Upcoming Releases: December 2023

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Celebrate the holidays with us at Certified Guaranty Company (CGC®) as we take a look the latest comics, cards, video games and films coming out just in time for the season of giving. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get right into it!

Upcoming Comic Releases

Batman #428 Facsimile Edition — December 12

Relive the heart-stopping final pages of Jason Todd’s adventures as Robin in this facsimile edition of Batman #428, “A Death in the Family,” with a twist ending.

Scheduled for release on December 12, DC will introduce a new edition of the second-to-last installment of “A Death in the Family,” unveiling a previously undisclosed ending where Jason Todd survives his intense encounter with The Joker.

Reflecting on events from 35 years ago, “A Death in the Family” stands as one of the darkest chapters in Batman’s crime-fighting history, accentuated by the unique decision to allow fans to determine Jason’s destiny. Via a 900 number, fans participated in a vote on whether Jason Todd would live or die, culminating in a narrow 72-vote margin from a total of over 10,000 votes, ultimately decreeing that Jason should succumb to his injuries.

This special edition of Batman #428 showcases the original narrative and artwork from the “A Death in the Family” storytelling team, comprised of writer Jim Starlin, artist Jim Aparo, illustrator Adrienne Roy, inker Mike DeCarlo and letterer John Costanza.

The facsimile edition of Batman #428 hits comic store shelves on December 12, 2023!

Other upcoming comic releases for December 2023 include:

• X-Men #29 – December 6
• Shazam #6 – December 6
• Moon Knight #30 – December 13
• Green Lantern: War Journal #4 – December 20
• Uncanny Adventures: Fall of X – December 20

Upcoming Card Releases

TCG: Weiss Schwarz: Guilty Gear -Strive- — December 15

The world of Weiss Schwarz expands again, this time allowing your favorite characters from Guilty Gear -Strive- to join the fight!

Take command of the Gear Hunters in this thrilling Weiss Schwarz expansion, featuring fan-favorite Guilty Gear characters such as Sol Badguy, Ky Kiske, May and Happy Chaos, all sporting their own unique abilities and artwork. As usual, every pack has a chance to contain a foil card, and collectors can look forward to other special pulls such as Frameless Over Frame Rares, Special Rares and even special cards signed by Daisuke Ishiwatari, the developer of Guilty Gear!

Additionally, Guilty Gear -Strive- is an English Edition Original, meaning that collectors in the United States will be the first to see the set!

Weiss Schwarz’s Guilty Gear -Strive- expansion drops on December 15, 2023.

Other notable trading card releases for December 2023 include:

• Dragon Ball Super Card Game: Zenkai Series 06 – December 1
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Revamped: Fire Kings Structure Deck – December 7
• Star Wars Masterwork Hobby Box – December 8
• One Piece TCG: Awakening of a New Era – December 8

Sports Cards: 2023 Panini Prizm Football — December 20

Panini Prizm returns to the gridiron for its annual football set, which is chock-full of new chromium stock cards that have made the series a collector’s favorite for years!

The 2023 Panini Prizm Football set is on the way, with a new chromium design and some notable additions to the popular roster. As always, the base set is full of current NFL stars and veterans, with a focus on up-and-coming rookies as well. Plus, collectors can expect another expansive list of parallels, including 14 Prizm parallels in various colors with 10 that are serial numbered.

Collectors can also look forward to new inserts within the 2023 Prizm Football set. A new batch of Hype and Manga inserts are on the way, and a new collection of autographed cards from rookies (Rookie Autographs and Rookie Patch Autographs) and retired icons (Franchise Legends) are ready to be pulled from packs. In addition, the highly coveted Color Blast inserts feature some big changes, with all-new vertical designs and the addition of Color Blast Duos, which highlight two teammates on each special insert.

Panini is sure to have thrown another touchdown with the new 2023 Panini Prizm Football set! Catch the always-popular set when it releases on December 20, 2023.

Other notable sports card releases in December 2023 include:

• 2023 Donruss Football – December 1
• 2023 Topps Inception Baseball – December 6
• 2022-23 Panini Immaculate Collection Basketball – December 13
• 2023-24 Upper Deck Artifacts Hockey – December 13
• 2023 Panini National Treasures Baseball – December 29

Upcoming Video Game Releases

Grand Theft Auto 6 (Prerelease Trailer) – December 5

The next Grand Theft Auto is on the horizon, and Rockstar Games is finally ready to share some details with the fans!

In 2013, Rockstar Games released the 15th installment of the popular Grand Theft Auto series: Grand Theft Auto V, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. GTA V has enjoyed a dedicated fanbase, active servers and numerous updates over its decade-long lifespan, but fans are eagerly awaiting the next mainline title — and the wait is almost over.

On November 8, Rockstar published a statement on their website acknowledging their upcoming 25th anniversary. Their heartfelt letter thanked fans for their support over the years and went over the company’s history as a video game development company. The statement also included an important announcement — in December, Rockstar would finally reveal the first trailer for the highly anticipated sequel to GTA V: Grand Theft Auto 6.

According to Rockstar, the trailer will be released online on December 5 at 9 a.m. EST. This first trailer will likely cover the core concept of GTA 6, perhaps revealing characters and relevant areas along the way. Fans will likely see a deeper dive into the universe of GTA 6 at a later time.

Get ready, the trailer drops soon!

Notable video game releases for December 2023 include:

• Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince – December 1
• Disney’s Dreamlight Valley – December 5
• Sonic Dream Team – December 5
• Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – December 7
• Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Indigo Disk DLC – December 14

Upcoming Movie Releases

Wonka – December 15

Learn how Willy Wonka achieved worldwide fame in this upcoming musical fantasy adventure!

We all know the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, in which a young boy meets a master chocolatier by the name of Wonka after winning a contest and gaining the opportunity to tour Wonka’s chocolate factory. The original 1971 film charmed the hearts of millions, while the 2005 Warner Bros. adaptation introduced the next generation in a fun and modern way. Now, with Warner Bros. once again at the production helm, we finally get a prequel that dives into Wonka’s personal and professional history.

Timothée Chalamet stars as Wonka, a young adult who learns the ways of the world of business and customer cheer when he starts selling chocolate in a small shop. Wonka faces everything from whimsical Oompa-Loompas to business adversaries as he grows from a small-time shopkeeper to an eccentric genius, and his adventures are sure to delight the hearts of children and adults alike.

Warner Bros.’ Wonka releases in theaters in the United States on December 15!

Other notable films releasing in December 2023 include:

• Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé – December 1
• Poor Things – December 8
• Migration – December 22
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom – December 22
• The Boys in the Boat – December 25