I was shocked by how many new series and miniseries debuted this week.
Best Comic of the Week:
Legion of Super-Heroes #1 – I’ve written many times about how big a LSH fan I am, and how much the original version of the team (from the beginning of Levitz’s run through the 5YL series) means to me. I was so excited to hear that the Legion was returning under writer Joshua Williamson and artist Hayden Sherman, even though I knew it wouldn’t be anything like my Legion. And that’s the problem; every time the Legion gets rebooted, it has to be a total revamp, because of all the meddling that’s been done with the team since Zero Hour. I think what I loved most about discovering this book around the time of the Millennium event was the understanding that there were dozens of characters that had unique personalities and ways of interacting with one another, and that is not something we’ll ever have again, unless one of these revamps lasts for a decade or two. Bendis tried to capture that feeling with the last revamp, but it didn’t quite click (probably because all of Bendis’s characters talk the same). Anyway, I came into this newest series with an open mind and a genuine desire to see this book succeed, and I really enjoyed it. In Williamson’s vision of the future, using powers for heroic deeds has been outlawed. RJ Brande, the universe’s richest man, has just been killed, and Brainiac One of Five and his bodyguard Tenzil Kem are investigating on their own, without permission. We also meet three young people, Garth, Rokk, and Imra, who are chafing under the rules and expectations of their homeworlds. The issue ends with the revelation of what Brande was up to, and who killed him. Readers with history with the Legion will enjoy the subtle and major ways that Williamson is shaking up some of the established lore, and the way these characters are introduced to us. Sherman, however, is the reason to buy this book, even if you hate the Legion. His approach to this is stunning. Like with Absolute Wonder Woman, he uses unique page designs and panel layouts, but that’s just the beginning. He’s filtered his vision of the future through an appreciation of Moebius’s cityscapes, and his costume designs are fantastic. I was especially impressed with the Persuaders, the enforcement arm of the Science Police (I suspect that some of these Persuaders will become members of the Legion, and that the one with wings is Dawnstar). One change that really stayed with me is the way either Sherman or letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhadu have come up with the way Titanians communicate. Their telepathy is portrayed as circles with three or more rings that resemble hieroglyphics. I don’t really know what they’re saying to one another, but Sherman’s art makes it clear how this communication lands on poor Irma. I’ve been burned by new Legion projects before, and how quickly they die off just as they start to get good, but I’ve got high expectations for this book, and the fact that two of the biggest creators in comics right now are working on it, makes me hope that this will last for a while (and won’t get ruined by whatever Darkseid nonsense gets hinted at). I don’t know if Sherman will be able to juggle this series and Absolute Wonder Woman (he is as prolific as Dan Mora, so maybe), but I really like everything he and Williamson have shown us so far. If you’ve been intimidated by Legion history, this is fully readable if you’ve can’t name a single member of the team, but it’s also rewarding for those of us who have been here for a while.
Quick Takes:
Absolute Green Lantern #18 – I remember being annoyed with the last issue of this series, but I really liked this one. Granted, it didn’t show most of the main characters, instead focusing on a character who went missing on a mission in 1943, and Simon Baz, who is not actually dead. We’re introduced to the concept of Absolute Manhunters, but don’t know much about them. There are still so many mysteries in this series, but from time to time, Al Ewing shows us that there is a plan in place for all of this.
Absolute Superman #23 – As Superman searches for Brainiac, he stumbles on a child trafficking ring being run by the Toyman, and the rest of the issue reminds us what a world with true heroes might do to the Epstein class. I like how Jason Aaron has Kal-El wrestle with his responsibility and rage in this issue. Juan Ferreyra’s art is lovely, although I don’t know how I feel about the Superman suit when he draws it. It’s looking a little too New 52 for me.
Batman #13 – With the city being taken over by plantlife, Batman decides that the best thing for him to do is go after Vandal Savage, who is at GCPD headquarters. This is one of those issues that is almost entirely taken up with Batman fighting his way through the station tower, as the TUCOs (Savage’s privatized police militia) try to fight back. This issue is guest-drawn by Matteo Scalera, who is perfect for a story like this. His art is very kinetic and exciting, and while I would have liked more story and/or something happening with the actual Bad Seeds plotline, I really enjoyed this issue.
Batgirl #23 – This is much more what I expected from this Bad Seeds event. Batgirl and her friends are eating at the Vietnamese restaurant we saw at the start of the series when the plants attack. In short order, Cassandra is hurt, but is also the only person who can save the life of a young girl who has been poisoned by one of the plants. Tate Brombal and Takeshi Miyazawa have been doing great work with this character since the start of this series, and I like how easily they are able to adapt to the demands of an event like this, while staying true to their vision of the series.
Black Panther & Namor: Doomed #1 – I think that maybe this comic came out too early, as it probably gives away the end of next month’s Captain America. T’Challa is learning that his people are not happy that he’s back in charge of Wakanda, while Namor, who is no longer in charge of Atlantis, has lost the trust of many of his people. When demons invade Atlantis, and the skies go red, Namor turns to Wakanda for help, not knowing that T’Challa has returned. The animosity these men share for each other will make this interesting, but I have to say that I feel for the fictional citizens of their two nations; their leadership switches so drastically so often, it must be very confusing. The writers, Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan do a fine job of capturing these complex characters, and Stefano Nesi’s art is nice.
Captain America #15 – Cap and Doom have been building an army in Hell, and believe they are ready to take on Mephisto, but is anyone really ready for the devil? My favourite part about this issue is that Mephisto shifts from his standard appearance to the one that John Romita Jr. gave him in his Daredevil run, and I’ve always loved that look. Artist Valerio Schiti handles it quite well, as he does the fight between Cap and the Red Skull. Writer Chip Zdarsky is getting at the core of what it means to be Captain America, and who Steve Rogers really is at the end of this issue, and it has me excited to see the consequences of the choice he made here. This is a good run.
Crowbound #1 – Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen work so well together, and when I saw they were creating a new book, I couldn’t resist. The start of Crowbound throws us into a strange situation. We meet Rose, a factory worker, and her daughter, Ava, who, at eleven, is still in school for another year. We quickly figure out that this is a strange world – people seem to live grey lives behind a gigantic wall that is keeping something horrible out – and when Ava doesn’t come out of her school one evening, we know that things are really wrong. Lemire plays his cards close, and Nguyen’s art is always almost minimalist, so I can tell there’s a lot that will be revealed as this story plays out. I also know that they have my attention with this for sure.
Daredevil #6 – I was disappointed when I saw that Lee Garbett’s name was not on the cover of this issue, but then when I started reading, I think I came to like Flaviano’s art even more. He has an exaggerated style that works well on the action sequences, but also makes the more everyday scenes interesting. Daredevil learns that there is a notebook of the Kingpin’s, which may contain his and other heroes’ secrets, so he’s off to find it, even though he’s making a mess of his new teaching job. I like how writer Stephanie Phillips is bringing a number of street-level villains into this, as well as a certain ex of DD’s.
Doom Patrol #1 – When I saw that Nico Henrichon was drawing the new Doom Patrol series, I didn’t even have to think before adding it to my pullfile. Henrichon is an incredible artist who doesn’t draw all that many comics. I was a little surprised by this comic though. Writer Darcy Van Poelgeest has chosen to focus on the original trio for a roster, with no mention of how the team moved from having a big base where they were training metahumans (in The Unstoppable Doom Patrol) to driving around in an old van saving kittens for cash. This being the Doom Patrol, the rescuing of a kitten ends in a fight with a strange alien being, while Professor Caulder faces some kind of crisis that we all know will end with him betraying his team for the thousandth time. Van Poelgeest is a unique writer; his Image series have been full of strange ideas and sometimes unclear storytelling, so he seems like the right person to take on this team. I liked this issue and will be sticking around, even though I’ve never really liked this take on the team (Grant Morrison’s DP will always be my north star for this title). Henrichon’s art is gorgeous, and is enough of a reason to buy this comic on its own.
Escape #9 – I’ve been blown away by this series so far, as Rick Remender and Daniel Acuña have shown us the story of Milton, a soldier who was shot down over enemy territory and has been determined to evade capture and complete his mission, to blow up a massive enemy cannon. At first, it was the pure excitement of the story that drew me to it, but as Milton found aid among the local Resistance, it’s become more of a story of morality, trust, and the hatred war engenders. In this issue, we learn that Milton wasn’t the only survivor of the crash, and meet another, a foreign airman from his crew. Milton is rushing for the coast, where an evac has been arranged for him, but he knows the plane will be too small for his companion and the man and his boy who have been helping him. I love the way Remender works these moral quandaries into the story, and gives everyone a position that seems understandable. This comic is heartbreaking in all sorts of ways, and Acuña’s art really amplifies that. I know that this is going to end sadly, but I’m not sure for which character yet. It really is among the best comics on the stands right now.
Fantastic Four #16 – Once again, Ryan North writes a perfect FF story. This time around, the team (and Alicia) have crashed on an alien planet that is a lot like Earth, but a little more than a century behind Earth in terms of technology. While working to fix their ship, they discover that the clay on this world can be played like a vinyl record, revealing what was said as vases and pots were made. Inadvertently, this revelation, which the team shares with the world, causes a vicious civil war. It’s another weird science fact that launches a whole story, and that’s what I come to this book for now. North has an interesting brain; his FF is much more effective than his approach to The Flash.
JSA #23 – Of course I’m going to be all over a ‘Times Past’ style Justice Society story drawn by the great Teddy Kristiansen, and thought this was a terrific comic. Ten years after the JSA disbanded, three of them were approached by the government to go on a covert mission behind the Iron Curtain. Most of this issue is given over to the setup of the story, so I expect that the next issue is going to be pretty exciting. I am concerned that it’s also going to be the last issue of this series, as there wasn’t an issue in the latest solicitations. I hope that Lemire and his collaborators are going to take a month off, because I really like how Lemire has rebuilt the JSA and made it compelling. I want this book to last as long as he wants to write it.
Marvel Knights: The World To Come #6 – I don’t know what sales were like for this project, or how it was received by other readers, but nothing made me happier than seeing Priest revisit his classic Black Panther run, writing a convoluted story about what happened decades after he left the book. This had all the usual Priestian time jumping, unreliable narratives, and sudden twists that mark all of his best books, but elevated by Joe Quesada artwork. It was a love letter to a time when Marvel was so fundamentally shaken financially and editorially that they were letting all sorts of subversive stuff through (amidst a flood of truly terrible books), and when Black Panther was the best comic on the stands. I really enjoyed this return to those characters and time, and like how Priest’s story ended. I was surprised to see that the last page of the comic promised a further return to the ‘world to come’, and hope that if Quesada is involved again, they have enough lead time that we aren’t waiting months for the last issue. This series probably didn’t satisfy a lot of readers, but it felt like it was written just for me in places, and I appreciate that. It makes me want to reread the original series for a third time…
Minor Arcana #18 – It now feels like the first three arcs were all there just to set up this issue, as Theresa gets into a pretty explosive argument with her mother, and we get an inkling of why it’s so important that Theresa stay in Limberlost (of course, we learn this as she plans on leaving town). Jeff Lemire’s been taking his time with this story, so that some of the bigger moments carry a lot more weight. It’s very effective, as is the way he has Letizia Cadonici continue to draw the flashback scenes. This is a really great comic.
Superman: The Stranger #1 – I love when DC’s Black Label line lets a creator go wild with their own take on a major character. Wes Craig, whose wonderful series Kaya seems to be slowing down a little, gives us a look at the earliest iteration of Superman, but through a more modern lens. Clark Kent is an orphan who has come to Metropolis (presumably) to find work at the Daily Planet, but is only given a low-level position. He spends his nights using his new abilities to protect people, but when he stops a mugging, he’s surprised to see who is committing crimes, and even more surprised by the attitude of the people he’s saved. At the same time, Lex Luthor, an isolationist, is scheming and intimidating a US Senator. I’ve been a fan of Craig’s art since his short stint on Guardians of the Galaxy, and have loved his work on Deadly Class and Kaya, and really enjoy his writing too. It’s cool to see Superman at the power levels he was given by Siegel and Shuster, and to get a ground-level view of what I assume is pre-war Metropolis.
Tales of Wonder #1 – I wasn’t sure what this new Steve Skroce series was going to be, and didn’t really expect that it would be about (fictional versions of) Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s rivalry. Two legendary comics creators who haven’t gotten along in years, and are now quite advanced in age, come together to reconcile at the comics convention that has replaced San Diego’s Comic-Con. Things are going fine, until a fan asks which of them was more important in the creation of Wonder Comics, and until a creature attacks. This covers similar ground to Chip Zdarsky’s much-missed Public Domain, but from a very different angle. I’ve always been a fan of Skroce’s art, and he’s proven himself to be a good writer. I’m glad I picked this up, because it’s funny and gives a little more insight into the business side of the material we all love.
Teen Titans #1 – The third new DC comic this week is a new take on the Teen Titans, mixing some established young heroes with some new ones. A Discord server named after the classic team attracts the attention of Red Hood after a kid who posts on it goes missing, and he discovers that Cheshire Cat and Fairplay have gathered a little group of powered (and one unpowered) kids. I like the feel of this book and the way Kyle Higgins writes these characters. Daniele Di Nicuolo’s art is a little busy and hard to follow at times, but looks very cool. I see potential in this book, and will give it an arc or two. I like that I don’t really read any of these characters (Lian is probably the one I know best), so this feels pretty new to me.
Warbird #1 – I really liked the preview that came out in the spring or so, and was happy to finally get the first issue of this new Bad Idea series. The book, written by Derek Kolstad and Robert Venditti, feels like it’s a treatment for a very good action movie or maybe a new franchise. The main character is a high-end repo man (his first target is a $33 million dollar yacht) who ends up getting asked by the CIA to go after a new Russian stealth jet. The book has all the markings of a good spy thriller, without any spies, and has incredible art by Alex Maleev and Esad Ribic. I think I’m going to enjoy this series a lot.
Bargain Comics:
The Future Is ****** Annual 2026 #1 – This was a Free Comic Book Day release this spring that I only finally got around to reading. I’ve been curious about this series for a while, given that I like Fred Van Lente’s writing a lot, but the series kind of escaped my notice when it first came out. I didn’t know what to expect, and appreciated that the publishers (REKCAH Comics) created original work to spotlight what the series is like. I didn’t know that the comic was about hackers in a world where most people are wired into the internet through their eyes, and that they see an augmented reality wherever they go. If I’m being honest, this didn’t grab me, as the focus on hackers and their world didn’t really interest me. I might read the first trade at some point, and think this is a well-made comic; it’s just not really for me.
The Week In Music:
Henry Solomon – Solo Woodwind – I was not very familiar with Henry Solomon upon receiving this album, which like the title suggests, consists of him playing nine different types of woodwind instruments over the course of nine tracks. The music varies a lot in style – there’s the kind of ambient, gentle jazz I love, some more traditional jazz pieces, and some pretty experimental ones. It’s an interesting collection from a gifted musician.
Akusmi – Terra Incognita – I discovered this artist through some recommendations, and am really impressed with how Akusmi, the stage name of Pascal Bideau, blends multiple instruments to construct soundscapes that are a little hard to describe. Much of his work sounds like Phillip Glass grew up in South America, specializing in flute and percussion instead of the piano. There are some guest artists on here (harpist Marysia Osu and tabla player Sarathy Korwar are the only names I recognize), but just about everything is done by Bideau. He has a way of building these constructions towards big crescendos, and making the music feel very emotional and sometimes overwhelming in its intensity. It’s an impressive album.
Ancient Infinity Orchestra – It’s Always About Liberation – I love big spiritual jazz pieces, and Ozzy Moysey definitely delivers that with his Ancient Infinity Orchestra. There are seventeen people credited as playing instruments on this, and another thirteen members of the choir. The album is named after a Moor Mother quote, which is very cool to me. This is a huge record, with swelling strings and a killer rhythm section. It’s sad that an orchestra this big is not going to tour overseas, so I’ll probably never get to see them play, but I imagine it would be spectacular. This is a solid album to play when you need your mood uplifted.
