Here we are comics fans: the final edition of Comics Relief for 2015. Where did the year go? So much happened, and yet we have just as much to look forward to in 2016. First off, though, we’ve got some bummer news on the end of Dark Horse Comics’ # 1 character. Read on for all the details…

Mike Mignola announces the end of Hellboy in Hell in 2016

After decades in publication, and two major movies to his name…could writer/artist Mike Mignola be truly bringing the adventures of Hellboy to a conclusion next year? Sadly, this appears to be the case. In an interview with Vulture, Mignola announced plans to end the series in early 2016 with Hellboy in Hell #10. In the same interview, he said that he is setting his comics illustration work on the backburner for a year to “just do work essentially for myself.”

Ever since Hellboy in Hell began back in 2012, Mike Mignola has maintained that this was a story without a definitive endpoint in mind, providing readers with one-off tales of Big Red wandering around Hell. Now he’s told Vulture, “I was looking at what I had done, and coming off one of the stories I realized, ‘Oh, we’re further along in some way than I thought we were going to be. We got where we were going a lot faster. I had some fun stuff lined up that I was going to do, but if I did it, it was just going to soften the impact, it was just going to ramble more than it needed to ramble. I thought, If we’re going there, let’s just go there now. So, yes, we’re wrapping up Hellboy in Hell.”

So is this the end of Hellboy for good? If I were a betting man I’d say he’s bound to be back one day. You just can’t keep a good demon spawn down for too long. Hellboy in Hell #10 is set to hit in early 2016 from Dark Horse Comics.

Spider-Gwen is one of those concepts that came out of nowhere and took the imaginations of fans by storm. Originally supposed to be a one-off hero during the Spider-Verse crossover event, the character, who is an alternate universe version of Gwen Stacy with Spider-Man’s powers, became a cosplay favorite. And now she has her own new ongoing series at Marvel.

Allegra Town Studio has now created and shared a short animation video that gives Gwen Stacy’s fans the idea of what she might look like if she were to receive her own animated show. According to follow-up tweets, the animation was done entirely in Toon Boom, with backgrounds painted in PhotoShop. So now it’s all on you Marvel…make a Spider-Gwen animated show happen! [Comic Book]

….and here is the cleaned up video of #SpiderGwen pic.twitter.com/ryOvWcrB9l

— All
egra Town Studio (@Allegra_Town) December 26, 2015

Rumors abound for DC Comics’ 2016 slate

DC Comics has had an interesting 2015, to be sure. After the two-month crossover event Convergence, the publisher rebranded as “DCYOU,” which was only semi-successful. But what about 2016? Reports say that next year, the fifth anniversary of their continuity reboot “New 52,” many of their long-running titles are ending, only to be rebranded and restarted with new #1 issues.

This would happen after the fifty-second issue of the remaining original New 52 titles in May. So which books might be getting the rebranding? No solid idea yet, but I’d look at the lower selling titles right now, like Flash, Catwoman, and Green Arrow. All are perennial titles that the publisher really can’t cancel for too long, but could use the extra boost of a new #1 issue and creative team. [Bleeding Cool]

Comixology and Dynamite Entertainment team up for New Year’s Sale

Here’s a post-Christmas, pre-New Year’s treat you can give to yourself this holiday season: comiXology has initiated a sale on Dynamite Entertainment’s entire line of books, offering up over 2,500 comics to get for half off. Titles include Warren Ellis’ new James Bond 007 book, as well as Doc Savage, Red Sonja, Vampirella, and a whole lot more. The sale expires on January 3rd at 11:59 PM, so you only have a few days to get in on this great deal. For more info, click on the comiXology link right here. [Comics Alliance]

Valiant Comics teases Divinity II

Publisher Valiant Comics have just released a new year-end teaser for April’s Divinity II, a sequel to their popular Divinity event from this year. The new series is from returning creators Matt Kindt, Trevor Hairsine, Ryan Winn and David Baron.

As seen in the teaser image below by Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic, it looks like this would be the introduction of a new female, god-like being into the Valiant universe. There haven’t been any other plot details released for the new series, but expect more info to be revealed before Divinity II #1 drops in April 2016. You can check out the teaser image below: [Comicosity]

Former Batgirl Cassandra Cain gets a new look

Casandra Cain was one of those characters from the Batman universe that initially didn’t make the cut from the old pre-Flashpoint continuity into the New 52 DCU, despite being a fan favorite. In the old DCU, she was Batgirl for awhile, and then went by the alias Black Bat. Then the New 52 happened, and fans have been clamoring for her return ever since. The return finally happened in the latest Batman weekly series this year.

Well, not only is she back, in this week’s issue of the Batman and Robin Eternal, Cassandra Cain seems to be debuting a new look, with a new identity not far behind. And is that red paint forming the bat symbol across her face, or is that blood?? (ew). In any event, Cassandra Cain seems to officially be a Bat family member again. Batman and Robin Eternal #13 is one sale now, and you can check out the cover image below: [Bleeding Cool]

IMAGES: Dark Horse Comics / DC Comics / Marvel Comics / Valiant Comics / Dynamite Entertainment