Titan Manga’s The Five Star Stories Delayed (Again). The Latest Updates.

Titan Manga’s new English edition of The Five Star Stories has shifted release dates again, but the larger page counts suggest this reissue may package the classic arcs in a new way.

The Five Star Stories manga original English editionWhen Titan Comics’ Manga label first announced the new English edition of The Five Star Stories at Anime Expo 2025, the target release was March 2026. That later shifted to July 7, 2026 for Volume 1. More recent listings now show Volume 1 scheduled for September 1, 2026. Whatever the reason for the shift, let’s hope the wait is worthwhile. I suspect it will be. This latest release aims to package narrative arcs together rather than one unit at a time.

This note is important for those unsure how this release will be handled. The universe has since been retconned for Mamoru Nagano‘s Gothicmade continuity, and those narrative decisions may well be hiding in this “new translation,” if that’s what Titan Manga is using. The previous translated version, released by Toyspress, had a diamond design to indicate which volume that story arc belongs to. The Titan version uses an inverted pyramid.

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The Cat Came Back Creator Cordell Barker Returns with The Anta Claus of the South Pole

Oscar-nominated animator Cordell Barker, best known for The Cat Came Back, is returning with The Anta Claus of the South Pole, a new animated holiday special from the National Film Board of Canada and Tonic DNA.

The Anta Claus of the South PoleThe National Film Board of Canada

He’s back, and no, I’m not talking about the feline who stole my heart back in the day. Coming soon from Cordell Barker is The Anta Claus of the South Pole. While not everyone may recognize his name, many animation fans know his work. Barker crafted the wonderful animated short The Cat Came Back, a tale about Mr. Johnson, a man pushed to the edge by a feline who keeps finding a way to this hooman’s home. He wants nothing to do with the cat and, much like Wile E. Coyote, becomes increasingly inventive in his attempts to get rid of it rather than simply accepting its presence.

But when cartoon logic rules the universe, every trip home reveals the critter waiting inside, tearing up a carpet, couch, or something even worse. This short is hand-drawn and surprisingly elegant. Some viewers might liken it to an old Tex Avery cartoon. When every gag lands like a mousetrap with a marching band inside it, the shock and surprise is all worth it. And when the beat is set to the folk tune of the same name, we know that this cat is not using up all of his nine lives.

Barker has a knack for turning escalating chaos into comedy, and every homage he makes shows why he is one of Canada’s masters of animated catastrophe.

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A Director’s Cut of King Arthur’s Night is Headed To The VIFF This July!

John Bolton’s director’s cut of King Arthur’s Night makes its Vancouver theatrical premiere at VIFF Centre, bringing a wildly imaginative and inclusive take on Camelot to the screen.

King Arthur's Night Poster ImageJuly 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 2026
Please check the VIFF website for advance tickets.

Who would’ve thought Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, could become Camelot? In real life, some say Bigfoot is nearby. But for John Bolton, who made King Arthur’s Night, this alternate take on the legend is something to behold. The director’s cut will make its Vancouver theatrical premiere at VIFF Centre next month.

The original production was created by award-winning playwrights and performers Niall McNeil and Marcus Youssef, directed by James Long, with original music by Veda Hille. The teasers show the labour of love behind this fairy tale, and how everyone can dream. Marketing says this take is not the version of King Arthur folks learned about in school. Some things have changed, and as for who the Lady of the Lake is, well, you’ll have to see it to find out!

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Scooby-Doo Origins. Shaggy’s Best Friend Gets Another Live Action Attempt!

Netflix’s Scooby-Doo Origins is using a real Great Dane for the first time, and that choice may define whether this live-action reboot can charm old fans and new viewers.

Scooby-Doo Origins live-action Great DaneLast week, Netflix announced the rest of the cast for Scooby-Doo Origins, which is currently in production in Atlanta, Georgia. Whether this live-action reboot is truly needed, and whether it can work, depends on a fan’s point of view. After seeing how the production is approaching the property, I’m willing to give it a chance. To make everything live-action with minimal CGI use looks great.

When the studio revealed on Instagram how the canine looks, fans of the long running franchise will either yelp or go aww. That alone has sparked plenty of debate.

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Believe it or Not, AMP Comics Wants The Greatest American Hero To Find Closure

In addition to a review of the FBCD release of The Greatest American Hero, we look at what’s in store for the franchise. If you’ve missed out in getting that teaser, fret not. After the retail release, there’ll be a Kickstarter deluxe edition. And we clear the air on what’s what.

Free Comic Book Day The Greatest American HeroKickstarter Preview

Although details remain scarce about AMP Comics’ continuation of The Greatest American Hero, fans are already speculating about what the mini-series will explore when it debuts in July. After the Free Comic Book Day preview, a Kickstarter edition was announced faster than readers could plug in the regular release.

Some fans may wonder if the crowdfunding campaign offers a separate, brand-new story. Based on the current details, AMP Comics is presenting it as a hardcover edition with bonus exclusives. The five-issue mini-series will not wrap until November or so, and this deluxe version likely will not ship until sometime in 2027.

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A Woolly Mystery Awaits, Sherlock! The Sheep Detectives Are On The Case….

The Hardy Boys can’t help here in solving the case, when a seemingly negliant father of twins care more for his flock than his kids. As there’s more to the mystery, The Sheep Detectives are on the case to find out who murdered this parent!

The Sheep Detectives PosterAlthough the title of The Sheep Detectives is deceptive, just who is doing the work has the right mix of a human and animal whodunit mixed with the pastoral charm unique to Anne of Green Gables. Here, George Hardy (Hugh Jackman) leads a simple life. Most of his worries begin and end with his sheep. He tends to them like any loving parent would, doting on them when it’s time to shear their wool and making sure they feel comfortable afterward. He even reads them “bedtime stories,” although his choices lean toward murder mysteries rather than fairy tales.

The flock listens, almost as if they truly understand every clue, motive, and hidden threat. When George finally goes to sleep, that’s when the magic begins. We discover that the sheep are highly intelligent and live a Toy Story-style life once the humans are no longer watching. Or should that be A Secret Life of Pets?

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