Happy December and welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital.
‘Tis the season to read comics, and this week brings several new holiday specials from DC, Marvel, Top Cow and more. I’m such a jolly fellow that I put them at the top of the stocking this time. This week also brings new series starring Venom and Two-Face, a ThunderCats spin-off, the return of Dick Tracy and Snotgirl, a new Dog Man book and more.
I’ve pulled out some of the other highlights for this week below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:
- Penguin Random House (Marvel + IDW + Dark Horse + more)
- Lunar Distribution (DC + Image + more)
- Diamond’s PreviewsWorld (BOOM! + Dynamite + more)
- ComicList (Pretty much all of the above)
- Amazon/Kindle new releases (digital comics)
As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So always check with your comics retailer for the final word on availability.
DC’s Batman Smells, Robin Laid An Egg (DC, $9.99): DC leans heavily into a cult classic Christmas carol for their holiday anthology this year, with a wonderful cover by Riley Rossmo. The anthology will include six stories by Marv Wolfman, Alexis Quasarano, Drew Maxey, James Reid, Calvin Kasulke, Rick Sanchez, Dorado Quick, Zipporah Smith, Paul Pelletier, Andrew Drilon and more, featuring Deadman, the Joker, Dr. Midnight and more.
Marvel Holiday Tales to Astonish (Marvel, $5.99): For their holiday special this year, Marvel presents three stories featuring the Fantastic Four’ holiday party, Kitty Pryde’s Hanukkah shopping spree and a New Year’s story featuring both Spider-Men, by Gerry Duggan, Phil Noto, Dabiel Kibblesmith, Pat Olliffe, Gene Luen Yng and Dylan Burnett.
Dread the Halls #1 (Image Comics, $5.99): In the spirit of the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve, Chris Ryall and the Syzygy crew present four holiday horror stories. This one includes stories by Jordan Hart, Walter Pax, Jimmy Kucaj, Fabio Veras, Lee Ferguson and more.
Archie Christmas Spectacular (Archie Comics, $3.99): This collection of classic Archie Christmas stories also includes a new story by Ian Flynn and Holly G!, featuring Amber Nightstone—Sabrina’s fiercest rival—as she attempts to find Sabrina the best Christmas gift ever.
Powerpuff Girls: Winter Snowdown Showdown (Dynamite, $5.99): Daniel Kibblesmith and Carlo Lauro send the Powerpuff Girls on a quest to find the perfect gift for Professor Utonium.
Top Cow Holiday Special (Image Comics, $3.99): Marguerite Bennett, Matt Hawkins, Marc Silvestri, Tina Valentino, Giuseppe Cafaro, Atilio Rojo and more present a look at Christmas in the Top Cow universe, with stories featuring The Darkness, Witchblade and Aphrodite IX.
Monster High Howliday Haunt (IDW, $5.99): The Monster High crew is back, and this holiday special by Ben Kahn and Sonia Liao takes us to the annual “Howliday Ball” as sparks fly between Frankie Stein and Johnny Spirit.
Long Cold Winter #1 (Mad Cave Studios, $4.99): Breathable air is a commodity controlled by corporations in this dystopian tale by Francesca Perillo and the wonderful Stefano Cardoselli.
Christmas 365 #1 (Dark Horse, $3.99): Mikey Way, Jonathan Rivera and Piotr Kowalski tell the story of the Rockwell family, who decide the only logical response after coming out of a bad year is to have Christmas every single day.
All-New Venom #1 (Marvel, $4.99): In the aftermath of the Venom War, Venom returns to their own title — but who exactly is underneath the symbiote? Al Ewing and Carlos Gómez have narrowed the suspects down to four — Robbie Robertson of Daily Bugle fame, mob boss Madame Masque, perpetual sidekick Rick Jones and “Mayor Power Man” himself, Luke Cage.
Two-Face #1 (DC, $3.99): Following in the footsteps of the Joker, the Penguin, Poison Ivy and Catwoman, Harvey Dent is the latest Batman villain to get a solo series, courtesy of Christian Ward and Fábio Veras.
Archaic #1 (Ahoy Comics, $3.99): Urban fantasy novelist Melissa F. Olson makes her comics debut alongside artist Sally Cantirino in the story of a woman looking for a place to hide from her husband’s misdeeds who inherits an island from the biological father she never met — an island filled with “retired” gods and legendary creatures.
Juvenile #1 (Image Comics, $3.99): The kids aren’t all right in this miniseries by Jesus Orellana. It’s about a world where a virus gives teenagers telekinetic powers, and adults imprison them in “medical facilities” as they try to control them.
ThunderCats: Apex #1 (Dynamite, $4.99): ThunderCats made a big return at Dynamite this year, bringing back old favorites and introducing new characters alike. This special is about the mysterious Apex, by Ed Brisson and Rapha Lobosco, and it leads into the next ThunderCats arc.
Snotgirl #16 (Image Comics, $3.99): After a four-year delay, Snotgirl, the story of fun-loving fashion blogger with allergy issues by Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung, returns with a new storyline about her new relationship.
Deadpool/Wolverine: Weapon X-Traction #1 (Marvel, $6.99): If you missed the eight-part Wolverine and Deadpool team-up story that ran as a back-up feature through several of Marvel’s titles this past summer, you’re in luck — this week Marvel releases a collection of the bonkers story by Ryan North and Javier Garron.
Birdking Vol. 3 (Dark Horse, $19.99): The Raiders creative team of Daniel Freedman and CROM return with a third volume of Birdking, their graphic novel series about a teenage girl named Bianca and the guardian spirit known only as the “Birdking,” as they continue their quest to reach the golden city of Atlas.
Dog-Man: Big Jim Begins (Scholastic, $14.99): Dav Pilkey is back with another chapter in the ongoing Dog-Man saga, which will likely sell millions when it’s all said and done. This one tells the secret origin of Big Jim and has him teaming with Dog-Man to battle the Space Cuties.