Popverse's top stories of the day

• Lore Corner: Let's talk about that WILD reveal in the Marvel's Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man finale
• WATCH:  Watch Nickelodeon’s official SpongeBob SquarePants 25th anniversary celebration from NYCC 2024!
• MEMBERS ONLY:  For Your Consideration: Emilia Pérez is a controversial awards frontrunner, but its musical heart has proven herself for decades and shown up in Pixar movies, Mariah Carey diss tracks, and moving ballads

Smokey Bear has helped fight wildfires for over 80 years, and is now coming back to comics to get some help.

The U.S. Forest Service has partnered with the indie comics publisher Dren Productions on a new line of Smokey Bear comics. Their goal? Create comics that will "entertain, educate, and inspire readers of all ages."

"We are honored to bring Smokey Bear to a new line of comics," says Dren's co-publisher James Mascia. "This is a unique opportunity to merge meaningful storytelling with Smokey's mission of fire safety. Our goal is to create stories that captivate young readers while fostering a deeper appreciation for nature and the importance of protecting it."

Smokey Bear was created in 1944 as a mascot with a message: to prevent unwanted, human-caused wildfires. In what's become the longest-running PSA campaign in US history, Smokey Bear has become a part of pop culture with a recent parody in the popular game Fortnite.

The new line of Smokey Bear comics will begin with a special inaugural issue slated for release in July 2025 (that's National Park and Recreation Month) on Kickstarter. According to Dren, it will feature anthropomorphic characters like Smokey Bear alongside human characters like... well, you and I.

Kickstarter won't be the only way to get these comics, though. Dren has an expansive plan to collaborate with schools, libraries, and environmental organizations to distribute the comics - as well as, of course, plans to have it stocked in all 63 US National Parks.

Get ready for what's next with our guide to upcoming comics, how to buy comics at a comic shop, and our guide to Free Comic Book Day 2025.