Upcoming Releases: February 2024

February is teeming with new and upcoming releases all across the pop culture world, and Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) is ready to dive right in. From new films (including one based on a Marvel character) to the most anticipated video game of 2024, here’s what we have to look forward to this coming month.

Upcoming Comic Releases

ThunderCats #1 (Dynamite) — February 7

While fleeing their dying home world, the ThunderCats are attacked by their mortal enemies, the Mutants of Plun-Darr. Upon crash landing on a planet called Third Earth, the surviving ThunderCats — led by novice Lion-O — struggle to rebuild their society while living in harmony with the planet’s natives. Unfortunately, the Mutants aren’t done with them yet — the enemy have forged an alliance with Mumm-Ra, the devil-priest of Third Earth, and the combined threat is coming for the ThunderCats’ prized mystical gem: the Eye of Thundera!

ThunderCats first appeared in a series published by Marvel Comics’ imprint “Star Comics” in 1985, then was later picked up by Marvel UK in 1987. The property was acquired by DC Comics in 2002 and published under its Wildstorm line until 2012, when it moved to Panini Comics. Now the ThunderCats have settled into the hands of Dynamite Entertainment, who will publish this all-new series in the upcoming weeks.

Declan Shalvey and Drew Moss’ variation of ThunderCats #1 will land on bookstore shelves on February 7!

Other notable comics releasing in February 2024 include:

• Batman #142 – February 7
• Ultimate Black Panther – February 7
• Edge of Spider-Verse #1 – February 21

Upcoming Card Releases

TCG: Yu-Gi-Oh! Phantom Nightmare — February 8

New themes and familiar favorites combine to form a thrilling new Yu-Gi-Oh TCG set!

Age of Overlord exceeded fans’ expectations in 2023. Players praised the set for having great value and a diverse set of cards that offered much-needed support for popular deck themes. Now, Phantom Nightmare continues the trend of offering support for current decks and play styles, while also bringing back popular cards and characters from sets long past to draw in nostalgic players.

2008’s Phantom Darkness set introduced Yubel, a DARK fiend monster who, when destroyed, can summon other monsters with “Yubel” in their name to stall the field or inflict damage. Yubel decks were very popular in tournaments back in 2008, especially when Yubel became a staple in the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime. Now, Yubel returns with two new forms and upgraded support cards in Phantom Nightmare! Majespecters also return, making Phantom Nightmare the perfect set for nostalgic players looking to return to the battlefield.

Phantom Nightmare steps out of the shadows and into players’ hands on February 8!

Other notable TCG and non-sports cards releasing in February 2024 include:

• Magic: The Gathering – Murders at Karlov Manor – February 9
• Weiss Schwarz: Chainsaw Man – February 16
• UniVersus – Yu-Yu-Hakusho: Dark Tournament – February 23
• Magic: The Gathering – Ravnica: Clue Edition – February 23
• Disney Lorcana: Into the Inklands – February 23

Sports Cards: 2024 Topps Series 1 Baseball – February 14

The much-anticipated, flagship Topps Series 1 Baseball set is on deck and ready for a mid-February release!

The 2024 MLB season is right around the corner, with Spring Training officially beginning on February 22. That means Topps' flagship baseball card set is on the way just in time, with another series filled with collector favorite base cards, inserts, parallels, autographs and memorabilia cards.

The 2024 Topps Series 1 checklist once again features a robust 350-card base set, filled with MLB veterans and a deep rookie class. The parallel lineup is extensive, with foil cards in various colors and print runs returning to the series. Other exclusives include Team Color, True Photo and holiday-themed parallels celebrating Easter, Independence Day, Father's Day, Mother's Day and Memorial Day.

35th Anniversary inserts are a highlight of the new series, as Topps celebrates the 1989 Topps Baseball set in 2024, with current MLB stars and retired baseball legends. All-Topps Team, Greatest Hits, Grand Gamers, Superstar Blueprint and more are included in the insert checklist. Autographs, memorabilia cards and manufactured relic cards will be among some of the rarest issues in the set, as collectors rip packs searching for their favorite players' most sought-after cards in the 2024 flagship Topps set.

2024 Topps Series 1 Baseball steps up to the plate on February 14!

Other notable sports cards releasing in February 2024 include:

• 2023-24 Panini Prizm Basketball - February 7
• 2022-23 Panini Flawless Basketball - February 16
• 2023 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey - February 28

Upcoming Video Game Releases

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – February 29

It’s finally time to continue the adventure that began in Final Fantasy VII: Remake!

Whenever anyone asks Final Fantasy fans what their favorite entry in the series is, the most common answer is almost always Final Fantasy VII. The 1997 PlayStation classic has become more than a video game — Final Fantasy VII is generally considered a landmark title for the series, and the seventh entry alone has spawned a massive multimedia franchise consisting of manga, toys, other video games and movies. The game’s popularity has persisted for over 25 years, and now it’s finally getting the remake it deserves in the form of a massive trilogy.

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is the second game in the remake trilogy, and it’s been massively anticipated ever since Final Fantasy VII: Remake was released in 2020. Rebirth takes place directly after the events of Remake, with players controlling Cloud Strife and other party members as they work to prevent megacorporation Shinra from exploiting the Lifestream for their own nefarious gains. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth won Most Anticipated Game at The Game Awards 2023, so we’ll soon see if it lives up to the hype!

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth swings on to PS5 on February 29!

Other notable video games releasing in February 2024 include:

• Granblue Fantasy: Relink – February 1
• Persona 3 Reload – February 2
• Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – February 2
• Skull and Bones – February 16
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong – February 16

Upcoming Film Releases

Madame Web – February 14

This Valentine’s Day, Madame Web swings into theaters for her big screen debut!

Madame Web first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #210 as a supporting character, helping Spider-Man track down a kidnapping victim. In the comics, she is an older woman with myasthenia gravis, whose body is supported by a web-like life support system. In the comics, she eventually dies and passes on her powers to a younger Julia Carpenter, who becomes the next Madame Web.

In her new solo film, young Cassie Webb (Dakota Johnson) is forced to take up the mantle of Madame Web while trying to protect three other young women (Sydney Sweeney, Celeste O’Connor and Isabela Merced) with powerful futures from Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim), an explorer whose past is tied to Cassie’s. Along the way, Cassie will learn to control her intriguing clairvoyant powers and maybe save the Spider-verse along the way…

Madame Web emerges in theaters on February 14!

Other notable and upcoming films releasing in February 2024 include:

• Argylle – February 2
• Turning Red (theatrical release) – February 9
• Bob Marley: One Love – February 14
• Lights Out – February 16
• Drive-Away Dolls – February 23