Soaring into Legend: BAD IDEA Comics Unleashes WARBIRD – The Globe-Shattering Spy Thriller from Robert Venditti and Derek Kolstad

In an industry hungry for bold, uncompromising storytelling, BAD IDEA Comics stands as the last true underground powerhouse – a boutique publisher founded in 2020 by visionary ex-Valiant executives who dared to flip the script on how comics are made, sold, and experienced. Dubbed “the last and greatest underground comics publisher,” BAD IDEA rejects the noise of endless digital floods, speculator-chasing variants, and watered-down trades in favor of prestige-format, A-list talent delivering razor-sharp, boundary-pushing stories that hit like a freight train. Their direct-to-retailer model (one copy per customer at launch for many titles) ensures scarcity, quality, and that electric feeling of scoring something truly special at your local comic shop (LCS). From record-smashing launches to innovative packaging that redefines the medium, BAD IDEA isn’t just publishing comics – it’s engineering events. And right now, they’re loading the cannons for their biggest volley yet: WARBIRD, the white-knuckle, globe-spanning action-spy epic co-written by New York Times bestselling legend Robert Venditti and John Wick creator Derek Kolstad.

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Robert Venditti: The Architect of Modern Epic Storytelling Venditti isn’t just a writer – he’s a force who has redefined superhero sagas, sci-fi thrillers, and literary adaptations alike. A New York Times bestseller with a career spanning indie breakthroughs to DC Comics mainstays, his resume reads like a Hall of Fame roll call: The Surrogates (his breakthrough graphic novel, turned into a 2009 major motion picture starring Bruce Willis and directed by Jonathan Mostow), the game-changing X-O Manowar run at Valiant, and blockbuster DC arcs on Green Lantern, The Flash, Justice League, Hawkman, and the Eisner-nominated Superman ’78. He’s also the definitive adapter of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians and Heroes of Olympus into acclaimed graphic novels. His characters and stories have leaped to film, television, animation, and video games – including scripting episodes of the hit animated series My Adventures with Superman.

Venditti’s BAD IDEA tenure has been nothing short of explosive. ORDAINED (with artist Trevor Hairsine and colorist Dave Stewart) became a 2026 breakout hit, blending relentless, bone-crushing action with symphonic carnage that earned instant raves from John Wick fans – and it’s already optioned for a major motion picture. Then came PLANET DEATH (with Kolstad and artist Tomás Giorello), a million-copy phenomenon hailed as the spiritual precursor to WARBIRD. And don’t sleep on HANK HOWARD, PIZZA DETECTIVE (with Eisner-winner David Lapham) – a guns-blazing, satirical crime saga that innovated with the world’s first “blind pizza box” edition, delivering limited black-and-white issues inside custom pizza packaging that’s half prop, half collectible. A deluxe hardcover collection of over 200 brand-new pages just wrapped a record-shattering Kickstarter, proving Venditti’s Midas touch for turning comics into cultural phenomena. His latest, TANKERS, even hit Kickstarter as a “Saturday morning cartoon run irresponsibly overbudget.” Venditti doesn’t write comics – he crafts blockbusters you can hold in your hands.

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Bad Idea's HANK HOWARD, PIZZA DETECTIVE: THE TWO HOLLYWOODS - Issue #1 & 3D Comic Reward! - VeVe Digital Collectibles

WARBIRD: The Ultimate High-Stakes Heist Takes Flight Launching with the ultra-rare WARBIRD #0 (of 4) – a special giveaway issue timed for the Wednesday ahead of Free Comic Book Day 2026 (hitting shelves around April 29, 2026) – this series is the spiritual successor to PLANET DEATH and the next evolution of the Kolstad/Venditti powerhouse. Co-written by Derek Kolstad (the mind behind the box-office-dominating John Wick franchise) and Robert Venditti, with art by the dynamic Jesse Lonergan and jaw-dropping covers (including Cover A by the legendary Frank Quitely of All-Star Superman fame), WARBIRD is a rocket-fueled, white-knuckle thrill ride that redefines the espionage-action genre.

The hero? Cole – the world’s greatest repo man, a modern anti-hero cut from classic Hollywood cloth: equal parts Steve McQueen cool, Clint Eastwood grit, young Marlon Brando intensity, Sean Connery swagger, and James Garner charm. If it has an engine, Cole can steal it – mega-yachts from billionaires, private jets from tycoons, you name it – right out from under armies of guards. But now he’s handed the impossible job: The Russians have Frankenstein’d the ultimate next-gen fighter jet – the Warbird – by stealing bleeding-edge aeronautical secrets from China, France, Germany, the UK, and the US. Only three exist. Each costs $1.4 billion. They dominate every global hotspot from Syria to Ukraine like forces of nature. Cole’s mission: Steal one… and destroy the other two. His fee? 10% – a cool $140 million. Failure doesn’t mean jail. It means a bullet to the head.

Think James Bond meets The Bourne Identity meets Mission: Impossible – but rawer, smarter, and altogether its own thing. Globe-trotting espionage. Heart-pounding aerial dogfights. Betrayal at the highest levels. And Quitely’s iconic designs (face studies, full-body action poses, and that teaser cover glimpsing Cole against the sleek Warbird silhouette) make it visual dynamite. As the team teased at New York Comic Con and C2E2 panels (where Venditti held court for signings), if PLANET DEATH was Mean Streets, WARBIRD is Goodfellas. If it was Reservoir Dogs, this is Pulp Fiction. If it was Thief, buckle up for Heat. The series ships on completion (tentatively wrapping late 2026), with #0 available as a Cover A Frank Quitely bundle of 25 (NET) for retailers – the perfect entry point to secure your pull list spot.

Preorder Now – Don’t Miss the Launch Window BAD IDEA’s model keeps it pure: Preorder through your local comic shop to guarantee your copy before Final Order Cutoffs. For WARBIRD #0 Cover A (Frank Quitely) and other variants, check specialty retailers like:

• Impulse Creations Pre-Order Bad Idea Collection – Home to WARBIRD #0 bundles and more.
• Jetpack Comics, Third Eye Comics, or DCB Service for full solicits.

Follow the official pulse at @badideahello on X and Instagram for signing announcements, panel recaps, and drop alerts. Retailers: Contact BAD IDEA directly via their socials for bundle incentives.

While You’re Here, Dive into Venditti’s BAD IDEA Universe WARBIRD isn’t arriving in a vacuum – it’s the crown jewel in Venditti’s expanding BAD IDEA empire. Grab:

• ORDAINED (#1–3, with #3’s expanded 48-page finale already scorching shelves) – The priest-turned-punisher saga that’s movie-optioned and flying off racks. Preorder variants (including Jorge Fornés covers) at the links above.
• HANK HOWARD, PIZZA DETECTIVE series (including A Slice of Life #1 with the legendary blind pizza box edition – cheese or pepperoni surprise inside!) and the deluxe hardcover collection via past Kickstarter archives or LCS backstock.
• PLANET DEATH – The million-copy phenomenon that paved the way.

All available via LCS preorders or the same specialty sites. Pro tip: Bundle your orders for those sweet retailer incentives – and ask about signed editions or convention exclusives from Venditti’s 2026–2027 convention circuit.

Why WARBIRD Matters – And Why You Need It Yesterday In a sea of reboots and crossovers, BAD IDEA + Venditti + Kolstad + Quitely delivers something rare: pure, unfiltered comic book adrenaline built for the ages. High-concept espionage that feels ripped from tomorrow’s headlines, executed with cinematic pacing and artistic mastery. Whether you’re a longtime Venditti fan, a John Wick junkie, or just crave the next great action epic, WARBIRD is your next obsession.

Head to your LCS today. Preorder. Spread the word. Because when the Warbird screams across the sky, you’ll want to be strapped in from #0.

The skies belong to BAD IDEA now. And they’ve never looked more dangerous – or more exhilarating.

For the latest solicits, signings, and drops, stay locked on BAD IDEA’s channels. This is only the beginning.