Popverse's top stories of the day

• COVID left fans wanting the personal touch from their local comic stores
• Think Spy x Family is just a cute slice-of-life anime? You aren't ready for what is coming in season 3 and beyond
• Dan Mora, Scott Snyder, and Frank Miller lead an all-star line-up in Artist Alley for New York Comic Con 2024

Bad news for fans eager to meet the fantasy inspired version of DC’s Dark Knight: Batman the Barbarian, the DC Elseworlds title written and drawn by The Human Target’s Greg Smallwood, has been pulled from the release schedule just a month before it was due to appear in stores.

In a notice sent to retailers, DC said that all orders for the series’ first issue — which was intended for release September 18, with final orders due on August 26 — have been cancelled, with the issue due to be offered for future orders “at a later date.” No reason was given for the change.

The 40-page first issue was initially scheduled for September release back in June. At the time, DC described the issue thusly: “In a world where unspeakable beasts slither through silent temples, and sorcerers pledge innocent lives as blood sacrifices to incomprehensible cosmic designs, only one man has the strength of will and brute force required to protect the people who would become prey...the fearsome, blade-wielding Batman! But when the all-seeing Oracle warns him of a looming shadow creeping across the land, he will have to contend with foes that cannot be dispatched by sword alone...including the terrible memory of the catastrophe in which he was made! Eisner Award-winning artist Greg Smallwood unleashes a brutal new vision of Bruce Wayne, shot through with high-fantasy hallmarks and awe-inspiring reimaginings of the classic Batman rogues gallery!”

Batman the Barbarian is part of DC’s relaunch of its fan-favorite imprint Elseworlds, and was part of the initial monthly roll-out of the new line-up, following June’s Gotham By Gaslight: The Kryptonian Age, July’s Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter, and this month’s DC vs. Vampires: World War V. Still to come as part of that initial line-up are Green Lantern Dark in October, and November’s Batman: Nightfire; it’s unknown if either of those titles will be impacted by the rescheduling of Batman the Barbarian.

Get into the vibrant world of comics with our guide to buying digital comics, how to make the most out of comic shops, our comprehensive guide to the upcoming comics, manga, and graphic novels you should be looking for, and everything you need to know about Free Comic Book Day and Local Comic Shop Day.