TV Asahi/New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and American comic book publisher BAD IDEA have announced a special collaboration to celebrate the U.S. opening night of the prestigious G1 CLIMAX 36 tournament.
On Saturday, July 11, 2026, the tournament makes its historic return to the United States for the first time in six years at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.
To commemorate the event, a venue-exclusive, limited-edition variant cover of PLANET DEATH will be released. Created by John Wick screenwriter Derek Kolstad, writer Robert Venditti, and artist Tomás Giorello, the sci-fi epic has already sold over one million copies, making it the highest-selling independent comic in more than three decades. The special NJPW edition will be strictly limited to 1,000 copies and available only to fans attending the event in person.
NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi and BAD IDEA Founder Dinesh Shamdasani both expressed immense excitement for the partnership, noting that both professional wrestling and comic books share a core DNA rooted in larger-than-life characters, intense rivalries, combat, and high-stakes spectacle.
Tickets for the event are currently on sale. In addition to Saturday’s historic opening night, fans can experience a full weekend of festivities, including a special G1 CLIMAX 36 Talk Show on Friday, July 10, featuring Walker Stewart, Chris Charlton, and Rocky Romero, followed by an official wrestler Meet & Greet. For international fans unable to attend the Illinois event live, the entire tournament will stream live on NJPW World with English commentary.
