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. 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.
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.
Charlton Comics
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.