The Weekly Pull: Scarlet Witch, The Next Batman, November, and More
It is nearly new comic book day again. New releases are on the way and will hit comic book stores [...]
Deep Beyond #1
- Written by Mirka Andolfo and David Goy
- Art by Andrea Broccardo
- Published by Image Comics
Deep Beyond, the new Image Comics series from Andrea Broccardo, Mirka Andolfo, and David Goy, is part of the growing trend of speculative fiction spawned from our collective anxiety over climate change. Here, the moment of societal collapse came all at once in the form of a deadly plague that has made the planet's natural atmosphere uninhabitable. Now only the scientists maintaining an artificial colony habitat can prevent humanity from going extinct altogether. But should they? The question comes to the fore as Deep Beyond begins to examine our unsustainable relationship with our home planet and how far we may be willing to go to change it instead of ourselves. -- Jamie Lovett
prevnextFear Case #1
- Written by Matt Kindt
- Art by Tyler and Hillary Jenkins
- Published by Dark Horse Comics
Comics fans have come to know that they can always expect something inventive from Matt Kindt. With Fear Case, he's reteaming with Grass Kings artist Tyler Jenkins for a tale billed as True Detective meets The Ring. The titular fear case is a container that has mysteriously appeared at the site of disasters throughout history. Anyone who obtains the artifact must pass it off to someone new within three days or risk bringing such disaster on themselves. Now two hard-nosed detectives have to track the thing down before a strange cult gets a hold of it. That sounds about as wild as we've come to expect from Matt Kindt, and he rarely fails to deliver. -- Jamie Lovett
prevnextFlash Facts
- Written by Amy Chu, Sholly Fisch, Darian Johnson, and Varian Johnson
- Art by Ile Gonzalez, Isaac Goodhart, Erich Owen, and Vic Regis
- Published by DC Comics
DC's middle-grade graphic novels continue to be absolutely delightful, and the latest release centers around everyone's favorite speedster The Flash. Flash Facts puts Barry Allen front and center and embraces the wondrous mysteries of science and the universe in fun and easy to understand ways. The book is curated by Mayim Bialik, Ph.D., and features a host of tremendous creators including Michael Northrop, Dustin Hansen, Cecil Castellucci, Kirk Scroggs, Vita Ayala, Amy Chu, Corinna Bechko, and Sholly Fisch. It's a one of a kind anthology that combines your favorite superheroes with science, technology, and mathematics, and should not be missed. -- Matthew Aguilar
prevnextFuture State: Harley Quinn #2
- Written by Stephanie Phillips
- Art by Simone DiMeo and Toni Infante
- Published by DC Comics
Of all of the Future State stories, Harley Quinn's has been a surprising treat and the second issue of Stephanie Phillips' story lets readers further enjoy Harley as a competent -- if not a little unbalanced and offbeat -- detective. It's a well-written, fast-moving adventure that doesn't linger too much in the murky details that is the Magistrate-controlled Gotham, but still stays true to its villains and the challenges and choices that come with the quest for justice, no matter what side of things you're on. It's such a fun issue and a must-read for any Harley fan. -- Nicole Drum
prevnextFuture State: The Next Batman #3
- Written by: John Ridley
- Art by Laura Braga
- Published by DC Comics
Future State has gone a long way in reinventing Batman both with Dark Detective and The Next Batman, but it's the latter that this week is a must-read. With a lot of things still a bit unclear regarding the Magistrate and exactly why Jace Fox's family is so broken by all things masks, what continues to take shape is how this new Batman approaches justice and what that looks like in a police state. There's a lot to appreciate about this story, especially as we get deeper into what Gotham's become and what being a hero in this new world means when the line between good and not good disappears. -- Nicole Drum
prevnextFuture State: Wonder Woman #2
- Written by Joelle Jones
- Art by Joelle Jones
- Published by DC Comics
The first issue of Future State: Wonder Woman was honestly one of the best comic debuts I've read in a long time, effortlessly and brilliantly introducing readers to the world of Yara Flor. That makes the release of this week's second issue - the final installment in her Future State solo run, and the last before she stars in a Wonder Girl series sometime in the future - all the more anticipated. It's overwhelmingly, beautifully clear that Joelle Jones has an amazing take on who Yara is, and what new energy and excitement she can bring to the Wonder Woman family. I'm incredibly excited to check out this issue — and you should be too. -- Jenna Anderson
prevnextManhunter by Archie Goodwin and Walter Simonson Deluxe Edition
- Published by DC Comics
- Written by Archie Goodwin
- Art by Walt Simonson
A bonafide classic crafted by comics' legends available in a collected format for the very first time. That certainly sounds like the speech of a hype man, but every word is true when applied to Archie Goodwin and Walt Simonson's Manhunter feature from Detective Comics in the 1970s. Together, they developed the brightly-clad detective Paul Kirk whose Manhunter lineage would extend through DC Comics' canon for decades to come. Readers unfamiliar with the character or creators (or, god forbid, both) will find this long-overdue hardcover a welcome introduction to some of the best superhero comics produced in the early 70s. In a story filled with mysteries, action, and intrigue, Goodwin showcases the craft which made his decades of writing timeless and a young Simonson delivers an impactful style that would make him one of the most influential American comics artists for decades to come. I'm simply grateful this story is finally updated and available to be shelved alongside other DC Comics classics; I hope you'll be every bit as elated after opening the cover. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextNovember Book Four
- Written by Matt Fraction
- Art by Elsa Charretier
- Published by Image Comics
Don't start with the fourth volume of November as this noir tale arrives at its conclusion, but do consider it a reason to dive into one of the most ambitious and creatively rewarding Image Comics' projects of the past several years. Both Fraction and Charretier have been delivering some career-best work. Fraction's return to noir storytelling (coinciding with the re-release of The Last of the Independents) has been an invigorating change of pace. A more focused scope and style have only boosted the writer's storytelling ambitions. Charretier's work in telling this narrative has been nothing short of outstanding either with subtle shifts in action and perfectly detailed facial expressions. Together they have produced one of the most original and remarkable new comics to hit the direct market over the past two years. Now that the finale is here, there's never been a better moment to discover this one crazy night in its entirety. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextScarlet Witch by James Robinson: The Complete Collection TPB
- Written by James Robinson
- Art by Various
- Published by Marvel Comics
If you've been wondering how to bide your time until the next episode of WandaVision, there are a wealth of incredible Marvel Comics eras for you to get lost in. I have a particular soft spot for the 2015-2017 Scarlet Witch solo run, which showcased the epic and stellar things that Scarlet Witch brings to the Marvel universe at a time when she was arguably still a supporting character in the Avengers movies. This new collection, which encapsulates the entirety of the run and a brief crossover into Doctor Strange, is a moody, brilliant joy through and through — and might help you start to decode some of the mysteries in WandaVision's remaining episodes. — Jenna Anderson
prevnextSpecter Inspectors #1
- Written by Bowen McCurdy and Kaitlyn Musto
- Art by Bowen McCurdy
- Published by BOOM! Box
BOOM! Studios will soon introduce fans to a lovable new crew of ghost hunters in Specter Inspectors, though don't let the lighthearted vibe fool you. Bowen McCurdy, Kaitlyn Musto, and Jim Campbell deliver a Scooby-Doo-esque adventure but with a more mature spin, and from the jump these characters are already delightful. The combination of tension, stakes, and humor is a compelling mixture and one that should not be missed. -- Matthew Aguilar
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