The Weekly Pull: Immortal Thor, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Magic Planeswalkers, and More

Plus: Jean Grey's new series debuts, and collection of chilling Archie Comics tales.

By Jamie Lovett - August 22, 2023 12:00 pm EDT

It's almost another new comic book day, which means new releases hitting stores and digital platforms. Each week in The Weekly Pull, the ComicBook.com team highlights the new releases that have us the most excited about another week of comics. Whether those releases are from the most prominent publisher or a small press, brand new issues of ongoing series, original graphic novels, or collected editions of older material, whether it involves capes and cowls or comes from any other genre, if it has us excited about comic books this week, then we're going to tell you about it in The Weekly Pull.

This week, Thor becomes immortal in a new Marvel series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds embarks on a new mission, and Magic: The Gathering's most notorious planeswalkers get the spotlight. Plus, Archie Comics gets into the Halloween season spirit with Chilling Tales, and more.

What comics are you most excited about this week? Let us know which new releases you're looking forward to reading in the comments, and feel free to leave some of your suggestions as well. Check back tomorrow for our weekly reviews and again next week for a new installment of The Weekly Pull.

Archie Horror Presents: Chilling Adventures

Written by Various
Art by Various
Published by Archie Comics

With Riverdale finally coming to an end this week after seven seasons on The CW, it feels fitting to get a chance to recommend another recent Archie showcase. This week's new collection reprints the string of horror-tinged one-shots from the past year, which reimagine both franchise mainstays and obscure characters (hello, Jinx Holliday) in a modern, creepy flavor. If you walk away from the Riverdale finale wanting more of Archie's blend of classic Americana and unhinged pop-culture impact, this is a good place to start. — Jenna Anderson

Art Brut, Vol. 1: Winking Woman

Written by W. Maxwell Prince
Art by Martín Morazzo
Colors by Mat Lopes with Chris O'Halloran
Letters by Good Old Neon
Published by Image Comics

For nearly six years, I have relished the black humor, surreal illustrations, and strangely sincere perspective on the human condition found in every new issue of Ice Cream Man. So when it was announced that the series writer, W. Maxwell Prince, and artist, Martín Morazzo, were re-releasing their first collaboration, originally titled The Electric Sublime, updated for an optimal reading experience, returning to the start of this artistic partnership was a no-brainer. Retitled Art Brut (taken from the protagonist's name and a phrase meaning "raw art"), the story examines art history and the influence of artistic projects through the mad mind of its lead, Arthur Brut accompanied by a mannequin companion, Manny. The striking tone, immersive and twisted artwork, and insights that make Ice Cream Man a must-read anthology are all present in the four-issue republication now beautifully presented in a hardcover for only $19.99. Strange, funny, and unlike anything else on the comic book stands today, Prince and Morazzo's work is bound to thrill readers who already know their names and those lucky enough to just be discovering them now. -- Chase Magnett

Immortal Thor #1

Written by Al Ewing
Art by Martin Coccolo
Colors by Matthew Wilson
Letters by Joe Sabino
Published by Marvel Comics

Writing a recommendation for Immortal Thor seems a redundant task, even for someone who spent nearly five years reviewing every issue of its predecessor, Immortal Hulk. Writer Al Ewing redefined Marvel's green goliath after 60 years in a run many modern readers consider to be definitive, looming over even Peter David's. Ewing has always had an impressive understanding of Marvel's sprawling lore and the rare ability to refine and build upon it to deliver fascinating new concepts that speak to more than simple superhero genre elements. So his return to another iconic Jack Kirby creation, Thor, paired with another artistic titan, Martin Coccolo, seems to be the most obvious pick for any comic book reader this week. And that's not because we know what to expect; Immortal Hulk's ethos was one of constant surprise and reinvention. Rather, it's because readers know the immense talents involved and the unbridled ambition that accompanies the "Immortal" moniker now. Wherever Ewing and Coccolo aim to steer decades of lore in their new epic of Asgardian gods, it is bound to deliver a superhero read unlike anything we've encountered before. I cannot wait to discover where it leads. -- Chase Magnett

Jean Grey #1

Written by Louise Simonson
Art by Bernard Chang
Colors by Marcelo Maiolo
Letters by Ariana Maher
Published by Marvel Comics

I already was incredibly on board with a Jean Grey solo series, but after reading through this year's ghastly Hellfire Gala one-shot, it feels downright essential. This new four-issue mini promises to take Jean's new status quo to an emotional and essential new height. With Louise Simonson back in the X-Men world, and Bernard Chang on the art, I have confidence they're going to deliver in that regard and then some. — Jenna Anderson

Magic Planeswalkers: Notorious #1

Written by Rich Douek, Cullen Bunn
Art by Carlos Pedro, Fench Carlomagno
Colors by Arianna Consonni, Mattia Iacono
Letters by Ed Dukeshire
Published by Boom Studios

Thus far, Boom Studios' Magic: The Gathering comics have primarily followed members of the Gatewatch, the planeswalkers equivalent of the Avengers or the Justice League. Magic Planeswalker: Notorious instead seeks to spotlight two of Magic: The Gathering Multiverse's less reputable planeswalkers. Boom Studios couldn't have found a better writer for the job than Cullen Bunn, who never shied away from morally questionable protagonists in a variety of series, both creator-owned and in larger shared universes (his Magneto series with Gabriel Walta for Marvel remains a personal favorite of mine). He'll bring that same energy as he teams with artist French Carlomagno for a story featuring the necromancer Leliana Vess and the vampire planeswalker Sorin Markov, who aren't thrilled to be forced to work together. The issue's second story sees Rich Douek, who helped close out Boom's ongoing Magic: The Gathering series, teaming with Carlos Pedro for a tale featuring Planeswalkers Oko, a fae trickster from the plane of Eldraine, and Calix, an Agent of Fate from Theros. They seem unlikely to get along, but Magic fans will likely enjoy this one-shot, which can also serve as a sampler for those curious about the iconic card game's lore. -- Jamie Lovett

The Naked Tree

(Photo: Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, Drawn and Quarterly)

Created by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim

Published by Drawn and Quarterly

When The Naked Tree arrives on American bookshelves this week, it delivers one of the most poignant and stirring comics of 2023. The graphic novel crafted by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim (Jun, Grass) provides readers with a portrait of humanity amidst great historic tumult on the Korean peninsula as it adapts Park Wan-suh's novel. The story centers on Lee Kyeonga, a 20-year-old woman existing at the margins of society as the Korean War rages around her in 1951. Her connection with a northern escapee sheds light on the consequences of the conflict, and how grandiose struggles between nations reshape human aspirations and desires. Gendry-Kim's cartooning provides new depth to the characters and their tumultuous environment, offering an adaptation that expands upon and reinterprets a literary classic with an expert eye for the comics medium. Regardless of familiarity with the original text or historic conflict, The Naked Tree delivers a story of war, romance, and persistence bound to grip readers' attention and expand their understanding of our world today. It is simply not to be missed. -- Chase Magnett

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds -- The Scorpius Run #1

(Photo: Angel Hernandez, IDW Publishing)

Written by Mike Johnson and Ryan Parrot
Art by Angel Hernandez
Colors by Nick Filardi
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Published by IDW Publishing

Star Trek fans may feel like there's been something missing from their lives over the last week or two. The cause: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' stellar second season has ended, and there's no new Star Trek until September. IDW Publishing is coming to the rescue with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds -- The Scorpius Run, a new miniseries from writers Mike Johnson and Ryan Parrot, who have worked together previously on several Star Trek comics, and artist Angel Hernandez, IDW's dependable go-to artist for tie-ins to Paramount+'s live-action Star Trek shows. No, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds -- The Scorpius Run won't offer any clues about how that cliffhanger ending to Strange New Worlds' second season finale will resolve (fans will have to wait for Season 3 for those answers) as it is instead an untold adventure following the Enterprise crew as they venture into an unknown region of space to fulfill Star Trek's first calling -- to explore new worlds and new civilizations -- where they find themselves cut off from communication with Starfleet. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds -- The Scorpius Run is guaranteed to fill that Constitution-class-shaped hole in every Star Trek fan's life. -- Jamie Lovett