far a young woman will go to protect her best friend who may be a killer. Then there's a walking shadow from Simon Spreyer and Aaron Campbell. Eight strangers wake up chained to a boat in the woods with no memory, no escape, and no explanation. Now these new this new DC Virgo slate begins its rollout with in February of 2026, with February 4th for The Nice House by the Sea No. 7, February 11th for Bleeding Hearts No. 1, February 18th for End of Life No. 1. The Peril of the Brutal Dark will launch on February 25th, and the remaining titles will be released throughout 2026, promising the audacious mold-breaking storytelling for which the legendary imprint is known. Marvel and DC are getting back to getting back together to do their cross-company ways. The legendary collaboration between Marvel and DC is set to continue through 2026 with a cross-company publishing initiative. The renewed partnership kicks off in honor of the 50th anniversary of Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man, featuring a series of reprint and original crossover comic books beginning in January of 2026. This initiative aims to celebrate the past while driving the future of comic book storytelling. There'll be legacy reprints and anniversary editions. They'll feature two treasury editions. That's the 10 and 18 inch by 13th and 516th inch reprint from DC commemorating the history of DC Marvel crossovers. January 7th, 2026, Treasury Edition 50th anniversary of Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man number one, a facsimile edition of the Foundational Comic that first united The Man of Tomorrow and the Web Slinger. On February 4th, 2026, DC and Marvel present Spider-Man, Superman and Spider-Man Treasure Edition No. 1, reprint of Marvel Treasury Edition number 28, which brings the classic half-print team back to the stores. Following the legacy reprints, two all-new crossover comic books will debut in spring of 2026, featuring original stories with two iconic characters. In March of 2026, we'll see Superman Superman Spider-Man number one one shot. April 2026, we'll see Spider-Man Superman number one one shot, with the creative teams for these new one-shot issues still to be announced. The continuation of this crossover initiative is a testament to the enduring vitality of the comic book medium, which is currently a vibrant part of the cultural conversation with record sales and a growing multi-generational audience. By bringing Superman and Spider-Man together with new stories and new writers and artists 50 years later, DC and Marvel are honoring their shared legacy. This move invites fans into an exciting new era of collaboration, creativity, and character-driven storytelling. And now let's go on to the Star Wars news.

SPEAKER_01: 9:42

Roger Roger.

SPEAKER_00: 9:44

Roger Roger is right. Lucasfilm revealed a galaxy of new books and comics at the New York Comic-Con. Lucasfilm's executive editor, Jennifer Heddle, led a panel of celebrated authors and editors, including Kwame Mabella, Charles Sowell, Ethan Sachs, Mark Guggenheim, Adam Christopher, and Kirsten Baver at New York Comic-Con to unveil a vast new lineup of Star Wars content. From novels bridging the sequel trilogy and new concept art collections to comics and even crochet, there is a wealth of upcoming releases for every fan. Here's a list of some of what was announced. In new book announcements, Star Wars Legacy will launch in July 28th, 2026, a brand new adventure by best-selling author Madeline Rue. The story follows Ray and her new master Leia Organa on a mission to repair the storied Skywalker lightsaber. Star Wars Eyes Like Stars in summer of 2026. New York Times best-selling author Ashley Poston will pen the first official Star Wars romance novel. This young adult novel, set about a year and a half before The Force Awakens, introduces new characters of Mysterious Artifact and the First Order. The Art of the Mandalorian and Grogu will be out September 1st, 2026. Author Phil Zostak provides a deep dive into the concept and creation of the visual elements of the Clan of Two's first feature film adventure, along with a look back at the art of the Mandalorian season three and the book of Boba Fett. Star Wars Visions to Sukomo on July 14th, 2026, Vision Media's new original Star Wars manga from the creators of the latest Ultraman manga, Follow Order 66, A Lone Jedi Knight, and Two Droids who journey to a rumored droid's paradise while being pursued by the Empire. Then there's Industrial Light and Magic, 50 Years of Innovation on January 13th, 2026. Ian Fails celebrates five decades of cinematic visual effects. Attendees will be treated to a first look at historical photos spreads within the book. Doug Chien, The Cinematic Legacy Volume 1, and The Star Wars Legacy Volume 2, and December 2nd of 2025. This two-volume set by Alexandra Ponsett and Gil Penso offers a career-span collection of art from Doug Chang, who was who has shaped the visual language of Star Wars since the fan menace. The Art of Star Wars Andor, the complete series, comes out May 19, 2026. Phil Sostak and Aprons Books presents the definitive behind-the-scenes companion to the Emmy-winning Disney Plus series, featuring concept art like a never-before-seen illustration of Casting Andor on Ferricks. The Art of Star Wars, Zach Clay, comes out January 13th, 2026. Star Wars.com editor Christian Baver takes readers behind the scenes of the series with exclusive concept art, including The Stranger's Mask, and interviews featuring a forward by creator Leslie Headland. More from The Mandalorian and Grogu, Star Wars, The Mandalorian Visual Guide comes out April 28th, 2026. This time, Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo's comprehensive guide, will now include details from the upcoming film of Star Wars, The Mandalorian and Grogu. The Art of Coloring, Star Wars, The Mandalorian Grogu, comes out April 28th, 2026. This is, of course, a coloring book. Where he goes, I go, April 28th, 2026, a world of reading book designed for new readers. Star Wars The Mandalorian, the official Funko Pop coloring book, April 28th, 2026. No need to tell you what that is. Star Wars The Mandalorian Crochet, revised edition, April 28th, 2026. This revised and expanded edition offers instructions and materials for 12 projects inspired by the clan of two, including patterns for Dindajaran and Grogu. Comics and Manja News, Star Wars of High Republic Adventures, Pathfinders, no release date yet, will be a new miniseries from Dark Horse Comics about 20 years after phase two. It follows a new team of Republic Pathfinders investigating the strange death of a Jedi Master. The creative team includes writer George Mann and artist Partha Prat Pratim, Jack Dish, Kamar, Michael Ataya, and Comic Craft. There's Star Wars Boba Fett Black, White, and Red No. 3 with writer Ethan Sachs. Star Wars Legacy of Vader issues 9 and 10 from Chris Sol and Mark Guggenheim. Star Wars Jedi Knights No. 8 in October of 2025 and No. 9 in November of 2025, which will feature Jedi Master Keller and Beck. Jar Jar Binks number one, February 2026, a special one-shot comic that teams up Jar Jar Binks and Jedi Master Keller and Beck, co-written by Ahmad Best, who played both characters on screen and Mark Guggenheim. So there's a plethora of Star Wars for your entertainment shelf. Let's go on with the Star Trek news. Stephen Colbert is moving to the final frontier. Though his late night show might be ending in May, the host of the late show revealed his new comic his new role at New York Comic Con. During the Star Trek Universe panel on Saturday, Colbert made a virtual appearance to announce that he will be voicing the digital dean of students in the upcoming series, Star of Trek, Starfleet Academy. The panel also revealed a new trailer and the Paramount Plus premiere date for the show. Colbert joked about his appearance, saying, Quote, folks, I'm sorry I couldn't be with you in person today, but I'm a perfectionist, and I just didn't get enough bunting for my Mugato cosplay. However, nothing could stop me from sharing this exciting news. I'm honored to announce that my beautiful voice will be joining Star Trek Starfleet Academy as the digital dean of students. He added that he was so thrilled to join the universe he loved for so long, especially since he won't, quote, spend four hours in hair and makeup every day. Now, despite the controversial cancellation of his CBS Talk Show, Carbo Colbert is staying with the company, and the first two episodes of Star Trek Starfleet Academy will premiere on Paramount Plus on January 15th. New episodes will be available to stream on Thursdays with the season finale set for March 12th. Colbert also has a meta role coming up on season three of CBS's Elzbeth. Now, Starfleet Academy is a spin-off that introduces visitors and viewers to a new class of young cadets under the command of their demanding instructors. These cadets pursue a shared dream of hope and optimism, discovering what it takes to become Starfleet officers. The series will follow their blooming friendships, exclusive rivalries, first loves, and their confrontation with a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation. Now, uh this they said this would be a down-to-earth series with uh Holly Hunter as Chancellor Nala Akee and Paul Giamatti as villainous nosbracca alongside the new cadets. Now, these uh are the first cadets back at the San Francisco campus after more than 120 years, and with uh a speech you know of bold ego where no no one has gone before. And Paul Giamatti's Nest Nosbraca was introduced with a menacing march and a whistle of the original Star Trek theme. Now let's go on to the Marvel Comics News. We'll conclude the three-part story that started with one vision and continued with Agha all along. The cast also includes uh Raida Molka as Tommy, James Darcy as Jarvis, and Orla Brady as Friday. X-Men 97 season two is set for a summer 2026 return with the apocalypse confirmed as the villain. Daredevil Born Again Season 2 drops in March of 2026 and will feature Kirsten Ritter as Jessica Jones. Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, the second season, will debut in fall of 2026 and will include appearances by Daredevil and Venom, Wonder Man. This show will premiere on Tuesday, January 27th at 6 p.m. Pacific, 9 p.m. Eastern. There was a new trailer that of course you can go online and see for yourself. The biggest Marvel news was what took place October 9th through October 12th. At the Spider-Man and Venomous Friends panel, the Queen in Black crossover event launches in this next summer. This major event spins up Al Ewing and Carlos Gomez's Venom Run and the upcoming Null solo series by Ewing Tom Waltz and Wanen Ramirez. Death Spiral, Spider Editor Nick Lowe unveiled this crossover, which will bring Peter Parker's Spider-Man, Mark Jane Watson's Venom, and Andy Brock's Carnage into a violent conflict. At the X-Men panel, we learned about Shadows of Tomorrow, conductor of X, Tom Bruvoort, and editor-in-chief C.B. Sabolski detailed a new era for the X-Men. Armed with knowledge from the Age of Revelation, the team must fight to stop the dystopian future. Shadows of Tomorrow will unfold across returning ongoing series, new titles, and limited series. At the next big thing panel, the end of the ultimate universe, conceived with the definitive endpoint, all Ultimate Universe series will conclude in the coming months, culminating in the Return of the Maker in Ultimate Endgame. The follow-out from One World Under Doom will be explored in the Dungeons of Doom. New Iron Man series, Joshua Williamson, and Carmen Carnero will launch an all-new ongoing series for the Armored Avenger. Scheduled for release on July 23rd, 2027. The first film, based on the popular video game, was a massive surprise hit earlier this year, earning 957.8 million globally and becoming the second highest-grossing film of the year. Its success knocked kicked off a strong run for Wonderbirds for seeing other box office successes like Sinners, Final Destination Bloodlines, and Weapons. Jared Hess will return to direct and will co-write the script with Chris Galeta, one of the original film scribes. The sequel producers include Mary Parent, Kale Boitner, Roy Lee, Eric McLeod, Kaylin Walters, Torfy Franz Olofson, and Jason Mamoa, who also star will star was will return from the first movie. The original cast also featured Jack Lesk, Sebastian Hansen, Emma Myers, Daniel Brooks, and Jennifer Coolidge. Surpassing the two-year-old record held by the Super Mario Bros. movie. Jim Carrey is reportedly in discussions to star in a live-action film adaptation of the Jetsons from Warner Brothers. Colin Trevreau is also in talks to direct and write the screenplay alongside Joe Epstein. The Jetsons, the classic animated series from Hanna Barbera Productions, originally aired on ABC from September 23rd, 1962 to March 17, 1963, and had a short reboot in 1985 to 1997. The show follows George Jetson, a corporate suit dad, navigating a futuristic world of flying cars, high rises, and moving sidewalks. His family includes his wife Jane, his post-teenager daughter Judy, his son Elroy, and the robot housekeeper, Rosie. George works for the demanding Mr. Spacely. Warner the Brothers has a history of successful live-action handbarber adaptations, notably Scooby-Doo in 2002, and sequel Scooby-Doo Monsters Unleashed. The film starred Freddy Prince as Fred Sir Michelle Geller's Daphne and earned nearly half a billion dollars globally. Now Warner Brothers offered no comment on the casting news. Kerry, a massive blockbuster star of the original feature com of original feature comedies back in the 90s and 2000s, has recently found success in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, where he plays Ivo Robotnik. The Sonic trilogy has grossed over$1.2 billion. Sogordney Weaver revealed at NeurocomCon that she is open to reprising her iconic role as Ripley, signing a compelling 50-page script treatment by producer Walter Hill. Weaver had previously felt Ripley's story was complete, saying she always liked Let Her Rest, Let Her Recover. However, Hill's script, which she called quite extraordinary, presents a new direction. Weaver shared that the script is very much about the society that would incarcerate someone who has tried to help mankind. She's a problem to them, so she's sort of tucked away. Anyway, it she he thinks she thinks it's a very strong fit first 50 pages, and I'm thinking about working with Walter to see what the rest of the story could be. Now she's already met with student executives from Fox Disney about the project. Sony's popular Jimanji franchise is gearing up for a new installment with production slayed to begin in November in Los Angeles. Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, along with Jack Black and Karen Gillian, will reprise their starring roles. Jake Kasden, who directed the previous two films in the current aeration, is returning to direct. The new film introduces Brittany O'Grady and Burn Gorman to the cast. O'Grady is known for her role in the first season of HBO's The White Lotus. She will also be appearing in Catherine Bigelow's House of Dynamite on Netflix and previously starred in It's What's Inside, Sometimes I Think About Dying, and the Best You Can. Burn Gorman has credits including Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and the Horror Hunger Games, The Battle of Songbirds and Snakes. No information about what their characters will be. Jumanji 3 is scheduled for a 2026 release. And with that, we come to the end of our show for today. Now, uh please uh be sure to check us out on social media. We're at Blue Sky and Twitter at Multiverse Tom Threads, Facebook, and Instagram as well at Multiverse Tonight. And if you've gotten some value out of the show and would like to pay it back, head on over to multiverse tonight.com where you'll find our Patreon and Ko-Fee links. Check out our show notes, vis our Tee Public store, and so much more. And if you'd like to leave feedback, uh thank you. Uh and if this is your first time listening, go ahead and hit that subscribe button and share it with others. Now, thanks to Hot Dope for the intro music and Lobo Loco for the outro theme music. Thanks for watching this edition of Multiverse Tonight. We'll be back in two weeks with more sci-fi and comic book news. Now please exit the universe in an orderly fashion. Good night. Multiverse Tonight is a production of that big product. Copyright 2025. Alright, read it.