Hey there comics fans, September is here and with it comes the start of new comic book series, new graphic novels, and new one shots from across the comic book industry. There are so many new things out each month it can get a little overwhelming. To combat that our team combs through the pages of the catalogs each month to find new picks to review and recommend for you! So if you’re in the mood to expand your subscription or looking for your next graphic novel to read, check out this month’s picks from your friendly local comic shop team.

Reviews and Recommendations

September is truly a huge month. There’s an entire month of Hellraiser books, a trio of new titles for DC’s Next-Level line, new works by Tom King and Jeff Lemire, and so so so much more. Elise, Madi, Sloane, and Nick all found things this month that we’re all pretty excited for. But before we drop into that - a quick reminder. If you see something you want you can always 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! Anything in these look aheads are ready for you to order.

Batman of Two Worlds

DC Comics

By Matt Fraction (writer), Scott Snyder (writer), Javier Fernandez (artist), and Nick Derrington (artist)

We’re gonna start off this month’s look ahead with one of the most hotly anticipated books of the summer. Absolute Batman has been one of the store’s best-selling books for so many reasons I can’t list them all, and if you haven’t read Matt Fraction’s Batman yet, you absolutely should (see what I did there?). Because this September, DC is releasing a pair of brand new stories featuring these dark knights side by side. And it’s only $2.99.

So here’s the catch.

This book is not coming out on a Wednesday.

Batman of Two Worlds releases Saturday, September 19th on Batman Day. Save the date and make plans to stop by the shop. We’ll have other goodies, including limited copies of special hardcover versions of Fraction’s Batman volume one and Dark Knight Returns, masks, and more. I think it’ll definitely be worth the trip for the chance to see these two in action alongside one another.

- Nick

DC Next Level

The next phase of the All-In initiative is upon us and I couldn’t be more excited. This new slate of books promises to revisit teams of characters who had been rebooted over and over again with a fresh new look a return to the basics for new readers in 2026. DC editorial architects of the All-In initiative (Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder) have said they want the Next Level books to be, “new-reader friendly”. And, “Like the Absolute line… an initiative that welcomes new readers looking for a jumping-on spot for DC’s main line of comic books.”

I’ve talked about this before but, for someone who helps run a comic book store, I’m fairly new to comics (all things considered). I started getting into comics in 2018(ish) and I started with mostly indie and creator owned projects, superhero books and big characters were intimidating and I stuck to self contained original stories. Until the last year or so, that has mostly stayed the case but DC’s editorial team has somehow managed to earn my unwavering trust at some point without me even noticing. It’s gotten to the point where I won’t shut up about how excited I am for these new Next Level books in spite of the fact I’ve never read a Legion of Superheroes, Doom Patrol, or Teen Titans book in my life before now. 

Legion of Super Heroes by Joshua Williamson (writer) and Hayden Sherman (artist)

This is the one I’m probably the most hyped for. I started paying attention to this book because I was excited to see more of Hayden Sherman’s unhinged art. Between their swirling non-traditional line art and panel layouts and their expressive, emotional, and even funny character art, their work on Absolute Wonder Woman has been truly jaw dropping. Joshua Williamson recently got my attention with his take on Superboy-Prime this year in Superman. Legion of Superheroes has Williamson, a Legion aficionado, and Sherman bringing together a team of Legionnaires that will appeal to new fans and old fans alike. Their focus is the organic formation of a group of young super people seeking a sense of purpose and destiny in a far-future society where superheroes are outlawed. These characters are young and passionate and want to be a force for good and change in a world they don’t control. Also… there’s a murder mystery… which is RIGHT up my alley. 

Teen Titans by Kyle Higgins (writer) and Daniele Di Nicuolo (artist)

This is another book about idealistic young people trying to be the change they want to see in the world. For the first time in a long time DC will have Titans (New Titans) running alongside a Teen Titans book. This book will see the Teen Titans investigating the disappearances of their superpowered peers after Red Hood discovers a pattern of disappearances. Red Hood will not be leading the team or even necessarily joining up their ideological differences promise to be a major source of conflict but he will work alongside them to try to make a change for the better in a world that is being shaped by superpowers wether people like it or not. Higgins described it as “a big, bold swing about being a teenager in the DCU in 2026, the challenges of building community and connection in a very broken world”.

Doom Patrol by Darcy Van Poelgeest (writer) and Niko Henricho (artist)

Doom Patrol haven’t had their own book in a minute. Van Poelgeest has said this is a return to form for Doom Patrol featuring their original line up. These heroes are in a rough spot financially and emotionally and will be working together on a smaller scale, taking on hero for hire jobs. But when they get drawn in to something much bigger than it seems while looking for a missing cat they’ll need to pull it together to figure whats going on. This book looks weird and fresh and fun and I can’t wait to see what they do with these characters. 

-Elise

Crowbound

Image Comics

By Jeff Lemire (writer) and Dustin Nguyen (artist)

Okay, Lemire. The massive weird-ass brain monster called “The Eater” got me. Show me what you’ve got.

I’m no stranger to horrific dystopian stories. I grew up reading The Hunger Games and the cavalcade of copycats that followed in the years after, and realizing that we’re living in a dystopia didn’t help either. All that to say, I wasn’t immediately hooked by the first few pages of Crowbound, introducing us to a mother and her child in a world where everyone wears the same clothes and works in a big factory. We all know Metropolis. But yeah, the big fleshy worm thing that threatens to eat everyone as the excuse for totalitarian government control? That’s at least a little new!

Truthfully, I don’t think stories about fighting oppression will ever truly be out-of-style. Especially not now, and especially not when those stories are about children being ripped away from their loved ones by the government. Maybe I’m giving this one too much credit before I get to see more than the first few pages. I’m just saying, if I was given the opportunity to make a pact with the big freaky monster to take down a dystopia, I’d probably take it too.

- Madison

Hellraiser Resurrections

It feels weird to be writing about a franchise I know very little about, but my one of my partners, Izzy, is a big fan of the Hellraiser Universe and when I saw the list of creators attached to these books enough of them jumped out at me as interesting that I couldn’t help but feel like I needed to talk about this. The Hellraiser Resurrections “series” is actually a set of one-shots coming out through the month of September, culminating in the release of a new ongoing later this winter. Each book looks like it’ll be focusing on one character or aspect of the Hellraiser universe, and if you’re a fan, it’s definitely one to keep an eye out for. And bonus, one of Seattle’s very own local creators Nero O’Reilly is getting to write one of them! 

So without further preamble, here’s the list of one-shots in release order.

• Hellraiser New Wounds (Mike Costa, Paco Camallonga, Martin Simpson)

• Hellraiser Onanistic Ritual (Zac Thompson, Gavin Mitchell, Dave Kendall)

• Hellraiser The Deep Gospel (Tini Howard, Jenna Cha, Rebeca Puebla)

• Hellraiser Hell’s Council (Nero Villagallos O'Reilly, Francesca Ciregia, Suspiria Vilchez)

• Hellraiser The Return of the Priest (Sarah Gailey, Alessio Avallone, Zach Howard)

 - Nick

Alien vs X-Men

Marvel Comics

By Kieron Gillen (writer), Chris Claremont (writer), Geraldo Borges (artist), and David Messina (artist)

Oh god Kieron is writing and Alien comic and an X-Men comic. 

And they’re the same comic. 

Speaking as someone who could not get through Alien or Aliens (I had literal nightmares as a teenager), I cannot wait to see what horrible things this man does to our merry band of mutants, and I also cannot wait for the backup piece in this that is Chris Claremont coming in to write a brood story. For those of you not familiar, the brood are basically Marvel’s version of the xenomorph and they specifically seem to enjoy terrorizing the X-Men. And they make their spaceships out of space whales. Yeah, I, uhm..I can’t think of anything more to say here. I feel like there’s a very specific audience for this book and it’s at least me and probably a bunch more of you out there too. 

- Nick

Six of Us

Dark Horse

By Tom King (writer) and Gabriel Hernández Walta (artist)

My guy Tom King is at it again with another limited series. I feel like since Sloane stopped bearing the mantle of “Tom King fangirl” I’ve needed to take up that cause for myself. Seriously, Helen of Wyndhorn and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and ESPECIALLY The Human Target are so, so good y’all! It was with those books in mind that I was ready to recommend whatever limited project Agent King started before I knew what it was going to be.

Enter Six of Us, an emotional noir following the five surviving cast members of America’s favorite sitcom and the fallout of their lives after the sixth member’s mysterious death. Intrigue, emotional upheaval, and the murky depths of Hollywood’s dark secrets are all on the table here. Will the sixth cast member have been killed by one of the others? By all of them together? Is there a satanic plot involved? It could be anything, and if Tom King knows how to write anything, it’s a moody noir (once again, read The Human Target) and being backed up by the heavy, scratchy style of Gabriel Hernández Walta makes Six of Us absolutely a series to keep an eye out for.

- Madison

One-Shots & Graphic Novels

Absolute Cass Cain: The Shadow's Hand

DC Comics

By Che Greyson (writer) and Matias Bergara (artist)

If you’ve been reading Absolute Catwoman I’ve got some bad news and some good news. Bad news first – you’re not getting an issue in September. Good news though, in its place we’re getting a special one shot written by the same author introducing the AU version of the cool lesbian Batwoman, Cassandra Cain! Uh. Watch out for Absolute Universe spoilers in this lookahead y’all. There will be lots. (You have been warned.)

Because the Absolute Universe is kind of backwards sometimes, instead of Batman training with the League of Assassins like he does in some continuities, it’s the Joker. And when he finishes learning what he can from them he burns them to the ground. (Classic Joker) The only survivors? Lady Shiva, and her daughter Cass Cain. The book follows Cassandra’s journey to become the world’s greatest assassin, and ties her neatly into the ongoing story of Absolute Catwoman just in time for her to appear in the series next month.

Why should you care? Cassandra Cain is sick as hell for one, and I can only imagine with the direction that the Absolute Universe has taken that this version is going to be too. And I’m sure the world building and lore in this issue will bleed over not just into Catwoman but other series in the line too. But the real reason to be excited? The artist, Matias Bergara. He’s a fantastic artist who can carry a book basically all on his own – see Step by Bloody Step, a gorgeous and engaging book he did with no dialogue that was one of my favorite comics to come out in 2022. DC has kept preview pages for new Absolute titles pretty under wraps (they know the books will do well without the help and don’t want to risk the leaks) so there’s only one image that’s been released for the book, but I know he’s going to be able to perfectly capture the brooding atmosphere necessary for the character.

Basically? A must read for anyone following the Absolute Universe, anyone reading Che Greyson’s Catwoman book, and anyone who wants a moody, well-drawn book about a young woman raised from a young age to be a deadly assassin (and I assume also do revenge? Like I said, the details are scarce). Hype to see not only how this piece plays a part in the Universe’s larger picture, but also enjoy it as a standalone.

- Sloane

Wandering Son Volumes One & Two

Takumi Graphix (By way of Fantagraphics)

By Shimura Takako

Wandering Son is one of those books that I never had a chance to read while it was available in single-volumes. One of my friends asked me to order it for them when the store first opened and they recommended it highly enough that I kept ordering it for the shelves. But sadly a couple years later the series went out of print. So when I saw that it was not only coming back into print but had also been adapted into an anime, I was pretty excited. 

The series stars two trans characters (Shuishi and Yoshino) growing up and discovering themselves as they go through middle school and puberty together, as well as a host of supporting characters who each deal with gender in their own way. The conflict in this book feels gentle and contemplative in ways I don’t often see in similar coming-of-age fiction. I mean, don’t get me wrong, these characters are dealing with a lot of fear and trepidation when it comes to their respective gender journeys, but in doing the research for this piece I didn’t ever encounter anything that left me feeling like either of their journeys was tragic, and there’s a kind of magic in their expressions when they get to do little things like try on a hairband and get mistaken for a girl that are handled with a respect I just don’t see very often. So yeah, gonna grab this book for myself when it arrives, and if this story sounds good to you, maybe you should too.

- Nick

Deicidium Vol. 1

Image

By Ram V (Writer) and Evan Cagle (artist)

It seems like only yesterday I was writing about a Ram V project… oh, right, I did that last month as well. Ram is seemingly pulling a Yorgos Lanthimos circa 2024, meaning releasing two projects that I’m very interested in back-to-back (for real though Kinds of Kindness felt like it came out ridiculously soon after Poor Things, am I crazy?). Deicidium seems like it will be a very different piece than Ram’s other upcoming series Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy however. Where Black Tower looks to be a love letter to classically British occult secret societies and spy thrillers, Deicidium seems to be an incredibly unique epic story that I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he’s been cooking up for a while.

Global politics and religious fanaticism will be the name of the game here. A tenuous era of peace threatened by straining relationships gives me Power Fantasy, invocations of faith and 12 old and horrifically powerful gods has me thinking about Kill 6 Billions Demons, and orphans being used as tools by the adults around them brings to mind… Neon Genesis Evangelion? Is that crazy? There are some seriously interesting things that will be happening in this book. Keep an eye out for this one, I have a feeling it’s one I’m not going to be able to shut up about.

- Madison

Editor's Note: This book was actually early solicited and won't ship til November, but we've included it here because it's a great idea to get us orders for this ahead of time if you're interested in it!

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!)

July Comic Catalogs (September Releases)

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

August Comic Catalogs (October Releases)

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

September Comic Catalogs (November Releases)

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

And that’s a wrap for September! Thank you for reading, and we hope that a couple of these books piqued your interest. If you see something you want 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!