TOP O' THE WEEK
DC FINEST: SUPERMAN FAMILY — THE GIANT TURTLE MAN TP (DC COMICS, $39.99)
There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth when this book disappeared from last week’s ship list, but lo, our patience has been rewarded. Giant Turtle Man collects Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane #19-28, Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #47-56, Action Comics #266 and #277 and Superman #142-143 and #147.
This was when the Weisinger era of Superman was at or near its peak, with Super-fables free of consequence by Leo Dorfman, Jerry Siegel, Otto Binder, Curt Swan, Stan Kaye, Kurt Schaffenberger and other storied names. For some reason, DC hasn't reprinted many Silver Age Superman books, so this will be new material to even a lot of older fans. Boomers like me remember these stories fondly, and will wallow in them like Uncle Scrooge in his money bin.
I don't want to oversell — a lot of my anticipation is plain old nostalgia — but I can't imagine how anybody who likes comic books wouldn't smile while reading these silly romps. They can be corny or dopey, but they're almost always clever. And Swan and Schaffenberger were pros down to their toes.
CROSSOVERS
"LORE WAR"
STAR TREK #31 (IDW PUBLISHING, $3.99) is by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing and Davide Tinto.
Part three of "Lore War," which is clipping along at a quick pace. Captain Worf of the U.S.S. Enterprise vs. Captain Sisko, Kahless II and Beverly Crusher of the U.S.S. Phoenix! Obviously, Sisko's going to get Worf to remember the pre-Lore universe somehow. But it's the trip, not the destination.
"ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM"
ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #3 (OF 9, MARVEL, $4.99) is by Ryan North and R.B. Silva.
Bring on the bad guys! Arcade, Baron Mordo, Doctor Octopus, Goblin Queen, M.O.D.O.K. and Mysterio are a bit chafed at Doom taking over the world, since that's THEIR job. Meanwhile, Scarlet Witch is doing a little investigating, and discovers "a devastating truth!"
I'm way behind on "One World," thanks to eye surgery. But I suspect it's the issues written by North that I'll enjoy the most.
"This issue features a huge fight — all the heroes (and villains!) versus Doom,” North said. “It was a ton of fun to write, and even more fun to see drawn when R.B. Silva was done with it. And it doesn't go the way you might think, and actually leads to an even BIGGER fight in the next issue! It's got some Doom moments I'm super proud of: how could it not, when you've got characters like M.O.D.O.K. and Doctor Octopus trying to take down Doom for their own reasons?”
AVENGERS #25 (MARVEL, $4.99) is by Jed MacKay and Valerio Schiti.
A new Masters of Evil arise, and strangely, I don't recognize most of them. I think that's the Mad Thinker on Cover A, but the rest are unfamiliar. Nevertheless, they do what Masters of Evil do, and try to take over the Avengers' HQ.
"SUMMER OF SUPERMAN"
SUPERMAN #25 (DC COMICS, 48 PAGES, $5.99) is by Joshua Williamson, Dan Mora, Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira.
The return of Lex Luthor! Well, I assume what they mean is "the return of Lex Luthor's memories, one of which is that he really hates Superman!" Ties into the Summer of Superman Special, next week.
"WE ARE YESTERDAY"
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #6 (DC COMICS, $3.99) is by Mark Waid and Travis Moore.
Part Two of Six. The Legion of Doom by Mark Waid!
MORE ITEMS OF INTEREST
ABSOLUTE MARTIAN MANHUNTER #2 (OF 6, DC COMICS, $4.99) is by Deniz Camp and Javier Rodriguez.
"The weirdest hero of the Absolute Universe gets even weirder!" I am 100% behind that. And it's only a six-issue series, so there's no huge commitment.
ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #7 (DC COMICS, $4.99) is by Kellly Thompson, Mattia de Iulis and Dustin Nguyen.
Diana has to escape from the Underworld — again. This should shed some light on the Greco-Roman divine order in this universe, and why it's served Circe and Wonder Woman so poorly. Plus more "Li'l Diana," which is like an antidote to all those saccharine young-readers books about the young princess.
ARCANA ROYALE #1 (OF 4, DARK HORSE, $4.99) is by Cullen Bunn (Harrow County, Beyond Mortal) and A.C. Zamudio (The Sixth Gun: Valley of Death, Shadow Roads).
Hudson Tremaine, a successful Vegas gambler, is invited to an underground card tournament called the Arcanos Mysterinos, where magicians, demons and demigods gamble using a set of mysterious tarot-like cards. I don't know why an ordinary card shark is invited to such a thing, but she's our POV, so she'll win. No mystery there, but we'll probably get some cool mythology along the way.
“Arcana Royale has been in the works for a while now, and I'm excited for people to get to read it,” said Bunn. “This is a story about controlling your own fate (even if you have to cheat a little) in the face of overwhelming odds. There's a little bit of Hudson Tremaine ... or at least there should be ... in each and everyone of us."
“It’s my pleasure to escort you through the world of Cullen’s imagination in Arcana Royale where we get to play with the sublime alchemy that connects the glamor of Las Vegas and the darkness of the arcane,” Zamudio said. “I’m also elated to present my first full collaboration with Bill. He and I both jumped into this project with a shared vision and some bold new techniques to bring it to life.”
BATMAN #159 (DC COMICS, 40 PAGES, $4.99) is by Jeph Loeb, Jim Lee and Scott Williams.
Part Two of "H2SH." Guest-starring Nightwing, Batgirl and Red Hood. The first Hush was a guest-star-palooza, and I'm guessing this will be, too.
MOONSHINE BIGFOOT #1 (OF 4, IMAGE, 30 PAGES, $4.99) is by Zach Howard (Wild Blue Yonder), Steven Ellis (High Moon) and Mike Marlow.
It's about, yes, a Bigfoot who makes moonshine. And outwits redneck cops in his muscle car, a la Dukes of Hazzard. And has a cute girlfriend named Amethyst, who likely wears Daisy Duke outfits. But he draws some unwanted attention from an Illuminati-like group, so I expect car chases, good ol' boy dialogue and maybe some more cryptids.
“We set out to make a fun-loving satire of 1981-ish Americana, and stumbled into a beautiful, coming-of-age story,” Howard said. “Give Moonshine Bigfoot a go and we’ll curl the toes right off your feet!”
"Moonshine Bigfoot is a goofy idea conceived on a road trip has turned into one wild ride (that isn’t what you think)," Marlow said. "Lots of fun, lots of crazy, and we can promise no one will ever be bored.”
PREDATOR VS. SPIDER-MAN #1 (OF 4, MARVEL, $5.99) is by Benjamin Percy and Marcelo Ferreira.
"Introducing 'Skinner,' a Predator of no honor and no clan — only a thirst for blood." You know, the predators in the movies had "honor" and clans, but they were still pulling peoples' spines out. But I guess if a bad-buy franchise runs long enough, you have to redeem some of the bad guys. And then you have to distinguish between GOOD bad guys and BAD bad guys.
“Spider-Man is at the top of every writer's wish list. I'm thrilled and grateful to get this opportunity, putting this beloved webslinger against the galaxy's greatest hunters in the urban wilderness of New York,” Percy said. “It's so much fun to live in Peter Parker's world — and to put my own wild spin on his relationship with MJ, Jonah Jameson, and (yes — oh, hell yes) Kraven. Marcelo Ferreira captures the visual dynamism of Spidey so well, and we've had a lot of fun designing a Predator that is unlike any other. This Yautja — who we're calling Skinner— has no code or clan. He's the perfect nightmarish foil to the big-hearted Parker.”
ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #15 (MARVEL, $4.99) introduces "The New Black Panther!" Presumably newer than the title character, who's also pretty new. Or maybe it's the same character, and he's just getting a new costume. I guess you can tell I'm not following the new Ultimate universe.
GOLDEN AGE OF REPRINTS
BRAVE AND THE BOLD #60 FACSIMILE EDITION (DC COMICS, $3.99): The second Teen Titans, the first with "Wonder Chick." This sort of thing makes me super-nostalgic for my long-lost youth. But I must be strong and face the present (and my grandfather in the bathroom mirror).
COSMIC X-MEN OMNIBUS HC (MARVEL, $125.00): This is a weird one. It collects various "X-Men in space" stories from the late 1970s to the late 2010s. I don't see how it could make sense to a newbie, or how it could be comprehensive enough to satisfy a vet. But Marvel believes it will make money, or it wouldn't be here. Collects X-Men (1963) #105, #107-108 and #137; Uncanny X-Men (1981) #154-158, #161-167, #276-277 and #475-486; Astonishing X-Men (2004) #19-24; Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1; Mr. and Mrs. X (2018) #1-5; Marauders (2022) #1-5 and material from Uncanny X-Men (1981) #274-275.
DARK KNIGHTS OF STEEL THE DELUXE EDITION HC (DC COMICS, $49.99): I suppose I have to get this. I’ve wanted to read the "Dark Knights of Steel" stories, and have been tradewaiting through one series after another. I’d prefer a comprehensive omnibus, or a boxed collection of trades, but DC isn’t consistent in its reprints and I don’t know what to expect. So I'll take the bird in hand. This one has enough that maybe I won’t need any more: Dark Knights of Steel #1-12 and Dark Knights of Steel: Tales from the Three Kingdoms #1
JUPITER’S LEGACY LIBRARY EDITION VOLUME 1 HC (OF 3, DARK HORSE, 312 PAGES, $49.99) is by Mark Millar (Civil War, Kingsman) with artists Wilfredo Torres (Subgenre, Jupiter’s Circle), and Davide Gianfelice (Earthdivers, Northlanders).
I don't think I read past the first two-three miniseries, so I don't know how where the super-powers came from, or (as promised in the PR) "the secret, alien origins of the human race itself." I was appropriately shocked by the first miniseries and what happened to the Superman and Wonder Woman proxies, but kinda turned off, too. After that, I just kinda felt dirty, and there wasn't much of anyone to root for, and I wasn't very interested in what happened next. Kinda like most Mark Millar stories, now that I think about it.
But it is a big, sprawling, generational superhero story, which I can usually get behind. I've got until Tuesday to decide, I guess.
PLASTIC MAN NO MORE HC (MR, DC COMICS, $24.99): I'll probably get this, but my expectations are low. Sad, doomed Plastic Man? That kinda defeats the point of the character, doesn't it?
ULTIMATE X-MEN EPIC COLLECTION VOL 1: THE TOMORROW PEOPLE TP (MARVEL, $39.99): This is the first Ultimate X-Men! Not the second Ultimate X-Men! Don't be fooled!
YOUNGBLOOD DELUXE #1 (IMAGE, $3.99) is by Rob Liefeld. I thought Youngblood was derivative crap when it came out in 1992, and time has not changed my opinion. Here's what Liefeld has to say in the press release:
“This is the ultimate way to experience Youngblood," Liefeld said. "These characters mean so much to me and to revisit them like this is the absolute best way to read the comic that literally started the revolution and transformed the industry!”
Wait, there was a revolution? You'd think I'd remember a thing like that. All I remember from the '90s is a lot of really bad comics.
PRESTIGE PUBLISHERS
BEES: THE WOMEN WHO ROCKED LITHUANIA TP (MR, FANTAGRAPHICS, $29.99) is by Akvilė Magicdusté.
In the mid-1960s, inspired by The Beatles, six Lithuanian women form a band and tour Russia. It's really never a good time to be young and progressive in Russia, then or now, which is what I assume this is about. I want to read the story, but I don't much care for the art. Here's a PREVIEW.
MORE COMICS
AMON AMARTH: THE GREAT HEATHEN ARMY — INVASION HC (Z2 COMICS, $39.99) is by Amon Amarth (Author), Dan Watters (Author), Rantz Hoseley (Editor), Jasminne Saravia (Co-editor), Ario Murti (Illustrator), Adam 'Edge' Copeland (Foreword), Geoff Harkins (Designer) and Josh Berstein (Designer).
I've never bought a Z2 comic — the company mostly partners with musical acts for graphic novels, often biographies. But regular Comics Guide readers know that I love me some vikings, and this is one of the greatest viking stories of all.
Danes and other Norsemen played a huge role in the history of England, which my schools didn't teach. I learned some of it on my own in the library, when I immersed myself in the Elder Edda and other Norse mythology. But when, as an adult, I learned the extent of Viking settlements in the British Isles, which I had always seen referred to as "Anglo-Saxon," I was floored. The vikings settled the Shetland Islands in 800 CE, and those islands remained Danish until the late 15th century. During that time vikings also settled and/or ruled the Faroes, the Orkney Islands, the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Man, the Outer Hebrides, Ireland and parts of western Scotland.
And, of course, there's the famous Danelaw. Vikings started raiding the British mainland in the late 8th century, and settled more or less permanently in places like Kent, East Anglia and Yorkshire. The Great Heathen Army, the subject of this book, landed on friendly shores in East Anglia in 865 and proceeded to conquer all the Saxon kingdoms except rump Wessex. Alfred the Great, with his back to the sea, and hiding in a marsh, said, "Look, fellas, we're all very impressed with your mayhem and looting and rapine and such. Fair play! And that 'Blood Eagle' thing you did on King Aella in Northumbria? Really quite remarkable! Now see here, old boy, have we got a deal for you! You can have Northumbria, east Mercia, East Anglia, Kent and Essex if you'll just leave the rest of us alone." The vikings, having lost a couple of battles, took the deal and carved it all up. The Saxons eventually took most of it back, until Swein Forkbeard flipped the script in 1014 and became the first Danish king of all England, Denmark, Norway, Scotland, Ireland and parts of Sweden. (It was called the North Sea Empire, if you want to Google it.) The Saxons again took control of England in 1042, but lost it all at the Battle of Hastings in1066. And since William the Conqueror came from Normandy, which was colonized by Norseman in the 9th century ... well, look who won in the end! Even if they did speak French.
Since this stuff fascinates me, I'm tempted to order The Great Heathen Army. But "author" Amon Amarth isn't a person, it's a Swedish heavy metal band. I'm guessing the story is aimed more at supporting their music than supporting history. And the lengthy credits don't bode well either — there are a lot of cooks in that kitchen. Still, if I see it, I might impulse-buy it.
ARCHAIC #5 (OF 5, MR, AHOY COMICS, $3.99): Ahoy Comics alert!
ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #360 (ARCHIE, 192 PAGES, $9.99)
Complete classic story by Frank Doyle and Harry Lucey:
BLONDIE: AGAINST THE ODDS HC (Z2 COMICS, $39.99) is a more typical Z2 effort, about the band (not the comic strip).
DISSIDENT CLUB: CHRONICLE OF PAKISTANI JOURNALIST IN EXILE (ARSENAL PULP PRESS, $27.95) sounds both educational and depressing.
THE ELEGANT COURTLY LIFE OF TEA WITCH VOL 2 GN (TITAN, $12.99)
FLASH #20 (DC COMICS, $3.99): This the start of a new storyline, which means the West family is FINALLY out of Skartaris.
GEORGE HERRIMAN: COMPLETE KRAZY KAT IN COLOR 1935-1944 HC (TASCHEN AMERICA LLC., $100.00): Comic strip collector's alert!
G.I. JOE: A REAL AMERICAN HERO — ROADBLOCK #1 (IMAGE, $3.99): I'm guessing Roadblock is the standard Strong Guy Who Shoots a .50-Calibre Machine Gun From His Hip Instead of a Tripod (see: Dum Dum Dugan, Bulldozer, Mac from Predator).
HEARTCORE GN (GRAPHIC MUNDI-PSU PRESS, $29.95) is by Czech artist Stepanka Jislova, who looks at who we fall in love with, and why. A universal topic, and I like the ART.
HUMAN FLY #4 (IPI COMICS, $4.99): I don't see an homage to Amazing Spider-Man #16 all that often. Or ever, really.
MY DEGENERATION: JOURNEY THROUGH PARKINSON’S GN (GRAPHIC MUNDI-PSU PRESS, $24.95) also sounds educational and depressing. But maybe useful for those with Parkinson's or loves someone who does.
NO REMORSE: THE ILLUSTRATED TRUE STORIES OF LEMMY KILMISTER AND MOTÖRHEAD HC (Z2, $35.00): For all the Motörhead fans who can read. There must be some.
SOLOMON KANE: SERPENT RING #2 (MR, TITAN, $4.99)
SOMALI AND THE FOREST SPIRIT VOL 2 GN (TITAN, $12.99)
WHITE LILY GN (POCKET JACK COMICS, $15.75) is a historical graphic novel about the two Soviet women who became fighter pilots in WWII.
THE WITCHER: THE BEAR AND THE BUTTERFLY (DARK HORSE, $4.99) is by Simon Spurrier (Coda, The Spire, 2000 AD) and Stephen Green (Hellboy and the B.P.R.D: 1957—Forgotten Lives, Sea of Stars).
I never played the game, never read the books. I did watch the TV show, and was mildly entertained (and will probably watch the last season, when it comes around). But although I've bought a bunch of Witcher comic books, it never rises to the top of the Must-Read pile. Are they good, Legionnaires? Somebody besides me must be buying these, if they keep making them.
Replies
For all the Motörhead fans who can read.
Wow.
"SUMMER OF SUPERMAN" - SUPERMAN #25
Funny this one wasn't listed in the back of last week's Summer of Superman Special. (The first issue of Superman listed there is #28, July 23.) I also thought it odd that the next issue that is listed was Supergirl #1 (May 14), nearly a month away.
Ties into the Summer of Superman Special, next week.
Wait, what? The Summer of Superman Special came out last week; I read it. I'm so confused.
"WE ARE YESTERDAY" - Part Two of Six.
Is anyone out there reading this crossover with World's Finest? Is it any good?
COSMIC X-MEN OMNIBUS HC: This is a weird one.
That is a weird one. Everything in that collection I'm interested in has already been collected in omnibus format, and anything that has not I'm not interested in.
JUPITER’S LEGACY LIBRARY EDITION VOLUME 1 HC
I pre-ordered this one. I started a thread on Jupiter's Legacy last year and will likely return to it.
YOUNGBLOOD DELUXE #1
Youngblood #1 was the very first release from Image Comics, and it has been "re-mastered" at least once before. It was so bad it took tham 33 years to get it right (assuming they did this time).
GEORGE HERRIMAN: COMPLETE KRAZY KAT IN COLOR 1935-1944 HC
You know, a comprehensive collection of Krazy Kat is one of two classic strips completely missing from my collection (the other is the Yellow Kid). I do have three volumes of Herriman's Baron Bean, however (1916-1918), but Krazy Kat had never appealed to me for some reason. I didn't pre-order it, but I'll take a look at it if my LCS ordered on for the shelf.
I don't see an homage to Amazing Spider-Man #16 all that often. Or ever, really.
A few months ago I adopted a policy of not identifying any homage covers you "missed" (there are a few above). I just assume you noted them but didn't think them worth mentioning and move on.
For all the Motörhead fans who can read.
I assume this is not about this guy...
All in all this looks to be a very good week (unlike the previous two).
"SUMMER OF SUPERMAN" - SUPERMAN #25: Funny this one wasn't listed in the back of last week's Summer of Superman Special.
And yet, the PR says it’s linked to the special. Maybe it’s too tenuous a link to advertise (although that’s never stopped either of the Big Two before). I would think, though, that if you’re interested in the Summer of Superman you’d want to buy the main title anyway.
Wait, what? The Summer of Superman Special came out last week; I read it. I'm so confused.
Sorry, my fault. I’ve ordered the Special from Westfield, but it won’t arrive until the next monthly shipment. And I haven’t been to the comics shop since they eye surgery. (No point until I can read better.) So I didn’t know the Special had already shipped. I googled the ship date, and got “April 30” from Previews World.
"WE ARE YESTERDAY" - Part Two of Six. Is anyone out there reading this crossover with World's Finest? Is it any good?
I plan to, and I think I have Part One. The books just keep stacking up, and I can’t wade in until I can use both eyes (headaches). I think Richard Willis expressed interest. And I think it’ll be good, because it’s Waid.
COSMIC X-MEN OMNIBUS HC: This is a weird one. That is a weird one. Everything in that collection I'm interested in has already been collected in omnibus format, and anything that has not I'm not interested in.
That was my exact reaction. Curious.
JUPITER’S LEGACY LIBRARY EDITION VOLUME 1 HC I pre-ordered this one. I started a thread on Jupiter's Legacy last year and will likely return to it.
OK, if you’re gonna write about it, then I should read and follow along. It’s probably the Millar series I’m most invested in, and I’m ordering Magic Order library editions (because of the upcoming adaptation), so I might as well be consistent.
YOUNGBLOOD DELUXE #1: Youngblood #1 was the very first release from Image Comics, and it has been "re-mastered" at least once before. It was so bad it took them 33 years to get it right (assuming they did this time).
It was crap then, and it’s crap now.
GEORGE HERRIMAN: COMPLETE KRAZY KAT IN COLOR 1935-1944 HC: You know, a comprehensive collection of Krazy Kat is one of two classic strips completely missing from my collection (the other is the Yellow Kid). I do have three volumes of Herriman's Baron Bean, however (1916-1918), but Krazy Kat had never appealed to me for some reason. I didn't pre-order it, but I'll take a look at it if my LCS ordered on for the shelf.
I envy your comic strip collection.
A few months ago I adopted a policy of not identifying any homage covers you "missed" (there are a few above). I just assume you noted them but didn't think them worth mentioning and move on.
At some point someone (I thought it was you, but maybe it was someone else) said they were tired of the whole homage business. That’s when I adopted the policy of not mentioning them unless they were intrinsically interesting.
And yet, the PR says it’s linked to the special.
Yeah, but the PR says it leads into the special.
I would think, though, that if you’re interested in the Summer of Superman you’d want to buy the main title anyway.
I'm not going to buy the whole thing. My wallet is still smarting from trying to give "All In/Absolute" a fair shake. I'm going to buy each of the comics I listed in the "Summer of Superman" thread I started, but I don't plan to continue to buy all those series. I have the highest hopes for Supergirl and Krypto.
And I think it’ll be good, because it’s Waid.
Last week was light and I think I would have tried part one, but I didn't notice it.
OK, if you’re gonna write about it, then I should read and follow along.
Because I have recently read this series, I am primarily interested in the "Library Edition" format at this point. I don't have the individual issues (or even tpbs) of all the series, so I might collect all the Library Editions. I know I like this series, but I haven't even seen Library Editions of the others solicited at this point.
I envy your comic strip collection.
Thenk yew. Starting in 2025, I am making a concentrated effort to actually read all of the collections I have bought over the years. It's ironic, in a way, because I used to burn through them so quickly I slowed my pace so I could read them in a "satisfying chunk." After having recently finished Prince Valiant, I am currently reading Peanuts and Pogo and For Better or For Worse and Flash Gordon with the intention of reading those series in their entirety before moving on to something new. I have been proceeding at a steady clip (and tracking my progress in "What Comics Have You Read Today?"), but I'm starting to tire of reading just those four and considering throwing other different strips into the rotation.
At some point someone (I thought it was you, but maybe it was someone else) said they were tired of the whole homage business.
That may well have been me, but if so I was referring to the use of them in the first place, not your pointing them out. I stopped pointing out the ones you "missed" because I knew damn good and well you knew what they were, and there are so many of them I didn't want this weekly discussion to devolve into "identify the homage." Your current policy is fine with me. Unless they have some other intrinsic interest, I'm willing to accept it as "read" that we all here "get" it.
"WE ARE YESTERDAY" - Part Two of Six. Is anyone out there reading this crossover with World's Finest? Is it any good?
I plan to, and I think I have Part One. The books just keep stacking up, and I can’t wade in until I can use both eyes (headaches). I think Richard Willis expressed interest. And I think it’ll be good, because it’s Waid.
I just picked up part one, which is World's Finest #38. Here is a helpful post about the books involved an their reading order:
We Are Yesterday DC Comics Event Reading Order & Checklist x
"Plastic Man No More" is a fine story. Very, very dark indeed, and definitely out of continuity.
But it makes great use of the character as a springboard for a tale of despair, mortality and very bad decisions.
Not too shabby in the use of continuity, either.
For all the Motörhead fans who can read.
I assume this is not about this guy...
Naw. Dark Horse had the courtesy to refrain from the pretentious umlaut the band uses.