Welcome to Can’t Wait for Comics, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital this week. While this is a holiday week in the United States, you can be thankful to find several new title launches and big releases below.
The list of comics distributor websites has become quite the cornucopia lately. Here are some options to get the full picture of what’s arriving this week:
- Penguin Random House (Marvel + graphic novels + manga)
- Lunar Distribution (DC + Scout + more)
- ComicList (Pretty much all of the above)
- comiXology new releases (digital comics)
Also, when comics will actually arrive at your local store this week could vary, depending on where you are. Diamond Comics Distributors is still experiencing issues after the ransomware attack on their website, and they also noted that several Marvel titles could be delayed to their customers due to “a systems issue affecting Penguin Random House.” So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.
Fine Print (Top Cow, $16.99): The new graphic novel from the mega-popular Sunstone creator Stjepan Šejić arrives this week; you can read our interview with the creator for more information. It’s about a woman who seeks solace after a broken heart by striking a deal with “the highest-rated god of desire .”
Joy Operations #1 (Dark Horse, $3.99): Brian Michael Bendis moves his Jinxworld line of creator-owned comics to Dark Horse with the release of Joy Operations, his new collaboration with artist Stephen Byrne. Check out our interview with the creator for more information.
Black Panther #1 (Marvel, $4.99): John Ridley and Juann Cabal take over the adventures of the Black Panther with a new #1 issue. Ridley describes this enw story and his new approach to the character as a “hybrid espionage-Super Hero thriller.”
Hulk #1 (Marvel, $4.99): Black Panther isn’t the only Marvel character getting a new creative team this week, as Donny Cates and Ryan Ottley launch a brand new Hulk title that promises to be very different from Ewing’s Immortal Hulk, as the character looks to escape Earth and head for the stars.
Hawkeye: Kate Bishop #1 (Marvel, $3.99): The star of Marvel’s latest Disney+ series jumps back into her own solo comic series this week. Dutch author Marieke Nijkamp and artist Enid Balám bring Kate Bishop (and Pizza Dog) back to New York for a new five-issue miniseries.
Grrl Scouts: Stone Ghost #1 (Image Comics, $3.99): Jim Mahfood returns to the world of Grrl Scouts with a new miniseries about the girls facing off with The Teeth in a “hilarious, over-the-top, psychedelic adventure.”
Persephone: Hades’ Torment (Seven Seas, $9.99): Allison Shaw retells the story of Persephone and Hades from a different perspective — that of a rebellious young woman who meets and falls in love with the handsome Hades.
X-Force: Killshot #1 (Marvel, $4.99): X-Force co-creator Rob Liefeld returns to his signature creation for a story featuring several of his babies, including, Cable, Shatterstar, Stryfe and Deadpool. This one-shot commemorates the 30th anniversary of 1991’s X-Force #1 and will feature Cable pulling together five different X-Force squads from across time to defeat Stryfe once and for all.
Star Wars: Life Day #1 (Marvel, $4.99): Marvel celebrates the Wookiee holiday Life Day — which was the subject of 1978’s notorious Star Wars Holiday Special — with a one-shot anthology filled with “festive tales from all across the Star Wars saga.” Contributors include Steve Orlando, Jody Houser, Cavan Scott, Ivan Fiorelli and more.
Star Wars Adventures Annual 2021 (IDW, $7.99): Hey, Jaxxon is back! Cavan Scott and Arianna Florean reintroduce the hoojib into the Star Wars universe in this year’s Star Wars Adventures annual, and it looks like everyone’s favorite green rabbit is along for the ride. This annual also features a story starring Lando by Chip Zdarsky and Jason Loo, the award-winning team behind Afterlift.
The Harbinger #1 (Valiant, $3.99): Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing and Robbi Rodriquez usher in a new era for Valiant’s Harbingers comics with The Harbinger, which stars the powerful telepath Peter Stanchek.