New month, new comics! We've got an assortment of new books coming out next month and we think you'll like them. Our team has delved into the many many catalogs of comics to pick out the ones we're really excited for, and we're bringing them to you. So if you're looking for a new book to add to your subscription next month, or maybe a new graphic novel or one-shot to preorder, look no further!

Upcoming Comic Catalogs

Wondering where we find all of these books? We go through a number of upcoming comic book catalogs, which you can find below. If you want to do some digging for something we might have missed, please have a look! If you find anything you want, just head over to our subscription page to place a preorder or update your subscription.

(Quick word of caution - the Next Phase catalogs are very large and may take a while to download!)

January Comic Catalogs (March Releases)

DC | Marvel | Image | Dark Horse | IDW | Boom | DSTLRY | Titan | PRH Panels | Next Phase

February Comic Catalogs (April Releases)

DC | Marvel | Image | Dark Horse | IDW | Boom | DSTLRY | Titan | PRH Panels | Next Phase

Final Order Cutoff Note

If you're a subscriber and especially if you're a subscriber that uses our online subscription page to update your sub and preorder list, this next little bit of text is for you. If this isn't you, please just skip on down to the reviews and enjoy the rest of the post!

We've been running into some intermittent issues with really late / last minute preorders coming in either late Sunday or Monday, and we need your help to avoid that. To that end, please make sure you submit preorders and updates to your subscriptions by 12 PM on Sundays every week. Orders placed after that time run the risk of being delayed or not ordered. This applies only to items on the FOC / Last call list on our subscription page. Anything further out than that is unaffected (and kudos to you for ordering earlier than that). 

As one of the two people who process these orders, Sloane and I would really appreciate your help on this! Thank you so much in advance for making our jobs just a stitch easier!

-Nick

Reviews and Recommendations

Yall there are so many good books out this month. Do you want new X-Books? Check. Weird horror comics? Also check. Mischief of Magpies from DSTLRY finally maybe coming out? Yup, got that too. We even got the return of Batwoman by writer Greg Rucka?!?! And hey, over in the one-shots land, the DC / Marvel crossover returns with Superman / Spider-Man (or is that Spider-Man / Superman?). This is a month with a little something for everyone. 

Batwoman

DC Comics

By Greg Rucka (writer) and DaNi (artist)

Given who shops here I feel like I probably don’t have to work very hard to sell you the new Batwoman, but here goes: 17 years ago, Greg Rucka and J.H. Williams III worked together on a book that’s now considered one of the most iconic comics runs of all time. Batman was dead – or temporarily dead, anyway; you know how comics are – and so DC decided to give their Detective Comics book to a revamped version of the silver age character Batwoman, whose alter ego Kate Kane was a wealthy lesbian socialite, for a storyline called Batwoman: Elegy.

I wasn’t reading comics at the time, but this book got enough press that even I knew about it – in part because it was a lesbian character in superhero comics at a time when that felt much more controversial, and in part because it was just really good. It was stylish and beautiful and perfectly gloomy, really nailing the noir, almost horror vibe that’s been a part of Batman comics since the beginning. It won a GLAAD media award, picked up a couple Eisner noms, and was generally acclaimed both for its art and its writing. J.H. Williams continued with the character into her own series after the storyline in Detective Comics wrapped up, but quit when DC editorial decided that she couldn’t marry her girlfriend, and Kate hasn’t gotten a lot of focus as a character since.

BUT NOW Greg Rucka is coming back to the character after fifteen years away as a part of DC’s new “Next Level” initiative, and he says he’s been thinking about this new story for almost twenty years. The details of the story haven’t been revealed yet, but we know it’s set in Greece and involves a prophecy and a doomsday cult that were never quite resolved in his original run. But don’t let that connection scare you if you haven’t read the original – as a part of the “Next Level” series, the book is designed to be self-contained, and won’t require any prior knowledge of the character or be a part of any crossover events. In that vein, new artist DaNi (Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man) brings a moody, heavily inked style that evokes a similar mood but stays distinct from the art of the original. It’s going to be a similar book to the original in a lot of ways, but also very much its own thing.

I’ve gone on about Batwoman enough I think. Suffice it to say that I’m very excited to read this one, and you all should be too. Especially with all of the momentum that DC’s been building lately it’s sure to be a home run.

- Sloane

Daredevil

Marvel Comics

By Stephanie Phillips (writer) and Lee Garbett (artist)

Daredevil, or more specifically Matt Murdock, is a very Elise coded character. He is all the things I want in a hero character like this. Conflicted, battered, depressed, religiously traumatized, and very grounded in reality. I always say I prefer my heroes to be “just some guy” and Matt Murdock is exactly that. He always has been, that's kind of the point. When I heard Stephanie Phillips (Spider-Gwen Ghost Spider, Grimm) would be taking on the new series I was cautiously optimistic. I’m not a huge Marvel reader historically but I loved her series Red Before Black with Boom! last year and I trust her to do my Bruised Boy (Sloane’s words not mine) justice. Then I found out she would be working with Lee Garbett (Skyward, The Big Burn) who I’ve been following for years and now I’m locked in. 

This series will focus on the duality of Matt Murdock and Daredevil as they both take on new challenges. Daredevil is a season pro, confident in his abilities, but Matt is stepping outside of his comfort zone taking on a job as law professor. Phillips says she wants to zero in on the noir and at times horror elements of the character by bringing in a new villain, Omen, who seems to have it out for… Matt Murdock? Phillips drew inspiration from “Gothic literature and Greek tragedies” saying, “[Omen is] both monstrous and tragic”. I love Kingpin as much as the next guy but I’m also excited for a fresh take (and I’m sure he’ll still be lurking somewhere). Overall this seems like a really exciting new book and once again I’m surprised to be finding myself subscribing to a mainline hero book. Goes to show if you get the right creative team on something I’ll read just about anything.  

- Elise

X-Men United

Marvel Comics

By Eve L Ewing (writer) and Tiago Palma (artist)

If you are an X-Fan who’s been a little jaded since the exit from Krakoa, I have some hopefully good news from you. It sounds like the folks at Marvel have been listening, and they’re moving in a different direction from that “return to the 90’s” vibe that really summed up the From the Ashes era of X-books. X-Men United brings another classic X-Men trope back - a school for mutants in the form of Graymatter Lane. Based on the preview material provided so far, it really feels like Eve and Tiago are taking a page from Krakoa and putting this base of operations somewhere that’s globally accessible for a worldwide audience of potential mutant students, not some upstate New York elitist private school vibes. And honestly, I’m kinda down for this one. I’m a big fan of the various school-based eras of the line. The wackier and weirder the better.

Eve impressed me with her work on Exceptional X-Men, and while I didn’t vibe with it as much as the era before it, I think we can all agree that Hickman and the entire previous generation at the X-Office are a tough act to follow. I’m keen for her to get another chance to catch my interest, so here’s hoping this is a fresh new start in a better direction!

- Nick

Mischief of Magpies

DSTLRY

By Si Spurrier (writer) and Matías Bergara (artist)

You heard that right, it’s finally happening. DSTLRY solicited this book about a year ago and I wrote about it for the look ahead back then. In the time since this book was originally solicited, Diamond completely dissolved, a president was elected 😬, and, most importantly, I befriended a flock of crows that congregate on my roof. The second time’s the charm (thats what they say right?) so here we go for round two. I could try to reinvent the wheel here but instead lets cast our eyes back to last year when I wrote this:

“I honestly can’t find a ton of information about this book other than the fact that it will be a unique fantasy genre bending feast for your eyes. It tells the story of a boy named Mar who finds himself traveling between his normal mundane world and a new fantastical one unexpectedly and quite uncontrollably. The place he visits is a giant city machine wandering a world made entirely of a shoreless ocean. While its tall bright spires house science and wonder and innovation its underbelly is teeming with monsters and gloom. Spurrier and Bergara have collaborated before on Step by Bloody Step and Coda and in interviews they both say that Mischief of Magpies is the pinnacle of their creative partnership and having the gorgeous art as a large format DSTLRY book also promises much to see as Bergara’s art unfolds across the pages. I personally cannot wait to see it.”

I’m just as excited and curious about this book as I was a year ago and I still can’t wait. 

- Elise

Dead Teenagers

Oni Press

By Jude Ellison S. Doyle (writer) and Caitlyn Yarsky (artist)

Do you ever have that dream where you’re back in school again? I go through these phases where I have them over and over again for a week or two at a time. Every night I’ll go to sleep and be stuck re-living the same teenage drama, the same anxiety around homework and exams. It’s uh. Not great. But imagine being stuck in high school for more than a week. Think years…

Dead Teenagers follows a group of five friends who are stuck in a Groundhog Day style loop reliving their high school prom over and over again in 1997, only every night ends with an increasingly unlikely scenario that results in all of their deaths. They dress up, go out, party, and die, over and over and over again. The book blends classic teen-movie characters, weird deaths that verge on Final Destination territory, and goofy 90s fashion that we all wish we could forget about. I’ve been following the writer Jude Ellison S. Doyle for a while now, and he’s done some pretty good horror comics, but I think what sets this one apart from his last few books is that the preview pages for it seem… fun? 

The art by Caitlyn Yarsky is definitely pulling a lot of weight here, but the teen movie characters and just general tone seem a little less heavy than the last few things he’s written – which as much as I’ve enjoyed them is a welcome reprieve. I’m interested especially in what he as a fellow queer person has to say about high school, which can be really difficult for a lot of us. I know at least one of the characters in the previews seems very trans coded. I’m hype for what looks like a big fun teen movie horror comic that hopefully also has something to say.   

- Sloane

Alias: Red Band

Marvel Comics

By Sam Humphries (writer) and Geraldo Borges (artist)

Imma be real dawg, I don’t super know either the writer or the artist for this one, I’m just excited for Jessica Jones to be back. Her stories always tread a fine line between being superhero comics, detective noir and slice of life. She’s a former superhero turned private eye and she’s historically been kind of a mess. This new series explores what her life is like now that her husband Luke Cage is the mayor of New York City, and the ways that her job as a P.I. doesn’t really mesh with her newfound life in the spotlight. While Luke is running the big apple, Jessica finds herself forming a tenuous alliance with Daredevil villain Typhoid Mary to solve a case.

Jessica Jones is a character that carries a book mostly based on vibes. She’s fed up, doesn’t make the best decisions, and is often drunk. The version of New York in her book is worn and grimy. This book looks like it delivers on the moodiness you need to carry one of her books perfectly. I’m excited also to see how it uses its Red Band rating – this wouldn’t be the first time she’s had an R-rated book, given that her original run was a part of Marvel’s adults only line, so I’m interested in how this iteration of the character uses the leeway that comes with being an 18+ title. This is going to be a great read for superhero and noir fans alike, or really just anyone who appreciates a moody, world weary vibe.

- Sloane

Usagi Yojimbo: Kaito ‘84

Dark Horse Comics

By Zack Rosenberg (writer) and Jared Cullum (artist)

Okay Usagi Yojimbo was one of my guilty pleasure comfort reading comics growing up. It’s got solid, simple linework. The plot isn’t super complex, and them animals are funny critters (who make a little skull shaped word balloon if they die). What’s not to love? So imagine my surprise when I see a new series that’s surprisingly not penned by long time writer and illustrator Stan Sakai. And it’s set in the 80’s, for some vintage action-movie inspired vibes. I think it’s kind of adventurous and a little fun, and I’m in the mood for a bit of childhood nostalgia, so I’ll give this five issue series a try when it arrives in early March.

- Nick

One-Shots & Graphic Novels

DC / Marvel: Superman / Spider-Man

DC Comics (and Marvel, but this one’s the DC One)

By Seriously so Many People

Not to be confused with Marvel / DC: Spider-Man / Superman, this book has the superior lineup of creators, all offering a fun cross-publisher from an amazing crew of writers including Tom King, Gail Simone, Greg Rucka, Matt Fraction, and Jeff Lemire (just to name a few). And every writer is paired up with some good-good artistic talent. Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber are back together with a @#$%ing Jimmy Olsen and Carnage story?!  Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott are doing a Daily Planet / Daily Bugle journalism thing. There are so many good short stories in this book it’s almost a crime that it’s a one shot.  

I mean…Pa Kent gets to meet Uncle Ben in this book in a story that I assume is going to have me in some “why aren’t all parents this good to their kids” tears by the end of it. 

By contrast, the Marvel / DC: Spider-Man / Superman book has a bunch of folks whose work I admire, but I haven’t gone out of my way to go grab their books in a little bit. Brian Michael Bendis & Sarah Pichelli writing Miles again definitely caught my eye, as did the Louise Simonson & Todd Nauck team up. I’m kind of excited for the Dan Slott / Marcos Martin team up featuring Spider-Man Noir & a golden age Superman, but really the one I’m stoked about this time is the DC-lead book. Don’t get me wrong though, there’s definitely enough here that I’ll be reading both of these books when they come out in March (DC’s book) and April (Marvel’s book) respectively.

- Nick

The Court Charade

Abrams Books

By Flore Vesco, adapted by Kerascoët (writer) and Kerascoët (artist)

I read Beautiful Darkness by Kerascoët  for the first time a few years ago when it came back in print (after I had spent several years hunting for it) and it was such a weird and unique reading experience I’m basically willing to read anything they work on at this point. Beautiful Darkness was an odd and often f—ed up little fairytale about a princess and her tiny subjects who lived inside the body of a little girl but were evicted upon her death. The characters were so selfish they couldn’t work together even when their lives and livelihoods depended on it and the book didn’t shy away from exploring the consequences of their decisions in grotesque detail. It had a dream-like quality that starkly contrasted to the death and mutilation wrought upon its characters. 

I don’t expect The Court Charade to be as graphic as Beautiful Darkness was but I do expect similar cruelty from a book described as an adult fairy tale about the simple daughter of a nobleman being thrown in the deep end of court politics. The main character Serine will have to dodge the common cruelty of rumors and social sabotage as well as stay out of the way of scheming advisors to the queen while she is falling for the torturer’s apprentice. Overall I’m just excited to see this due working together again and I’m excited to see what this book will bring.

- Elise

And that’s a wrap for March! Next month we'll have an in-depth peak at some more lovely comics coming this April, and some additional news about our upcoming Store Anniversary and Free Comic Book Day / Comic Giveaway Day this year. In the meantime, if you saw something you wanted, please reach out to us and ask us about ordering it or setting it aside for you, or head over to our subscription page and add it to your pull!