TOP 10 PUBLISHERS
NO. 1 MARVEL COMICS
MARVEL RIVALS: THE CITIES OF HEAVEN #1, $5.99: Based on a video game, which is outside my parameters of interest.
MARVEL/DC SPIDER-BOY TEAM-UP #1 (FACSIMILE EDITION), $4.99: It's a mashup of Kon-El and Peter Parker, from the Amalgam crossover in the late '90s. He teams up with the "Legion of Galactic Guardians," which is probably self-explanatory. I enjoyed this well enough back in the day, and it's probably worth reading if you haven't already. Personally, I don't feel any need to re-visit it.
NOVA: CENTURION #3, $3.99: I've read the first two issues, and I'm still on the fence, so I'll get the third.
ULTIMATE
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #13, $4.99: Penultimate issue.
ULTIMATE X-MEN #23, $4.99: Penultimate issue.
X-MEN
This week the X-books begin to return from the "Age of Revelation" hiatus. Bleeding Cool wonders if "Revelation" was a big-enough jumping-off point that lapsed readers won't return to regular X-books. It's no secret that "Revelation" wasn't a big seller, but will X-fans actually bail as "Shadows of Tomorrow" begins?
WOLVERINE #14, $4.99
Writer: Saladin Ahmed; Penciller: Martin Coccolo; Cover Artist: Dan Panosian
WOLVERINE ENCOUNTERS SILVER SABLE! The flagship series returns as Wolverine crosses paths with Silver Sable in a mission to save a cadre of Morlocks. But are they on the same side? And who's got Logan in their sights? The all-new era starts now!
Note that Marvel describes Wolverine as its "flagship series."
X-MEN #23, $4.99
Writer: Jed Mackay; Penciller: Tony Daniel; Cover Artist: Tony Daniel
AGE OF REVELATION EPILOGUE! One X-Man of the present has been stranded in the Age of Revelation, fighting against impossible odds in the world of tomorrow. But while they've been there, what has their future counterpart been doing in their body in the present?
They're going out of their way to avoid saying "Cyclops." So maybe the X-Man in question is Dark Beast, who also made the trip.
MORE MARVEL
ALL-NEW SPIDER-GWEN: THE GHOST-SPIDER #6, $3.99
ALL-NEW VENOM VOLUME 1: WHO IS ALL-NEW VENOM? TP, $17.99
ALPHA FLIGHT BY MANTLO AND LEE OMNIBUS HC, $125.00
AMAZING SPIDER MAN EPIC COLLECTION VOLUME 12: SPIDER MAN — THREAT OR MENACE? TP, $54.99
AMAZING SPIDER MAN MODERN ERA EPIC COLLECTION VOLUME 2: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SPIDERS TP, $49.99
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #19, $4.99
DAREDEVIL BY SALADIN AHMED VOLUME 5: RITES OF RECONCILIATION TP, $17.99
LAURA KINNEY WOLVERINE VOLUME 2: MY SO-CALLED PERFECT LIFE TP, $15.99
MARVEL: BLACK WHITE AND BLOOD AND GUTS #4 (OF 4), $5.99
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY OMNIBUS VOLUME 2 HC, $125.00
SPIDER-MAN NOIR #4 (OF 4), $4.99
STAR WARS: HAN SOLO — HUNT FOR THE FALCON #5 (OF 5), $3.99
VENOM #253, $4.99
DC COMICS
50TH ANNIVERSARY TREASURY EDITION: SUPERMAN VS. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 (FACSIMILE EDITION), $19.99: Hasn't everyone on Earth already read this? See Comics in January 2025 for more.
BATMAN AND SUPERMAN IN WORLD'S FINEST: THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS VOLUME 2 HC (2026 EDITION), $75.00
The first edition came out in 2019, and replaced a couple of B&W "Showcase Presents" and/or "World's Finest Archives" on my bookshelf. It collects the Superman-Batman stories from World's Finest Comics #117-158 (1961-66), and that's as far as the series has gone, as far as I know. My first World's Finest Comics was #139 ("The Ghost of Batman!"), so I'm "caught up," as they say. But I wouldn't mind if the series continued, so I'd have these stories available on my bookshelf instead of carefully preserved in plastic in a longbox somewhere. And I recommend this book, if you haven't read these stories already. The early ones reflect the silly sci-fi of early Silver Age Batman and Detective, but I still find them charming. And after the "New Look" Batman debuted, a regular team — Ed Hamilton, Curt Swan and George Klein — really hit a groove on a terrific run of issues.
BATMAN/GREEN ARROW/THE QUESTION ARCADIA #2 (OF 4), $5.99: Tradewaiting.
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #28 (FACSIMILE EDITION, 2026 EDITION), $3.99: If a reprint of the first JLA story sounds familiar, it's because DC published a facsimile edition of this issue in 2020. I don't know about you, but I don't need another one.
JSA #15, $3.99
(W) Jeff Lemire (A) Gavin Guidry (CA) Dave Johnson
YEAR ONE CONTINUES! The trail of clues bring the heroes closer together, but it also leads them straight into the arms of a number of foes who are more the willing to strike down a do-gooder!
I wasn't crazy about the idea of a new Justice Society origin when "Year One" first launched. I thought a decent story could be told without contradicting the original Golden Age stories. There's plenty of room between issues of All-Star Comics to do so.
But I didn't realize, until I started reading and re-reading multiple modern inserts and retcons in the JSA re-read thread, how much of it had already changed. And usually not for the better. I never cared much for the original DC Special/Secret Origins origin anyway, as I said on the JSA re-read thread. And the other existing re-writes? Some are downright awful. TBH, anything that paves over Alan Scott: The Green Lantern gets my enthusiastic seal of approval.
So retcon away, Jeff Lemire. Make it a great origin story that will stand the test of time!
P.S.: Lemire has added Hippolyta to the story before the JSA forms, an addition of which I approve. I don't know if he'll try to conform to history, and wait until Pearl Harbor to formally add her to the team, or if he'll just throw her onto the team from the beginning. To me, the JSA "trinity" is Flash, Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, so I'll be happy either way.
Heck, as Golden Age JSA stories begin moving into public domain with Superman in 2033, it might not even be up to DC who joins the JSA, and when. We could write our own origin!
SUPERGIRL: WOMAN OF TOMORROW TP (DC COMPACT COMICS EDITION), $9.99: If you haven't read this, you probably should, in whatever format suits you. It's the basis for the 2026 Supergirl movie, as if you didn't know.
VERTIGO 2026 PREVIEW SPECIAL EDITION: If it's free, I'll pick it up. None of the new Vertigo titles DC has announced so far have really excited me, but seeing actual panels might do so.
ABSOLUTE
ABSOLUTE BATMAN ARK-M SPECIAL #1 (ONE-SHOT), $4.99
(W) Scott Snyder, Frank Tieri (A/CA) Joshua Hixson
INTO ARK-M! The origins of the enigmatic Ark M are explored! What terrible secrets lie within its walls, and just who is assigned to protect it from discovery?!
I'm still getting Absolute Batman, so I'll be getting this. If you're not a regular reader, the title may not make sense, so I'll explain: The Joker has set up a variety of "arks" around the globe, labs where human experimentation occurs, each named for a letter of the alphabet. The one in Gotham is "Ark-M." It's where all of Bruce Wayne's friends were turned into monsters corresponding with Killer Croc, Penguin, Riddler and Two-Face. Batman means to bring it down.
I don't know why Absolute Zatanna is on cover B, as she is currently appearing in Absolute Wonder Woman, and has nothing to do with this title. (Yet.)
ABSOLUTE GREEN LANTERN #10, $4.99
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #15, $4.99: With Ra's al Ghul and Brainiac defeated (at great cost), a new status quo is established.
DC K.O.
DC K.O.: KNIGHTFIGHT #3 (OF 4), $3.99
MORE DC
ABSOLUTE BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN HC (2026 EDITION), $100.00: It's Batman in an Absolute format book, of course, not Absolute Batman.
ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN BOOK OF EL #5 (OF 12), $3.99
BATGIRL #15, $3.99
BATMAN #5, $4.99
CATWOMAN (2024) VOLUME 2: NEVER LET THEM SMELL BLOOD TP, $14.99
CHEETAH AND CHESHIRE: ROB THE JUSTICE LEAGUE #6 (OF 6), $3.99
JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: THE NEW 52 COMPENDIUM TP, $59.99
POISON IVY #40, $3.99
TEEN TITANS GO #11, $2.99
IMAGE COMICS
CRIMINAL VOLUME 10: CRUEL SUMMER TP (NEW PRINTING), $19.99: I think I have this one. Might not have read it yet. All Brubaker/Phillips collaborations are always recommended, of course.
RADICALLY REARRANGED RONIN RAGDOLLS ADVENTURES #100, $4.99: A TMNT parody with cats. I thought this trend burned out with Pre-Teen Dirty-Gene Kung Fu Kangaroos.
MORE IMAGE
FARMHAND VOLUME 5: THE END TP, $16.99
INFERNO GIRL RED BOOK TWO #2 (OF 3), $3.99
INVINCIBLE VOLUME 13 TP (NEW EDITION), $16.99
SCORCHED #47, $3.99
SPAWN VAULT EDITION VOLUME 3 HC, $175.00
UNDER YORK GN, $16.99: See Comics in January 2025 for more.
WALKING DEAD DELUXE #128, $3.99
NO. 4: IDW PUBLISHING
GODZILLA #6 (KAI-SEI ERA), $4.99
STAR TREK VOYAGER HOMECOMING #4, $4.99
MORE IDW
STREET SHARKS #4, $4.99
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES BATTLE NEXUS #2, $4.99
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES SHREDDER #4, $4.99
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES X GODZILLA #2, $4.99
NO. 5: DARK HORSE COMICS
OLDBOY DELUXE EDITION VOLUME 1 HC, $69.99: I've never read this, nor have I seen the movie. I want to do both!
Writer: Garon Tsuchiya
Artist: Nobuaki Minegishi
Letterer: Kathryn Renta, Michael David Thomas
Translator: Kumar Sivasubramanian
B&W, 832 pages; HC; 7" x 10"The intense, bare-knuckled noir manga thriller returns in a deluxe hardcover edition collecting the first four volumes of Old Boy in the original oversized format!
Ten years ago they took him. He doesn’t know who. For ten years he has been confined in a private prison. He doesn’t know why. For ten years his only contact with the outside world has been a television set and the voices of his jailers. Suddenly, one day, his incarceration ends without explanation. Sedated and dumped in a park, he awakens—free to reclaim what’s left of his life—and what’s left is revenge.
This deluxe edition is at an oversized 7 x 10” format, features a new, noir-inspired cover made with metallic silver foil paper, and includes a ribbon bookmarker.
MORE DARK HORSE
Dark Horse usually has previews posted of all their titles by the Friday before ship, but not this week. The only previews this week are of the collections. Perhaps the holiday interfered.
ARCHIE VS. MINOR THREATS #4 (OF 4), $4.99
AVATAR: THE GAP YEAR TIPPING POINT #3 (OF 6), $4.99
CARMEN RED CLAW: BELLY OF THE BEAST #1 (OF 4), $4.99
CREEPY ARCHIVES VOLUME 12 TP (DOUBLE-SIZED VOLUME), $34.99
DEVIL ON MY SHOULDER #2 (OF 4), $4.99
FML #7 (OF 8), $4.99
GHOSTBUSTERS VOLUME 2 DEAD MAN'S CHEST TP, $19.99
HELLBOY AND THE B.P.R.D.: THE GHOST SHIPS OF LABRADOR #2 (OF 2), $4.99
LOS MONSTRUOS TP, $19.99
MINOR THREATS: THE LAST DEVIL LEFT ALIVE #3 (OF 5), $4.99
NEMESIS FOREVER #5 (OF 5), $6.99
ORPHAN AND THE FIVE BEASTS: BATH OF BLOOD #4 (OF 4)(COVER A JAMES STOKOE), $4.99
SHAOLIN COWBOY BEGINNING OF THE END RESULTS 21 YEARS OF BLOOD SWEAT AND CHAINSAWS HC, $34.99
STAR WARS: HYPERSPACE STORIES — TIDES OF TERROR #4 (OF 4), $4.99
SYNTHETICS VOLUME 1 #3 (OF 4), $4.99
TRAMPS OF THE APOCALYPSE TP, $19.99
NO. 6: BOOM! STUDIOS
MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS: ZORD QUEST #1, $7.99
WHEN I LAY MY VENGEANCE UPON THEE TP, $19.99
NO. 7: VIZ MEDIA
None
NO. 8: DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT
TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: THE SHIVER OF CHRISTMAS TOWN #1, $4.99: I enjoyed the original Nightnare Before Christmas well enough, but not enough to read comics about it. Still, I'm glad they exist. Follow the link for the ICv2.com preview.
BLUE FALCON AND DYNOMUTT #5, $4.99
LILO AND STITCH: 'OHANA VOLUME 2 HC, $19.99
LILO AND STITCH: 'OHANA VOLUME 2 TP, $14.99
VAMPIRELLA VOLUME 7 #9, $4.99
NO. 9: ONI PRESS
CRUEL UNIVERSE 2 #6 (OF 12), $4.99
MORE ONI PRESS
A THING CALLED TRUTH GN, $29.99
BANANA SIOULE VOLUME 3 X GN, $19.99
OGREST VOLUME 3 GN, $19.99
RICK AND MORTY: THE END #2 (OF 6), $4.99
SESAME STREET: SUNNY STORIES TP, $14.99
NO. 10: KODANSHA
BLUE LOCK EPISODE NAGI VOLUME 6 GN, $13.99
DASHING ZADDY AND HIS ICY PROTEGE VOLUME 4 GN, $13.99
SPELLBOOK LIBRARY VOLUME 4 GN, $13.99
TANK CHAIR VOLUME 6 GN, $13.99
WIND BREAKER VOLUME 18 GN, $12.99
OTHER COMICS OF INTEREST
ARCHIE FACSIMILE #10 (JUGHEAD #327), Archie Comics, $4.99: I've been picking up these Archie facsimiles for a while; I can't remember one that didn't interest me. Until now. This book came out in 1983, after what I consider Archie's peak period, and doesn't have any of my favorite creators.
ATLAS COMICS LIBRARY VOLUME 8: SNAFU HC, Fantagraphics, $39.99: Jeff of Earth-J has warned not to expect MAD-level brilliance. That's OK. If there are parts that aren't very good, or don't age well, that's baked into my expectations.
(W) Stan Lee, John Severin, Bill Everett, Joe Maneely
(A) John Severin, Bill Everett, Joe Maneely
(CA) Joe Maneely
When Harvey Kurtzman and Bill Gaines launched EC’s Mad comic book as a warmly received satirical magazine, a flood of imitators soon filled newsstands, but the first and best to follow in Mad’s footsteps (coinciding with the second issue of Mad magazine) was Snafu, edited and written by Kurtzman’s former boss: Stan “The Man” Lee! Snafu was packed with Marvel/Atlas’ top humor creators and, following the Mad playbook, filled pages with ad and news spoofs, alongside film, television, and book parodies like “The Blackboard Forest” by Russ Heath, “Pete Kelsey’s Booze” and “Bleed, You Bum!” by Joe Maneely, “Drugnet” by Howie Post, “Emily Toast’s Etiquette Page” by John Severin, and “Snafu’s Lovely Ladies” by Bill Everett, with production supervised by Marie Severin. Seen here is some of the most eye-popping work of Maneely’s short life, including great Hollywood caricatures done in a wash style. In this new volume in our Atlas Library collaboration with Marvel, Fantagraphics is tickled pink to present for the first time, the complete Snafu collection along with a history of Martin Goodman’s humor publications in all genres by editor Dr. Michael J. Vassallo.
BONE TP VOL 01 OUT FROM BONEVILLE TP, Scholastic, $14.99: Bone didn't do anything for me, but some Legionnaires love it. They'll probably want to know about this, for gifts!
(W/A/CA) Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith's New York Times and USA Today bestselling, award-winning BONE books are one of the most popular graphic novel series of all time. Read the first book in this thrilling adventure! After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins -- Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone -- are separated and lost in a vast, uncharted desert. One by one, they find their way into a deep, forested valley filled with wonderful and terrifying creatures. Eventually, the cousins are reunited at a farmstead run by tough Gran'ma Ben and her spirited granddaughter, Thorn. But little do the Bones know, there are dark forces conspiring against them and their adventures are only just beginning!
TITAN COMICS
Late-breaking previews
CONAN THE BARBARIAN: SCOURGE OF THE SERPENT #4 (OF 4), $4.99
(W) Jim Zub
(A) Ivan Gil
COVER A: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE
COVER B: LUCIO PARRILLO
COVER C: MARK BAGLEY
COVER D: ROBERTO DE LA TORRE VIRGIN VAR
COVER E: LUCIO PARRILLO VIRGIN VAR
FC • 32pp • $4.99
THE NEW CONAN EPIC EVENT CONCLUDES!
CONAN OF CIMMERIA has encountered Stygian sorcery and snakesent creatures many times in his grand adventures, but he has never faced the true unspeakable power of SET… until NOW.
The serpent god's influence coils around the Hyborian Age and every other age linked to it. Three stunning supernatural stories will weave together to answer a chilling question of past and present - What is Set's grand plan for humanity and, now that it's begun, can it be stopped?
CONAN THE BARBARIAN VOLUME 6: A NEST OF SERPENTS TP, $17.99Author: Jim Zub
Artist: Fernando Dagnino
SC, 112 pages, FC, $17.99
COVER REGULAR: DAN PANOSIAN
COVER DIRECT MARKET: GREG STAPLES
An incredible new Conan tale of heroic barbarism, filled with more high adventure, savage combat, ancient gods, and rollicking sword-and-sorcery action!
Volume six of this epic series is masterfully crafted by the critically-acclaimed team of Jim Zub and Fernando Dagnino - fans of Robert E. Howard’s legendary hero are in for a thrill!
The triumphant new era of Conan continues in this tale of brutal heroic adventure from acclaimed creators Jim Zub (Avengers, Dungeons & Dragons) and Fernando Dagnino (Superman, Blade Runner: Origins).
The Great Serpent’s influence twists and turns, pulling Conan into their deadly coils as the Cimmerian and his allies are lured into Stygia… And what they find on this journey will make their blood run cold and set the stage for a conflict beyond their wildest imagination!
3 MINUTE BODYGUARD: YOKO-CHAN VOL. 1Author: Susano Hara
Artist: Sakamoto Shino
SC, 160 pages, B&W, $12.99
A cheeky heir hires a tough, three-minute bodyguard to fend off relentless bullies, blending hilarious comedy, martial arts action, and high-stakes adventure in this fast-paced, must-read manga!
José is no ordinary schoolboy – he’s the heir to a vast fortune. But being rich comes with its own set of problems: relentless bullies who are more interested in his money than his well-being. Desperate for protection, José hires Yoko-Chan, a fierce, no-nonsense bodyguard, to keep the tormentors at bay. There’s just one catch: José can only afford her for three minutes a day!
Can three minutes of super-powered protection really be enough to outsmart his bullies? With Yoko-Chan’s martial arts skills and unwavering determination, José might just survive—if he can convince her to stick around for overtime!
Packed with outrageous comedy, high-octane action, and a fearless heroine who’s as cool as she is strong, 3-Minute Bodyguard Yoko-Chan is a wild ride from start to finish. Will José’s wealth be enough to secure his safety, or will he have to rely on his wits (and Yoko-Chan’s fists) to get through the day?
A perfect mix of martial arts, mischief, and mayhem – get ready for a hilarious, action-packed adventure!
Replies
I've read the first two issues, and I'm still on the fence, so I'll get the third.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement!
Note that Marvel describes Wolverine as its "flagship series."
I... don't know what to say about that.
50TH ANNIVERSARY TREASURY EDITION: SUPERMAN VS. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1 (FACSIMILE EDITION): Hasn't everyone on Earth already read this?
I find myself strangely looking forward to this. (I'll have more to say about it on Wednesday.)
BATMAN AND SUPERMAN IN WORLD'S FINEST: THE SILVER AGE OMNIBUS VOLUME 2 HC (2026 EDITION): The first edition came out in 2019... and that's as far as the series has gone, as far as I know.
'Tis. I bought v2 but not v1, choosing not to replace the archive editions in this case.
TBH, anything that paves over Alan Scott: The Green Lantern gets my enthusiastic seal of approval.
Reading ahead, I see.
SUPERGIRL: WOMAN OF TOMORROW TP (DC COMPACT COMICS EDITION): If you haven't read this, you probably should
Seconded.
ATLAS COMICS LIBRARY VOLUME 8: SNAFU HC, Fantagraphics: Jeff of Earth-J has warned not to expect MAD-level brilliance.
Did I? I mean, that is exactly what I think, but I was just about to say I have no memory of seeing this solicited. My memory is not what it used to be, and it'll be weird if it shows up in my p&h; if not, I'll buy it off the shelf. Just yesterday I rearranged some books at home so that I'm now able to display all volumes of the "Atlse Comics Library" series on a single shelf.
BONE TP VOL 01 OUT FROM BONEVILLE TP: Bone didn't do anything for me
Me neither.
Last week I didn't buy anything*, and this there's only one new comic book on the list above that interests me [of course I will be buying that "Snafu" volume to justify my trip (if any "justification" be needed)].
*Actually, an AHOY comic did ship last week, but I put it back in my p&h to buy next week because it wasn't enough for a credit card purchase.
The links are new. I like them, but only if they're not too much trouble.