List of comics solicited but never published

• Quantum and Woody #22–31 – This series was canceled by Acclaim after #17 (June 1998), and "uncanceled" 15 months later; as a promotional gimmick, #32 (September 1999) was published to show how the story would have developed if the comic had never been canceled. In October 1999, the series resumed numbering with #18 and was intended to publish the "missing" issues, but the title was cancelled with #21.[1]
• Unity 2000 #4–6 – Only three issues of this six-issue miniseries were published before its cancellation.[2]

• Detour #2 – Publisher Alternative Comics solicited Ed Brubaker's Detour #2 in 2000, but it never appeared (the first issue had been published in 1997). In 2000, Brubaker promised that "the stories that would have made up the next two issues are being worked on in my disappearing spare time, and hopefully the whole thing will be released as a book of about 100 or so pages in a year or two."[3] Instead, Brubaker embarked in earnest on a mainstream comics writing career with Deadenders (Vertigo), whose dystopic future backdrop was similar to Detour's.[3]

• Transformers 3-D #4–8 – Originally promoted as an eight-issue miniseries,[4] only the first three issues were released.

• Charlton Bullseye Special #2–3 – Issue #2 was to be an all-humor book set for release in February 1987, but later pushed back to June. Issue #3 was originally going to preview a revival of the Charlton Comics title Creepy Things, but the contents of the book changed as Creepy Things was to receive its own title in October 1987.[5][6]
• Doctor Morpheus – A six-issue miniseries written by Kent Orlando.[7]
• The Return of the Vengeance Squad – At least four issues were planned for this revival of Charlton's Vengeance Squad series.[8]

• CrossGen's bankruptcy led to a number of titles—including Sojourn, Negation War, and Brath—being cancelled before completion. Several trade paperback collections were cancelled due to the bankruptcy as well.[9]

• Action Comics Annual #3 by Chris Claremont and Michael Golden – The original story for this annual was meant to be published in 1990. According to Amazing Heroes Preview Special #10 (February 1990) "And the X-citing news is about the Action Comics Annual, due out this year. It's written by none other than Marvel Mutant Man Chris Claremont, and drawn by not-often-seen Michael Golden. Watch for it."[10] An annual with this number was eventually released in 1991 as part of the Armageddon 2001 crossover event, but contained a different story and was written by Roger Stern.[11]
• All Star Batgirl – This series was announced at the Toronto Comic Book Expo in 2006. Geoff Johns and J. G. Jones were planning to work on the first six issues, which would present a connection between Barbara Gordon and Arkham Asylum. According to Johns, the series would feature "a mystery centering around Barbara Gordon’s transformation into Batgirl," as in Batman: The Long Halloween. The title was described as not taking place in the continuity of All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder.[12]
• All Star Comics: "The Will of William Wilson" – An unpublished Justice Society of America story from the 1940s. A good amount of artwork from this story survived and has been reprinted in various publications from TwoMorrows Publishing.[13]
• All Star Wonder Woman – This series was confirmed at the San Diego Comic Con 2006,[14] with Adam Hughes announced as writer and artist. Hughes intended to retell the character's origin story, and described his approach to the series as an "iconic interpretation" of the character,[15] but explained at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International that that project was "in the freezer" for the time being, due to the difficulty involved in both writing and illustrating it himself.[16] As of October 2010, a page on his website indicated that after the current Catwoman series ended with issue #82, Hughes would cease his DC cover work and focus on producing the six-issue All Star Wonder Woman series.[17]
• Ambush Bug: Year None #6 – A six-issue miniseries, it skipped issue #6 and concluded with issue #7 instead. There was an 11-month gap between #5 (January 2009) and #7 (December 2009).[18]
• Aquaman II miniseries – A miniseries by writer Neal Pozner and artist Craig Hamilton was published in 1986. A follow-up miniseries was planned, but cancelled due to Hamilton's difficulties with meeting deadlines.[19]
• Batman: Dark Detective III – In 1977, writer Steve Englehart and artists Marshall Rogers and Terry Austin collaborated on a run of Batman stories in Detective Comics. A sequel miniseries titled Batman: Dark Detective was published in 2005. Englehart and Rogers planned a third series of stories,[20] but Rogers' death on March 25, 2007 caused DC to cancel the project.[21]
• Batman: The Widening Gyre #7–12 – In 2010 Kevin Smith wrote a six-issue Batman miniseries called The Widening Gyre, drawn by Walt Flanagan. The series was initially planned as 12 issues, with a long break planned between issues #6 and #7. After issue #6 was published, Smith and Flanagan's work on their reality show, Comic Book Men, extended this planned break further than expected. It was decided in the interim to release the remaining issues as a separate series to be called Batman: Bellicosity, scheduled for 2016,[22][23] but as of now it remains unpublished.
• Batwoman miniseries – A miniseries created and written by Dennis O'Neil was planned around the time of Batman's 50th anniversary in 1989.[24]
• Before Watchmen: Epilogue – Originally solicited in 2013 as the conclusion to the Watchmen prequels, this one-shot was cancelled for unknown reasons.[25]
• Black Canary – A miniseries by writer Greg Weisman and artist Mike Sekowsky was planned in 1984. The first issue of the series was penciled, but the project was ultimately shelved due to the character being used in writer/artist Mike Grell's high-profile Green Arrow: The Longbow Hunters series. Elements from the ill-fated project were used for Weisman's DC Showcase: Green Arrow short film.[26]
• Blue Beetle direct sales series – Following the cancellation of Blue Beetle's series in the late 1980s, a direct sales-only series was set to follow.[27] However, the planned follow-up was cancelled as well, due to the belief that there was no audience for a "1960s-type" character like Blue Beetle.[28]
• Blue Devil #32–36 – Blue Devil #31 was to be the beginning of a six-part storyline intended to revive the title, but it became the final issue of the series instead.[29]
• Captain Atom graphic novel – A Cary Bates/Pat Broderick graphic novel was listed as "upcoming" in Amazing Heroes Preview Special #10.[30]
• Checkmate Annual – A 64-page annual was planned for 1989 featuring information about the agency and its members, with a backup story involving the character Judomaster.[31]
• Comics Cavalcade Weekly – Dave Gibbons provided the cover art for an unpublished comic featuring Superman and the newly acquired Charlton Comics heroes.[32] The series, a weekly anthology, was to appear in 1985 and also tentatively titled Blockbuster.[33][34]
• Crisis on Captive Earth/Crisis of the Soul – Originally proposed as a 12-issue follow-up to Crisis on Infinite Earths, this story involved the Corruptors as the main villains and was developed by Paul Levitz, Len Wein, and Jerry Ordway. Editorial issues led to the project's failure and it would eventually be reworked as Legends.[35][36]
• DC Comics Classics Library: Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil – A hardcover reprint of this Golden Age storyline was cancelled in 2009.[37][38]
• DC Comics Presents: "In Homage" – A Superman/Thriller story by Robert Loren Fleming and Keith Giffen that was to be produced in late fall of 1985.[39]
• DC Comics Presents Annual by Marv Wolfman, George Pérez, and Romeo Tanghal – The Teen Titans were supposed to appear in this annual, planned for 1984.[40] The story may have been used for 1985's New Teen Titans Annual #1, as it featured Superman who starred in DC Comics Presents, although this book, while still written by Wolfman, featured art by Ed Hannigan and Mike DeCarlo.
• The "DC Implosion" – During the "DC Implosion", several DC Comics titles were abruptly cancelled, even though a number of the series had issues already completed and ready to be published. Eventually, DC Comics reprinted the stories in black and white to secure their copyright, under the title Cancelled Comic Cavalcade, though this was a limited print run and was not available for sale. A few of the stories were published in other DC comics titles, though some were re-edited prior to publication.
• The Dead Lady of Clown Town – A Cordwainer Smith story optioned by DC for their line of classic science fiction adaptations. Elaine Lee and Michael Kaluta were the creative team planned to produce the story.[41]
• Firestorm: Corona – A graphic novel by Gerry Conway and Pat Broderick that was never published.[42]
• The Flash – An entry in the Winter 1986 Amazing Heroes Preview Special describes a new Flash series written by Len Wein and Marv Wolfman. The main character is S.T.A.R. Labs technician MacKenzie Ryan, who possesses energy manipulation powers instead of superspeed.[43] However, the book was removed from DC's schedule.[44] A Flash series would be released the following year starring Wally West, the former Kid Flash.
• The Flash (vol. 3) #13 – In response to a fan question on its blog "The Source" 's Flashpoint Friday feature, DC announced that May 2011's The Flash #12 would be the final issue of the series. At the time, no other details were provided.[45]
• Freaks by John Byrne – Freaks appeared in a lithography plate published within the History of the DC Universe Portfolio in 1986. Byrne had originally pitched the series to DC, but the series for some reason never surfaced.[46] With some changes, Byrne's concept fit in with his 2112 work to become the John Byrne’s Next Men series published by Dark Horse Comics.
• The Great Ten #10 – Although The Great Ten (by Tony Bedard and Scott McDaniel) was solicited and advertised as being a 10-issue miniseries, with each issue focusing on a different character, DC chose to end the series at #9 due to low sales.[47]
• Green Lantern: "Emerald Twilight" by Gerard Jones – The original storyline for "Emerald Twilight" (which was written by Gerard Jones and set to run in Green Lantern vol. 3 #48–50) involved a conflict between two separate groups of the Guardians of the Universe, and members of the Green Lantern Corps choosing sides. Though this story was advertised and even solicited, it was not considered interesting enough by editor Kevin Dooley, and was replaced with a different story (scripted by Ron Marz) that had Hal Jordan becoming Parallax and destroying the Corps.[48] Jones' version of "Emerald Twilight" has not been published.
• Green Lantern: "The Image" – During Len Wein and Dave Gibbons' run on Green Lantern in the 1980s, Wein planned to introduce a superhero called the Image whom he wanted to include in a potential spin-off.[49] Despite being promoted in Amazing Heroes and DC's own preview comic DC Sampler, the character never appeared during their run.
• Green Lantern Saga – A miniseries about the origins and history of the Green Lantern Corps, Guardians of the Universe, and Oa was planned for 1990. Science fiction authors such as Larry Niven were scheduled to write the series.[50]
• Holy Terror, Batman! – A proposed 122-page graphic novel by Frank Miller, announced in 2006, but no longer a project associated with the Batman character or DC Comics.[51] In 2010 Miller has said that he is no longer working on the project.[52] He stated in June 2010 that Holy Terror was in progress, but without Batman.[53] The book was eventually released by Legendary Comics as Holy Terror.
• Hybrid – An ongoing series planned for 1993 with Len Wein as the writer and Art Nichols and George Pérez as the artists.[54][55]
• Infinity, Inc.: The Generations Saga Vol. 2 – A hardcover book containing issues #5–18 and Annual #1 was solicited for release for July 2012,[56] but was cancelled.
• JLA/Avengers – In 1983, Roy Thomas and Gerry Conway were to be the co-writers of a JLA/Avengers intercompany crossover drawn by George Pérez.[57] Editorial disputes between DC and Marvel caused the project's cancellation.[58] It was not until 2003 that a crossover between the two teams was published, albeit in a completely different story by Kurt Busiek and Pérez. All of the original story's existing penciled art was published in the hardcover collection of the 2003 JLA/Avengers crossover.
• Larry Harmon's Laurel and Hardy #2 – In 1972, DC published a single issue of a comic book series based on the Laurel and Hardy cartoon series produced by Larry Harmon.[59] The cover for the unpublished second issue appears in The DC Vault.[60]
• The Legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table by Gerry Conway and Nestor Redondo – House advertisements in DC Comics cover-dated September 1975 promoted a four-part King Arthur miniseries to be published in the Treasury Edition format.[61]
• Lobo: Frag Race 2000 – A four-issue miniseries written by Keith Giffen and Alan Grant with art by Simon Bisley was scheduled to ship in Fall 1992.[55]
• Marvel and DC Present The Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans #2 – A sequel to the popular X-Men/New Teen Titans crossover was initially announced in the letters page of New Teen Titans #29 and scheduled for release around Christmas 1983. It was planned to feature Marv Wolfman as writer and George Pérez as artist, with the villains in the story being Brother Blood and the Hellfire Club. Plans for the book were eventually cancelled because of the problems that affected the JLA/Avengers crossover.[62]
• Metal Men miniseries – A 1984 miniseries by Robert Kanigher and Irv Novick would have involved the Metal Men starring in their own movie.[63] However, DC never put the book on their schedule.[34]
• Metropolis by Steve Gerber and Frank Miller – The "line name" for a proposed revamp of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.[64]
• Mr. Monster/Swamp Thing – An intercompany crossover between DC and Eclipse Comics was anticipated for late fall of 1986, then later scheduled for 1988. Co-written by Michael T. Gilbert and Alan Moore with art by Gilbert, Stephen R. Bissette, and John Totleben.[65][66]
• New Teen Titans: Genesis – A reprint of the first appearances of the New Teen Titans, with work by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, was planned to ship in September 1992.[55]
• Nightwing miniseries by Art Thibert – Nightwing's first miniseries was planned to be written and drawn by Art Thibert.[55] Instead, a different series by Dennis O'Neil and Greg Land was released in 1995.
• The Outsiders new format series – The Outsiders #28 (a Millennium crossover) was the final issue of the book, but it was going to be replaced with a new format series the following year.[67] A new Outsiders title wouldn't come out until 1993.
• Pandora Pann – Most of the preview story for this series by writer Len Wein and artist Ross Andru (scheduled to be printed in Saga of the Swamp Thing #5) was penciled, but for unknown reasons the series never materialized.[68][69]
• Power Squad – An all-female superteam named the "Power Squad" was proposed by Jack C. Harris and Trevor Von Eeden, but the idea was not approved for publication.[70]
• Robotech Defenders #3 – This series, based on the Revell line of plastic models, was originally scheduled as a three-part miniseries in 1985. It was reduced to the first normal-sized issue and a 32-page second issue with no advertisements.[71]
• Salvo – A series by writer Steven Grant, described by editor Michael Golden as "The Punisher as done by Lucy and Desi", was planned for early 1993.[55]
• Secret Origins – Following the series' cancellation after issue #50, further annuals and specials were planned.[72] In addition, stories were planned for Jericho in issue #6,[73] Aquaman and the Ray in issue #30,[74] a post-Crisis on Infinite Earths update of past Justice League of America/Justice Society of America team-ups in Annual #2,[74] Geo-Force and Terra in issue #49,[75] and Dial H for Hero, the Space Canine Patrol Agents, and Ultra the Multi-Alien in other issues.[76]
• Seventh Generation – A six-issue crossover series planned for 1989, it was canceled due to DC's plans for the release of Batman that year.[77]
• The Shadow #20–24 – Andy Helfer and Kyle Baker's run on The Shadow was planned to end with issue #24.[78] However, the series was cancelled after issue #19.
• Shazam! miniseries and ongoing series – A Roy Thomas/Don Newton Shazam! miniseries was planned for 1984 or 1985, in which Captain Marvel meets a black superhero from Earth-1 who also received his powers from the wizard Shazam.[79] Thomas later co-wrote a Captain Marvel miniseries in 1987, Shazam: The New Beginning, although the art was by Tom Mandrake since Newton died in 1984. In addition, an Amazing Heroes Preview Special from 1989 contained a short blurb about a possible Shazam! series featuring Thomas' version of the character following his run in Action Comics Weekly.[80] This series never appeared prior to Jerry Ordway's reboot in the 1994 graphic novel The Power of Shazam!.
• Showcase #50: "Yankee Doodle Dandy" – Showcase #50 was to feature the debut of Yankee Doodle Dandy, a spy character created by editor Lawrence Nadle. Nadle's death caused the story to be shelved, but the character was resurrected in 1992 for Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol run.[81]
• The Silver Age by James Robinson – A four-issue follow-up to Robinson's The Golden Age, which was being developed but did not happen. According to Robinson, later books such as JLA: Year One and DC: The New Frontier have since made the series unnecessary.[82]
• Sonic Disruptors #8–12 – This 12-issue miniseries by writer Mike Baron and artist Barry Crain was cancelled after issue #7 due to poor sales. A Sonic Disruptors graphic novel to finish the storyline was also a possibility.[30]
• Soul Love – Part of a prospective line of black-and-white magazines geared toward adults, this 1971 Jack Kirby title was supposedly killed because of a possible backlash among Southern retailers.[83]
• Space Ranger – An eight-issue miniseries by Michael Jan Friedman and John Calimee was to ship in October 1992.[55]
• Spectre written by Steve Gerber – Gerber was to have been the writer of the 1980s relaunch of the Spectre series, but scheduling difficulties led DC to replace him with Doug Moench.[84]
• Spectre graphic novel – Roy Thomas was in discussions with Jerry Ordway to do a graphic novel about the Spectre following their work on the America vs. the Justice Society miniseries.[85]
• Starman #46 – Solicited as the last issue of the first Starman series, the title was cancelled after issue #45 instead.[86]
• Stormwatch: Team Achilles #24 – The series' cancellation was announced for #24, but writer Micah Wright had become controversial and #23 was the last issue published. The script for #24 is available on Wright's site.
• Sugar and Spike (vol. 2) – The series was published in the United States from 1956 through 1971 for 98 issues,[87] when due to creator Sheldon Mayer's failing eyesight that limited his drawing ability, Sugar and Spike ceased to appear.[88] Later, after cataract surgery restored his eyesight, Mayer returned to writing and drawing Sugar and Spike stories, continuing to do so until his death in 1991; these stories appeared in overseas markets[88] and only a few have been reprinted in the United States. The American reprints appeared in the digest sized comics series The Best of DC #29, 41, 47, 58, 65 and 68. Sales on the "Sugar and Spike" issues of The Best of DC were strong enough that DC announced plans for a new ongoing series featuring the characters. The project was never launched for unknown reasons.[89]
• Superman 3-D – According to DC's promotional giveaway brochure DC Releases #46 (March 1988), a Superman 3-D one-shot was planned for 1988. It was to be written and penciled by John Byrne and inked by Ty Templeton with 3-D effects by Ray Zone. A "major new Superman foe" named "Tantrum" was to have been introduced. Byrne and Zone would later collaborate on a Batman 3-D graphic novel.[90] A Superman 3-D one-shot was published in December 1998 by a different creative team.[91]
• Superman: An Evening with Superman – A graphic novel by Barry Windsor-Smith entitled "An Evening with Superman"[92] was originally announced by DC in 1998, but has not been published as of 2016.[93] Superman: The Complete History – The Life and Times of the Man of Steel features an excerpt of this story.[94]
• Superman: "The K-Metal from Krypton" – An unpublished Superman story from 1940 that not only introduced an early version of kryptonite, but had Lois Lane learn that Superman is really Clark Kent. The original script and outline were rediscovered by Mark Waid in 1988 and there was an online effort to restore and publish the story.
• Swamp Thing #88–93 by Rick Veitch – Veitch's original story for issue #88 (where Swamp Thing meets Jesus Christ during a time travel story arc) was cancelled by DC Comics due to fear of controversy; this caused Veitch to quit the title before finishing the storyline (set to run through issue #93).[95][96][97][98][99] Another writer, Doug Wheeler, had to complete the story, but went in a different direction than Veitch had planned.
• Swamp Thing: Deja Vu – A three-issue miniseries, scheduled for 1990, by Len Wein and artist Bernie Wrightson. It was partially drawn by Wrightson before he left the project and there was no attempt to complete the series with another artist.[77]
• Tales of the Legion of Super-Heroes #355–360 – DC's Legion reprint title was set to run through at least issue #360, according to the run-down of issues listed in Amazing Heroes Preview Special #5.[100]
• Teen Titans Spotlight – Stories planned for future issues included a Raven and Vigilante two-part story, as well as solo stories starring Cheshire, Doctor Light, Red Star, and Azrael.[101]
• Thriller Special – A Thriller story titled "Naked Steel" by Robert Loren Fleming and Keith Giffen was announced as being released in the summer of 1985.[39] It was later revealed that the announcement was premature, and DC never got back to Fleming about the book.[34]
• Twilight of the Superheroes – A company-wide crossover and attendant maxiseries proposed by Alan Moore in the late 1980s prior to his public split with DC. The series imagined a dark future where various superhero clans warred for global dominance. Moore's split with DC, as well as the very dark nature of the story, meant that the series never got beyond the proposal stage, although a number of story elements that Moore had suggested were later worked into ongoing series. Moore's proposal was leaked on the Internet in the early 1990s.[102]
• Valda – An aborted Roy Thomas/Todd McFarlane four-issue miniseries.[103][104]
• Vigilante miniseries – Following Vigilante #50 in 1987, a miniseries was planned for the character.[105] However, Vigilante ended up killing himself in that issue and the miniseries never appeared.
• West Coast Teen Titans – In an interview with Amazing Heroes, Marv Wolfman discussed a planned New Teen Titans spinoff set in San Francisco and featuring Cyborg, Red Star, and Chris King from Dial H for Hero.[106]
• Who's Who in Superman – Tentatively planned for Superman's 50th anniversary in 1988.[107]
• Wonder Woman direct sales series – A second Wonder Woman series exclusive to the direct market was planned for late summer of 1984, which was to be written by Steve Gerber and published simultaneously with the then-current Wonder Woman series.[108]
• Wonder Woman: Bondage – A proposed project by Bill Sienkiewicz and Frank Miller. Sienkiewicz described it as "perhaps a bit over the top, but I think Frank and I invited that. So was the idea for the series in very basic broad stroke discussions between Frank and I, with some input from then-DC editor Bob Schreck."[109]
• Wonder Woman: Hand of the Gods – A graphic novel that was cancelled in 2011, allegedly due to its artist Justiniano being charged with possession of child pornography.[110]
• Wonder Woman: "Nuclear, the Magnetic Menace" – An unpublished Golden Age Wonder Woman story introduced the villain Nuclear. Even though it was not published, a follow-up story ("Nuclear Returns!") was published in Wonder Woman #43 (September–October 1950). In 1982, Roy Thomas came up with his own introduction story for Nuclear in All-Star Squadron #16. Since then, original artwork from the first story has surfaced.[111]
• Zatanna miniseries – A four-issue miniseries written by Gerry Conway was promoted in Amazing Heroes as coming out in 1984.[112]
• Zero Man – A miniseries written by Len Wein that was projected for 1985 with hopes for an ongoing series if it was successful.[113] Although the first issue was pencilled, staff at DC Comics claimed they had no knowledge of the series as of 1986.[34]

• Legends Index – An index of the DC Comics miniseries Legends was planned in May 1987 under Eclipse's Independent Comics Group imprint.[114]
• Miracleman #25–34 and Miracleman: Triumphant – Because of the bankruptcy of Eclipse Comics, the last published issue of Miracleman was #24. Issues #25–28, which would have completed the storyline The Silver Age, were not printed. The follow-up storyline, The Dark Age (projected for Miracleman #29–34), and a spinoff series, Miracleman: Triumphant, were also never published. Pages from issue #25 and Miracleman: Triumphant #1 have been reprinted in Kimota! The Miracleman Companion by TwoMorrows Publishing.[115] In 2013, it was announced that Marvel would reprint Miracleman and publish Neil Gaiman's end to the storyline.[116][117]
• Mr. Monster/Swamp Thing – See above (DC Comics).

• The Uncensored Mouse #3 – A third issue of this series (which reprinted classic Mickey Mouse comic strips) was ready to go to press until a lawsuit filed by The Walt Disney Company put an end to it.[118]

• Dodgem Logic – An Alan Moore anthology magazine originally scheduled for release in late 1985; the first issue was to contain a story titled "Convention Tension", a spoof of comic book conventions, while the second issue was to have a profile of British illustrator Aubrey Beardsley.[119][120] Moore would later release a magazine with this title in 2010 through Top Shelf Productions, although it contained different contents.
• Rog-2000 – A two-issue miniseries reprinting John Byrne's "Rog-2000" stories from the Charlton Comics series E-Man.[121][122] Both issues were eventually scheduled for Spring 1988.[123]

• Classics Illustrated: Julius Caesar – In 1990, artist George Pérez was scheduled to draw an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The series was cancelled before Pérez could start work on the story.[124]
• Time² (vol. 3) – Writer/artist Howard Chaykin produced a graphic novel series called Time² which consisted of two graphic novels (Time²: The Epiphany (ISBN 0-915419-07-6) and Time²: The Satisfaction of Black Mariah (ISBN 0-915419-23-8)). During a 1987 interview originally published in Amazing Heroes #132, Chaykin described plans for a third graphic novel. "It's probably going to be grossly different from the first two, because I'm taking things in another direction," Chaykin said at the time. "I want to do a story that is both very funny ... and at the same time very, very ugly. Really nasty and unpleasant. Because frankly, it's the place to do that sort of thing."[125][126] Although Chaykin hoped it would be available in summer 1988, the third book was never released.

• 1963 Annual #1 – A follow-up to the Image Comics series 1963, by Alan Moore and Jim Lee. Various issues with Moore, Lee, and Image itself led to the Annual being unfinished.[127]
• Bionix – Intended to be an updated combined adaptation of the 1970s TV series The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman (both of which were previously adapted in comic book form by Charlton Comics). The comic was proposed for Image's Maximum Press imprint and in 1996 a four-page preview of Bionix appeared in issue #6 of the Maximum title, Asylum. The series never went beyond the preview and solicitations in comics trade publications.
• Brigade #23–24 – Issue #25 was published out of order, between #9 and 10. There are no issues #23 and 24.[128]
• Crimson Plague – A science fiction story by writer-artist George Pérez about an alien with ultra-toxic blood, the first issue was published in June 1997 by the now defunct Event Comics. In June 2000, the original first issue was re-published by Gorilla Comics with additional material and pages, with a follow up issue published in September 2000. Due to the extreme high costs of being a self-publisher, which ended up being a financial burden (and putting himself in major debt), Pérez ended Crimson Plague a second time and it is unknown if he intends to do anything else with the comic. George Pérez Storyteller includes artwork from the unpublished third issue of Crimson Plague.[129]
• Section Zero – Published in 2000 by Gorilla Comics, an imprint of Image Comics. It was written by Karl Kesel with artwork by Tom Grummett. Gorilla Comics was intended to be a creator owned company financed by a comics related website, eHero.com.[130] Along with the other Gorilla Comics creators, Kesel and Grummett attempted to continue the series they started, but these efforts proved unsuccessful.[131] The three issues of Section Zero that were published were dated June 2000, July 2000, and September 2000. A fourth issue was solicited, but was never published.[132] In January 2012, Kesel announced that he and Grummett would be relaunching Section Zero as a webcomic on the Mad Genius Comics website.[133][134] The previously published stories are being posted on the site and new material will be added as it is completed.[135]
• The Walking Dead #194-195 – Image Comics issued cryptic solicitations with mocked-up cover art for issues #194 and #195 of The Walking Dead to preserve the surprise of the series' unexpected conclusion in issue #193. The two fake issues were cancelled after #193 was released.

• Big Numbers #3–12 – This Alan Moore/Bill Sienkiewicz limited series only saw two issues published before it ended.[136] Pages of issue #3 have surfaced on the Internet.[137]

• Exiles #5–6 by Steve Gerber and Paul Pelletier – In order to preserve the shock ending of Exiles #4 (in which the story abruptly ends when the entire team is killed due to their leader's poor judgment), Malibu falsely solicited and took advance orders for Exiles #5 and 6 (which were described as featuring a villain named "the Hoaxter" and a setting called "the Carnival of Lies"). Retailers who had been misled into ordering these issues were subsequently reimbursed.[138]
• Firearm Annual #1 – James Robinson wrote the script to this book, but chose not to release it due to his concerns about Malibu Comics at the time.[139]

• Activators – A toy tie-in comic that was briefly announced by Marvel.[44]
• The Amazing Spider-Man and Black Cat by Kevin Smith – Smith was announced as the writer of an ongoing Black Cat series[140] and The Amazing Spider-Man[141][142] in early to mid-2002. However, because of the delays on 2002's Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do and Daredevil/Bullseye: The Target, the plan was switched so that Smith would start a third Spider-Man title,[143] launched in 2004 by Mark Millar instead.
• Captain America written by Chuck Dixon – Dixon was enlisted by Rob Liefeld to write Captain America during the "Heroes Reborn" storyline, but left the title when Liefeld chose not to use the plot he had written.[144] Dixon's plot, which involved white and black supremacists, was later used for a Green Lantern/Green Arrow crossover.[145]
• Claws of the Cat #5 – A fifth issue of the series was drawn by Ramona Fradon, but the title was canceled due to lack of sales on previous issues.[146]
• Colossus miniseries – Mentioned in Amazing Heroes Preview Special #2, Chris Claremont and Rick Leonardi were to work on this miniseries. Also mentioned were planned miniseries by Claremont featuring Storm, the Starjammers, and the Hellfire Club.[147]
• Daredevil by Frank Miller and Walt Simonson – After completing the "Born Again" arc, Frank Miller intended to produce a two-part story with artist Walt Simonson, but the collaboration was never completed and remains unpublished.[148]
• Daredevil written by Steve Englehart – Englehart was set to take over writing Daredevil following Frank Miller and David Mazzucchelli's run on the title, but he was replaced by Ann Nocenti.[149] Issue #237 was the only issue scripted by Englehart.
• Daredevil/Bullseye: The Target by Kevin Smith – The miniseries debuted in 2002, but only one issue was published.
• Defenders of the Earth #5 – The final issue of the series was planned to be #5.[150] However, the title was cancelled after issue #4, which ended on a cliffhanger.
• The Derangers – A series by writer Bill Mantlo and artist Ken Steacy about a group of would-be heroes with unexplained powers.[151] Mantlo later introduced the characters during his run on Alpha Flight.
• Doctor Strange drawn by Frank Miller – A house advertisement for Doctor Strange appeared in Marvel Comics cover-dated February 1981. It stated "Watch for the new adventures of Earth's Sorcerer Supreme—as mystically conjured by Roger Stern and Frank Miller!". Miller's only contribution to the series would be the cover for Doctor Strange #46 (April 1981). Other commitments prevented Miller from working on the series.[152]
• Doctor Strange written by David Quinn – In 1993, Marvel approached Quinn to write Doctor Strange, but his run on the title was cut short after issue #79 despite having numerous ideas planned for the book; among them were a story involving Marvel's version of Dracula, as well as having Strange run a school for children with supernatural powers.[153]
• Epic Illustrated: "The Last Galactus Story" conclusion – Writer-penciler John Byrne and inker Terry Austin produced "The Last Galactus Story" as a serial in the anthology comics-magazine Epic Illustrated #26–34 (October 1984 – February 1986). Nine of a scheduled 10 installments appeared. Each ran six pages, except part eight, which ran 12. The magazine was canceled with issue #34, leaving the last chapter unpublished and the story unfinished. Byrne later revealed on his website that the conclusion would have seen a dying Galactus releasing his power, causing a new Big Bang and transforming his herald Nova into the Galactus of the next universe.[154][155]
• Fallen Angels II miniseries – A six-issue miniseries was to be released in 1988, possibly in "late spring", with further miniseries planned.[156]
• Fantastic Four: Fathers and Sons – This graphic novel was mentioned in Marvel Age Annual #4 in 1988 but never published. It was to have been written by Danny Fingeroth and drawn by Mark Bright. Bright left the project after completing only a few pages of artwork and was replaced by Al Milgrom.[157]
• The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #35 – A proposed plot for issues #32–35 was described by editor Ralph Macchio in Amazing Heroes Preview Special #1.[158] The series ended with issue #34.
• Ghost Rider graphic novel – A then-tentative graphic novel by Tom DeFalco and Dick Ayers featuring an update of the western hero Ghost Rider.[159]
• Giant-Size Super-Heroes #2 – This comic book was announced in a next-issue box at the end of Giant-Size Super-Heroes #1 (June 1974, which featured Spider-Man), but was never published. The title was mentioned as "The Night They Tore Old New York Down!".[160]
• Greenberg the Vampire II – A prequel to the previous Greenberg the Vampire graphic novel by J.M. DeMatteis, this book was to appear in late summer of 1988.[161]
• Hellrider – A 48-page one-shot with Joe Jusko as plotter/illustrator and Archie Goodwin as scripter scheduled for Spring 1988.[162] Originally titled "The Last Ride of T.J. Hackett", the story was supposed to appear in Epic Illustrated before its cancellation.[163]
• Invisible Woman miniseries – A four-issue miniseries by John Byrne and Mary Wilshire in which Sue Richards is trapped in another dimension.[164]
• JLA/Avengers – See above (DC Comics).
• Marvel Tales: Apocalypse – A Grant Morrison and Mark Millar miniseries that was meant to revive the Marvel 2099 imprint as well as launch three new titles for the line - Captain America 2099, Iron Man 2099, and Avengers 2099. Marvel's financial difficulties in the mid-1990s would contribute to its failure.[165]
• Marvel Tales: End of the World – A Grant Morrison and Mark Millar miniseries that was originally pitched in 1994, but was rejected by Marvel twice in favor of their Skrull Kill Krew series.[166]
• The Marvel World of Tomorrow – Stan Lee and John Byrne's line of Marvel comics set in the future, the project eventually evolved into Marvel 2099. Byrne's ideas for the line were later used in his Dark Horse Comics titles 2112 and Danger Unlimited.[167]
• Marvels II and Marvels III – Kurt Busiek's sequel to Marvels (titled Marvels: Cops & Robbers) would have focused on the characters of officer Charles Williams and his brother Royal; the second sequel would have focused on Marcia Hardesty, who was introduced in the original series as Phil Sheldon's assistant. Busiek left the project while working on Cops & Robbers, due to creative differences with the artist; it would eventually become the series Code of Honor written by Chuck Dixon.[168]
• Nightcrawler miniseries written by Chris Claremont – Both Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum had plans to release Nightcrawler miniseries, according to Amazing Heroes #39. The Claremont miniseries was to be set in Ruritania from The Prisoner of Zenda and involve the villains Mystique and Arcade, and was estimated to appear in 1985.[169] However, the Cockrum miniseries was the only one released that year.
• The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #21–22 – Following the "Book of the Dead" issues which covered deceased characters, issue #21 was to begin a two-issue illustrated appendix which included every super-powered character and major supporting cast member who did not receive an entry in the previous issues.[170][171] The appendix was later planned for the first Update series.[172]
• The Official Marvel Index – At least nine issues were planned for both the Avengers Index and X-Men Index in the late 1980s.[173] In addition, an index for Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man would have been released between the indices for Marvel Team-Up and Avengers.[174][175]
• Ozma of Oz – In 1975, MGM's Marvelous Wizard of Oz was the first joint publishing venture between DC Comics and Marvel Comics.[176][177] Marvel then published an adaptation of The Marvelous Land of Oz.[178] A full page house advertisement in the second treasury promised an Ozma of Oz adaptation, but it was never published.[179][180]
• Phoenix miniseries – A six-issue miniseries by Chris Claremont and Rick Leonardi was going to explain the origins of Rachel Summers, but plans for the book were cancelled before the first issue was completed.[181]
• Planet Terry/Wally the Wizard - According to editor Dennis O'Neil, plans were afoot to combine the two Star Comics titles into a single comic.[182] However, both series were cancelled after their twelfth issues.[44]
• The Prisoner – In the "Bullpen Bulletins" page in Marvel Comics cover-dated July 1976, Marvel announced a comic book based on The Prisoner, to be written by Steve Englehart and drawn by a then-unchosen artist and scheduled to be "starting this summer". The artist assigned to the project would be Gil Kane.[183] When Jack Kirby returned to Marvel, the property was transferred to him. A test issue was put together but never completed. All 17 pages were scripted and penciled by Kirby, but only parts were lettered and inked, by Mike Royer. Original artwork from this comic still exists and some of it has been published in the comic book fanzine The Jack Kirby Collector.[184]
• Questprobe #4–12 – Originally intended as a 12-issue miniseries, this video game tie-in was canceled after issue #3 (November 1985) due to Adventure International's bankruptcy.[185] The story intended for issue #4, featuring the X-Men, was published in Marvel Fanfare #33 (July 1987).[186]
• Silver Surfer miniseries – A twelve-issue miniseries written by Steve Englehart and drawn by John Buscema was listed in Amazing Heroes Preview Special #1, but only the first issue was pencilled.[187][188] That story would later be published in Marvel Fanfare #51 in 1990.
• The Spectacular Spider-Man magazine #3 – The Spectacular Spider-Man was a two-issue magazine published by Marvel in 1968, as an experiment in entering the black-and-white comic-magazine market. A next-issue box at the end of issue #2 promoted the planned contents of the unrealized issue #3, "The Mystery of the TV Terror".[189]
• Strange Tales (vol. 4) #3–4 – The stories, writer J.M. DeMatteis' Man-Thing and writer Paul Jenkins' Werewolf by Night, were bought and solicited, but never illustrated nor published. DeMatteis wrapped up his Man-Thing run in Peter Parker: Spider-Man Annual '99 and included a two-page synopsis of the never-published third and fourth issues.
• The Thing miniseries by Barry Windsor-Smith – The Thing ongoing series was cancelled with issue #36 (June 1986). The letters column of the last issue mentioned an upcoming miniseries by Barry Windsor-Smith. He had previously written and drawn a Thing story in Marvel Fanfare #15 (July 1984). The miniseries was never published. In January 2006, Windsor-Smith announced on the website Comic Book Galaxy that he was in negotiations with Marvel to publish his Thing story as a graphic novel.[190] As of 2020, it remains unpublished.
• True Friends – A 1984 graphic novel starring Kitty Pryde of the X-Men and Illyana Rasputin of the New Mutants, written by Chris Claremont.[169] Claremont later wrote a three-issue miniseries titled X-Men: True Friends in 1999, although this series starred Pryde and Rachel Summers.
• Void Indigo #3–6 – Cancelled due to reactions to its portrayal of extreme violence.[191]
• Warlock #16 – Warlock was cancelled with issue #15 (November 1976). A 16th issue had been partially drawn by Alan Weiss, but the artwork was lost in a New York City taxicab.[192]
• What If – Following the end of Marvel's What If series, there were plans to release a number of new stories in 1985. One of them, by Peter B. Gillis and Jerry Ordway, was tentatively titled "What If the X-Men Were the Avengers?" and involved Professor X never forming the X-Men. Another story by Gillis speculated what would happen if Matt Murdock had being crippled in addition to being blinded. A story by Stan Lee, Tom DeFalco, and Jackson Guice involved Doctor Doom keeping the stolen powers of the Silver Surfer.[193] Eventually one of the stories, "What If Iron Man Had Been a Traitor" by Gillis and Steve Ditko, would be released in What If Special #1 in 1988.[194]
• X-Men: Dancing with Doctor D – An X-Men graphic novel written by Chris Claremont which was expected to be released in 1985.[169]
• Young Astronauts – A tie-in to the Saturday morning cartoon The Young Astronauts, produced by Marvel's Star Comics imprint.[195] Following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, both the cartoon and the comic were shelved.
• Zoids – Originally published by Marvel UK, an American series written by Grant Morrison was planned for the kid-oriented Star Comics line, but the project was cancelled due to being considered too adult as well as due to declining interest.[145] In addition, Marvel UK's Spider-Man and Zoids title was cancelled with issue #51, interrupting Morrison's Black Zoid storyline before it was finished.

• Megaton (vol. 2) – At least three issues of this color follow-up to the original Megaton series were planned, including an appearance by Youngblood in issue #3.[196]
• Megaton Comics Presents...Doctor Weird – A reprint of an early 1970s Jim Starlin series that was due in April 1988.[197]
• Megaton Special – A quarterly series, with the first issue set to feature the premiere of Youngblood while the second issue was to be called the Megaton Christmas Special.[198] Megaton Comics folded before the first issue was released.[199] However, a book titled Megaton Holiday Special was released by Entity Comics in November 1993.[200]
• Outpost: Earth – A spin-off from Megaton set to premiere in late spring of 1987, this title was to continue the adventures of Vanguard.[201]
• Ramm #3–4 – Synopses of the first four issues were included in Amazing Heroes Preview Special #5.[202] Only the first two issues of the series were released.
• Youngblood – Rob Liefeld's Youngblood was planned for a four-issue miniseries from Megaton Comics, to be released in late 1986 or early 1987.[203] The series never appeared before Megaton Comics went out of business, but would resurface as the first title released by Image Comics in 1992.[199][204]

• Fade miniseries – Ivan Velez Jr. wrote an outline and three issues for a miniseries starring the character Fade from the team series Blood Syndicate which would have explored the character's childhood, sexuality, and changing powers. Before it could go beyond the proposal stage, the parent title was canceled due to low sales and the company ceased regular publication.

• Warrior #27–29 – According to Amazing Heroes Preview Special #1, the third book of Alan Moore and David Lloyd's V for Vendetta was scheduled to begin in issue #29.[205] However, the series ended with issue #26. Issues #27 and #28 were also to contain chapters of V, which would later be completed by Moore and Lloyd at DC Comics.
• Warrior (vol. 2) – A full-color follow-up to Quality's previous Warrior magazine was to launch in October 1986. The strips included were to be "The Projectors", "The Liberators", and "Bulldog Britain".[206]
• Warrior: "Nightjar" – An Alan Moore/Bryan Talbot serial that was planned to run in the British magazine Warrior.[207] The first part was eventually published in 2003 in Alan Moore's Yuggoth Cultures and Other Growths, with spinoffs produced by other creators.

• Reagan's Raiders #4 – A fourth issue of this Ronald Reagan spoof was planned.[208]

• Victory #2–5 – Topps Comics attempted to revive the Captain Victory character as part of a planned five-issue miniseries, which only lasted one issue before Topps cancelled all of the "Kirbyverse" books in 1994. The only issue is dated June 1994 and was a part of a more complex project named the "Secret City Saga".

• City at World's End – A four-issue miniseries based on the novel of the same name by Edmond Hamilton. Tentatively scheduled for Christmas 1986, the series was to be pencilled by John Byrne.[209]

This is a list of comics that were unpublished as originally intended, but would eventually be published in a different form or after a long delay.

• Intercompany crossover
• List of unpublished books

• Archived DC Comics message board discussion of comic book projects that never happened
• Unpublished comic book stories by Harlan Ellison
• Unpublished Teen Titans comic book stories