Popverse's top stories

• Every Star Wars trilogy is really a bad romantasy story and you'll never convince me otherwise
• Midnighter and Apollo from DC Comics proved that fighting a tyrant together is incredibly romantic
• Members only: Ask Ming-Na Wen, Critical Role, Gail Simone, Karl Urban, Chris Claremont, Denys Cowan, and more your questions as part of ECCC x Popverse member exclusive!

With all of us still reeling from the ending of Rachel Smythe's Lore Olympus and looking for a replacement on our TBR pile (and bookmarks), I might have found mine: Punderworld by Linda Šejić.

Launched in 2019 on WEBTOON, Punderworld is a spunky retelling of the mythological Greek romance of the king of the dead, Hades, and a life goddess, Persephone. In some ways, its a flip of the storyline of the hit Broadway musical Hadestown (which I try to see every time I'm in NYC), but it's more than that - casting Hades not as the prison warden, but as someone also trying to break Persephone free from the Underworld.

"When I started Punderworld, I wanted to tell a story where even gods could be awkward, vulnerable, and surprisingly human," says Šejić. "The response from readers has been incredible. I’m thrilled for everyone to return to the Underworld and see what surprises await."

Over 6 years, Šejić's Punderworld has been viewed over 30 million times, with a full half million people signed up to get notified whenever a new installment is released. While the title is on a winter break, Šejić is partnering with their long-time print publisher Top Cow (who publishes under the Image Comics umbrella) for print editions of the hit webtoon, with Punderworld Vol. 1 onsale now and a second, Punderworld Vol. 2, due out May 5 on Amazon and bookstores, but coming a full month early (April 8!) to comic stores.

"Linda Šejić brings the Underworld to life in a way that’s impossible to put down," says Top Cow founder Marc Silvestri. "Punderworld Vol. 2 raises the stakes, deepens the story, and takes everything fans loved in the first volume to thrilling new heights."

Check out this preview of Punderland Vol. 2:

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.