El Hombre Araña! Why Mexico created an alternate Spider-Man in the 70s
When Marvel killed off Spidey’s girlfriend, Mexican fans were so incensed that a publisher created an alternate storyline that has won the Internet’s heart
Letter to Survivors by Gébé review – post-apocalyptic existentialism
The French counterpart to Raymond Briggs’s When the Wind Blows gets a welcome reissue – and not a minute too soon
Raymond Briggs’s final book, which faces death ‘head-on’, due this year
Collection of short pieces, which has been in the works for more than a decade, takes stock of The Snowman author’s life
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez becomes comic-book heroine
Rising star of US politics – who is known to be a comics fan – given lead role in Washington satire that promises ‘to spare no one’
DC cancels comic where Jesus learns from superhero after outcry
The Second Coming series, which had been due to launch next month, has been pulled following campaign by conservative site CitizenGo
The Umbrella Academy review – get ready for a downpour of hokum
Seven superhero siblings and a talking ape butler make Netflix’s latest comic-book adaptation a daffy, palate-cleansing treat
Neil Gaiman on Good Omens, Sandman film rumours and his next book
Good Omens, Neverwhere, Coraline, American Gods ... the genre-defying author joined us to answer your questions
The eyes! The eyes! Why does Alita: Battle Angel look so creepy?
Robert Rodriguez’s forthcoming live-action cyberpunk movie retains the character design of the manga on which it is based. What were they thinking?
Alita: Battle Angel review – lovestruck tweenies do battle in robot dystopia
Rosa Salazar stars as a battle-hardened cyborg who falls in love as the Sin City director softens up with mixed results
Will Matt Reeves’ The Batman save DC’s cinematic universe?
Or will it usher in the superhero studio’s demise? With so many past – often flawed – takes on the Dark Knight, no wonder fans are nervous about meeting his next incarnation
Comics and graphic novels of 2019: from Miracleman to Scrooge McDuck
Hotly anticipated titles from stars such as Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore will be joined by fresh work from new talents including Julie Delport and Emily Carroll
The 50 best films of 2018: No 6 – Black Panther
Marvel broke new ground with Ryan Coogler’s exhilarating introduction to Wakanda, bringing social conscience and diversity to the increasingly tired superhero genre
From zero to hero: how the Spider-Man franchise was saved
Bringing diversity to the ailing Spidey universe has helped free the characters, leading to an increase in both box office and critical acclaim
Best books of 2018
Observer critics pick their must reads of 2018, from life in 50s Harlem to a tale about the Troubles via Michael Wolff’s lurid profile of Donald Trump
Boys’ love to Pokémon: British Museum to host major show on manga
Exhibition will be largest on the comic books and graphic novels ever held outside Japan