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Cosmic horror, cosmic cops (with magic rings), and forgotten Thunder Gods in the Marvel Universe: Popverse Playlist for August 15-21, 2026

Thor drops his mortal status, Hal Jordan flies onto the small screen, and It Ends drives a group of friends mad

Published on Tue Sep 22 2026

In brightest day, in blackest night, no pop culture will escape our sight. Sure, I get that many people are returning to the multiplex for another screening of Spider-Man: Brand New Day (to be fair, it’s pretty great), but there’s so much more to be discovered out there if you know where to look. This week alone, we’re watching what could be the next big superhero TV show, reading the under-the-radar best Marvel book of the last year or so, and getting into some cosmic dread on the road. (That last one thankfully not literally; it’s all unfolding on the big screen.) This, dear friends, is Popverse Playlist and we’re very happy you decided to join us.

If you only watch one show this week, then it really has to be… Lanterns

We’ve been curious about this reimagining of DC’s Green Lantern mythos since it was announced as “True Detective, but Green Lantern,” and the casting of Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan just made us even more curious. A downbeat, detective take on one of DC’s most cosmic concepts? It might be counterintuitive, but the fact that Damon Lindelof — fresh off his amazing Watchmen series — and comic book writer Tom King are involved makes us excited to see what’s in store. (Especially knowing that both Sinestro and the Manhunters are likely to be involved.)

Lanterns begins its run on HBO August 16, 2026.

If you only check out one movie this week, then it should be… It Ends

A cosmic horror movie that’s as much about the horror of your friend group as it is the terror of forces beyond our reckoning? Sign us up. Four friends go on what starts as a lowkey drive, only to end up lost in ways none of them could have imagined on a road that certainly seems endless… but the title of the movie is surely there for a reason, right…? (Beyond making all of us think it's a sequel to It Follows, of course.)

It Ends arrives in theaters August 21, 2026.

If you can only pick up one comic this week, then make sure it’s… Thor #800

Al Ewing and Pasqual Ferry’s Mortal Thor has been a highlight of Marvel Comics’ output for the last year — a reimagining of Thor lore that plays out like the closest thing Marvel has on the stands to DC’s Absolute Batman in many ways. Long running threads from the series to date come to a head in this week’s issue, which also sees the series retitled to just ‘Thor’ and renumbered to celebrate its 800th issue. There’s even more to celebrate, too, including Kieron Gillen coming back to the Marvel Universe for a short back-up story, bringing him back to the Asgardian side of the MU for the first time since… Loki’s appearances in Young Avengers more than a decade ago, I think…? Must-read stuff.

Thor #800 (AKA The Mortal Thor #14) will be in comic book stores August 19, 2026.

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Graeme McMillan: Popverse Editor Graeme McMillan (he/him) has been writing about comics, culture, and comics culture on the internet for more than two decades at this point, which is terrifying to admit. He completely understands if you have problems understanding his accent.