Rob Guillory

There's a point for every monthly comics fan when it really sinks in that there's a whole world of comics beyond the Big Two, and that point looks different for everyone. As someone literally born months after Image was, and thus missed out on the '90s boom and bust, for me it was Chew. Written by John Layman and drawn by Rob Guillory, Chew ended last November at 60 issues. When it began in 2009, I was in high school, and newly in love with monthly comics.

The inevitable happens in Venom #5, by Mike Costa and Gerardo Sandoval, when the symbiote and its host get into a knock-down drag-out fight with the guy the symbiote has never forgiven for rejecting it, the Spider-Man known as Peter Parker. And Marvel is observing the event throughout the month of March with Venomized Variant covers that depict the heroes of the Marvel Universe overtaken by the Venom symbiote.

Ahead of the launch of Boom Studios' officially licensed WWE comic, the publisher has released a jam-packed one-shot titled WWE: Then Now Forever, which features a story about the final days of The Shield by Dennis Hopeless and Dan Mora, and a ton of bonus content featuring the likes of The New Day, Sasha Banks and... Tugboat?! It's a very strange comic, but for fans of wrestling it shows a love of the sport that makes it a fun, authentic read.

We here at ComicsAlliance have been waiting eagerly more information about Boom Studios upcoming WWE comic, and with New York Comic Con just a week away, more information is trickling in. Next year will see the release of an ongoing titled WWE, starring all your favorite superstars, with the first arc centered on Seth Rollins' return from injury, as told by Dennis Hopeless and Eduard Petrovich.

Earlier this week, Boom Studios announced The Backstagers, a brand new young adult series by James Tynion IV and Rian Sygh that delves into the mystical and magical world that lives behind the theater curtain, and stars the stage crew of a private boys school. As the play comes together around them, no-one else knows how weird and wacky things can get backstage, and not even the crew themselves know what they'll stumble onto next. ComicsAlliance caught up with Tynion and Sygh to talk about the world of The Backstagers, creating all-ages fiction for people that need it, and teen romance. Also, we've got a ton of early development sketches by Sygh, and three covers to The Backstagers #1 by Veronica Fish, Bridget Underwood and Rob Guillory!

Boom Studios had an impressive 2015, thanks to a stong roster of new titles by exceptionally talented creators --- with standouts that include Welcome Back, The Fiction, Cognetic, Curb Stomp, Diesel, The Spire, Wild's End, and... well, you get the picture. It was a good year. Tthat must come as a relief to the publisher, because this was also Boom's tenth year in the business, and that put those folks in a partying mood. One notable way they marked the anniversary was with special variant covers that celebrated both their books and the artists working on them. As the clock ticks down on 2015, we've collected the covers together in one gallery for you to enjoy.

For five years, Chew has been one of the most funniest, most surprising comic books on the stands. Rob Guillory and John Layman's series about a police officer who gets a psychic impression from anything he eats --- and the bizarre supporting cast that surrounds him --- has introduced readers to everything from government conspiracies to cybernetic killer roosters. With the recent release of the 51st issue, Chew is closing in on its big issue #60 finale --- so ComicsAlliance took the opportunity to sit down with John Layman to discuss his plotting for the series, how he balances comedic highs with tragic lows, and how a chicken became the breakout star of the book.

Not everyone can make it to San Diego Comic-Con to see what's happening in person, but ComicsAlliance has you covered! We know that it's not just about the news that comes out of the biggest con of the year --- it's also about seeing the booths, checking out new collectibles, and putting faces to names of your favorite creators. Thankfully talented photographer Pat Loika is on hand to document as much as he can for your enjoyment.

The folks at Marvel know that it's never too late to take a chance to tweak their distinguished competitors at fancy Southern California comic publisher DC. Back in April 2013, DC ran a month of covers under the 'WTF Certified' banner, with 'shocking' twist reveals on fold-out covers. The F in WTF is of course a naughty word, which made some retailers uncomfortable, and DC shuffled its feet and said it would not put the ribald WTF branding on its actual covers. A whole two years later in April 2015, Marvel has decided to remind the world of DC's embarrassed walk-back with What The Duck month, featuring twenty comics with variant Howard the Duck-themed covers inspired by iconic images. In the PR, Marvel boasts that the covers will be 'WTD Certified', so this is not a simple coincidence. This is mock-making in the classic Marvel manner.

If you're a fan of the King of Sports, professional wrestling, then you may have wondered what CM Punk has been up to since he left the WWE the day after last January's Royal Rumble. Punk, occasionally known outside the ring as Phil Brooks, has been quiet about his plans for the future, but this week it was announced that he'll be writing a story for February's Thor Annual #1, with art by Chew's Rob Guillory, who will also be making his debut at Marvel.