Comic book stories, issues of comic book limited/ongoing series, or even entire comic book series were written or promoted and solicited for release but, for various reasons, were never published. Some were eventually reprinted elsewhere or published in different forms.
Acclaim Comics Quantum and Woody #22–31 – This series was cancelled by Acclaim after #17 (June 1998), and "uncancelled" 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 cancelled. In October 1999, the series resumed numbering with #18 and was intended to publish the "missing" issues, but the title was cancelled with issue #21.Quantum & Woody #32 (September 1999) at the Grand Comics Database Unity 2000 #4–6 – Only three issues of this six-issue miniseries were published before its cancellation.
Alternative Comics 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". Instead, Brubaker embarked in earnest on a mainstream comics writing career with Deadenders (Vertigo Comics), whose dystopic future backdrop was similar to Detour'''s.
Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics) - In July 2017, Sega announced the discontinuation of their business relationship with Archie Comics, ending their publication of all Sonic the Hedgehog comics. This led to a series of trade paperbacks and reprints being cancelled, as well as the main comic abruptly ending in the middle of an arc, which upcoming issues had art at various stages of completion before the book was pulled. Sonic Universe - The spin-off comic was originally scheduled to feature an epilogue to the unfinished Sonic Underground for its 50th issue. However, for unknown reasons this was replaced with a story focusing on one of Sonic's long-running enemies, Metal Sonic. The Underground Epilogue was put on hold indefinitely, due to Sega not permitting the show be featured in the comics. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures - A story arc titled The Forever War was originally planned to begin with issue #71 but the two-part “How the Turtles Got Their Weapons” story was published instead. It was later planned to be published in 2009, before it was ultimately cancelled again.Celebrates 25 Years, II - Steve Murphy
Blackthorne Publishing Battle Beasts #5–6 – Based on the action figure line by Hasbro, this title was to run through at least issue #6. The final issue of the series was #4 and ended on a cliffhanger. Nightmare on Elm Street in 3-D – An ongoing series written by Andy Mangels set to begin in August 1989. The first five issues were to adapt the first five films in the franchise, while subsequent issues would have featured new stories. Mangels later wrote an Elm Street series for Innovation Publishing from 1991 to 1992. Star Wars 3-D #4–7 – Four subsequent issues of this series were planned to be released in 1989 starting in January. The last published issue was #3, released in 1988. Transformers 3-D #4–5 – A three-part storyline in which the Autobots and Decepticons face off against a group of beings known as the Destructons was to begin in 1988. Issue #3 contained the first part of the story, but that was the last issue of the series.
Boom! Studios Bee and PuppyCat - A tie-in comic book published through its KaBOOM! imprint, the comic was canceled after #11 in 2016 despite issues #12–#16 having already been solicited. Preview catalogues that year listed issues #12–#16, along with cover art and synopses.
Charlton Comics Blue Beetle (Vol. 5) - A series in 1967 by Steve Ditko, it ran for five issues until the entire Charlton "Action Heroes" line of comic books ceased publication in 1968. The story planned for a sixth issue was eventually printed, without coloring, in the fan publication Charlton Portfolio #1 in 1974. 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. The issue was to contain an Atomic Mouse story by Jim O'Donnelly and Mike Todd, as well as Steve Hauk's "Emperor of da Universe" and Bill Witz's "Murth Man". 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. Doctor Morpheus – A six-issue miniseries written by Kent Orlando which was a combination of pulp adventure and science fiction. The Return of the Vengeance Squad – At least four issues were planned for this revival of Charlton's Vengeance Squad series, to be written by T.C. Ford and drawn by Amanda Conner.
Comico Max Headroom and Max Headroom 3-D – An ongoing series and one-shot 3-D comic, the latter written by William Messner-Loebs and illustrated by the Pander Brothers, were planned for the TV character. The cancellation of Max Headroom put the release of the ongoing on hold.
Comics Interview Publications Battle Axe #2–6 – "Berzerker", written by Gary Carlson and pencilled by Angel Medina, was slated to run for the first four issues; "Thorrn: Cursed Warrior", written by Ed DeGeorge, Chris Ecker, and Carlson and pencilled by Stan Timmons, was to run through issue #6. The series never got past issue #1.
CrossGen Comics 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.
Dark Horse Comics ARMS - In 2017, a graphic novel based on Arms written by Ian Flynn was under production. While an introductory Free Comic Book Day issue saw release, the comic was reportedly cancelled in March 2021. Overwatch: First Strike - A graphic novel titled Overwatch: First Strike was teased by Blizzard in 2016, but it was ultimately scrapped. Posting on Overwatch official forums, Michael Chu stated that Blizzard decided to cancel First Strike due to considerable changes made to the narrative and characters of Overwatch since First Strike was first conceived. The novel was to be penned by writer Micky Neilson and artist Ludo Lullabi.
DC Comics 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". 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.Action Comics Annual #3 at the Grand Comics Database 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. All Star Comics: "The Will of William Wilson" – An unpublished Justice Society of America story from the 1940s by writer Gardner Fox. A good amount of artwork from this story survived and has been reprinted in various publications from TwoMorrows Publishing. In addition, there were three other unused Justice Society scripts penned by Fox - "The Men of Magnifica", "The Emperors of Japan", and "Peril of the Paper Death". All Star Wonder Woman – This series was confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con in 2006, 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, but explained at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con that the project was "in the freezer" for the time being, due to the difficulty involved in both writing and illustrating it himself. 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. 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). 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. 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 #469-476. A six-issue sequel miniseries titled Batman: Dark Detective was published in 2005. Englehart and Rogers planned a third series of stories, but Rogers' death on March 25, 2007, caused DC to cancel the project. Batman: The Art of Neal Adams – A collection of Adams' best Batman stories, including a cover gallery, was set for October 1992. Comprehensive collections of Adams' Batman work would later be released by DC beginning in the 2000s. Batman: The Brave and the Bold – Paul Kupperberg wrote two unused stories for this tie-in to the animated series of the same name featuring Plastic Man and Guy Gardner as co-stars. 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 six-issue miniseries to be called Batman: Bellicosity and scheduled for 2014 but, as of 2025, 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. It involved a new Batwoman character described as having more of a motivation to fight crime than the previous Batgirl (Barbara Gordon) and possibly even Batman himself. Batwoman #25-26 - In September 2013, J. H. Williams III and Haden Blackman announced their intention to leave Batwoman with issue 26, citing last-minute editorial changes as the reason, remarking that they were not allowed to expand Killer Croc's back story, keep their original ending to their current story arc, or depict Kate and Maggie Sawyer getting married.Give Batwoman the Chance to Be Miserable in a Same-Sex Marriage DC Comics responded that Batwoman could not get married because "heroes shouldn't have happy personal lives". Writer Marc Andreyko, who is openly gay himself, took over the title with issue 25, which featured a "Batman: Zero Year" tie-in. This creative change interrupted the finale to Williams' and Blackman's work on the title; they had already written issues 25 and 26 prior to their departure. Andreyko resolved Batwoman #24's cliffhanger ending in Batwoman Annual #1. Before Watchmen: Epilogue – Originally solicited in 2013 as the conclusion to the Watchmen prequels, this one-shot issue was cancelled for unknown reasons.