The Weekly Pull: Moon Knight, Danger Street, Masterpiece, and More

Danger Street #12

• Written by Tom King
• Art by Jorge Fornes
• Colors by Dave Stewart
• Letters by Clayton Cowles
• Published by DC

Just in terms of concept, there will never be anything quite like Danger Street — a moody, genre-bending ensemble made up entirely of characters published in DC's 1st Issue Special decades ago. In execution, Tom King and Jorge Fornes have crafted something bizarre and beautiful, showcasing what the DCU is capable of in some of the weirdest ways possible. With this week's finale, I'm incredibly curious to see how the book sticks the landing. — Jenna Anderson

DC's 'Twas the Mite Before Christmas #1

Written by Various
Art by Various
Published by DC

Without fail, DC's holiday-themed anthologies always manage to be a highlight of my comic-reading year. This year's winter-themed escapade, 'Twas the Mite Before Christmas, promises to deliver even more joy and mischief this holiday season. With a crop of stories featuring everyone from well-known heroes like Harley Quinn and Superman, to more-obscure characters like Amethyst and Bunker, this is sure to be a delightful menagerie of the DCU's winter cheer. — Jenna Anderson

Masterpiece #1

• Written by Brian Michael Bendis
• Art by Alex Maleev
• Colors by Ian herring
• Letters by Josh Reed
• Published by Dark Horse Comics

The creative partnership between Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev is one of those pairings that always deserves readers' attention. While Bendis became a polarizing figure during his time as the biggest writer in superheroes, his Daredevil run with Maleev that launched him to that status remains a classic. Bendis and Maleev have reteamed previously on the creator-owned series Scarlet, and now they're back again and returning to the genre that they may be most comfortable in, crime fiction. Masterpiece combines Bendis' penchant for noir with his reputation for creating compelling young characters (see his Ultimate Spider-Man run, and the creation of Miles Morales and Riri Williams) by focusing on a 16-year-old genius who discovers they're the child of two master criminals. The pitch sounds equal parts Ironheart and Runaways, but with Maleev providing much moodier and more atmospheric artwork than either of those series had, it's sure to be a tale that stands out from the crowd. -- Jamie Lovett

Moon Knight #30

• Written by Jed MacKay
• Art by Alessandro Cappuccio
• Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
• Letters by Cory Petit
• Published by Marvel Comics

Writer Jed MacKay and artist Alessandro Cappuccio's run on Moon Knight spanning the last two and a half years of Marvel Comics has added a new peak amongst the heights of this title's already storied history. Twenty-nine issues and various miniseries have redefined one of the most recognizable silhouettes of Marvel's New York City skyline with new settings and supporting characters bound to stick around for years to come. The accomplishment of this series is already apparent, but the series' final issue still suggests that the best is yet to come. This final arc traces its roots to the very first issue and has presented readers with a countdown of the final days, hours, and now "The Final Moments of Moon Knight." Given that Moon Knight has continually grappled with mortality and purpose, it only seems fitting that it may provide a (brief) period on this beloved cult character's story. If it really is time for Marc Spector to slip off of Marvel's mortal coil for a few years, fans could not ask for a better creative team to compose that ending. -- Chase Magnett

Sabrina the Teenage Witch Holiday Special #1

• Written by Kelly Thompson and Danielle Paige
• Art by Andy and Veronica Fish and Veronica Johnson
• Colors by Matt Herms
• Letters by Jack Morelli
• Published by Archie Comics

The prospect of seeing Kelly Thompson, Andy and Veronica Fish, and company return to Sabrina the Teenage Witch is more than enough for me to pick up this week's holiday special. But even beyond that, this looks to be a charming and unexpected encapsulation of what stories can still be told with Sabrina, and I'm very excited to see what that entails. — Jenna Anderson

Space Usagi: Death and Honor #1

• Written by Stan Sakai
• Art by Stan Sakai
• Colors by Emi Fujii
• Letters by Stan Sakai
• Published by Dark Horse Comics

I admit that I was a little disappointed to discover that the Space Usagi: Yokai Hunter one-shot that shipped earlier this year was a Usagi Yojimbo story in all but name, with only its ending occurring in the spacefaring future. Don't get me wrong, I'm always happy to have more Usagi Yojimbo, but I had my hopes up for more of the spinoff's interstellar adventures. Space Usagi: Death and Honor doesn't feature a new story either, but instead reprints the original Space Usagi stories in color for the first time. I'm still eagerly anticipating new Space Usagi adventures. In the meantime, it'll be fun to revisit his earliest exploits in a new way via this miniseries, which also offers the perfect starting point for the uninitiated. -- Jamie Lovett

Underheist #1

• Written by Maria & David Lapham
• Art by David Lapham
• Colors by Hilary Jenkins
• Letters by David Lapham
• Published by Boom Studios

There are really only two words required to pitch readers on Boom Studios' newest crime series Underheist: David Lapham. The creator, writer, and artist of Stray Bullets—perhaps the most essential crime comic of the 21st century—simply doesn't miss. However, if you need more convincing, consider this. Lapham's approach to storytelling perfectly captures the mood and pacing of crime fiction, utilizing regular grids to set his characters and readers up for punches that consistently land like the very best noir twists. Lapham's violence is sudden, brutal, and unforgiving; his protagonists are desperate, sympathetic, and always running out of luck; his narratives are filled with twists and intersections. Now take all of that proven talent and apply it to the story of a gambler with one desperate shot to make everything right in a heist deep below the streets of New York City. Oh, and there's a supernatural twist. How could you miss Underheist #1 knowing all of that? -- Chase Magnett

Where the Body Was

• Written by Ed Brubaker
• Art by Sean Phillips
• Colors by Jacob Phillips
• Letters by Sean Phillips
• Published by Image Comics

Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips are a comics industry unto themselves these days – turning out two to three volumes each year that reliably satisfy fans of crime, thriller, and supernatural horror. After decades of creating comics together, they've established one of the best reputations in the direct market for generating fascinating new characters and plot hooks. So while it's already a no-brainer to pick up the new Brubaker and Phillips joint, it's additionally intriguing that Where The Body Was stands out as something new within their already impressive (and expansive) oeuvre. This comics mystery centers around a body discovered one sunny afternoon, but it applies a literary approach to its investigation as it holistically examines the surrounding neighborhood and many interwoven lives that surround where the body was. It plays upon elements of genre and non-linear storytelling that Brubaker and Phillips have proven adept in handling to summon a story and themes that are bound to surprise even the most familiar readers of their work, myself included. Whether you already have a library filled with their work or are just considering dipping your toe into that collection, Where The Body Was delivers a skillful twist on familiar formulas for a reading experience bound to satisfy any fan of comics. -- Chase Magnett