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Good news to all you comic book shoppers, Image Comics is soon to give you another reason to head to your... well, comic book shop. The publisher behind titles like The Walking Dead, Spawn, and Invincible has announced their plans to release collected editions of their comics and their original graphic novels to local comic book stores a full 27 days before they come to traditional book stores and digital platforms.

The news comes from ICv2, who were themselves quoting an official statement Image sent out to retailers September 23. "Rather than let these changes dictate our release schedule," said the message, "We see it as an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to you - the retailers who have been champions of our creators and their stories from the very beginning and continue to drive discoverability for our books."

Also included in the message, according to ICv2, is a timeline of when we can expect to see Image Comics' new release schedule go into effect. that is, starting December 24, 2025. Don't get me wrong, reader, I am never one to allow Christmas celebrations to encroach on my sacred Halloween time, but I gotta say, this feels like a very early Yuletide blessing to comic retailers out there.

Get ready for what's next with our guide to upcoming comics, how to buy comics at a comic shop, and our guide to Free Comic Book Day 2025.