The Weekly Pull: Incredible Hulk, Black Adam, The Bone Orchard Mythos: Tenement, and More
Batman: The 1989 Movie Adaptation
- Written by Dennis O'Neil
- Art by Jerry Ordway
- Colors by Steve Oliff
- Letters by John Constanza
- Published by DC
Now that The Flash movie has sped its way into theaters, the tenure of Michael Keaton's Batman is being talked about quite a bit. In addition to DC's recent and stellar Batman '89 tie-in comic, there was an official adaptation of the 1989 blockbuster, which finally gets reprinted this week. Honestly, the combination of Dennis O'Neil and Jerry Ordway collaborating together should be enough to make this a must-buy, but if you're still feeling even a smidge of Batmania, you should pick this up. — Jenna Anderson
prevnextBlack Adam #12
- Written by Priest
- Art by Eddy Barrows and Eber Ferreira
- Colors by Matt Herms
- Letters by Willie Schubert
- Published by DC
Priest's excellent reexamination of the anti-hero Teth Adam draws to a close in Black Adam #12 this week and the series' readers are prepared to witness the last chapter (for now) of the best work to center on this character in any medium. Although the possibility of more looms large in the minds of fans, that desire is seated in an outstanding year-long run that simultaneously reframed Black Adam's origins while laying out a potent framework for his present and future struggles. The potential was evident from Black Adam #1 which drew upon its protagonist's dark and complex history to consider the moral status of leadership and introduced Malik to contrast what was past with a new perspective on the world. Their interwoven narratives have proven to be remarkably rewarding on both a personal (i.e. struggling to connect with friends, family, and romance) and global (i.e. war and trade negotiations) scale. These many layers of narrative are reminiscent of Priest's best work, specifically Black Panther, as they provide a multi-faceted examination of many topics in a fashion uniquely curated for comics. For now, Malik and Adam's relationship is set to be redefined along with their struggle against old-world gods in the pages of Black Adam #12. No matter how that conflict turns out, it's apparent that Black Adam has never possessed more potential at DC Comics than he does at the end of this series. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextThe Bone Orchard Mythos: Tenement #1
- Written by Jeff Lemire
- Art by Andrea Sorrentino
- Colors by Dave Stewart
- Letters by Steve Wands
- Published by Image Comics
Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino's Bone Orchard comics present a "shared universe" that possesses more in common with The Twilight Zone than Marvel or DC. Rather than focusing on interwoven plots, characters, and timelines, they emphasize a central mood in the haunting confines of a world often torn by madness in the periphery of most individuals' vision. While individual stories vary greatly in their approach, Sorrentino's characteristic style and Lemire's experimental streak promise engaging tales of horror that are impossible to predict. Tenement may be their most ambitious effort yet as it details the stories of seven residents in a single building and how their individual arcs intertwine in twisted fashions. The over-sized first issue lays the groundwork for what's to come – introducing the cast and an initial murder that will tie them together. It's apparent that fans of horror comics ought to be paying attention to any title bearing The Bone Orchard Mythos and Tenement #1 is prepared to offer a perfect introduction as to why that is. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextChilling Adventures Presents... Camp Pickens #1
- Written by Tim Seeley, Blake Howard, Jordan Morrison
- Art by Mike Norton, Carola Borelli, Diana Camero
- Colors by Matt Herms
- Letters by Jack Morelli
- Published by Archie Comics
Archie's latest horror-twinged one-shot is perfectly suited for the summer months, showcasing the Riverdale High gang in an unconventional — and deadly — summer camp. With a roster of creators that includes Tim Seeley, Mike Norton, and Jordan Morris, there's sure to be some spooky, but genuinely entertaining storytelling within these pages. — Jenna Anderson
prevnextEssential Judge Anderson: Shamballa
- Written by Alan Grant
- Art by Arthur Ranson, Mick Austin
- Published by Rebellion
When I reviewed Best of 2000 AD Vol. 1 in July 2022, I named Anderson, Psi Division: Shamballa by writer Alan Grant and artist Arthur Ranson the standout inclusion in the volume. Best of 2000 AD is a stellar series, and readers would do well to seek it out, not least of which for Adam Karenina Sherif's excellent essay introducing Shamballa. Otherwise, this week's release of the first volume in Rebellion Publishing's Essential Judge Anderson collection offers another way to experience the compelling tale. Shamballa is a thoughtful story of Anderson reexamining her place in the world, specifically as a judge, and trying to figure out if there is any such thing as a greater good. These themes are all wrapped in a captivating thriller that uses Anderson's psychic abilities to explore a type of spiritual combat. It's a brilliant story that feels complete even as it serves as a fine introduction to Judge Anderson's world, making it pretty obvious why Rebellion chose Shamballa as the story the kick of the Essential series. If you're new to Judge Anderson's world, this is the perfect way to start to get familiar. -- Jamie Lovett
prevnextHellcat #4
- Written by Christopher Cantwell
- Art by Alex Lins
- Colors by Kike J Diaz
- Letters by Ariana Maher
- Published by Marvel Comics
Every new issue of Hellcat has felt like a genuine breath of fresh air, reckoning with Patsy Walker's one-of-a-kind Marvel legacy in some beautiful ways. This penultimate issue of the miniseries will see Patsy pushed to her breaking point — and as the cover reveals, the result will be a little demonic. Christopher Cantwell, Alex Lins, and company have been consistently knocking it out of the park, and I'm excited to see what that looks like with this issue. — Jenna Anderson
prevnextThe Incredible Hulk #1
- Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
- Art by Nic Klein
- Colors by Matthew Wilson
- Letters by Cory Petit
- Published by Marvel Comics
If the last couple of years in Hulk comics have reminded us of anything, it's that it is very hard to follow a mega-hit in comics. The Immortal Hulk reshaped the character and provided many longtime fans with a definitive run. But after 60 years of having The Hulk in comics, we also know that there are lots of stories bound in that monstrous form. It appears that the next great one may be arriving this week as writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and artist Nic Klein take a back-to-basics approach in which Bruce Banner finds himself on the run to hide his inner monster from the world and inevitably encountering worse monsters along the road. Klein is very well suited to horror comics with a visceral style and detailed line work that invites readers to gawk at whatever terrors may emerge on the page. Johnson has shown a real knack for blurring the lines of morality and heroism in the superhero genre and is presented with a very different icon than Superman to experiment with in these pages. Together, they present readers with an all-star creative team primed to return Hulk to his proper place in the Marvel Comics pantheon with another must-read monthly series. -- Chase Magnett
prevnextUltimate Invasion #1
- Written by Jonathan Hickman
- Art by Bryan Hitch
- Inks by Andrew Currie
- Colors by Alex Sinclair
- Letters by Joe Caramagna
- Published by Marvel Comics
Under normal circumstances, I might be ambivalent about Marvel Comics revisiting the Ultimate Universe. While launching a fresh new version of the Marvel Universe for new readers that was both familiar but thoroughly modernized was a brilliant idea in 2000. However, that universe had become as byzantine and impenetrable as the original Marvel universe it was meant to complement, leading to declining sales and Marvel pulling the plug during Secret Wars in 2015. With its best creation, Miles Morales, now firmly ensconced in the 616, why bother bringing the Ultimate Universe up again? Jonathan Hickman is why. A master worldbuilder, Hickman is fresh off of turning the X-Men's world upside and making them more compelling than they have been in years by taking bold swings that made even his editors balk at first. Imagine what Hickman will do with free rein over the reborn Ultimate Universe. It starts in Ultimate Invasion, debuting this week, where Hickman teams with legendary artist Bryan Hitch, who defined the look of the Ultimate Universe and superhero comics for decades with his work on The Ultimates. Whether or not you're nostalgic for the old Ultimate Universe, Ultimate Invasion is can't-miss comics. -- Jamie Lovett
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