Tales of Wonder #1 Brings Steve Skroce Back to Superhero Comics With a Wild Image/Skybound Launch
Tales of Wonder #1 is bringing old-school comic book mythology, creator rivalry, monster chaos, and superhero spectacle together in one outrageous new launch from Image Comics and Skybound.
Written and drawn by Steve Skroce with colors by Ian Herring, the new series follows two legendary comic book creators whose friendship was forged in World War II but shattered by the comic book industry. Decades later, Stu and Jake reunite to launch the America’s Freedom Force cinematic universe, only to discover that the superheroes and monsters they created are not fictional after all.
Their creations are real.
And now the world may need two bitter old rivals to help save it.
A Comic Book Industry Feud Turns Into a Superhero Crisis
The official synopsis for Tales of Wonder #1 sets up a sharp, funny, and chaotic premise.
Stu and Jake once built the kind of four-color comic book characters that became global icons. But as their Wonder Comics creations grew from page-turning sensations into a massive phenomenon, their friendship collapsed under decades of bad blood, stolen credit, and industry politics.
Now, the two creators are back in the spotlight for a major Hollywood-style relaunch. But the reunion quickly spirals out of control when the heroes and monsters they imagined begin crossing into reality.
That makes Tales of Wonder #1 more than a superhero debut. It is also a meta-comic about credit, legacy, fandom, corporate entertainment, and what happens when the myths creators build become bigger than the people who made them.
Readers can check out the official Image/Skybound announcement for more details on the series.
Steve Skroce Returns to Superhero Comics
Steve Skroce has a visual style built for impact. His pages are packed with exaggeration, violence, grotesque comedy, big character designs, and kinetic action.
That makes Tales of Wonder feel like a natural playground for him. The preview pages show two aging creators caught in a public argument before everything explodes into monster mayhem. A black, tendril-covered creature crashes the scene, a heavily armed hero opens fire, and the entire room turns into a disaster zone.
The concept is sharp, but the energy is even sharper. This book looks loud, weird, violent, and funny in the best possible way.
For more creator-owned publisher coverage, visit Comic Book Addicts’ Image Comics section.
A New Superhero Universe With a Satirical Bite
The covers and preview art make Tales of Wonder #1 look like a love letter and a punchline at the same time.
On one level, it celebrates classic superhero comics: bold costumes, strange monsters, powerful champions, cosmic threats, patriotic warriors, animal-themed heroes, and wild pulp-style designs.
On another level, it takes aim at the business behind the fantasy. Stu and Jake’s feud over who created what, who deserves credit, and who was forgotten by history gives the series a bitterly funny emotional core.
The result is a book that should appeal to fans who love superhero comics but also enjoy stories that question how those legends are made.
The Heroes and Monsters Are Real
The best hook in Tales of Wonder #1 is simple:
What happens when fictional characters stop being fictional?
Stu and Jake spent their lives arguing over ownership, authorship, and credit. But now the world may not care who created America’s Freedom Force. It may only care whether those heroes can stop the monsters coming through.
The preview art teases several wild characters and creatures, including a massive gun-toting patriotic hero, a warrior queen, a monstrous bear-like fighter, flying bug-like figures, and grotesque villains that feel ripped from a lost Bronze Age fever dream.
That mix gives the book a strong visual identity. It does not look like another polished superhero universe. It looks messy, strange, dangerous, and alive.
Ask Your Local Comic Shop for Tales of Wonder #1
Tales of Wonder #1 is the kind of first issue readers should ask about early, especially if they enjoy creator-owned superhero launches with a strong visual hook.
Check with your local comic shop and ask them to order a copy. Readers looking for a shop can visit Dr. No’s Comics & Games and ask about adding Tales of Wonder #1 to a pull list.
Comic Details
Title: Tales of Wonder #1
Publisher: Image Comics / Skybound
Writer: Steve Skroce
Artist: Steve Skroce
Colorist: Ian Herring
Format: Comic Book
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Month: September 2026
Cover Lineup
Cover A: Steve Skroce
Cover B: Yasmine Putri
Cover C: Jorge Fornés
Cover D: Pete Carroll
Cover E: Caspar Wijngaard
Cover F: Ramon K. Perez / Montllo-style listed cover art shown
Cover G: Blank Sketch Variant
Why New Readers Should Pick This Up
Tales of Wonder #1 has a strong entry point for new readers because it does not require years of continuity. The story begins with a clear conflict: two legendary creators hate each other, their creations are now real, and the world is in danger.
That makes the book easy to jump into while still giving longtime superhero fans plenty to chew on.
This should be on your radar if you like:
Creator-owned superhero comics
Meta-commentary on comic book history
Big monster action
Satirical superhero storytelling
Industry drama mixed with fantasy
Steve Skroce’s artwork
Image Comics launches
Skybound creator-owned books
Wild first issues with collector appeal
Comic Book Addicts Take
Tales of Wonder #1 looks like one of the most unpredictable superhero launches coming from Image and Skybound.
The premise is smart because it turns comic book history into a battlefield. The feud between Stu and Jake gives the book emotional fuel, while the sudden arrival of their fictional creations gives it explosive visual energy.
It is funny, angry, nostalgic, and chaotic all at once. That is a strong combination for a new creator-owned series.
Steve Skroce appears to be using the superhero genre as both a celebration and a weapon. The book clearly loves the oversized madness of comics, but it also understands the painful history of credit, ego, ownership, and creators being pushed aside while their ideas become empires.
That gives Tales of Wonder #1 real bite.
Final Thoughts
Tales of Wonder #1 launches a strange, funny, and action-heavy new superhero world from Steve Skroce and Ian Herring.
With legendary creators at war, stolen credit hanging over the story, and imaginary heroes suddenly becoming terrifyingly real, this debut has the makings of a standout Image/Skybound first issue.
Superhero fans looking for something bold, weird, and creator-driven should put this on their pull list.
Tales of Wonder #1 arrives from Image Comics and Skybound in September 2026.
Join the Discussion
Are you picking up Tales of Wonder #1? Do you like superhero comics that mix action, satire, monsters, and comic book industry history?
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